Loy Krathong, the Festival of Light in Thailand

A Thai night fair takes over the highest rooftop bar in Chiang Mai this November, as Meliá Chiang Mai marks the Yi Peng and Loy Krathong festivals with lively entertainment and special dining experiences. On November 24 and 25, the hotel's 22nd-floor MAI The Sky Bar will come alive with colourful fairground decorations, live bands, DJ sets and traditional Thai performances, including bamboo dancing, folk dancing and long drum dancing. Guests will take in sweeping city views from the bar's multi-level terraces, connected by a spectacular glass bridge. Running from 6pm to midnight, the night fair costs THB 699 (USD 20.80) net per person, including a special drink and one play of Lucky Egg Scoop, a Thai fairground game with prizes up for grabs. 

Suites Across Asia Fit for a President

From soaring penthouses soaking up iconic city skylines to private havens in the most coveted corner of a beachfront resort, we’ve put together a selection of suites at hotels and resorts across Asia fit for a president. Suites where guests trade summit meetings for summit views, and leave the motorcade and security detail behind to lap up a host of indulgent touches that ensure a stay lives up to the suite’s presidential billing.

Koh Chang’s Secret Garden: How the Island’s Rainforest is Becoming a Tourism Treasure

Beyond its beaches and sunsets, Koh Chang hides one of Thailand’s richest tropical ecosystems. From rare rainforest flora and century-old botanical discoveries to eco-tourism adventures and conservation-led resorts, the island’s remarkable natural heritage is becoming a powerful attraction for travellers seeking a deeper connection with Thailand.

Beyond the shoreline lies one of Thailand’s most fascinating natural attractions, a vast tropical rainforest filled with rare plant life, rich ecology and a botanical story stretching back more than a century.

Island Calm: Boutique Thai Luxury at The Retreat Koh Chang

Against a backdrop of swaying palms, warm Gulf waters and Koh Chang’s rainforest-cloaked hills, The Retreat Koh Chang delivers a more refined vision of Thai island hospitality where thoughtful architecture, attentive service and understated luxury create a genuine sense of escape.

As Thailand’s islands continue to evolve under the pressure of mass tourism and rapid development, finding a property that still feels connected to its environment and culture has become increasingly rare. On Koh Samui’s quieter shores, however, boutique luxury still survives in pockets of calm sophistication, and few places capture that spirit better than The Retreat Koh Chang.

Song Wat: Bangkok’s Old Trading Street Reimagined

Tucked along the eastern bank of the Chao Phraya River, just west of Bangkok’s better-known Yaowarat Road, Song Wat is one of the capital’s most compelling heritage precincts. Stretching for just over a kilometre through the Samphanthawong district, it offers a layered glimpse into Bangkok’s commercial past alongside a contemporary revival driven by a new generation of creatives and entrepreneurs.

Celebrating Lunar New Year At Luxury Destinations Across Asia

2026 is the Year of the Horse, and a fun-filled festival across many countries in Asia. Here is a compilation of hotel and resort options offering a little something special on Feb. 17 as they mark Chinese New Year and Tet in Vietnam.

The story of Dusit Thani and the birth of an icon in Bangkok's luxury hotels

Dusit Thani began not as a corporate blueprint but as a gentle, ambitious experiment in marrying Thai hospitality to modern cosmopolitan aspirations. The story starts with one man’s conviction: Thanpuying Chanut Piyaoui, born into a Bangkok keenly aware of its own traditions yet impatient for progress. 

The Art Gallery Hotels of Asia

We’ve put together a round-up of Hotels as Art Galleries. From supporting pottery art included in the UNESCO list of intangible cultural heritage in need of urgent safeguarding to giant abstract interpretations of iconic cultural landmarks to a hotel art tour by a practising artist who also happens to work for the hotel’s restaurant services team… each hotel has a different take on engaging art lovers.

