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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 744547 times)

Offline ZCN

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Re: Thailand Master Thread
« Reply #4000 on: January 18, 2018, 07:06:33 PM »
Not sure if this was answered up thread, but how far is it from BKK to Chabad of Bangkok? And does it make sense to take the train and then a taxi or just a taxi straight there?

TIA

Offline Theg

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Re: Thailand Master Thread
« Reply #4001 on: January 18, 2018, 08:15:19 PM »
All depends on time of day. At night would take about 30 min by day give yourself an hour. Take a taxi straight, make sure to make up a price before because they will rip you off. Should cost 300bht

Offline PieRSquare

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Re: Thailand Master Thread
« Reply #4002 on: January 22, 2018, 04:38:48 PM »
Not sure if this was answered up thread, but how far is it from BKK to Chabad of Bangkok? And does it make sense to take the train and then a taxi or just a taxi straight there?

TIA
Depending on how many you are and how much time you want to spend negotiating...consider getting a quote from the AOT dek at the airports. Their cars have seatbelts and you prepay (with a cc) at the airport.  It's a little bit of a premium (I think we paid $25 to downtown), but was worth it for us.

Offline lubaby

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Re: Thailand Master Thread
« Reply #4003 on: January 22, 2018, 06:30:01 PM »
Not sure if this was answered up thread, but how far is it from BKK to Chabad of Bangkok? And does it make sense to take the train and then a taxi or just a taxi straight there?

TIA
Don't order taxi in advaance. Download app called Grab before you go, it's like Uber but localized (IINM there's Uber in Bangkok, just not in the other cities you're visiting). You can pay in cash or by card through the app.
Compare prices in app to what local airport taxi desk (or drivers) are offering.

Just used Grab in HKT between airport and Renaissance Marriott, prices were 600-650 THB for an SUV. No driver or taxi desk would go lower then 800.

Offline EJB

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Re: Thailand Master Thread
« Reply #4004 on: January 23, 2018, 04:47:42 AM »


Grab is great because it lets you order in advance (in BKK at least) and reserve a van. Just keep in mind tolls are on top of what you're quoted, but they're nominal in Thailand.

Offline EJB

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Re: Thailand Master Thread
« Reply #4005 on: January 23, 2018, 04:49:26 AM »
Take out $3k and earn enough points for another free night

Update on this - Officially they charge 5% if you take out $ from them and add to your folio. They told me they waived it for me - Not sure if it was because I'm a diamond or they were being nice, but I wouldn't try to abuse this by taking out a lot of $. I took out enough for the activity I was trying to do ($150).

Offline Denverite

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Re: Thailand Master Thread
« Reply #4006 on: January 23, 2018, 06:41:56 AM »
Update on this - Officially they charge 5% if you take out $ from them and add to your folio. They told me they waived it for me - Not sure if it was because I'm a diamond or they were being nice, but I wouldn't try to abuse this by taking out a lot of $. I took out enough for the activity I was trying to do ($150).

Thanks for the update and I hope you are having a blast!

Offline Denverite

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Re: Thailand Master Thread
« Reply #4007 on: March 05, 2018, 08:24:00 AM »
https://auction.hiltonhonors.com/iSynApp/auctionDisplay.action?auctionId=2164270

Great prize in Bangkok if anyone is going soon and is very low now, although the auction still has lots of time.

Offline shimino1

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Re: Thailand Master Thread
« Reply #4008 on: March 05, 2018, 12:25:36 PM »
Anyone stay at the "Wyndham Grand Phuket Kalim Bay"?
It is only $140 a night for a 80 meter room with a private pool and it is only 10 minutes away from Chabad.

Offline yitrap

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Re: Thailand Master Thread
« Reply #4009 on: March 19, 2018, 11:42:31 AM »
Anyone have a number for a driver in Koh Samui?

