If you love travelling (like we do), we’re sure you’re always on the hunt for a new hotel or destination to head to for your next getaway! Here are some great spots and hotel deals to check out.
New in Krabi
Banyan Tree Krabi is set to open along Tubkaek Beach in October this year. The new resort will house pool suites and villas, including twoand three-bedroom options. Other facilities include all-day dining, a ballroom, wedding chapel, beach club, kids’ club, fitness centre and rainforest themed spa.
banyantree.com/en/thailand/krabi
Exciting Revamp
Pimalai Resort & Spa is staying positive and making full use of this uncertain time in the hospitality industry to improve its offerings. The luxury Koh Lanta resort (which we feature in full on page 110 of this issue) is currently undergoing renovations of its Hillside and Ocean View Pool Villas. The Pimalai team is also making plans to construct the first wedding chapel on the island.
Giving Back
• Staff volunteers from Thai villa estate Samujana in Koh Samui have come together to provide food and face shields. The Samujana team partnered with village chief Khun Vitaya to supply 150 meals and 200 bottles of water to the villages of Plai Laem and Bophut, where many had lost their jobs. They also sent 150 home-made face shields and food items to Koh Samui Hospital.
• Centara Hotels & Resorts has launched “Help the Heroes”, a campaign supporting those in need during the COVID-19 crisis. Donations go to the Chaipattana COVID-19 Aid Fund and the Thai Red Cross Society. Head to the website to purchase a cash voucher for future stays (until 31 October 2021) and half will be given away as a donation.
Going green
Santiburi Koh Samui has recently received a 2020 Green Hotel certification from the Thailand Department of Environmental Quality Promotion. The beach resort has a comprehensive environmental programme, including wastewater treatment, energy saving, waste management, organic gardening, recycling and the usage of green alternatives. It also works with local suppliers that share these same values.
Little Learners
Get the kids excited while learning about the ocean with the Junior Marine Biology Programme by Six Senses. The 10-week at-home course is open to everyone and suitable for all ages. Each week, the resort’s team of marine biologists will take turns to introduce all sorts of marine life, from manta rays and corals to turtle and reef fish. Broader topics cover science research, sustainability and how to get involved.
Find out more at sixsenses.com/en/at-home-with-six-senses.
Swans & Serenity
Even with the pandemic keeping travellers away, hotels still have stories to tell. The Palace Hotel Tokyo is located on one of the moats of the city’s Imperial Palace, and this moat is home to a lone “imperial swan” (best viewed from the spacious outdoor terrace of the hotel’s Grand Kitchen restaurant). The regal animal is visited by the occasional crane but its life-long mate sadly passed away over a year ago. Each of the Palace’s other 11 moats has a pair of swans that still officially belong to the Emperor of Japan. The graceful animals have long been associated with nobility.
Wellness at Home
Fancy a home spa? Do it in style with Aman Skincare’s collection. The products are formulated using exotic and natural ingredients, many of which are indigenous to or have been wild harvested in Aman destinations worldwide. They include face creams and serums, face masks, body oils, milk baths and other remedies.
Find them at shop.aman.com.
