Mandarin Orientel, Bangkok
Located on the banks of the River of Kings, this legendary hotel is only steps, or a short boat ride, away from some of the city’s finest shopping and entertainment at IconSiam, historical areas and the heart of Bangkok’s new Creative District.
The hotel’s teak shuttle boats carry guests to the city’s Saphan Taksin BTS Skytrain station and IconSiam throughout the day.
Built in 1876 and ideally located on the banks of the Chao Phraya River, Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok has been delighting guests ever since. The 331-room hotel has been an inspiration to a host of world-renowned writers from Joseph Conrad, Somerset Maugham to Wilbur Smith and John le Carré, after whom many of the suites are named. The property presents 11 restaurant and bar choices, from traditional Thai cuisine to two-Michelin starred French fine dining at Le Normandie.
Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok’s colleagues are renowned for their legendary service and are gracious, courteous and respectful to guests, many of whom are greeted by name. The 1,300 staff provide a 4:1 staff-to-guest service ratio – the highest in the city. With an average of 14 years of service, each colleague’s dedication to delivering a unique service experience to guests is unparalleled.
FANTASTIC FACTS
- The hotel is one of the oldest in Asia (1876) and was the first hotel in Thailand.
- Legendary Thai silk tycoon Jim Thompson was a joint owner between 1946 and 1967, and the luxury silk fashion house has designed the hotel’s new signature fan to celebrate the recent renovation.
- The hotel’s 1,300 colleagues provide a 4:1 staff-guest ratio, one of the highest in the industry.
- 2,460 pieces of Bohemian crystal have been used within each of the oversized bells that hang in the hotel’s lobby. Each weighs 220kg and took 150 hours to assemble on site.
- The Oriental Spa is housed in a restored, century-old teakwood house and was the first hotel Spa in Thailand.
- All hotel guests are greeted upon arrival with a traditional Thai flower hand garland.
Guests can select from over 30 different treatments, including Signature Therapies such as ‘Oriental Harmony’, where four hands work in perfect unison to inspire a harmony of the senses to Essence of Thailand experiences that include ‘Spirit of Isaan’, where a blend of natural ingredients are incorporated within a body wrap and exfoliation before a rhythmic Oriental bamboo massage. The Oriental Spa even offers a Muay Thai Massage where movements from the nation’s popular sport are incorporated in the treatment to provide a deep sense of invigoration and rejuvenation.
Guests can also enjoy 11 outstanding restaurants and bars, from traditional Thai cuisine to two- Michelin-starred French fine dining. Private teakwood boats provide access to the hotel’s Thai restaurants, the award-winning Oriental Spa, the Fitness & Wellness Centre and the famed Oriental Thai Cooking School
Restaurants and Bars
- Lord Jim’s – Bangkok’s meeting place serving fresh seafood and prime cut meats
- Kinu by Takagi – refined Kaiseki dining in an intimate setting
- Le Normandie – contemporary two-Michelin-starred French fine dining
- The China House – Chinese flavours served in a 1930s Shanghai setting
- The Authors’ Lounge – Traditional Afternoon Tea in old world charm
- The Bamboo Bar – live jazz and cocktails Al fresco dining can be enjoyed at:
- The Verandah – the perfect choice for all-day dining
- Riverside Terrace – nightly BBQ riverside experience
- Ciao Terrazza – Italian inspirations
Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok48 ORIENTAL AVENUE, BANGKOK 10500, THAILAND
+66 (0) 2 659 9000 | MOBKK-RESERVATIONS@MOHG.COM
The Kamalaya healing resort in Koh Samui
Kamalaya Wellness Sanctuary & Holistic Spa is a multi-award winning holistic healing resort located in the pristine south of the Thai island of Koh Samui on tranquil Laem Set Beach. Integrated into a tropical hilly landscape, the 25 villas, 26 suites and 24 rooms of the five-star resort are spread out between lush greenery and blue pools. The name “Kamalaya” means “kingdom of the lotus” and stands for the unfolding of body, mind and soul. In line with its holistic philosophy, Kamalaya combines Asian and Western healing traditions to help those seeking relaxation find new energy and health. The offer ranges from detoxification to stress and burnout programmes to the improvement of sleep, fitness and emotional balance.
