CHIANG MAI

It’s All About U
The first hotel under the newly established U Hotels & Resorts Property Group, U Chiang Mai (70 Ratchadamnoen Rd., Sripoom, Ampur Muang, Chiang Mai, 053-327-000. www.uhotelsresorts.com), will open Jun 1. Their “U Choose” program lets you personalize some of the in-room amenities including the material of your pillow, the types of tea you’d like and or the scent of your soap. For superior and deluxe rooms, introductory rates start from B3,400, through Oct 31.

High On Rice
Embrace nature and still spend the night in comfort at the new Veranda Chiang Mai the High Resort (192 Moo 2, Baan Pong, Hangdong, Chiang Mai, 053-365-007. www.verandaresortandspa. com). At Veranda, you will get to experience a truly rural setting thanks to their own rice terrace within the resort. From now till Oct 31, it offers a High and Cool promotion. With prices starting at B12,800, you get to stay two nights in a valley deluxe room with daily breakfast, one complimentary afternoon tea and roundtrip airport transfers.

Sawasdee Jao!
Raming Lodge (17-19, Loikroh Rd., Ampur Muang, Chiang Mai, 053-271-777, 053-270-042/-4. www.raminglodge.com), a Lanna style hotel near the Chiang Mai night bazaar and Sunday walking street, is now offering a Happiness Package. Starting from B4,900, you can get two nights in a deluxe room for two, one Thai set dinner, a 1.5-hour Thai massage and foot reflexology and roundtrip airport transfers. Through Oct 31.

HUA HIN

The Guilty Party Has Been Spanked
Last week’s bit on the Hua Hin Jazz Festival, which is actually two events, failed to mention TrueMusic’s Jazz Festival on the Beach, featuring Kenny Garrett, Mike Stern & Dave Wecki and Chris Minh Doky. Thai vocalists Kob Songsit, Radklao Amaradit, Maew Jirasak and Lukpad will also be there in front of Hua Hin Marriott Resort and Spa. Jun 13-15. This is followed by the sand-free Jazz in Town, Jun 15-21. For details, see Out of Town in BK+, page 29.

SAMUI

Don’t Have Kids? Make Some at the Beach
Impiana Samui Resort & Spa (91/2-3 Moo 3, Bophut, Chaweng Noi, Koh Samui,
Surat Thani, 077-422-011. www.impiana.com) has revamped its Thai-Balinese
rooms. Their Samui Family Getaway Package works even if you don’t have
munchkins: from B5,900, you will get a night in a superior room (for two, buffet
breakfast included), a Thai set dinner, a one-hour Thai or foot massage and
roundtrip airport transfers. Through Jun 30, for Thais and Thai residents only.

AIRLINES

More Time For ... Shopping
Fly Scandinavian Air (02-645-8200. www.flysas.com) to one of 23 cities in seven Northern Europe countries from B28,500 roundtrip and enjoy Scandinavia when it’s warm and days last up to 20 hours. Special fares apply to popular destinations like Berlin, Copenhagen, Helsinki, Stockholm and other cities in Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Germany, Lithuania and Poland. Minimum stay is five days; departures must be within Jun 11.

Cajun Vacation
United Airlines (02-253-0559. www.unitedairlines.co.th) comes up with one more USA dream destination, New Orleans. Cajun cooking and live jazz at every streetcorner make the old French colony in Louisiana one of the more colorful places in America. Fly there direct or try UA’s six-dayfour-night package which takes you to two jazzy cities, Chicago and New Orleans. From B55,100, including accommodation and airport transfers