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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 751869 times)

Offline yitzyul

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Re: Thailand Master Thread
« Reply #3100 on: February 14, 2016, 07:24:54 PM »
Frankly, Chabad USM is not close to the nicer resorts while Chabad CNX is.

I'd prefer Shabbas in the latter.
SPG has 2 nice hotels approx 25 min walk. Thats not too far for walking 3 times.
Le meridian and Vana Bella
« Last Edit: February 14, 2016, 09:53:40 PM by yitzyul »

Offline mochjas

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Re: Thailand Master Thread
« Reply #3101 on: February 14, 2016, 08:35:58 PM »
SPG has 2 nice hotels approx 25 min walk. Thats not too far for walking 3 times.
Le meridian and Vana Bella.
how far is Conrad koh Samai from Chabad (walking)?

Offline CS91

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Re: Thailand Master Thread
« Reply #3102 on: February 14, 2016, 08:44:24 PM »
how far is Conrad koh Samai from Chabad (walking)?
Pretty sure they're at opposite ends of the island.

Offline yitzyul

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Re: Thailand Master Thread
« Reply #3103 on: February 14, 2016, 09:45:30 PM »
Pretty sure they're at opposite ends of the island.
Very Far. Not walking distance

Offline yitzyul

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Re: Thailand Master Thread
« Reply #3104 on: February 14, 2016, 09:54:27 PM »
SPG has 2 nice hotels approx 25 min walk. Thats not too far for walking 3 times.
Le meridian and Vana Bella

Oops..only Vana Bella is walking distance.

Anybody stayed in Vana Bella, is it worth so many points?

Offline AJK

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Re: Thailand Master Thread
« Reply #3105 on: February 14, 2016, 10:07:03 PM »
SPG has 2 nice hotels approx 25 min walk. Thats not too far for walking 3 times.
Le meridian and Vana Bella

It'd be a crime to go all the way to Koh Samui and not to stay at CKS.
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 CS91

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Re: Thailand Master Thread
« Reply #3106 on: February 14, 2016, 10:08:21 PM »
It'd be a crime to go all the way to Koh Samui and not to stay at CKS.
Which is why, just yesterday, I cancelled my Sheraton Samui reservation and booked myself at the CKS... and then went back to your TR to read the Koh Samui part one more time.  :)

Offline AJK

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Re: Thailand Master Thread
« Reply #3107 on: February 14, 2016, 10:21:58 PM »
Good boy. (I just went back and read that part, too!)
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 yitzyul

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Re: Thailand Master Thread
« Reply #3108 on: February 14, 2016, 10:42:41 PM »
Good boy. (I just went back and read that part, too!)
Problem is that the days that Im going running in to problems of availability at any of the hotels so I have to do my trip in reverse of what was planned.
Originally CNX then USM but the availability is the opposite so I have to do USM then CNX however I really would like to be near a shul for shabbos!

Offline CS91

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Re: Thailand Master Thread
« Reply #3109 on: February 14, 2016, 10:47:24 PM »
Conrad or Conrad Residences or reg?
Conrad Koh Samui. Conrad Koh Samui Residences is not bookable on points.

Offline yitzyul

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Re: Thailand Master Thread
« Reply #3110 on: February 14, 2016, 10:51:15 PM »
Conrad Koh Samui. Conrad Koh Samui Residences is not bookable on points.
It is for 360K

Offline CS91

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Re: Thailand Master Thread
« Reply #3111 on: February 14, 2016, 10:55:47 PM »
It is for 360K
You sure you're looking at the the Residences? Pretty sure it isn't...

Offline yitzyul

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Re: Thailand Master Thread
« Reply #3112 on: February 14, 2016, 10:59:37 PM »
You sure you're looking at the the Residences? Pretty sure it isn't...

Offline CS91

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Re: Thailand Master Thread
« Reply #3113 on: February 14, 2016, 11:02:20 PM »

Ah, my bad, I was mixing up with free night certs. Those can't be used at CKS Residences. Out of curiosity, how many points per night for how many bedrooms?

Offline yitzyul

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Re: Thailand Master Thread
« Reply #3114 on: February 14, 2016, 11:06:00 PM »
Ah, my bad, I was mixing up with free night certs. Those can't be used at CKS Residences. Out of curiosity, how many points per night for how many bedrooms?
No clue. THose points cost showed up per night

Offline yitzyul

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Re: Thailand Master Thread
« Reply #3115 on: February 15, 2016, 03:53:27 PM »
Can anyone recommend a decent driver (not someone trying to scam me) for the day at CNX? My understanding is that they are very cheap.

In USM Im kinda afraid to drive (esp with wrong side of the street) so I guess Ill stick with taxis.

Offline Emkay

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Re: Thailand Master Thread
« Reply #3116 on: February 15, 2016, 03:58:48 PM »
Can anyone recommend a decent driver (not someone trying to scam me) for the day at CNX? My understanding is that they are very cheap.

In USM Im kinda afraid to drive (esp with wrong side of the street) so I guess Ill stick with taxis.
Not sure what you mean by "scamming" you but the Israeli tour guy there can arrange one for you

Offline PoolBoy

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Re: Thailand Master Thread
« Reply #3117 on: February 15, 2016, 04:11:19 PM »
Is there a Chabad code for the Banyon Tree in Koh Samui?

Offline IsraelGuy

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Re: Thailand Master Thread
« Reply #3118 on: February 15, 2016, 04:17:34 PM »
In USM Im kinda afraid to drive (esp with wrong side of the street) so I guess Ill stick with taxis.

KS was the craziest driving I've ever experienced. Not only are you on the wrong side of the road but toss in people and dogs within inches of the car and mopeds everywhere, if I could go back I'd avoid it.

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Re: Thailand Master Thread
« Reply #3119 on: February 15, 2016, 04:22:07 PM »
KS was the craziest driving I've ever experienced. Not only are you on the wrong side of the road but toss in people and dogs within inches of the car and mopeds everywhere, if I could go back I'd avoid it.
Did you look into how much a cab would have been from the airport to CKS?