[aussie dollar]

Cheap hotel deals for Phuket, Krabi
Published on January 19, 2005

A total of 250 tour operators are teaming up to offer new travel packages to Phuket and Krabi in an effort to revive tourism after the tsunami.

In cooperation with Thai Airways (THAI), Nok Air, Orient Thai and hotel operators in Phuket and Krabi, the Association of Thai Tour Operators (ATTO) has come up with three packages that offer as much as 50 per cent off of normal rates.

“The campaign starts today and runs to the end of this month,” ATTO president Chaweng Luksanavilus said yesterday.

“We’ve designed three packages, each for three days and two nights at 50 per cent off of normal rates – two different packages for Phuket and one for Krabi,” Chaweng said.

Flying on THAI, the lowest price is Bt5,400 per person in a three-star hotel. That goes up to Bt6,100 for a four-star hotel and Bt8,100 for a five-star hotel.

Flying on Orient Thai, the prices are Bt4,390 for a three-star hotel and Bt5,090 for a four-star hotel and Bt7,090 for a five-star hotel.

And for Nok Air, the cheapest package is Bt4,950 for a three-star hotel, Bt6,650 for a four-star hotel and Bt7,650 for a five-star hotel.

The Thai Hotels Association (THA) said the tsunami has affected many tourist destinations, even Chiang Mai and Bangkok, due to fears of disease epidemics.

In order to attract visitors, the Dusit Group is offering a two-night golfing getaway package at the Dusit Island Resort in Chiang Rai to March 31. Deluxe single occupancy is US$230 (Bt8,855) or $259 for a twin.

In Bangkok, JW Marriott Hotel is featuring a business-conference package until February 28. Every 10 single rooms and/or 10 participants booked per event will receive one free single room and/or one complimentary participant fee for the standard conference package.

The full-day meeting package is priced at Bt990 net per person per day; the half-day package is Bt890 net per person per day – with a minimum of 10 persons for both.

Meanwhile, Malaysia Airlines has announced its Airlines Travel Fair will be held from February 19-20 at the Mines International Exhibition & Convention Centre in Kuala Lumpur.

A total of 215 leading travel agents for Malaysia Airlines will offer competitive prices for air travel and Golden Holiday packages to various domestic and international destinations.

Some new hotels are also set to open in Phuket this year.

The Phuket Pavillion will open a boutique hotel, with 30 all-pool villas, in June on the western side of the island.

Central Hotels and Resorts, meanwhile, has a new village resort concept at its Central Karon Village Phuket and Central Samui Village properties. Services include pick-up from the airport and personal check-in in the lounge area.

Suchat Sritama

The Nation