Jetsettersblog

CATALINA EXPRESS REPEATS POPULAR CATALINA DAY PASS

Pass Offers Day Savings on Island Adventures and Activities

LONG BEACH, Calif. – With a click of the mouse, visitors planning a trip to Santa Catalina Island can download a Catalina Day Pass from www.CatalinaExpress.com, through Sept. 3, 2009, with super savings on adventures and activities on the Island. Just by presenting and referencing the Catalina Day Pass, visitors receive discounts on a host of deals offered by Santa Catalina Island Company, with its Tour Catalina Island; a Jeep Eco Tour; Catalina Scuba Luv; Descanso Beach Ocean Sports; Guided Natural History Kayak Tours; Catalina Island Golf Course; Ocean Rafting; and Parasailing.

Santa Catalina Island Company offers a saving of 25% on Discovery Tours’ Glass bottom Boat, Avalon Scenic, or Casino Walking Tour (not valid with any other offers).

Learn more at

www.VisitCatalinaIsland.com

golf devotees can tee up on the Catalina Island Golf Course, a scenic 2,100-yard course, with nine challenging holes and two sets of tees for 18-hole play.

The Catalina Scuba Luv offers underwater adventure, with discounts for day-trippers on rentals, guided and introductory dives, and snorkeling tours. Descanso Beach Ocean Sports features two-for-one rentals of kayaks, snorkel gear, and wetsuits.

Parasailing, offering a $10 savings, is a breathtaking way to soar, either solo or in tandem, while those preferring other sports can take a sightseeing tour or snorkel.

Guided Natural History Kayak Tours take participants to some of Catalina’s most fabulous coves. Ocean Rafting aboard power rafts takes visitors to Two Harbors, where they see a spectacular variety of marine life along the way; and The three-hour Custom Jeep Eco Tour takes passengers into Catalina’s beautiful interior, guided by an island naturalist.

Visit www.CatalinaExpress.com  for a downloadable Catalina Day Pass and links to each exciting adventure. Also save on hotel packages with Catalina Express’ Paradise Packages, which include accommodations and roundtrip boat transportation.

It’s easy to get to Catalina aboard Catalina Express, which offers a full schedule of departures during the summer from Long Beach, San Pedro, and Dana Point.

For information, call Catalina Express, at 800-429-4601 or visit www.catalinaexpress.com  to make a reservation online.

If you’re having more fun than you can fit into one day, extend your stay at one of Catalina’s premier visitor accommodations.

For information, contact Hotel Villa Portofino, 888-510-0555, www.hotelvillaportofino.com ; Santa Catalina Island Company, 800-626-4804, www.visitcatalinaisland.com ; Two Harbors Enterprises (310) 510-0303, www.VisitTwoHarbors.com , and the Catalina Island Golf Course, 310-510-0530.

Now more than ever, people are interested in how their food is produced.

They want to meet the producers and talk with them about what goes into the food production process.

Agricultural tourism, or agritourism, responds to this new demand.

This is a style of vacation that normally includes staying on a farm, getting engaged into farm activities ranging from picking fruits or feeding animals, to planting crops. In our actual highly urbanized life, agritourism creates a great opportunity to connect children to nature.

Some of them who visit the farms have often never seen a live duck, or pig, and have never picked an apple right off the tree. This will also give them the chance to help with farming tasks during their visit.

Agritourism farms in Martinique offer a chance to develop the local economy, create eco-oriented craft souvenirs, and inform visitors about current agriculture practices. Some of the farms also provide accommodations, usually on location, in order for the visitor to fully experience “Martinique Green”, the other side of the island.

Places to Ride booklet available

Are you confused about the new off-highway vehicle laws or need the dust abatement actions clarified?

Do you just want to know where to ride OHVs?

There is a new booklet just for you thanks to the OHV programs from the Arizona Game and Fish Department and the Arizona State Parks Department working together. This new booklet contains all of the OHV management laws currently in effect in Arizona as well as a list of places to ride across the state.

