Bangkok Flights | Airfares to Bangkok | Cheap Flights to Bangkok | Bangkok Cheap Flights |

Cheap And Low Cost Flights - How To Save Money On Airfares

2009-10-01T02:58:00.000-07:00

There is nothing worse than discovering that the chap next to you on the beach got here for a fraction of the ticket price that you paid. Here are the 10 top ways to ensure you get the best airfare deal out there, without spending days haggling with travel agents:

1. Book Early.

It is a myth that the cheap airfare are available to those who book last minute. Rather, the best deals are usually available about 6 months before departure, when the seats are first released for purchase, and these disappear as availability gets more scarce. So if you're thinking of going away at Christmas - book your flights now! (NB hotel rooms are still most likely to have their best deals at the last minute).

2. Be Open-Minded about Airports.

Budget airlines often fly to a minor airport that is farther away from the city center than the main airport - this saves them airport fees, which they can pass on in price savings, and you get to see unusual and exotic regional airports!

3. Be Flexible with Dates.

Depending on the destination, it is often cheaper to travel on a Sunday or mid-week, or if you stay over the weekend. Checking prices for dates a few days before or after you originally wanted to fly can often have a big impact on fares. And if you really want to be away for Christmas or a particular bank holiday weekend, then extending your stay for a few days either before or after the popular dates can save you a lot of money.

4. Once you've been Flexible, be Consistent.

Low cost flights normally come with stringent Ts & Cs, which often include exorbitant cancellation or change fees. Changing your mind once you've booked can be very expensive!

5. Use a Flight Search Engine.

Flight search engines will save you lots of time and money by shopping around for you - you enter your flight details once, and they zip off and search dozens of online travel agents and airlines simultaneously to find you the best deal. Examples of Flight Search Engines include Kayak and SideStep in the US and Foundem in the UK. Sites such as Expedia and Travelocity, are often mistaken for flight search engines, but they are actually online travel agents.

Flight Search Engines make money from referral fees - this means that when you click through to buy your bargain flight, they get a small fee for having pointed you there. Because the budget airlines tend not to pay referral fees, most Flight Search Engines don't include the Budget Airlines such as EasyJet, RyanAir and AerLingus in their search results. Foundem.com is the only Flight Search Engine to include all of these budget airlines and more.

6. Use Hubs

If you're going somewhere a little bit obscure, it is often cheapest to use these tips to find a great deal to the nearest major hub city (such as London or Dallas) and then pick up a hop to your final destination from a low cost airline or commuter service. Make sure you leave plenty of time for the transfer, though, as the hop airline won't be responsible if you miss your connection!

7. Avoid School Holidays

All travel gets more expensive during school holidays, including flights. If you don't have children, this one's a no-brainer. And if you do have children, have you considered leaving them behind?

8. Don't Forget Package Holidays

While its almost always cheapest to de-couple flights and hotels for city breaks and long haul, if you're looking for a week on a beach or on the piste, package holidays can still sometimes be the cheapest option. Package holidays become even more likely to be the best deal if you've ignored tip number 1 and are booking last minute.

9. Look on Wednesday and Saturday Mornings.

The cheapest flights tend to sell out within hours of being released. Airlines play with their fares at any time, but the biggest waves of fresh fare releases tend to be on Wednesday and Saturday mornings.

10. Always check the Round Trip Price, even if you're Flying One-Way

Bizarrely, one-way tickets often cost more than the return equivalent. So if you're either flying one-way, or open-jaw (i.e. flying to one destination, then taking a train or camel and returning home from somewhere else), always check the round trip equivalents for these fares. Make sure that the flights you're planning to use are always the outbound ones, though, because airlines often won't let you board for the return leg of a round-trip if you haven't actually flown the outbound leg.

Cheap and Low Cost Airfare secrets

2009-10-01T02:36:00.000-07:00

Airfare continues to rise with no end in sight it seems, especially since gas prices have skyrocketed. If you plan to fly on business or for vacation you may be worried about the high cost of airfare. There are a few ticks of the trade you can use to help ensure you get the best deal for your air travel.

