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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 732618 times)

Offline PlatinumGuy

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Re: Thailand Master Thread
« Reply #300 on: July 26, 2012, 04:57:17 PM »
i was considering cancelling and rebooking as anyhow there are better flights now. however if it really is illegal than i definetly wont go that route
Illegal means against their ticking rules, not against the law
״וזה כלל גדול: שישנא אדם כל דבר שקר. וכל מה שיוסיף שנאה לדרכי השקר – יוסיף אהבה לתורה.״ - אורחות צדיקים

Online damaxer91

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Re: Thailand Master Thread
« Reply #301 on: July 26, 2012, 07:20:39 PM »
has been to Thailand a bunch of times that Pattaya is a place for Europeans to go to when they are looking for prostitutes. But the hotel looks beautiful.

+1. Your friend was right. Stay away from Pattaya. Super seedy

Offline yas

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Re: Thailand Master Thread
« Reply #302 on: July 26, 2012, 09:53:29 PM »
Like you said by doing a quick search on Pattaya the only thing i saw to do there, more or less was Night Clubs. Either way they have a minimum of 2 nights, and they are fully booked for when we need.
In the end i will probably stay at the Sheraton Hua Hin on Thursday, the rooms look decent but not amazing, but the resort itself looks beautiful, its 2 hours from BKK, which is a bit of a schlep but its near the beach and will give a good opportunity to relax after a couple busy days in Chiang mai. 

Offline Drago

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Re: Thailand Master Thread
« Reply #303 on: July 26, 2012, 11:54:50 PM »
Like you said by doing a quick search on Pattaya the only thing i saw to do there, more or less was Night Clubs. Either way they have a minimum of 2 nights, and they are fully booked for when we need.
In the end i will probably stay at the Sheraton Hua Hin on Thursday, the rooms look decent but not amazing, but the resort itself looks beautiful, its 2 hours from BKK, which is a bit of a schlep but its near the beach and will give a good opportunity to relax after a couple busy days in Chiang mai. 

Oops, looks like my comment was edited out. I hope I didn't inadvertently insult any Europeans. :)

Offline gunit770

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Re: Thailand Master Thread
« Reply #304 on: July 29, 2012, 02:30:40 PM »
Hey everybody,
 
I'm looking to go to someplace in Asia (probably Thailand as that seems to be the place with the best weather in late december and has the most kosher food) in December with my wife for about 9 days. I've been looking into Khao Lak as that seems like quite a nice location and has some decent spg hotels. Can anyone please give me advice on traveling around thailand/good travel guide/ kosher food/ best weather for late december/ what to do for 9 days? I'm going there with AAdvantage miles and coming back to NY with UA. I would like to stay a few days by the beach with nice weather and a few days checking out the jungle. Is singapore a better option? Or is Thailand perfect for what I need?

Thanks Everybody!

Offline Cbs

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Re: Thailand Master Thread
« Reply #305 on: July 29, 2012, 02:36:35 PM »
Hey everybody,
 
I'm looking to go to someplace in Asia (probably Thailand as that seems to be the place with the best weather in late december and has the most kosher food) in December with my wife for about 9 days. I've been looking into Khao Lak as that seems like quite a nice location and has some decent spg hotels. Can anyone please give me advice on traveling around thailand/good travel guide/ kosher food/ best weather for late december/ what to do for 9 days? I'm going there with AAdvantage miles and coming back to NY with UA. I would like to stay a few days by the beach with nice weather and a few days checking out the jungle. Is singapore a better option? Or is Thailand perfect for what I need?

Thanks Everybody!
Singapore doesn't have much of a beach.. there's something small on sentosa island but I doubt ur looking for that. Thailand sounds perfect and its cheaper than SIN once your there

Offline Drago

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Re: Thailand Master Thread
« Reply #306 on: July 30, 2012, 04:19:55 PM »
If I tell a cabby the name of my hotel, will they know where to go, or do I need an address?

Offline Cbs

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Re: Thailand Master Thread
« Reply #307 on: July 30, 2012, 04:39:18 PM »
If I tell a cabby the name of my hotel, will they know where to go, or do I need an address?
depends where. usually they will know where it is..but bring an address in case (preferably written in thai)  if in bangkok tell me the hotel name and i can tell you what to tell the driver.

