Thailand Medical Tourism and Travel Blog Finalist

Welcome to heaven

In the Sanskrit-hybrid language that preceded modern Thai, the word “devarana” meant “garden in heaven.” If you’re like me and haven’t been to heaven yet, you might still be drawing a blank. I can only speak for myself, but I have a feeling that a single trip to the aptly-named Devarana Spa in Bangkok’s Dusat Thani hotel will help clear things up for you–before you’re even inside the spa itself.

Indeed, the first steps you take after seeing the “This Way to Devarana Spa” sign in the aforementioned hotel’s lobby will lead you to the foyer to end all foyers–words like “dramatic,” “epic” and “incredible” can’t even to begin the feeling that overtakes you when you find yourself bathed in light from the all-glass ceiling, vaulted several stories above an all-marble staircase that seems to stretch on forever. Try not to get distracted just yet: the best is yet to come.

Devarana's oils. The best part? Your massage hasn't even begun yet.

Once you make it past the entrance, take your first and only left and walk past Devarana’s serene reflecting pool until you reach its reception area, where can you either check in for an existing appointment–make sure and arrive at least 15 minutes in advance–or browse an extensive menu of available services and packages until you find one that’s right for you. If you happen to be visiting in 2011, make sure and look for the spa’s new “Scrub Cakes,” the food-inspired, effervescent exfoliators it plans to roll out in celebration of the new year.

Enjoy a lotus-petal milk bath in one of Devarana's "Grande" suites

After confirming your treatment selection, you will be invited to select from among Devarana’s signature massage oils, which are hand-prepared daily. “Romantic,” which blends ylang-ylang and geranium, is not only soothing and balancing, but also designed to treat ailments like insomnia and poor circulation. “Balancing” helps to clear and focus the mind by pairing unique scents like basil, tea tree and orange flower together. Need a pick-me-up? “Energizing” is your potion, then, adding fragrant lavender and invigorating grapefruit to the aforementioned geranium/ylang-ylang coupling. “Relaxing,” on the other hand, replaces ylang-ylang with milder bergamot and tangy grapefruit with a sweeter orange scent.

To ensure unmatched comfort, choice and convenience, Devarana offers you different types of rooms for your treatment: for supplementary fees of THB 800 and 1500 (prices subject to change) per visit, you can upgrade your standard room to a deluxe or grande suite, respectively, which add features like circular bathtubs and, in the case of the grande suite, two massage tables so you can enjoy your spa retreat alongside someone dear to you.

Devarana's suites offer room for two.

Devarana’s signature treatment–which I was lucky enough to enjoy–is the “Heavenly Nantha Garden Experience.” Priced at just THB 4,900 for two-and-a-half otherworldly hours, the experience begins with a warm milk bath, where you can relax and feel as light as the lotus petals floating on the water’s surface above your body. Afterwards, you’ll enjoy an energizing body scrub and Devarana’s own special massage, which blends Eastern and Western techniques over the course of its 90 minutes. If you haven’t got the time for this treatment but still want to experience Devarana’s award-winning hospitality, don’t worry: the spa offers a full line of massages, body scrubs and wraps, facials and holistic wellness treatments to suit every need, budget and preference.

In addition to its main location just opposite scenic Lumphini Park in the Silom area’s five-star Dusit Thani hotel, Devarana has spas in coastal cities like Pattaya and Hua Hin and in the rolling hills of Chiang Mai in northern Thailand. Not in the Land of Smiles yet? Not a problem–Devarana also operates in the Manila, Philippines and just outside of Florence, Italy, with plans to expand to India, China, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates in the very near future.

What's this? Oh, just the before-and-after treatment waiting area.

The experience at any Devarana location, assistant director Juraruk Cholharn explains, is identical in terms of attention paid to detail, although your surroundings may very slightly. “We put our masseuses through rigorous training and assess them regularly–including with secret shoppers–so we’re always keenly aware of the quality of their work. Additionally, our global team works carefully to ensure consistency in our products and services, so that guests can feel at home and at ease wherever they are.”

Whether you’re in Thailand for medical tourism or for any other reason, a trip to Devarana is sure to enhance your mind, body and spirit. Don’t believe me? Among the accolades it’s received are the “Best Urban Spa” from Lifestyle + Travel magazine in 2008 and a ranking among “Asia’s Best Hotel Spas” at the 2005 Crystal Awards, hosted by Spa Asia magazine.

