TRAVEL TITBITS

National parks closure The Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation has announced the temporary closure of attractions in a number of national parks during the rainy season.

There are 24 national parks in the North including natural walking trails in Doi Phu Kha, Kaeng Luang Mae Nam Nan in Si Nan, Kew Mae Pan waterfall in Doi Inthanon, Kaeng Suea Ten in Mae Yom, waterfalls in Khun Sathan, waterfalls in Doi Luang and Tat Mok.

The list in the South includes 28 national parks and marine parks including the walking trail to see bua phut (Rafflesia kerrii) in Khao Sok, Mu Ko Similan, Mu Ko Surin, Mu Ko Adang and Ko Rawi of Tarutao and Maya Bay.

The list in the West includes three national parks which are Khao Phanoen Thung in Kaeng Krachan, a walking trail to Khao Chang Phueak in Thong Pha Phum and Nang Khruan waterfall in Lam Khlong Ngu.

For the East, the access is closed for a visit to Ko Kudi and Ko Thalu of Khao Laem Ya-Ko Samet National Park.

For the Northeast, some attractions in eight national parks are closed for visitors which are Tat Ton and Khae Huai Mak of Kaeng Tana and Phu Kradueng National Park.

Meanwhile some popular attractions of national parks that are still strictly off any visit even after the rainy season are caves in Pha Daeng National Park in Chiang Mai, the walking trail in Khao Phanom Bencha National Park in Krabi, Ko Ta Chai in Phangnga, Ko Yung in Krabi and Tham Yai, Tham Namtok, Tham World Cup and Khliti waterfall in Lam Khlong Ngu National Park in Kanchanaburi and Ko Thong Lang, Ko Kra and Ko Thien of Mu Ko Chang National Park in Trat.

Visit dnp.go.th

Angkor Wat top landmark

Angkor Wat is named the top landmark in the world, according to TripAdvisor’s Travellers’ Choice 25 Landmarks Awards.

According to TripAdvisor, the award winners were determined using an algorithm that took into account the quantity and quality of reviews and ratings for landmarks worldwide, gathered over a 12-month period. This year’s awards recognised 759 landmarks across 67 countries.

Second in the list is Plaza de Espana in Spain, followed by Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Center in United Arab Emirates, St Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City, Mezquita Cathedral de Cordoba in Spain, Taj Mahal in India, Duomo di Milano in Italy, Alcatraz Island in the United States, Golden Gate Bridge also in the United States and Budapest Parliament in Hungary.

Wat Pho or the Temple of the Reclining Buddha in Bangkok ranks 17th while Shwedagon Pagoda in Myanmar is listed in 25th place.

Visit tripadvisor.com/ TravelersChoice-Landmarks.

Airlines AIRLINES update UPDATE

Qantas offers AIS mobile phone users 8% discounts on airfares from Bangkok to Australia or New Zealand until the end of July.

To qualify, AIS mobile phone users must regularly pay 300 baht for monthly usage. Each user is allowed to purchase one Qantas air ticket per day for themselves or for their travel companions.

Visit qantas.com.

Emirates has renewed its partnership with Formula 1 until the end of 2022.

Being an F1 Global Partner since 2013, the airline will still have extensive trackside branding at the races, hospitality for guests at the Paddock Club, interactive fan engagement activities at F1 Fan Zones and F1 Fan Festivals at selected races, as well as Supercar Hot Laps at eight races and branding across digital media assets.

Emirates will also offer its Skywards members the opportunity to use their miles to bid for exclusive VIP experiences at the various races.

Visit emirates.com.

Hotel HOTELS deals DEALS and update & UPDATE

Avani Hotels & Resorts offers online check-in before arrival.

The service is available for those who book for rooms on the hotel group’s website (minorhotels.com/en/avani). The service will fasten the check-in process.

The hotel group also plans to introduce a dedicated lane for online check-in guests in some selected Avani properties.

InterContinental Hotels Group has signed a partnership agreement with Ratanakorn Asset to open new properties in Thailand.

The new hotels will include Holiday Inn Express Pattaya Ko Lan, Holiday Inn Resort Ko Lan, Holiday Inn Resort Pattaya Na Jomtien, Staybridge Suites North Pattaya, Holiday Inn Resort Rayong, Holiday Inn Resort Khao Lak Cape Pakarang, Holiday Inn Express Phuket Kata, Holiday Inn Express Samui Chaweng.

Those hotels, which are set to open from this year to 2027, will add more than 2,000 rooms to IHG’s presence in the country.