TRAVEL TITBITS
KARNJANA KARNJANATAWE
Top athletes challenge
Spartan Race, a series of obstacle races, will return to the Kingdom this June.
The race will be hosted by the Royal Thai
Army, the Sports Authority of Thailand, Tourism
Authority of Thailand, Athletic Association of Thailand and Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau. The event will be organised by Move Asia, a sport and entertainment marketing and management company.
Thailand has the right to host the Spartan Races for three years starting from this year to 2022. The event will be in line with the government’s policy, which is to promote sports tourism in the country, said the Sports Authority of Thailand governor Kongsak Yodmani.
The obstacle race, originated in the United States, gained more popularity around the world, he said. It has been franchised to40 countries with over 6 million participants worldwide.
The Spartan Race will be hosted in three provinces. The first event will be organised at Huai Tung Thao lake in Mae Rim district in Chiang Mai on June 12-14. It will be followed by a race in Krabi on Sept 11-13and Songkhla on Nov 6-8.
The inaugural eventwill feature three types of races: Spartan Super (10km), Spartan Sprint (5km) and Spartan Kids (3.2km). Obstacles awaiting entrants includea rope climb, tyre drag, wall jump, fire jump and barbed-wire crawl.The Spartan Super in Chiang Mai is also the third race of the five-race 2020 Spartan Southeast Asia Regional Series.
The races are expected to attract more than 15,000 competitors andwill generate about 350 million baht to the economy, said TAT deputy governor for marketing communications Tanes Petsuwan.
Visit spartanrace.co.th.
Temporary closure
The House of Museums, or Ban Phiphitthaphan, will be temporarily closed for renovation from April 1 to July 13.
From now until the end of March, the museum is open without a service charge.
Located on Soi 3 of Sala Thammasop Road in Bangkok, the private museum was founded in 2001 by Anake Nawigamune, the author of a number of books on art, culture and history. He opened his house asa museum to exhibit items that people used in their everyday lives 50-100 years ago. The museum has been operated by a private group of like-minded art connoisseurs that calls itself the Cultural Affairs Association.
The House of Museums will soon open its second branch in Nakhon Pathom, about 25km away from the first. The museum will be located on a 4 rai plot of land in an old Ngio Rai market on the banks of the Thai Chin River in the Nakhon Chaisi district.
Visit the House of Museums Facebook page at facebook/bkkhouseofmuseums.
AIRLINES UPDATE
Thai Airways introduces the new Royal Orchid Lounge on the 2nd floor of the Domestic Passenger Terminal at Phuket International Airport.
Covering an area of 185 m², the lounge offers 74 seats, two VIP rooms, USB chargers for every seat and free Wi-Fi. The lounge is open daily from 5am to 10pm.
Meanwhile, the airline also offers special privilege for Royal Orchid Plus (ROP) members to spend 30% fewer miles in redeeming award tickets to 34 destinations in all classes until Feb 29 for travelling from now until March 29 and April
30 to June 30.
Visit thaiairways.com or call 02-356-1111.
Emirates offers travellers from Thailand special packages. The promotion includes a complimentary two-night stayin a hotel in Dubai, 10kg free excess baggage allowance and a free 30-day Dubai tourist visa.
Available until March 3, return fares to Dubai start at 15,000 baht in Economy Class and at 40,000 in Business Class.The ticketsare valid for travel from now until Sept 30. (Blackout periods apply.)
Visit emirates.com.
HOTELS DEALS & UPDATE
Hilton Hotels & Resorts has signed a management agreement with real estate company AP Prime Property to manage Grand Ayudhaya Hotel.
Located on Ratchadaphisek Road in Huai Khwang district, the 608-room hotel will be renovated and rebranded to Hilton Bangkok Ratchada. The hotel will feature an executive lounge, two restaurants, meeting rooms, an 816 m² Ballroom, fitness centre and swimming pool.
The hotel will reopen in 2022.
Siam Kempinski Hotel Bangkok has introduced seven animal-themed-family suites.
Each family suite features unique designs distinguished by seven animals including elephant, monkey, tiger, panda, bird, hare and fox. The themes are designed by Max Studio and illustrated by Suthipa Kamyam, a well-known artist.
A selection of games and entertainment will also be available in the suites.
Prices per night start from 25,000++ baht.
Visit kempinski.com/en/bangkok/siam-hotel.
Email karnjanak@bangkokpost.co.th if you have any comments to share.