Be flexible with dates

If you must travel on a specific date, chances are you will spend more for your ticket especially if you are booking your ticket within a couple of weeks of departure. If you can be flexible with your dates, a day or two on either side, your chances for savings are increased. If you use a travel website such as Orbitz or Travelocity, then you will be given the option to search for fares by lowest price first on multiple dates. These sites make it easy to shop around for air the best prices in air fares.

Book your flight in advance

You can also save on airfare by booking your flight at least two to three weeks prior to departure. If you wait to book your flight a couple of days out, you will have to pay quite a bit more. The exception is if you try and get a last minute fare on a flight that leaves the same day. Sometimes you can get a real good deal on last minute flights. If you plan to fly overseas then you should plan to book your flight a minimum of four weeks out if you want to get a reasonable price for your fare.

Fly on weekdays

It is usually cheaper to fly on a Tuesday or Wednesday than it is Friday or the weekend. So if you plan your flight to leave and return on a Wednesday you will save money and may even save a few more dollars for including an overnight Saturday stay.

Fly out of a smaller airport

You may get a better deal on your ticket if you fly out of a neighboring airport instead of the airport of a major city. If you search for your fares on a travel website, you will be given the option of looking for fares at a nearby airport.

There is no need to spend more money than you have to on your airline ticket. By booking early and flying on weekdays, you should be able to get the best deal possible. Book cheap flights from htttp://www.bangkokairfare.in

Airways Improves Online Services

2009-09-23T23:24:00.000-07:00

Airways Improves Online Services
Airways finally discovers full potential of the internet

Airways International newly appointed Executive Vice President for Commercial Pruet Boobphakam made its first official media appearance last Friday. With an important announcement: Thai Airways will finaly use internet to sell its fares, a decision taken as part of a new strategy to raise $2.96 billion in revenues this year through simple but effective marketing action.

Let’s be fair: Thai Airways (TG) has had a website for many years. And people could book fare on line. However it consumed a lot of time and energy. “The site is extremely inconvenient with at least four to five clicks before accessing a fare. The range of fares was very limited with no flexibility according to travelling dates. Our customers could generally find cheaper fares in their travel agencies or even at our sales’ counters. I want the customers to be able to find immediately the fare they are looking for. In fact we will take AirAsia as a model for the simplicity of their booking engine” explains Boobphakam.

Asked why Thai Airways is finally moving into e-fares in 2009 when most of its competitors did it five years ago, Boobphakam says only that now it's history. The new EVP Commercial confirmed to have instructed marketing teams around the world to be prepared for a complete flexibility in fixing air fares. “A working group has been put in place early September to monitor fares in every market we service. I expect the website with our new fare structure to be fully operational for the winter season, by the end of October. I have also instructed our country managers to take responsibility for immediate commercial decisions. They can at any time ask our new Air fare management team to react overnight with competitive prices,” he says. Boobphakam targets internet booking to bring 20% of all revenues instead of 3% to 4% for the time being.

M. Boobphakam will also look at ending double standard for promotional fares on domestic routes. Regularly posters in Thai languages advertise at TG counters in airports about a special available fare… however targeting only locals. “ For me all passengers are equal and deserve the same treatment”, promises Boobphakam.

Meanwhile, TG wants to strengthen its branding and be again a first choice for customers flying into Southeast Asia and beyond. Bangkok hub will be beefed up this winter with Oslo and Los Angeles flights becoming daily. Bangkok-Johannesburg will be reopened for the summer season in March 2010 with a code share being studied for flights to Brazil from Johannesburg.

Call for airport link’s early operation

2009-09-23T23:13:00.000-07:00

The government should start operation of the airport link as soon as possible as it will help boost the tourism sector, Thongyoo Supphawitthayakorn, a member of the Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA), said on Thursday.

Mr Thongyoo said, the mass transit rail system linking between Suvarnabhumi airport and Makkasan train station in inner Bangkok will benefit tourism related business operators as they can reduce their clients service costs.

It is not possible that the number of foreign arrivals in 2009 will reach 14 million as targeted by the Tourism Authority of Thailand. The figure of foreign tourists visiting Thailand this year could be about 11 million at the maximum.