To browse Devarana’s full range of treatments online or to learn more about its concept, visit them at their website. To make an appointment for the Bangkok location, contact the spa directly using the information below:

Devarana Spa Co., Ltd.
9th Floor, The Dusit Thani Building
946 Rama IV Toad
Bangkok, 10050 Thailand
+66 (0) 2200-9999
info@devaranaspa.com

Open daily, from 9 a.m.-1o p.m.

For Dr. Pakpilai Thavisin, the quest to bridge the gap between Western and holistic medicine is personal.

Now president of Bangkok’s S Medical Spa, Thavisin began her career as a dermatologist more than 25 years ago. But when a pair of unfortunate health events shook her family early last decade, she began to question the very foundation of medical knowledge on which she built her career. “I remember,” she said, “when my brother became sick with pancreatic cancer–an incurable cancer, which they don’t understand and can’t treat. He was becoming so thin as he struggled through the sickness and I remember asking the doctor what to feed him. ‘Cakes,’ he said. ‘Candies. Sweets, fats, junk food.’”

Dissatisfied with the care her brother was receiving, she began investigating more traditional medicine and found out something shocking. “When we gave him all those unhealthy foods–under the advisement of his doctor–we were actually feeding the tumor, which thrives on sugars and fats.” Around the same time, her mother fell ill with multiply myeloma, a malignant disorder which renders bone marrow functionless.

“Eventually,” she recalls, “both of them did pass away from their illnesses. But my curiosity remained: why does traditional medicine treat diseases instead of patients?”

Her subsequent probe into the teachings of traditional Chinese medicine and other branches of holistic wellness culminated with her founding of S in 2005. Alongside a team of doctors equally interested in whole-person healing, she maintains an environment that effectively bridges the gap between usual definitions of “spa” and “hospital.” That doesn’t mean, however, that you’re going to find any white walls or blinding, fluorescent lights here–quite the contrary. The decor at S, defined by warm, earth-toned walls, copper light and wall fixtures and marble flooring and shower trimmings, strives to balance form with function.

Guests, which are split almost evenly between local Thais and foreigners from the United States, Europe and all around the world, can choose any combination of the seven primary treatment regimens offered at S, which include “Spa & Relaxation,” “Vitality,” “Beauty,” “Figure,” “Holistic” and “Purification.” No matter your preference, S strives to be a one-stop shop, where you can enjoy a relaxing, steam session infused with either Eastern and Western herbs, a purifying oxygen facial to tone and oxygenate your skin and then slather it in collagen moisturizer and a skin-brightening medical laser treatment all in the same visit. S also offers its own signature massages–”Cool Guy” and “Cool Girl,” respectively–which fuse Swedish and Thai techniques in a blended approach designed to please tense muscles from all corners of the globe. S even has a machine which can detect you aura and analyze, among other things, the balance of your “yin” and “yang,” as well as the function of your main organs relative to one another.

If you become hungry at any point before, during or after your session at S, you need not look far. Operated by a spunky, friendly chef who goes by the name “Mini C,” S Cuisine offers up healthy, dairy-free concoctions with far-reaching influences. Moderately priced and sumptuously portioned, dining here will allow you to enjoy your favorite Thai dishes without all the unhealthiness that might accompany them at a traditional restaurant or street food stall. The “Banana Leaf Omelet,” for example, is cooked without oil.

Whatever treatment–or, frankly, pleasure–you desire, S Medical Spa strives to be your one and only choice in the Bangkok area. For more information, visit their website.

S Medical Spa
2/2 Phakdi Building Wireless Road
Lumphini, Pathumwan
Bangkok 10330 Thailand
+66 (2) 2253-1010

As the Medical Blog Contest draws to a close, I want to extent my thanks to the Tourism Authority of Thailand and bornDistinction Co., Ltd, the organizers of the competition. Without their relentless hard work, incredible organization and passion for their jobs, the push to get the word out about Thailand’s medical tourism industry wouldn’t be as strong as as it’s been thus far.

I’d further like to thank Thai Rent-a-Car and Chartis “Travel Guard” Insurance for their having transported and insured me as I traveled through the Kingdom this last time. Thanks to luck–and a very good driver–I didn’t need to take advantage of my emergency coverage, but the peace of mind of having travel insurance allowed me to more thoroughly enjoy my trip.