Offline Theg

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Re: Thailand Master Thread
« Reply #4010 on: March 19, 2018, 11:49:20 AM »
Mr samui +66 89 060 6440

Offline loveddeals

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Re: Thailand Master Thread
« Reply #4011 on: March 20, 2018, 08:53:17 AM »
Need advice experts:

Land in BKK Monday at 2 PM, and fly out on Wednesday at 3 PM. What are the must-do/see things? I will be visiting with my sister and nephew.

Also, where should we stay?

Recommendations for places to enjoy food, (street-side or whatever) along with fresh fruits please.

Thanks.

Offline shwarmabob

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Re: Thailand Master Thread
« Reply #4012 on: March 20, 2018, 02:14:42 PM »
Need advice experts:
Land in BKK Monday at 2 PM, and fly out on Wednesday at 3 PM. What are the must-do/see things? I will be visiting with my sister and nephew.
Grand Palace
boat ride on the Chao Phraya (you can take the public boats, they cost pennies)
Wat Arun
Wat Pho
Jim Thompson House

Also, where should we stay?
Sukhumvit is centrally located with access to the Skytrain

Recommendations for places to enjoy food, (street-side or whatever) along with fresh fruits please.
Thanks.
If you keep kosher, then your options are limited to the restaurant in Khao San Road. Otherwise, go dig in, if you see the locals eat it, then try it out.

Offline loveddeals

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Re: Thailand Master Thread
« Reply #4013 on: March 20, 2018, 09:40:11 PM »
Thanks for the reply.

I am Indian, so not in Kosher  :). Now, where would you recommend we eat, want to ensure that sister and nephew have good time. We are foodies and fruit-lovers  ;)

Thanks for the list of places to visit / things to do:

Grand Palace, seems nice from photos. How much time should we plan for this?
Wat Pho, planning to get massage here too, it is the one with massage school, right? How much time should we plan for this?
Wat Arun, seems nice temple. Again, nephew may decide he doesn't want to do more than 1-temple, so which one would you pick??
Any opinions on floating markets? Worth it to go or better to avoid?
Chatuchak market?? I know it is mainly weekend, and we are there during week days, but again, worth it during week days?

Should we even think of going to Pattaya/Phuket as a day-trip (Tuesday is the only day we can do it) or it will just be too much?

How about Bangkok Dinner Cruise on the Chao Phraya River? Are dinner cruises worth or we can better use the time.

Trip Advisor has a tour, includes floating market, lunch and elephant ride
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g293916- d2486392-Reviews-Bangkok_Day_Tours-Bangkok.html

What do experts here think of this??

Nephew doesn't want to do museums or too many temples, so not planning Thompson House.

Sorry for so many questions. I don't have time for this trip to plan the way I would have liked (traveling for work this week, with limited online time), and travel is this weekend.

Hoping everyone here will help me in making sure sister and nephew has enjoyable time and experience the best in limited time we have.

Thanks.


Offline mmgfarb

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Re: Thailand Master Thread
« Reply #4014 on: March 20, 2018, 11:39:49 PM »
Anyone stay at the "Wyndham Grand Phuket Kalim Bay"?
It is only $140 a night for a 80 meter room with a private pool and it is only 10 minutes away from Chabad.
This place looks really nice, especially for the price. Chase even has rates on sale with points, $127 a night and only 8.5k points with CSR.
"JS [is] a fetid cesspool of unvarnished linguistic manure, with lots of useless drivel and post-padding." -Moishebatchy

Offline loveddeals

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Re: Thailand Master Thread
« Reply #4015 on: March 21, 2018, 08:39:08 AM »
Bump...

Thanks for the reply.

I am Indian, so not in Kosher  :). Now, where would you recommend we eat, want to ensure that sister and nephew have good time. We are foodies and fruit-lovers  ;)

Thanks for the list of places to visit / things to do:

Grand Palace, seems nice from photos. How much time should we plan for this?
Wat Pho, planning to get massage here too, it is the one with massage school, right? How much time should we plan for this?
Wat Arun, seems nice temple. Again, nephew may decide he doesn't want to do more than 1-temple, so which one would you pick??
Any opinions on floating markets? Worth it to go or better to avoid?
Chatuchak market?? I know it is mainly weekend, and we are there during week days, but again, worth it during week days?

