Thailand has been a popular destination among British tourists for many years, and is a favourite first stop on the itineraries of many gap year students. Continuing in this trend, it has been revealed that Westin Hotels are to open a resort and spa in Phuket, offering travellers the perfect, luxury retreat.

With destinations in Thailand such as Bangkok and Phuket continuing to be a central hub among tourists, the new Westin Siray Bay Resort and Spa Phuket will offer the perfect break for travellers wishing to experience Asian culture in luxurious surroundings. Overlooking Siray Bay, the resort is ideally located for those looking for a complete holiday package, or travellers simply passing through the area wanting to enjoy some of the regions many attractions. Offering 260 guest rooms, the Westin accommodation can also provide private houses and villas – a perfect respite for couples seeking a romantic getaway, or for groups of friends looking to explore the islands. With many of the guesthouses having the added attraction of private pools, rain showers and LCD television sets, holidays to this Thai location look set to become some of the most exotic breaks available in the region.

Easily accessible via Phuket Bridge, the resort lies within relatively close distance to the airport. With flights available from both Manchester and London Heathrow, UK holiday makers seeking a unique luxurious getaway may wish to consider taking advantage of this Thailand paradise.

Cheap Flights and Travel News – © 2010 – Just The Flight

This week, Lonely Planet’s Tom Hall on Bangkok away from the Khao San Road, a Greek Island get-away, an un-Christmassy escape and Spain’s Easter Week celebrations by train

Where’s the best area to stay in Bangkok? We’re only there for a couple of days and want a decent base in the city. I’ve heard that getting around can be a bit of a pain. We’re not budget travellers – within reason.
Clair Rogers

There’s no need to stay on the Khao San Road should you not wish to – especially if you can go into the mid-range or higher bracket. If time is short, then you’ll probably want to stay as centrally as you can. Ko Ratanakosin, the royal island in the heart of the city and Thonburi, located just over the river, offer some interesting places to stay that are close to the main historic sites. Chakrabongese Villas (thaivillas.com; private villas from £156) are private dwellings set in the riverside gardens of a historic mansion. Another riverside option is the Ibrik Resort (ibrikresort.com; doubles from £80), a white waterfront house over the river in Thonburi with just three rooms, which come with four-poster beds. You could lose yourself for two days in the historic temples and food markets of Ko Ratanakosin and traditional streets of Thonburi without having to do anything more strenuous than take a short river ferry journey.

Should you seek to venture further, you’ll find that the city’s public transport is not as bad as you’ve heard. Taxis are easy to find and cheap, though when travelling from Ko Ratanakosin to more modern areas of town the canal ferry will be faster and services are very frequent. The river ferries are also useful and cheap. Once around Siam Square, Silom and other newer parts of the city, Metro and Skytrain services make getting around easy. Tuk-tuks, though iconic, will involve a little bartering to get the fare right (40B or 80p for a short trip) and many find the reality of trundling through traffic in an open-sided vehicle is not the delightful experience it appears.

Three of us have a week off from 10 September. We thought about going to Santorini, but then we noticed Berlin festival is on the 10 and 11 September. Berlin is my favourite city, I’ve been five times and can sort out that part no bother. Where I could do with your help is … what happens next? We’d probably be staying in Berlin for three nights, so after party times would look to leave on 13 September to find some sunshine and beach for a few more days (back to work in London 20 September). Greece/Greek islands would be good, but we’re open to suggestions. How can we get a last-minute deal from Berlin back to London?
Katie Johnston

I can’t offer any alchemy here I’m afraid. These two trips won’t combine easily unless you make the arrangements yourself. Cheap last-minute deals are usually for packages involving a return flight. You won’t find any last-minute deal combined with a flight from Germany to Greece, then returning from Greece to the UK. A better bet is to look for accommodation-only deals in the Greek islands – lowcostholidays.com will give you an idea of what’s available now. Costs should not increase for accommodation-only deals in September between now and the time of departure. Not sure which island to choose? Ben Mallalieu has written a useful primer to the most popular spots.

You then need to check you can arrange two flights: from Berlin to the island of your choice and from there back to your closest UK base. Berlin Airports (berlin-airport.de) has a complete list of destinations from the German capital, and Wikipedia entries for regional airports retain lists of destinations which you should double-check. Then make use of Skyscanner and Cheap Flights.

