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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 751081 times)

Offline benjie1305

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Re: Thailand Master Thread
« Reply #3220 on: March 07, 2016, 03:06:01 PM »
Weather wise what time of the year should one avoid going to Thailand?

May through October is considered rain season. Doesn't mean people don't go.
Work hard, Play harder!

Offline Emkay

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Re: Thailand Master Thread
« Reply #3221 on: March 07, 2016, 03:15:13 PM »
May through October is considered rain season. Doesn't mean people don't go.
thats when most here go actually

Offline benjie1305

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Re: Thailand Master Thread
« Reply #3222 on: March 07, 2016, 03:21:54 PM »
thats when most here go actually

I can only go kid-free in the US Summer. Ill make sure to bring an umbrella. :)
Work hard, Play harder!

Offline Proisrael

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Re: Thailand Master Thread
« Reply #3223 on: March 07, 2016, 03:23:42 PM »
Weather wise what time of the year should one avoid going to Thailand?

April-November rainy season avg 15 days a month of rain.

Offline Emkay

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Re: Thailand Master Thread
« Reply #3224 on: March 07, 2016, 03:28:47 PM »
April-November rainy season avg 15 days a month of rain.
For 15 minutes a day.

Offline D93

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Re: Thailand Master Thread
« Reply #3225 on: March 07, 2016, 03:59:01 PM »
May through October is considered rain season. Doesn't mean people don't go.

It only rains a few minutes a day, it's not a big deal.

Offline mochjas

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Re: Thailand Master Thread
« Reply #3226 on: March 07, 2016, 04:23:40 PM »
It only rains a few minutes a day, it's not a big deal.
so you can go basically anytime and the worst you will get is 15 minutes of rain a day?

Offline D93

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Re: Thailand Master Thread
« Reply #3227 on: March 07, 2016, 05:48:35 PM »
so you can go basically anytime and the worst you will get is 15 minutes of rain a day?

Closer to an hour, but yes.

Offline SLMYRCB

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Re: Thailand Master Thread
« Reply #3228 on: March 07, 2016, 06:47:11 PM »
Thanks to this Songkran Thailand New Years, PG is fully booked the 2nd week of my trip and the Conrad has no availability the 1st week of my trip if I were to flip the itinerary.
HKT it is, I guess. So unfortunate :(
Ok. So 4 hours later.
After a bottle of wine and much charata for not booking earlier I managed to lock-in earlier dates. B"H.
My itinerary has been totally switched around.
Bangkok had to be sacrificed (Emkay seems to say its no big deal, though I did want to see the capitol and the Royal Palace),  PG with JAL is booked (thank you CS91), Conrad is waiting (I'll be right there), SPG is giving me some "the award category went up" problems but that will be fixed within 48hrs (hopefully).
The only thing I don't like is that I'm limiting myself to KA's availability by leaving via CNX whereas before I had tons of options leaving from BKK, but you have to sacrifice a little in life ;D at least that's what someone told me.

Offline shauly

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Re: Thailand Master Thread
« Reply #3229 on: March 08, 2016, 02:23:41 AM »
Anyone ever stayed in an air bnb in CNX? There are some very nice looking ones right near the chabad.

I'm kicking myself for not getting my act together and booking the LM before the increase.

Offline Emkay

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Re: Thailand Master Thread
« Reply #3230 on: March 08, 2016, 02:30:50 AM »
Anyone ever stayed in an air bnb in CNX? There are some very nice looking ones right near the chabad.


I did but not near chabad.

Offline Emkay

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Re: Thailand Master Thread
« Reply #3231 on: March 08, 2016, 02:32:17 AM »



Bangkok had to be sacrificed
You wont regret it. Going to Thailand and staying in BKK is like traveling to New York and checking out the airport for a day or two.

Offline shauly

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Re: Thailand Master Thread
« Reply #3232 on: March 08, 2016, 02:36:14 AM »
I did but not near chabad.
Do you mind posting the link of the one you stayed at?

How was it? And a more general question, how does an air bnb stay compare to a hotel stay?

Offline Emkay

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Re: Thailand Master Thread
« Reply #3233 on: March 08, 2016, 02:47:16 AM »


Do you mind posting the link of the one you stayed at?



I doubt you will want it. I slept in an elephant reserve. When I fly across the world I'm doing it for the experience.

Offline Emkay

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Re: Thailand Master Thread
« Reply #3234 on: March 08, 2016, 02:48:43 AM »


And a more general question, how does an air bnb stay compare to a hotel stay?

That depends on the specific one. Some Airbnbs come with private butlers, cooks, and drivers for less then a hotel stay.

Offline Drago

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Re: Thailand Master Thread
« Reply #3235 on: March 08, 2016, 03:35:10 AM »
How was it? And a more general question, how does an air bnb stay compare to a hotel stay?
I'm a big fan of airbnb. The experience tends to be more 'localized', you're not with a crowd of tourists, you can stay in a variety of locations which hotels can't fit into, and if you're traveling with a family, then it's a no-brainer

Offline Proisrael

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Re: Thailand Master Thread
« Reply #3236 on: March 08, 2016, 10:19:26 AM »
Anyone ever stayed in an air bnb in CNX? There are some very nice looking ones right near the chabad.

I'm kicking myself for not getting my act together and booking the LM before the increase.

I stayed here....https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/3681221

Right near the old city about 20 minutes from chabad. It is never an issue getting around there are always taxis and the like......The place was very big. Shower is not like a hotel!

Offline shauly

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Re: Thailand Master Thread
« Reply #3237 on: March 08, 2016, 11:38:29 AM »
I was thinking more along the lines of this one. $390 for 6 nights as opposed to $650 for the LM. Right near Chabad. I'm having a hard time justifying why a hotel is necessarily better than this.

Offline D93

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Re: Thailand Master Thread
« Reply #3238 on: March 08, 2016, 12:39:45 PM »
I was thinking more along the lines of this one. $390 for 6 nights as opposed to $650 for the LM. Right near Chabad. I'm having a hard time justifying why a hotel is necessarily better than this.

Why does the LM have to cost you $650, you don't have any SPG points?

Offline Aaaron

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Re: Thailand Master Thread
« Reply #3239 on: March 08, 2016, 01:00:09 PM »
Anyone ever stayed in an air bnb in CNX? There are some very nice looking ones right near the chabad.

I'm kicking myself for not getting my act together and booking the LM before the increase.

There's a chance I may let my LM ressie go.  For the 31st to the 4th.  I'll keep you posted if you're interested.