Boutique Hotels – Attracting Every Segment of Travelers

For some years now, it has been witnessed that the boutique hotels have become the ultimate choice among some well-to-do tourists. But the interesting fact is that not only are the well-to-do tourists getting attracted to these boutique hotels, but even the budget traveler is getting lured by the charm and exclusive services provided by these hotels. The reason is very simple. Contrasting from the very formal and straight forward services given to guests by other forms of hotels, these boutique hotels are always willing and ready to provide you with very personalized service just to meet the clients interests and likings. Also, for those travelers who want to feel the soothe and loved atmosphere of home in a hotel, boutique hotels are made for them. These hotels are very famous among those who want to take break from noisy and rouse atmosphere of city.

According to records, the reservation income of small boutique hotels of the world has increased by surprising twenty five percent in the year 2006 and it is presented that in the year 2007, 70 more boutique hotels will be constructed in America in 2007. Many companies are converting their normal hotels into boutique hotels all across the globe whether it’s America, Australia or Iceland.

Many companies are showing their interest in Asian markets as well. Market in Asia is huge and has got a huge potential. Many boutique hotels are already operating in countries like Malaysia, Cambodia and Thailand. An Australian boutique hotel chain has decided to open 50 boutique hotels in entire Asia and some of them are already opened in very popular international tourist destinations of Asia like Sri Lanka, Thailand, Tahiti and Maldives. According to the spokesperson of that company the region of Asia especially South-East Asia is a very huge market and the company is enjoying its presence there as it is getting huge acclamation. So, in overall, it can be said that the industry of boutique hotels is on the right path of success.

Besides all these facts, the other reason why boutique hotels are gaining popularity among tourists and travelers is the fact that demands for expanded conveniences, services and high-class luxury is increasing among the people. Boutique hotels are ready to provide anything and everything requested by the guests. A hotel in Maldives has crossed all barriers as it consists only 6 suites and every suite has its own courtyard and a swimming pool. They also provide a personal yacht with a captain. Such are the limits that any boutique hotel can cross to meet the demands of their guests and to see them happy and contented. These boutique hotels also provide basic requirements like stocked mini-bar, refrigerator, work desk, internet, fax, satellite T.V for free. Remember that these services are given to you in any other hotel for cost. However, boutique hotels are famous for the calmness and peace they provide and that is simply beyond price before all other services and facilities.

Internet has played the most significant responsibility in increasing the popularity and fame of the boutique hotels. There are countless websites on the net that work in accordance with many big brand boutique hotels and also many small-scale boutique hotels. These websites are always offering cheap and luxurious service to the guests and customers also find these websites very effective because on only one website they can reserve any room in any hotel in any part of the world. This has become possible by universal reservation system. This system allows you to book any room in a boutique hotel of your choice any where in the world.

All said and done, boutique hotels have started attracting tourists of all kinds, luxury travelers or budget travelers, travelers on their honeymoon or family vacation or even business travelers. Things are only looking up for all boutique hotels all over the world.

Asean Hotelworks Resort Hotel Asset Management in Thailand Phuket Samui

ASEAN HOTELWORKS provide Pre opening and Management services for Hotels, Resorts, condominium rental pools and mixed use estates in Thailand.

We can provide useful input during the project/building phase for M&E related issues, and the often overlooked back-of-the-house area planning, essential to the smooth and effective operation of any operation providing hospitality services.

- Comprehensive business plan including 5-10-15 year forecasting and operational budgeting (for the benefit of developers, banks and investors)

- Presentations to developers, bankers and investors

- Attend daily or weekly contractor and project manager meetings

- Adjust project timelines

- Maintain supplier timelines

- Detailed and expansive marketing exercises including SWOT analysis, competitor’s analysis, market analysis, advertising, website design and optimalisation, exhibitions, press and press-releases to travel trade and more.

- Issue tailored SOPs (stand operating procedures) for all operating departments

- Rules and regulations for juristic bodies

- Rental agreements with owners

- Rental agreements with tenants

- Structuring of condominiums and juristic entities

- Complete and cost-effective FF&E (furniture, fixtures and equipment) package proposals

- Kitchen, restaurant and spa lay out / designs and O.E. (operating equipment)

- Selection of front and back office software (reservations, reception, acconting, purchasing etc)

- Concept development for restaurants, rooms, apartments, villas, public areas

- Recruitment in conformity with current labour laws including;

- A) Application forms

- B) Staff handbooks

- C) Employment contracts

- D) Interviewing

- Soft opening

- Grand opening and launch party organisation

- Management on opening either interim or long-term.