The booklet includes explanations about Arizona titling, registration and the OHV Decal, information about equipment and protective gear needed to ride as well as educational and training options and opportunities.

“This booklet has a little something for everyone, including information about wildlife and wildlife habitat protection, new dust laws and ordinances, land management agencies and tips about safe, ethical and responsible use that can help keep access to riding and hunting areas open are also in the new guide,” said Jim Harken, the OHV Public Information Officer for the Game and Fish Department.

An updated “Places to Ride” section shows you the various riding opportunities available across the state, complete with a free map to help you pinpoint the use area location.

To obtain a copy of the new booklet go to many locations including National Forest Service offices, Bureau of Land Management offices, the Arizona State Land Department Office, State Parks offices and all Game and Fish Department Offices. The booklet is also in downloadable PDF form on both the State Parks and Game and Fish Department Web sites at www.azstateparks.com/ohv  and www.azgfd.gov/ohv.

Funding for this project came from the new OHV Decal program that was part of the OHV management legislation that was passed in 2008 and went into effect Jan. 1, 2009.

And as always, remember: Nature Rules! Stay on roads and trails.

La Jolla, California – Surf Diva Surf School is proud to announce their new surf division: What’SUP, specifically for Standup Paddle (SUP) surfing.

Known to the originators as, Hoe he’e nalu, Standup Paddleboarding is an ancient form of surfing and can be traced back to ancient Polynesia.

Standup Paddle Boarding, or SUP, is the hottest new sport to hit the coast in San Diego. Long recognized in Hawaii as a great way to get a workout on a flat day, standup paddle boarding has also evolved into a new variation of surfing for those who want a fun activity with instant success and an easy learning curve.

Surf Diva Surf School, in the teaching business for 14 successful years, is one of the first schools in San Diego to offer lessons and rentals of SUP boards through its new program called What’SUP.

Located in the most idyllic spot on the west coast to gently launch into the ocean’s premiere scenic and environmentally protected aquatic park, La Jolla Cove and ecological preserve, What’SUP features top male and female instructors from as far as Hawaii and Australia who are drawn to this program because of its stellar worldwide reputation.

What’SUP teaches all ages, including kids, since they are open to anyone who can swim. In fact, co-owner Izzy Tihanyi notes that women seem to learn to balance on the boards a bit easier than most men.

“We’ve taught many couples where the husband is a great surfer and the wife is just starting out.

But on a SUP they are on an even playing field and the ladies just love it!”

“You don’t have to be a surfer to learn to SUP. It’s fun to just paddle in the flat water. The view from above is amazing,” says co-owner Coco Tihanyi.

The water at La Jolla Cove is so clear that you can see through to the leopard sharks (not dangerous, mostly bottom feeders), garibaldi (California’s state fish), and the occasional sea lion, dolphin, or sea bass.

From the SUP it’s one of the most beautiful views in the world: the sweeping cliffs with the famous caves of La Jolla all the way past the Scripps Institute of Oceanography Pier to the fine dark silky sand at Black’s Beach.

Catching waves is something that Surf Diva also teaches, but recommends a basic surfing background before attempting to launch into the line-up.

“It’s important to know what you are doing if you are going for waves, especially in a crowded spot. These are huge boards and understanding how the maneuver in the surf is important for both safety and etiquette,” says Izzy Tihanyi.

“Our SUP instructors are both excellent surfers and paddlers, in addition to being fully certified Surf Diva instructors, are pre-requisites to teaching this amazing sport. So before paddling out to the surf, sign up for a package of SURF n SUP lessons at Surf Diva Surf School, you’ll be glad you did!”

The recent growth of SUP has been recently noted by TransWorld Surf Magazine in an April 2009 article outlining the phenomenal reach of the sport.

For more information on the SUP program, please surf over to

www.whatsupsurf.com  or www.surfdiva.com  or call 858-454-8273

About Surf Diva

Established in 1996 by twin sisters Izzy and Coco Tihanyi, Surf Diva has introduced thousands of women from all over the world to the sport and spirit of surfing and is internationally recognized as the world’s leading surf school.

