John K Lindgren
A French 5-star resort, a Swedish GM and a US built 310” Sundancer
“Do you know “Sofotel”? A co-worker of mine asked me referring to the French hotel brand. “You mean “So-fi-tel” - I amended kindly.
Sofitel is Accor’s ‘creme-de-la-crème’ luxury product. Yours truly recently experienced the colonial, grande dame in Sofitel, Hua Hin and in 2007 Monsieur Lindgren checked-in at Sofitel La Cloche in Dijon, the French mustard city. I can only say: the Sofitel’s are so ‘fveeery’ French and très fan-tas-ti-que! And they have superb fromage (cheese), too!
And voila! Did you know? There is now a Sofitel in Krabi province by the warm Andaman sea which during the 80s was a sleepy Lonely Planet backpacker beach destination
In 2007 the five-star Sofitel Phokeethra “pokk-it-ra” Krabi Resort & Spa was inaugurated featuring 276 rooms laid out in two separate wings not higher than three storey’s each room providing views of the limestone islands and the sea. The resort is located on the private Klong Muang beach, only a short drive from Ao Nang shore and Krabi town.
The culinary ( the “F & B”) department boasts three restaurants, five bars including the al fresco Hemingway Bar stocked with Havana cigars, French cognac and Jamaican Rum. The pool is Krabi’s biggest’s freeform swimming bath measuring 7,000 square meter. And for your health (anti-aging) there is a fitness club and ‘Le Spa’ with aromatherapy and spiritual de-compression.
All important elements of resort indulgence are included - but where is the yacht? (Ernest Hemingway would have asked).
A fast and luxurious motor yacht. A must for ocean swimming & snorkeling, for sunset dinners, Andaman weddings and deep sea fishing, too.
But look again! There at anchor is a real American tut-tut 310 Sundancer yacht, a shining craft, styled in cutting edge modern maritime architecture with a solid targa arch on top of the bridge.
The Sundancer is a high-volume 10.16m (33ft) overall craft with a cruising speed of 38 knots per hour (for you land lubbers that’s 70 kph).
Looking speedy and powerful with fine lines and a deep bow designed to cleave the waves and cast the spray aside.
Down below there is a stateroom with solid-wood dining table and opposite to starboard a sofa that converts to a double bed.
The galley is well equipped, including a stove, an eye-level microwave oven, the important espresso machine and a refrigerator for the Dom Pérignon bubbly. On-board entertainment comes with a LCD flat screen 15” and a premium Bose audio surround sound system secured to the bulkhead.
According to the General Manager Mr. Ove Sandstrom, the 310 Sundancer will set a new standard of the luxury in five-star resort market in Thailand.
“The Phokeethra yacht will give us an opportunity to increase our high end market share as well as the wedding and honeymoon markets”, says Mr. Ove Sandstrom the Swedish born GM who almost looks like a real commander in his white officer's outfit. The Phokeethra yacht is ship shape and ready to sail to the surrounding islands; the Poda, the Hong, Chicken, and Tup and islands.
“ I recommend the four island charter cruise” explains GM Sandstrom.
“Our yacht offers various luxurious indulgency cruises which suit 4-5 persons for a half day and a full day program for two persons with overnight stay. Including the highlight the wedding cruise.” Sandstrom continues, “which comes with a captain, a butler and a hostess complete with a moonlight dinner on your own private beach”. And the music “My Heart Will Go On” (RMS Titanic song) “clips GM Ove Sandstrom who previously was at the helm of Sofitel Seminyak Bali – Indonesia.
Sofitel Phokeethra “pokk-it-ra” Krabi Resort & Spa has certainly given a new significance to the definition five star luxury resort; the 310 Sundancer yacht.
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The Sundancer is a high-volume 10.16m (33ft) overall craft with a cruising speed of 38 knots per hour (for you land lubbers that’s 70 kph).
Looking speedy and powerful with fine lines and a deep bow designed to cleave the waves and cast the spray aside.
Down below there is a stateroom with solid-wood dining table and opposite to starboard a sofa that converts to a double bed.
The galley is well equipped, including a stove, an eye-level microwave oven, the important espresso machine and a refrigerator for the Dom Pérignon bubbly. On-board entertainment comes with a LCD flat screen 15” and a premium Bose audio surround sound system secured to the bulkhead.
According to the General Manager Mr. Ove Sandstrom, the 310 Sundancer will set a new standard of the luxury in five-star resort market in Thailand.
“The Phokeethra yacht will give us an opportunity to increase our high end market share as well as the wedding and honeymoon markets”, says Mr. Ove Sandstrom the Swedish born GM who almost looks like a real commander in his white officer's outfit. The Phokeethra yacht is ship shape and ready to sail to the surrounding islands; the Poda, the Hong, Chicken, and Tup and islands.
“ I recommend the four island charter cruise” explains GM Sandstrom.
“Our yacht offers various luxurious indulgency cruises which suit 4-5 persons for a half day and a full day program for two persons with overnight stay. Including the highlight the wedding cruise.” Sandstrom continues, “which comes with a captain, a butler and a hostess complete with a moonlight dinner on your own private beach”. And the music “My Heart Will Go On” (RMS Titanic song) “clips GM Ove Sandstrom who previously was at the helm of Sofitel Seminyak Bali – Indonesia.
Sofitel Phokeethra “pokk-it-ra” Krabi Resort & Spa has certainly given a new significance to the definition five star luxury resort; the 310 Sundancer yacht.
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