Chiang Mai night market – Photo credit

This is a list of must-dos during one’s short stay in exotic Chiang Mai. Keep those adventurous spirits in check…you are in Thailand, baby!

Breakfast at the Hotel

Most hotels in Thailand offer buffet or plated breakfasts packaged with the room. Exquisite stays can be booked at Chiang Mai luxury hotels like the Chedi Chiang Mai Resort. Those who are traveling on limited funds can opt to stay at Chiang Mai budget hotels. A practical choice is the Lanna House Chiang Mai. There is definitely nothing better than waking up in a cozy room knowing that a steaming cup of hot coffee is just a stone’s throw away.

Hike up a Mountain

Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep is one of Chiang Mai’s most popular tourist attractions. It is a Buddhist temple that is perched on top of Doi Suthep Mountain, which towers over the entire city. Given that the site is sacred to locals, tourists must be conscious enough to wear appropriate clothing. There is also an option to bring some incense and candles that can serve as offerings. Visitors are greeted by an intimidating dragon staircase that has about 300 steps. There is also a golden pagoda and umbrella that play critical roles in a number of legends. This place will surely take anyone’s breath away, literally!

Shop ‘Til You Drop

There are a number of shopping options in Chiang Mai. A crowd favourite is the Warorot Market. The place is packed to the brim with a wide range of goodies from lovely beaded fabric, gorgeous clothing pieces, bags, shoes, and tons of souvenir items. There are also food items, fresh flowers, jars and jars of the famous Thailand spicy tamarind, and other dried delicacies. For sure, there is some piece of treasure hidden in the narrow market aisles for everyone. One must remember to haggle before sealing any purchase as vendors tend to overcharge especially when selling to foreigners.

Lunch Chiang Mai Style

After spending some time climbing mountains and braving the alleys of Warorot Market, a perfect next stop is a restaurant that serves delectable Thai dishes. Locals usually recommend the Antique House. It is a century old teak house that is converted into a restaurant. It is known not only for its great ambiance, scrumptious menu items, but also for its exceptional service. Another good choice is Khun Nai Dern Sai, which means “the lady wakes late.” Diners are treated to freshly prepared dishes that can be enjoyed while listening to relaxing tunes mostly by Thai musicians and artists.

Explore a Museum

A perfect way to digest a hearty lunch is to stroll around a museum. Most visitors choose to visit the Museum of World Insects and Natural Wonders. Founded in 2002, the museum has interesting exhibits of insect species and termite nests that are supported by graphic photos. A short stop is enough to learn fascinating facts about insects and also about other natural wonders.

Roam the Streets

The streets of Chiang Mai are quite charming. There is always something extraordinary to encounter in every corner and it is exciting to chat with engaging locals along the way. Photo enthusiasts can click away to preserve the city’s landscapes and surprising nice touches such as a group of monks in their bright orange robes walking towards the Wat Phra Singh, a temple with a 30-foot smiling Buddha.

Feel the Nightlife

Dinner and night fun can be combined for those looking for some entertainment before hitting the sack. Chiang Mai is popular for its unusual and memorable bars and pubs that are perfect for some chill time or simply for lounging around. Most of Chiang Mai’s locals and expats head to John’s Place. This is rooftop bar where visitors can get pleasure from the cool breeze over a bottle of beer. Music is played every single night and there is even a dance floor. The Monkey Club is another popular hangout place. The crowd is much younger and hipper. Aside from pica-picas and alcoholic concoctions, patrons can dance the night away to the tune of heart-stopping music.

Chiang Mai City Guide

Wellington

Wrapped around a stunning harbour, Wellington is packed with award-winning cuisine, boutique shopping, a humming nightlife and arts and culture offerings, all within walking distance of each other.

Find your Flavour

With hundreds of restaurants and cafes, you’ll be spoiled for choice in the city. And after dinner, experience the inner-city cocktail lounges and wine bars that make Wellington’s nightlife the stuff of legend.

