Recommend October 2011 - (Page 63)

Malayasia—and after brunch on the train—passengers disembark at Penang (Butterworth) and travel by motorcoach then ferry to colonial Georgetown, capital of Penang for a tour of the mosques, temples, churches, bazaars and colorful shop First-class sleepers offer airconditioned, two-bunk compartments with wash basin; second -class sleepers are bunks with curtains and a ceiling fan or air price. For long-haul, overnight travel, the best choice is the Special Express, which cuts the travel time by more than half and offers first-class sleeper cars. Third-class rail travel coaches have wooden benches, each (Third-class seats cannot be are clean and well maintained, with uniformed vendors strolling up and down the aisles with refreshments, and buffet cars atroutes. train in New Zealand before a remodeling that followed the specs of both the British Pullman and the Venice Simplon-Orient Express. Today, the carriage of carved wood, while the bar and restaurant cars are polished in Thai and Chinese lacquer. But the onboard ambiance harks back to a colonial age of rattan chairs on the verandah, linen suits and tea dances. The train State cars, a Presidential car, car, a saloon car and an observation car. For the voyage from Bangkok, passengers come aboard served as the train travels from the city south into a countryside, ThE OriEnT-ExprESS nOw On Track International train travel to and past small villages, rice fields and clusters of buffalo. In the morning, the train makes its way Train TOuring Some local Thai tour operators offer train tours on special itineraries focused on the concentration of cultural attractions between Bangkok and Chiang Mai, with overland travel a mix of rail houses. Back on the train, enjoy the passing scenery from the lounge cars or open deck of the observation deck, followed by dinner and overnight on board. By the end of breakfast on the last day, the train has crossed the Straits of Jahor and arrived in Singapore station where passengers disembark. This service also operates from Singapore to Bangkok. For 2012, prices based on two persons sharing start at $2,440 for Pullman cabin, $3,560 for State cabins and $5,150 for the Presidential suite. (800-5242420; orient-express.com) overnight, then ride the rails into Chiang Mai for a 2-night stay. navigaTing BangkOk In Bangkok, you can travel full speed ahead on the BTS (Bangkok Transit System) Skytrain or the MrT (Mass rapid Transit) underground (subway)—the way the natives negotiate their town and beat rush-hour traffic—or cruise the canals aboard public riverboats, tourist boats operated by the chao phraya Express Boat co. (with lots of seats and microphone-equipped guides to explain the passing scenery) or take a privately chartered long-boat. But there’s nothing like navigating the capital in that iconic Thai vehicle, the tuk tuk. Taxiing around in a colorful, noisy, open-air tuk tuk is not only a must-do event on a Bangkok visit, but more importantly, it’s a convenient way for visitors and locals to travel quickly about. While they are generally more expensive than air-conditioned taxis, they are often more easy to find and certainly more fun to ride. However, while taxis charge by the meter, tuk tuk rides are negotiable—preferably before climbing aboard. The price—it’s always going to be higher for a foreigner—is a flat rate covering all passengers, plus a little tip. And since few tuk-tuk drivers speak any English, have your destination written in Thai, and always carry your hotel’s name, street address and district wherever you go. ❖ conditioning, depending on ticket walls are decorated with veneers seating two or three passengers. has six Pullman cars, seven reserved in advance.) Most trains plus two restaurant cars, a bar tached to trains on long-distance in late-afternoon, with dinner from Thailand can be very stylish from Wang Po along the wooden and motorcoach. For instance, on a 6-night tour travelers board indeed aboard the Eastern & trestle viaduct that borders a Oriental Express linking Bangkok, Penang and Singapore on a 3-night voyage that includes deluxe sleeping compartments, all meals, complimentary tea and coffee in the cabin, and sightseeing tours along the way. Launched in 1993, this luxury train operated as the Silver Star steep cliff into the River Kwai Bridge station. Disembark for a guided cruise under the bridge and a motorcoach tour past the North Temple and Chinese Cemetery to the Thailand Burma Railway Center. Re-board the O&E in Bangkok and take the train to Ayutthaya for sightseeing and overnights. They continue by train across the rice-field terrain to visit Phitsanulok before overnighting in Sukhothai for two nights. Next, they switch to a pri- at Kanchanaburi, with dinner and vate train to visit Si Satchanalai overnight on board. Crossing into and continue to Lampang for an T27 http://www.orient-express.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Recommend October 2011

Editor's Notes/Agent Speak
Hotel Desk: Coworth Park, London
Tour Talk: Cox & Kings
Paws Up Ups "Glamping" to New Heights
"Alpine" Adventure at Four Seasons Resort Vail
Hotel Beaux Arts Miami
Out & About in New York City
Adventures on Hayman Island
It's the Good Life at The Leela Kovalam Beach
Peninsula Shanghai & Hong Kong
Silversea's Silver Spirit
Thailand Travel Planner
Luxury in the Wilderness, by Best of Patagonia
Savoring St. Vincent & the Grenadines
CuisinArt Resort & Spa, Anguilla
Luxurious Egypt
A Good Turn for Bern, Switzerland
Mexico's Luxury Trail

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