Thailand Master Thread

[rots5]

emkay you going to Thailand?

[Emkay]

emkay you going to Thailand?

Yup, next week

[Emkay]

moish! i emailed ur guy and his girl already called back! they have a new thing, at the airport in BG go to gate D and they give u a cc so if u need any dr's u call the number in the back and they direct u to a certain dr and then u swipe ur cc that they gave u :-)  she was all excited that even MOISH didnt have this yet

crazy cheap btw. 2$ a day .50 cents for air ambulance, .50 cents for dangerous sports. covers upto 1 mill, 1750 of luggage and so on! thanks again!

Is this the guy you got it through?

shmuelw@012.net.il or by phone at 050-445-5770, tell him i sent you

[Emkay]

Call them.

Alternatively, you can use an insurance agent.
I can PM you some names if you need.

Who did you use and what did it cost?

[jaywhy]

I believe jaywhy used staff from the LMCM and was happy with them.

I did not use their babysitting service but they pushed our stroller to Chabad after some minor pushback.

[rots5]

Is this the guy you got it through?

I googled searched Rots 5 trip to chaing mai and the second hit was my TR

Here it is, its a solid read. i must say. I wrote down almost every detail possible down to the drivers name and a second option.

http://forums.dansdeals.com/index.php?topic=31099.0

[rots5]

here is the exact post

http://forums.dansdeals.com/index.php?topic=31099.msg554981#msg554981

[Emkay]

I googled searched Rots 5 trip to chaing mai and the second hit was my TR

Here it is, its a solid read. i must say. I wrote down almost every detail possible down to the drivers name and a second option.

http://forums.dansdeals.com/index.php?topic=31099.0

Thanks,  going there in less than a week so I figured it was time to book hotels and start planning

[Emkay]

I did not use their babysitting service but they pushed our stroller to Chabad after some minor pushback.

Darn! Totally forgot about the Eruv issue.

[Emkay]

here is the exact post

http://forums.dansdeals.com/index.php?topic=31099.msg554981#msg554981

I was asking about the insurance and I don't see it mentioned

[rots5]

I was asking about the insurance and I don't see it mentioned

oh i apologize, one second lemme get you that number.


Shmuel Weinstein
Office: 02-6519343,  Cell: 050-4455770, Fax: 02-6519152
Email: shmuelw@012.net.il
Mailing address: PO Box 43174 Jerusalem 91431
http://www.passportcard.co.il/

He is extremly good and super quick in responding.

[Emkay]

Part 1
Started writing and got a little carried away so ill post the first part.
Dan wrote extensively about his trip and the ins and outs of what to do etc. Here is my experience:

Planning:

From when I was young, I was always amazed at the pictures people came back with after visiting Thailand. It was a place that I would just have to get to!
My time had come. Until just a few days ago, Aeroplan's North America-South Pacific Business award for 100k miles was one of the best award redemption available.
What makes it even more lucrative, is the ability to route via Asia and since a stopover is permitted, to stop there too.

So came about my trip to Thailand. I would fly from Australia to Thailand and then onto the US.
Originally, it was only going to be visiting Bangkok. But after reading here from Chikky and Dan about Chiang Mai, that was going to be the place.
Now, although Aeroplan is gracious enough to allow a stopover on an award, officially it has to be in the same direction of travel, no backtracking. This would be an issue with CNX (Chiang Mai), being that I'd have to transit BKK to get there and then again to continue on to the US.

There are a number of Asian low cost airlines that fly the BKK-CNX route which are great for those needing short flights. But that would mean paying for the tickets, no interlining bags, lower service, basically getting what you pay for (who does that ) So figured (with Damaxer’s encoragement), its worth a shot at trying to get Aeroplan to add the segments on Thai, the airline I was flying from Australia. If it would work, I would get the seats in business class, as well. A no brainer!
Called Aeroplan and was told that its not allowed. Following the famous rule of "hang up and call back" after 4 times, I got a lovely gentleman to ticket it for me.
I was all set!

The Trip:

Arriving at the airport 1 and a half hours before the flight the lines were longish. But with the dedicated business class line I was second on line.
With my bags checked all the way to CNX and both my boarding passes, I was on my way.
Airport lounges are the best way (and if you're reading this, hopefully the only way) to kill the extra time in the airport.
Thai Business passengers are given access to the Air New Zealand lounge.
It is quite large and very well appointed. There is a big buffet of food (skipped that) and tons of self serve drinks. Water, soda taps, beer, wine, spirits, cocktail mixes, they've got plenty for all ages.
There are work stations with PC's and internet, even connected to a color printer. Only realized that after I printed some reading material from the net for the plane and everything was in full color, Oops...
Then there are various sitting areas with couches and TV's.
Even when its fairly full, it doesn't feel cramped. A relaxing way to begin a trip.

