Czech
Pearl Paradise of the Andaman Sea Post-Tour
Part of this year’s IT & CMA trade fair in Bangkok, Thailand included the traditional post-tours, one of which headed to the renowned island Phuket. Thus, between 3rd and 5th October, around 20 buyers and media representatives met for this journey filled with remarkable activities. The flight with Thai Airways from Suvarnahbumi International Airport took one hour and 20 minutes. We stayed at the Hotel Hyatt Regency Phuket Resort, a new 5-star facility opened in December 2013.
Straight after our arrival, we embarked on an active programme: we learned to mix our own cocktails, the basics of yoga, as well as how to prepare small-scale catering with an aperitif. The evening programme included artistic dance performances and a dinner with international specialities at a local restaurant Sunset Grilled with a view of the whole bay. Afterwards, we moved to the famed Patong Beach with its nightlife, dancers, prostitutes, bars and ladyboys, about 20 minutes away from the hotel by tuk-tuk or taxi.
Some guests skipped Patong because of the demanding and busy schedule the following day, which required an early rise at 6 a.m. The first destination of the day was the Gibbon Rehabilitation Project, where monkeys are first rescued then released into the wild when they are ready. A transfer to Ao Por Grand Marina followed, as well as a luxury speedboat sail to Koh Yao Yai Resort & Spa, an eco resort offering 30 luxury villas and 24 deluxe rooms that blend in perfectly with the natural surroundings and offer a rare, private stretch of beach frontage. Another excellent activity was a Thai specialities cooking lesson – no prizes for guessing what was for lunch that day! This turned out to be great fun for all participants, and everyone pulled through.
The afternoon was filled with several other activities such as an amazing Thai box lesson, and we unwinded with an evening of Thai cuisine at the Bimi Beach Club. The food was excellent and delegates could choose from a very wide selection of Thai specialities, thus familiarizing themselves with Thai cuisine. Fireshow dancing followed after the dinner.
It was a short two-day programme, but the organizers of the post-trip, TCEB (Thailand Incentive & Convention Bureau), TICA (Thailand Incentive & Convention Association) and Events Travel Asia, managed to create an interesting, original programme where there was not a boring moment and participants enjoyed themselves.
All went well apart from one thing: the weather, since it rained throughout our post-trip. So when visiting Phuket, choose to go from November onwards if sun, warmth and calm skies is what you prefer. October is the rainy period as seasons change and is thus risky weather-wise.
