TRAVEL TITBITS
Cruise down Songkhla Lake
Two villages in Songkhla’s tambon Khlong Ri have joined forces to launch a cruise down Songkhla Lake.
The aim is to promote tourism and the way of life of people living around Songkhla’s Sathing Phra district, according to Moo 4 village headman Arawan Prathumwan.
“Our visitors can see how we live our lives while cruising the lake. We are fishermen and farmers who grow rice and produce palm sugar for a living. We will also have products for tourists to purchase as souvenirs,” he said.
The committees of the villages of Moo 3 and Moo 4 in Khlong Ri agreed to spend 500,000 baht each from the village and urban community fund operated under the government’s budget for “Pracharat” (public and private partnership) scheme for a double-decker tourist boat.
The boat can accommodate up to 40 passengers. The Tambon Administrative Office (TAO) of Khlong Ri also supports the service and allows the boat to dock at a pier near the office. The cruise offers two service options. A fourhour evening cruise starting in the late afternoon until sunset is priced at 4,000 baht including snacks and drinks.
Another option is an overnight cruise from 4pm8am. The service charge is 7,000 baht, including breakfast. A set dinner can be ordered with an additional cost at 150 baht per head.
TAO of Khlong Ri is about
90km north of Songkhla’s Hat Yai international airport.
Call the village headman Arawan Prathumwan at 095-440-6969, Wiwat Tanhui at 089-870-6308 and Mathana Sangsiri at 081-914-1787.
Airlines update
Thai Airways has joined hands with PayPal, a global online payments company, to promote PayPal e-payment in Southeast Asia.
PayPal will make electronic payments more convenient for passengers and give them more choices with this payment gateway global leader that is used by over 200 million users worldwide, said Thai Airways executive vice-president Teerapol Chotichanapibal.
THAI introduced PayPal for passengers to make online ticket payments in September 2016. The e-payment service helped increase revenue, especially from Europe and the US. The airline expects PayPal will attract more customers in Thailand and Southeast Asia.
To promote the new e-payment service, the airline offers the first 1,000 members of its loyalty programme Royal Orchid Plus an extra 1,500 miles when book a ticket for any international route via PayPal until April 16. The special offer, however, is only valid for those residing in Thailand, Singapore, the Philippines and Vietnam. Visit www.thaiairways.com.
Hotels update
Dusit Thani Wetland Park Resort Nanjing will be opened in China’s Jiangsu region around the end of this year.
The property is owned by Nanjing Shangqinhuai Construction Development Company which has recently signed a management consultancy agreement with Dusit Fudu Hotels and Resorts, a Shanghai-based joint venture between Thailand-based Dusit International and Fudu Hotel Investment Management Company Limited. The Dusit Thani Wetland Park Resort Nanjing will be a luxury international resort and will be located within Nanjing Shangqinhuai Eco Wetland Park, about 30 minutes by car from the commercial centre, and 20 minutes by car from the high-speed train station and Nanjing International Airport. Nanjing city is about an hour’s ride from Shanghai by high-speed train.
The hotel will feature 110 guests rooms and villas, a 300m² meeting room, restaurants, spa, a fitness centre, swimming pool and kids’ club. Visit www.dusit.com.
Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts has launched the “Sleep Individually Different” concept as its new room category to guarantee guests a good night sleep.
The new category was introduced last Friday to mark World Sleep Day.
According to the hotel, it will provide guests with Swedish-based YouBed, a spring-system bed that can be adapted to weight, body shape and sleeping position.
The unique adaptable beds have been tested by the hotel guests on-site over a period of six months, according to statement of Mövenpick.
In addition, the hotel will offer sleeping masks, ear plugs, lavender pads, blackout stickers that cover lights on electronic devices, herbal teas and Mövenpick chocolate. Visit www.movenpick.com/sleep.
Email karnjanak@bangkokpost.co.th if you have any comments to share.