Beachviews and Seafood at the Rayong Marriott

This would be our fifth visit to Rayong, although before now, we have always failed to see further than the pier at Ban Phe. There has always been a slight disadvantage for mainland beaches in Rayong, where they often go overlooked, in favour of the nearby island of Koh Samet. But I do feel this works more to their advantage as the coastlines here remain quiet, serene and unspoiled, compared to the well known tourist hubs along the same coastline. Instead of the discomfort and nuisances of crowded beaches and all night beach bars, we instead find soft sand beaches, a laid-back seaside vibe and unmatched ocean views. Our stay is at the Rayong Marriott Resort and Spa and, while I am normally antsy to explore new areas on arrival, I instead spend...

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Shimbashi: The Salaryman Enclave of Tokyo

During our time travelling on a JR Pass in Japan we based ourselves a number of times in different parts of Tokyo. The usual protocol here was to find a station on the JR line, which is also close enough to the main Tokyo’s travel hubs, then search for cheap hotels. I can say, of all these bases, that the Shimbashi Station Area of Tokyo, was by far the most interesting. It’s an area I’d never actually heard of, and one I didn’t expect much of before arriving, but it is now the area we’d go back to for our next visit. Not only is Shimbashi handy for the JR lines, for onward JR Pass travel, but it’s also conveniently located on the Yamanote circle line (JR) which gives easy access to Tokyo’s popular stops. But what I liked most about Shimbashi...

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