TRAVEL TITBITS

New Pattaya app launched

Designated Areas for Sustainable Tourism Administration (Dasta) has launched the Smart Pattaya Version 2.

The app features up to 300 places in Pattaya and its vicinity. Under the “Journey” function, users can choose to find attractions based on themes such as cruising, community-based tourism and outdoor adventure.

Each attraction has contact numbers, entrance fees, an interactive map and a voice narration for users to listen to information of each place. Maps and most content can be accessed offline.

The app also has an “Event” function to update users about upcoming activities and festivals such as the Pattaya Vegetarian Festival from Oct 20-28. Lastly, there is a promotion section for visitors to enjoy special discounts for food or shopping in Pattaya.

Since the app focuses more on attractions, it has a limited choice of accommodation. There is no complete list of places to stay, but some resorts and restaurants can be found in the category of “Place”.

The app is available in four languages; English, Thai, Chinese and Russian. It’s available for free download for both iOS and Android mobile phone users. Visit goo.gl/V6iWbz. Meanwhile, Dasta has recently led 250 volunteers to collect garbage while trekking to the top of Khao Luang Mountain in Ramkhamhaeng National Park in Sukhothai.

The route is 3.7km long and an average time for reaching to the top is about four hours. During the two-day activity, the team collected 158.41kg of litter.

Largest buffet record

Thailand has set a new Guinness World Record for Largest Buffet during the recent Samui Festival 2017.

A total of 5,829 dishes were arranged for a 2.5km-long buffet on Chaweng Beach during the festival to mark the 120th anniversary of Koh Samui district, which was founded in 1897.

According to the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), the event organiser, the buffet was open to the public for free. The activity was in line with TAT’s gastronomy tourism efforts.

The buffet at Samui Festival in Surat Thani broke the previous 2010 record of 5,612 different dishes organised by the Art of Living Foundation in India.

Hotels update

X2 Vibe Pattaya Seaphere will be launched on Nov 1.

Located in Soi Na Chom Thian 32, the eight-storey property offers 65 rooms with options of a studio to one- and two-bedroom suites.

The room sizes are from 29m² to 54m². Other features are a rooftop swimming pool, a restaurant and bar.

The hotel is about 200m from the beach.

Visit x2vibe.com/residences/pattaya-seaphere.

InterContinental Hotels Group has launched its first property in Rayong.

Called Holiday Inn & Suites Rayong City Centre, the 30-storey hotel features 288 rooms including 64 suites, restaurants, a 400-seat ballroom, three meeting rooms, a rooftop pool, fitness centre and Executive Club.

“We are proud to be the first internationally-branded hotel in Rayong and confident that our guests will value the comfortable, convenient and welcoming experience promised by the Holiday Inn brand,” said the hotel general manager Ian Pirodon.

The hotel is located on Sukhumvit Road and about a 40 minute drive from U-Tapao International Airport.

Visit ihg.com.

Airlines update

Thai Smile will launch a daily direct flight from Bangkok to Kaohsiung, the southern seaport and business centre in Taiwan.

The service will start on Oct 1. The airline will fly from Suvarnabhumi airport at 10am and will arrive at Kaohsiung airport at 2.20pm. The return flight from Kaohsiung will be 3.20pm. The flight will arrive at Suvarnabhumi airport at 5.50pm. The travel time is approximately three hours and 20 minutes.

The service will be an alternative to the direct flights of Bangkok Airways and China Airlines.

Visit thaismileair.com.

Bangkok Airways will launch direct flights from Bangkok to Phu Quoc in Vietnam.

The service will be available on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays.

The airline will use a 70-seater ATR72600 aircraft. It will depart from Suvarnabhumi airport at 11.30am and will arrive at Phu Quoc airport at 1.10pm. The return flight will be 1.50pm and the arrival time to Bangkok will be 3.35pm. The travel time is one hour and 40 minutes.

To promote the new route, the airline has joined hands with Audrey Café to launch the “Xin Chao…Phu Quoc” campaign.

Those who spend 1,000 baht with a single sales slip in any branch of the restaurant from now until Nov 15 will have a chance to win five pairs of round-trip air tickets to Phu Quoc and five dining vouchers valued at 2,000 baht each from Audrey Café.

The lucky winners will be drawn on Nov 20 and announced on Nov 21 via facebook.com/FlyBangkokAir.