Singapore & Thailand adventure
We flew Singapore Airlines A380 from London to Singapore, which was excellent with great service, food and entertainment. Changi Airport in Singapore is award-winning and offers a movie theatre, a rain vortex (the largest indoor waterfall in the world), playground, butterfly garden, an indoor forest, a 12 metre high slide and an entertainment corner with video games, all complimentary. There are also plenty of shops, restaurants and a spa.
Singapore is renowned for its modern skyline & futuristic architecture, but it is also a city rich in history & culture. It is a great city for any traveller. It is very clean & safe, with excellent transportation & a range of fantastic attractions. Not forgetting the food, the shopping & the nightlife!
During our 3 night stay, we visited the super tree grove and the cloud forest at Gardens by the Bay. We had lunch at the nearby Marina Bay Sands at an outdoor terrace overlooking the city. Don't miss the water, sound & light show in the evenings at the Marina Bay Waterfront Promenade! We also took a ride on the Singapore flyer, one of the largest observation wheels in the world. We had dinner at the entertainment area of Clarke Quay & shopped til we dropped at Orchard Road. We walked around Little India, Kampong Glam Muslim quarter & the markets in China Town where we had a meal at the hawker stalls. And of course, a must whilst in Singapore, we had to have a Singapore Sling at Raffles Hotel.
Sentosa Island is 15 mins by taxi from the city. The sky luge and zip wire are great fun, as is the fish spa! You will also find Universal Studios, the SEA aquarium and Madame Tussauds here, plus many beach clubs.
Elephant Hills, Thailand
I have travelled to Thailand many times, including a 1 month trip from North to South. This time myself and my friend looked forward to staying in a luxury tented camp at Elephant Hills in Khao Sok National Park & built our holiday itinerary around this. It is easily accessible from the surrounding area of Phuket, Khao Lak, Krabi & even Koh Samui. Elephant Hills offers 2-4 day stays and includes transfers, accommodation on a full board basis plus all activities, with the highlight being the elephant interaction where you can feed and bathe them. There are cookery lessons, boat trips, hikes & kayaking also included.
Accommodation whilst being in a tent, includes proper double or twin beds, an ensuite bathroom with shower, hair dryer etc. There is a swimming pool with amazing tropical & mountain views. Why not choose the itinerary which includes a night at the Rainforest camp, floating on the lake, where you can swim and kayak.
Koh Samui
After Elephant Hills, we were transferred to the pier for our ferry to Koh Samui. We were met the other side & brought to our hotel. We stayed in a 2 bedroom private pool villa at the Tongsai Bay Samui with stunning sea views. I have been sending Honeymoon couples to this 5 star resort for many years. I was very much looking forward to finally experiencing this property for myself!
The hotel is set 28 acres around a private bay with an exclusive beach front. It has a very laid-back vibe. The food was excellent, as was the service. The spa was fabulous!
There are a number of pools to choose from, as well as water sports, tennis court & a kids club. Accommodation ranges from hillside suites, to the most popular – the Beachfront Suites & Seafront Suites with sea view & outdoor bathtub. The Seaview Hillside Pool Suites include a private plunge pool on the open-air balcony, complete with signature ‘bath with a view’. Villa options include 1 bedroom, 2 bedroom & 3 bedroom, plus wellbeing villas with a private in-room exercise area.
The food everywhere in Thailand is superb! We visited the Fishermans Village at Bophut Beach with its restaurants & bars. Bophut beach is a great place to chill out. It is very tranquil with a lovely atmosphere. We also visited the main resort of Chaweng Beach, which is a lot busier. This beach is stunning – a large pristine white sandy beach with a host of water sports, dining and accommodation options.
There are plenty of attractions & day trips on offer in Koh Samui including the Big Buddha, markets, hikes, waterfalls, ATV tours, golf, day spas & boat trips including snorkelling & kayaking at Angthong Marine Park.
Ferries as well as private hotel boat shuttles connect Koh Samui to Koh Tao and Koh Pha Ngan, making it is very easy to island hop. Why not split your stay between these islands & spend 7 nights at Koh Samui followed by 3-4 nights at Koh Tao or Koh Pha Ngan?
Whilst in Koh Samui, I spent a day visiting many other hotels including Anantara Lawana Koh Samui Resort, Anantara Bophut Koh Samui Resort, Sala Samui, Six Senses Samui, Four Seasons Samui, Mai Samui, W Koh Samui, Belmond Napasai & Banyan Tree Samui.
For advice & to put together your perfect Thailand itinerary, please contact me at any time.
