THAILAND PRE-DEPARTURE INFORMATION 2017 VIETNAM CAMBODIA LAOS THAILAND MYANMAR INDONESIA SINGAPORE HONG KONG CHINA Thailand is a wonderful country and offers something for everyone. From the bustling modern metropolis of Bangkok to ancient archaeological sites, to jungle and beautiful tropical beaches, this Buddhist country is sure to leave visitors with warm memories. We wish you a memorable trip in Thailand, and offer the below information to help you prepare. VISA REQUIREMENTS Most nationalities may stay for at least 30 days in Thailand without a visa and at no charge (or with visa-on-arrival) when arriving at one of Thailand s international airports. However, we encourage you to check online at www.mfa.go.th for the latest information. (Note Mexican, Venezuelan, Costa Rican and some other Central and South American nationals must apply for a visa before travelling to Thailand. Please check with your local embassy to be sure.) Tourists from Andorra, Bulgaria, Bhutan, China, Cyprus, Ethiopia, India, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Maldives, Malta, Mauritius, Romania, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Taiwan, Ukraine and Uzbekistan are entitled to apply for Visa on Arrival (VoA) at 42 designated immigration checkpoints, which will allow tourists to stay in the country up to 15 days. From 27 September 2016, the Visa on arrival fee will be 2,000THB for single way. The list of the countries, may apply for Visa on Arrival, can be changed because of the regulation at the airport. For the following types of visa, please visit http://www.consular.go.th/main/th/customize/62281-summary-of-countries-and-territoriesentitled-for.html. The 42 designated immigration checkpoints to apply for the VoA are as follows http://www.thaiembassy.org/doha/contents/files/news-20160816-111831-949526.pdf It is a local requirement to provide Trails of Indochina with your full passport and visa information prior to entering Thailand. This is also applicable for the airlines to issue the air-ticket and for the hotels to prepare the check-in procedure. For Nationalities requiring a visa prior to arrival in Thailand, it is important to ensure a visa is pre-arranged when transiting through Thailand. This is particularly important for clients whereby the luggage is required to be collected from the luggage carousel and checked into the next flight. Example; Paris to Bangkok on Air France, connecting flight Bangkok to Phnom Penh with Bangkok Airlines. These two airlines do not connect and client must pass through immigration to collect luggage and check into next flight. Predeparture Information - 1
Please make sure your passport is valid more than 6 months from the date of departure of each country you are visiting. Also, make sure you have enough blank pages you may need up to 1.5 pages for each country you visit in Southeast Asia. Tourist arriving at a land border, and without a pre-arranged tourist visa in their passports will be granted only 15 day stays. If you are visiting Thailand and you live in or have traveled through a yellow fever zone then you need to have a yellow fever certificate to show that you have been vaccinated against the illness. When you arrive in Thailand you will be asked for your yellow fever certificate. You need to show this at the medical counter before queuing for immigration. The following countries have been listed by the Thai Government as yellow fever infected areas. Check to see if you have been in any of these places during the last 6 months. Angola Argentina Benin Bolivia Brazil Burkina Faso Burundi Cameron Central Africa Columbia Congo Cote d Ivoire Ecuador Chad Equatorial Guinea Ethiopia French-Guiana Gabon Gambia Ghana Guinea Guyana Guinea Bissau Kenya Liberia Mali Mauritania Niger Nigeria Panama Peru Paraguay Rwanda Senegal Sierra Leone Togo Sao Tome & Principe Somalia Sudan Suriname Tanzania Trinidad & Tobago Uganda Venezuela Zaire ARRIVAL INFORMATION ARRIVAL TIPS Thailand has two airports in Bangkok: Suvarnabhumi International Airport is the new airport for international flights and Don Muang Airport is used mainly for domestic flights. There are also a number of international airports across the country. Regional international airports include Hat Yai, Koh Samui and Phuket in the south and Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai in the north. In most gateway cities you will be met by a Trails of Indochina representative carrying the Trails of Indochina signboard with your name. However, in some airports, there are restrictions on signboards in which case the representative may just have your name printed on a sheet of paper. Predeparture Information - 2