Nature in the City

A veritable urban sanctuary, Wellington is blessed with a beautiful harbour, parks, surrounding hills and a superlative coastline. Not far from the city’s doorstep you’ll find wine regions packed to the brim with vineyards, cuisine and boutique villages to explore.

A Treasure Trove at your Doorstep

Wellington is a shopaholic’s paradise.  From stylish international designers to local cutting-edge fashion, the city has it covered. The downtown district is just two kilometres from one end to the other, so you can easily walk.

It’s Show Time!

Recognized as New Zealand’s events capital, Wellington always puts on a fabulous show. Whether its one of the many annual food and arts festivals, the unique WorldofWearableArts show, or a visiting band, the city is abuzz with arts, culture, leisure and entertainment almost every night of the year.

And with so many fantastic Wellington hotel deals right in the city, it’s a cinch to sort your next holiday. So why not jump the ditch today?

As you probably know, many flights to and from Europe have been suspended due to volcanic ash polluting European airspace. If your travel plans have been impacted as a result of this and you need to make a change to your hotel accommodation, please do one of the following:

1. If you are travelling within the next 7 days: please call us to discuss your options. Our phone numbers can be found here. When you call, we will contact the hotel whilst you are on the phone and attempt to make the required change without incurring penalties or fees. Please note we cannot guarantee that the hotel will not charge any penalty or fees – our experience is that many are still charging cancellation fees at this time.

2. If your check-in date is more than 7 days from now: you may call us to discuss your options if you need to make a change, although we would encourage you to wait until your check in dates are closer as the current situation may change quite quickly once airlines begin to fly again. Our call centre is experiencing more calls than usual, so wait times may be longer at this time. You can also request a cancellation or change online. If you do this, please state in the reference box if it was due to the Iceland volcano. We will respond to you via email usually within 24 to 48 hours.

Please try to have your booking ID handy when you call and bear with us if you are waiting a little longer for your call to be answered at this time. We would also encourage you to contact your travel insurance provider to discuss your situation with them if you incur cancellation or amendment fees.

Thanks from the team at HotelClub.com

As you probably know, many flights to and from Europe have been suspended due to volcanic ash polluting European airspace. If your travel plans have been impacted as a result of this and you need to make a change to your hotel accommodation, please do one of the following:

1. If you are travelling within the next 7 days: please call us to discuss your options. Our phone numbers can be found here. When you call, we will contact the hotel whilst you are on the phone and attempt to make the required change without incurring penalties or fees. Please note we cannot guarantee that the hotel will not charge any penalty or fees – our experience is that many are still charging cancellation fees at this time.

2. If your check-in date is more than 7 days from now: you may call us to discuss your options if you need to make a change, although we would encourage you to wait until your check in dates are closer as the current situation may change quite quickly once airlines begin to fly again. Our call centre is experiencing more calls than usual, so wait times may be longer at this time. You can also request a cancellation or change online. If you do this, please state in the reference box if it was due to the Iceland volcano. We will respond to you via email usually within 24 to 48 hours.

Please try to have your booking ID handy when you call and bear with us if you are waiting a little longer for your call to be answered at this time. We would also encourage you to contact your travel insurance provider to discuss your situation with them if you incur cancellation or amendment fees.

Thanks from the team at HotelClub.com

1. International Rotten Sneaker Contest

Apparently there are 250,000 sweat glands that dot each of your feet and can be very productive when it comes to the usually much unwelcome wetness. With the Odor Eaters expertise one cannot be mistaken. But this time, it’s sweat time, no time for embarrassment! Give your sneakers a very special wear-and-tear and make them the grimiest and grungiest footwear to ever tread the Earth. Wear off the soles, lose the laces and grommets, let your toes wiggle and don’t forget – offensive smell is essential. Raise your head high and proud for this time there are qualified specialists with di-stink-tive titles of “odorologists” to appreciate your effort at the annual International Rotten Sneaker Contest in Montpelier, Vermont. Held in March, no foot talc or baths before recommended!