Bah humbug. My boyfriend and I want to get away from (not for!) Christmas this year. Is there anywhere we can go to get away from all the commercialised and religious festivities? We’d like to go away for a week or two, to anywhere in the world that won’t cost the earth (we’re normally budget travellers). We like to go off the beaten track, so resort hotels are a no-no.
Lesley Middlemas, Edinburgh

It’s not easy to completely escape Christmas festivities, which are hard to avoid in most cities and towns around the world. However, you don’t have to go further than north Africa – Morocco perhaps – to find a place where 25 December is just another day. It’ll be a similar story throughout the Arabic-speaking world, especially when you get into more rural areas. Oman, easily accessible through the Emirates flight from Glasgow to Dubai and then a bus ride is another interesting option. Activity holidays tend to take you far away from the commercialised world so you may wish to consider taking a small group walking tour or other type of trip. Walks Worldwide (0845 301 4737; walksworldwide.com) have a 12-day Libyan Explorer trip leaving on 22 December visiting the Roman remains at Leptis Magna, the rock art at Jebel Acacus and the Ubari Lakes costing £1,395 including flights.

I am planning a trip to Andalusia next year and will be getting there – and getting around – by train. I would love to go to Seville and Cadiz for the Easter celebrations. Do the train services run during Easter week and will it be possible to find accommodation in Cadiz or Seville at that time? Also, what public transport is available to get from Cadiz to Caños de Meca?
JenoWl1

Trains services will run during Easter week, though services will be reduced to something akin to a Sunday service on public holiday dates. Easter is late next year - 24 April is Easter Sunday. Spanish trains usually have a booking horizon of 60 days, so trains for Easter probably won’t be available to book until the end of February. You can book via Rail Europe (0844 848 4070, raileurope.co.uk) but note that booking is unnecessary on local services.

There will be a huge amount of pressure on accommodation in Seville, less so in Cadiz, but advance booking is still essential.  Indeed, Cadiz’s celebrations make a good alternative to visiting Seville if you can’t find somewhere to stay. If city centre hotels are out of your price range – and many double their prices at this time of year – then you can investigate staying just outside the city, using hostels and homestays or camping. Andalucia.com has a wide range of accommodation options depending on your preference. There are daily buses from Cadiz to the lovely beach at Caños de Meca the timetable is available at http://bit.ly/aypWig

Though recent riots in Thailand may have perturbed many travelers from visiting the country the Tourism Authority of Thailand's (TAT) governor, Sawasdee Krub, has played down the issue and expressed that visitors are still very welcome to the country. With a wide range of flights to Thailand being assessable from locations across the British Isles the TAT added that the incidents occurred in limited pockets of the country and that there was no reason for travel to one of the world's most popular destinations to be negatively affected.

Most of Thailand's significant tourist destinations such as Bangkok and Phuket along with the beach locations popular with backpackers were not involved in the rioting that resulted in the deaths of Thai militants. Writing an open letter to the public Mr Krub said that the TAT had, over the past 50 years, managed to make the country one of the most popular destinations of the world. Expressing that the violence had not affected Thailand's core appeals such as its beautiful scenery, rich culture and the huge hospitality of the Thai nationals, he added that though the media spotlight may have worried some tourists the country remained a safe haven for tourists.

Flying out from a number of airports across the country Thailand remains easily and simply accessible, with a range of class options available. With individuals able to continue enjoying the delights of the eastern country and travel there through economy, Eva airway's premium economy or Qatar's business class, Thailand looks set to remain ever popular despite the recent violence.

Cheap Flights and Travel News – © 2010 – Just The Flight

No winners after week of violence in Bangkok

After a week of violence that left Bangkok’s commercial heart smouldering in ruins alongside Thailand’s land of smiles reputation, there are few winners and even less certainty about where the country goes from here than when the whole mess began.

The coalition government looks stable for now but a lasting solution to the fissures in Thai society and loss of faith in the political process looks further away than ever.

The tough final military action to clear the anti-government protest site helped prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva salvage his credentials with his supporters. The redshirts themselves, or at least the thugs, vandals and arsonists among them who set Bangkok ablaze, also bolstered his position. Many in the capital who had been partially sympathetic to the red cause were shocked by the apocalyptic turn of the endgame.