With Izzy as the ‘Surf’ and Coco the ‘Diva’, the Surf Diva boutique opened its doors in 2004 and has been selling a variety of fashion forward and functional surf gear ever since. Surf Diva also designs, markets, and sells its own line of apparel. The line is enhanced by creative embellishments to catch the Diva’s true independent and adventurous spirit. Read the Jetsetters Magazine feature by Lena Hunt about Surf Diva.

Spend summer in the Alps in the picturesque village of Samoens, officially one of the prettiest villages in France (Awarded Monument Historique and Village Fleuri). Accommodation, with stunning views and shared indoor and outdoor pools, is at Les Fermes de Samoens. Local activities include children’s adventure park, walking, cycling, climbing, mountain-biking, paragliding, swimming, quad-biking. Nearby resorts (within 5-20 minutes drive) offer a bathing lake, hot-air ballooning, white-water rafting, pot-holing, walking under waterfalls or take a lift up the mountain with a picnic, and eat it in a flower filled meadow overlooking the village and mountains.

Prices per apartment per week (based on a 2 bedroom apartment sleeping up to 6 people, with bed linen and towels):

For further details visit www.directAlpinesun.com

InterContinental Asiana Saigon is located at the heart of the city’s commercial and cultural districts. It is just within walking distance from the colonial sights of Notre Dame Cathedral and the Old Saigon Post Office. Also a few minutes away are famous landmarks like the Reunification Palace, the City Hall and the beautiful Opera House.

The cornerstone of Kumho Asiana Saigon complex, featuring up market commercial, retail and accommodation, the hotel is also adjacent to InterContinental Asiana Saigon Residences which offer 260 luxurious residential suites.

Last but not least, it is a 30-minute drive from Tan Son Nhat International Airport.

Opening September 2009, InterContinental Asiana Saigon is the exciting new landmark in the heart of Ho Chi Minh City, the commercial hub of Vietnam and its largest city. Rising 21 stories above cosmopolitan Hai Ba Trung Street, this integrated complex will be a new business and leisure destination, offering unparalleled 360-degree views of downtown area.

InterContinental Asiana Saigon offers luxury accommodation with 305 beautifully appointed rooms and suites, a stylish Club Lounge with panoramic views, and the finest meeting and banquet facilities in town, all designed with the savvy business traveler orientation in mind.

The city’s newest and most stylish address also offers signature dining options, an innovative cocktail bar, exclusive spa and health club, and luxury boutique arcade.

In the Know

Our service philosophy understands the needs of the sophisticated travelers and is delivered with the genuine warmth and personal engagement of the Vietnamese. Whether it is exploring Saigon’s boutiques and fascinating shopping options along Dong Khoi Street or making a tour through famous landmark of the Notre Dame Cathedral, we have the insider’s knowledge to connect guests to the pulse of modern Saigon, providing authentic experiences that will enrich their lives and broaden their outlook. At InterContinental Asiana Saigon, we call it In the Know Service.

Guest Rooms & Suites

Contemporary luxury and personalised service await guests in each of our 305 elegantly appointed rooms, including 19 suites and the chic Presidential Suite.

Every room features pillow top bedding, floor-to-ceiling windows will create unparalleled grandeur and an inviting space for a truly relaxing stay.

Hotel Facilities

• Club InterContinental at 19th floor with many privileges
• Full serviced Business Center
• 3 restaurants (Yu Chu – Chinese restaurant, Market 39 – International restaurant, Basilico – Italian restaurant, located at InterContinental Asiana Saigon Residences)
• Lobby Lounge (The Library) and Entertainment Bar (Purple Jade)
• Health Club and Spa InterContinental
• 20-meter long outdoor lap pool with city skyline views

• Meeting spaces totaling 1,708sqm, located on the same floor with in-door and out-door pre-function spaces
• Grand Ballroom for up to 600 people in banquet style
• 10 meeting rooms on the same floor
• Undercover parking

Dining & Entertainment

Yu Chu
Our contemporary-design Chinese restaurant will specialize in authentic Cantonese and Peking cuisine created in its live show kitchen. Watch our chefs prepare delicious signature dishes, such as handmade noodles, dim sum, and Peking duck. The live seafood is also not to be missed.

