Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's) (2)
about Kasma Loha-unchit's Thailand Trips
FAQ's: General questions | Travel Concerns | Accommodations | Meals | Medical Concerns | Miscellaneous || 1-page FAQs (for printing)
Travel Concerns
What about getting to and from Thailand?
We can ticket you to and from Thailand and pass the cost onto you without surcharge. Alternatively, you can make your own arrangements.
Which airline do you use?
If we book your flight for you, we will pick a carrier of our choice and book you from San Francisco (SFO). If that carrier is not acceptable to you, you will need to make your own arrangements.
What if I don't live in the San Francisco Bay Area?
We may be able to book you from a city closer to where you live, depending on the carrier we have selected for that year. Alternatively, you can get to San Francisco on your own or book your own arrangements entirely.
How do I get to the hotel from the airport.
If we have booked you on the carrier of our choice and you are traveling on the scheduled dates of the tour at the times of the carrier we have chosen, we will pick you up and drop you off at the airport in Bangkok. If you are making your own travel arrangements or are traveling on dates other than the scheduled departure dates or at times other than those of the carrier we have selected, you are responsible for getting to the hotel on your own.
Can I make any travel arrangements through Kasma's travel agent?
Yes.
Will I need a visa?
If you are an American citizen, you do not need a visa to enter into Thailand. Upon arrival in Bangkok, immigration officials will automatically grant you a stay of 30 days in the kingdom. Unless you are planning to extend your visit beyond the length of the trip, you will not need to apply for a visa. If you are not an American citizen and want to check if you qualify for an automatic 30-day visa or if you are staying longer and need to apply for a visa, you can do so online at The Thai Embassy in Washington, DC or at the Thai Consulate in Los Angeles, CA.
I want to travel to Cambodia: can you help me make travel arrangements?
No. Kasma is not a travel agent. She offers no travel advice outside the scope of the trip nor does she have time to provide information or help with other travel plans in Thailand.
What is our main mode of travel in Thailand?
Mostly we travel around the country in two mini vans, each seating six or eight people. There are a couple of days on each trip where we will be driving in the vans for 6 to 8 hours – through beautiful, rural countryside. Roads in Thailand are occasionally curvey and this mode of transportation may be difficult for people who suffer from motion sickness.
We usually return to Bangkok from Chiang Mai by train and from the south by air. While in the south we travel to offshore islands by boats, which range from large converted fishing boats to smaller "longtail" boats (boarded by wading into sea water and climbing over the side). These boat rides may also be difficult for people with motion sickness. Expect to get wet (including baggage) on any of the boat rides should there be waves caused by wind and turbulence. (Oversized garbage bags, or inexpensive fiberglass bags available from any of Thailand's marketplaces, are recommended to keep your luggage dry.)
Is there anything I can do to offset the negative ecological effect of airplane traveling?
- We, personally make a donation every year to American Forests. They seem to plant more trees for your dollar than any other organization: every dollar you give plants a tree.
- The U.K.-based Carbon Neutral Company offers several options. Check out their "Carbon Calculator": your round-trip between San Francisco and Bangkok produces 6,288 pounds of CO2. They offer a number of options for offsetting the effects of this carbon.
- Friends of Conservation, also in the U.K., have a different calculator: you'll be surprised how many actual miles an airplane travels, given its spherical routes in the sky. They suggest also off-setting donations to their projects.
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