Abhisit is talking reconciliation and rebuilding. But with 82 dead and nearly 1,800 injured and redshirts, still defiant and angry, returning to heroes’ welcomes across the north and north-east, it is hard to see how the process begins – particularly when Abhisit, loathed by a majority of the electorate, is unable to show his face in many parts of the country.

Not that his nemesis Thaksin Shinawatra, widely assumed to have bankrolled the two-month protest, is any more of a unifying figure. The anarchy of the past days has driven many previously non-committed Thais firmly into the anti-Thaksin camp. Nationwide he still commands loyalty, but his return to politics would simply lead to new yellowshirt protests.

The seemingly obvious way to hit the reset button would be to call new elections and Abhisit has hinted at that, saying he will return to the five-point road map that was to have delivered a fresh poll by 14 November. But no sooner had he made the promise than his finance minister Korn Chatikavanij raised doubts about the date, saying he feared violence in any campaign. Coalition partner Banharn Silpa-archa has raised similar concerns.

In any case, it is far from clear that a new vote would change very much – or even if the redshirts believe in that any more. One of their chief complaints is that they keep electing governments which are either thrown out by coups or dubious legal processes.

So while a fresh election may lance the boil in Thailand for a time, there are no guarantees that such a decision in itself is a longterm answer to the country’s deep problems. And as the smoke clears over the rubble in Bangkok, it is also not possible to identify any Thai political leader able to provide the necessary circuit-breaker to bring an end to the crippling cycle that has paralysed the country for so long.

Finnair has unveiled its growth strategy for the next ten years, revealing that it will focus on corporate customers travelling between Asia and Europe.

The company said that these passengers will be at the centre of its development over the coming decade, regardless of whether they opt for business class fares.

Frequent flyers will be provided with "reliable and easy-to-use services" that will make corporate travel "efficient and enjoyable", according to Finnair, while leisure customers have been promised a "price-competitive product".

Mika Vehvilainen, the airline’s president and chief executive, said: "All customers are important to us. Our primary target group, however, is the business passenger travelling between Asia and Europe, irrespective of travel class."

The company also stated its intention to become the leading carrier serving Finland and other Nordic countries by 2020 and one of the top three providers of services between Asia and Europe.

"For us, number one in the Nordic countries means that we fly more and more profitably than others and we are the best in terms of quality," said Mr Vehvilainen.

Finnair’s Asian network currently includes flights to Bangkok, Tokyo and Hong Kong.

Cheap Flights and Travel News – © 2009 – Just The Flight

The Foreign Office has lifted its warning against travel to Thailand after
political violence in the country eased this week.

Following last week’s selection of the best holiday apartments in Europe, we pick out 10 of the best worldwide

Lion’s View, Cape Town

Located above fashionable Camps Bay and designed by a leading South African architect, this pad is made up of a main house with five double bedrooms and a penthouse with two doubles, and can be rented separately or as a whole. Inside the main house are sleek Philippe Starck-designed furnishings, while outside there’s a lush patio, barbecue and pool with jaw-dropping views of Lion’s Head Mountain. Meanwhile, the penthouse has a wraparound balcony with a plunge pool and equally knock-out views.

Stay there 00 27 0 83 719 5735; lionsview.co.za; from £351 per night for the penthouse only, including maid service.

If it’s booked try capestay.co.za; capetownaccommodation.co.za; cape-accommodation.co.za

Get there Virgin Atlantic (virgin.com) flies from London Heathrow to Cape Town from £724 return.

Venice Beach Eco Cottages, Los Angeles

Eco-friendly, seriously stylish and with Venice Beach and Abbot Kinney Boulevard right on their doorstep, these three solar-powered urban retreats tick all the boxes. Each sleeps just two people: choose from the sleek Le Bébé Cottage, with its baroque Paris feel (there’s even a bright-red birdcage reborn as a swivel chair); Aunt Zoe’s Place, decorated like a 1940s lakeside cabin, with restored farm sinks and stained-glass windows; and Papa Hemmingway Cottage, designed like a wilderness lodge.

Stay there 00 1 866 802 3110; venicebeachecocottages.com; from $215 per night (three nights minimum), $1,375 per week.

If it’s booked try venicesuites.com

Get there Virgin Atlantic (virgin.com) flies from London Heathrow to Los Angeles from £460 return.

