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Inter-Thailand Flights   Bangkok Airways (PG)

PG flights are bookable on points through JAL, CX, EY and AB.

JAL
Required Mileage: Transferable from SPG. JAL uses a distance based award chart and allows up to a maximum of 7 stopovers (8 segments). To figure out how many points you will need, add up the total amount of miles that will be flown (can do this on GCMap.com) and then find the appropriate row in the award chart (http://www.ar.jal.com/ar/en/jalmile/use/partner_air/p_jmb/jmb_mile_ar.html). If you are traveling before 3/31/2017 there is a promotion for trips up to 4,000 miles (see http://www.jal.co.jp/121campaign/pg_discount/index_en.html for reduced mileage rates). The promotion makes JAL the best award redemption option for PG flights. 

Booking the Flight: The only way to find out if there is availability on the flight that you want is to call JAL. Recommended that you do so before transferring points. JAL doesn't allow you to hold a reservation so you have to hope that the flight doesn't get booked up while you're waiting for the point transfer to go through. Once the points post to your JAL account, call JAL back to book.
+1 800-525-3663 (5:00 - 18:00 PT) press 1 - 4 - JAL membership number - # - pin - # - 0 (for human or 1 for computer search)

Traveling with Infant: Tell JAL that you are flying with a lap child. They will put the infant on the reservation, but they will also tell you that you need to call PG directly to get the infant's ticket issued and pay for any taxes etc. JAL will only charge you for the adults on the reservation. Unless you speak Thai, calling PG won't work (when you press 9 for English when calling any of the Asian offices, the message will tell you to go to their website, and the office in Germany can't issue tickets). To add the infant, send an email to reservation@bangkokair.com with your confirmation number and tell them you want to have the lap infant's ticket issued. They will email you back with the price (data point: it was ~$96USD for CNX-USM-HKG for me) and ask you to reply with your cc info split into two separate emails for security (one email with first 8 digits, exp. and name on card, second email with last 8 digits, cvv, and billing address). I believe they only take Visa or MC. You'll then get an email back with confirmation.

Baggage Allowance: Economy passengers are allowed 20kg, infants (and dolls) are allowed 10kg. Excess weight on domestic flights will incur a charge of 80thb ($2.25ish) per kilo. International overage fee chart can be found here. Join the PG FlyingBonus program to receive an additional 10kg.

Contacting PG: In general, if you have any questions, the only way to speak with them in English besides email is PG Live Chat. You can find the link if you log in to your Flyer Bonus account. Chat reps are very helpful.

IMPORTANT: MAKE SURE TO PAY (JAL AND PG) WITH A CC BELONGING TO SOMEONE THAT IS TRAVELING ON THE ITINERARY. PG WILL SOMETIMES ASK YOU TO SHOW THE CC USED TO PAY FOR THE TRIP WHEN YOU CHECK IN, AND RESERVE THE RIGHT TO DENY BOARDING IF YOU DON'T HAVE IT.

CX
Required Mileage:

EY
Required Mileage:

AB
Required Mileage:



Bangkok   BKK/DMK

Hotels                                              Activities                                          Chabad                                                                Additional Info
Viengtai Hotel (Ohr Menachem)
Davis Hotel (Beth Elisheva)
Shangr-La (Even Chen)
Sheraton Resort (Hua Hin)
Riva Surya
Kao Sahn Rd
Night Markets (near stadium)
Shopping Malls
Grand Palace
Kanchanaburi (2 hrs away)
Floating Markets
Beth Elisheva (Financial & Shopping district)
Even Chen
Ohr Menachem (Kao Sahn Rd)
ALWAYS use meter in taxis and
   try to say destination in Thai - if you
   need help with numbers as Cbs ;)
(Free) sim in airport at kiosks -(true move(h- sim), dtac
   (happy(micro) sim for iPhone)
Songkran (water fight week)- April 13th!
Kosherthailand.com
BKK Luggage Lockers - 100 baht/day/bag (~$3)
Public Transport
Domestic flights:
   Air Asia, Tiger Air, Thai, Bangkok Air
Tailor:
   Rajawongse




