17 May 2008

Greetings from Chiangmai

Some Chiangmai Hotel Information

RatiLanna Riverside Spa Resort Chiang Mai  (Formerly Sofitel Riverside Chiangmai )
In their on-going search for a suitable Management Company, we have just been advised that with effect 15 May 2008, this Hotel will terminate its relationship with Accor Group, and re-name the Property. :  RatiLanna Riverside Spa Resort Chiang Mai.  (http://www.ratilannachiangmai.com/)

They have advised us that they are talking with “Preferred Hotel Group” and we will keep you advised on this development. In the mean time there is no physical change to the Property and it remains (in our opinion) as a nice New Riverside Property, designed in the Thai Lanna Style and a good choice of accommodation, if your Clients are not looking for the luxurious levels of Four Seasons or Mandarin Oriental but still want a “Full Service” Hotel.

Rarinjinda Wellness Spa Resort
Although there are quite a few new “Boutique Style” properties popping up in and around Chiangmai, we just had a visit to Rarinjinda Wellness Spa Resort (http://www.rarinjinda.com/ ) and this is one of the few we would suggest, if it fits your Clients requirements.

While it’s primary attraction is the extensive Spa & Wellness Facilities, including fully equipped Indoor Heated Hydrotherapy Pool, Outdoor Swimming Pool, Fitness Center, Yoga & Aerobics Studio , Hydrotherapy Tub, Vichy Shower, Infared Sauna, Herbal Rainforest Steam Sauna, Whirlpool with Chromotherapy, and Sky villa treatment rooms.

It also has 35 well appointed Rooms & Suites that offer a High Standard of reasonably priced accommodation, in a good downtown location.
The 22 Deluxe rooms are 46 sq. mts in size with full and comfortable amenities, while the 7, similarly laid out, Deluxe Pool Access Rooms are slightly larger and have terraces that directly go into the Pool.
The 5 Wellness Suites would make a perfect choice for Honeymooners who want to combine their very comfortable Accommodation with Spa Treatments.
Again not on the same level of service & standard as Four Seasons or Mandarin Oriental, but certainly an nice alternative to some of the bigger , more established “chain” properties.

David & Wanna's Vacation
Just some advance notice, Wanna & I will be taking a trip to Europe in June and will be away from the Office from 1-23 June 2008.  As always our Son, Vachira will be “running the show” in our absence (while also training our New Operations Assistant !!),

Air Ticket Increases & Airline Fuel Surcharges
As we indicated to some of your in an earlier update last week - Many Airlines are implementing Air Ticket cost increases & Fuel Surcharges due to the seemingly ever increasing higher fuel Costs.

So unfortunately, if you have Private Programs booked with us that do include Regional & Domestic Air tickets for your Clients (Booked by us), and if the Air Ticket / Fuel surcharge costs do increase, then we are going to have to add this to your Clients Program Costs.

Regrettably, the airlines do not always advise us of increases until after the fact and as we do indicate in all our correspondence:
“All Air Ticket Costs Variable until actually issued – We usually issue tickets about one month Prior to arrival, once we have received Payment”
We do apologize for any inconvenience, but as you will appreciate, we do not have any control over this.

We have been trying to contact you individually for programs that will be affected by this (however with so many in the ‘system”, we may well have missed some !!), but if you think that this will affect any Clients trip for which we are arranging the Regional or Domestic Air tickets, and we haven’t contacted you recently, then do please let us know, so we can advise specifically.

Again for your reference, if you have Private Programs booked with us that do include Regional & Domestic Air tickets for your Clients (Booked by us), and you wish to try to avoid, any (possible) further air ticket cost increases, then we can issue all the necessary tickets that have been booked.

However we do need Pre-payment (for all the Air Ticket costs) in order to issue any tickets, so if you think any potential Air Ticket Increases, will affect you Clients Programs booked with us, and you do wish us to issue any tickets for your Clients Programs (That we have already booked), then do please let us know.
  
Please also note,

• Although issuing the Tickets should guarantee the Air Ticket Cost, we still have no control over any possible Airline Fuel & Insurance Surcharges at time of Check-in if the airlines do decide to impose any.
• Also once issued, if cancelled later for any reason then we are obviously tied to the Airlines Cancellation / Refund Fees

Thanks for your understanding in this matter - and as always if you have any specific questions in this regard, please do not hesitate to contact us.

I think that’s it for this month, catch you all again in July
David, Wanna & Vachira
And all at Wanna Tours.

Please note that our E.mail list for these Updates is quite specific and as we do respect your decision about receiving these updates - If you do NOT wish to be notified about these News Updates - please advise us and we will take your e.mail address out of the Mailing List