BA Parisian Elegance Apartment, Buenos Aires

Very cool and very classy, this apartment occupies the entire first floor of an elegant French-style embassy building from the 1920s, which has been transformed into one of the most stylish places to stay in the city by its owner, a Milan-based interior designer. Mixing classic modern furniture with retro design, the apartment has two double bedrooms, one with a wall covered in Andy Warhol’s “Campbell’s Soup Can” prints, and a spacious lounge with more pop art paintings and a big sink-into sofa. The location is spot on, too – in the Recoleta neighbourhood, which is known for its lovely squares, parks, cafés and galleries.

Stay there holidaylettings.co.uk/58993; from £767 per week.

If it’s booked try holiday-rentals.co.uk/buenos-aires/s/13249

Get there British Airways (ba.com) flies from London Heathrow to Buenos Aires from £900 return.

Bolivar Suites, Mexico City

Located on the top floor of a stately building, with sweeping cityscape views, this four-bedroom apartment is a perfect escape from the buzz of the city below, but is perfectly located for exploring the nearby Centro. It is decorated in a homely, contemporary style, mixing Latin American folk art pieces and floor-to-ceiling windows in the spacious living/ dining room with lots of fresh flowers and stacks of magazines. Sit back on the terrace, filled with tropical plants including banana trees, and soak up the city views.

Stay there i-escape.com/bolivarsuites; from $380 per night, including breakfast and maid service.

If it’s booked try holiday-rentals.co.uk/mexico-city/s/12745; only-apartments.com/self-catering-mexico-city

Get there British Airways (ba.com) flies from London Heathrow to Mexico City from £670 return.

East Village Apartments, New York

Situated in an 1850s New York brownstone (town house) in Manhattan’s East Village, this collection of four apartments and one penthouse is as close to home-from-home as you’ll find in the Big Apple. Each apartment is individually designed – one is decorated like an Indian boudoir (sleeps up to four), another has an oriental feel with Japanese “shoji” sliding doors (sleeps up to six), while the penthouse has its own roof garden (sleeps up to nine). They can be rented individually or as a whole (sleeping 16) – perfect for a New York family get-together.

Stay there 00 1 516 984 9741; eastvillage-apartments.com; from $250 per night (minimum five-night stay).

If it’s booked try holiday-velvet.com/new-york; feelnyc.com

Get there British Airways (ba.com) flies from Heathrow to New York from £400 return; Continental (continental.com/uk) flies from Manchester to New York from £408.

Dar Musique, Marrakech

Not so much an apartment as a stunning private house. Located in the Mouassine area of the medina, close to the King’s Palace, it mixes original features and rich local fabrics with modern European ornaments and huge street-artist paintings. It has four airy bedrooms, sleeping eight – each filled with plush Moroccan carpets, antique chests and with gorgeous en-suite bathrooms – which open out on to a central, open-roofed courtyard with two fountains. Enjoy a mint tea on the terrace, have a dip in the pool, or be pummelled to your heart’s content in your own hammam [steam bath].Trained masseurs can be arranged. There’s also a resident Berber cook.

Stay there 07785 996629; darmusique.com; whole house from £300 per night/£1,000 per week, including breakfast (other meals by arrangement).

If it’s booked try riadzamzam.com; riad-sabah.com; riadcamilia.com

Get there easyJet (easyjet.com) flies from Gatwick and Manchester to Marrakech from £70 return.

Chakrabongse Villas, Bangkok

Set among tall palms and frangipani in the grounds of a 100-year-old aristocratic house on the Chao Phraya river, these four apartments feel more akin to one of Thailand’s tropical islands. All sleep two: choose from the Riverside Villa (the most spacious), the Garden Suite, the split-level Chinese suite and the Thai House, an old wooden building brought down from Ayutthaya. The cottages share a pool, and if you don’t feel like cooking, dinners can be arranged around low, candle-lit tables in the riverside pavilion.

Stay there i-escape.com/chakrabongsevillas.php; from £160 per night.

If it’s booked try moveandstay.com/bangkok; rajprasong-bangkok.anantara.com

Get there Thai Airways (thaiairways.co.uk) flies from London Heathrow to Bangkok from £650 return.

Inhouse Potts Point, Sydney

Located in harbourside Potts Point, this one-bedroom apartment sleeping two makes for a convenient and stylish base for exploring the city. It takes up the entire first floor of an elegant, listed 1891 town house, and has lofty 12ft-high ceilings, which give it an airy feel despite the lack of air con (open the French doors for harbour breezes). It is homely yet chic, with Tasmanian oak flooring, café latte-coloured walls and a series of colourful photographs taken by one of the owners. Kick back after a day’s sightseeing on the white chaise longue tucked into the bay window in the sitting room, or on the balcony with views of Woolloomooloo Wharf and the Harbour Bridge.