Market 39
A wide delectables selection of appetizers, seafood, grilled dishes, noodles and pastries will be prepared live in our seven interactive kitchens, showcasing the best of French, Vietnamese and South East Asian cuisines.

Basilico
A contemporary, casual Trattoria style restaurant specializing in authentic Italian dishes in authentic Italian. Restaurant features a wood-fire pizza oven and a boutique wine selection.

The Library
Whether you prefer to unwind with a chilled glass of Chardonnay or a relaxing cup of Earl Grey, The Library provides a welcoming atmosphere for those in search of tranquility, comfort and personalized service.

Purple Jade
Let the bustle of the city melt away as you listen to live music and enjoy innovative cocktails and delightful nibbles in our Purple Jade. This upcoming place-to-be provides a new take on “Club Service” with a selection of Shaoxing and Maotai rice wines to tempt you.

Meetings & Events

InterContinental Asiana Saigon will be the premier meeting venue in the city, offering the latest technology in equipment. These elegantly finished banquet and meeting spaces are all located on the same level for delegates convenience. The majority of conference rooms is with natural lights.

The pillar less Grand Ballroom, largest in the downtown area, will be the perfect venue for themed dinners, gala events and fashionable weddings for up to 600 people in banquet style.

Our dedicated events team will tailor unique experiences for events, personally handling them from start to end. We will also share our local knowledge to ensure that the guests enjoy local experiences and make the most of their visit to Saigon.

InterContinental Asiana Saigon -  InterContinental Asiana Saigon is an exciting new landmark in the heart of Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam s commercial centre. The hotel is close to the colonial sights of Notre Dame Cathedral and the Old Saigon Post Office, a few minutes from famous landmarks like the Reunification Palace, City Hall and the beautiful Opera House. Guests can enjoy some of the city s premier shopping in the same complex. The InterContinental Asiana Saigon Residences with 260 luxurious apartments is next door. Personalized service awaits guests in each of the 305 elegantly-appointed rooms, including 19 suites and a stylish Presidential Suite. Pillow-top bedding and floor-to-ceiling windows will create unparalleled grandeur and an inviting space for a relaxing stay. Tan Son Nhat International Airport is a 30-minute drive away. **NOTE: We are currently on schedule to open all hotel facilities from September 1st. However, as with all hotel openings, there may be a remote possibility that one or more of our services will not be fully operational by that date. For clarification please contact the hotel directly. Our signature Chinese restaurant Yu Chu is set to open on 1 November 2009.

Enjoy the true essence of Cambodia with one of our unique lifestyle experiences – savour the finest of foods and wines; indulge in a revitalizing spa treatment; connect with the local community – all while encompassed by unique designer surroundings and within the shadows of Angkor Wat, the spiritual heart and cultural soul of a proud nation.

INITIMATE

Indulge yourself with that special someone. Our Intimate Experience offers a romantic candle-lit dinner on our signature swinging tables at Meric Restaurant and a hands-on ”Pamper your Partner” massage lesson. Create your own timeless memories in an unforgettable location.

• Three nights accommodation in a Deluxe Guestroom, Suite or Duplex Spa Suite
• “Cocktail of Peace” and local fruit selection upon arrival
• Daily a la carte breakfast
• Nightly turn down treat
• Early check-in and late check-out (subject to availability)
• Private vehicle airport transfers
• One day temple pass including private vehicle & driver
• Complimentary use of iPod with pre-programmed narrative for temple tours

And

• Fire Courtyard dinner on the Swings (choice of Khmer or Western set menu)
• Private “Pamper your Partner” massage class.

REVITALISE

Relax and rejuvenate with our Revitalize Experience. Our “Stimulator” massage is specially designed to release tension while boosting circulation. Complement this with the Spa Indochine menu featuring natural cuisine and selected herbal teas – sure to create that post temple-touring glow and feeling of total
well being.

