PHUKET
Fantasize Island
No flying Dumbos (yet), but the dancing pachyderms in the Fantasea show are nearly as fun. You can enjoy the performance as part of a deal being offered by the Seaview Patong Hotel (2 Taweewong Rd., Patong beach, Phuket, 076-340-103). As the name suggests, all the hotel’s rooms give you a view of the Andaman Sea and for B5,000 (two people, sharing), you can get two nights in a superior room, daily breakfast, one Thai set dinner, roundtrip airport transfers and two tickets to Phuket Fantasea. Through Oct 31.      

VIETNAM
Hello Harbor
Vietnam’s third biggest city, Haiphong has been so far overlooked by travelers in favor of the natural beauty of neighboring Halong Bay. But, Best Western obviously feel that’s about to change with the opening of their latest hotel in the “city of flame flowers.” The 101-room, nine-story Best Western Pearl River Haiphong (Km 8, Pham Van Dong St., Anh Dung ward, Duong Kinh, Haiphong, Vietnam, 84-31-388-0888. www.bestwestern.com) makes a good base for exploring the nearby Du Hang temple, Hang Kenh communal house and the well-preserved colonial quarter. Rates start from US$139 (B4,600.)

PRACHUAB KHIRI KHAN
A Spiritual Journey
Embrace your chakra, experience an astral voyage and even learn how to develop telepathic powers! No, it’s not a chance to appear in the next series of Heroes but a new meditation course on offer at the Lumra Resort (Tambon Thongchai, Ampur Bangsapan, Prachuab Khiri Khan, 08-1626-6769. www.reflections-thai.com). This July the resort is running a five-day Soul traveling and Full Moon Meditation course. At B41,600 per person (shared room), you will get to learn basic meditation, Chi-Gong, yoga, pendulum healing and how to fully utilize your chakras. Roundtrip transportation from Bangkok included, though if you are a quick learner you might be able to fly home. Jul 14-18.      

THAILAND
Designed For Life
OK, we’ll admit to growing a little weary of hearing the words boutique and design used to promote every hotel out there—but when it comes to the global Design Hotels brand you know you are getting the real deal. Now you have the chance to experience these shrines to design and architecture for yourself with the Travel by Designs Thailand promotion, which allows you to create tailor-made packages from B4,400 per night at Alila Cha-Am, The Chedi Phuket, Kirimaya Golf Resort & Spa, X2 Kui Buri and more. Visit www.designhotels.com/tripbooker for more information. Through Aug 31.  

AIRLINES
ET Save Trees
A world without paper, except the stuff used to print BK, took a step forward with the announcement that all travel agents did away with paper-based ticketing last May 31. So from now on agents will be using the (supposedly) easier, quicker and better way of rolling out your ticket called ET. Unfortunately, ET actually stands for E-Ticketing and not as we first thought teams of cute Extra Terrestrials making sure that your airline booking is in order.

GEAR
Bag a Bargain
We love Samsonite luggage, but given the choice between a plane ticket and one of their suitcases, we usually go for the ticket. During their ongoing sale, however, Samsonite products are up to 70% off. The Black Label Hommage Spinner (55cm), for example, is normally B18,500 but has been marked down to B9,250. Through Jul 20 at Samsonite counters at leading stores.