This article was first published by our friends at Intrepid Travel, who have agreed to its republication here.
View the original article on their Intrepid Express Blog.

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Faced with the daunting experience of landing in a strange city for the first time, sometimes it feels like our fate is in the hands of the gods. So these tips from Intrepid’s Danielle Jeffreson will help your Thailand holiday get off to a great start.

The floating markets of Bangkok draw both locals and tourists in Thailand (photo courtesy of Alison Agnew)

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Posted under General, Thailand, countries, local tips, responsible travel

After the successful launch of Urban Adventures on October 1, 2009, the business has been moving from strength to strength. The month of November, in particular, was very productive in network growth and technological improvements. Now just 71 days after officially opening our days, there are 28 destinations and 94 adventures live, with new product being added each week. Destinations already operating include major centres like New York, London, Rio de Janeiro, Delhi, Johannesburg, Istanbul, Sydney, Bangkok, Vancouver, Nairobi, Kathmandu, Lima and Auckland.

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Posted under Australia, Brazil, Brunei, Canada, General, Greece, India, Jamaica, Kenya, Latvia, Mexico, Nepal, Peru, Philippines, Portugal, South Africa, Thailand, Turkey, USA, United Kingdom, Zambia, responsible travel news, whl.travel news

By Ethan Gelber

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A statue inside the grounds of Wat Impeng Temple, Vientiane, Laos (courtesy of Tari Bowling)

With a little luck, by early 2010, Lee Sheridan believes his company, Teamworkz Consulting, the whl.travel local partner in Laos, will have processed US$1 million worth of travel bookings through three Laos destination websites (Luang Prabang, Vang Vieng and Vientiane). Perhaps even more impressive than the gross numbers is the volume it represents: As of 10 October 2009, with completed bookings totalling almost US$800,000 and an average transaction valued at a few pennies more than US$115, that’s nearly 7000 bookings in just four years.

“Along with this, the three websites in Laos have already surpassed more than 100,000 unique visitors this year,” Sheridan enthused. “The Luang Prabang site alone has received over 60,000 unique visitors this year so far, and with our high season just starting, we may be able to reach 100,000 unique visitors for this one site in 2009.”

All in all, that’s not bad at all for a young company in an off-the-beaten-path nation notable for its least developed country status.
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Posted under General, Laos, Thailand, countries, responsible organisations, responsible travel, responsible travel news, whl.travel newsletter

By Ethan Gelber

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At the July 2009 whl.travel Asia-Pacific Regional conference, Teamworkz Consulting was officially recognised as the whl.travel Franchisee of the Year 2008-2009 for its work in Vientiane, Laos. Teamworkz, which also owns and operates five other sites in Laos and seven in Thailand, could just as easily have earned its laurels for its labours in Luang Prabang and Vang Vieng, both also in Laos.

Teamworkz Consulting accepting its accolades as Franchisee of the Year 2008-2009 at the whl.travel Asia Pacific regional conference. Left to right are: Rob Shortland, whl.travel Asia Pacific Regional Director; Anne Done, Lee Sheridan and Mouk of Teamworkz; Len Cordiner, CEO of WHL Group

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Posted under General, Laos, Thailand, Turkey, Vanuatu, awards, countries, responsible organisations, responsible travel news, whl.travel news, whl.travel newsletter

Go face to trunk with Thailand’s magnificent elephants at Ayuthaya, an historical village 86km north of Bangkok. Living alongside traditional Thai mahouts (elephant trainers) and their families, guests are assigned to older retired elephants for the duration of their stay and are responsible for all of those elephants’ needs.

By Annabelle Burns

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The author bonding with Loong Sap

Turning into the driveway of the Ayutthaya Elephant Palace and Royal Kraal for the second time in 10 months, I feel an excitement rising that is now well beyond butterflies. Will she remember me? They say that elephants never forget, but dear old Loong Sap has met so many people in her 68 years. I don’t mind either way, but I just can’t wait to see her beautiful face, her proud and dignified forehead. To caress her gorgeous wrinkly trunk and flappy ears. To peer and wink into her all-seeing, all-knowing eyes.

The tuk-tuk stops. Eva Narkiewicz is there to greet us. She and her partner Michelle Reedy left Australia three years ago to dedicate themselves to running the wonderful Elephantstay program, giving visitors an incredible opportunity to immerse themselves in a Thai elephant village. All around I see the familiar yet incredible sight of dozens of elephants – old retired ones, middle-aged workers and the cheeky youngsters – all going about their daily routines with their mahouts (traditional elephant trainers) and the guests who are here to help.

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Posted under Thailand, countries, responsible organisations, responsible travel, whl.travel newsletter

Awed by its grandeur, don't overlook the details of Bangkok's Grand Palace

With the recent launch of hotel- and tour-booking websites for Bangkok (www.bangkok-hotels-link.com) and Pattaya (www.pattaya-hotel-link.com), whl.travel has taken another frog-leap forward toward becoming the leading travel-booking service in the Greater Mekong area.

Bringing to 25 the current total number of whl.travel destinations in the region, the website for Bangkok – a vital travel gateway – joins six other sites in Thailand (Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Koh Samui, Pattaya, Phuket and Sukhothai), four in Laos (Champasak, Luang Prabang, Vang Vieng and Vientiane), three in Cambodia (Phnom Penh, Siem Reap and Sihanoukville) and a total of 11 across Vietnam (including Danang, Hoi An, Hue, Saigon and Sapa).

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Posted under Cambodia, General, Laos, Thailand, Vietnam, countries, new local connections, whl.travel news

On 11 January 2009 the New York Times (NYT) published a piece entitled The 44 Places to Go in 2009. The introduction suggests that they are the new year’s ‘most compelling destinations’ and they’re presented in an order of preference ‘recommended’ by the NYT. At the article’s request, readers also voted on their favourites and, with the click of a button, the preferences can be shuffled to reflect readers’ recommendations too.

Reader comments on the article covered fairly predictable ground, lamenting omitted destinations (“Nothing in China? I am a bit surprised.” “Not a single Canadian destination?”), suggesting new ones (“Visit Poland!” “Tanzania? Kenya”?), criticising those on the list (“Dallas? You’ve got to be kidding!” “Beirut? Get real.”), questioning the division into sub-categories (“How is Greece not a cultural option?” “Can someone explain to me how $600 a night in South Africa is ‘frugal’?”) and even challenging the validity and sustainability of the topic (“Honestly, how many working people will be able to afford big vacations this year?” “Do the authors and publishers of travel pieces like this bear responsibility for the environmental damage wrought by those who go?”)

One of my personal favourites is this one: Read More…

Posted under Australia, Brazil, General, Greece, India, Lebanon, Madagascar, Malaysia, Morocco, Philippines, Qatar, Senegal, South Africa, Thailand, Turkey, Zambia, countries, whl.travel newsletter

SEE BELOW FOR THIS MESSAGE IN THAI

Sukhothai has just joined four other cities (Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Koh Samui and Phuket) as the latest addition to the growing whl.travel network of travel destinations in Thailand. The recently unveiled website can be visited at www.sukhothai-hotel-link.com.

The restored temples of Sukhothai.

Sukhothai, the literal meaning of which is ‘Dawn of Happiness’, was the capital city of the very first Thai state. The superb temples and monuments of this once-great centre have been lovingly restored and designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Steeped in cultural history as well – the Thai alphabet and language are believed to have originated here – it’s a must-see for all travellers interested in the heritage of modern-day Siam. Read More…

Posted under General, Thailand, countries, new local connections, whl.travel news