TRAVEL TITBITS
Free transit
Mass rapid transit trains in Bangkok offer free services today to facilitate mourners.
The Bangkok Mass Transit System is offering free skytrain services from 5am to 2am on Friday.
Passengers must get a free ticket at each station before taking the BTS. Those with a pre-paid card can use the card without value deduction, said Chief Operating Officer Surapong Laoha-Unya.
BTS passengers can connect to free shuttle bus services to join the royal funeral ceremony at Victory Monument, Ekamai, Bang Na and Krung Thon Buri stations. An alternative is to ride a free shuttle boat service from Saphan Taksin station to Yodpiman market pier or from Ratchathewi station to Phan Fa pier.
The Bangkok Expressway and Metro (BEM), which operates the MRT, is also offering free services. The subway service is free from 5.30am until to 2am tomorrow. BEM also extends the free service tomorrow to passengers on the Purple Line, which runs from Tao Poon to Nonthaburi stations.
In addition, BEM is providing free parking at Lat Phrao, which has 2,200 parking bays, Thailand Cultural Centre
(200 parking bays), Khlong Phai station (1,986 parking bays), Bang Yai (1,296 parking bays), Bang Rak Noi Tha It (1,076 parking bays) and Nonthaburi station (565 parking bays).
The Airport Rail Link of the State Railway of Thailand is offering free services today and tomorrow. The service is available from 5am to midnight and will extend operating hours to 2am tomorrow.
The SRT also announced the increase of its frequency to every 10 minutes.
Malaysia package
The Tourism and Culture Ministry of Malaysia has launched Malaysia Rail Packages at Hat Yai Railway Station to promote the tourism between borders of the two countries and to mark the 60th anniversary of the Thai-Malaysian diplomatic relations.
The railway packages are available through travel agents in southern Thailand, starting at 4,451 baht. Packages cover round-trip train tickets, accommodation, meals, attractions and activities, including theme parks and night tours.
According to the Malaysian Tourism and Culture Ministry, Thailand was ranked 4th in the top 10 tourist generating markets. The numbers of Thai tourists to Malaysia has increased 32.7% to 1.78 million visitors last year. During the first five months of this year, Malaysia received about 813,000 Thai tourists, an increase of 9.8% from last year.
Visit tourismmalaysia.gov.my.
Airlines update
Thai AirAsia will launch its first daily direct flight from Phuket to Macao on Jan 8. The flight will depart from Phuket at 5.20am and the arrival time in Macao will be 10.05am. The return flight will be 10.40 am and will arrive in Phuket at 1.05pm. The travel time is three hours and 25 minutes.
At present, the airline operates direct flights from Macao to Bangkok four flights a day, to Chiang Mai daily and to U-Tapao Rayong-Pattaya airport in Rayong four flights a week.
Visit airasia.com.
SilkAir of Singapore Airlines will take over Scoot’s Singapore-Yangon service beginning on Sunday.
SilkAir already operates 10 non-stop flights a week to Yangon. With the transfer of Scoot’s Yangon services, SilkAir will increase its Yangon operations to 15 non-stop services a week.
Passengers who already booked a flight with Scoot on and after Sunday will be re-accommodated on SilkAir. SilkAir will offer a full refund if the passengers prefer to cancel their bookings.
Scoot is owned by Singapore Airlines and is operated as a low-cost longhaul airline.
Visit silkair.com or flyscoot.com.
Hotels update
Absolute Hotel Services has signed an agreement with the Harbour View Development Company to manage the Eastin Hotel Harbour Bangkok.
Located close to Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre, the hotel will feature 456 rooms and suites, restaurant, executive lounge, swimming pool and pool bar, fitness, a rooftop garden and meeting rooms and event space.
The hotel is scheduled to open in the first quarter of 2019.
Absolute Hotel Services is a Bangkok-based hospitality management company. It manages brands of U Hotels & Resorts, Eastin Grand Hotels & Resorts, Eastin Hotels Resorts & Residences, Eastin Easy and Travelodge.
Visit absolutehotelservices.com. Rosewood Phuket will open on Nov 2. Located on Tri-Trang Beach, the property features 71 pool villas. The room sizes range from 130m² for Ocean View Pool Pavilion to 796m² two-bedroom Ocean House.
Other facilities include restaurants, swimming pool, poolside lounge, fitness and three function rooms which can accommodate participants from 48 to 250 people.
The hotel will be the first Rosewood brand in Southeast Asia.
Visit rosewoodhotels.com.