Visiting the Royal Thai Airforce Museum in Bangkok

The Royal Thai Air Force Museum is a treasure trove of aviation history, showcasing a vast collection of aircraft, equipment, and uniforms. As you step inside, you'll be taken on a journey through the history of Thai aviation, from the early 1900s to the present day.

Asia's Best Historical Excursions

Highlights from Vietnam’s Former Imperial Capital

Azerai La Residence, Hue, a historic luxury hotel overlooking the fabled Perfume River in central Vietnam, offers several ways to explore the area’s rich history, including UNESCO World Heritage sites. The hotel’s most popular “Full Day in Hue” tour begins with a leisurely boat ride on the river to Thien Mu Pagoda, a seven-story tower built in 1601 that stands today as an unofficial symbol of Hue. The excursion continues by private car to the Imperial Citadel where the Nguyen dynasty ruled between 1802 and 1945. In the afternoon, guests visit the tomb of Emperor Gia Long, the resting place of the first Nguyen Emperor, and Khai Dinh’s Tomb, which features traditional Vietnamese in design with European flourishes, making it unique from other tombs in Hue. Some guests opt to end the day with a royal dinner inside the Imperial City at the Royal Theater of Vietnam.

Loy Krathong Festivities at Luxury Hotels Across Thailand

Celebrate in Style on Koh Samui

Nestled into a lush hillside overlooking an exclusive palm-fringed beach, Banyan Tree Samui is a tranquil oasis for the discerning visitor. On 27 November, the resort's award-winning Saffron Restaurant will host a one-night-only special 4-Course set menu featuring an array of traditional Thai dishes served in exquisite style. Main courses include a choice of Grilled Tiger Prawns in Aromatic Thai Red Curry, Wok-Fried Beef in Peppercorns or other mouthwatering Thai favourites. Guests will be presented the opportunity to float a krathong and there will be two traditional Thai dancing performances, at 7:30pm and at 8:30pm. Price is just 2,100 THB nett per person. For reservations, contact: samui@banyantree.com or call +66 077 915 333.

Why are travellers in love with Chiang Rai in Thailand?

#hugthailand

Chiang Rai is a province in northern Thailand known for its natural beauty, cultural heritage, and unique architecture. Some reasons why people might want to visit Chiang Rai include:

Visiting serene Koh Lanta in Thailand

Koh Lanta is an island located in the Andaman Sea, off the west coast of southern Thailand. It is part of the Krabi province and is situated approximately 70 kilometers southwest of Krabi town and about 70 kilometers northwest of Trang. The island is part of an archipelago of over 50 islands and is easily accessible by ferry from the mainland. Visitors can also fly to Krabi or Trang and then take a bus or minivan to the island's pier. It's a popular tourist destination known for its beautiful beaches, crystal-clear waters, and lush jungle landscape.

Visiting Koh Lanta Old Town, Thailand

#hugthailand #amazingthailand

Ko Lanta means ‘dazzling island’ and with its eight long deserted beaches, breathtaking sunsets and laid-back feel, Ko Lanta has all the ingredients to charm and delight.

Lanta Old Town captures the most special character or 'soul' of Ko Lanta early-morning-fishing

Scuba Diving Adventures in Koh Lanta Thailand

Koh Lanta is situated in the South Andaman Sea and offers some of the best dive sites in Thailand that are suitable for both beginners and advanced divers. 

Travel + Leisure Poll Ranks Bangkok as World's Best Tourism City, Chiang Mai 10th Best

Bangkok has been voted the Best City in the World in 2013, according to an Internet survey conducted by Travel + Leisure Magazine, a publication of the American Express Publishing Corporation. Chiang Mai, northern Thailand's largest city, came in at 10th best.

Cinematic Shore Excursions in Thailand

Sir Christopher Lee and Roger Moore square off on
Khao Phing Kan in 1974's 'The Man with the Golden Gun'

by Roderick Eime
Location Scout: Phang Nga Bay, Thailand

Movie trivia buffs, how many movie locations in Thailand can you visit on a shore excursion from your cruise ship?