Thailand

Southeast Asia is a foodie world capital. Yet compared to the exalted cuisine of its…

Any sun-loving traveller’s dream is to stumble across a secret beach. Somewhere removed from Western…

When it comes to family holidays – especially with teenagers in tow – we often tend to choose destinations fairly close to home. It’s what we’ve always done, it’s what we know, it’s what we’re used to. However, the fateful transition from child to ‘Kevin the teenager’ is a big moment in a parent’s life.

Whilst your kids might not live up to the moody stereotype, the concept of a summer holiday to France, Spain or (heaven forbid) Devon can spark dismay amongst the younger members of your family. Either they’re too old for that kind of trip or their classmates have gone somewhere more ‘cool’ and their expectations are higher than ever. A bit cheeky some may say, but given today’s family options, they may have a point.

Content Editor Philly explored Thailand’s hidden coastal regions on a research trip to the country. Here she recounts her encounter with pink dolphins, yes pink, in the undiscovered district of Khanom. Beautiful, mysterious and friendly, they proved to be a highlight of the adventure.

Thailand is famous as a great value, exotic beach destination. To experience the country at its best though, requires some financial investment – to escape the high-rise, block resorts and mass-touristy sights. Here, we’re sharing our top tips to get the best value out of your luxury family holiday to the country

Tipping isn’t common practise in Thailand. If you notice a group of locals, you’ll rather rarely see them tip at a restaurant for example. On the other hand, small tokens of appreciation for top notch service will be much appreciated. You’ll also notice in touristy places that tips are a given and 10% is added to your overall bill, so don’t be too surprised by this.

Tourism is a major economic factor in Thailand and has been continuously on the increase since the 1960s. Nevertheless, as with any country, there are specifics to look out for and be informed about. In order to help you prepare for your holiday we have compiled advice on travel safety to ensure you have a stress free visit.

We’re incredibly excited to share a sneak peek of Koyao Island Resort’s new luxury tented accommodation. Perched on a hill overlooking the stunning, island-dotted Andaman sea, it’s an awe-inspiring place to relax. The tents will be opening later this year; a potential place to stay for Christmas 2017 at the latest.

MD & Founder, Sam Clark, provides his round-up of the most exciting new hotels in South and Southeast Asia. From luxury tented lodges in the wild, to exclusive island beach resorts – he passes on his top recommendations for places to stay on your next trip.

ETG travellers John and Lesley recently visited, Chiang Mai where they enjoyed our ‘Thai for…

Sarah Blaine is the co-founder of a pioneering project, to get Thai elephants back into their natural forest environment, living in their natural family groups. Here she shares her insider insights into elephant tourism in Thailand.

Our Belmond insider Clare shares her top tips for making an Eastern and Oriental train ride extra special. The carriages journey from Bangkok to Singapore and back and it’s a fantastic way to experience the countryside, villages and towns through Southeast Asia. Over to Clare:

An unforgettable holiday…soaking up the enchanting Thai culture…marvelling at the captivating sites and landscapes…unwinding and relaxing (everything a holiday should be)…All without the kids getting bored?

We’re passionate about tailoring holidays that suit you – and that means making sure that everyone in your family has the best time. In our opinion, Thailand is one of the best places for a whole family to enjoy a happy, safe and treasured holiday – here’s our list of the top ten experiences that mum, dad and the kids will all love.

Sarah Blaine’s life changed after a visit to Thailand volunteering at an elephant project. Recognizing the obstacles the animals, mahout handlers and local families face, she set up Mahouts Elephant Foundation whose aim is to support responsible tourism in the country. Here she shares her story and details of her latest project: walking with elephants.

When the British winter has you wondering if the sun actually ever existed and you haven’t seen your own skin in weeks, you know it’s time to jet off in search of winter sun.You need somewhere exotic, somewhere sunny and warm, somewhere with beautiful flora, palm tree-lined beaches, smiling people and delicious food. Here are our best places to travel across this season:

It’s never been easier to reach anywhere in the world, so why should you choose Asia?

If you’re looking for an unusual, sunny and exotic destination for your Christmas holidays, Southeast Asia and the Indian subcontinent are ideal places to go. With their incredible array of experiences be they wildlife, foodie and or cultural, there’ll be something for everyone. Here’s a list of our best family holiday destinations to consider:

Erin spent two weeks in Thailand in the Easter holidays 2016. Travelling with her extended family with an impressive age range spanning from 10 to 80 years old, she recounts some of her initial impressions of this beautiful country.

You’re looking for an Easter holiday getaway but want good weather, some fun, unique experiences and easy flights in and out. This guide will help you to pick the best destination for you and your family.

Co-founder and MD Sam gives his insights into “green season” travel in Asia, providing plenty of tips to make the best of your holiday outside of the peak travel season.

There are some fantastic deals and lush landscapes away from the crowds when travelling in low season throughout Asia. When there is rain, it is often short and sharp and we can try to make sure you get fantastic weather by incorporating a beach stay in a region with glorious sunshine. This short guide will give you some great ideas about combining the best value destinations with the superb beaches.

With the film season and Oscars coming to an end, we thought we’d pay tribute to some of the fabulous filming locations in Asia – all places you can visit whilst on holiday!

With so many temples available to visit – how do you make sure you avoid the dreaded temple fatigue?
Here our Asia travel specialist, Lucy, gives 6 top tips:

For the new year, we asked our team to nominate their favourite hotels and explain why. From sumptuous luxury experiences to learning traditional archery, here’s our selection.

James, with his in-depth knowledge of India, Borneo and Southeast Asia is the newest recruit to the ETG travel team. He’s joined us after a sensational demand for our holidays and we’re very pleased to welcome him as a travel specialist. Get to know James in his introductory blog.

Thank you so much to all of you who entered our 2015 photography competition. The quality of entries has been particularly good this year and we wanted to share some of our favourites before the deadline closes.

All of our tailor-made holidays are crafted from our own first-hand experiences. So, without further ado, here are our highlights of 2015 – including some new and unusual experiences you can try on your own travels.

2015 has been a big year for our ETG signature experiences. Be it avoiding the crowds, visiting the best local restaurants or doing an iconic attraction differently, our country specialists have been working hard to make sure your holiday is like nothing you’ll find elsewhere.

As part of our Christmas menu series, we’re featuring Coconut rice with Mango as our next recipe. It’s light, refreshing and healthy, known in the office as ‘heaven on a plate.’ It’s suitable for vegetarians and with only a few ingredients, is easy to make.