Large swaths of this Southeast Asian country were physically unaffected by the powerful crush of the recent tsunami and travel opportunities are still up for sale. Even areas that were hit hard are making rapid recovery efforts with the majority of hotels up and operating according to the Tourism Authority of Thailand (www.tourismthailand.org), which is reporting that 68% of Phuket's hotel rooms are fully operational and nearly 90% for Krabi, further east. Regardless of where the damage occurred, the whole country is feeling the loss of tourism revenues, but some feedback tells us that seems to be on the recovery as well. We haven't seen the expected slathering of sales yet, but here are some good values that have passed across our desk.
Pacific Delight Tours (tel. 800/221-7179; www.pacificdelighttours.com) has multiple 12- to 18-day air/hotel combos. It's outsized Golden Triangle tour includes roundtrip airfare on either Northwest or United Airlines out Honolulu, Los Angeles, New York, Portland OR, San Francisco or Seattle; 16 nights' accommodations, most meals, intra-country transportation, cultural outings and more starting from $1,719 per person. Prices are based on double occupancy and don't include additional taxes and security. The single supplement is $340. Depending on the carrier, a variety of multiple departure gateways are available at varying costs between $140-$220 per person. You'll fly in and out of Bangkok with stops in between at Ayutthaya, Chiangmai and Chiangmai. Tour Code: 5AS18BK. A 12-day version starts from $1,569; Tour Code: 5AS12BK. These trips are available from April to December, 2005.
Luke Neal, president of DjoserUSA (tel. 877/356-7376; www.djoserusa.com), told us, "I'm sure Thailand will do well for us. All our tours are in unaffected areas of the country. In fact, we've been able to add on one trip this year."
Djoser is currently selling its 17-day/22-night Thailand and Cambodia tour from $1,395 out of Los Angeles or $1,495 out of New York based on double occupancy; the single supplement runs $225 per person. The package includes round-trip airfare, 22 nights' accommodations, some meals while on trek and more. Djoser trips are a hybrid of escorted and unescorted outings; while you'll travel as a group from point to point, you're given much free to explore on your own (under the guidance of local experts, if need be). This trip, available throughout 2005, includes stops in Bangkok, along the River Kwai, Koh Samed, Chiang Mai, Phnom Penh and more.
Finally, if you can book by January 31, a 14-day tour can be had starting from only $899 from SmarTours (tel. 800/337-7773; www.smartours.com). This is specifically for an April 17 departure out of LAX on Korean Air; other travel dates are just $999 if booked by the end of the month. After that, however, the costs jumps to $1,299; the single supplement, whenever booked, will be $199. Departures from NYC are an additional $100. This package includes round-trip airfare; internal Thai transportation; hotel stays; visits to Bangkok, Chiang Rai, Lampang, Sukothai and Ayatthata; a welcome meal and more.
Are you considering a Thai vacation? Talk with fellow travelers on our Thailand Message Boards today.