This, the second biggest airport in Thailand can be found only thirty two kilometers from downtown Phuket. The airport can handle twenty four flight operations per hour and is operational twenty four hours a day. Phuket airport, incredibly, welcomes some 6.5 million tourists a year.

Terminal two handles domestic flights with airlines such as Bangkok Airways that fly in from Bangkok, Koh Samui and Pattaya U-Tapao.  Happy Air flies in from Bangkok, Hat Yai and Hua Hin. Nok Air service Bangkok as do Orient Thai Airlines, Thai Airways International and Thai Air Asia who also run services to Chaing Mai, Ubon Ratchathani and Udon Thani.  

Terminal one handles international flights from Moscow (Aeroflot, I-Fly, Transaero Airlines), Abu Dhabi (Air Berlin), Beijing (Air China, Hainan Airlines), Kuala Lumpor (Air Aisa, Bangkok Airways, Malaysia Airlines, Qatar Airlines) Seoul (Asiana Airlines, Business Air, Eastar Jet, Korean Air), Milan and Rome ( Blue Panorama Airlines) Taipei ( China Airlines), Kunming and Guangzhou ( China Eastern Airlines), Frankfurt ( Condor Flugdienst), Hong Kong (Dragonair, Thai AirAsia, Thai Airways International),  Zurich (Edelweiss Air), Helsinki (Finnair), Penang (Firefly), Jakarta (Indonesia AirAsia), Sydney (Jetstar Airways), Singapore (Bangkok Airways, Singapore Air, Jetstar Asia Airways, Silk Air, Tiger Airways), Tehran (Mahan Air), Novosibirsk, Krasnoyarsk, Irkutsk (Nordwind Airlines, S7), Stockholm (Novair), Saint-Petersburg (Rossiya, Transaero Airlines), Shanghai ( Shanghai Airlines), Chengdu, Chongqing (Sichuan Airlines), Denpasar (Thai AirAisa) Bali (Thai AirAsia), Copenhagen (Thai Airways International, Thomas cook) Gothenburg, Landvetter, Oslo, Gardermoen, Stockholm, Arlanda (Thomas Cook) Perth ( Thai Airways International, Virgin Australia), Budapest, Prague (Travel Service Hungary), Paris ( XL Airways France) to name but a few.

Phuket Airport has its own website http://www.phuketairportonline.com/ where you can check flight status, find facts and figures, find information about Phuket, a terminal map and other useful information such as car rentals.

Many domestic and international airlines regularly offer superb discounts on flights to Phuket so it well worth keeping your eye on discounted flights websites and save money on travelling that can be enjoyed once you get to the island.

For those that chose to live on the island having access to an airport that conveniently and affordably services so many destinations makes Phuket such an attractive place to be.  Exploring Asia could not be easier and for those who work overseas commuting could not be more convenient.

Having budget airlines that run backwards and forwards to Bangkok is also extremely handy for those with children being educated at the international schools and universities in the capital, as well as those who like to get off the island for a spot of city shopping.

Whether you are visiting Phuket for a vacation, staying for a few months each year or living there permanently there is no doubt that Phuket airport will make your life easier.

The design of many of Luxury Asia Lifestyle properties lend themselves perfectly to seminars and corporate events. The separate sleeping areas afford privacy for delegates who require their own space. The villas offer large, communal areas, that are ideal for presentations and team -building exercises and large, outdoor, communal dining facilities for down- time entertainment. 

The villas have all the hardware you need to successfully deliver your message and presentations, such as the latest environment controls, sound systems, CAT 5 wiring and large AV screens, while, at the same time, providing a comfortable environment for your guests. Overhead projectors are available, along with high speed internet, phones and fax machines.
Villas can be hired for a day, a week, or a month, and offer first class facilities that will enable you to create a prestigious event that will reflect well on your company, your new product, or your staff celebration. Villas are available in various locations round the island so you can choose the one that is closest to your needs. The large villas, on the south of the island, in more remote locations, are well suited to those who require a business retreat with privacy and away from outside distractions. Villas located closer to the action are the perfect choice when you have a team that has plenty of spare time to explore all the island has to offer.  