Offline Drago

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Re: Thailand Master Thread
« Reply #308 on: July 30, 2012, 05:05:42 PM »
depends where. usually they will know where it is..but bring an address in case (preferably written in thai)  if in bangkok tell me the hotel name and i can tell you what to tell the driver.
park plaza in bkk

Offline Cbs

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Re: Thailand Master Thread
« Reply #309 on: July 30, 2012, 05:21:29 PM »
park plaza in bkk
tell the driver "Sukhumvit -  Soi sib sawng" and then say park plaza hotel once he starts the meter. and it shouldnt be more than 300thb on the meter.. my guess would be around 275 thb or so. + the highway tolls which are another 70 thb

Offline Drago

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Re: Thailand Master Thread
« Reply #310 on: July 30, 2012, 05:33:29 PM »
tell the driver "Sukhumvit -  Soi sib sawng" and then say park plaza hotel once he starts the meter. and it shouldnt be more than 300thb on the meter.. my guess would be around 275 thb or so. + the highway tolls which are another 70 thb

ผมขอขอบคุณคุณ o ดีอย่างใดอย่างหนึ่ง, CBS

Offline Cbs

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Re: Thailand Master Thread
« Reply #311 on: July 30, 2012, 05:35:31 PM »
ผมขอขอบคุณคุณ o ดีอย่างใดอย่างหนึ่ง, CBS
your welcome :)

btw thank you in thai is  karp-kun-krap (all in one word) and if you are a woman u say kaaa instead of krap at end

Offline pianodude

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Re: Thailand Master Thread
« Reply #312 on: July 30, 2012, 06:48:28 PM »
park plaza in bkk

There are two Park Plaza hotels in BKK.  I will be staying at the Park Plaza Bangkok Soi 18 in a few weeks; the other is only a few blocks away, the Park Plaza Sukhumvit Bangkok.  I would recommend having the address written down for the driver.

Offline Cbs

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Re: Thailand Master Thread
« Reply #313 on: July 30, 2012, 07:06:10 PM »
There are two Park Plaza hotels in BKK.  I will be staying at the Park Plaza Bangkok Soi 18 in a few weeks; the other is only a few blocks away, the Park Plaza Sukhumvit Bangkok.  I would recommend having the address written down for the driver.
well if thats the case then tell the driver "sukhumvit soi sib paed" (make sure to stress on the "a" bit more because if you say "sib ped" thats 11)

@reuven - i assumed you were on soi 12

and the reason i say to say it in thai, is because i found that whenever a tourist would enter a taxi and say something in english like they didnt know where it was then the driver always take advantage and ask for a high price and not use the meter. On the other hand if you say it as if you know the place and you just get in taxi and wait for him to turn on meter, then it usually works

from the airport on the other hand, they know almost everyone is tourist so they try giving set prices. so you may have to try a few taxis until you get a meter. - i would go up to 4th (top floor) by departures and take a taxi that dropped off someone. if you take the bottom by arrivals theres an extra charge of 50 thb...

Offline bigworld

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Re: Thailand Master Thread
« Reply #314 on: July 31, 2012, 02:40:59 AM »
for all of you in bangkok, if you can please post any info on where you got a sim card,arriving tom.
Also if you came accross any good itineraries or any good deals(like spas or shopping...) please pm me

Offline Cbs

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Re: Thailand Master Thread
« Reply #315 on: July 31, 2012, 02:45:21 AM »
for all of you in bangkok, if you can please post any info on where you got a sim card,arriving tom.
Also if you came accross any good itineraries or any good deals(like spas or shopping...) please pm me
why should they PM you? let them post it so others can know when they go

Heres some Sim Card info:

with a sim card, i dont recall seeing free ones anywhere - even in airport. but you can get "trueMove" sim card and usually itll cost bet 50 - 100 baht and it comes with like 35 baht already on it, and the rates in thailand are 1 baht per minute and its i think the same to call US (or maybe 3 baht)
or go to any 7-11 and they usually have the simcards, and thats where u topup if u need to.

Offline Drago

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Re: Thailand Master Thread
« Reply #316 on: July 31, 2012, 04:56:36 AM »
and the reason i say to say it in thai, is because i found that whenever a tourist would enter a taxi and say something in english like they didnt know where it was then the driver always take advantage and ask for a high price and not use the meter. On the other hand if you say it as if you know the place and you just get in taxi and wait for him to turn on meter, then it usually works

I can't just wait till I find a cab that will agree to use a meter?

Offline Cbs

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Re: Thailand Master Thread
« Reply #317 on: July 31, 2012, 05:22:40 AM »
I can't just wait till I find a cab that will agree to use a meter?
It may take a while. But I'll suggest to save time just go to taxis on the arrival floor and they are official with meter andan extra 50 baht fee ($1.70) and take them

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Re: Thailand Master Thread
« Reply #318 on: July 31, 2012, 06:14:00 AM »
Another 2 questions.

Does anyone have any tour guide they would recommend in Chiang Mai?
I haven't had a chance to ask my LOR yet, but is going near the temples, statues, all halachically problematic? The white temple and temple caves look interesting, but I'm not sure how buddha fits into the jewish outlook.

Offline andrew

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Re: Thailand Master Thread
« Reply #319 on: July 31, 2012, 09:50:55 AM »
their is a local JEWISH travel agency right next door to chabad they could set you up with everything you need, they also have big discounts if you book activities thru them as they have all the israeli tourist business. enjoy.
ps i pm'ed you with a little favor could you please have a look.