Priceline Fans

Who are the Priceline Fans?

Almost every day, I come across blogs and fun stories about how people are using priceline.com to stretch their travel dollars.  Here are some of the most interesting ones.

 

Eric Bergeson's A Duck Out Of Water In Las Vegas trip.

The Tinfoil Tiara says Priceline is priceless.

The Copper Brick Road books a Valentines Day hotel.

ProHomemaker.com gives priceline a try.

 Interview with Love Like Fire.

See how bands like The Southland make their road trips count with Priceline. 

Dennis Bournique looks at Priceline’s new mobile service.

Glenn Gregory gives money saving travel tips.

Jens Odegaard’s Hawaii trip.

 
October 2008 Archives

Loy Kratong festival provides colorful opportunity to visit Thailand

Update: Both of Thailand's Bangkok airports are now open for travel.  Travelers are advised to contact their airlines for schedule updates.

 
 
Thailand’s rivers, canals and night sky will all be glowing during the November 8-12 Loy Kratong Festival.   Originating during the reign of Thai King Rama IV in 1863, the Loy Kratong festival is quickly becoming one of the most popular Thai celebrations, one in which both Thais and tourists can participate. Loi or Loy means “float” and a Kratong is a small raft made of banana tree leaves. The raft is decorated with elaborately folded banana leaves, flowers, candles, and incense sticks. After the incense and candles are lit, the raft is pushed out onto the water in a symbolic act of letting go of one’s bad luck and at the same time venerating the Buddha.
 
The festival is especially popular with photographers who come to record the wide spectrum of colors and lighting.
 
Loy Kratong began in the northern province of Sukhothai, and is now celebrated throughout Thailand. Government offices in each province hold big events to celebrate the full moon, which falls on November 12th this year.  Different areas of the country celebrate their own versions of Loy Kratong. Chiang Mai celebrates a unique northern Thailand version with Yi Peng Lantern balloons while Ayutthaya, a historic city surrounded by the Chao Praya River, reenacts an ancient Loy Kratong festival in Bangsai with cultural performances, Kratong contests and even a Miss Noppamas beauty contest. All of Bangkok’s waterways, such as the ponds of Lumpini Park and the churning Chao Praya River will have celebrations underneath a night-sky filled with fireworks.
 
 
Here are some of Agoda's recommended hotel deals for Loy Kratong.  Reservations can be made directly on the Agoda web site, www.agoda.com, or by clicking on the hotel-specific links shown below.
 
Bangkok Marriott Resort & Spa, Bangkok  Rate starting at US$ 144
 Enjoy a magnificent dinner at the Riverside Terrace restaurant, set next to the spectacular Chao Phraya River, with a complimentary Loy Kratong candle to float from the hotel’s pier, and chances to win various prizes from the hotel. Alternatively, enjoy the ambiance of a Manohra Dinner Cruise with the special Loy Kratong set menu of Thai delicacies served next to a live kim (a traditional Thai instrument) performance.
 
Shangri-La Hotel, Bangkok  Rate Starting at US$ 179
 Experience the grandeur of Loy Krathong at a prime location along the Chao Phraya River. The festival of lights is completed with traditional entertainment and an impressive fireworks display. By the Riverfront at the Poolside is a perfect tropical setting to enjoy great entertainment in a charming ambience. Guests can also join the Horizon Cruise along the river with a delicious buffet dinner and front row seats for the thrilling fireworks display.

 Experience a distinctively northern-style Loy Kratong Festival with Kratong Sai (A traditional practice where one thousand coconut-shell Kratongs are lit before being released one by one down the Mae Ping river, keeping a consistent distance between one another) and Khom Loy (candle-lit lanterns which are released to float in the sky), all the while enjoying a traditional Lanna show with a backdrop of flashing fireworks over the glittering Mae Ping River.
 
 The Pasak River plays host to a hotel cruise and dinner buffet with glimmering Kratong-floating under the moonlight. Guests can also experience a traditional Loy Kratong festival hosted by the Ayutthaya government office, located less than 50 meters from the hotel.
 
Sukhothai Heritage Hotel, Sukhothai  Rate Starting at US$ 71
 The latest boutique resort at the birthplace of Loy Kratong is located near to the Sukhothai Historical Park, where tourists can enjoy the Sukhothai Loy Kratong, Candle Festival, and the Kingdom of Sukhothai light-and-sound presentation.
 
Ravindra Beach Resort and Spa, Pattaya  Rate Starting at US$ 68
 Enjoy a Loy Kratong dinner on Jomtien Beach and float complimentary Kratongs out to sea. Guests can also experience a traditional Loy Kratong celebration given by the Ban Amphur Municipality, located just two-kilometers from the hotel.
 
Laguna Beach Resort, Phuket  Rate Starting at US$ 223
 Not to be missed is the traditional Kratong-floating on the hotel’s tropical lagoon. A joint activity with the Chengtalay Municipality, the night is also accompanied by various forms of Thai entertainment.
 
Novotel Phuket Hotel, Phuket  Rate starting at US$ 147
 The hotel is very near Patong beach where there are many Loy Kratong festivities with a mix of locals and tourists. Additionally, there are events at the hotel such as Pool games in the afternoon, followed by a Loy Kratong Thai gala dinner.

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Από Brian Ek  -  27/10/2008  -  2481 Απόψεις