From monk to founder of a luxury wellness retreat
The Kamalaya healing resort reflects the life experiences of founding couple John and Karina Stewart and their desire to help others.
Canadian John spent 16 years under the tutelage of a yogi master in a North Indian ashram. There he met his now wife Karina, who had been practising Asian medicine for many years. Together they wanted to create a place where ancient Asian wisdom and wellness and healing methods could be applied in a modern way and be accessible to everyone. When John moved to Koh Samui in 2000 for health reasons, he accidentally discovered a centuries-old rock cave that once served as a retreat for Buddhist monks. Inspired by this place of power, the holistically oriented Kamalaya was created on this spot in 2005.
Healing and sustainable – programmes against stress and burnout
With a selection of more than 70 treatments and therapies, the holistically trained Kamalaya team can specifically address individual needs – from stress reduction to the treatment of pre-existing burnout symptoms. The results-oriented programmes include therapeutic massages from Thai, Chinese and Indian healing traditions as well as personal counselling sessions on nutrition, stress management as well as relaxation techniques.
Balm for the belly
The so-called “Enriched Gut Programme”, loosely translated as “Balm for the Gut” at Kamalaya is based on the knowledge of how important a well-functioning gut is for the entire immune system and thus for physical, mental and emotional health. The programme rebalances bacteria and microflora in the digestive system and thus prevents inflammatory processes in the body. The latest findings from the fields of naturopathy, TCM, Ayurveda, nutrition and other holistic healing methods are incorporated. The healthy cuisine at Kamalaya has an additional supporting effect.
Physiotherapy the Asian way – Structural Revival
Kamalaya’s holistic Structural Revival Programme is designed to realign the body, improve posture, relieve tension, rehabilitate injuries and restore maximum mobility, functionality and vitality.
Physiotherapists teach exercises that guests can continue at home. Using a combination of Western and Asian healing methods, Structural Revival analyses and treats the causes of physiological dysfunctions. The programme includes physiotherapy sessions as well as individual Pilates training to strengthen the body and stabilise the joints.
Fitness programmes for body, mind and soul
Kamalaya’s “Comprehensive Optimal Fitness” programme is aimed specifically at sportspeople who want to make their training even more effective and at the same time strive for a healthy lifestyle. It is about consciously balancing an intensive workout with gentle strengthening and relaxation techniques and a balanced diet. Basic Optimal Fitness” is recommended for beginners.
INFO
- Holistic 5-star healing resort on Koh Samui, Thailand.
- Situated on the tranquil Laem Set Beach in the south of the island
- 25 villas, 26 suites and 24 hillside rooms
- Medically based wellness programmes:
Detox cures, yoga classes, stress and burnout,
improvement of fitness or weight as well as emotional balance - Combination of Asian and Western natural healing methods
- Individual wellness consultation on arrival
- Health-conscious and enjoyable cuisine
- Rock grotto in the centre, once used by Buddhist monks for meditation
- 2 yoga pavilions, 3 infrared saunas, steam grotto, swimming pool for relaxation, Shakti Fitness Centre, spacious fitness area with 25-metre swimming pool at the highest point of the complex
- Daily activities such as yoga, pilates, qi gong, tai chi and meditation
- Multiple award-winning:
e.g. World Spa & Wellness Awards 2017 & 2018: Worldwide Health & Wellness Destination of the Year, AsiaSpa Awards 2017: Spa of the Year – Southeast Asia & the Pacific, Luxury Travel Magazine’s GOld List 2017: Best Overseas Health & Wellness Property, Condé Nast Traveller Spa Awards 2016: Best Destination Spa
Kamalaya Koh Samui