Around the Kingdom in 80 Days with Centara Hotels & Resorts!

Choosing Centara hotels and resorts

I love it when hotels offer me a challenge. Back in October, Centara Hotels & Resorts offered a special Thailand Staycation Golden Ticket for Thai Residents. For me, in my quest to support the Thai domestic travel industry in these difficult pandemic days, this is a golden opportunity. 

Whilst Thailand’s International borders remain all but closed, this is a smart move for Centara looking to maximise occupancy from within the domestic market. Thailand’s hotels are struggling without the expected 40 million tourists in 2020. As we wait for the world to open up, a change of Government policy, a global vaccine, and the return of more than a trickle of International visitors to our shores, all eyes are on those of us resident in Thailand.  

I’ll put my hand up for this and do my bit!

WHAT IS THE CENTARA GOLDEN TICKET?

For THB 10,000 (USD 332) ticket holders can enjoy thirty nights of hotel stays in thirteen Thailand destinations between October 12th and December 30th, 2020. Gotta love a bargain!

Of course, I was up for this after reading the small print! There are various rules. In most hotels you can only stay for one night, a handful of hotels offer a two-night stay.

So woo hoo potentially it’s Phuket, Samui, Krabi, Pattaya, Hua Hin, Trat, Rayong, Koh Chang, Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Mae Sot, Udon Thani, and Hat Yai here I come!

Decisions, decisions! Do I take a city break or a beach escape first?

COMBINED WITH THE AIR ASIA UNLIMITED PASS 

Another wonderful ticket I’m enjoying is the Air Asia Unlimited Pass. This gave me unlimited air flights between July and December. Of course, you know me well enough to know, I was going to try to combine both and fly and stay for free (well not really but you get what I mean!)

COVID SAFETY

Thailand has done well in terms of its Covid safety but even so, I look for places to stay that match my standards of cleanliness and Covid protection for guests and staff. Throughout my Centara stays, I have consistently been impressed with their Centara Complete Care program. Which has seen me breaking the hygiene seal to enter my sanitised room and wearing plastic gloves at the breakfast buffet amongst other covid precautions.

Centara AO Nang Beach Resort & Spa

GETTING THE ULTIMATE VALUE – it’s not all about the money it’s about giving employment.

I was determined to gain value, which by my estimation meant I needed to have a minimum of fifteen nights hotel stays. Oh my! Before you think I’ve totally lost it and knowing that many of you overseas would dearly love a Thai getaway for just one night. Then think on. All these Centara Resorts and Hotels are four or five-star hotel standard. Here in Thailand, the average price of a five-star hotel was always great value and has now dropped to two-star prices.

The more I use, the better value each stay becomes. Fifteen stays is equal to THB 666 or just over 20 USD per night. It must surely be hardly worth them turning on the electricity at this price I hear you say? You’re right.

One of the quotes of the year a hotelier told me was :

‘Close we lose money, open we lose money but we all have jobs’

Such a tough, tough world out there. The way I look at this is every bed I sleep in, every towel I use, every breakfast I eat, every pool I swim in, creates a job for someone. My heart goes out to all of those in Thai Tourism.

Centara at Central World Bangkok

THE GOLDEN TICKET BENEFITS

My Golden Ticket Pass took me to hotels that would not normally be my first choice such as family getaways, or to destinations that are not generally on my radar such as Centra by Centara Government Complex Hotel & Convention Centre. I will certainly get to know Pattaya well if I want to visit them all!

My golden ticket is perfect for me on my journey to complete 100 Thailand Staycations in these challenging times. 

The pass gave me an opportunity to get to know the Centara hotels. It is my aim with my Thailand staycations project to be of broad appeal and not specifically linked with anyone hotel brand.

Centara at Central World

THE GOLDEN TICKET DEAL

• Reservation must be made at least 3 days in advance of arrival date

• Breakfast is not included.

• Can be redeemed for room accommodations at specified Centara Hotels & Resorts property in Thailand
• Full details here: www..centarahotelsresortscom/golden-ticket

Centara Grand Lad Prao

MY STAYS :

• Centra by Centara Government Complex Hotel

BANGKOK Monday, October 26, 2020, Superior Twin Bed

Very nice room, friendly staff, great if you have business at the Government Complex

More details here …

Centra by Centara Government Complex Hotel

• Centara Sonrisa Residences & Suites Sriracha

CHONBURI Friday, October 30, 2020, Superior

Family-friendly resort and residences – great for kids

More details here …

Centara Sonrisa Residences & Suites Sriracha

• Centara Pattaya Hotel

PATTAYA Saturday, October 31, 2020, Deluxe

Friendly staff popular with Thai families, average Pattaya location 

More details here …

Centara Pattaya Hotel

1. Centra by Centara Cha-Am Beach Resort

HUA HIN Monday, November 16, 2020, Superior King

Popular family resort in lovely Cha-am great for those with kids

More details here …

???-?? is a great beachside destination from Bangkok, it’s closer than the ever-popular ??? ???. ⁣How about lazy days on the beach, pool fun, including the big splash water feature or let’s go whizzing down the big slide – adults welcome! ⁣

