Nang Loeng Market in Bangkok has been listed in the World's Best Restaurants 2019 by Travel + Leisure magazine.
The magazine's list features 30 locations, chosen to reflect the most vibrant aspects of the area it represents, capturing dining experiences that fully express the culture of the country, city or region.
Travel + Leisure's selection process involved a panel of experts made up of its own editors and 22 prominent culinary personalities. The panel was asked to nominate restaurants based on an intersection of food, travel and culture.
Writer Besha Rodell, who curated the list, then went to 81 restaurants in 24 countries over a period of four months before eventually whittling the number down to 30. Nang Loeng Market was chosen due to its charm, history and variety of delicious food and snacks.
"You will want to eat so much more than is humanly possible. There are worse problems to have," Rodell wrote.
Visit travelandleisure.com/food-drink/restaurants/worlds-best-restaurants.
Local service
Local Alike, a Thai social enterprise specialising in community-based tourism, has launched the Local Kit web-based application to help hosts manage their resources and services.
The app allows users to book and administer rooms, arrange activities for groups of visitors and manage expenditure and earnings.
The service is supported by the Tourism Authority of Thailand, who revealed that the Local Kit system was being piloted in Ban Tha Maprang and Ban Khlong Plaen in Pak Chong district of Nakhon Ratchasima.
The service is available for free at localkit.app.
AIRLINES UPDATE
- Four airlines are offering a free service allowing passengers to load up to 20kg of fresh fruit in selected southern provinces until Jan 31 next year. The airlines are Bangkok Airways, NokAir, Thai AirAsia and Thai Smile.
Initiated by the Department of Internal Trade (DIT) and supported by the Department of Airports, the aim is to encourage travellers to purchase more fresh fruit like mangosteen, rambutan and longan. Durians are not permitted.
The five provinces participating in the programmes are Narathiwat, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Surat Thani, Trang and Chumphon.
Passengers who wish to load fresh fruit need to use paper boxes provided by the DIT. The boxes come in two sizes -- 5kg and 10kg -- and are available without charge at the information counter at each airport.
- NokAir has joined forces with Valet Parking Don Mueang to launch Nok Smart Parking @ DMK. The service will offer a special valet parking service to passengers at the airport. The parking fees are 150 baht for up to 4 hours, 200 baht for 7 hours and 350 baht for 24 hours. Each additional 24 hours is priced at 250 baht.
Online booking is available at valetparkingdonmueang.com.
- Bangkok Airways has opened its new passenger lounge at Phuket International Airport, located near Gate 4 on the second floor of the domestic departure terminal.
The 134m² facility features the Boutique Lounge for economy class passengers (40 seats) and the Blue Ribbon Club Lounge for business class passengers and FlyerBonus Premier Members (20 seats). Opening hours are from 4.30am-10pm everyday.
Meanwhile the airline has launched the "Bindee U Dee Chiang Mai -- Krabi 2019" promotion. The offer includes a round-trip ticket, two nights in a 4-5 star hotel with breakfast, airport transfers and one-day island tour.
Prices start from 7,950 baht per person for a minimum of two travellers. Reservations are open until Oct 31 and the travel period is valid until Dec 31.
Visit bangkokair.com.
HOTEL DEALS & UPDATE
Phuket Marriott Resort and Spa, Nai Yang Beach launches the Andaman All-Inclusive Package. The full-board offer covers accommodation, three meals a day and drinks from 11am to 11pm. Rates start from 8,418.80 baht net per night for two people.
Visit marriott.com.
The beachfront Centara Grand Beach Resort & Villas Hua Hin is offering the "Free Half Board In Hua Hin" package. Available until Oct 31, the programme includes a night's stay, complimentary breakfast and dinner daily for two, free stay for up to two children under 12 sharing with parents and recreational activities at the kids' club.
Rates start at 7,200 baht per night for two guests.
Visit centarahotelsresorts.com.
Cross Hotels & Resorts has signed a hotel management agreement with PT Three Land to open X2 Vibe Phuket Patong Center.
Set to open in the middle of 2021, the property will offer 323 guestrooms, restaurants, cafe and bar, meeting room, kids' club, swimming pool and fitness centre.
The location is only a 50-minute drive from Phuket International Airport and a 10-minute walk to Patong Beach and Bangla Walking Street.
Email karnjanak@bangkokpost.co.th if you have any comments to share.
