Beach & sunset therapy in Thailand

Burned out. Two words that spell disaster. A burned-out person is the perfect candidate for a stroke, a nervous breakdown, a heart attack, depression, and every disease triggered by stress.

So when my close friend Jeannie told me she was so burned out from the new business that she had opened, I totally sympathized with her. She said she would have anxiety attacks and wake up in the middle of the night bathed in her own sweat. She needed to get away, go to a plush resort, get pampered, relax, meditate, and tune out the business world. She invited me to go with her on a trip and gave me the responsibility of choosing the resort, preferably in Thailand as she loves Thai food and Thai massage.

I called my friend in Dusit Thani Bangkok, Octavio Gamarra, senior vice president of Dusit Thani International, and he suggested that we go to their beautiful resort in Pattaya, only 90 minutes away from Bangkok by car. It is situated on the Gulf of Siam in the northeast. Pattaya, Thailand’s famous international playground, is a resort with city status and all the joys of sun, sea, and sand, plus fine accommodations, dining and entertainment options.

Dusit Thani Pattaya adds a new dimension to luxury. When we entered its lobby, we right away noticed the grandeur in the marble floors, white columns, and the golden dome that brings to mind the kingdom’s colonial Thai palaces. Plush furniture and accents in gold, silver, oak, and muted earth tones complete the design. There are paintings of heavenly creatures in the lobby, which tell a thousand stories about Thailand’s rich culture, each image linked to the hotel’s design. It is a theme that perfectly fits the main lobby as the area is framed by a lush atrium with cascading waterfalls.

The beachfront location is a big plus. Right there on the northern end of Pattaya’s curving bay, the newly renovated hotel presents a luxurious blend of city comforts and beach relaxation.

Upon checking in, we were welcomed by Michael Ganster, executive assistant manager of the hotel, who introduced us to Imee Manzo, the Filipino assistant front office manager, who presented us with beautiful orchid leis.

Ganster and Manzo told us about the attractions of the hotel: two swimming pools, a private beach where a wide selection of water sports is available, the Devarana Spa, DFit health club, a gym with personal trainers, yoga classes, and cardio aerobic classes, The Bay Italian Restaurant, Bar and Terrace, Cascade Restaurant for international cuisine, and The Peak Chinese Restaurant. They also have the Napalai Convention Hall, which can accommodate 2,500 persons, which makes Dusit Thani Pattaya an ideal setting for conventions, seminars, meetings, and banquets.

We were led to our individual suites on the Dusit Club Lounge floor. Guests here become part of the VIP elite enjoying exclusive complimentary buffet breakfasts at The Peak, as well as happy hours at the Dusit Club Lounge where they can enjoy complimentary refreshments and snacks.

Our suites are part of the Dusit Grand Rooms, all with a sea view. It is 80 square meters in size and decorated in hues of cream, brown, and gold accented by lacquered wood panels and modern Thai furnishings. I thoroughly enjoyed the two queen-size beds, the living room with an L-shaped sofa, an LCD TV, a DVD player, Internet access, a big bathroom with a huge oval-shape bathtub, and a lounge area in the private balcony where I could take a shower alfresco. The room decor merges classical Thai aesthetics with contemporary elements of design.

One of the highlights of our stay was meeting the three Filipino women who, according to Ganster, are doing remarkably well in their jobs. They are Vangie Lauzon, marketing communications manager; Lily Eduardoce, training manager; and Imee Manzo, assistant front office manager.

Jeannie and I spent our days enjoying the sea view underneath huge umbrellas on the private beach. Meditating on nature and ignoring worldly cares for a few days did wonders for our spirits. We enjoyed getting pampered at Devarana Spa, dining in the hotel’s three outlets, and being enchanted by the scene as the sun set over the Gulf of Siam. The hotel’s resident musicians, who were unmistakably Filipinos, provided easy-listening music.

I was happy to bond with a friend and be there to enliven her ruffled, burned-out spirits. And Dusit Thani Pattaya was the perfect setting for our purpose.