And, of course, this experience simply wouldn’t have been what it was had it not been for the kindness of my medical, restaurant and hotel sponsors. Hover your mouse over any picture below to see which sponsor it represents, then click on the picture to be taken to that entry:

In closing, Thailand was an extremely special place to me before I returned there to participate in the Medical Blog Contest–and now I consider it almost a second home. Even if you don’t care to undergo any medical or dental procedures during your holiday, I implore you: Thailand is absolutely the “place to be” in the world.

Whether you’re seeking entertainment, culture or natural beauty, you can find whatever you’re looking for–and probably a good number of things you never knew existed–there, in the “Land of Smiles.” If you only do one thing to treat yourself well in 2011, make sure it’s a trip to the Kingdom of Thailand.

Whether you’re traveling on foot or by taxi, the last thing you expect to find as you make your way on the hectic Sukhumvit Soi 5 is a posh, boutique hotel. Accordingly, you won’t stumble upon such a property until you reach the very end of the street, after having passed a number of colorful, ethnic restaurant and grocery establishments, as well as the ever-popular Gulliver’s Tavern.

The Bel-Air Princess, however, is more than just a pretty face in a colorful crowd–although the faces you encounter once you enter into the property will delight you. As soon as–and, in my case, before–you get out of your taxi, one of the hotel’s concierge staff will place your luggage on a cart and, while you’re making your way to the front desk, have it taken to your room, where it will be waiting for you.

The friendly face who processes your check-in will greet you by name as he presents you with a coupon, which will allow you to enjoy a complimentary welcome cocktail at the hotel’s Liquid Lounge. With your belongings already on their way to your room, you can choose to indulge yourself immediately before heading up or wait until another time–the choice is yours.

Guests at the Bel-Air Princess can choose from among a wide selection of available rooms, from the entry-level luxury of “Superior” and “Deluxe” rooms, to the more spacious, exclusive “Junior Suite.” No matter which of these three offerings you choose, you’re sure to be delighted by the modern, chic furnishings therein, with relaxing, neutral color schemes abound. Each room is also equipped with a LAN-wired Ethernet connection, in case you’ve brought a little business to complement your pleasure in Thailand.

Once you arrive in whichever room you’ve booked, you’ll notice the giant rooftop swimming pool looming below. Alongside the aforementioned Liquid Lounge, Tiffin Room restaurant and breakfast buffet, a full-service fitness area, the Club Tribeca business center and the Princess’ on-site cooking classes, there is literally a whole world of dining, relaxation and even productivity to be found here.

Just a few moments’ walk from the Nana stop of the Sukhumvit BTS line, you’re five stops from Phaya Thai, the terminus of the all-new Airport Line, which can get you to or from Suvarnhabhumi in just fifteen minutes. If you’re headed to Pattaya for medical tourism–or simply to enjoy yourself–you can hire transportation directly from the hotel. Regardless of your final destination–or whether you’re in Thailand for a Healthy Beauty Holiday–the Bel-Aire Princess is a soothing, stylish place to enjoy a getaway from your usual day-to-day.

Bel-Aire Princess Hotel
16 Sukhumvit Soi 5
Bangkok 10110 Thailand
Tel: +66(0) 2253 4300
Email: baps@dusit.com
bel-airprincess.com

The dreamy view from the Zign.

Located in the quieter, northern part of Pattaya, The Zign is a high-end designer hotel with a down-to-Earth hospitality and comfort that all but requires you to relax.

Whether it’s the spacious lobby, with its sky-high ceilings, lush couches and bold design; the inviting guest rooms, which overlook the Gulf of Thailand and downtown Pattaya on one side and the lush, green interior of Chonburi province on the other; or the broad selection of on-site gourmet dining options, The Zign is ideal for medical tourists because you have literally everything you need without leaving the premises, a welcome convenience if you’re recovering from a surgical or dental procedure.

Of course, the Zign is advantageous for leisure seekers of all persuasions. Whether you want to enjoy a candlelit seafood dinner at the posh Scarlet restaurant, a world-class pampering at the Zphora Spa or simply take in a panoramic view of the manic city below you, you won’t need to look very far for anything you need.

A sumptuous breakfast offering.

A five-star property with a dedicated room service staff, you can indulge in literally dozens of cooked-to-order meals from the comfort of your room, be it a cozy “Junior” or “Superior” suite or the apartment-sized “Wow Corner” suite, a 112 square meter home-away-from-home with separate sleeping, entertaining, eating and bathing areas.

