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) Accessible Asia: Three countries, three cultures, three weeks
River cruises. Fresh beer. Strong coffee. French baguettes. Bike rides along shaded canals. Cooking classes in secluded villas. Five-star hotels with sky bars and rooftop pools. Paris, Venice, London?Try Hanoi, Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur.
If it's your first time or your tenth, surprises await in modern Southeast Asia. More accessible and easier to travel around than ever, it's a place where English is widely spoken and the dollar still packs power. Beginning Monday, join in online as travel writer Carol Pucci reports from Thailand, Malaysia and Vietnam. Follow her dispatches, see her photos and offer your own comments and tips.
Returning to Asia, where changes abound BANGKOK — When my husband, Tom, and I made our first trip to Asia 19 years ago, Bangkok was our first stop. More>>
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) Luxury hospitality group to open deluxe hotel in Bangkok, Thailand
Rapidly expanding its reach in the world�s most alluring destinations, W Hotels, owned by North Sathorn Hotel Company, a joint venture between Dubai-based Istithmar Hotels FZE and Golden Land Property Development PLC, has announced plans to open its second hotel in Thailand, W Bangkok. The newly constructed 400-room hotel will debut in 2011 as part of a luxurious, mixed-use real estate development at the core of the city�s commercial and diplomatic center. W Bangkok will combine innovative, contemporary design and W�s signature services to create a transformative experience for modern travelers visiting Bangkok, one of Asia Pacific�s most captivating cities.�Ross Klein, President, Starwood�s Luxury Brands Group, said, �W continues to extend beyond the boundaries of everyday travel, offering a magical mix of sexy destinations and sublime design. More>>
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) National/World
BANGKOK, Thailand - An arrest warrant was issued Thursday for a Canadian pedophile suspect accused of having sex with boys at his Bangkok apartment, a Thai police official said.Maj.-Gen. Wimol Powintara said authorities were trying to track down Christopher Paul Neil, the target of a global Interpol manhunt, through his network of friends in Thailand.
Police appeared to have few leads on exactly where Neil might be, though they had earlier expressed confidence that he would not escape their dragnet.
“He could be anywhere in Thailand. We have got calls from all over the place that they spotted someone who looks like him so we are dispatching policemen to find out more," Wimol said at a news conference.
The officer said posters of the suspect had been prepared and hotels and tourism agencies had been asked to help in the search. More>>
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) Starwood Hotels Plans Bangkok Hotel
Hotel operator Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc. on Tuesday said its W Hotels unit will open W Bangkok in 2011.The 400-room hotel will be W Hotels' second in Thailand. It will be owned by North Sathorn Hotel Co., a joint venture between Istithmar Hotels FZE and Golden Land Property Development PLC.
The hotel will be part of a mixed-use development in Bangkok's commercial and diplomatic center, Starwood said.
Shares of Starwood Hotels added 43 cents to $60.17 in morning trading.
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