Phuket/Patong/Koh Phi Phi/Krabi   HKT/KBV

Hotels                                                            Activities                                                                            Additional Info
Westin
JW Marriott
Sala Resort
Sheraton Krabi
The Pavilions
Holiday Inn Koh Phi Phi
Ritz Carlton Reserve
places w/ private pools
Beaches
Monkey Show
Cable Skiing
Longtail Boats
Island Tour
Koh Phi Phi:
Diving
Fire Show (wed is biggest)
Maya Bay (full day trip)
Nice Lookouts
Kayaking (to Monkey Beach)
Thai Boxing
Beware of summer weather; monsoon season
Best weather: Jan - May
Island Tour (can be done as a day trip or overnight):
   Andaman River, Maya Bay, Similian Islands, Krabi Islands,
   Koh Lanta (Emerald Cave)




Koh Samui   USM

Hotels                                                            Activities                                                                          Additional Info
The Conrad
Sunday Resort
Sheraton
Le Meridian
The W
Le Murrya (Near Chabad)
Fx Hotel (Near Chabad)
Beaches
Diving (Koa Phangan, Koh Tao)
Ang Thong Marine Park Islands
Water Sports (at chaweng and boh phut),
Safari Island (elephants, tigers, zip line)
Scooter (around island)
Kayaking $30
Koh Tao and Koh Nangyuan Island trip w/ snorkeling
The Conrad will gladly make arrangements with
   the Chabad restaurant for Kosher food. Email them at usmks.fb@conradhotels.com




Chiang Mai   CNX

Hotels                                                            Activities                                                                            Additional Info
Le Meridien (10 min. Walk to Chabad)
Shangri La (2 min. Walk to Chabad)
Mandarin Oriental Dhara Dhevi
Sukantara Cascade Resort
Maese Elephant Show
Maetaeng Elephant Park
Patara Elephant Farm
Thai Elephant Home
Thoms Pai Elephant Camp
Bamboo Rafting
Tiger Kingdom
Monkey Shows
Snake Shows
Crocodile Shows
Zip Lining
Trekking
White Water Rafting
Longneck Tribe
Gun Shooting
Night Safari
Temples/Palaces
Chiang Mai River Boat (To Cooking School)
Extreme Sports!
Repelling
Caving,
ATVing
Bungee
Segways
Rent motorbikes (5$ day)
3D museum right down the road from Chabad
   (if you have an hour or two to kill)
Sunday Market (ratchadamonoen  Rd, old city)
Night Market (Changklan Rd, near Chabad & Le Meridien)
Sat Night Market (Wua Lai)
Tiger Kingdom is best in morning
Use ישראל 669  as travel agent for trips
   (next door to Chabad)
Recommended Zip Line: Flight of Gibbon or Flying Squirrel,
   can be reserved through Yackov (המרכז המטייל)
   for best price.
When reserving tours, ask for a discount due to
   using your own transportation
Tailors:
   CM Tailors
His and Hers- 3 minute walk from LM on the way to chabbad.




Chiang Rai   CEI/4hr drive from CNX

Hotels                                                            Activities                                                                            Additional Info
Le Meridien
Four Seasons Tent Camp Golden Triangle
Black House
Queens Residence
Night market
Day trip to Burma/Myanmar
Waterfalls
White Temple
Ruaamit elephant camp
Pai village (3 hr drive)
Hot Springs
Scooters
Golden Triangle

« Last edited by CR on July 26, 2020, 11:38:14 AM »

Author Topic: Thailand Master Thread  (Read 749930 times)

Offline IsraelGuy

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Re: Thailand Master Thread
« Reply #1640 on: January 04, 2014, 11:38:38 AM »
does anyone know if the private pools or the resort pools are heated?

At the places I stayed at neither were heated

Offline yys

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Re: Thailand Master Thread
« Reply #1641 on: January 04, 2014, 08:52:22 PM »
any ideas for island tours of krabi?
or anything else that should only be done in krabi?

Offline Drago

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Re: Thailand Master Thread
« Reply #1642 on: January 05, 2014, 03:30:09 AM »
any ideas for island tours of krabi?
or anything else that should only be done in krabi?
Here is a list of some of the land based activities we did in Krabi.
They have lots of others, and you'll get ideas when you arrive and go to some of the tour operators in the town or hotel.