Book your flight to bangkok today at low airfare http://www.bangkokairfare.in

Cheap flight tickets! Cheap flights to bangkok

2009-09-22T22:52:00.000-07:00

Bangkok is a fascinating and a wonderful city in Asia. Million of travelers from all round the globe visit every year. It is the largest city and capital of Thailand. People flock here for various reasons through out the year. Book cheap flights to Bangkok and explore this magical city in Thailand. There are various other cities in Thailand, but only this city is mainly visited by traveler.
Thinking to fly to Bangkok, here are some travel tips:
Select the best travel company or agent to book your flights and hotels. You will get all the things at one place.
Book Cheap flights to Bangkok online with any of the trusted website available on the internet. You can book your hotels, car hires and other facilities online.
Advance or early booking of flights will be advantageous. It will help you to find cheap flights to Bangkok, thus reduce your travel expenses.
Grand Hyatt Erawan, Siam Square, Majestic Suites, Sukhumvit, Artist's Place, HI Bangkok Centre are some the best hotels in Bangkok.
Bangkok is spiritual, cultural, political, commercial, educational, diplomatic centre and gateway to other major cities in Thailand. Bangkok’s main sights are concentrated in the Old City on Rattanakosin Island. It is a wonderful place which offers various sightseeing, restaurants, nightlife and accommodations.
Book your flight now from http://www.bangkokairfare.in

Kingfisher to fly to Bangkok from August

2009-08-03T21:55:00.000-07:00

It will be the airline’s fifth low-cost international service.

New Delhi: Kingfisher Airlines Ltd plans to start is first flight to South-East Asia in August with the low-fare Kingfisher Red service to tap into the peak winter tourist traffic in the region after September.
The Kingfisher Red flight, which will not offer any business class seats, will fly daily between Kolkata and Bangkok starting 14 August on an Airbus SAS-made A320 aircraft, according to the carrier’s website.
It will be the airline’s fifth low-cost international service. The carrier recently launched a Kingfisher Red service between Bangalore and Dubai, and has daily flights from Bangalore and Chennai to Colombo as also from Kolkata to Dhaka.
On the Kolkata-Bangkok route, the Kingfisher Red service will have to compete with three direct daily flights including ones by National Aviation Co. of India Ltd-run Air India, Jet Airways (India) Ltd and Thai Airways, which could lead to cheaper fares on this sector.
Given this low level of competition, Bajpai said the new route, lasting under three hours, will be easier to break even compared with flights of similar duration on domestic sectors.
A Delhi-Bangalore route, with the same flying time, has over 20 daily flights.
Still, the break-even will depend on passenger numbers on the new route.
On Thursday, Jet Airways announced it will launch its second daily service to Bangkok from Mumbai starting 16 August.
The airline operates a daily service to Bangkok from Mumbai, as well as from Delhi and Kolkata.
If you are looking for a cheap fare of Bangkok. Book now your cheap ticket to Bangkok, Bangkok ticket, cheap fare Bangkok, Bangkok flights from http://bangkokflight.blogspot.com

Special low fares for Jet Airways' Mumbai-Bangkok flights

2009-07-28T05:43:00.000-07:00

Mumbai: Jet Airways has announced a special economy class one–way fare of INR 4388 to mark the launch of its Mumbai - Bangkok service 9W 68, a second frequency to the Thai capital, effective August 16.
Jet Airways' guests may avail of this fare, specifically introduced for them, applicable only on outbound travel on 9W 68, from Mumbai to Bangkok, with an option to choose any other flight on the return Bangkok – Mumbai sector.
This fare is valid for sale with immediate effect until August 5, whilst outbound travel must commence on or before October 15.
Jet Airways has also re-introduced a special Premiere fare of INR 25000 (one way) valid for sale and travel with immediate effect until September 30, on this second frequency.
With the introduction of this flight, Jet Airways' leisure and business travellers now have a choice of flights to Bangkok either late at night or in the afternoon and return in the evening or the following morning.
Jet Airways currently operates a fleet of 83 aircraft, which includes 10 Boeing 777-300 ER aircraft, 12 Airbus A330-200 aircraft, 47 next generation Boeing 737-700/800/900 aircraft and 14 modern ATR 72-500 turboprop aircraft. With an average fleet age of 4.57 years, the airline has one of the youngest aircraft fleet in the world.
Flights to 64 destinations span the length and breadth of India and beyond, including New York (both JFK and Newark), Toronto, Brussels, London (Heathrow), Hong Kong, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Colombo, Bangkok, Kathmandu, Dhaka, Kuwait, Bahrain, Muscat, Doha, Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Jeddah.