• Three nights accommodation in a Deluxe Guestroom, Suite or Duplex Spa Suite
• “Cocktail of Peace” and local fruit selection upon arrival
• Daily a la carte breakfast
• Nightly turn down treat
• Early check-in/late check-out (subject to availability)
• Private vehicle airport transfers
• One day temple pass including private vehicle & driver
• Complimentary use of iPod with pre-programmed narrative for temple tours

And

• “Stimulator” massage treatment (may be taken in-room for Duplex Spa Suite bookings)
• Spa Indochine lunch menu featuring natural cuisine and herbal teas.
Sivutha Boulevard, Siem Reap, Kingdom of Cambodia
Tel: 855 (0) 63 966 000 Fax: 855 (0) 63 966 001 www.hoteldelapaixangkor.com

CONNECT

Savour all things Khmer with a unique experience that includes a visit to the vibrant and bustling market with our guide. Discover a tantalizing array of produce – from distinctly delicate herbs to the exotic snake or crocodile – just some of the delicacies you may find on the Khmer Tasting Menu during your stay.

Complement your ‘connecting’ experience with a tuk-tuk ride to a local village or pagoda to deliver Family Food Support (or we can deliver it for you) or indulge in a picnic lunch at the temples. For those wishing to connect further with the local community and villages, we offer many customized options.

• Three nights accommodation in a Deluxe Guestroom, Suite or Duplex Spa Suite
• “Cocktail of Peace” and local fruit selection upon arrival
• Daily a la carte breakfast
• Nightly turn down treat
• Early check-in/late check-out (subject to availability)
• Private vehicle airport transfers
• One day temple pass including private vehicle & driver
• Complimentary use of iPod with pre-programmed narrative for temple tours

And

• Escorted Psar Char Market excursion
• Our Signature seven course Khmer Tasting Menu in Meric Restaurant
• Community-based activity OR a picnic lunch at the temples.
And if booking a Duplex Spa Suite
• 30 minute “massage by the blind” (advance booking necessary)
Terms & Conditions

Validity Date Room Type
Three night
experience for:
Additional night price
per room per night

Until 30 September 09 Deluxe Guestroom USD 810 USD 220
Deluxe Suite USD 1065 USD 305
Duplex Spa Suite USD 1404 USD 415

01 October 09 to 31 March 10 Deluxe Guestroom USD 976 USD 275
Deluxe Suite USD 1261 USD 370
Duplex Spa Suite USD 1740 USD 530
Experiences detailed and rates are based on two guests per room, staying three nights.

All rates are in USD.

All rates are exclusive of 5% service charge, 2% accommodation tax and 10% Government tax.

Extra bed, child policy, cancellation etc as per website terms and conditions.

The rates quoted are subject to change.
For reservations or enquiries please contact: book@hoteldelapaixangkor.com

Hotel De La Paix, a five star boutique hotel, created by internationally-acclaimed designer Bill Bensley,offers 107 stylish guestrooms and suites featuring plasma TVs, iPods and rainfall showers. Located only six kilometers from the magnificent UNESCO-world heritage site of Angkor, the hotel is set around an inner courtyard of gardens and Khmer-style water features. Embracing the future. Respecting the past.

Sivutha Boulevard, Siem Reap, Kingdom of Cambodia
Tel: 855 (0) 63 966 000 Fax: 855 (0) 63 966 001 www.hoteldelapaixangkor.com

The desert resort Banyan Tree Al Wadi will be situated in the Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah offering an exclusive dune camp experience.

The camp will be nestled in the fertile plains and shimmering blue waters of the Arabian Gulf set against the backdrop of the Al Hajjar Mountains and the rolling dunes of the desert.

The elegant façade of the resort emulates an ancient Arabian fortress leading to 70 pool villas and 31 tented pool villas dotted seamlessly across the landscape. Each villa showcases elaborate Arabic touches of lattice woodwork and intricate carvings and will transport guests to an authentic Arabian desert experience.

