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TRAVEL NOTES
local news and expert tips for the jet set
INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION
Tiring of Balinese and Thai-style tropical resorts? Several newly opened seaside hotels are bucking the trend, with minimalist designs that border on spartan.
Incorporating boxy shapes, natural timber and barely-there decor, the celebrated Alila Cha-Am (top, tel +66 (0)32 709555, www.alilahotels.com) and Koh Samui newbie X2 Resort, pronounced “cross to” (below right, tel +66 (0)77 233033, www.x2resorts.com), defy their lush, beachside locations with a distinctive urban aesthetic that’s elegant in its understatement.
The man responsible for Alila Cha-Am, celebrated Thai architect Duangrit Bunnag (above) is also the brain behind Costa Lanta (middle right, tel +66 (0)75 684630, www.costalanta.com), an ultra- modern beachside property on Koh Lanta where cubicle rooms blend seamlessly into the surrounds. Although Bangkok-based Duangrit sees each property as vastly different, he says: “I want my architecture to disappear into a lush landscape. I created Costa Lanta to be brutal, but humble. Nature dominated the whole hotel and left only a small space for architecture. It’s important as it is my first love.”
When asked why he has strived for such a hard-edged aesthetic, Duangrit explains his inspiration. “I draw from the language of the present day, the so-called language of modernism,” he says. “I believe in simplicity as much as complexity. I am a realist and therefore my architecture is real.” Real and undoubtedly beautiful.
HOTEL WATCH
All the latest hotel openings in…
MACAU: The Sofitel Macau at Pointe 16 (below right, tel +853 8861-0016, www.sofitelmacau.com) offers proximity to St Paul’s Cathedral and the glittering harbour. Over on the Cotai Strip, The Four Seasons (tel +853 2881-8888, www.fourseasons.com) delights with touches of chinoiserie, and an adjoining brand-name shopping 
mall.
BANGKOK: Ideal for long-stay guests and families, Tenface (right, tel +66 (0)2 695- 4242, www.tenfacebangkok.com) has all the features of a home with the amenities of a hotel. Artwork incorporating the Thai alphabet adds a modern Thai touch.
CHIANG MAI: At RatiLanna Riverside Spa Resort ( tel +66 (0)53 999333, www.ratilannachiangmai.com), visitors can “make merit” by offering food to visiting monks – just as locals do – before taking a dip in the chlorine-free pool.
KOH SAMUI: Scheduled to open in December, Sareeraya ( tel +66 (0)77 914300, www.sareeraya.com) on Samui’s Chaweng Beach is all bright colours and dark woods.
THAI TEE
Got your golf clubs? Brand new website, Thaigolfdiscount.com offers nifty deals on courses across the country. The man behind the site, Carlos Ballesteros, recommends five of his favourite golf courses in Thailand:
1 Most Exclusive
Thai Country Club, Bangkok (tel +66 (0)2 651-5300, www.thaicountryclub.com). The Volvo Masters has been played here for three years running, so you can play the same holes as the pros!
2 Best Value for Money
President Country Club, Bangkok (tel +66 (0)2 988-7555, www.president.co.th). Featuring 36 championship holes, this course is well kept and offers very reasonable rates.
3 Best by the Sea
Mission Hills Golf Course, Phuket (tel +66 (0)76 310888, www.missionhills.com). Very well maintained, Mission Hills offers beautiful views of the Andaman Sea.
4 Most Fun
Bangkok Golf Club, Bangkok (tel +66 (0)2 501-2828, www.golf.th.com). This course is designed to resemble legendary golf courses around the world, with holes modelled after Pebble Beach and Augusta, just to name a few.
5 Most Challenging
Golf Course St Andrews 2000, Pattaya (tel +66 (0)38 893838, www.standrews2000golf.com). St Andrews is not recommended for golfers with a handicap over 18. The 843-yard, par-six, hole number four is sure to keep you on your toes!
80%
That’s how many people bring their mobile phones with them on holiday, according to a study by Lonely Planet.
In the survey of 18,000 travellers, 56% also say they don’t board the plane without their iPod. If that’s you, why not swap your “Best of Air Guitar Anthems 4” for something educational?
Brush up on your Mandarin, Japanese, Vietnamese, Cantonese or Thai with Lonely Planet’s Audio Phrasebooks (US$9.99). Download them for your iPod Touch or iPhone (above) at www.itunes.com
WHAT IS… A DHONI?
The traditional vessel of the Maldives, these handcrafted boats are usually made from coconut palm timber and have triangular lateen sails. Similar to the Arab dhow sailboats, many dhoni now utilise modern features such as motors and fi breglass, although traditional versions remain. Come January, Huvafen Fushi (tel +960 (0)6 644222, www.huvafenfushi.com) will off er stays on a 65-foot locally made dhoni (below), complete with crew, Bose sound system, DVD player and Philippe Starck furnishings.
BEACH WATCH
Turquoise water, powdery sand, uninterrupted views and breathtaking sunsets are making Krabi’s Tub Kaek Beach one to watch. The pristine shoreline, just 40 minutes’ drive from the airport and 20 minutes’ drive from the popular Ao Nang strip, is emerging as the coastal town’s boutique enclave, with small, high-end hotels, such as the Amari Vogue Resort (above, tel +66 (0)75 607777, www.amari.com/vogue) lining the stretch.
Quieter and less developed than Ao Nang, Tub Kaek has the benefit of proximity – its closeness to popular Koh Hong means you beat the crowds and have the deserted island to yourself, while treks in the nearby national park are popular with nature lovers. after a day of exploring, unwind with a Rain Mist Package at Amari Vogue Resort’s decadent Sivara Spa.
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