Enjoy a villa holiday on the tropical island of Koh Phangan, off Koh Samui, in the south of Thailand - or make this Thai villa your own for life - it is currently for sale at THB29 million.

This peaceful, 4 bedroom Koh Phangan villa is just minutes from the bustle of Tong Sala, on the island's west coast, and blends local Thai elements with the signature of the Italian architect who designed the property. The holiday villa has a private swimming pool and is perfectly situated for easy access to the island's numerous beaches, seafood restauarants, places of natural beauty and thriving markets.

This four bedroom holiday villa for rent on the beachfront in Cha Am is currently offering our readers highly attractive " Get To Know Us" rates. Set among tropical gardens, in a small complex with three swimming pools, a spa, gym and  restaurant, this Cha Am Villa makes an easy retreat from Bangkok for a seaside getaway.

From now to the 19th December, introductory rates vary between THB4,700 to THB5,900/night for the entiire four bedroom property - giving you no excuse not to swing by and book  a beachfront holiday stay now!

The BBC has reported that Tripadvisor - the site many vacation rental bookers visit prior to reserving a holiday home - has been ordered by England's Advertising Standards Authority to change the way it advertises its reviews, noting the latter  cannot claim to be genuine in every case. See their news clip here.

Whilst this will no doubt please those businesses that claim they have been unfairly damaged by false reviews or extortion in return for removing a damning review, the general feeling will probably remain that the majority of reviews are genuine.

The perfect holiday villa review system would of course ensure that all reviews posted can be tracked back to actual paying guests at that villa or hotel.

We encourage those guests who have indeed booked, paid for and taken a holiday at any of our holiday villas in Thailand to write in with a brief review of their stay after their departure. We feel that feedback from actual guests continues to gives the clearest picture of guest satisfaction!

Valentine's Day this year falls on Tuesday 14th February.

Valentine, a priest in Rome, ignored Roman Emperor Claudius' instructions forbidding young men to marry - the Emperor wished instead to enroll them in his army - and married young couples in secret. He was later beheaded for his disobedience, and became a martyr. Forgetting Valentine's Day could make you a martyr too, enraging your loved one... so  plan a romantic break now and surprise him or her with a memorable stay at one of our villas in Thailand.

Green Gecko, a fully catered private pool villa in rural Northeast Thailand, is offering a particularly romantic option  to couples booking in Februray - a complimentary early morning boat trip on the breathtaking, blossoming  lotus lake nearby.

Plan ahead and enjoy two free nights at our luxury Koh Samui Holiday Pool Villas.
Book any 8 nights and pay for only 6 nights at the villas below. This limited Special Offer is valid for any stay between May 1st and June 30th 2012, on a first-come first-served basis.

• The luxurious Koh Samui Beachfront Pool Villa
• The 2 bedroom Koh Samui Garden Pool Villa
• The 3 bedroom Koh Samui Flowers Pool Villa

Please simply mention our Samui Villa Blog Offer when booking on our website.

For those looking for a unique way of seeing in the first month of the New Year, the rural Thailand vacation rental Gecko Villa and the Thai private pool villa Green Gecko are offering  "Stay 7 nights - Pay only 5" holidays for bookings of any seven consecutive nights in January 2012.

Your pool villa holiday includes complimenatry transfers from Udon Thani, fresh and authentic Thai meals throughout your holiday, and a free boat trip in a traditional wooden longboat on the stunning pink lotus lake near the villas.

Simply visit their websites to book directly, mentioning the Stay 7 pay 5 offer featured here to take advantge of this attractive discount!

A favourite Thai dish of many visitors to the kingdom is Gaeng Kheow Waan Gai, or Thai Green Curry with Chicken. During your next Thailand villa holiday, where you will have access to the freshest and most authentic ingredients and your own fully equipped kitchen, why not make your own green curry? The recipe below will make enough Thai green curry paste for a dish using 500g of chicken (or other chosen protein.) It is best used fresh.

10 small, green bird-eye chillies (these are essential, no substitutes should be used! Deseed them if you want a milder curry.)
12 medium green chillies
3 stalks of sliced lemongrass (casing and tops removed)
50 g red shallots, sliced
100g chopped garlic
1 tsp kaffir lime zest
30 g chopped galangal
1 tsp shrimp paste
1/2 tsp white pepper
1 tsp coriander
1/2 tsp cumin
2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp coriander roots, finely chopped
A pinch each of mace and nutmeg

With a mortar and pestle, mix and then grind the ingredients together to a fine paste.

To then make the curry, heat 2 tbsp of vegetable oil in a wok before adding the curry paste and stirring for 2 minutes. From 500g of coconut milk, pour only the cream into the wok and stir until the paste dissolves. Allow to cook until the oil is released, then pour in the remainder of the coconut milk, bring to a simmer and again wait for the release of oil. Now add the chicken, and season with a tablespoon each of palm sugar and fish sauce, simmering very gently until the meat is just cooked. At this stage, add 200g of pea eggplants, cook for a couple of minutes, check the seasoning and serve with Thai sweet basil leaves as a garnish, and white rice.

An exciting new offer on Thailand Holiday Villas is available at  the luxurious, privately owned  Residences at the Four Seasons Resort & Spa in Chiang Mai, Northern Thailand.

Take advantage of our very special rates and indulge yourself at this world class resort in Mae Rim near the famous Mae Sa valley, with all the attractions that it has to offer! These include an elephant camp, snake farm, hot springs and waterfalls, the Doi Inthanon National Park, the Phuping Palace and numerous glittering temples.

A choice of beautifully designed Suites is available, sleeping from two to six adults, with each Suite individually decorated to the highest of standards and reflecting a particular theme.

As Thailand moves into its delightful cool season, with wam sunny days and cool, starlit nights, now is the perfect time to experience these privately owned Suites in Chiang Mai!

Indulge in a holiday on Koh Samui island in Southern Thailand at either the 3 or 4 bedroom Samui Penthouse Residences , between now and 23rd December 2012, and take advantage of our exclusive special offer - stay 4 nights and pay for only three!

These stunning, contemporary penthouses sleep 6-8 guests and boast over 400 square metres of living space, a private 13 metre lap pool, a fully equipped kitchen and full resort services. With awe-insipiring sea views, they are perfectly placed to allow you to relax in privacy and comfort whilst providing quick access to the beaches, sights and sounds of Samui island.

Book one of the penthouses now - whether it be for a Thai island holiday with your family, or with a group of friends or colleagues.

Simply visit our Thailand Holiday Villas site and request a booking, mentioning this special Thailand Villas offer. Do be quick: there are only two Penthouse Residences available and the weeks between now and December 23rd can fill quickly!

We are pleased to welcome the Riverside Villa Chiang Mai to our selection of holiday villas for rent in Thailand at Thailand Holiday House.

This large Thai villa, designed in the traditional Thai style with ample use of ancient teak, sits directly on the banks of the Ping river in Chiang Mai, amongst tropical gardens. The Chiang Mai vacation rental offers a private swimming pool and sleeps up to 12 guests in its three main buildings. Offering a delightful wine cellar and modern amenities on the tranquil banks of the Ping river, this Thai villa invites guests to unwind in peace and privacy in an ideal setting, whilst giving them easy access to the centre of Chiang Mai in a matter of minutes - with the vehicle and driver included in villa rentals.

For a family reunion or for for groups of friends wishing to get together to explore Chaing Mai and all that it has to offer, both in town and in the surrounding hills and mountains, this riverside villa will guarantee unique memories!

The Thai cool season is once again starting to blossom, so book this Chiang Mai villa early to ensure a firm booking for your upcoming break in the Rose of the North!