TO FIND OUT MORE

National Tourist Office of Thailand
90, av des Champs-Élysées. 75008 Paris. Tel: 01 53 53 47 00
Internet: www.tourismethaifr.com

GETTING THERE

Thai Airways International offers a daily service between Paris CDG (terminal 1) and Phuket with a very short and efficient connection in Bangkok, followed by a 1h30 flight to the "Pearl of Andaman". The 11:15 Paris-Bangkok flight - day on the outbound leg and night on the return leg - is operated in a tri-class Airbus A380: an economy cabin with generous seat pitch, a business class - Royal Silk - with real seat-beds, and a first class - the luxurious Royal First - with semi-private suites. On board, the airline plays on Thailand's legendary hospitality, with a warm welcome, pampering service and smiling hostesses in traditional dress. An invitation to travel that also includes a catering service featuring local flavours.
Tel.: 01 55 68 80 70 - Internet : www.thaiairways.com

Air France offers a daily flight between the French and Thai capitals, operated by Boeing 777-300ER triclass Economy, Premium and Business.
Tel: 3654 - Internet: www.airfrance.fr

HOTELS

Phuket

Angsana Laguna Phuket

The beach is endless, the lagoon gigantic. On one side, a peninsula occupied almost entirely by the Angsana Laguna hotel. There are gardens buried under coconut palms, a serpentine pool more than 300 m long criss-crossing a large part of the resort, Japanese bridges, almost secret passages and buildings, some on stilts, plunging directly into the calm waters of the lagoon. As you can see, Angsana Laguna is no secret. But it does so with great taste, offering here a balcony overlooking the water lilies, and there rooms that look like they could be Venetian, with private access to the river pool. What's more, the sea is just behind the dune, with all the restaurants and beach lounges needed to cater for large incentive groups. 402 rooms, lofts and suites, nine meeting rooms, a ballroom for 400 people, eight restaurants and bars, fitness, spa, tennis and water sports activities.
10 Moo 4 Srisoonthorn Road, Phuket 83110 - Tel : +66 (0) 76 358 500 - Email : reservations-lagunaphuket@angsana.com - Internet : www.angsana.com

Banyan Tree Phuket

Just a stone's throw - or even a few minutes by motorised raft - from Angsana Laguna, where it shares some of the lagoon's canals, Banyan Tree Phuket is no slouch either. Particularly on the ultra-luxury side, with villas totally isolated from each other by high walls buried in bunches of exotic trees; and, what's more, each with its own private swimming pool. The bedrooms, delicately decorated, open directly onto the pool - you can practically dive in from your bed - one of the bathrooms is open-air, and the bar, a real bar, is well-stocked with wines and spirits. It's worth noting that each villa has its own outdoor lounge/dining room... A dream life as you cycle along the resort's fragrant paths, from villa to villa, from lagoon to beach, from golf course to gigantic spa, from boutiques to restaurants. For business travellers, some villas can be used for product presentations or for private dinners for up to twenty guests. 136 Thai-style villas, 12 villas with private spa, 25 gigantic villas measuring 1,300 m² at 2,500 m². 10 restaurants and bars, five meeting rooms, spa, yoga, swimming pool, 18-hole golf course, tennis...
33,33/27 Moo 4, Srissonthorn Road. Cherngtalay, Ampphur Talang, Phuket 83 110 - Phone : +66 (0) 76 372 400 - Email : phuket@banyantree.com - Internet : www.banyantree.com

JW Marriott Phuket

What an entrance! A huge rectangular basin bordered on three sides - the fourth opens onto the sea - by the lobby, shops and bars, lounges and restaurants...
There's something of Beijing's Forbidden City about this... The blue ceramic pots, perhaps? The recessed roofs? Or perhaps it's the basins with lotus flowers floating in them, or the countless swings that allow you to watch the fireworks in comfort every weekend. The resort is huge, but so well-designed that you never feel you're being overwhelmed. You can go from an infinity pool to landscaped gardens, from a picnic area to a Japanese restaurant. Of course, gala dinners can be held on the beach or in the gardens. With white tablecloths and stylish service, of course. The chic-cosy setting is particularly well-suited to business tourism, with a dozen meeting rooms accommodating up to 400 participants. 529 rooms and suites, a 'royal' villa. 11 restaurants and bars, three swimming pools, spa, tennis, water sports, cookery classes...
232 Moo 3 Mai Khao, Talang, Phuket 83 110 - Tel: +66 (0) 76 338 000 - Email: mhrs.hktjw.dir.group.sales@mariotthotels.com - Internet: www.jwmarriottphuketresort.com

Bangkok

The Sukhothai

In the purest of traditions, the hotel's main building, one of the most elegant in Bangkok, stands at the end of a wide grassy esplanade. A reference to the kingdom of Sukhothai that is echoed throughout the hotel. Stupas, colonnades, pools and arches... Bronze, teak and marble... But these are just a few touches, as the building is resolutely modern, particularly in the wing reserved for corporate clients. It's all about simplicity, spacious rooms, a restaurant serving the best of Thai cuisine and another specialising in Italian cuisine. But above all, every Sunday, the Colonnade restaurant offers a truly mind-blowing brunch that has the whole of Bangkok in a frenzy. 210 rooms and suites. 7 restaurants, cafés and bars, swimming pool. Ballroom for up to 400 people, a villa in the garden that can also be used for corporate events.
13/3 South Sathorn Road, Bangkok 10 120 - Tel : +66 (0) 2344 8888 - Email : promotions@sukhothai.com - Internet : www.sukhothai.com

