Singapore Cooks up Deals
Television personality Martin Yan, host of the upcoming PBS
series “Martin Yan’s Chinatown,” will lead two Singapore group
tours developed by the Singapore Tourism Board and Singapore
Airlines.
Two wholesalers, Pleasant Holidays and Asian Affair Holidays,
are selling the five-night tours.
The departures are set for March 27 to April 1 (operated by
Asian Affairs) and Sept. 15-20, 2003 (operated by Pleasant). At
press time, only Asian Affair had released a price: $2,390 per
person, double, including roundtrip air from Los Angeles.
In addition to the Yan trips, the companies are offering
additional Singapore food tours, including the following:
Asian Affair Holidays’ Flavors of Singapore,
priced from $1,280 per person, double, includes economy roundtrip
air, four nights at the Singapore Mandarin Hotel, a city tour, a
cooking class, breakfast at the Singapore Zoo and a visit to Yixing
Xuan Teahouse.
Pleasant’s Singapore Culinary Experience,
priced from $1,170, includes economy roundtrip air, four nights of
deluxe hotel accommodations, a hands-on cooking class and lunch,
and a walk through a spice garden led by an herb expert who offers
tips on cooking with the spices.
Call Asian Affair at 877-523-0561 or Pleasant at
800-377-1080.
Web sites: www.asianaffairholidays.com and
www.pleasantholidays.com.
Bangkok Bargains
Two luxury properties in Bangkok have introduced winter
packages: The Pan Pacific Bangkok’s Bonanza package, priced from
$99 per night for a superior single room, includes buffet
breakfast, two discount coupons for the hotel’s spa and health
club, use of the fitness facilities and sauna and late checkout
until 4 p.m. It also includes 55-minute massages for guests on
their first night.
The Pan Pacific’s two-night Survivor package, starting at $200
per room, single, or $225, double, includes accommodations in a
superior room, a kit with a T-shirt and a cap, and tickets for the
city’s Skytrain. Both packages are valid through Jan. 31, 2003.
Call 800-327-8585. Web site: www.panpacific.com.
Through March 31, 2003, the Sukhothai offers a golf package,
priced from $439, that includes two nights of accommodations,
airport transfers, breakfast or a boxed lunch, one round of golf
with a cart and a caddy and transfers to and from the course. Call
800-223-6800. Web site: www.sukhothai.com.
ASEAN Promotion
Ten countries that belong to the Association of Southeast Asian
Nations have agreed to promote the region as a single destination.
A newly signed pact calls for the countries to coordinate visa
procedures, extend visa exemptions and phase out travel levies and
taxes.
Participating countries are Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos,
Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and
Vietnam.
