Bangkok and Phuket are among the Top 15 popular destinations in the world, according to the 2021 TripAdvisor Travellers' Choice Awards.
The result was based on the quality and quantity of reviews and ratings from TripAdvisor travellers for accommodation, restaurants and things to do in destinations worldwide between Dec 1, 2019, and Nov 30 last year.
The awards reveal where people visited last year while travel was still open as well as where they dreamed of going while the pandemic kept them stuck at home.
The most popular destination is Bali, rising from No.4 last year to dethrone London which ranks second this year. The third most popular city is Dubai, followed by Rome, Paris, Hanoi and Crete in Greece.
Bangkok is eighth, followed by Barcelona, Istanbul, Hoi An, Siem Reap and Marrakesh. Phuket is at the fourteenth and New Delhi is fifteenth.
The website also named Cabo San Lucas in Mexico as the world's Top Trending Destination based on the biggest increase in a combination of positive ratings and reviews over the last year.
Martinique, a Caribbean island, is the top Emerging Destination and Serengeti National Park in Tanzania is named the most popular national park in the world.
Mahanakhon SkyWalk reopens
Mahanakhon SkyWalk, Thailand's highest observation deck, has reopened.
Located on the 78th floor of the King Power Mahanakhon Building on Narathiwat Road, the attraction offers a 360-degree view of the capital city. The entrance fees are 530 baht for adults during weekdays and 880 during weekends. The fee for children between three and 15 and seniors is 250 baht.
The observation deck is open from 10am to 9pm. The last admission is at 8pm.
Visit facebook.com/KingPowerMahanakhon or call 02-677-8721.
AIRLINES UPDATE
- Bangkok Airways has resumed flights between Bangkok-Trat and Bangkok-Sukhothai.
The service to Trat is available four times a week on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. The outbound flight departs Suvarnabhumi airport on Monday and Friday at 11.40am. The inbound flight departs Trat at 1.10pm. The flying time is one hour.
For the Bangkok-Sukhothai route, the flight is available daily. It departs Suvarnabhumi at 3.30pm. The return flight will depart Sukhothai airport at 5.30pm. The travel time is one hour and 20 minutes.
The airline has extended the temporary closure of its passenger lounges, service kiosks at all available airports and the ticketing office located on Vibhavadi Rangsit Road until the end of the month.
Visit bangkokair.com or call 1771.
- Thai Smile Airways has introduced shopping bags produced from plastic bottles.
The products are part of its "Upcycling The Sky" project, aiming to reduce plastic waste.
One bag is made of eight PET bottles. The size is 25cm in width and 30cm in length including shoulder strap. The choices of colours are eggshell, grey and black. Price is 379 baht.
The airline will introduce T-shirts made of yarns from four PET bottles and 65% cotton yarn in the future.
The products are available at 13 service centres nationwide or the airline's shopping site at marketplace.thaismileair.com.
HOTEL DEALS & UPDATES
- Grand Mercure Bangkok Asoke Residences has launched longstay packages.
Prices for booking a room at least a month start from 42,000 baht net per month for a stay in a 71m² Superior Suite to 52,000 baht net for a 96m² Executive Suite.
The packages include access to the hotel's rooftop swimming pool, a sauna and steam room and fitness centre. Guests will also receive housekeeping services three times per week, unlimited Wi-Fi, complimentary water, electricity and shuttle transfers to the nearby BTS and MRT stations.
Breakfast is not included and is priced at 6,000 baht net per month, per person. The promotion is available until March 31.
Visit all.accor.com/hotel/6162/index.en.shtml.
- Sukosol Hotels have offered discounts to promote the Sukosol Star Rewards loyalty programme.
Members will receive up to 20% discounts for rooms and up to 30% off for dining at any restaurant and room service in the five properties of the hotel group in Bangkok and Pattaya. Guests may ask for an upgrade if they book a room with breakfast, late check-out until 3pm and earn Star Reward points which will not expire. Registration is free.
Visit sukosolstar.com/en.
Email karnjanak@bangkokpost.co.th if you have any comments to share.