We used this lady  kaikava@yahoo.com.au for advice, and a driver to KL. She actually is Jewish, and had her son's bris at the Chabad house. She does boating tours, decent price, and found a driver and itin for our drive.

Here is some of the things she suggested.

"You can choose three or four stops including:  kayaking at Bor Thor (through a sea cave and exploring another cave to see ancient cave paintings), Than Bokoranee National Park where you can swim in descending fresh water pools, the board walk through the mangroves at Tha Pom and/or a walk through the cave at Tham Klang. "

The caves were amazing, although a tad bit scary. We went through them w/ our 4 and 6 yr olds and they enjoyed it. The adults were a bit more afraid.

The parks w/ the water are also very nice.

Send her an email, and she'll tell you about the boat tours as well. There's a bunch of islands within a 30-45 minute ride away from the Sheraton (long tail boats, speedboats are faster, but bumpy for kids.)

Offline Drago

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Re: Thailand Master Thread
« Reply #1643 on: January 06, 2014, 11:56:45 AM »
LM-KL news.

"Villa Information Beginning January 16, 2014

Beginning January 16, 2014, please note that the 13 Premium Villas located adjacent to and currently part of the resort will be renamed as Katiliya Pool Villas Khao Lak. Guests booking these Premium Villas will still enjoy all facilities of the resort and will be able to charge dining charges back to their villa. The Premium Villas will no longer be eligible for Starwood Preferred Guest benefits and will not earn points or stay credits effective January 16, 2014. Please contact the resort for further information."

Offline yoshapman

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Re: Thailand Master Thread
« Reply #1644 on: January 12, 2014, 10:53:09 AM »
In Chiang Mai, what should the total cost be for having someone drive you around for a day? And will the Chabad people always have an English speaking driver available on a days notice (go there on Friday or Sat night for a Sunday driver)?

My quote from the #1 rated English speaking tour guide on tripadvisor was 3800 baht for the day which seems very high, so I wanted to know what the cost should be. Thanks.

Offline moish

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Re: Thailand Master Thread
« Reply #1645 on: January 12, 2014, 11:10:14 AM »
iirc it shouldnt be more than 800 baht

Offline Dan

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Re: Thailand Master Thread
« Reply #1646 on: January 12, 2014, 12:04:38 PM »
iirc it shouldnt be more than 800 baht
+1, can just find a taxi at the airport and see who will be cheapest.  Let them bid it out, probably 600-850 baht.
Save your time, I don't answer PM. Post it in the forum and a dedicated DDF'er will get back to you as soon as possible.

Offline Ergel

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Re: Thailand Master Thread
« Reply #1647 on: January 12, 2014, 12:18:26 PM »
+1, can just find a taxi at the airport and see who will be cheapest.  Let them bid it out, probably 600-850 baht.
Lol. Bid it out over $6
Life isn't about checking the boxes. Nobody cares.

Offline Dan

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Re: Thailand Master Thread
« Reply #1648 on: January 12, 2014, 01:40:12 PM »
Once you're there you'll be negotiating at the night market over $1. Gets pretty funny.
Save your time, I don't answer PM. Post it in the forum and a dedicated DDF'er will get back to you as soon as possible.

Offline rots5

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Re: Thailand Master Thread
« Reply #1649 on: January 12, 2014, 05:41:41 PM »
im a bit insulted u didnt spend one seond to read my trip report..... i thought i wrote it out pretty well :)
If you have any questions please search and then ask. PM me for detailed help.

Offline rots5

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If you have any questions please search and then ask. PM me for detailed help.

Offline Marco Polo

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Re: Thailand Master Thread
« Reply #1651 on: January 16, 2014, 10:47:42 AM »
Any need to get "additional" shots when traveling here?
Quaerite et Invenietis.

