From student life to discovering luxury: My incredible adventure in Thailand thanks to Lonely Planet

My name is Jérémy and I am a 21 -year -old student living in a small apartment with few means. One day, when I surfaces on the internet, I came across a contest organized by Lonely Planet. I decided to try my luck and, to my surprise, I won! The price ? A trip to Thailand to test the 10 best luxurious hotels from the country. Having never experienced luxury before, I was about to experience an unforgettable adventure.

My first stop was at Bangkok oriental mandarin.

When I arrived, I was amazed by the elegance of the place and felt completely overwhelmed. When a butler came to meet me to take my luggage, not knowing what to do, I hastened to give him my backpack, causing a slight smile on his face.

During my stay in Bangkok, I visited the Grand Palais and the Temple of the Emerald Buddha.

At the hotel, I went to the SPA and, not knowing the protocols, I entered the area reserved for women, causing a certain excitement and embarrassed laughter.

The second hotel was The Siam, still in Bangkok.

I was amazed by the immense suite that was reserved for me.

I decided to walk by boat on the Chao Phraya river and I met a local family who invited me to share a meal with them.

Enthusiastic, I accepted and spent a memorable evening, discovering traditional Thai cuisine.

The third hotel was theAnantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp & Resort to Chiang Rai.

I was delighted with the idea of ​​rubbing shoulders with elephants. During a walk, I tried to take a selfie with an elephant, but the animal, surprised, sneezed and I found myself covered with dust and water, under the laughter of other tourists.

The fourth hotel was the Four Seasons Resort at Chiang Mai.

I visited the city's temples and participated in a lantern release ceremony, where I made a wish so that my incredible adventure never ends.

The fifth hotel was the Six senses ya noi to Koh Yao Noi.

I participated in a cooking class and, wanting to impress my comrades, I put too much spice in my dish, causing a chain reaction of cough and tears.

The sixth hotel was the Four Seasons Resort to Koh Samui.

I caught up with a little crab that I nicknamed "Gustave" and I spent hours building a sand castle with him on the beach.

The seventh hotel was the Banyan Tree at Phuket.

I went to a local market where I bought a traditional hat that I carried proudly throughout my stay. I also participated in a scuba diving course, where I discovered with wonder the Thai underwater life.

The eighth hotel was the Rayavadee in Krabi.

Impressed by the spectacular setting, I ventured into karst rock formations during a hike. I climbed with enthusiasm, but I found myself stuck in a small cave, at the great fun of my hiking companions, who came to my rescue.

The ninth hotel was the Como Point Yamu at Phuket.

I tasted there in gourmet cuisine and fell in love with a dessert made from mango and sticky rice, which I devoured with so much pleasure that I ended up with a mango stain on my nose. The other customers of the hotel, amused, imitated me as a solidarity.

The tenth and last hotel was theAmanpuri at Phuket.

I was both sad that my adventure is coming to an end and delighted to have been able to have such an experience. I took advantage of every moment in this exceptional hotel, bathed in the private swimming pool of my villa and tasting the refined dishes of the hotel restaurants. During my last evening, I organized an evening on the beach with the friends I had made myself throughout my trip, thus closing this incredible adventure in style.

Back home, I often think back to these wonderful moments spent in Thailand, remembering with nostalgia and amusement the anecdotes that enamelled my stay. This unforgettable experience deeply marked me and gave birth to a passion for travel and the discovery of other cultures in me. Therefore, I started to save to discover other countries, always with the same curiosity and the same enthusiasm.

In conclusion,

I want to express my deepest gratitude to Lonely Planet for having organized this contest which offered me a unique opportunity to discover Thailand and its wonderful luxurious hotels. This adventure was a real turning point in my life and allowed me to develop a passion for traveling and exploring new cultures.

I am convinced that, without this competition, I would never have had the opportunity to live such experiences and create unforgettable memories. I am infinitely grateful for this chance and I would like to thank Lonely Planet from the bottom of my heart. Thanks to them, my gaze on the world has widened and my desire to continue to travel and discover our beautiful planet was reinforced.

Again, a huge thank you to Lonely Planet for this extraordinary experience which will remain engraved in my memory forever. I hope that others will have the chance to live similar adventures and to realize how fascinating our world is rich in discoveries.