ASEAN HOTELWORKS can also provide asset management services to audit companies who are engaged in any of the above assignments and make assessments and recommendations to developers, project owners on an ad-hoc or ongoing basis.

Please feel free to contact us with your requirement (s) for an initial consultation or assessment without any obligation whatsoever.

www.asean-hotelworks.com

A Different Types Of Accommodation Choices In Phuket

The largest island in Thailand, Phuket is South-East Asia’s one of the most charming destinations, situated in the sparkling waters of the Andaman Sea. Located about 850 kilometers south of Bangkok by air and just an hour’s flying from Bangkok, Phuket boasts of a stunning landscape comprising awe-inspiring scenery, blue seas, stretches of white sandy beaches, and beautiful sunsets.

Hence, it is not a wonder why Phuket is sometimes referred to as ‘the Pearl of the Andaman.’ When comes to attractions, Phuket presents a feast of attractions for visitors touring the destination, such as, Phuket Aquarium, with some rare species of fishes; Phuket Butterfly Farm, boasting of a vivid range of butterflies and other insects; Phuket Zoo, where monkey, elephant and crocodile shows are conducted; wats including Wat Chalong, Wat Kun Chi and Phuket Town Shrine; and Thalang National Museum, containing some unique art and artifacts.

However, despite this amazing range of attractions, many of the tourists come here due to its gorgeous beaches including Patong Beach, Kata – Karon Beach, Kamala Beach, and Bang Tao Beach, just few to name. Each of these beaches has its own significance, and is considered a mecca for enjoying water sport activities, such as swimming, deep sea fishing, paragliding, sailing, and much more. Whether you are beach bums, art or nature lovers, bird or wild life lovers, devotees, or honeymooners or newly weds, Phuket, in deed, has everything for a relaxing and memorable vacation.

It is estimated that millions of tourists, especially westerners, visit here per year. Hence, in order to cater to the growing needs of tourists, Phuket has an astounding range of accommodation choices, depending upon the preferences and interests of tourists. For instance, if you are a tourist who has come here for short stay, then some of the best choices are hotels and resorts. If you are budget conscious, you can opt for such options as boutique and bungalow resorts attached with all necessary facilities like swimming pool and recreational features, apart from inexpensive accommodations.

For beach lovers, some excellent beach resorts are available in destinations, many of which are just few meters away from some of the most popular beaches in the area. Mostly, they are complete with luxuriously appointed rooms, Thai style gardens, lush gardens, swimming pools, most modern spa facilities, and golf courses.

Al though hotels and resorts make available all that is required to make your vacation enjoyable, it may sometimes does not appeal a vacationer seeking more space, privacy, and freedom. For such vacationers, no other options would be better than private villas. They are also an excellent choice for holidaymakers who are here for a long stay. In contrast to a hotel or resort room whose average size is only of about 40 square meters, a villa may be usually in the form of house with size varying from 100 to 900 square meters.

From single studio and apartment style villas to five or six room villas, you can choose from a variety of astounding villas in Phuket. Some of the most sophisticated villas in Phuket come with three or more bedrooms, kitchen designed in European style and equipped with dishwasher and microwave oven, separate dining and living areas, excellent entertainment facilities coupled with satellite TV and CD and DVDs, and hi-speed internet connections.

Additionally, mostly they are complete with facilities such as indoor as well as outdoor Jacuzzis, barbeque areas, and private swimming pools. There are also some villa rentals, offering the services of maids, cooks, chauffeurs, and baby sitters. Above all, as in the case of beach resorts, many of the villa rentals are within close proximity to some of the top beaches in the area.

Let it be any type of accommodation choice or providers, majority of them provide superb arrangements in order to help you indulge in a variety of activities in the destination. For example, some providers organize canoe trips to explore the Phang Nga Bay caves. Likewise, special river rafting trips are organized for adventurous. Many of them also provide excellent facilities to enjoy such activities as elephant trekking, touring wildlife centers, and jungle walking. Further, for weary travelers seeking rejuvenation and relaxation, some of them offer superb spa services covering body massages, herbal treatments, mud baths, and beauty treatments.