_{Rotten sneakers anyone? Photo by claire.m}

2. Two Harbors Outhouse Race

One might think a privy is an intimate matter. Not in Two Harbors, Minnesota where every February you’re given a one-of-a-kind chance to display your outhouse creativity. Before you let your imagination bubble with images of how imaginative one can be in a toilet, let’s put it straight – Outhouse Classic is a race. Just use your DIY and a bit of design skills, put your very own privy together, fit it with a seat and a roll of toilet paper and ready … steady… flush! Similar events take place in Mackinaw City, Michigan, Conocully, Washington, and Trenary, Michigan.

_{Show your creative streak, too! Photo by Brian Rossow}

3. Emma Crawford Coffin Race

If morbid skeletons, half-rotten corpses and taking a peek inside a coffin make your heart beat faster head for Manitou Springs, Colorado, where every weekend prior to Halloween the town hosts some macabre events in memory of Emma Crawford. As the local lore goes, Emma came to Manitou to take advantage of the healing climate and fight her tuberculosis. In vain. She died and was buried atop the Red Mountain where she rested peacefully till one rainy summer which washed her coffin down the mountain and into the canyon below. As you can imagine that was enough of an incentive to start commemorating her death in a somewhat original way. Feel it yourself and join the crowds of mourners parading along the streets, racing their coffins and showing off their spooky costumes.

_{Emma, is that you? Photo by Lars Leber}

_{Memento mori. Photo by normreich}

4. Sidewalk Egg Frying Contest

To spice up you Route 66 ride pull over at Oatman, Arizona, which becomes pretty hot and sizzling every July 4th for its annual egg frying contest. Piece of cake, you might think. Not if you have to use solar heat to fry. It is a feast of creativity and DIY for the contestants who use anything from the humble aluminum foil and magnifying glasses to more sophisticated homegrown solar gadgets to get an egg fried in maximum 15 minutes. Bon appetit!

_{And becon? Photo by Dragan}

5. Burning Man Festival

There is an ephemeral city in Nevada desert that turns into the epicenter of shocking art and free-spirited minds for one week. Out-of-this-world installations, extraterrestrial sculptures and architectural experiments intermingle with naked body-painted humans and wacky vehicles. No tags, no labels attached – it’s the art and imagination that rule here, not the names and artists. Bizarre as it is, the Burning Man is a world-class event. Don’t waste your time if you want to be a part of it, after a week the city is disassembled and burned leaving the desert wilderness barren as it is before the festival starts.

_{Desert fauna or flora? Photo by light bloom}

_{Sand-proof merry-go-round. Photo by loupiote (Old Skool)}

A crazy world, isn’t it? Yet so compelling and irresistible.

This is a guest post by OpenTravel – a perfect avenue on the world wide web to share your travel experiences, plan your trips and connect with other like-minded travelers.

It’s HotelClub’s Birthday and to celebrate…the champagne’s on us! With every hotel booking* before September 13, we’ll give you a free bottle of Lanson Black Label French Champagne valued at $69. So book* that room, villa or suite and break out the bubbly!

Lanson Black Label non-vintage Champagne is from one of the world’s oldest Champagne Houses, perfect for any occasion!

*conditions apply

Competition has now ended. Winners names will be posted soon
Welcome to the HotelClub Travel Trivia Competition!

Over the next 4 weeks, we will be updating this post with new multiple choice trivia questions. (max. 1 new question per day)

Rules:
1 – Each new question will replace the previous one so don’t slack off now or you’ll miss out.
2 – Record your answers on paper, ms word, in your head or which ever works best for you.
3 – As soon as the competition ends, we will post the submission details here.
4 – Competition Ends on 10am Monday 16th March 2009, Sydney, Australia GMT+10.

Those who answer all questions correctly go into the draw to win 1 of 5 $100 USD cash prizes.