Offline AJK

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Re: Thailand Master Thread
« Reply #1652 on: January 16, 2014, 11:18:58 AM »
No.
2015: 116K bkd | 1.6M brnd | F: OZ,NH,AA,EK | J: UA,CA,TK,DL,TN,AF,VA | LIH,NRT,ROR,PEK,CNS,BOB,MEL,TLV & Pacific Hopper

Offline Drago

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Re: Thailand Master Thread
« Reply #1653 on: January 16, 2014, 12:35:55 PM »
Any need to get "additional" shots when traveling here?
In the Golden Triange there may be a need.
But not in most of the places discussed in this thread.

Offline AJK

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Re: Thailand Master Thread
« Reply #1654 on: January 16, 2014, 12:42:37 PM »
It also depends from which country you are arriving.
2015: 116K bkd | 1.6M brnd | F: OZ,NH,AA,EK | J: UA,CA,TK,DL,TN,AF,VA | LIH,NRT,ROR,PEK,CNS,BOB,MEL,TLV & Pacific Hopper

Offline IsraelGuy

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Re: Thailand Master Thread
« Reply #1655 on: January 16, 2014, 05:59:52 PM »
Any need to get "additional" shots when traveling here?

Additional to what? Hep A and typhoid are recommended, maybe more if you're going to the northern areas.

Offline ChikkyMonkey

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Re: Thailand Master Thread
« Reply #1656 on: January 16, 2014, 11:00:57 PM »
My rate was about 400 US Dollars a night for the best pool villa they have. I think its worth it, especially when traveling with kids

It was like a dream, huge area only for ourselfs

Booked for this summer already

http://assets.lemeridienkhaolak.com/XLGallery/OceanfrontResidentialPoolVilla2.jpg

http://assets.lemeridienkhaolak.com/XLGallery/OceanfrontResidentialPoolVilla4.jpg



What time of year were you there? When I was there summer (a few years back) beach is practically not usable as waves were way too high... I did get upgraded from reg room to pool villa so total cost was about $70 a night (for reg room..) but I had plat and things were different then (during the June tumult one summer)

Offline chuchem

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Re: Thailand Master Thread
« Reply #1657 on: January 17, 2014, 02:37:18 AM »
I was there in august and will be there this august again. Traveling with 5 kids, I can't rely on a upgrade. Also I need a 2 bedroom villa. They only have one premium 2 bedroom on the ocean. They have others, not premium or not ocean. So they are smaller (also pool size) or next to main pool.
For us this is a perfect place to chill, the beach was very nice, we didn't go into the water so much, as we anyway prefer the pool, but it was ok. Cant say calm, but doable with kids as well.

The ride on the speedboat to phi phi was very rough, not everyone would do it with kids or a 10 week baby :-)

Offline ChikkyMonkey

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Re: Thailand Master Thread
« Reply #1658 on: January 19, 2014, 03:35:19 AM »
I was there in august and will be there this august again. Traveling with 5 kids, I can't rely on a upgrade. Also I need a 2 bedroom villa. They only have one premium 2 bedroom on the ocean. They have others, not premium or not ocean. So they are smaller (also pool size) or next to main pool.
For us this is a perfect place to chill, the beach was very nice, we didn't go into the water so much, as we anyway prefer the pool, but it was ok. Cant say calm, but doable with kids as well.

The ride on the speedboat to phi phi was very rough, not everyone would do it with kids or a 10 week baby :-)

How was the resort, busy? I pretty much had the kids pools and slide area to myself when I was there...

Have you considered going to Bali instead?  I'm planning on doing that this summer, weather is much better summer time, and great villas to be had for that price... 

On second thought, I may just consider this as well.. What is the kitchenette like there (do you have any pics)? is there a stove that can be used? large fridge? how did you manage food wise there? Did you try comparing this to the other villas in the area, are there any better choices?

DO you get any special deal from the place or just book on website?

It's called the residential 2 br villa? or the presidential?
« Last Edit: January 19, 2014, 04:03:52 AM by ChikkyMonkey »

Offline Hudi

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Re: Thailand Master Thread
« Reply #1659 on: January 19, 2014, 12:08:00 PM »
There is a new Radisson Blu opening in Bangkok in April. http://www.radissonblu.com/plazahotel-bangkok

Trying to research its location quality and proximity (ease of access) to the Kosher restaurant and BKK. How would you compare its location to the Le Meredian and Royal Orchid? (For a weekday stay.) Thx!