A myriad of professional villa service providers are now there to provide you the best services in connection with Phuket villa rentals. Many of them even offer options to allow for a hassle-free booking online.

Gloucester City Guide, Including Gloucester Hotels

Introduction:

Gloucester is situated in the south-western section of England in the county of Gloucestershire, and is very near the Welsh border. Possessing a population that is well over 100,000 people, Gloucester is a bustling and thriving city as well as a popular tourist attraction. Gloucester is home to many historical sites and recreational activities, making it a place where tourists love returning to every year. No matter what time of year someone visits Gloucester there are plenty of things to do and see.

Places of interest:

Gloucester has much to offer both residents and tourists. From museums to galleries, from monuments, to historical sites, Gloucester is filled with an endless Array of things to both see and do. Further, Gloucester is situated near other popular English cities, making such cities easily accessible. Popular cities surrounding Gloucester include: Bath, Belfast, Bristol, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Liverpool, London, Nottingham, Oxford, and York.

HISTORIC BUILDINGS: Gloucester Cathedral is the actual site where King Edward the II has been buried. In 681 AD this church was dedicated to St. Peter and the cathedral itself possesses a tremendous amount of Gothic architecture.

WALKS AND TOURS: Both residents and tourists will enjoy the numerous trails and tours that can be found in Gloucester. The Severn Way is a 2100 mile walk along the river in Britain and there are Cathedral guides, historic walks and dock walks for everyone to enjoy.

SHOPPING: There are plenty of fantastic places to shop while in Gloucester. The Mall Eastgate and the Kings Walk offer both specialist shops and boutiques, giving every tourist the ability to find suitable souvenirs.

MUSEUMS AND GALLERIES: Gloucester is home to some of the finest museums and galleries; among them are the Nature in Art Museum, a museum totally dedicated to art that focuses on nature, and Gloucester City Museum and Art Gallery, with archaeological exhibits and more.

EVENTS: Gloucester is a busy city, one filled with many events to attend and enjoy. Gloucester frequently hosts many festivals and museum events.

Things to do:

There are plenty of things to see in do in the gorgeous city of Gloucester. If truth be told, both residents and tourists will have no trouble finding recreational activities that are suitable for the entire family. From historic sites to educationally suitable recreational activities, Gloucester is the city that offers something for everyone.

WILDFOWL AND WETLANDS CENTRE: in Slimbridge is a fantastic site for both children and adults alike. When visiting Gloucester, families will enjoy this recreational facility which was established in 1946. With trails to walk and many different species of birds to see, the Wildfowl and Wetlands Centre proves entertaining for all families. The cost of admission is as follows: £6, and children £3.60.

HAILES ABBEY: in Winchcombe is the ruins of a Cistercian Abbey that was established in the 13th century, in the year 1246. Visitors can still see and enjoy its cloistered arches and visit the shop and museum located on this historic site.

WESTONBIRT ARBORETUM: in Tetbury is a section of land that is home to well over 18,000 trees. Families can enjoy the trails all throughout Westonbirt Arboretum and visits will find the location particularly beautiful during the fall. With a visitor’s centre, a shop, and a museum as well as a plant centre and places to picnic, Westonbirt has much to offer its visitors. Admission prices are as follows: £3.80 for adults and £1 for children.

THREE CHOIRS VINEYARD: located in Newent, is a vineyard that offers self-guided tours and an opportunity to enjoy the delights of wine tasting.

CLEARWELL CAVES: the Clearwell Caves is a site that proves entertaining for the entire family. Clearwell is an old iron mine with a blacksmith and ochre workshop and offers guided tours for groups by appointment.

Food & Drink:

There is no shortage of fantastic dining locations in Gloucester to choose from. No matter what your preferences are in terms of food and drink, Gloucester will meet your personal demands.

JAPANESE DINING: If you are looking for Japanese delights and delicacies, Gloucester is home to Spirit on 1 Station Road. Spirit is located in the centre of Gloucester making it easily accessible after residents or tourists are through with other activities.

GREEK DINING: Both Dino’s Village Taverna and Nicki’s Hotel & Taverna offer visitors fine Greek dining. Dino’s Village Taverna is located at 1 St Catherine Street, while Nicki’s Hotel & Taverna is situated at 105 – 107 Westgate Street in Gloucester.