Submission Details:
1 – Email ian.cheong@hotelclub.com with your subject line in the following format “RE: HotelClub Trivia Competition – [Answer Set eg. ACCADABBD]”
2 – Prizes will be paid via paypal so include your paypal account details in the body of the email.

Answers will be collected over the next 3 days, Draw will take place on 10am Thursday 19th March 2009, Sydney, Australia GMT+10, Names of the 5 winners will be posted here.

Competition has now ended. Winners names will be posted soon

Congratulations to:

• Katherine Saunt
• Doug French
• Riaz Govalia
• Zainab Yusuf
• Jason Belias

Thanks for participating!

It’s that simple so just watch the space below for the updates!

Q8 – Among the numerous 5 star hotels in Sydney, Australia, which hotel has “lavish boutique hotel with an eye on style, design and comfort” ?

• A – Hilton Hotel [ HINT ]
• B – Amora Hotel Jamison [ HINT ]
• C – Medusa [ HINT ]
• D – InterContinental Hotel [ HINT ]

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Q7 – With 156 comfortable accommodation units and set on the Aroa Beach, which resort is close to island adventures?

• A – Aroa Beachside Inn [ HINT ]
• B – Crown Beach Resort [ HINT ]
• C – Edgewater Resort [ HINT ]
• D – Rarotongan Beach and Spa [ HINT ]

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Q6 – Which of these hotels are located on the “fashionable Melbourne Street”?

• A – Comfort Inn Scotty’s Adelaide [ HINT ]
• B – Quest on King William [ HINT ]
• C – Freedom Adelaide Meridien [ HINT ]
• D – Grand Mercure Hotel [ HINT ]

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Q5 – Where would you go to experience “… sandy coves, pretty fishing villages, and manicured golf links of the Algarve.”

• A – Portugal [ HINT ]
• B – Israel [ HINT ]
• C – Ukraine [ HINT ]
• D – Cyprus [ HINT ]

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Q4 -

This beautiful image is captured from which location?

• A – Oaks On Collins Melbourne [ HINT ]
• B – Rendezvous Hotel Melbourne [ HINT ]
• C – Pensione Hotel Melbourne [ HINT ]
• D – Grand Mercure Hotel Melbourne [ HINT ]

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Q3 – With over 3.8 million residents, this city is one of the most diverse and culturally rich cities around.

• A – Paris [ HINT ]
• B – Sydney [ HINT ]
• C – Auckland [ HINT ]
• D – Los Angeles [ HINT ]

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Q2 – Road Town and Saint Thomas hotels can be found in the country “__________”

• A – Taiwan [ HINT ]
• B – Czech Republic [ HINT ]
• C – Virgin Islands, British [ HINT ]
• D – Lebanon [ HINT ]

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Q1 – Complete the following: “__________ has sometimes been referred to as the center of the world… ”

• A – Stockholm [ HINT ]
• B – Barcelona [ HINT ]
• C – New York City [ HINT ]
• D – Prague [ HINT ]

UPDATE: Due to the amount of people requesting more time to develop their entries, the competition has now been extended to April 30, 2009!

Another exciting competition from the world of HotelClub awaits you! Are you ready to take on the challenge and WIN BIG?

Yes, you read right! Win big to the tune of $USD 1000 BIG! You can win this awesome prize simply by having fun and all it requires is a camera and your creativity!

HotelClub is looking for the most creative video which promotes the HotelClub brand and follows the themes, travel or hotels. You can be as creative as you like, sometimes simplicity is key…but most importantly, have fun making it! Just nothing too naughty though, don’t submit anything your own mother wouldn’t approve of!

The competition begins on February 6, 2009 and ends on April 30, 2009 at 12pm, Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST) – so make sure you set your clocks properly in case you miss the deadline!

At the end of the competition, the top 3 videos will also be published in a special feature article on the HotelClub Blog, how’s that for recognition?

To enter, simply join (if you haven’t already) our official Facebook group and upload your entries in the video section. Once that’s done, get your friends on board to support by asking them to join and vote for your entry! All it takes is a simple “+” for a positive comment under your submission and that’s it!