In- house chefs, catering, and shopping services, can be provided . In- house spa treatments can also be arranged, such as relaxing yoga, Thai, and oil massage, and island transport can be provided for full, or half day, trips to various attractions on the island, as part of leisure time, or team building, activities. 

Why not consider mixing business and pleasure and use a luxury villa for your next business meeting, conference, seminar or presentation, and put the stamp of luxury next to your name.

The Royal Phuket Marina, or RPM as it is more commonly referred to, is on Phuket’s east coast, away from the tourist crowds but only minutes away from other attractions on the island. The RPM has a comprehensive range of services and facilities and is a hub of excitement during events such as this one. The RPM offers superb dining opportunities, lounge cafes, world-class shopping and exciting entertainment.

During the event, now on its ninth year, several major European yachting brands will be launching new models and the show expects to see an unprecedented number of boats on display as well as the highest quality marine products to ever be displayed in Asia. During the show you will also have the opportunity to see the latest luxury cars and Phuket properties.

There will be displays from as far afield as China, Australia, Italy and France, cocktail parties and receptions will give visitors to the event a chance to meet, mix and mingle and celebrate the boating, leisure and luxury lifestyle in a stunning tropical location.

The boat show promises to be an exciting event with fourteen yachts already confirmed for the in-water display. The are a 65 ft Selene Trawler, 42 ft Fairline Squadron, 41 ft Monterey, Azimut 82, Lagoon Catamaran 56, Beneteau 50, Princess P60, Princess 72MY, Princess 78MY, Princess V52, Sunseeker’s Manhattan 73m, Sunseeker’s Manhattan 63, 3 Majesty Yachts as well as boats from the Oryx and Silvercraft range.

Phuket has so much to offer visitors; a visit during the boat show is just the icing on the cake. What could be better than enjoying the tropical eastern sunshine, luxury private villa living, all of the Phuket attractions, world class Asian and western cuisine and Thai hospitality during one of the most exciting events on Phuket’s calendar.

Luxury Asia Lifestyles specializes in luxury villa rentals and private vacation services. Enjoy an exciting portfolio of exquisite oceanfront hideaways, hillside locations and tropical garden settings by visiting www.luxuryvillaphuket.net, your luxury vacation in Phuket and the Pimex Phuket International Boat show are only a mouse click away.

On Koh Samui and Phuket private villas are available in beach- front or hill-side locations both close to, and far away from, the hustle and bustle of island life. Villas come in all shapes and sizes, so no matter what your special occasion, you will find something that suits both your needs and your budget.

A smaller villa is an ideal choice for couples on their honeymoon; smaller villas are available in either busy, or, remote locations, depending on the sort of honeymoon you are looking for. A secluded villa will offer the ultimate in privacy, whereas something closer to the nightlife may be more suitable for a younger couple who would like to celebrate their marriage by enjoying the island nightlife.

Medium sized villas make a great choice for small to medium sized families and groups who want to celebrate a birthday or anniversary together. Medium sized villas often have separate living areas from the main part of the building and are ideal for less well-acquainted groups. Spending time together in a private villa is a wonderful choice for families who live in different parts of the world who can all come together in a central location to enjoy some family time together.

Larger villas lend themselves especially well to large celebrations, hen or stag parties and can be used very effectively for weddings. Villa rental companies such as Luxury Asia Lifestyles can arrange as much, or as little of your private villa wedding as you require.

For those who enjoy the hands- on approach and would like to organize the majority of the day themselves, Luxury Asia Lifestyle staff can be on hand for help and advice.

If you would like sit back and relax and let the experts take care of the organization for you, then putting your special day in the experienced hands of the Luxury Asia Lifestyle team could not be more comforting. With years of experience on the island and a team of private chefs, special event staff, florists, drivers, celebrants and evening entertainment companies you can ensure that your wedding will be as memorable as it is unforgettable.

Tropical weddings can take part within the villa or, on the beach. If you chose a beach -front villa then you can enjoy a combination of the two. Villas are an idea way to house your guests and a great place to enjoy a private reception with private catering. Private villas offer an excellent opportunity to enjoy your celebration without the fear of disturbing other guests especially in the more remote locations.