No matter what your budget or size preference, however, you can be assured your room will be adored with only the most modern of furnishings. Inspired by art throughout, the Zign’s aesthetic draws as much funky, bold accent walls in colors like cornflower and chartreuse as much as it does oversized reprints of classic art pieces like Van Gogh’s “Starry Night.” The furniture is ultra-modern throughout, with Scandinavian-inspired, minimalist sofas, beds and tables throughout.

Another advantage the Zign offers over other boutique-style hotels is its massive extent. With nearly 1,000 rooms–850 of which are in its main twin towers, the remaining 100 or so divided among a collection of tropical villas–the Zign has a huge selection of rooms in each of its categories, at all elevations and orientations, to suit any view-related preferences you might have.

The fine art of relaxing.

In addition to the Scarlet and other full-service restaurants located on its grounds, the Zign operates a massive breakfast facility adjacent to its lobby, which offers up a wide range of Western, Thai and other breakfast specialties cooked fresh and replenished often by its team of trained chefs. Enjoy hot coffee or fresh tea brought straight to your table as you dine on fluffy Belgian waffles, luscious berries and citrus fruits or classic congee.

Although the luxury within in it and its relatively remote location can give you a sense of the most delightful isolation, the Zign is just 15 minutes by taxi from the shopping, entertainment and nightlife of central Pattaya, be it a ladyboy show at Tiffany’s or a relaxing facial treatment at La Nativadee. To book a stay at the Zign, visit its website or email the hotel directly.

The Zign Hotel
555/65 Moo 5, 12 Naklua Rd.
Banglamung, Chonburi 20150 Thailand
Tel: +66(0) 3890-9800-20
thezignhotel.com

Monday, November 22 was the big day. After arriving in the lobby of the Windsor, a swanky hotel in Bangkok’s Sukhumvit district, myself and the 11 other finalists proceeded into the conference room, where we’d be receiving our briefing on the competition–after, of course, we did a lucky draw to determine our destinations. Each of our six groups–two for each destination–was then assigned a tour guide. When it was announced that the woman who would be mine and David’s tour guide had 30 years of experience in the industry, I knew we’d be well taken care of.

And we were. Patty–whose full name is Pattanavadee Nantanamanee–is a travel professional who doesn’t carry maps or guide books with her, largely because she doesn’t need to. She’s a master at adhering to a schedule, but is knowledgeable and flexible enough to make on-the-fly changes when they suit her clients.

When Patty, David and I arrived at Koh Lan island, for instance, I was craving a solitude and relaxation that seemed to be the farthest thing from the beach where our boat docked. Although Patty hadn’t been to the island in more than a decade, it took her only five minutes to tell our driver exactly where to take me. Before I knew it, I was sunning myself on a huge rock that jutted out over the Gulf of Thailand.

Patty is also incredibly patient, another essential quality of someone in her position. Whether you’re coming to Thailand for a Healthy Beauty Holiday or for any other reason, you’re going to be partaking in activities and treatments in which your guide cannot or will not participate.

Whenever my travel partner and I would emerge from a given spa, hospital or dental clinic, Patty would be waiting for us just as cheerful as she’d been when we arrived at the venue, eager to take us to whatever the next stop on our itinerary was. David and I often spoke about how difficult it was for us to remain positive and alert as participants who were mostly being pampered–we couldn’t imagine how much more difficult it must have been for Patty.

A highly-regarded expert in her field, Patty believes it’s her obligation to teach the next generation to be as helpful, courteous and knowledgeable as her instructors taught her to be. As such, Patty can be found training new tour guides at Bangkok’s ABAC University when she’s not showing tourists from all over the world around the Kingdom.

In addition to preparing a fully-planned itinerary for you in advance of your arrival, Patty can arrange to meet you at Suvarnabhumi International Airport, ensuring you can begin your trip on the right note. For more information or to begin planning your holiday, you can send Patty an email.

Growing up in the Midwestern United States in the early 1990s, the concept of food court revolved around a very narrow set of variables: a closed off area somewhere in a given mall (usually the basement); “ethnic” restaurants whose kitchens were usually staffed by Mexicans; cafeteria-like self-service, with plastic trays and Styrofoam drink cups; and discourteous front counter employees who clearly wanted to be somewhere else. A food court was never somewhere you chose to eat, but rather your only choice if you didn’t want to starve while shopping.