Centra by Centara Cha-Am Beach Resort

• Centara Grand Beach Resort & Villas

Grand history and gardens in one of the best parts of Hua Hin

HUA HIN Tuesday, November 17, 2020, Deluxe Twin

More details here …

Centara Grand Beach Resort & Villas

1. Centara Villas Samui

KOH SAMUI Monday & Tuesday, November 23/24, 2020, Garden Villa

Beautifully secluded part of Koh Samui, pretty hillside resort, wonderful pool area

More details here …

NOTE: COSI Samui Chaweng Beach, KOH SAMUI was booked. As a result of the ongoing COVID-19 situation, we have taken the measure of temporarily closing COSI Samui Chaweng Beach. We will be providing you with a complimentary upgrade to our wonderful nearby sister property, “Centara Villa Samui”

Centara Villas Samui

• Centra by Centara Maris Resort

JOMTIEN Monday, November 30, 2020, Centra Superior

Nice resort – just a shame it’s not beachfront

More details here …

Centra by Centara Maris Resort

• Centara Grand at Central Plaza Ladprao

BANGKOK Thursday 3rd December 2020

 Great rooms, wonderful management – the ultimate shopping destination!

More details here!

Centara Grand at Central Plaza Ladprao

• Centara Grand at CentralWorld

Loved our stay with Club benefits, red sky bar, wine angels, UNO MAS dinner, pool area, Spa

BANGKOK Sunday, December 6, 2020, Superior World King UPGRADED TO CLUB ROOM

70th THAILAND STAYCATION – a massive thank you Centara!

More details here!

Centara Grand at CentralWorld

• Centara Q Resort RayonG 

Loved the semi-private beach, nice infinity pool, nice restaurants, refurbishment coming soon

RAYONG Tuesday, December 9, 2020, Superior King

More details here!

Centara Q Resort Rayong

• Centara Azure Pattaya

Nice hotel, lovely staff – wasn’t wild about the location

Pattaya Wednesday, December 10, 2020 UPGRADE: Superior with Balcony

More details here! Centara Azure Pattaya

Krabi Monday, December 14, 2020

Loved, loved, loved this new resort in a quiet area of Ao Nang – will be back!

More details here! 

Centara Ao Nang Beach Resort and Spa

Krabi Tuesday, December 15, 2020

Tucked away on its own private beach behind monkey hill – magical!

More details here!

Resort room video here

Centara Grand Beach Resort & Villas Krabi

Krabi Wednesday, December 16, 2020

At the back of Ao Nang with a mountain backdrop

More details here!

Centra By Centara at Phu Panu

Pattaya Saturday, December 19, 2020

Fun, youthful budget hotel – love this area of Pattaya

More details here!

Cosi Pattaya Wong Amat Beach

Pattaya Sunday, December 20, 2020

A beautiful grand resort, amazing rooms, and sea view – fun for young and old!

More details here!

FINAL THOUGHTS Centara the place to be!

I am loving my Golden Ticket and the race is still on to maximise its use before it expires at the end of the year. This will continue to be updated here throughout, I should get my target 15 nights!  I’m really enjoying the variety of Centara hotels, they have 42 hotels here in Thailand operating under 6 brands, not all were offered on the Golden Ticket.

I have enjoyed many of their fabulous locations – Bangkok and surrounds Pattaya, Jomtien, Rayong, Cha-am, Hua Hin to Beach, and Island life of Koh Samui and Krabi. Through Centara, I have explored some new places – Sriracha and Rayong. My timetable didn’t allow me to explore the further afield two nights stay offered except my upcoming Hat Yai.

Centara Villas Samui

The Centara brand is diverse I have enjoyed staying in family hotels, hotels where I am the only foreigner, I have dined in restaurants where I am the only guest and been in hotels fully booked! I have seen the best and the worst of the impact of the pandemic.

My memories cover fabulous rooms, some lovely baths (I love my bath – take a bow Centara Lad Prao) spectacular beach locations, and wonderful city roof bars. They all have in common a focus on the wow of a pool area and local and genuinely nice staff who are appreciative of your support.

I have been impressed by Centara’s people management ( I have a Human Resources background). They have maintained key employees by moving them from Phuket and even the Maldives to Bangkok. The door receptionist below from the deaf and hard of hearing community and example of their inclusive recruitment and training programs in operation.

Centra by Centara Government Complex Hotel

Once the world reopens I will be sure to check out their other global destinations now in Cambodia, China, Myanmar, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Japan, Laos, Maldives Sri Lanka.

This post is a work in progress and will be updated as I continue to enjoy my stays.

I hope you have enjoyed your wander with me. Which hotel do you like the look of best?