Should we even think of going to Pattaya/Phuket as a day-trip (Tuesday is the only day we can do it) or it will just be too much?

How about Bangkok Dinner Cruise on the Chao Phraya River? Are dinner cruises worth or we can better use the time.

Trip Advisor has a tour, includes floating market, lunch and elephant ride
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g293916- d2486392-Reviews-Bangkok_Day_Tours-Bangkok.html

What do experts here think of this??

Nephew doesn't want to do museums or too many temples, so not planning Thompson House.

Sorry for so many questions. I don't have time for this trip to plan the way I would have liked (traveling for work this week, with limited online time), and travel is this weekend.

Hoping everyone here will help me in making sure sister and nephew has enjoyable time and experience the best in limited time we have.

Thanks.

Offline shwarmabob

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Re: Thailand Master Thread
« Reply #4016 on: March 21, 2018, 10:30:27 AM »
Thanks for the reply.
I am Indian, so not in Kosher  :). Now, where would you recommend we eat, want to ensure that sister and nephew have good time. We are foodies and fruit-lovers  ;)
There are tons of Indian restaurants as well. Maybe someone else can recommend one.

Grand Palace, seems nice from photos. How much time should we plan for this?
2 hours.

Wat Pho, planning to get massage here too, it is the one with massage school, right? How much time should we plan for this?
Wat Arun, seems nice temple. Again, nephew may decide he doesn't want to do more than 1-temple, so which one would you pick??
Wat Pho
You can see Wat Arun from the river

Any opinions on floating markets? Worth it to go or better to avoid?
Chatuchak market?? I know it is mainly weekend, and we are there during week days, but again, worth it during week days?
floating markets - very touristy, it's not a functional market any longer, far from the city. I would avoid it, especially if you are short on time

Should we even think of going to Pattaya/Phuket as a day-trip (Tuesday is the only day we can do it) or it will just be too much?
with your sister and nephew? Phuket is far. Pattaya has some water sports but I would stay away.

How about Bangkok Dinner Cruise on the Chao Phraya River? Are dinner cruises worth or we can better use the time.
The river in the evening is very pretty, but I doubt that many members here went on a Dinner Cruise.

Trip Advisor has a tour, includes floating market, lunch and elephant ride
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g293916- d2486392-Reviews-Bangkok_Day_Tours-Bangkok.html
You said that you are there for 24 hrs. A day tour from Bangkok will not show you Bangkok

Offline loveddeals

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Re: Thailand Master Thread
« Reply #4017 on: March 21, 2018, 11:29:09 AM »
Not really want Indian food, mainly looking for authentic Thai food, and fresh fruits. When is the mango-season??

Yes, with sister & nephew. Ok then, we will avoid both Phuket & Pattaya.

Dinner Cruise, will look into it.

We land in Bangkok at 2 PM, and leave at 3 PM, so almost 48-hours total. 

Offline mmgfarb

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Re: Thailand Master Thread
« Reply #4018 on: March 21, 2018, 11:35:43 AM »
Not really want Indian food, mainly looking for authentic Thai food, and fresh fruits. When is the mango-season??

Yes, with sister & nephew. Ok then, we will avoid both Phuket & Pattaya.

Dinner Cruise, will look into it.

We land in Bangkok at 2 PM, and leave at 3 PM, so almost 48-hours total.
Most members here keep kosher so I don't think many people will have local food recommendations.
"JS [is] a fetid cesspool of unvarnished linguistic manure, with lots of useless drivel and post-padding." -Moishebatchy

Offline Emkay

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Re: Thailand Master Thread
« Reply #4019 on: March 22, 2018, 08:39:30 AM »
Anyone here ever get food delivered to BKK airport?