Bangkok : Where is, history and other tourist information to visit this place.

2009-07-27T02:38:00.000-07:00

Bangkok, located on the banks of the Chao Phraya River, is the dynamic capital of Thailand. It is also the largest city in the country with about 7,000,000 inhabitants. This wealthy city, which is the 22nd most populated city in the world, receives about 15 million visitors annually.
Bangkok is characterised by a tropical climate which remains humid for a major part of the year. The city experiences alternate periods of dry and wet seasons. Dry seasons are warm with high humidity levels while it gets pleasant in the nights.
Historically, the city of Bangkok was a small trading centre which has now developed into an important economic and financial hub in Southeast Asia. Interestingly, the full name of the city is listed as the world’s longest name of a place in the Guinness Book of Records.

Ayutthaya
The historic city of Ayutthaya is an ancient, yet modern, city on an island in the Central Plains of Thailand. It is the capital city of the Ayutthaya province and is around 90 km from Bangkok. It lies at the junction of the Chao Phraya, Lopburi and Pa Sak Rivers.
With a population of more than 75,000 people, the city experiences temperatures ranging from approximately 20°C–37°C; November–February is considered as the best time to visit.
Ayutthaya was destroyed in 1767 by the Burmese army, but its ruins still remain at the Ayutthaya Historical Park, with the modern town being set among the ruins. The city was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1991.
The cheapest and most scenic way to get to Ayutthaya is by train. However, minibuses and regular coaches from Bangkok are also available.

Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai is the second largest and one of the most significant cities in Thailand. Located on the Ping River, it is also the capital of the Chiang Mai Province. Home to a population of about 170,000 inhabitants, Chiang Mai is regarded as one of the premiere destinations in Asia owing to its mix of modern and traditional charm.
The climate in Chiang Mai is equatorial in nature with hot, humid summers and pleasant, cool winters. During July to October, monsoon rains bring forth the lush greenery. Winters are the best time to visit as this is when the climate is mild with bright sunshine and blooming flowers.
Chiang Mai was founded in 1296 and was a significant centre for pottery, carving and other arts. The city has still retained its glory in the various art and crafts shops. Today, it is a rapidly developing city in Thailand.

Hua Hin
Hua Hin is a famous beach resort town in the northern Malay Peninsula of Thailand. The town is 200 km south of the capital city Bangkok and lies on the western coast of the Gulf of Thailand.
Hua Hin is easily accessible from the capital city via the Hua Hin airport which presently caters to domestic flights. The train station is conveniently located in the centre of town.
Characterised by a hot and tropical climate, Hua Hin has the lowest rainfall in Thailand. The warm season is usually from November–April, with ocean breezes alleviating temperatures.
The population of Hua Hin is around 85,000. The King of Thailand has a summer palace in Hua Hin, which he uses regularly, and as a result, there is quite a lot of security in this region. It is also a good weekend getaway for locals and a lovely retirement option for foreigners.

Koh Samui
Koh Samui is the third largest island in the Kingdom of Thailand. It is located in the Surat Thani province and lies more than 500 km south of Bangkok. The tropical island, roughly circular in shape, is situated in the Gulf of Thailand.
Koh Samui has an airport with daily flights to Bangkok, but many tourists prefer using the night train, buses and ferries to avail of cheaper options to reach the island.
The island has a temperate climate with warm sunny temperatures that usually stay above 25°C. February to May is considered the hottest time of the year, and October to December generally isn’t advisable for a visit owing to the heavy monsoon.
Koh Samui has a population of nearly 50,000 people. It is surrounded by at least 60 sister islands which constitute the Ang Thong National Marine Park.