With this in mind, you can probably imagine why I felt apprehensive when my tour guide Patty told me we’d be having lunch at someplace called “Food Loft” on our last day in Pattaya. “It’s good,” she said. “Trust me. ”

After our driver parked the van along the city’s main beach road, we set out on foot. Only a few minutes later, we arrived at the base of a peculiar construction that I can best describe as a log cabin skyscraper (I later found out it was the hotly-anticipated Pattaya Hilton). It was about this moment when my excitement started.

From the moment you enter Food Loft, which comprises about 25% of the CentralPlaza shopping complex’s third floor, you know you’re in for a different sort of experience than you’re used to. To start with, the attendant who greets you will hand you a plastic card, which serves two purposes.

Firstly, instead of ordering from in front of a register at the food stall of your choice, you simply present the card to the associate, who will swipe it for you and immediately begin preparing your food. This aspect of the card affords you the flexibility to order items from multiple stalls without having to pay several times, which is especially welcome when you consider Food Loft’s vast selection–Indian, Thai, Italian, Vietnamese and Korean are only a few of the foreign foods offered.

The second function of the card is my personal favorite: when you order is ready, the electronic system alerts a server, who will bring your plate out to your table. Your server can also bring you fresh drinks, silverware, napkins and anything else you need throughout your meal. Unlike the mall food courts of my youth, Food Loft offers a huge variety of beverages–fresh fruit juices, yogurt smoothies and various beer and wine selections, to name a few–so this comes very in handy.

Food Loft’s best asset, however, is the balcony from where it gets its name. Partially covered to allow outdoor dining even during Thailand’s summer monsoon season, the massive patio affords you a 360° of the Pattaya skyline and the Gulf of Thailand. A relaxing vantage point whether you’re recuperating from a surgical procedure or simply continuing to enjoy a day of leisure you began at the spa, Food Loft is open seven days a week, from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.

FoodLoft
CentralPlaza at Pattaya Beach, Third Floor
Pattaya, Chonburi
+66 38 930 985
central.co.th/en/foodloft_pattaya.php

When I arrived back in Bangkok the evening of November 26–the final day of the MBC familiarization trip–it was with as much sadness as panic: thanks to the traffic we encountered entertain the city from Pattaya, David and I arrived at the Bel-Aire Princess just 15 minutes before we were scheduled to meet the rest of the finalists in a van that would take us to our farewell dinner. Something I didn’t know as our vehicle carried to the restaurant was that it sat a mere three blocks from the hotel.

And if you read my recent entry, then you know what a fantastic location both of these establishments have.

Once at Kinnaree, the sorrow I felt about the competition ending quickly lost room for existence. Along with most of the rest of the things in my body, I might add: between the appetizers, which included savory fish cakes and fresh chicken satay and the wide selection of Thai and pan-Asian entrees, it’s the understatement of the century to say I was full. Somehow, I managed to keep my fruit smoothie down as I digested what felt like five meals’ worth of food.

Like the Bel-Aire Princess, Kinnaree’s presence in its rowdy surrounding neighborhood is surprising although the restaurant, unlike the hotel, is positioned right near the corner where its soi meets Sukhumvit main road. Kinnaree’s camouflage lies in the fact that it exists shrouded within a lush garden, shielded from all noise and chaos.

Kinnaree is open daily for lunch (11:30 – 15:00) and dinner (18:00 – 24:00). Reservations are recommended and you can make one by calling the restaurant at or sending them an email.

Kinnaree Gourmet Thai Restaurant & Bar
43 Sukhumvit Soi 8
Klongtoun, Bangkok 10110
+66-0-2256-0238
kinnareegourmet.com

Nestled at the southern end of Pattaya’s urban shorefront, the Siam Bayshore Resort & Spa embodies the very best of the two concepts which make up its name. “Siam” was the name Thailand used prior to June 24, 1939 (and for most of the last half of the 1940s) and the lavish resort, with its elegant corridors, personalized hospitality and the miniature jungles that fill the spaces between buildings, perfectly conjures images of regional elegance, past, present and future. Being on the bayshore affords guests a panorama of the Pattaya skyline rising over the Gulf of the Thailand as they dine at the seaside Bali-Hai Chinese and Seafood restaurant.

Of course, guests’ ease of access to the great number of things that embody both Thailand and Pattaya’s coastal culture doesn’t end within the walls of the resort. If you take a right out the main entrance and continue walking for two minutes, you’ll reach the beginning of Pattaya’s famous pedestrian street, a stretch of shops, bars and restaurants that goes all day and all night–and where anything goes. No matter where or not you want to meet and rendezvous with any of the city’s ladies, boys–or ladyboys–the street becomes a veritable carnival by night, with a seemingly endless trail of neon, flashy clothing and beautiful people of every persuasion.