BANGKOK AIRPORT Suvarnabhumi International Airport Bangkok Upon arrival at Bangkok s Suvarnabhumi International Airport, after you have picked up your luggage, please exit and look for your guide who is waiting at the Meeting Point right outside the gate, displaying a welcome signboard with your name and the Trails of Indochina logo. (Exit door No. 6 Only which is seen from the arrow is opposite at Suvanbhumi Airport Gate B). In case you cannot find your guide, please search for ATTA Association of Thai Travel Agent counter which is opposite Gate B. (See from the photo) Staffs will give your assistance to find your guide and to call our Hot Line number at (+66) 81 449 7283 Ms. Nissha Customer Care Trails of Indochina. Suvanabhumi International Airport (Domestic Flight Arrival Assembly Point) Upon Arrival in Bangkok as a Domestic flight. After collect your luggage, please proceed to the Arrival Hall and look for your guide in Trails of Indochina Uniform will be waiting for, displaying a welcome signboard with your name and the Trails of Indochina logo. (Exit door no. 2 only which is see from the arrow is opposite Gate A). In case you cannot find your guide, please search for ATTA Association of Thai Travel Agent counter (as photo) this will be the opposite Gate A. Staffs will give your assistance to find your guide and to call our Hot Line number at (+66) 81 449 7283 Ms. Nissha Customer Care Trails of Indochina Bangkok Office. Predeparture Information - 3
ATTA counter * NOVOTEL SUVARNABHUMI AIRPORT HOTEL STAY International arrivals will proceed out of Exit B or Exit C at Bangkok s new Suvarnabhumi International Terminal Airport. The designated gate of each flight will be announced with confirmation of the flight landing. Once you reach the assigned gate, look for Novotel Suvarnabhumi Airport Hotel signboard held by the hotel staff at the baggage claim area (as per your given flight schedule) and the staff will escort you to the hotel shuttle minivan s parking located on 2nd floor at Gate 4. If you do not see the hotel staff, proceed to Gate 4 on your own. The shuttle minivan departs every 15 minutes. * DOWNTOWN HOTELS STAY For arrivals to Bangkok s Suvarnabhumi airport and staying at a downtown hotel, after completing the immigration and customs procedures (form TM6), pass through custom checkpoint and move to arrival hall on 2nd Floor and look for the Trails of Indochina representative. CHIANG MAI DOMESTIC AND INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT Upon arrival at Chiang Mai Airport Domestic arrival please search for signboard Domestic Arrival and for International please search for International Arrival Hall on the 1fl. Here you will find your guide waiting for you holding the Trails of Indochina signboard with your name on it. Or you can go to Information counter and ask for assistance. Or please call our Hot Line number Please contact our Hot Line Hot Line number: (+66) 81 449 7283 (Ms. Nissha) Customer Care Trails of Indochina Chiang Mai International Airport map Predeparture Information - 4
KRABI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT Upon arrival at Krabi International Airport will landed terminal 1 & Domestic airplane will landed terminal 2. As seen from the map. Here you will find your guide waiting for you holding the Trails of Indochina signboard with your name on it. It called Meeting Point. In case if you cannot locate your guide you can go to Information counter is always on the left hand side of the terminal. Predeparture Information - 5
Please contact our Hot Line Hot Line number: +66 81 449 7283 (Ms. Nissha) Customer Care Trails of Indochina Krabi International Airport map PHUKET INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT The new terminal is operating as international both arrival and departure only, while the old terminal is still operates as domestic terminal until future notice. Upon Arrival terminal is at ground floor, after immigration check, proceed to baggage claims and customs check. You will walk through the Exit 3 and 4 walk straight through outside building you will spot the TMB EXCHANGED COUNTER (please see from the photo). Your guide and driver waiting and holding Trails of Indochina signboard showing your name on it. The car park building is located in front of the new International terminal building consisting of 5 floors. In case, the driver need to pick you up by himself he may take another 10-15 minutes to get the van to pick you up where he first greeting you. Exit 1, 2 is closed to the bus parking but still under construction. Exit 5, 6 is not open for services. Please contact our Hot Line Hot Line number: (+66) 81449 7283 (Ms. Nissha) Customer Care Trails of Indochina Phuket International Airport map Predeparture Information - 6
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KOH SAMUI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT Upon arrival at Koh Samui International Airport, After you collect your luggage from arrival Hall. And pleases search for the sign Meeting Area and follow the walk path around 10 minutes walked from the arrival Hall. You will find your guide waiting and holding Trails of Indochina signboard with your name on it. ** Remark: Meeting Area is assembly point that Koh Samui International Airport allowed Tour guide waiting for the guest of travel agency only If you cannot locate your guide please contact our Hot Line Hot Line number: (+66) 81 449 7283 (Ms. Nissha) Customer Care Trails of Indochina Koh Samui International Airport map Predeparture Information - 8