Mae Hong Son
Mae Hong Son is the capital of the province of Mae Hong Son, Thailand. This small and sleepy town lies on the banks of the River Pai and is located close to the Myanmar border. It is also said to be Thailand’s second northernmost provincial capital.
The town is served by the Mae Hong Son Airport, although it is possible to reach the town by road from the nearby tourist city of Chiang Mai.
Climate in Mae Hong Son is much cooler than the rest of Thailand. The town is covered with mist most of the year and earns a nickname of ‘the City of Three Mists’ because of the dewy mist in winter, the rain mist in the monsoons and the forest fire mist in summer. The best and most scenic time to visit is between November and April.
The population of Mae Hong Son is more than 6,000 people, which includes various hill tribe communities living in the region.

Rayong
Rayong is a scenic city in Thailand and the capital of the Rayong Province. Located close to the Gulf of Thailand, Rayong is a major agricultural and industrial centre of the country. Home to a population of about 54,000, the city is also a favoured tourist destination.
The city is defined by a tropical climate which is humid in nature. Frequent rains are experienced in this region. Although the temperatures are high, cool breezes temper the heat to a great extent. November to February is the best period to visit for the pleasant climate.
Historically, Rayong has been witness to various battles and takeovers. However, it continued to develop its economy relying heavily on fishing and agriculture. Today, it is a major industrial centre with rubber, manufacturing and the port industry being the main components.

Ubon Ratchathani
Ubon Ratchathani, also called Ubon, is the capital city of Ubon Ratchathani Province in Thailand. The city is located south-east of the Isaan region and lies on the banks of the Mun River. Ubon is one of the country’s largest provincial capitals and is more than 600 km north-east of Bangkok.
The Ubon Ratchathani-Muang Ubon Airport in the north of the city is a dual international airport and a Royal Thai Air Force Base. There are daily rail connections with Bangkok.
Ubon lies around 100 m above sea level and has average temperatures of around 25°C. However, during summers temperatures can rise up to 30°C or more.
The population of Ubon is estimated to be more than 100,000 people. With its natural wonders, heritage attractions and silk producing centres, Ubon Ratchathani is a popular Thai tourist destination.

Phi Phi Islands
Phi Phi Islands, known as the ‘Jewels of the Andaman Sea’, are a tiny group of islands located between the large island of Phuket and the western coast of mainland South Thailand.
The islands, home to around 2,000 people, are divided into two parts: Phi Phi Don (the larger group and the principal of the two) and the smaller Phi Phi Leh; together they comprise the Phi Phi National Marine Park and form an extension of the mainland Krabi province.
Destination Air Shuttle, the country’s sole seaplane shuttle, flies to Phi Phi from the Phuket International Airport. You can also take a pleasant boat ride from Krabi’s Chao Fah Bridge Pier.
The summer season in Phi Phi is between November and April, while the laden monsoon rains fall from May to October. Average temperatures are between 17°C–37°C.

Hilary is back with bang after Asia tour: NYT

2009-07-26T10:46:00.000-07:00

NEW YORK - After being supposedly sidelined at home due to a broken elbow, US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton’s increased visibility during her recent visit to India and Thailand has brought her back into the political limelight, says a New York Times editorial.

At every stop on her week-long trip, Clinton delivered the same message: “The United States is back,” but according to the editorial what she was hinting at that she was back.

Her unexpected statements about Iran, North Korea and Myanmar not only made headlines, but also solidified her position as America’s chief diplomat and most reliable celebrity, trailing President Obama only in terms of star power.

Her recent comments on world’s most sensitive issues even prompted her aides to issue clarifications. She had warned about nuclear links between North Korea and Myanmar. And she offered a rare glimpse into what the United States might do if Iran did not respond to Washington’s diplomatic overture.

In Bangkok, Clinton batted away suggestions that she had been marginalized. She said, it was a canard propagated by the media, which jumped on the fact that her recovery from an elbow injury had forced her to cancel two foreign trips, including one with Obama to Russia.

“I’m not with the president on the trip and all of a sudden everybody goes, ‘Oh, where is she? She’s gone, disappeared,’ ” Clinton said in a tone of mock horror on a TV show.

Hilary’s interviews in India reveal how she resisted Obama’s initial job offer and gave him names of people she thought would be suitable candidates. Obama told her he needed her and his persistence wore her down.

“He gave me an enormous amount of authority as Secretary of State, and really everything I asked for so that I could do the job that he wanted me to do,,” she said, “and I was running out of excuses.”