Ten finalists will be chosen, with seven of these being the submissions with the most number of unique positive comments collected and the remaining three being those entries HotelClub will personally select as their favourites. A poll will then be created in the last week of the competition which will run for a week. The ultimate winner will then be decided based on a combination of the highest number of poll votes received and the number of votes awarded by a panel of HotelClub judges.

Schedule:

February 6, 2009 – The competition begins!

April 23, 2009, 12pm AEST – Voting for the top 7 finalists ends.

April 23, 2009, 1pm AEST – The top 10 will be announced. Poll to determine ultimate winner will then run from this date for a week.

April 30, 2009, 12pm AEST – Poll closes.

April 30, 2009, 1pm AEST – The ultimate winner will be announced.

By entering this competition, you agree to be bound by these terms and conditions:

• Only one entry per person allowed.
• The maximum length of the video must be less than or equal to 2 minutes.
• You may use props to enhance the creativeness of your entry. Using HotelClub brand colours will also help *hint, hint*
• Entries of offensive nature (consisting of racism, derogatory comments, violence, pornography, etc) is strictly prohibited and will be disregarded.
• By submitting a video, you are acknowledging that the video was created by yourself, and does not infringe any copyright laws.
• Only “unique” comments count. Unique means only the first comment per commenter will be counted for each video. So for e.g. If Jo Bloggs comments 3 times on John Smith’s video, only the first comment will count. We may disqualify any entrant if we have reason to believe that automated software or any other mechanical or electronic means have been used to inflate the number of votes received.
• No purchase is necessary and will not increase your chances of winning.
• No HotelClub employee is eligible to win.
• You grant us permission to use your video on the HotelClub Blog.
• If it’s a draw between several videos, administrators will decide the winner.
• Prize money will be awarded via PayPal.
• The decision of the judges is final and no correspondence will be entered into.
• This competition is governed by the laws of New South Wales, Australia and entrants submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of New South Wales.

So that’s about it! Get crackin’, get those creative juices flowin’ and get involved! Good luck!

In the category Ambiance the following hotels made the Top 5 in Asia – a region that includes a vast number of luxurious hotels and resorts.

5/ JW Marriott Phuket resort and Spa (Phuket, Thailand )- This 5 star luxurious hotel in Phuket showcases some of Thailand’s best cultural designs, both internally in rooms and externally with their award winning spas, sky blue swimming pools, and evergreen gardens. Perhaps unlucky to be rated 5th most ambient hotel, the Marriott Phuket Resort and Spa is definitely one not to be missed.

4/ Sofitel Centara Grand Resort and Villas, Hua Hin (Hua Hin, Vietnam) – Perefctly located near a 4 mile beach, Sofitel Centara Grand Resort and Villas comes in at 4th most ambient hotel. With 207 rooms and 42 villas available, their 5 world class restaurants are sure to keep your tummy happy, ready for a good night’s sleep.

3/ Lebua at State Tower (Bangkok, Thailand)- Enjoy some of the most breathtaking views from the roof of Lebua at State Tower, as this luxury resort sits at no. 3 for the most ambient hotel in Asia. Detailed designs in all rooms, unbelievable service, and countless votes for ambience, Lebua offers a total package beyond everyone’s expectations.

2/ Spring Park Urai Spa Resort (Taipei, Taiwan) – This is the only hotel in Taiwan that provides their guests with quality skin care products as part of their stay. The spa resort has really set the standards of being a top ambient hotel, providing the absolute best service to all guests, fulfilling relaxation needs through hot springs, and serving healthy meals at their restaurants.

1/ Four Seasons Resort Chiang Mai (Chiang Mai, Thailand)- Number 1 on our top ambient hotels as voted by our guests, rightly goes to Four Season Resort Chang Mai. They are renowned for their unique Thai cuisines, exclusive spa treatments along with breathtaking views of mountains in Mae Rim Valley and rice fields.