INDIAN DINING: Gloucester is home to several Indian restaurants, including the Baburchi Restaurant, Balti King, the Hill Top, Jewel in the Crown, and Lahore Balti Restaurant, to name a few.

ITALIAN DINING: If it’s Italian entrees you seek, Gloucester does not disappoint. Gloucester is home to Topoly’s and Prezzo, both located on Southgate Street.

THAI DINING: Siam Thai at 5 Park Road and A Taste of Thai at 117 – 119 Southgate Street, Gloucester offer both residents and visitors fine Thai entrees to choose from.

Gloucester Hotels & Accommodation:

Gloucester has a number of accommodation styles to choose from. Visitors can stay in any number of the fantastic hotels in Gloucester or they can choose to use self catering facilities. Either way, tourists are destined to receive the finest amenities from the Gloucester accommodations they choose.

Express by Holiday Inn Gloucester South

Edward Hotel

Cheltenham Gloucester Moat House

Ramada Hotel & Resort Gloucester

Ramada Bowden Hall

Hatton Court Hotel

Watersmeet Motel & Angling Centre

Hatherley Manor Hotel

Days Inn Hotel Gloucester – (North Bristol)

New County Hotel

Entertainment

The nightlife in Gloucester is promising because there is so much to do and see—giving both tourists and visitors an Array of entertainment options to choose from. Several night clubs provide entertainment and there are even more pubs that visitors can stop in to have a drink and socialise.

Gloucester: an English city rich with history and equally rich in all of its offerings to its residents and visitors. Fabulous accommodations, excellent dining and lots of fun things to do: all within the boundaries of Gloucester. Gloucester: a current tourist hotspot and a city that promises to be a tourist attraction for many years to come.

Corporate Overview Tgr Group Asia

TGR Group Asia develops and markets award-winning luxury hotels and resorts in Phuket. The management team has over 120 years combined experience working with leading, global construction companies and a successful track record across three continents. Like all members of the senior management team, Edward intends to live on the island once it is completed.
The invitation-only Jumeirah Yacht Club will feature a state-of-the-art clubhouse with luxury accommodation, super yacht marina phuket, super yachts phuket, superyacht marina phuket, superyacht phuket, superyachts phuket, spa, gym and restaurants and will be host to regular regattas and exclusive Black Tie functions.

A Guide To Phuket, Thailand

You are virtually amidst the palm-lined ivory-white beaches fondled by crystal clear cerulean waters, under lazuline skies featuring captivating crimson sunsets, while in Phuket, floating in Southern Thailand, in the Andaman Sea. Well, the island certainly deserves to be nicknamed as the “pearl of the south” or “pearl of the Andaman”.

Phuket, the largest island of Thailand, has all the ingredients of a perfect vacation destination. Of course, the island has numerous exotic holiday resorts, elegant beachfront hotels, lovely vacation retreats hemmed in by puffed out palms, vivacious nightlife, bars, restaurants, and fine eateries, which make it the South’s finest, busiest, and the most visited holiday destination.

Enjoying hot and humid climate year around, Phuket is best for vacationing, from November to May. Summer monsoon season is rainy, but the island is still sunny and clear. The “cool” season runs from May to October, but weather is pretty tolerable. On the whole, the island is very much reminiscent of Florida’s summer weather.

Phuket is chiefly celebrated because of its snow-white palmy beaches. However, Thais view nudity as highly violative. Nudity is considered socially incorrect in Thailand. Still, Phuket beaches have their own charms. The beaches are really nice for swimming, diving, sailing, surfing, and numerous other beach activities. The western beaches are really good for surfing. The fine beaches of Phuket include Bang Tao, Surin Beach, Laem Singh Beach, Kamala Beach, Patong Beach, Karon Beach, Kata Yai Beach, Kata Noi Beach, Ao Chalong, and Rawai Beach.

Laem Singh Beach, located between Kamala Beach and Surin Beach, is mesmerizing place, particularly famous for its picturesque views. Kamala Beach, located just to the north of Patong, on the west coast of Phuket, is widely known for Phuket Fantasea show, a wonderful cultural theme park, and a Buddhist temple at the southern end of the beach. There is a small park with a tsunami monument at the middle of the beach. Patong Beach is known for its nightlife and after dark funs. Kata Yai Beach, a beautiful clean tourist beach, is nice place for surfing. And, Ao Chalong is home to the most popular yacht anchorage of the island.

