Thailand Travel Thoughts?

[sepiareverb]

My son is going to be heading to Thailand (Phuket) for an extended trip and we're wondering if anyone has any travel recommendations? He's getting there from the US, we're thinking traveling through Japan would be easier than going through China.

Thanks in advance.
-Bob

 

[TheFlyingCamera]

Getting there probably means flying in to BKK then getting a regional flight to Phuket. You can go through Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong or Singapore or KL even, if you're of such a mind. What is closer to you, Los Angeles/San Francisco or New York? You can get one-stop flights from LA/SF, passing through a range of cities like Seoul, Beijing, Taipei, or Hong Kong. There are also flights going east through Europe that will pass you through Frankfurt, London, Amsterdam or Dubai. These are more likely flying from New York/Newark. When I went to BKK, I flew from Newark to Seattle, Seattle to Taipei, then Taipei to BKK. It was the same plane from New York to Taipei, with just a short layover in Seattle to change crews and clean the cabin. There was about 20 minutes on the ground in Taipei, enough to get from the one gate to the next, then we were up in the air again. Landing in Taipei is a little hairy, as the plane has to come in fast and hard, and when you're taxiing to the terminal you can see the anti-aircraft missile emplacements. A few years later I went to Singapore and Cambodia, and that flight was DC-New York-Amsterdam-Singapore. That's a LONG flight, but logistically easy once you're out of the US. The pain in the ass is getting from DC to Newark - you have to change terminals at Newark (and at JFK) and go outside to get from your domestic flight to the international flight. And they no longer check your luggage through, so you have to retrieve it and haul it yourself from terminal to terminal.

No matter how you cut it, it's going to be a LONG trip (about 18-24 hours each way). I don't know that flying through Beijing, Shanghai, or Guangzhou vs. Tokyo will really make a difference in the experience.

 

[bukaj]

I flew into Bangkok a year ago through Hong Kong on Cathay Pacific from the west coast. I don't think it matters what country you fly through since you'll just be at the airport. I personally like giving myself a longer layover (at least 2 hours) because I'd rather wait around a bit and relax then stress about finding the connecting gate in a foreign airport. Cathay was also really nice as an airline, and one of the cheaper ones as well. Their meals are way better than any US airline I've been on at that.

 

[raytoei@gmail.com]

i think either way is alright. thailand is a
huge airline hub in asia and most airlines
will fly to bkk. phuket is nice too.
you will find many farang who go there
and never leave...

 

[funkydog]

The usual transit hubs are Tokyo, Hong Kong, and Taipei depending which Asian airline your US carrier is partnering with. 13 hours from the US to Tokyo, etc another 5 or 6 to BKK. Something like that. Faster in one direction because of the jetstream.

Check this out http://www.thaiairways.com/ $1423 round trip LAX-Phuket. Rocks you right up to the doorstep plus free stopover in Bangkok. One night in Bangkok is advisable because the international and domestic airports are very far apart and way too stressful to rush cross town in traffic to catch connecting flights.

Check your PM. There's more that's too long for this post.

 

[MartinP]

An extended trip? How about fly to London and the rest of the way by train, bus and hitching? That would give him something to talk about in Phuket! About eight or nine thousand miles. Tip - avoid Syria.

 

[heed]

I'm from the US but I live in China most of the time and travel to Thailand at least once a year.

IMHO there's not much difference in what airport he's transitting, as long as he's staying in the airport. In general, I would just go however is cheapest and shortest. Some have better lounges than others if he's flying elite. If he wants to get a few days' layover, that changes things. Chinese visa on arrival are not typically given to US citizens in mainland China (i.e., not Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan) and the visa can be 150-250 bucks. The other places you mention (as well as HK, Mac., TW) do give visas to US citizens on arrival.

I am ususally travelling from interior China to East coast USA and it takes 19-28 hrs. My record was 16 hrs but that was a direct Atlanta-Seoul and the Seoul-Chongqing.

Let me know if you have other questions; we have vacationed near Phuket (Khao Lak) for the last several years and I know the area pretty well. I've been to all the other SE Asian and S Asian countries except Brunei.

 

[sepiareverb]

Thank you- (funky dog, no deletion necessary).

We will digest and may be in touch with some of you.

Have a good weekend.
-Bob