Chaing Mai is the 2nd World Best Destination 2010
Bangkok T+L’s World’s Best City … the why’s and how’s

Matt Leppard 15 July 2010 3 comments

“Bangkok regained the top spot in Travel + Leisure’s 2010 World’s Best Awards readers’ survey, announced last week, closely followed by Chiang Mai in the second. Meanwhile, 10 Asian hotels are placed in the top 100 hotels in the world, with Peninsula Bangkok (named as Asia’s number 1 city hotel) coming in at number 7 and Four Seasons Singapore at 14. Other Asian properties placed in the list’s top 50 include Shangri-La Singapore at number 20, the Four Seasons Resort in Chiang Mai (27), the Hotel de la Paix in Cambodia (29) and the Mandarin Oriental Dhara Dhevi, also in Chiang Mai (45).

wbAlso scoring highly in the poll, voted for by readers of all six editions of Travel + Leisure, are Singapore Airlines (Top International Airline) and Bali (Top Asian Island and fourth in the Top Islands Overall category).”

The above is culled from our own T+L SEA press release, but it doesn’t delve into how Bangkok won, what it means, and how it should be interpreted. Some of the livelier forums, at least here in Bangkok, have been buzzing about this “honor,” with many users complaining that it’s inaccurate at best.

This is wrong-headed thinking, although it’s clear that some confusion has arisen as to the nature of the results. Well, it is what it is, to be honest. First off, the poll—accessible online by readers of the U.S. and international editions of T+L under stringent U.S. survey/polling regulations—is a reader survey (not a dubiously subjective editors’ opinion piece) of global travelers’ favorites.

In the Best City category, readers were asked to rate sights, culture/arts, restaurants/food, people, shopping, and value. It is not any sort of “livability” index, or any other imaginative interpretation of “World’s Best City.” It was also conducted from December 2009-March 2010, before the recent problems in Bangkok kicked off.

That said, the strong showing of Asian properties and destinations is really no surprise. Asia, and particularly Southeast Asia, continues to offer some of the most attractive world-class properties, located in such varied locations as exotic rain forests, vibrant cities, and even on water; with such a choice, Southeast Asia will remain one of the world’s most popular regions.

In addition, the fact that Bangkok has been voted in the top spot this year, as it was in 2008, is testament not only to the myriad attractions on offer and the variety of top-drawer hotels, but also to the Thai people and culture, both of which bring so much joy to travelers. My hope is that this win will further boost Bangkok tourism recovery efforts, which all of us are committed to.

The full results will be published in the August edition of Travel + Leisure Southeast Asia, out August 1.

Chiang Mai is 1 of 8 Great Places to Retire You've Never Heard Of
Sponsored by
by Laura Cohn
Friday, June 4, 2010provided by
Worries about the stock market are leading some Americans to look outside U.S. borders for inexpensive places to retire. In many cases, retiring abroad offers the added draw of warmer weather, a lower cost of living and a slower pace of life. Whether it's South America, Europe or Southeast Asia, a number of destinations offer Americans the ability to stretch their dollars and still live the dolce vita.

Calitri, Italy
• Population: 5,685
• Climate: Mild, averaging 50 degrees Fahrenheit in winter months and 90 degrees in summer months.
• Proximity to water: Located in the center of southern Italy, Calitri is about 75 miles from the Mediterranean Sea.
• Proximity to major airport: It's about 80 miles to Naples International Airport (NAP).

The Draw: This town in southern Italy offers scenic vistas and low-cost real estate, and it's close to the Amalfi Coast.

Tip: As a retiree with a residency visa, you may be able to gain access to the country's national health-care system. But many expatriates prefer to buy their own health insurance because private hospitals tend to be more upscale than their state-run counterparts.

Chiang Mai, Thailand

• Population: 1.6 million in the province; 250,000 in the city.
• Climate: Tropical; from March to May, temperatures reach 100 degrees; average high for the year is 89 degrees and the average low is 68 degrees; dry season typically runs from mid November to early May.
• Proximity to water: The Ping River runs through the city, but otherwise it's landlocked.
• Proximity to major airport: Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX) is less than ten minutes from the city center.

The Draw: Far from the civil unrest in Bangkok, this city in northern Thailand offers cooler temperatures and a calmer environment. Renowned as a medical-tourism destination, it is home to an ample supply of private hospitals, state-run clinics and full-service pharmacies that provide high-quality health care at bargain prices.

