Duty Free Allowance for visitors arriving in Thailand as of December 2006

The duty free allowance will be applied to accompanied personal effects up to Baht 10,000 worth if:

* The items are intended for your own personal or professional use.
* The quantity is reasonable.
* The items are not subject to prohibition or restriction.
* TOBACCO PRODUCTS AND ALCOHOLIC DRINKS

There are limits on the amount of alcoholic beverages, cigarettes, cigars and smoking tobacco to which you may include in your duty free personal exemption as follows:

* No more than 200 cigarettes
* No more than 500 grams* of smoking tobacco (includes cigars)
* 200 cigarettes and cigars or smoking tobacco each or in total must not exceed 500 grams*
* 1 litre of spirituous liquor

Personal effects do not include motor vehicles and motor vehicle parts regardless of the length of time used and owned.

Contact information:
For enquiries on goods not in the range of duty exemption, please contact
The Permit Division, Excise Department, Ministry of Finance
Tel: +66 (0) 2241 5600 - 19
Fax: +66 (0) 2243 6241
Web site: http://www.customs.go.th/Customs-Eng/indexEng.jsp

*Note: Most recent information as of December 2006 – revised from 250 grams as indicated in the Customs Department of the Kingdom of Thailand web site

Source: Tourism Authority of Thailand

Add comment January 30th, 2007

Seven of the BEST new hideaway hotels in Thailand by Conde Nast Traveller Magazine

In the recent edition of Conde Nast Traveller Magazine, it has a list of seven best hideaway hotels in Thailand as follows:

Thailand’s growing sophistication is reflected in a number of individually designed resorts that offer stylish seclusions. Listed below is the list of 7 BEST new hideaway hotels in Thailand by Conde Nast Traveller magazine.

1. Aleenta (Pranburi, Thailand)
2. Amari Emerald Cove Resort & Spa (Koh Chang, Thailand)
3. Anantara Resort Koh Samui (Samui, Thailand)
4. Evason Hideaway & Six Senses Spa at Hua Hin (Pranburi, Thailand)
5. Sala Samui Resort & Spa (Samui, Thailand)
6. Sila Evason Hideaway & Spa at Samui (Samui, Thailand)
7. Veranda Resort & Spa (Cha-Am, Thailand)

To view information on the above hotels from our website, please click on:

http://www.orientalcompass.com/

Add comment January 30th, 2007

2 five-star hotels in Vietnam have made the 2007 Gold List for the world’s best hotels by the US prestigious magazine Condé Nast Traveler

The Sheraton Saigon Hotel and Towers in Ho Chi Minh City and the Hotel Sofitel Metropole Hanoi were chosen in the New York City-based magazine’s 13^th annual roll call of the best 700 hotels, resorts and cruise lines in more than 70 countries. There were approximately 21,000 Condé Nast Traveler subscribers who completed the 2006 Readers’ Choice Survey. 

Located on Dong Khoi Street, the Sheraton Saigon Hotel & Towers appeals to tourists since “it’s close to everything,� including Notre Dame Cathedral, the magazine comments. Visitors there will have a chance to “enjoy a 360-degree view and a pan-Asian menu at the rooftop Signature Restaurant,� it says. This 23-story hotel was the host venue for Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum in May 2006 and had welcomed many senior dignitaries including King and Queen of Sweden, the Korean President, WTO Director-General Pascal Lamy, and most recently Singapore’s Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew. The hotel has received many awards since its opening in May 2003, including the ‘Best Business Hotel in Ho Chi Minh City 2006’ award by Business Traveler Magazine Asia Pacific, ‘Best Business Hotel in Vietnam 2004 and 2005’ by Business Asia Magazine in conjunction with CNBC Asia Pacific.To view information about the Sheraton Saigon Hotel & Tower, please click on the below link:

http://www.orientalcompass.com/hotel_detail.php?hotel_id=00246&country_id=229&city_id=14

Commenting the Hotel Sofitel Metropole Hanoi, the Condé Nast Traveler describes it as “a great relief from the modern cookie-cutter hotel�, and that the hotel “has a white façade, green shutters, and original wrought-iron work.� A French colonial style property built in 1901, Hotel Sofitel Metropole Hanoi boasts a rich history and a century long tradition of hospitality for ambassadors and writers, statesmen and entrepreneurs. 

It has 265 rooms and suites with a beautiful interior garden. The elegant Spices Garden restaurant offers superb Vietnamese cuisine while the Le Beaulieu restaurant is known for its fine French food and wines.To view the information about the Hotel Sofitel Metropole Hanoi, please click on the below link:

http://www.orientalcompass.com/hotel_detail.php?hotel_id=00305&country_id=229&city_id=13

Condé Nast Traveler is an American magazine published by Condé Nast Publications, started in 1987, specializing in travel, principally recreational for tourism, but also for business travellers, according to Wikipedia   

 

Add comment January 30th, 2007