Ideal for eco-explorers, spa enthusiasts and those just seeking a tranquil and spiritual retreat, the resort will offer adventure activities from dune safaris, camel riding and archery to desert pampering with an extensive spa with hydrothermal circuit, hammam and vitality pool.

For those wanting to explore, the resort is 20 km away from the bustling city of Ras Al Khaimah and 10km from the beach where guests will enjoy the seclusion of a private off shore island for sun, sea and sand.

For more information, please visit www.banyantree.com

BANGKOK, Thailand — In an bid to tell world golfers what Asian golfers already know, the golf establishment in Thailand has launched ‘Golf in a Kingdom: The Thai Golf Experience’, a cooperative itinerary that matches the country’s top courses with its most desirable hotels.

The Kingdom of Thailand has for decades been the destination of choice for Asian golfers, thanks to its stellar courses, superb year-round climate and welcoming culture. By banding together to form ‘Golf in a Kingdom: The Thai Golf Experience’ (www.golfinakingdom.com) these courses and hotels mean to cement a place for Thailand alongside the world’s premier golf destinations.

“I think golfers in North America have an inkling that golf is played in Thailand; Europeans have slightly more of an inkling, but I don’t think golfers on either continent fully realize that this is a country with more than 250 courses, many of them as good as you’ll find anywhere in the world,” said Mark Siegel, president of Bangkok-based tour operator Golfasian.

The Tourist Authority of Thailand (TAT) has partnered with eight premium golf properties, Golfasian and six of the country’s premier hotels to form ‘Golf in a Kingdom: The Thai Golf Experience’.

The cooperative effort has been in the planning since 2007, but its launch this month is timely. According to TAT, some 3.2 million visitors arrived in Thailand the first quarter of 2009 – a 19 percent decrease from the previous year.

It’s unclear whether this drop is attributable to the peaceful-but-ongoing political disquiet in Thailand or the worldwide economic slump.
“I live here and the reality is, the political issues in Thailand haven’t had any effect on the day-to-day lives of citizens or tourists — but the economic slowdown has surely affected tourists: prices have dropped across the board,” Siegel asserted. “I don’t think there’s ever been a more economical time to visit here. That’s not hype; it’s a fact. Launching ‘Golf in a Kingdom’ now has allowed us to offer value we could not have offered in 2008.”

In May 2009, a CNN International tourism poll asserted that Thailand, among first-world nations, represents the best value for travelers in the entire Asia Pacific region. Conducted across CNN English websites, the survey had more than 5,000 respondents globally.

“The world gets a bit smaller every day,” Siegel continued. “We hope to shrink it just enough with ‘Golf in a Kingdom’ to give North American and European golfers a taste of Thai culture and hospitality, because one visit is normally all it takes. The number of golfers who try Thailand then return for a second and third helping is pretty extraordinary.”

From the mystical hill country of Chiang Rai in the northwest corner to the breathtaking beaches of Koh Samui in the Gulf of Thailand, ‘Golf in a Kingdom: The Thai Golf Experience’ takes in some of the most lush and varied terrain on the planet. That sort of real estate – linked by Thailand’s enviably modern transportation infrastructure – translates into the Kingdom’s stunning golf properties, including:

* Banyan Golf Club, a new hillside course just outside the charming coastal town of Hua Hin, preferred holiday retreat of the Thai Royal Family for almost a century.

* Chiang Mai Highlands Golf & Spa Resort, an inventive Schmidt/Curley design 1,000 feet above sea level in the cool, northern region.

* Muang Kaew Golf Club, the closest course to bustling Bangkok, with sterling greens and a par 3 that looks eerily similar to the 12th at Augusta National.

* Santiburi Chiang Rai Country Club, where Robert Trent Jones II crafted 18 dramatic holes that either skirt a chain of lakes or flow over the low hills of Bang Bor.

* Santiburi Samui Country Club, site of the newest Asian Tour event, the Queen’s Cup, and traversing a jungle of towering coconut trees at the foot of Khao Pom Mountain.

