Royal Orchid Holidays How Do They Do It?Prepared by Harold Stephens
Travel Correspondent for Thai Airways International
By their very nature people are suspicious when they hear about special travel deals. “It must be a gimmick” they say. Such statements are a large part of my e-mail each week. Readers ask me what's the bottom line with ROH. How do they do it? What does the fine print say?
The bottom line is that ROH is not a travel agency looking to make a profit. ROH handpicks travel agencies to represent the airline and, for these agencies, THAI's rules are strict. What this means is that Thai Airways has created Royal Orchid Holidays to give travellers the widest available choice of destinations and touring itineraries that cover not only Thailand but the whole of the world as well.
Royal Orchid Holidays has more than 30 years of experience, which means that their programmes have been developed to include every attraction, every activity this world of ours has to offer. But this doesn’t mean they are static, living on past laurels. ROH too is growing. Hardly a week goes by that new attractions are not added. Each one of the new attractions, each new destination, is thoroughly checked out by THAI staff which makes certain they fit Thai Airways standards.
What makes ROH uniquely different from other tour package programmes is that they allow for much more flexibility in itinerary planning. Travellers can select different elements, then mix and match them to create the plan exactly suited to their tastes, timetable and budget.
The important factor is that Royal Orchid Holidays guests fly when they want, on scheduled flights, not infrequent charter flights, with every practical detail taken care of by dedicated operators in each destination. Some travellers may wish to fill their itinerary with activity and sightseeing, shopping or adventure tours, while others prefer a totally relaxed vacation by the beach.
The choice is dazzling. For example, for those seeking sports or special interest activity holidays, Royal Orchid Holidays has these to offer whether it be trekking in remote forest regions or rafting down wild rivers. They offer the chance to explore nature reserves or the exquisite marine environment around Thailand's shores. Then there are the more organized sports like golfing. Golfers can play many of the Kingdom's championship courses.
And nearly everyone these days has heard about Thai cuisine. Perhaps you would like to learn Thai cooking. Royal Orchid Holidays has thought this out too. By signing up for a course, aspiring cooks can learn the secrets of Thai cuisine. These are just a few of the unlimited opportunities covered by ROH.
Accommodations for the traveller are always a concern. What frightens many travellers is that tour agents put them into accommodations that favour the tour company and not the travellers. It’s different with Royal Orchid Holiday. Guests stay where they please, at their own choosing. The ROH booklet Worldwide Stopovers 2007-2008 lists 48 pages of accommodations from Asia to Europe with Australia, New Zealand and America in between. Each hotel is described with matching photos, with the widest choice throughout Thailand and the world. From city luxury to escapist resort, each hotel has been specially selected to offer the best in location, facilities, comfort and service, to suit every traveller’s budget.
For hotel bookings, Royal Orchid Holidays packages are sold in conjunction with Thai Airways International First, Royal Silk and Economy Class tickets, and are arranged at the same time flight tickets are purchased. Royal Orchid Holidays packages can be purchased by passengers travelling from Europe, North America, Australia, New Zealand, the Middle East and South Africa on services operated by THAI, partner airlines and non-partner airlines. Passengers travelling within Thailand must fly by THAI or associated domestic carriers to those destinations not served by THAI.
Another question that always arises is costs. Those who join Royal Orchid Holidays tours can look out for the money-saving offers presented throughout the programme. Those hotels that are listed with ROH are planned to suit practically every budget (except for the twenty years ago “Thailand on $5 a Day”) with prices including service charges and taxes. Furthermore, and what is most important, there are no hidden charges, like museum and historic monument entry fees. All guides are experienced, English-speaking local guides. ROH also offers discounts for children travelling with parents. What is also appealing to travellers with ROH is that there are numerous extensions of stay available in many destinations. What that means is you can stay on for as long as you like.
And where else but with ROH can you get special adventure and eco-tourism tours. And you don’t have to be in a party of ten to sign up. Two people will do. Few travel agencies can or will do this. With ROH you don’t have to worry about cancelled tours.
And would you believe, ROH offers a Tastes of Thailand Tour which includes specially designed cookery courses with Thai cuisine in cities and resorts throughout Thailand.
For full details about Royal Orchid Holidays, go to any Thai Airways office and ask for the free booklets.
Next week I will take readers on a jungle safari in Borneo. It’s remote, that’s certain, but Thai Airways does fly to this incredible island that teems with wild life and has the highest mountain in Southeast Asia.
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
Q. I am planning my vacation to Thailand and will be traveling all around the country. What is the best way to carry money? --Alice Kornish, Paris
A. Dear Alice. If you are traveling by ROH, everything will be pre-paid. However, I imagine you will need spending money for shopping. Credit cards are accepted everywhere, and from ATM machines scattered around the county you can draw cash. I would suggest carrying some small bills in either local Thai baht or US dollars. --HS
Harold Stephens
Bangkok
E-mail: ROH Weekly Travel (booking@inet.co.th)
Note: The article is the personal view of the writer and does not necessarily reflect the view of Thai Airways International Public Company Limited | 