Boarding was announced and most of the people began to pack up and leave.
Using the designated business class lane to board, it wasn't a few minutes until I was aboard.
We were flying on a 777 with only two classes of service. Business class seats are in a 2-3-2 format with 5 rows in the forward section. My seat was on the aisle of the 3 seats. But being that it was a pretty empty flight nobody was sitting in my row so I moved over to the middle, now having a seat on either side to dump all my "stuff" on.

From the moment you get on the plane, the flight attendants are offering their help with everything. Water, Orange Juice and Champagne are offered and hot towels are given out.
The amenity kit together with the noise cancelling headphones are already on the seat.
Having power outlets onboard is a major plus, especially on long flights, allowing your electronics to be fully powered when you arrive. I had three seats so could charge everything at the same time. Just dont leave your charger on the plane...
Soon enough we were up and away on our 9 hour flight to Thailand.

The purser came over to me and let me know that my kosher meal had not been loaded, the whole while apologizing profusely, offering whatever she could.
It was a late night flight and I had some of my own food so really wasn't a big deal. Besides, not such a fan of airplane food...

The entertainment system selections are extensive but I opted to get as much sleep as possible before the big day ahead.
The seats aren't quite lie-flat but plenty  comfortable enough to sleep.
I awoke nicely rested with a couple of hours to BKK.

Immigration forms were given out shortly followed with hot towels. Seems they give hot towels with everything...
As they were serving breakfast, they kept coming over apologizing and again offering if they could get me anything.
As the sun was rising we gently landed in BKK. I had a couple hours until my connecting flight but with bags checked through and boarding passes in had, there was plenty of time.

Being that BKK-CNX was departing from the domestic side of the terminal, I had to work across the airport. Probably just over a km (.6 of a mile), it was about a 15 min walk at a leisurely pace.
After sitting for so long, its nice to get the blood moving again.

Passport control was totally deserted except the 4 guys behind the counters. After a quick security check, it was on to the lounge.
Royal Silk domestic lounge is nice but nothing special. There is WiFi and computers with internet for those that don't have their own devices...
And the printer is color as well.

One nice thing is the "garden area". It's not actually outdoors. You walk through the lounge and there is a large area of the terminal partitioned off with trees and outdoor furniture. It does look out over a nice garden.
It was totally empty and I was thinking perhaps people didn't know about it, being that the lounge was quite full.
Just the right place to hang out before my continuing flight.
As marked with signs everywhere, they don't announce flights. I'm not sure which domestic lounges do that there would be a requirement for so many signs.

With 30 min to the flight I headed to the gate lounge. There are no jet bridges, all passengers take the bus to the plane.
As I got my boarding pass scanned the agent kindly informed me that we would be flying a 747 and that I had been upgraded to first class, seat 1A.
I found it ironic that my 9 hour flight from Australia and the 16 hour flight to the US were both on a two class plane, while the 55 min. flight to CNX was on a 3 class 747.
It's pretty cool driving in the bus between all the massive planes. When youre right next to them you get a feeling of their sheer size.

After a 5 min drive we pulled up next to our plane. Instead of the usual stairs, there is a stairwell up to a jet bridge.
It wasn't the new TG first class but it was very nice, big and comfy. It's kind of cool setting in the nose of the plane, great view!
The flight ended as quickly as it had begun and we touched down in CNX.

To be continued...

did you end up continuing this TR?

[Emkay]

- After doing lots of research we ended up using CM Tailors.

how much did it cost? were you happy with it? do you have contact info?

[AJK]

Added my TR to the wiki.

[Emkay]

Added my TR to the wiki.

Thanks, was a very entertaining read. My wife enjoyed it alot also

[Marco Polo]

Added my TR to the wiki.

About time it made it there.

Now for Bali...

[Emkay]

 Which email address do people send to about confirming upgrades at the LMCM?

[AJK]

About time it made it there.

Now for Bali...

Wording is basically done.

@Mrs. AJK, better get that done quick.

[Marco Polo]

Wording is basically done.

@Mrs. AJK, better get that done quick.

I know where you live...

[Emkay]

oh i apologize, one second lemme get you that number.


Shmuel Weinstein
Office: 02-6519343,  Cell: 050-4455770, Fax: 02-6519152
Email: shmuelw@012.net.il
Mailing address: PO Box 43174 Jerusalem 91431
http://www.passportcard.co.il/

He is extremly good and super quick in responding.

Any other options you know of?  Since I'm not currently on bituach leumi yet nor do I have a T.Z, I can't get on the regular policy and my only option through him is around $135 for 7 days for me, my wife, and infant