Stay there i-escape.com/pottspoint.php; from £152 per night.

If it’s booked try apartmenthotel.com.au; holiday-velvet.com

Get there Qantas (qantas.com) flies from London Heathrow to Sydney from £686 return.

Time Place Apartment, Dubai

Located on the upper floors of the Time Place Tower, in the heart of Dubai Marina, one of the best things about this apartment is its spectacular cityscape views. It has one bedroom, plus a sofa bed and foldaway single bed (sleeping up to five in total) and is elegantly furnished – cool, white-tiled floors, smart leather sofas and walls covered with modern art. Round off a shopping spree with a visit to the tower’s communal spa and sauna, or just sit back on your balcony and enjoy that awesome view.

Stay there holidaylettings.co.uk/ 65592; from £80 per night/ £560 per week.

If it’s booked try dubaifurnishedapartments.com; dubaiapartments.biz

Get there Etihad Airways (etihadairways.com) flies from London Heathrow and Manchester to Dubai from £358 return.

Ipanema Penthouse, Rio de Janeiro

Just a cocktail stick’s throw from Ipanema’s beachfront, and reached by its own private lift, this three-bedroom penthouse mixes cool Italian marble floors, long white sofas and cowhide rugs with local artwork and 70s furniture. As well as three sleek double bedrooms, a large open-plan living area and bar, it has its own DJ booth and rooftop terrace with a sauna and pool – perfect for taking in the views of Rio’s twin peaks (Dois Irmãos) with a Sundowner.

Stay there i-escape.com/ipanemapenthouse.php; from €400 per night, including maid service. Special offer of seven nights for the price of five (valid until 31 March 2011).

If it’s booked try holiday-velvet.com/rio-de-janeiro; holiday-rentals.co.uk/rio-de-janeiro/s/13370

Get there British Airways (ba.com) flies from London Heathrow to Rio de Janeiro from £670 return.

Paris has decided to rid the banks of the Seine of traffic. Where else should cars be a thing of the past? By Amelia Hill

Oman Air will expand its international network in May with the launch of flights to Kuala Lumpur.

Four weekly services to Malaysia’s capital city will operate from May 1st from Oman Air’s base in Muscat, Oman, offering travellers a choice of economy, first and business class seats.

Kuala Lumpur will be the first of five new destinations to be served by the airline in May, with flights to Islamabad, Lahore, Al Ain and Ras Al Khaimah also set to be launched before the end of the month.

Peter Hill, Oman Air’s chief executive officer, said: "This new destination will be a welcome addition to the ever expanding Oman Air network. Kuala Lumpur has been a much-anticipated destination and I’m positive it will be a real winner with our customers."

He added: "This beautiful country, which seamlessly weaves in the true wonders of Asia, is as diverse geographically as it is culturally."

Kuala Lumpur will be the carrier’s second destination in the Far East alongside Bangkok in Thailand.

Cheap Flights and Travel News – © 2009 – Just The Flight

Oman Air claims to have made aviation history by becoming the first airline to offer both mobile and broadband internet on board its flights.

The landmark development means that passengers travelling on the airline’s Airbus A330 aircraft need never be out of touch with the world, as they will be able to access the internet and use mobile phones from the comfort of their seats.

Mobiles may be used throughout the flight, except during take-off and landing phases, to make and receive calls, send and receive text messages, check voicemail, and access emails and websites. Onboard communications are charged at international roaming rates by the home mobile service provider.

Passengers will be able to access the internet, webmail and webchat using their smartphone, laptop or PDA via a Wi-Fi network. The airline has indicated that charges will start from US$29.95 per flight for internet access (26 MB), US$9.95 per flight for webmail and US$4.95 per flight for webchat.

The move is part of Oman Air’s commitment to continuously enhance the travel experience and to offer innovative in-flight services reflecting the latest technological advances.

The airline operates the Airbus A330 on flights from London, Frankfurt, Munich and Paris to Muscat, as well as from the Omani capital to Bangkok, Colombo and Male.

Cheap Flights and Travel News – © 2009 – Just The Flight