Bangkok is still very steamy, traffic is chaotic and yet it’s also very organised! The taxis are spotless, the drivers sit waiting calmly and no amount of congestion seems to change that! Airport to downtown took about 45mins, but our driver wasn’t in a rush. The return only took 25mins.

The Hotel Grand Mercure Park Avenue is a smaller, boutique hotel. Rooms are small, but not tiny!  The hotel is located about a 10min walk from the MRT and about a 10min taxi drive to Mahboonkrong (MBK) Centre. This shopping centre is something to behold! Fully air-conditioned and a market feel without the Bangkok heat! Hundreds of different stores (Sundays are the busiest day) and a fantastic food court with every cuisine imaginable!

Our highlight in Bangkok was without a doubt the views at the State Tower. About a 15mins taxi ride, this is a great place to sit back and sip on a cocktail! There are 2 bar areas and if you don’t mind the breeze, the views are stunning!! 

We wanted to spoil ourselves so the Mercure was rather disappointing in that respect.
The Rachamankha Hotel in Chiang Mai was a very pleasant surprise, especially after the hustle and bustle of Bangkok. It’s located about a 5min drive from the airport and about the same into the city centre. The staff were exceptional at this hotel! Nothing was too much trouble and the food was sensational. We really looked forward to “coming home” each day to this very tranquil place. The hotel has a strong Chinese influence. All the décor and surrounds have been elegantly planned and carefully thought through. Around every corner was a photo opportunity – including the rooms! The little touches like free DVD hire was just a bonus. Did I mention the 20m swimming pool – really beautiful and so relaxing? We were fortunate enough to have this to ourselves most days!

One of the day trips we took was to the Elephant Camp, about a 45min drive up in the hills. This was a great day for a number of reasons. Our driver (from the hotel) was very organised and was able to steer us in the right direction to avoid the queues of people for the various activities. This is a huge tourism venture with all the money going back into the camp. The elephant ride was great, the ox and cart was an experience! And the bamboo rafting was a great way to end. 

We were very keen to learn some Thai cooking and were recommended by the Rachamankha to attend the Kaohom cooking classes. What a great day! We learnt how to make 4 dishes. Every day of the week something new is on the menu. The attention to detail and the beautiful surrounding gardens makes this a unique experience. Class sizes are a maximum of 12, which is great. 

Koh Samui has certainly changed from 12 years ago when I was last there! One of their biggest industries now is property development. The amount of condominiums being built is just incredible! Unfortunately, the roadwork has not developed at the same rate and consequently traffic is an issue. Taxis can charge whatever they feel like and trying to barter is virtually impossible.

Our property The Samui Peninsula & Spa was another welcome retreat. With great views and individual villas, this property has lots to offer. Although it is located approx 10min drive from the main stretch of shopping at Chaweng, the hotel does offer a shuttle service throughout the day. A big bonus was direct access to the beach. From here you could walk around the bay to some great seafood restaurants right on the sand. Location, location is what it’s all about and it doesn’t disappoint! Relaxed couches, lapping water, soft music, great food and it doesn’t break the bank. 

Our best day trip of the whole trip would have to be Angthong National Marine Park. Made up of 42 islands that rise up from limestone rock, this really is quite spectacular. The kayaking under the caves was a major highlight. Not to be outdone by the sensational snorkelling viewing and secluded beaches. There are a number of companies who offer this trip. We decided on Blue Stars as they had a large, relaxed boat and offered the kayaking option instead of a speedboat.

On our last night back in Bangkok, we decided to head down to The Oriental for a dinner with river views. This was a great way to spend the evening, very relaxing watching the water taxis traversing the river. The food was fantastic too!