Now, back in the business, Clinton seems determined to continue with her breakneck schedule back home. On Friday, she scheduled a full day of meetings, including one with the Iraqi prime minister, Nuri Kamal al-Maliki. On Sunday, she is to appear live on a “Meet the Press” to discuss various issues.

And next week, she will be the co-chairwoman of a high-level meeting with Chinese officials, along with Treasury Secretary Timothy F. Geithner. (ANI)

Travel news in brief

2009-07-25T22:17:00.000-07:00

Travel news in brief including a crackdown on scams in Thailand; a legal threat to Thomson, Virgin and BA price-fixing payout; and route watch.

Passengers have threatened to take legal action against Britain’s biggest tour operator after contracting norovirus while on a Thomson cruise in May. The law firm Irwin Mitchell, acting for 17 passengers who travelled on Thomson Spirit, has questioned hygiene standards on the ship. Thomson says every effort was made to contain the virus, and that an outbreak on board a cruise ship is not indicative of a failing in hygiene standards.

Crackdown on scams

Police authorities in Thailand are to be tougher with illegal taxis and unlicensed guides at Bangkok airport. The transport minister, Sohpon Zarum, called for new measures to protect foreign tourists.

Price-fixing payout

BA and Virgin Atlantic are to pay compensation to up to 170,000 British passengers following allegations of price-fixing over fuel surcharges. The law firm Hausfeld & Co confirmed that payments of between £2 and £10 per flight had been authorised in 133,000 cases.

Route watch

Aer Lingus (www.aerlingus.com) will start a daily service from Heathrow to Shannon on October 25.

Hellenic Imperial (www.hellenicairways.com) will start a weekly service from Birmingham to Athens this weekend, aiming to make it twice weekly next month.

Air Pacific (www.airpacific.com) will start a twice-weekly service from Hong Kong to Fiji in December.

Icelandair (www.icelandair.com) will fly between Glasgow and Reykjavik from August 27.

EasyJet (www.easyjet.com) will fly from Luton to Tel Aviv from November 2, and to Agadir from November 10.

China Invasion of Phuket Begins: Photo Special

2009-07-25T06:19:00.000-07:00

THE FIRST of 105 new flights from China arrived on Phuket last night, greeted with smiles, Thai dancing, beating drums, and a sense of relief.

There was no swine flu scanner to greet the arrival of the 160 tourists from Guangzhou. What would be the point?

As a pandemic, the H1N1 virus is now everywhere, and no longer a reason not to travel.

And as China is considered to be a difficult market for Thailand to win right now, the flight was something of a triumph, going healthily against the trend.

By Phuketwan's rough calculations, the Guangzhou flights in the next year at a rate of two a week are worth about 250 million baht in extra spending on the island.

Little wonder then that passengers on last night's first flight were greeted enthusiastically by the Governor, Wichai Praisa-nob, his wife, Thaisika, Vice Governor, Worapot Rattasima, the regional director of The Tourism Authority of Thailand, Setthapan Putthani, and the general manager of Phuket Airport, Prathuang Somkhom.

Leading the incoming tourists, who will stay for five days, was Chen-Pbi Yu, CEO of CZL Travel, a large Guagzhou agent, and a local secretary of the Communist Party.

''This is my first time on Phuket,'' she said. ''The welcome is a wonderful surprise.''

As Phuketwan reported earlier this month, passenger numbers through Phuket in June dipped by 8.60 percent in June, taking the total decline for the first six months of 2009 to 13.28 percent.

This compares favorably with the decline of almost 23 percent reported for international travellers through Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport in June.

While Phuket has had to deal with the economic downturn, swine flu and political uncertainty in Thailand, Bangkok has those three, plus allegations of an extortion scam.

Phuket TAT has been trying to unlock the China market for quite a while.

The invasion of the Pattaya Asean summit in April and street scuffles in Bangkok brought the previous attempt undone.

Last night, all went well. Among the arriving passengers were seven members of the Yuan family, all dressed in orange shirts.

Siyin Yuan, 23, a student, who speaks English, said it was the first time the family had holidayed together overseas.

''We've been waiting for a long time to come,'' she said. ''Lots of people talk about Phuket in Guagnzhou. Here's hoping it's as good as people tell us it is.''