* Siam Country Club, Plantation Course, this 27-hole Schmidt-Curley design played host to the 2009 Honda LPGA Thailand just two years after opening

* Siam Country Club, Old Course, always immaculately maintained, it hosted the 2007 Honda LPGA event and features perhaps the toughest closing stretch in the country.

* Thai Country Club, site of Tiger Woods’s 1997 Asia Honda Classic victory and the ‘Best Championship Course in Asia’, as voted by Asian Golf Monthly readers in 2008.

Thailand also harbors the Asia’s newest and broadest collection of 5-star accommodations — at prices North Americans and Europeans may not believe at first. ‘Golf in a Kingdom’ embraces that development by bridging rounds of golf with nights at posh, brand-name resorts, including:

* Anantara Phuket, a collection of 83 private pool villas set within indigenous gardens of jasmine, orchids and birds of paradise. Conde Nast Traveller magazine just named this property to its coveted worldwide “Hot List” for 2009.

* Bangkok Marriott Resort & Spa, located across the Chao Phraya River from the city center but with all the tranquility and kick-back appeal a traveler could wish for in an urban setting.

* Anantara Golden Triangle, a luxury nature retreat set amid 160 acres of tropical jungle, all of it hewing to the winding Mekong River and a border dividing three countries.

* Anantara Hua Hin, nestled in 14 acres of luxuriant tropical gardens along the white sand beaches on the Gulf of Thailand.

* Anantara Koh Samui, serenely perched above a quiet stretch of sand, and just steps from the shimmering waters that lap Samui Island.

* Hua Hin Marriott Resort & Spa, whose architecture combines space, color and natural light with traditional Thai design themes to create a sense of harmony and grandeur.

“The beauty of this marked shift toward high-quality lodging, which has been taking place here for 20 years actually, is that Thailand remains affordable,” said Boyd Barker, Hua Hin Marriott’s general manager.

“If there’s a positive to the hit tourism has taken here, of late, it’s that prices reflect this drop in demand.

” There’s no better place to go on holiday, and there’s no better time than right now.”

The attraction extends beyond golf and resorts. Never colonized by foreign powers and known as Siam until 1939, Thailand remains a constitutional monarchy.

But during the past half century it has managed to seamlessly blend Western influences and Buddhist beliefs, producing a first-world destination with an Old World feel.

Six distinct geographical regions — ranging from 8,000-foot-high mountains in the north to a maze of limestone islands rising out of the Andaman Sea in the south — only add to the country’s diverse allure.
“Of all the countries in Southeast Asia, Thailand provides the greatest value,” said Santi Chudintra, Director of TAT Los Angeles.

“The people are welcoming, the culture is unique and the scenery is spectacular. Thai food, which everyone wants to talk about, is just a small part of the menu.”

For more information on ‘Golf in a Kingdom: The Thai Golf Experience’, or to make golf travel plans in Thailand, visit www.golfinakingdom.com , or send email to info@golfinakingdom.com

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. and its Element Hotels brand announced a partnership with Carbon Day Automotive to install a ChargePoint Networked Charging Station at Element Lexington, Starwood’s first Element property, which opened in July 2008.

The ChargePoint Networked Charging Station was developed by Coulomb Technologies and is distributed by Green Power Technologies.

Both guests and travelers in the area can simply swipe a keyfob, plug in and charge up their electric vehicles at the station.

A first in the hotel industry, travelers will be able to locate the charging station and even determine whether it is currently unoccupied by using Google maps. The ChargePoint Networked Charging Station is the most recent in a series of green initiatives implemented at Element Hotels, Starwood’s working laboratory for green design, practices and operations. The hotels also provide preferred parking for drivers of hybrid or electric cars and “bikes to borrow” for guests. With four Element hotels open to-date, Element is the only major hotel brand to mandate that its properties pursue the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification.

Element and Carbon Day will share the cost for the ChargePoint Networked Charging Station, an unobtrusive device equipped with a universal plug-in for all kinds of electric vehicles including cars, buses, Segway scooters and bikes. The ChargePoint Networked Charging Station utilizes the ChargePoint Network, which includes a choice of flexible subscription plans and sophisticated search technology via Google maps.