BANGKOK, Thailand – Thailand is where the idea of full moon parties really began, on the island of Pha Ngan, and the idea has now spread to Phuket, where Centara Grand Beach Resort Phuket is one of the first hotels to have its own Full Moon Party, which is hosted on Karon Beach.
The event at Pha Ngan has become world-famous since the first was held in 1985, drawing thousands of revelers each month to the island’s Haad Rin town and beach and generating huge revenues.
“Phuket is such a successful tourist destination that it may surprise some this hasn’t been done before,” says Denis Thouvard, Area General Manager of Centara Grand Beach Resort Phuket.
“However, when the situation is looked at more closely, there are not that many locations where a hotel in a prime resort area has direct access to a large stretch of beach.
“Our resort is the only five-star property located directly on the beach at Karon – the others are on the land side of the beach road. The design of the resort is based around a water park, and that leads straight onto the beach.
“With our own beach frontage we, therefore, have the ideal venue for a full-moon beach party, and it is proving very popular not just with our own guests but with other tourists staying in Karon and even further afield.”
The resort bases its party at its Cove beach restaurant, which is set directly on the beach, and which has awnings to keep the sun off during the day and to protect against any inclement weather during the evening.
The next full moon party at the Cove will be on the night of Tuesday, July 3, from 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm.
A BBQ buffet with live music to dance to are the features of the evening, which is priced at Baht 1,090 (US$36) per person, or Baht 1,590 (US$53)if you would like a free flow of wine with your dinner. For youngsters between the ages of 6 and 12 years, the price is only Baht 545 (US$18), and there is no charge for those under 6 years old.
Mr. Thouvard believes that Centara’s Full Moon Party will establish Karon as the go-to destination for those who have no plans to travel to the Gulf of Thailand, where Pha Ngan is located.
“Karon is not going to be on anything like the same scale as Haad Rin, as the tourist profile and the facilities are so different, but as a magical moonlit evening, with music, food, and the ocean, it does make a very attractive alternative,” he says.
“So far, our own full moon party has been attracting a wide selection of guests, ranging from singles and couples through to groups, and families with young children. Everyone has a great time, the kids included.”
Centara Hotels & Resorts is Thailand’s leading operator of hotels, with 41 deluxe and first-class properties covering all the major tourist destinations in the Kingdom. A further 17 resorts in the Maldives, Vietnam, Shanghai, Bali Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and Mauritius Indian Ocean, brings the present total to 58 properties. Brands and properties within Centara ensure that specific categories such as couples, families, individuals, and meetings and incentives groups will all find a hotel or resort that is appropriate to their needs. Centara operates 27 branches of Spa Cenvaree, one of Thailand’s most luxurious and innovative spa brands, together with its newly-launched value brand Cense by Spa Cenvaree, which provides core spa services for busy travelers. The company’s Kids’ Club is available at all the family-friendly resorts to ensure that the youngsters and teens are taken care of.
Centara Hotels & Resorts also operates two state-of-the-art convention centers in Bangkok, and two in northeastern Thailand, one being located in Udon Thani and the other in Khon Kaen. The latest Centara brand is named COSI Hotels, an economy brand designed for travelers who predominantly make their bookings via the Internet and who want comfort and convenience at the most friendly prices available, which is under development with the first property due to open in 2015.
For more information and reservations, please contact tel. +662 101 1234 ext. 1 or e-mail to [email protected]
Facebook: www.facebook.com/centarahotelsresorts
Twitter: www.twitter.com/MyCentara
WHAT TO TAKE AWAY FROM THIS ARTICLE:
- “Karon is not going to be on anything like the same scale as Haad Rin, as the tourist profile and the facilities are so different, but as a magical moonlit evening, with music, food, and the ocean, it does make a very attractive alternative,” he says.
- Thailand is where the idea of full moon parties really began, on the island of Pha Ngan, and the idea has now spread to Phuket, where Centara Grand Beach Resort Phuket is one of the first hotels to have its own Full Moon Party, which is hosted on Karon Beach.
- The resort bases its party at its Cove beach restaurant, which is set directly on the beach, and which has awnings to keep the sun off during the day and to protect against any inclement weather during the evening.