Koh Yao Noi, one of the islands, located east of Phuket, halfway to Krabi, is another fine destination for tourists. The beautiful island is known for its four fine resorts including The Paradise Koh Yao Boutique Resort and Spa, Koh Yao Island Resort, Koh Yao Pavillion Resort, and the New Evason Hideaway. Phuket offers regular public boat services to Koh Yao Noi.

Phuket City however hasn’t much for tourists, but the Chinatown Area, with its several great Thai-style shopping facilities, and a few other sites can be visited. Some of the attractions include Jui Tui and Put Jaw Temples, Sino-Portuguese Mansions, Wat Mongkol Nimit, and Phuket Culture Museum.

Phuket can be accessed by air, road, or sea. Phuket International Airport is the main air gateway to the island. It’s located 32 miles from the centre of Phuket City, in the north of the Island. The island is also directly linked to the Thai mainland by a bridge.

Forcez-vous à modifier vos habitudes

« Il faut prendre très tôt de bonnes habitudes, surtout celle de savoir changer souvent et facilement d’habitudes » (Pierre Reverdy, poète français du XXème siècle).

Je suis tombée sur cette citation il y a quelques jours et je me suis dit que cet auteur avait parfaitement raison.

En effet, toujours faire la même chose, s’enliser dans une routine quotidienne qui nous emprisonne, suivre notre petit train-train, peuvent nous être nuisibles.

Certes, il est parfois difficile de changer certaines de nos habitudes : le travail, l’école, les courses, les activités régulières, etc. nous obligent à respecter un certain horaire.

Pour certaines personnes, d’ailleurs, avoir de tels repères constitue un gage de sécurité. En respectant un planning, elles ont l’impression d’avoir la maîtrise totale sur leur vie. Elles donnent la sensation d’être hyper-organisées, de tout contrôler.

Or, si un jour, ce rouage bien huilé se grippe d’une manière ou d’une autre, ces personnes qui semblaient tout maîtriser, sont perdues et ne savent pas comment réagir. Elles ne supportent pas que leur vie soit déréglée.

Justement, si elles avaient pris l’habitude de changer quelques-unes de leurs habitudes, elles sauraient parfaitement comment se comporter. Elles n’auraient pas peur des changements et sauraient s’adapter à toutes les circonstances.

Ainsi, si vous êtes routinier, si vous n’aimez pas changer d’habitude, essayez quand même de le faire. Par exemple, changez de route pour aller travailler, ne mangez pas toujours la même chose au restaurant, n’allez pas faire vos courses toujours le même jour, ne faites pas toujours la même chose avec vos enfants, etc.

De cette manière, non seulement, vous vous libérerez de votre train-train quotidien mais surtout vous vivrez de nouvelles expériences qui ne pourront qu’être enrichissantes.

De plus, vous serez désormais capable d’aborder sans peur toutes les situations, même celles que vous n’avez pas encore vécues.

Faites preuve d’imagination. Vivez pleinement. Inévitablement, vous n’aurez plus une totale maîtrise sur votre vie mais vous récolterez, en échange, plus de fantaisies, d’inattendus, d’imprévus.

Vous serez ouvert à de nouvelles expériences, à de nouvelles rencontres. Libéré de votre carcan, vous oserez plus et vous aurez d’avantage confiance en vous. Vous serez avide de vivre d’autres choses.

C’est un peu un cercle vicieux : plus vous êtes libre, plus vous vivez dégagé des habitudes, plus vous oserez de choses, plus votre vie sera riche !

A bas les habitudes ! Tentez tout au moins de vous échapper le plus souvent possible de votre routine. Vous aurez ainsi la sensation de liberté, de disponibilité. Vous serez, en même temps, plus détendu, moins stressé par le temps, les horaires.

Ne faites pas de vos habitudes une tyrannie !

Co-auteurs : BRUNET Isabelle et GAWELIK Katy

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Best Asian destinations for the US dollar

Want to make your travel dollar go further? Dreaming of beautiful crystal white sandy beaches and aquamarine oceans? Want to spice up your senses and taste something different? Planning to travel in 2009? Then look no further. We’ve placed together a selection of our best cost-saving places to visit. Southeast Asia is waiting for you. And there’s plenty to do. With a favorable rate of exchange, all Americans traveling to Southeast Asia will still find their money goes a long way. So, if you’re ready to discover some of the most beautiful and exciting travel destinations on earth, check out our ‘hot spot’ travel list below.

