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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 923908 times)

Offline coffeebean

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Re: Thailand Master Thread
« Reply #4340 on: November 14, 2024, 12:18:25 PM »
Can anyone recommend a private pool room in Chiang Mai and Phuket? $500-$600/night

Offline ZCN

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Re: Thailand Master Thread
« Reply #4341 on: January 02, 2025, 08:17:08 PM »
I was in Chiang Mai, Ko Samui, etc. about 7 years ago with my wife and had a great time. Now I'm looking to take my kids to Thailand, and I'm wondering if I should go to Chiang Mai or Phuket. The main thing I want to do is animal encounters, and it looks like Phuket has both a Tiger Kingdom and some elephant places to go to. 

1 - Has anyone been to Tiger Kingdom or elephant sanctuaries in both Phuket and Chiang Mai and can chime in on any difference between the 2 places?

2 - I've heard some tourist places in Chiang Mai have closed down, like the crocodile place. Anything else that has closed since pre covid?

3 - Shabbos in Chabad of Phuket or Chiang Mai? I have kids so looking for something calm.

TIA!

Offline BarryLincoln

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Re: Thailand Master Thread
« Reply #4342 on: January 02, 2025, 09:20:47 PM »
I was in Chiang Mai, Ko Samui, etc. about 7 years ago with my wife and had a great time. Now I'm looking to take my kids to Thailand, and I'm wondering if I should go to Chiang Mai or Phuket. The main thing I want to do is animal encounters, and it looks like Phuket has both a Tiger Kingdom and some elephant places to go to. 

1 - Has anyone been to Tiger Kingdom or elephant sanctuaries in both Phuket and Chiang Mai and can chime in on any difference between the 2 places?

2 - I've heard some tourist places in Chiang Mai have closed down, like the crocodile place. Anything else that has closed since pre covid?

3 - Shabbos in Chabad of Phuket or Chiang Mai? I have kids so looking for something calm.

TIA!

Highly recommend Chiang Mai for animal encounters.  We did the Patara Elephant Sanctuary and Tiger Kingdom while there in 2023.  The Chabad is also world class - Rabbi Pikel is exceptional. Chiang Mai is also a much cleaner city - IMO Phuket was very seedy and not a place I would bring kids to.

Offline BarryLincoln

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Re: Thailand Master Thread
« Reply #4343 on: January 02, 2025, 09:23:10 PM »
Can anyone recommend a private pool room in Chiang Mai and Phuket? $500-$600/night
Not sure this is still relevant but we stayed at the Keemala just outside Phuket.  I think each Villa has its own private pool. 

Offline Springyboy

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Re: Thailand Master Thread
« Reply #4344 on: January 04, 2025, 06:43:53 AM »
Hi everyone, can anyone please recommend a Shabbos friendly hotel (no keycards on Shabbos in particular) in Koh Samui near the Chabad house? Am planning to go for around 2 weeks near Shavuos. Thanks!

Offline Drago

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Re: Thailand Master Thread
« Reply #4345 on: February 10, 2025, 10:00:42 AM »
Both Koh Samui and Koh Phangan have only a single place with shabbos davening and meals?

Online Ploni3

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Re: Thailand Master Thread
« Reply #4346 on: February 11, 2025, 11:22:36 AM »
Hi everyone, can anyone please recommend a Shabbos friendly hotel (no keycards on Shabbos in particular) in Koh Samui near the Chabad house? Am planning to go for around 2 weeks near Shavuos. Thanks!
Synergy used to have Shabbos friendly locks etc so you can check with them to see if they stiil do.  We stayed at Centara Reserve and taped up our doors and the stairs there are open

Online Ploni3

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Re: Thailand Master Thread
« Reply #4347 on: February 11, 2025, 11:23:32 AM »
Both Koh Samui and Koh Phangan have only a single place with shabbos davening and meals?
Correct for Samui...they have weekday minyan and restaurant on site as well.

Offline SolN

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Re: Thailand Master Thread
« Reply #4348 on: Yesterday at 09:05:27 AM »
can someone please explain the process of getting a suit by Rajawongse Clothers
like how long does it take to be ready ?
and why does behave such high profile ppl coming to his shop?

Offline 2035

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Re: Thailand Master Thread
« Reply #4349 on: Yesterday at 03:23:03 PM »
Does anyone know what booking class needs to be available to redeem awards on Bangkok Airways (from BKK to USM, Koh Samui) using partner awards? Are all seats available for redemption?
Thanks

Offline Drago

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Re: Thailand Master Thread
« Reply #4350 on: Today at 03:35:37 PM »
Does anyone know what booking class needs to be available to redeem awards on Bangkok Airways (from BKK to USM, Koh Samui) using partner awards? Are all seats available for redemption?
Thanks
which partner are you looking to redeem with?

Offline 2035

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Re: Thailand Master Thread
« Reply #4351 on: Today at 04:02:59 PM »
which partner are you looking to redeem with?
Probably Qatar