Once the pedestrian street ends, Pattaya’s main beach road begins–in short, it will take only a few minutes by car to access the city’s vibrant center. Siam Bayshore is therefore a convenient, strategic place to base yourself if you plan on making a lot of appointments with clinics in the city center. La Nativadee and the Oasis Pattaya, for example, are but 10 minutes away from one another by cab, meaning that you could potentially schedule a rejuvenating facial immediately in advance of an Ayurvedic oil massage. On the other hand, you could schedule a Cool Light laser whitening appointment at Dental Point clinic to start off your day and make it to Bali-Hai pier in time to catch a speedboat that will arrive on exotic Koh Lan island before lunch time.

You’ll find substantial comfort in all the rooms, whether you choose a deluxe, executive or the exclusive “Siam Villa” suite. Siam Bayshore stops short of nothing to ensure your amazing stay regardless of the extent to which you indulge. The resort offers a daily breakfast buffet at its posh Sunrise Sunset restaurant, located just opposite the main lobby. At night, the aforementioned Bali-Hai Seafood Restaurant transforms into a beach barbecue extravaganza, complete with live musical performances. The attached Lotus Spa offers a full range of massage, facial, scrub and wrap treatments, including multi-service packages that allow you to buy in bulk and save.

Simply put, if you want to experience the best Pattaya has to offer in terms of comfort, elegance and sophistication, book a night at the Siam Bayshore Resort and Spa. Illustrative of both the hospitality and elegance of Siam and its own incredible location right on the bayshore, the property will transcend your usual concept of vacation residence and remind you–if you could possibly forget–that you’re having the time of your life very, very far away from home.

Siam Bayshore Resort & Spa
559 Moo 10, Beach Road
Pattaya, Chonburi 20150
+66 (0) 38-428-678
siamhotels.com/siambayshore/spa-en.html

As the U.S. healthcare system edges closer to obsolescence, Americans with even a modest amount of disposable income and vacation time can receive premium, on-demand treatment for any and all of their health issues in the warm, sunny Kingdom of Thailand. Coastal Pattaya, Bangkok’s de-facto shorefront and one of the most celebrated resort cities in all of Asia, is at the forefront of this new frontier in medical tourism.

Whether you take advantage of the “Healthy Beauty Holiday” between now and April 30 or not, Pattaya offers an almost endless selection of low cost, premium quality treatments for issues medical and cosmetic, dental and vision-related and from Western and integrative perspectives alike. From Samitivej Sriracha hospital’s comprehensive health checkups starting at just $85 to teeth cleaning and scaling under $40 at Modern Smile dental to the state-of-the-art “Super Sight Surgery” at Bangkok Hospital Pattaya–an exclusive, permanent vision correction procedure for which stars such as Roberto Cavalli have traveled to the Land of Smiles–the gleaming metropolis on the turquoise Gulf of Thailand is the perfect place to use your vacation time and saving wisely.

After all, you could schedule your medical, dental or spa treatment early in the morning and take a day trip to Koh Lan, a coral reef island famous for its glassy waters and prime snorkeling and get back to shore in time to take in a show at Tiffany’s, home to the most beautiful transvestite performers in the world. Alternatively, you could sleep in and enjoy a relaxed afternoon along Pattaya’s main beach road, capping off your day with an oxygen facial at La Nitivadee, ending the evening at the Algkaran Theater, whose nightly musical theater extravaganza depicts the entire history of Thailand in dramatic detail–real elephants and all.

Just two hours from Central Bangkok and Suvarnabhumi Airport by bus or private taxi, Pattaya is as great for a quick, medical tourism weekend as it is if you prefer to spread out to care you receive over a longer period of time. If you’re nearing retirement but don’t have as much in your 401(k) as you’d like, annual medical tourism vacations to Thailand can allow you to get the medical care senior citizens need at a fraction of the price you’d pay back home–even considering peripheral expenses like flights, lodging and ground transport–and in surroundings unreal in their perpetual beauty. With sunny, warm weather year-round, you can come to Pattaya whenever it’s convenient for you, but without risking that you might have to recover in less-than-perfect weather conditions.

To learn more about a Healthy Beauty Holiday in Thailand–or about how to begin your Thailand vacation if you can’t travel before the end of April–visit the Healthy Beauty Holiday or Tourism Authority of Thailand homepages, respectively.