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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 750017 times)

Offline SLMYRCB

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Re: Thailand Master Thread
« Reply #2800 on: December 13, 2015, 07:21:27 AM »
Le meridien khao lak - CLOSED

Next best point redemption around hkt?

Offline Emkay

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Re: Thailand Master Thread
« Reply #2801 on: December 13, 2015, 07:42:13 AM »
Le meridien khao lak - CLOSED

Next best point redemption around hkt?
use http://wandr.me/Hotel-Tools/Hotel-Hustle/ to compare options

Offline benjie1305

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Re: Thailand Master Thread
« Reply #2802 on: December 13, 2015, 08:32:05 AM »
use http://wandr.me/Hotel-Tools/Hotel-Hustle/ to compare options

While I do like the way wandr.me set it up it is weird that in USM for example no SPG or Hilton resort pops up.
Work hard, Play harder!

Offline Moishebatchy

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Re: Thailand Master Thread
« Reply #2803 on: December 13, 2015, 10:58:50 AM »
20 minutes.
Even less at night. Took me about 8 minutes.

I'm assuming he meant "20 minutes" including the time required for check-in and security, all the way until you're at the gate. >:D

Offline SLMYRCB

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Re: Thailand Master Thread
« Reply #2804 on: December 13, 2015, 11:03:32 AM »
use http://wandr.me/Hotel-Tools/Hotel-Hustle/ to compare options
Thanx. It is my go-to tool. But I'm asking more from a "people who've had experience" point of view. (I know the Westin isn't recomended)

While I do like the way wandr.me set it up it is weird that in USM for example no SPG or Hilton resort pops up.
SPG I see plenty of. The Conrad is there so unless there are other Hilton hotels...

Offline benjie1305

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Re: Thailand Master Thread
« Reply #2805 on: December 13, 2015, 01:02:23 PM »
Thanx. It is my go-to tool. But I'm asking more from a "people who've had experience" point of view. (I know the Westin isn't recomended)
SPG I see plenty of. The Conrad is there so unless there are other Hilton hotels...

I searched wandr.me for the dates I need that also show availability on the Conrad website. Seems to be that that is somehow not in sync.
Work hard, Play harder!

Offline SLMYRCB

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Re: Thailand Master Thread
« Reply #2806 on: December 13, 2015, 03:10:43 PM »
If anyone has chiang Rai/burma/laos questions feel free to PM
What's unique about Chiang Rai? Worth the schlepp?

Offline Emkay

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Re: Thailand Master Thread
« Reply #2807 on: December 13, 2015, 03:11:59 PM »
What's unique about Chiang Rai? Worth the schlepp?
Depends what your other options are

Offline SLMYRCB

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Re: Thailand Master Thread
« Reply #2808 on: December 13, 2015, 03:22:35 PM »
Depends what your other options are
Chiang Mai is definite. Then some time at one of the beach resorts, be it HKT or USM. I figure I'll be getting some city, nature and beach.

Offline SLMYRCB

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Re: Thailand Master Thread
« Reply #2809 on: December 13, 2015, 03:28:40 PM »
Hows Hua Hin? Sheraton seems to have a pretty nice resort there, is HKT so much better?
I would love to use my two sign-up nights on the Conrad USM but Id prefer not to spend a Shabbos there. Any way to have them honored for a weekday?

Offline Emkay

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Re: Thailand Master Thread
« Reply #2810 on: December 13, 2015, 03:30:08 PM »


Any way to have them honored for a weekday?

Not officially but it's been done

Offline SLMYRCB

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Re: Thailand Master Thread
« Reply #2811 on: December 13, 2015, 03:40:26 PM »

Not officially but it's been done
HUCA HUCA HUCA? (I hate that)

Offline D93

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Re: Thailand Master Thread
« Reply #2812 on: December 13, 2015, 04:22:07 PM »
Chiang Mai is definite. Then some time at one of the beach resorts, be it HKT or USM. I figure I'll be getting some city, nature and beach.
Hows Hua Hin? Sheraton seems to have a pretty nice resort there, is HKT so much better?
I would love to use my two sign-up nights on the Conrad USM but Id prefer not to spend a Shabbos there. Any way to have them honored for a weekday?

There's a very nice Sheraton Resort in USM and it's only 7k SPG a night.

Offline CS91

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Re: Thailand Master Thread
« Reply #2813 on: December 13, 2015, 04:24:45 PM »
Hows Hua Hin? Sheraton seems to have a pretty nice resort there, is HKT so much better?
I would love to use my two sign-up nights on the Conrad USM but Id prefer not to spend a Shabbos there. Any way to have them honored for a weekday?
Conrad USM is on the exclusion list of where you can't use sign up nights.

Offline D93

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Re: Thailand Master Thread
« Reply #2814 on: December 13, 2015, 04:25:42 PM »
Conrad USM is on the exclusion list of where you can't use sign up nights.

-1

Offline CS91

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Offline D93

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Re: Thailand Master Thread
« Reply #2816 on: December 13, 2015, 04:34:22 PM »

Offline CS91

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Re: Thailand Master Thread
« Reply #2817 on: December 13, 2015, 04:36:30 PM »
Yes - Conrad Koh Samui Residences isn't the same as Conrad Koh Samui.
Ah, okay got it.

Offline SLMYRCB

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Re: Thailand Master Thread
« Reply #2818 on: December 13, 2015, 05:10:11 PM »
There's a very nice Sheraton Resort in USM and it's only 7k SPG a night.
Thanx and its a good cash/point option + I see its walkable to chabad (shabbos).
So you recommend USM over HKT/Hua Hin I take it

Offline D93

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Re: Thailand Master Thread
« Reply #2819 on: December 13, 2015, 05:17:10 PM »
So you recommend USM over HKT/Hua Hin I take it

I never said that. I can't answer that question, I've never been to HKT/Hua Hin