Le Meridien Hotels Baan Boran

Le Meridien Hotels Baan Boran won the Tourism Authority of Thailand's "Best Tourist Accommodation In Northern Thailand Award", and with very good reason. Just for the experience alone of waking up in such comfortable, luxury accommodations to the natural beauty of the Golden Triangle. Not 5 miles from it, but literally right smack bang there on top of it. Where the Ruak River, Mekhong River, Thailand, Burma / Myanmar and Laos all meet. Without you having to stray your eyes. Just look ahead and see all of this at one incredible pivotal point. To witness this in your waking moments, from the absolute pleasure of such a great room. To see the low clouds drift gently off the Laotian hills and then down along the course of the Mekhong. Which is busily and surreally quietly being plied by long-tail boats and small Chinese merchant vessels. "Just" this! This alone is worth the award.

Despite its absolutely superb location, Le Meridien Baan Boran does not rest on those laurels alone; oh no. To call the staff here magnificently well trained almost detracts from the fact they seem to do it well naturally, and always with a warm Thai smile. Nothing is too much for them, and they are genuinely proud of it. You will probably visit a number of restaurants in Thailand during your stay, and love the superb range of traditional Thai etc. dishes available to you. You will probably seek out certain special restaurants recommended by guidebooks and other people's travelogues. You may even become an aficionado in the many different regional dishes. And then you come to the Yuan Lue Lao restaurant at Le Meridien Baan Boran. Where, apart from the absolutely amazing colonial "Raffles" styling (wall-to-wall large teak "French" doors) and the 100% superb service, you are going to kick yourself! Why? Because the food, particularly the local Laotian / Burmese influenced Thai dishes are going to make you curse the fact you did not come here earlier! Really, it's that good, neigh great. And if you want to be entertained as well, head for their Suan Fin restaurant. Here you will find different regional specialities on different days, plus local music groups / artists to make the perfect evening. And of course, the performers are locals, who are that good, really (yet again!).

So after the previous nights cuisine excesses, and the gob-smackingly beautiful morning view (together with bird song you have never heard before). So then you decide to take a leisurely morning's stroll around the fantastic private grounds of this hotel, perhaps all 400 acres of it. Well, as you walk along lush jungle paths strewn with bamboo canopies and teak tree planting areas. You might come across a little local man, siting in his small wooden pagoda / pavilion and giving thanks to Buddha amongst the huge brilliant red dragonflies. His dialect is one that would not be understood by the people outside this area. In fact, it is probably a combination of languages he speaks (all at once). But the smile he rewards you with as you put your hands together and bow / say hello in traditional Thai fashion, is enough to dispel any lingering notion you had that this is a "hard" area. Then down further you go, alongside and with perfect close-up views of the rivers, to the secret little hidden Baan Boran pavilion itself. What's it like? Sorry, you'll have to find out. After all it is a secret, but one well worth discovering.

After such a wonderful (mostly shaded) adventure, perhaps you might decide to continue your walk around the foot of the ridge. Careful to spot every bird that enchants you with its incredible song, and to stop and watch an elephant at lunch. Then finally, to the ponds and fitness center at the manicured grounds section of this fine hotel. But then again, maybe you will leave that bit until tomorrow, and settle for an afternoon in and around their superb pool instead. On second thoughts, having found the staff and locals to be absolutely the friendliest people you have ever met. Perhaps you will take a quick (5 minutes) hotel taxi ride into the small river port town of Sop Ruak. Here, amongst the chirpy roadside stall and shop vendors, you will be amazed at just how little Chinese silks, Burmese cloths & linens, Jade and much, much more. Just how little it costs, really! Take a tip from us on this. For such souvenir items, wait until you come here. You could probably pay for your flight with the money you can save on a suitcase full of the dried gourmet mushrooms they offer alone. Even the half cigarette, half cigar like Burmese cheroots are worth considering (100% tobacco!).

We hope to see you at our favorite mainland hotel soon!