On my trip to Thailand, I found an alluring place full of surprises. The hotels are first class with all the amenities one would expect at the finest hotels in the USA.
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| View of the Cape Panwa Hotel and the Andaman Sea |
Birds, plants, and flowers are in abundance, all of quite are different and quite attractive as compared to the USA. Great luxury hotels are available at attractive prices versus the US. Several are priced at one half to the third of the prices of comparable US hotels. Without a doubt, the most charming beaches in the world are there.
There is a non stop flight from LAX to Bangkok on Thai Airlines which takes 18 hours. It is a long flight but the
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Uncle Nan's Restaurant for fine Thai Dining at Cape Panwa
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flight attendants on Thai Airlines did an excellent job of looking after the needs of the passengers. It would have been nice to be in business or first class for this flight but maybe next time! To Phuket it is a one hour non stop flight from Bangkok on Thai Airlines.
For history buffs, there are many alluring attractions including the King's summer palace at Cha-Am. It is a sprawling wooden palace with panoramic views of the Gulf of Thailand and has been restored as a museum.
At Samut Song Khram, is the cozy Baan Amphawa Hotel which is located 2 blocks from the Mekong River. The
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| Cape Panwa Hotel. |
floating market is a place where vendors gather or their boats along the Mekong river. One can see the lifestyle of the residents of the river. It is quite attractive and unique.
South of Bangkok is Hua Hin, an area of much new development. The Marriot Hua Hin is quite grand with a beautiful beach with horseback riding on the beach.
The swimming pools, bar and gourmet dining are quite appealing there.
In the capital, Bangkok, the Sukothai is one of my favorite hotels. The suite has five large rooms, several having views of downtown Bangkok.
A large Olympic sized pool is available for swimming. A fully equipped exercise room is available for training. The food was quite delectable.
The architectural design is contemporary. The service was perfect in every way. The employees' goal is to please the guests.
Later in Phuket, I had the pleasure of staying at the Cape Panwa Hotel.
The Cape Panwa Hotel is a gorgeous place on the beach with great views of the Andaman Sea. Among the past guests were Leonardo de Caprio, Catherine Zeta Jones and Pierce Brosnan.
The resort has two great pools, one is located right on the beach. The suites are quite luxurious with private Jacuzzis. The villas have private swimming pools and can be accommodate five guests comfortably. The breakfasts are a luxurious buffet with many types of fruits, omelets and Thai specialties. At dinner, there are tiger shrimps with an amazing spicy chili Thai sauce. Of course, the menu provides many choices. There are five different restaurants to choose from at the hotel each with a different menu every day!
Cape Panwa Hotel and Spa offers a world of culinary delights to please every palate. Choose from our selection of five restaurants and five bars – be it Thai, French, Italian, seafood, continental or Asian cuisine.
The gym provides the latest in exercise equipment. The beach is quite beautiful with excellent snorkeling and water skiing available. The General Manager, Claude Sauter is most personable and will take care of his guests needs to assure their return visit. Many of the guests have been coming for years for a month or more every year.
Cape Panwa Hotel & Spa
27 Moo 8 Sakdidej Road
83000 Phuket, Thailand
Tel: +66 (0) 7639-1123
Fax: +66 (0) 7639-1177
John Gray, the original founder, established Sea Canoe in 1983, and pioneered the company into an award winning eco-tour operation first in Hawaii and then Thailand. Their professional, confident guides are willing to pass on what they have learned about the natural history of the area to anyone with an inquiring mind. Sea Canoe Adventures, one of their specialties lasts for one day with a maximum group of eight kayaks. Other longer adventures are available from 3 days to two weeks. Corporate groups are also catered for. A must do while you are in Phuket. He has a local Thai chef who prepares excellent food on the ship so one has no concerns about eating.