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Hot spot # 1: Thailand

Thailand is set within a lush tropical landscape. The beauty of its culture is spellbinding even to the most seasoned traveler. Rich in history and social heritage, this proud Buddhist nation is resplendent in natural resources. Thailand is also renowned for having the friendliest people on earth and offering world class customer service. So, if you want the best fuss free travel experience your money can buy, Thailand is your place to discover in 2009.

What to do: Join in the ‘Loy Kratong Festival’ in Chiang Mai (North of Thailand) in November.

What to see: The Grand Palace; “Wat Phra Kaew (Temple of the Emerald Buddha); Chatucha’s Weekend Market (one of Asia’s biggest).

Places to stay: Phuket; Pattaya; Koh-samui; Bangkok; Kho Racha; Phi-Phi Island.

Hot spot # 2: Hong Kong

“Hong Kong, once a colony of Britain, is still a great place to visit for the budget conscious traveler. Many luxury hotels offer great deals. And of course, it continues to live up to its reputation as being a shopper’s paradise. But if you’re more of a foodie than a shopper, Hong Kong won’t disappoint. With its many restaurants, the city enjoys a longstanding love affair with food. However, if you’re searching for a slower pace travel destination (with even better deals), try crossing the border to the city of Shenzhen. The prices here are much cheaper than Hong Kong.

What to do: “Hong Kong’s Disneyland; visit Cat Street in “The Central district for antique shopping or Queens Road and Des Voeux Road for the

Gay Guide To Bangkok At Night

The tolerant nature of modern society in Thailand has made many a traveller feel comfortable and at home despite being in Asia. It has also made Bangkok the site of many an unforgettable party.

There is fun to be had in a variety of locations around the city from the comforting company of foreigners to the truly Thai style of a local disco. Although the options for men almost shout at you they are so visible, there are a number of locations where women meet women for drinks, dancing and perhaps more.

Although many of the bars are primarily targeted towards men, there are all kinds of people cruising down Silom soi 4. Phuket and Pattaya may have great beach parties but for a night out in the city, nothing beats this pocket of Bangkok for action. Every year the whole city explodes during Pride Week, but every night, the spirit of pride is alive and well and sauntering between the many bars and patios of Bangkok’s Gay street.

One of the most popular places to enjoy a cocktail and watch the parade of people passing is the Balcony. Not only do they have a large number of street-side tables, but their happy hour prices are the best in the area. Plus the bar is perfectly positioned to watch the staff on the other side of the street who are inevitably well dressed and drool-inducing.

On rainy nights, Telephone Pub and Restaurant is another popular venue. Each table comes equipped with its own telephone so that those too timid for a direct hit can start conversations with strangers at a distance.

In addition to the cocktails, pubs and sports bars on the soi, several establishments host nightly cabarets and shows. Just off soi 4 is the G.O.D. club, formerly known as the Freeman Dance Arena. Under its old name the shows were legendary, and since reopening the club has only gotten better. An enticing mixture of alluring drag queens and purely masculine muscle, G.O.D. really stands up to its name: Guys on Display.

One visitor from the UK, Jack Nambert has visited Bangkok a number of times over the last few years. He says that although he loves the saunas and discos, it’s the drag shows at G.O.D. that keep him coming back. “G.O.D. club looks great, the music is fantastic and it’s open until at least 04:00. It blows other clubs completely away”, he said.

Drag queens in Thailand are legendary for their beauty, poise and all around sex appeal. The phenomenon on men dressing and living as women is widespread and accepted in Thai culture. The Thais call them kathoey; English tourists call them lady boys. Although many kathoes are so convincing they are difficult to tell apart from those born as women, kathoey, just like everyone else, come in a wide variety, from men who dress as women, to those undergoing various stages of hormone treatment and surgery.

DJ Station, on Silom soi 2, combines a nightly cabaret-style show with a fantastic DJ for the rest of the night. Cover charge is minimal and includes two drinks, generally mixed on the strong side. After the show, the crowd is pumped for dancing and by the end of the night, it’s hard to get to the bar amid the crowd of shirtless sweating men who have come to dance here from all over the world.