China is not the only market that Phuket is tapping. New flights from Korea begin on Monday, with two flights a week coming until October.

New 747 charter flights from Spain began last Wednesday, with each flight carrying 450 passengers, and will continue twice a week until October.

Airport Scam: Duty Free Store Declares Innocence
Latest The duty free firm named in Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi scam declares its innocence as the airport, a transit stop for many passengers to Phuket, prepares for a crackdown.

The best hotel in Bangkok

2009-07-24T13:01:00.000-07:00

Whether it’s for a special occasion or simply somewhere to enjoy the finer things in life, sometimes only five-star luxury will suffice. But, in today’s economic climate, hotels have to go a lot further in order to entice holidaymakers to part with their hard-earned money.

When paying top dollar for a suite or villa, travellers want to know that they’re getting VIP treatment. It’s all about the experience. With this in mind, Carol Driver reviews the best hotels in Thailand for travelbite.co.uk, starting with the five-star Lebua in Bangkok.

Standing, literally, head and shoulders above other hotels in Bangkok, the reputation of Lebua at State Tower precedes it.

I had seen the pictures, so I had expectations as high as the 247-metre tall building even before visiting what has been described as the finest, all-suite hotel in the Thai capital.

But, when I arrive at midnight, I’m tired after two flights to get from Vietnam to Bangkok airport – a 40-minute drive away – and want to relax. The staff are efficient and very friendly and I’m checked in quickly and taken to my 52nd-floor room.

I want to go straight to sleep, but my two-bedroom executive suite – one of 358 rooms - demands me to explore.

At more than 118 square metres, the word “spacious” doesn’t quite do it justice. There is a separate lounge area with two large sofas and a plasma TV – and there are two other TVs – one each in the generous bedrooms.

The master bedroom also boasts a welcoming king-size bed and an oversized en-suite bathroom.
The design is modern East-meets-West, without being complicated, and it’s very elegant, using calm, earthly colours.

However, the piece du resistance is actually outside of Lebua’s stylish rooms – which also has four large sets of double doors around the suite which lead out on to balconies.

The hotel is in the second tallest tower in Bangkok, and, situated by the Chao Phraya River in Silom Road, the panoramic view of the frenzied city is stunning.

I’m tempted to order a midnight cocktail from the 24-hour room service and take in the majestic sights for longer, but instead I decide to succumb to sleep – and I’m glad I do, as I wake up in the morning completely refreshed.

A buffet breakfast offering every type of cuisine imaginable – from spicy Thai soup to bacon and eggs - is available from the colourfully decorated Middle Eastern-themed Cafe Mozu which is next to the impressive outdoor pool. I fill up on an array of dishes before setting off to explore the city.

Lebua is based in the centre of Bangkok’s financial district – convenient for business travellers and also for tourists – as the main attractions, including the Grand Palace and the Reclining Buddha are within easy reach.

That evening, I have reservations at Breeze – one of State Tower’s four highly acclaimed restaurants. For an aperitif, there are three bars from which to choose including Sky Bar – on the 63rd floor at The Dome, it’s one of the world’s highest open air bars with breathtaking views.

My guest and I make our way to Breeze – which is located high above sea level on the 51st and 52nd floors, with half undercover in case of bad weather. The entrance to the restaurant is dramatic – we walk over the impressive, 25-metre, space-age blue sky bridge which is suspended above a lily pond – overlooking the twinkling lights of the city.

Dubbed as a contemporary Asian seafood restaurant, the menu is extensive – and the chef is happy to create a tasting menu so diners can sample a selection of the dishes on offer.

Ken Ho works his magic and we make our way through delicate, mouth-watering courses – including Shanghai style chilled drunken pork with Japanese edamame beans and jelly fish as well as grilled Chilean seabass with asparagus in Tahiti lemon sauce - accompanied by a selection of wines from the 3,000-strong choice available.

The meal is exquisite – as is my stay at Lebua. With attentive, friendly staff, luxurious rooms, restaurants offering unique dining experiences and views that simply take your breath away, it’s obvious why the award-winning hotel is held in such high regard.

And, if it’s five-star luxury for a special occasion or business trip that you’re looking for, Lebua, which towers – in every sense of the word - over other Bangkok hotels, should be your first choice.

Carol Driver