If your idea of the perfect wedding is on a beautiful tropical island in Thailand then have a look at our websites www.luxuryvillaphuket.net and www.luxuryvillasamui.com where you can take the first step towards your dream.

The islands of Koh Samui and Phuket both have a great deal to offer visitors to their shores. Koh Samui like Phuket has an abundance of activities to enjoy as well as being in easy reach of the Ang Thong Marine Park and Koh Tao. Phuket is within easy reach of Koh Phi Phi, Phang Nga Bay, The Similan Islands and Khao Sok National Park.

Deciding which of the two Islands to visit can be a difficult choice, while the islands both offer similar facilities both have unique advantages within their locations. Rather than having to decide which one best suits your needs why not enjoy the best both have to offer by splitting your holiday between the two.

Luxury Asia Lifestyles offers superb private villa rental accommodation on both islands so there is no reason that you can not enjoy both. Getting between the two islands can be as easy as taking a one hour flight from either international airport or if you choose you can take a leisurely bus ride from Phuket to Donsak and then take the Samui Ferry or even hire a car and stop of at the Khao Sok national park for a day or two to explore the park and its wildlife en rout.

The Luxury Asia Lifestyles portfolio features villas, in both Phuket and Koh Samui, in fabulous oceanfront and panoramic hillside settings, all of which have been selected carefully for quality and location. As well as a offering excellent living and dining facilities Luxury Asia Lifestyle villas also offer a range of other exciting services such as in house chefs, in house massage and spa treatments, car hire and chauffer services and in-house maids and villa staff. Outside catering can also be arranged for special occasions and entertaining.

Choosing a villa to spend some time in on each island will open up the door to a unique holiday experience where you can literally enjoy the best of both worlds.

For more information on private villa rental in Koh Samui and Phuket visit www.luxuryvillaphuket.net www.luxuryvillasmui.com

While on the face of it, renting a room in a hotel would seem more affordable than renting an entire villa, when you consider the extra costs associated with hotel accommodation, renting a villa can actually be far more affordable. This is becomes more apparent if you are travelling as a group or with family. 

The ‘in house’ dining facilities found in rental villas can substantially reduce the cost of your holiday. Shopping in Phuket’s local markets and cooking at home is not only a cheaper way of enjoying local produce, but, it is also ideal if you are travelling with young children or people with special dietary requirements. If you don’t feel like heading to the markets then you can let the villa staff do your shopping for you, while you laze around the pool!

Another distinct advantage of hiring your own villa is that the facilities the villa has to offer, such as swimming pools, Jacuzzis and gyms, are there for your exclusive use, so you do not have to share them with other hotel guests.

Hiring a villa gives you far more space, and flexibility, than staying in the confines of a hotel room. This is especially true if you encounter a spell of unseasonably bad weather. Children are far more easily entertained in your own private, spacious, living area where they can play games and enjoy watching films on the big screens that villas in Phuket provide. Within the privacy of your own villa you can allow your children the freedom to play without the worry that they will disturb other guests while, at the same time, not being disturbed by other guest’s children. 

Many villas on Phuket offer split level or, well spaced out accommodation, often with separate bedroom garden pavilions. These types of villa make an ideal choice if you are travelling as a group and are looking for private, as well as communal, areas.

Larger luxury style villas lend themselves well to family special occasions, such as anniversaries, birthdays and weddings, where the extra space can make all the difference to the quality of your holiday and while, at the same time allowing a large number of people to enjoy some uninterrupted quality time together.

If you are looking for a more private alternative to hotel accommodation, such as when you are on your honeymoon, renting a private villa makes an excellent vacation choice.

Villas come with a wide variety of facilities. Some have live in staff and ‘ in house’ chefs. Villa managers can organize ‘in house’ catering, ‘in house’ massage and a range of other private services that hotels are unable to provide. 

Outdoor dining facilities, that are common in villas in Phuket, allow you the freedom to eat when you choose, do not have the dress restrictions of hotel restaurants and remove the need for babysitters if you have young children.

Renting a private villa is becoming an increasingly popular option and Phuket, due to its abundance of quality private villas, is becoming an increasingly popular villa holiday destination.