The most notable club in the area is on Kamphaengphet road. ICY was recognised by Metro Magazine as one of the hottest gay bars in Bangkok and if you want to meet a Thai guy, this is the place to go.

The intersection of Ramkhamhaeng and Lamsalee roads is another area worth exploring for a taste of Thai culture. Several bars, including ICK, SeaTure, Finalle and Crazy, attract a primarily local clientele. Most of the bars have good DJ’s, especially on weekends, and unlike the clubs on Silom soi 4 that cater to foreigners, the Lamsalee bars serve drinks that are reasonably priced.

Men in Bangkok need only to head to a bar, a club or a sauna to meet other men. Women don’t have things nearly quite so easy. After strolling up and down Silom soi 4 several times and still not spotting any likely lesbians, one tourist asked a bouncer at Balls, a sports bar on the soi where she could find lesbians. “I think they go to sleep at 18:00”, he promptly replied.

Although not all lesbians in Bangkok stay at home every night, it is true that they can be difficult to find. For an outsider passing through and looking for a night on the town, it can sometimes seem impossible to locate the private gatherings and hidden lairs of the lesbians in Bangkok.

Because many Thai lesbians feel entirely comfortable going out with the girls in Thai society, the fact of the matter is that they can be found almost anywhere. The trick is spotting them.

When searching for lesbians out on the town in Bangkok, the best thing to do is go out on a Friday or Saturday night. Sukhumvit road has the most number of promising establishments including Mambo, a restaurant with cabarets, and Thumb Up, both on soi 32.

Vega, on soi 39, is actually run by a lesbian couple so even if there is no one in attendance, they are usually happy to dish out the low down on what’s happening in town. Things do tend to get hot here on the weekends though with great live music complementing a selection of excellent food.

Bars that cater to a mixed crowd litter Silom road and there are several on Phra Athit road. On a weekend, there’s usually a good crowd including some toms and dees at many clubs.

It’s definitely not as easy for women to find other women as it is for men to find other men and for travelers with a limited amount of time to enjoy the sights, sounds and flavors of Thailand, it can be very frustrating.

Great restaurants and areas to eat in Bangkok, Thailand

When you’re in Thailand you will never be short of great places to eat at cheap and affordable prices. Thai food is found all over the world but like many places, what you get in Thailand will totally blow your mind in terms of quality and what authentic Thai food really tastes like.

Where do you start when you’re in Thailand? Well if you’re in central Bangkok and want an Array of choices, head for the new CentralWorld Shopping complex. Southeast Asia’s largest megamall offers over 50 restaurants up for you’re choosing and this isn’t inclusive of their humungous food court that might tempt you as well with its cheap and delicious servings.

Another place similar would be The Emporium which plays host to the The Park Food Hall and the Erawan Bangkok which is home to Urban Kitchen. The Park Food Hall is a more formal kind of setting with many food bars and a huge 400 seating dinning area in a soft-lighted atmosphere. Choose from gourmet Arabic dishes, Japanese sashimi, fresh pizzas from the pizzeria, Thai delicacies and even simple dishes like bangers and mash. The Urban kitchen is a little different, with 14 restaurants under one roof. Choose from the famous Crystal Jade La Mian Xiao Long Bao, which serves Chinese dim-sum and freshly made noodles, Erawan Japanese Restaurant; which serves authentic Jap food, The Erawan Tea Room which overlooks the famous Erawan shrine and much more.

If you want a break from the malls, try Baan kanitha; an award winning Thai Cuisine restaurant located on 69 Sathorn Road. Located in a grand Thai House, this neat restaurant doubles up as an art gallery as well, branding works of art all over the walls, adding an even more special ambiance to your dinning experience. Try some of their signature dishes such as the stir-fried river prawns with curry powder and chicken wrapped in pandan leaf to complete a satisfying experience.

For a journey back in time try out the Blue Elephant restaurant located on 233 south Sathorn Road. Traditional Thai cuisine with fusion flare is on the menu in this lovely restaurant that makes you feel like you’ve travelled back a 100 years. Try their specialty house starter, the pearl of the Blue Elephant which compromises a selection of Asian favorites such as Satay and fish cakes with different sauces. If you’re in to trying something slightly different, dishes such as stir-fried crocodile meat might be something to look out for on their menus.

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