FEATURE FAR EAST CITIES & BEACHES
UP CLOSE & PERSONAL
BY BEN LERWILL “Cambodia draws no end of plaudits for the scale and complexity of its Angkor temples – and rightly so – but there’s far more to the country than its handsome jungle ruins. I combined time in capital city Phnom Penh with a week down on the south coast, where the quiet beaches of Sihanoukville proved the perfect tonic to the scooter mayhem and 24-hour energy of the big smoke. “Phnom Penh itself is an absorbing
place in which to spend time, a city where the glimmering domes on the skyline contrast with the chaotic thrum of the markets and bars. A few hours’ road transfer takes you to a different world, however, to broad white sands where the only disturbance you’re likely to encounter comes from strolling fresh fruit vendors. Sihanoukville might not have the same dreamy beauty as Thailand’s most famous beaches, but for clients in search of something new it’s highly unlikely to disappoint.”
10-night four-star Malaysia package, combining a two-night stopover in Kuala Lumpur with eight nights in Borneo is priced from £1,395pp. The deal includes B&B accommo- dation in Kuala Lumpur at the Istana Hotel in the Golden Triangle district and room-only accommodation at the Nexus Resort & Spa Karambunai in Kota Kinabalu. Flights are from Heathrow with Malaysia Airlines.
A semi-melting of the political climate in Burma has put the country back on the travel map
Clockwise from left: Phnom Penh in Cambodia, Macau, Thailand, and Malaysia
54 February 2012 •
www.sellinglonghaul.com
Room Report Set to further raise Cambodia’s profile as a burgeoning tourism destination is Song Saa, a freshly unveiled collection of 27 luxury villas located on a pair of private islands in the Gulf of Thailand, reachable by boat from Sihanoukville. Each villa has its own pool and the resort also has a spa, water sports centre and gourmet restaurant. Over in Hong Kong, meanwhile,
there’s been much attention around the 2011 opening of the Ritz-Carlton, now ensconced as the world’s highest hotel. It occupies floors 102 to 118 of the city’s International Commerce Centre and has 312 guestrooms, all with remarkable views. There are also six different restaurants.
Who Flies There Direct to the region from UK: AIR ASIA – 0845 605 3333
www.airasia.com (until end March)
AIR CHINA – 020 7744 0800
www.air-china.co.uk AIR NEW ZEALAND – 0800 028 6185
www.airnewzealand.co.uk ASIANA AIRLINES – 020 7304 9900
www.flyasiana.com BRITISH AIRWAYS – 0844 493 0787
www.britishairways.com CATHAY PACIFIC – 020 8834 8888
www.cathaypacific.com CHINA EASTERN AIRLINES – 020 7935 2967;
www.chinaeastern.co.uk EVA AIR – 020 7380 8300
www.evaair.com KOREAN AIR – 0800 413 000
www.koreanair.com MALAYSIA AIRLINES – 0871 423 9090
www.malaysiaairlines.com SINGAPORE AIRLINES -– 020 8961 6993
www.singaporeair.com QANTAS – 0845 7747 767
www.qantas.com.au THAI AIRWAYS – 0844 561 0911
www.thaiair.com VIRGIN ATLANTIC – 0844 209 7310
www.virgin-atlantic.com
Within the Region: AIR ASIA – 0845 605 3333
www.airasia.com BANGKOK AIRWAYS – +49 69 133 77 565
www.bangkokair.com JETSTAR ASIA – +61 3 9347 0091
www.jetstarasia.com TIGER AIRWAYS – +65 680 84437
www.tigerairways.com •
FAR EAST CITIES & BEACHES
Top Selling Tips...
• Do something different... “Try touring Thailand’s cultural north, cooking with a local community or participating in an elephant training school.”
GILL STANDEVEN Product Manager, Middle and Far East, Virgin Holidays
• Renew your vows... “If renewing vows or even wedding plans are on the agenda suggest an underwater ceremony held in Trang, Southern Thailand.”
NANDITA PATEL Far East Product Manager, Funway Holidays
• Make the most of the airfare... “In Malaysia, combine Borneo or Langkawi with the vibrant city of Kuala Lumpur to make the most of the stopovers included in the airfare.” GILL STANDEVEN Virgin Holidays
5 x Far East = more commission!
TAT
MGTO
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