Marion Walsh-Hédouin: 'I convinced my husband and kids to go to Kazakhstan'

Marion Walsh-Hédouin's path has taken her from Monaco to Manhattan, Yemen and India
Marion Walsh-Hédouin: 'I convinced my husband and kids to go to Kazakhstan'

Marion Walsh Hedouin: "Now I think I need to tick off the 'stans'. That’s the plan that’s bubbling away."

From the wilds of County Mayo to high-end hospitality across the globe, Marion Walsh-Hédouin has carved out an enviable career. 

Now based in Bangkok as the VP of PR & Communications for Minor Hotels, a hospitality group and investor with a portfolio of more than 520 hotels in 53 countries, her path has taken her from Monaco to Manhattan, Yemen and India. 

Favourite childhood holiday memory

We didn’t travel because I grew up on a farm. When you’re on a farm, there are no holidays! The cows and the sheep don’t take a week or two off in the summer. So we never went anywhere, actually. And I think maybe that fuels the desire to see something else. I’ve made efforts ever since. I’m always thinking about where next."

Most memorable trip 

"One that stands out was when I took six months off in my twenties. I was living in New York and wanted to do something different — a midlife crisis at 26! I thought I could go to South America, because I’d been to Central and South America a few times, or Asia, where I’d never set foot. 

So I thought, right, I’m off to Asia. It was incredible. One minute, I was in Dubai for the first time, and three weeks later, I trekked through Nepal. I stayed in this little cabin in southern Laos, a place called 4000 Islands, and it was 50 cents a day for this thatched cabin thing on the Mekong River. It was six months of just bouncing around all these Asian countries."

Most surprising destination 

A rooftop view of Sana'a, the capital of Yemen.
A rooftop view of Sana'a, the capital of Yemen.

I went to Yemen a number of years ago, before some of the more robust dramas, and that was very surprising, very unique, very diverse, and not what I expected. Sana'a, the capital, is architecturally stunning; the hustle and bustle of the markets, and then I took the 'local bus', ten of us packed into the back of an old car. We went to the Haraz mountains, south of the capital, and it was truly incredible — villages clung to the side of the mountain. Then I flew north into desert terrain. 

There’s this place called Shibam, the ‘Manhattan of the desert’. You’re driving through dunes, and suddenly, these high-rise mud brick buildings appear, 75 or 80 feet tall, all clustered together, centuries old. The food was delicious, and the people were very hospitable. I hope they find peace one day soon. It needs to be discovered.

Favourite city to visit 

I’d have to say two: Hong Kong and Bangkok. I lived in Hong Kong for two and a half years. It’s the New York of Asia, but perhaps better in some ways. You’ve got your Chanel and Louis Vuitton, and then you turn a corner and there’s a local dai pai dong [food stall]. You can live a fancy life or a completely local one. And people say Bangkok is hectic, but life is lived on the streets. It’s lush, tropical, and easy to live in. You can grab a juice or your lunch on the way to work, and in an hour, you can be on an island like Ko Samui. It’s well located, vibrant, and it’s home. Ireland is always in your heart, but this is home.

My favourite hotel 

Marion Walsh Hedouin: "We have a beautiful hotel in northern Thailand called Anantara Golden Triangle."
Marion Walsh Hedouin: "We have a beautiful hotel in northern Thailand called Anantara Golden Triangle."

We have a beautiful hotel in northern Thailand called Anantara Golden Triangle. It’s on the cusp of three countries: Thailand, Myanmar, and Laos. Every room has a view over three countries. On-site, we have an elephant sanctuary with 23 rescued elephants. There’s no elephant riding. Instead, it’s called Walking with Giants. You walk with the vet and the mahout, the elephant caregiver. We have these Jungle Bubbles, which are Perspex domes with a five-star set-up in the jungle. You have dinner and cocktails and fall asleep under the stars, with elephants munching nearby. It’s a magical experience.

Most beautiful country 

I have to talk about Thailand here. It’s just a really great place to live. From Bangkok, you're close to everything — Australia is nine hours, the Middle East is five and a half, Tokyo is six. I didn’t plan on staying so long, but when you're here, life’s good.

Favourite thing to do while travelling 

For me, it’s all about exploration. I want to get out and see as much as I can. Culture, heritage, ideally the great outdoors. No matter how amazing it is, I will probably only stay one day in the capital. One of my fallbacks is India. I love India. You can be in Mumbai, watching 3 million people pass through Victoria Terminus, then retreat to the Taj Mahal Palace for a drink overlooking the Gateway to India. The next day, you can climb a 6,000-metre peak in Ladakh. You see the planes flying below you. India is incredibly diverse — you go for what’s on the inside, not the outside.

Bucket list trip 

Marion Walsh Hedouin: "I went solo to Uzbekistan. It’s a crossroads of history; the Silk Road, stunning architecture, mosques, and bazaars."
Marion Walsh Hedouin: "I went solo to Uzbekistan. It’s a crossroads of history; the Silk Road, stunning architecture, mosques, and bazaars."

About 50 bucket list trips! But I am making one happen. Last year, for Thai New Year in April, I convinced my husband and kids to go to Kazakhstan. They said, 'Why Kazakhstan?' And I said, 'Because I’ve never been.' "Then, during the kids’ midterm, I went solo to Uzbekistan. It’s a crossroads of history; the Silk Road, stunning architecture, mosques, and bazaars. Now I think I need to tick off the 'stans'. That’s the plan that’s bubbling away.

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