Tip: As an outsider, you cannot own land in Thailand without a local partner -- but you can buy a condo or an apartment.
Coronado, Panama
• Population: While Panama's population is about 3 million, one estimate puts Coronado's population at about 2,500.
• Climate: Tropical, with daytime temperatures between 85 to 90 degrees.
• Proximity to water: Right on the Pacific Ocean.
• Proximity to major airport: Tocumen International Airport (PTY) is about 65 miles away.

The Draw: Just over an hour's drive from Panama City, this beachfront town hosts gated retirement communities, a low cost of living and inexpensive medical care.

Tip: As a U.S. retiree, you may be able to participate in Panama's generous pensionado program, which offers discounts on airline tickets, doctor bills, hotel stays, movie tickets and cultural events.
Cuenca, Ecuador
• Population: 467,000 (618,000 metro area)
• Climate: Mild with an average temperature of 58 degrees; dry season falls between June and December.
• Proximity to water: Four rivers, including the Rio Tomebamba, run through Cuenca. The Pacific Ocean is the closest major body of water, but it's not nearby.
• Proximity to major airport: Aeropuerto Mariscal LaMar (CUE) is about a mile from downtown.

The Draw: Ecuador's third-largest city offers low-cost living, inexpensive real estate and affordable health care. And as a foreign retiree, you can get special benefits, such as discounts on utilities, public transportation and cultural events.

Tip: The U.S. dollar is the country's currency.

Lets join " Chiang Mai Big Cleaning Day"
On The World Environment Day)
5 June 2010 @ Three Kings Monument.
10.00 -12.00 A.M.

Chiang Mai Friends Group : May Meeting

Dear members and friends,

The coming meeting will be on Wednesday May 26 at the Gymkhana Club
We start with the dinner at 5.30 p.m. cost 250 Baht per person. Meeting only cost 80 Baht
The meeting starts at 6.45 p.m. With the very interesting speaker, Major Roy Hudson, who has lived in Chiang Mai for 50 years.
Roy Hudson.
Born in Buenos Aires in 1919, and went to school in England. He joined the Territorial Army (Royal Engineer) on Munich Day, and was called up for the second time a year later to defend the Isle of Wight. Having successfully achieved this task, he was granted a commission, and in 1941 left for India, where he joined the Poona Club.
Lieutenant Hudson was intimately involved in the battles of the Sittang River, the Yenangyaung oil-fields,and Monywa , before skillfully extricating himself to the safety of India once more. For this feat he was made a Captain . Subsequently, he was promoted to command the Nawab’s forces in the field in the Arakan Yomas in Burma, until he returned to England for a well-deserved leave in 1945. Anxious to finish off the war in the Far East, he set sail in the “Monarch of Bermuda” for Bombay . The Hiroshima bomb forestalled him, but nevertheless he pushed on to Bangkok , where he established his main HQ in Si Ayutthaya Road , with a forward HQ at the Cathay Cabaret (now the site of the National Lottery Bureau).His namee was “Mentioned in Dispatches”
After the war, Major Hudson recuperated from his war efforts with long spells of army duty in such rest centers as Singapore, Malaya, Hong Kong and Nepal and received the Commander in –Chief s certificate for devotion to duty. In 1950 he was awarded the Territorial Decoration. He formed an attachment for Southeast Asia, its peoples and way of life .On leaving the army he settled in Chiang Mai where he has lived for the last fifty years.

In the meeting, we will discuss in our Green Chiang Mai Projects.
Friends News :
· Chiang Mai Friends Group need to have volunteer teaching English to the kids age 7-14 years old. These kids are cultural performers. Please contact Khun Nid :chiangmaifriends@gmail.com Tel : 053 206121
· Prince Khum Phaya Resort & Spa, Chiang Mai offer “Value-added Upgrade Program” valid Now thru 31 Oct 2010
Minimum 3 nights stay booking for Superior room, receive complimentary upgrade to Deluxe Room with pool access and complimentary mini bar. www.princekhumphayaresortandspa.com

· Tourist Police Chiang Mai welcome foreigner volunteer. Please view the application form as the file attached. For more info, please contact champ6129@gmail.com Tel : 081-8818161
For other important local updates, events and news, please visit www.city-now.com
Please confirm you attending by 24 MAY 10 at email : chiangmaifriend@gmail.com or call Khun Nid 053 206121

Sincere regards,
Boong Chaladlam
President.