Luxury Asia Lifestyles have a superb range of villas from which to choose. For more information go to their website www.luxuryvillasphuket.net

A great place to enjoy your Easter break is in Phuket, an island in the south of Thailand famous for its white sandy beaches that offers so much to do for adults and children alike.

While visiting the island occupy young minds with a visit to attractions such as the friendly zoo or Phuket Fantasea, a 140 acre cultural theme park that comes alive at night with its 3000 seat theatre that stages Las Vegas style productions and magical illusion shows. Swimming, Scuba diving and sailing are also very popular holiday activities for adults and children as well as elephant trekking, the butterfly farm, the Phuket Cultural Centre and the Aquarium. 

Old Phuket makes and interesting place to visit with its streets filled with 100 year old shop fronts that have now been made into small hotels, restaurants and shops. Wat Chalang Temple is another interesting place to visit if you are interested in history and culture. Khao Rang Hill offers spectacular views over the island that can be enjoyed from any one of its restaurants; Thai cooking classes are also popular as are visits to any one of Phuket’s massage and spa centers. 

A great way to enjoy all Phuket has to offer is to rent your own private Villa. Luxury Villas Phuket offers a wide range of villas in all of the popular areas on the island. The benefits of having your own villa in paradise are many. For a large group renting a villa can make a very affordable alternative to staying in a hotel. You will find far more room in a villa than a hotel room which gives you a lot more freedom. Children benefit from the extra space that allows them to play without the restrictions of bothering other hotel guests. 

The self catering aspect of having your own villa is also a plus, older people and children can be very picky with their food, being able to enjoy exploring the local markets and cooking yourself makes catering for fussy eaters easy as well as being a lot more affordable than eating out.

Facilities such as pools don’t have to be shared with other guests in a villa and villas offer other facilities such as laundry rooms, saving you the expense hotel laundries. 

Villas are ideal for families with children as well as couples who are looking to spend some uninterrupted quality time together. Villas are also great places for entertaining and make the odd rainy day far more enjoyable than being cooped up in a hotel room. 

So this Easter why not enjoy some quality family time in your home away from home, get the kids way from the computer and take advantage of the extra bank holiday and enjoy your Easter break in the warmth of the Phuket sunshine with luxury villas Phuket.

For details on renting a luxury villa on Phuket contact Luxury Asia Lifestyles on rentals@luxuryvillaphuket.net

The now fixed date of the Thai New Year was originally set by astrological calculations and until 1888 Songkran marked the beginning of the New Year. From that time, until 1940, the 1^st of April officially marked the start of the New Year, but today, January the 1^st is used. Despite the change official dates Songkran is still the Thai New Year National Holiday and the celebrations, which are said to have been adapted from an Indian festival, enthusiastically take place all over Thailand.  

Songkran is becoming and increasingly popular time to visit Thailand and many visitors look forward to joining in with the festivities that, in some parts of the country, most famously Chiang Mai, go on for six days.

The traditional greeting at this auspicious time of year is สวัสดีปีใหม่” (sa-wat-dee pee mai) and was traditionally celebrated by visiting respected elders, family members, friends and relatives as well as giving prayer and food to monks and cleansing Buddha images and household shrines with water and Thai fragrance to bring about good luck and prosperity.

Although traditional celebrations are still observed in many parts of the country, more typically, these days, the New Year is welcomed by wildly enthusiastic water fights where locals and visitors alike roam the streets armed with water guns and buckets of water, that are often mixed with ice and mentholated talcum powder, to drench passers by. Pick-up trucks, packed with enthusiastic adults and children, armed with water pistols, carry barrels of water around the island and household hose pipes are on full blast during the lively celebrations to ensure everybody gets refreshingly soaked during this colourful festival that falls at the hottest time of the year. 

Songkran is a unique, fun and unforgettable festival and a great time to enjoy Thailand and its people at their best. Fun, or Sanuk in Thai, is the key to understanding this charming race of people who try to make everything fun and never more so than at this time of the year. 

Why not celebrate the Thai New Year this year, which will be 2555 due to the 543 year difference between the Buddhist and Gregorian calendar, by visiting www.luxuryvillaphuket.net and choosing from a superb range of villa accommodation that will allow you to join in with the celebrations in style.

Over the coming months we will feature a range of carefully selected villas  chosen by our expert team.