TRIP & TRAVEL INSURANCE Travelers are highly recommended to purchase trip and travel insurance. Trip insurance covers the cost of your trip should you be forced to cancel your trip before you start the trip. Travel insurance covers such costs as emergency and medical evacuation, hospital fees, property loss, etc which could possibly happen during the trip. If you would like Trails of Indochina to have a copy of your travel insurance information in case of emergency, please forward these details to your agent who will in turn forward to our office. HEALTH Please consult your doctor to discuss your particular health or immunization requirements. If you would like to have a source of further information, please refer to the Center for Disease Control (CDC) website at www.cdc.gov AIRLINES International Airlines Bangkok is one of Asia s largest air hubs, so it is very well-connected to the rest of the world. Major airlines flying to Thailand include Thai Airways, Air France, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Lufthansa, Qantas, Singapore, Emirates Airlines and many more Domestic Airlines There are a number of domestic airlines operating in Thailand but we use the most reliable ones including Thai Airways and Bangkok Airways. Thai Airways is the national carrier operating with larger size aircraft from Airbus and Boeing, while Bangkok airways operates some ATR72-200 (70 seats) in addition to the smaller airbus jets. Seat Assignment on the airplane The internal flights throughout Southeast Asia are relatively short, therefore seat assignment is not always possible in advance. The best way to secure a seat of your choice is to arrive at the airport early. You are requested to be present at the airport at least 1 hour before departure for domestic flights and 3 hours before departure for international flights. Airport security Please be aware that our courtesy check in service is now limited due to the current world security climate. Some airports will stipulate that you must check in your own bags. We thank you for your understanding on this matter. Luggage allowance Each airline has its own luggage allowance policy. Excess baggage is charged at a certain specific rate depending on the individual route. You are advised to check your airline prior to travel. All airlines now stipulate that liquids, gels and/or aerosols in carry-on luggage must be in completely closed containers of 3 oz/100ml or less (even if the container is partially filled). Departure airport tax Airport tax for both domestic and international flights is included in the ticket price Predeparture Information - 9
MONEY Thailand s currency, the Baht, trades for around 35 Baht to 1 US Dollar (check www.xe.com for the latest exchange rate). You will have no trouble finding ATMs, getting cash advances, exchanging travelers cheques or using popular credit cards in Bangkok and other major tourist centers (Chiang Mai, Phuket, Koh Samui, etc.) although it is wise to bring adequate funds in Thai Baht if traveling in remote areas. The most popular credit cards are Visa and MasterCard, followed by Amex and JCB. US Dollars are not accepted in shops, restaurants, taxis, etc so you should carry Thai Baht. Credit card fraud is a problem so please exercise caution and do not allow vendors to take your credit card out of your sight. TIPPING Tipping is not compulsory but it is greatly appreciated throughout Southeast Asia, especially in the service industry. For reference, we have provided a general guideline below. Tour Guide/Drivers If you are pleased with the services provided by your tour guide and driver, then a tip for their hard work will be very much appreciated. In general, we recommend around US$20 per day per traveler for guides and US$10 per day per traveler for drivers if less than 10 people in a group. We recommend around US$ 15 per day per traveler for guides and US$ 5 per day per traveler for drivers if there are 11 people or more. Hotel & Restaurant Staff A tipping of 5-10% of the total bill in restaurants is appreciated. If you stay a couple of days in the same hotel, a tip to the maid service of $2-3/day is appreciated. For porters, US$2-3/time/room is acceptable. Boat Cruise If you travel on a local basic boat such as Chao Praya River, a suggested tip from US$5-10 per boat is appreciated - more or less depending on the group size and the trip s duration. For an overnight boat trip such as on the Manorah Song Cruise, the suggestion is $20 - $30 per person to cover all the boat crew. CONTACT US If you have any questions or encounter any problems please contact immediately at our head office so we can provide an immediate solution. Trails of Indochina Thailand Co., Ltd Unit 503, 5 th Floor, KCC Building, 2 Silom Soi 9 Bangrak, Bangkok 10500, Thailand Hot Line number: (+66) 81 449 7283 thailand.care@trailsofindochina.com www.trailsofindochina.com Predeparture Information - 10