According to the Etihad London Office 0845 608 1225 the new baggage allowance of 30kg  (increased from 23kg) also applies to tickets purchased prior to the change (November 2012) when 23kg was the norm.

AND Golf Clubs, with a weight of up to 15kg are permitted in addition to the above allowance. They must be checked in i.e. they cannot be taken onboard.

As of January 2013, the Etihad website needs to be a little clearer in this respect

For the most enjoyable hotel location in Bangkok, choose a hotel with a view of the Chao Phraya River.

You’ll see traffic of a different kind and can enjoy the experience of visiting the Royal Palace by public river taxi.

There are surprisingly few hotels to choose between and I summarise them in order of value-for-money:

Royal Orchid Sheraton

All rooms are river facing so you will definitely enjoy a fantastic river view. The hotel is next to a main river taxi stop so it’s easy to get around. It’s a Sheraton but it’s also starting to show its age thus the rates are lower than you might expect. Breakfast is expensive so try and get a B&B rate, otherwise there’s a restaurant outside that serves European and Thai style breakfast.

You’ll find the best rates using our Hotel Search engine which compares 20+ Hotel “bed-banks” and tour operators

Millennium Hilton Bangkok Hotel

Located opposite the Royal Orchid Sheraton

You will have to request a river view and so there is no guarantee. And the location is on “the wrong side” of the river as the main tourist attractions, shopping, restaurants, night life etc are all on the other side

The Peninsula

A superb 5* hotel but also on the wrong side of the river

Shangri-La Hotel

Next to the Skytrain station the Shangri-La is an expensive choice.

AURUM the River Palace

Converted from a 50 year old warehouse, this hotel is a 4-storey European style building with 12 guestrooms, 4 of which are river views. The rate is THB4,400+ (£93)

For all these hotels, you’ll find the best rates using our Hotel Search engine which compares 20+ Hotel “bed-banks” and tour operators

So you’re booking a frequent traveller who thinks they can travel independently and hail cabs to meetings and hotels?

That’s fine, in many countries. And it can be done in India too but I warn against it.

On a recent business trip to Delhi, which is one of India’s more “organised” cities, with a fabulous subway, I experienced three days as host of a travel company, with a car and driver at my disposal and options to visit shows, tourist sites and restaurants.

I also spent a few days travelling around the city independently and despite many years of similar travel backpacking, I found the second experience exhausting.

There’s the dust and pollution to contend with.

The difficulty of finding a cab during the rush hour.

What appears to be a short walk on the map can turn into an Annapurna Expedition.

Being misdirected again and again at street level when searching for even a large international hotel which is 5 minutes away….

Booking Business Travel recommends that a local agent take care of you whilst visiting India. The relative cost of having a car with a driver and optional tour guide is minimal.

And you will avoid hours of frustration.

You could book this through a UK agent but they will simply buy the services of a local agent so I recommend that you go direct.

SIDDARTH Travel is an IATA agent located in Delhi, and part of the Interserve network of over 100 agents throughout India.

Their attention to detail is second to none and they can arrange ground transportation, hotels and optional tours – locally, and further afield, for example, the Himalayas.

Details of Siddarth Travel can be found here