Pullman Bangkok Hotel G

There's no doubt that the Hotel G is well suited to business travellers. First of all, it's a Pullman, a sure sign of quality. Secondly, it is perfectly located in the Silom district, one of the busiest in Bangkok. And then there are its rooms, one of the walls of which is entirely glazed, allowing you to contemplate the lights of the city from your bed. This idea is also widely used in the events room on the 38th floor of the building... The same goes for some of the public areas, where the particularly trendy open terrace is one of the city's musts. 469 rooms. 13 meeting rooms. Two bars and three restaurants.
188 Silom Road, Bangrak 1050 - Email : H3616@Accor.com - Tel: +66 (0) 2 3524000 - Internet: www.accorhotels.com

RESTAURANTS

Phuket

Tu Kab Khao

Blue is the earthenware floor, blue the staff uniforms, blue the glasses and plates and blue the collection of Chinese potiches... On the ceiling, a large faux Murano chandelier and in the three large rooms, furniture from a very distant Louis quelque chose. Right in the centre of town, Tu Kab Khao is undoubtedly laying the foundations for Phuket's brand new style. Not unlike the plastic canons favoured by the international bohemian bourgeoisie. In any case, it's charming, unexpected and enhanced by a very 'land of smiles' warm welcome. As for the menu, it's much more classic, offering an endless array of dishes, all of them Thai and therefore delicious. It's worth noting that Tu Kab Khao, with its three interconnecting rooms, is particularly well suited to business groups.
8 Phang Nga Road. T. Talad Yai, A.Muang, Phuket 83 000. - Tel: +66 (0) 76 608 888

Blue Elephant

This is the story of a former governor's house in the heart of Phuket. And it's also the story of a renowned chef, Nooror Somany Steppe, founder of the Blue Elephant group. The marriage of the two creates a splendid restaurant and a marvel of Thai cuisine. The decor features two floors of colonial style, with a lot of patina, a dining room protected from the tropical sun, and private lounges on the entire first floor. The menu is all Thai, of course, with three main themes: the cuisine of the past, the cuisine of today and the cuisine of tomorrow. It's a huge programme... One room, a little further away, is specially equipped to give 'royal' cookery lessons. A great success.
96 Krabi, Tambon Talat Nuea, Amphoe Mueang Phuket, Chang Wat Phuket 83 000 - Tel: +66 (0)76 354 355 - Email : phuket@blueelephant.com - Internet : www.blueelephant.com

EXCURSIONS

Discover the mythical landscapes, crystal-clear waters and deserted beaches of the Andaman Sea islands.

Siam Adventure World
63/302 Moo 2, Thepkasattri Road, Kohkeaw Muang, Phuket 83 000. - Tel: +66 (0) 83 592 4447 - Email: info@siamadventureworld.com - Internet : www.siamadventureworld.com

ADVENTURE

Phuket

Suspension bridges, zip lines and breathtaking experiences in the canopy of the primary forest.

Skytrek adventure
89/16 Moo 6, Soi Namtok Kathu, Wichitsongkram Rd, Kathu, Phuket 83 120 - Tel: + 66 81 979 2332 - E-mail : play@flyinghanuman.com - Internet : www.flyinghanuman.com

Bangkok

Adventure around the corner in an undiscovered Bangkok. All in a group and all by bike.

Co Van Kessel -Bangkok Tours
River City Shopping Center (Rm. 164). - 23 Charoen Krung Road, Soi 24. - Samphantawong, Bangkok 10 100. - Tel: +66 (02) 639 7351 - Email: contact@covankessel.com - Internet : www.covankessel.com

PRESERVATION

To change the way we look at animal exploitation and abuse.

Phuket

Phuket Elephant Sanctuary
100, Moo 2, Paklok, Phuket - Tel : +66 (0) 76 529 099 - Email : info@phuketpes.org - Internet : www.phuketelephantsanctuary.org

The Gibbon Rehabilitation Project (GRP)
Wild Animal Rescue Foundation of Thailand. 1104/3 Moo 3 Paklock, Talang, Phuket 83110 - Tel : + 66 88 590 9714 - Email : grp@gibbonproject.org - Internet : www.gibbonproject.org

RECEPTIVE

Asiajet
CCT building, 9 th fl. Unit 4. 109 Surawong Road, Suriyawong, Bangrak. Bangkok 10 500 - Tel : +66 (0) 2 634 42 46 - Email : production@asiajet.net - Internet : www.asiajet.fr

Representation in France Contact: Soazig Lemoine - Tel.: 06 61 78 78 83

PRACTICAL GUIDES

Le Routard, Petit Fûté, Géoguide, Cartoville Bangkok