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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 742983 times)

Offline Feivish

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Re: Thailand Master Thread
« Reply #2700 on: September 11, 2015, 04:38:27 PM »
Thanks for your input.

Offline AJK

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Re: Thailand Master Thread
« Reply #2701 on: September 11, 2015, 04:53:24 PM »
Thanks for your input.
Check out my trip report. I basically did that, but because I had more time, I continued on to USM.
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 Marco Polo

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Re: Thailand Master Thread
« Reply #2702 on: September 11, 2015, 05:00:52 PM »
And i did USM first with less time in both locations and wished i had more time.
Quaerite et Invenietis.

Offline Feivish

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Re: Thailand Master Thread
« Reply #2703 on: September 11, 2015, 05:22:17 PM »
Check out my trip report. I basically did that, but because I had more time, I continued on to USM.
I did a couple of times.
Unfortunately I don't have the time you had and from that whole trip, CNX and USM where my highlights.
CNX is my must and I feel like I'm juggling between USM and HKG.
With 4-5 days in CNX including Shabbos and 2 days in USM, I believe I got a pretty good vacation.
Also, I figure sometimes in the future I can pass through HKG for a couple of days.

Offline Marco Polo

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Re: Thailand Master Thread
« Reply #2704 on: September 11, 2015, 05:26:10 PM »
I did a couple of times.
Unfortunately I don't have the time you had and from that whole trip, CNX and USM where my highlights.
CNX is my must and I feel like I'm juggling between USM and HKG.
With 4-5 days in CNX including Shabbos and 2 days in USM, I believe I got a pretty good vacation.
Also, I figure sometimes in the future I can pass through HKG for a couple of days.
You can do it, but you will want more. I think i did two days in USM, 3-4 days in CNX and 3 days in HKG. Was a great trip, but needed more in Thailand.
Quaerite et Invenietis.

Offline Feivish

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Re: Thailand Master Thread
« Reply #2705 on: September 11, 2015, 05:32:16 PM »
True. Will have to make some choices.
One more factor, for my flight home if I do USM  at the end EK F works out better and for CNX KE F works out better.

Offline Marco Polo

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Re: Thailand Master Thread
« Reply #2706 on: September 12, 2015, 09:45:08 PM »
True. Will have to make some choices.
One more factor, for my flight home if I do USM  at the end EK F works out better and for CNX KE F works out better.
What do you mean?
Quaerite et Invenietis.

Offline Feivish

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Re: Thailand Master Thread
« Reply #2707 on: September 12, 2015, 10:32:04 PM »
What do you mean?
I rather fly EK, and considering my dates and availability EK works out better leaving USM. However, leaving CNX KE is more ideal.

Offline Marco Polo

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Re: Thailand Master Thread
« Reply #2708 on: September 12, 2015, 10:32:48 PM »
I rather fly EK, and considering my dates and availability EK works out better leaving USM. However, leaving CNX KE is more ideal.
are your flights the same day?
Quaerite et Invenietis.

Offline Feivish

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Re: Thailand Master Thread
« Reply #2709 on: September 12, 2015, 10:57:19 PM »
are your flights the same day?
Not sure what you mean.

Offline Marco Polo

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Re: Thailand Master Thread
« Reply #2710 on: September 12, 2015, 10:59:32 PM »
Not sure what you mean.
If you are leaving the same day, why is one better than the other? Flights between USM and CNX are very short.
Quaerite et Invenietis.

Offline Dan

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Re: Thailand Master Thread
« Reply #2711 on: September 12, 2015, 11:04:58 PM »
How does this sound:

Thursday NYC - CNX
Friday - Monday evening CNX
Monday evening to Thursday evening USM.
Looks good to me.
Save your time, I don't answer PM. Post it in the forum and a dedicated DDF'er will get back to you as soon as possible.

Offline Feivish

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Re: Thailand Master Thread
« Reply #2712 on: September 12, 2015, 11:16:24 PM »
If you are leaving the same day, why is one better than the other? Flights between USM and CNX are very short.
I rather fly EK, and considering my dates and availability EK works out better leaving USM. However, leaving CNX KE is more ideal.
Looks good to me.
Thanks all for the input and advice, I got lots of good options. Will make a decision sometimes soon.

Offline Moishebatchy

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Re: Thailand Master Thread
« Reply #2713 on: September 13, 2015, 09:44:54 AM »
Need some shirts/suits?

Nope. Forgot my Surface charger there, trying to get it back.  :-[

Offline D93

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Re: Thailand Master Thread
« Reply #2714 on: September 13, 2015, 09:49:15 AM »
Nope. Forgot my Surface charger there, trying to get it back.  :-[
It's a sign that you should take another trip out there ;)

Offline Moishebatchy

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Re: Thailand Master Thread
« Reply #2715 on: September 13, 2015, 10:02:28 AM »
It's a sign that you should take another trip out there ;)

You know what they say, "be careful what you pray for........." >:D

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Re: Thailand Master Thread
« Reply #2716 on: September 24, 2015, 04:43:41 AM »
"Quote from: Rabbi Kantor of Chabad Bangkok
Hi, I am not a prophet :-).... but I don't think Bangkok is more dangerous
even now, than any major city in the world.
Kol tuv"

My (25) year old daughter is spending a year out in BKK (ends in December) assisting a young woman who was hit by a car.  She just attended Rabbi Kantor's holiday services this week after recently becoming an official member of his temple.  She has also told me that she still feels very safe in BKK even after the recent incident.     

Offline Hershelsdeals

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Re: Thailand Master Thread
« Reply #2717 on: October 14, 2015, 11:50:46 AM »
Is it okay to bring in cooked meat and milk into Thailand?

Offline Marco Polo

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Re: Thailand Master Thread
« Reply #2718 on: October 14, 2015, 11:52:41 AM »
Is it okay to bring in cooked meat and milk into Thailand?
There is plenty of kosher food there. Are you bringing it through for a different stop on your trip?
Quaerite et Invenietis.

Offline Hershelsdeals

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Re: Thailand Master Thread
« Reply #2719 on: October 14, 2015, 11:54:40 AM »
There is plenty of kosher food there. Are you bringing it through for a different stop on your trip?
I'm not sure that I will have time to stop by to pick up kosher food, the question is also if there's any kosher milk