Chao Phraya Tourist Boat has launched a hop-on and hop-off service to facilitate tourists who want to visit famous attractions along the Chao Phraya River.
The company is a spin-off of the long-established Chao Phraya Express Boat company, which initially invested about 100 million baht for the business.
The Chao Phraya tourist boats are painted in blue with the blue flag at the back and the large "Hop On Hop Off" sign on both sides at the front. It features 190 seats including a rooftop sitting area. The boat starts its service at Sathon pier next to BTS Taksin Bridge and stops at popular piers including Iconsiam, Lhong 1919, Ratchawong, Pak Klong Talat, Wat Arun, Tha Maharaj, Thon Buri Railway and Phra Arthit.
The service is available daily from 9am to 8.30pm. The fares start at 60 baht for a single journey. Unlimited hop-on-and-off tickets are 200 baht each for either a day pass from 9am to 5.30pm or a night pass from 3pm to 8.30pm. For an all day and night pass, the fare is 300 baht.
Each boat also offers free Wi-Fi and an English-speaking guide. Tickets can be purchased at piers where the boat makes its stop or online at http://chaophrayatouristboat.com.
TAT honours tourism companies
The Thailand Tourism Awards are open for submissions. Organised by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), the biannual awards, also called Kinnari awards, will be organised for the 12th time since 1996.
"The Thailand Tourism Awards recognise operators of tourism products and services that are committed to sustainable operation and management while meeting the highest possible standards for quality," said TAT governor Yuthasak Supasorn.
The awards comprise three categories including accommodation, attractions and health and wellness tourism. The deadline for submission is April 30. The awards ceremony will be organised on World Tourism Day on Sept 27.
Visit http://registration-tourismawards.tourismthailand.org.
Airlines update
- Thai AirAsia X will launch direct flights from Bangkok to Brisbane, the capital of Queensland, Australia.
The service will be available four times a week, starting on June 25. The flight will depart from Don Mueang airport at 11.40pm and will arrive in Brisbane at 11.35am. The return flight will depart Brisbane airport at 12.50pm and the arrival time in Bangkok will be 7.10pm. The flying time is about nine hours.
The airline is holding a promotional fare starting from 5,555 baht for a one-way ticket and for travel from June 25 to Oct 26. The promotion will end on Feb 17.
Visit http://airasia.com.
- Bangkok Airways will launch two new routes from Chiang Mai to Krabi and to Luang Prabang in Laos.
The flight to Krabi will be available every Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday during March 31-April 29. The service will become a daily flight from April 30.
The airline will use a 144-seater Airbus A319 aircraft. The flight will depart Chiang Mai airport at noon and will arrive at Krabi airport at 1.55pm. However, there is no direct return flight from Krabi to Chiang Mai. Passengers need to take a connecting flight at Suvarnabhumi airport.
For the Chiang Mai-Luang Prabang route, the service will be available every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, starting from April 2.
The airline will use a 70-seater ATR 72-600 aircraft. It will depart Chiang Mai airport at 4.30pm and will arrive at Luang Prabang airport at 5.45pm. The return flight from Luang Prabang will be at 6.30pm and the arrival time in Chiang Mai will be 7.45pm.
Visit http://bangkokair.com.
Hotel deals & update
- BHMA Hotels & Resorts plans to open its second X2 brand hotel in Phuket.
Located in Patong, BYD Apartments is now rebranded as BYD Lofts Boutique Hotel by X2. It features one- and two-bedroom suites with room space from 65m² to 140m². Other facilities are a restaurant, bar and swimming pool.
The hotel offers a complimentary airport transfer for guests who book a room at least four nights via its website at http://bydlofts.com.
- Prince Theatre Heritage Stay offers up to 26% discount when booking its rooms online.
Located on Charoen Krung Road in the old quarter of Bangkok, the century-old theatre-turned hotel features shared rooms and suites. The promotion is limited to shared rooms.
The prices start at 398 baht per person per night for Lady Shared Room with bunk beds for four guests (18m²) to 2,393 baht a night for a group of six guests (30m²).
Visit http://princeheritage.com.
