USEFUL INFORMATION
information Useful
How to get to Thailand, how to travel around, what is costs, when to go, what to say and how to learn more
S
top awhile! Thailand has long been a popular choice for a stopover or twin-centre break. New routes from major carriers and a boom in regional airlines have helped widen the choice further.
Australia Emirates A380 services route via Bangkok to Australia. Air Asia, Jetstar and Virgin Australia also have Bangkok-Australia fl ights. A Thailand stopover is great for shopping and culture, plus breaking the long journey makes jetlag more manageable. Remember, beaches at Pattaya, Hua Hin and Cha Am don’t require another fl ight.
Dubai and Abu Dhabi Dubai is the on-trend twin since Emirates, which already served Bangkok, launched a daily service to Phuket via its hub in December 2012. Desert experiences make a particularly interesting contrast with Thailand and a Dubai stopover splits a long-haul journey into two medium stints of roughly six hours and eight hours. Similarly Etihad and its codeshare partner Air Berlin offer a daily service from their hub, Abu Dhabi, into Phuket.
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Asia neighbours Many Asia visitors combine Thailand with Bali, Hong Kong, Malaysia and Singapore using the countries’ fl ag
carriers or regional Thai, Bangkok Airways and Air Asia fl ights. The city sights contrast well with Thailand’s beach or adventurous North, as do orang-utans in Borneo with elephants round Chiang Mai. The Eastern & Oriental Express links Malaysia and Singapore with Thailand by train.
Vietnam Fly on to Vietnam from Thailand with Thai Airways, or combine Vietnam Airlines’ direct London-Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City fl ights with a Bangkok hop using Thai, Vietnam Airlines, Qatar Airways, or Air Asia. Visit Ho Chi Minh’s tomb, cruise on the UNESCO-listed Halong Bay or see the Vietnam War Chu Chi tunnels.
Cambodia and Laos Visitors are generally more confi dent trying a lesser-known destination with familiar Thailand. Bangkok Airways and Thai serve both Cambodia and Laos. Cambodia’s Angkor Wat, a popular bucket list site of ancient jungle temples, is around a two-hour fl ight from Bangkok. In neighbouring Laos,
key sights include French colonial capital Vientiane, UNESCO-listed Luang Prabang and adventure centre Vang Vieng.
Myanmar (Burma) No longer on the tourism boycott list, emerging Burma is best visited with responsible tourism operators. It’s reached by road, or with Bangkok Airways or Thai.
Mekong River cruises An increasingly popular option in the area is a Mekong River cruise which can link Vietnam and Cambodia (including the ancient temples of Angkor Wat) with Thailand. Avalon Waterways includes Bangkok, and Travel Indochina features Chiang Rai.
Thailand multi-centres To stay put in Thailand is to miss out. City, North and beach triangles, incorporating sightseeing, shopping, elephants and soft adventure are popular. A good honeymoon option is to combine cosmopolitan Bangkok with time on the beach, perhaps linking a major resort with an island retreat.
Further alternatives Other interesting Thailand combinations include: the Maldives with Bangkok Airways; Taiwan with Eva Air; Korea or mainland China with Thai or Bangkok Airways; and Chiang Mai-Macau with Thai Air Asia.
HOW TO GET THERE AIRLINE INFORMATION Airline
THAI AIRWAYS
thaiairways.co.uk
EVA AIR
evaair.com
BRITISH AIRWAYS
batraveltrade.com
THOMSON AIRWAYS
thomsonfly.com
EMIRATES
emirates.com
ETIHAD
etihad.com
HOT HOT HOT The three main seasons are 'hot' from March to May, when temperatures can reach 30°C; 'rainy' from June and October; and 'cool' from November when there can be rain and wind
JET AIRWAYS
jetairways.com
Timings correct at time of going to press. Frequency † Twice-daily Daily Six per week Weekly Nov 5 to April 30
Up to nine per week
per airport via Dubai* Five times daily
09.15 20.20 20.20 14.05 20.20
Twice daily
9.30 20.45
06.50+1 19.45+1 18.15+1
18.00+1 18.00+1
6.55+1 18.25+1
Multi Multi Multi
Depart LHR
12.30 21.30
21.20
21.55 22.00 22.05
14.25
Depart LGW
Arrive BKK
06.05+1 15.05+1
15.45+1
15.15+1 15.20+1 15.30+1
08.45/ 07.45 +1 (April)
20.00/ 21.35+1
Multi
19.50 08.40 02.30 02.30
21.10 8.40
*Departs UK for Bangkok and/or Phuket from Heathrow, Gatwick, Birmingham, Manchester and Glasgow. Emirates codeshares with Qantas to Bangkok. †
Arrive HKT
Depart BKK
01.10 12.50
13.10 00.20
11.45/ 10.45 (April)
00.15 Multi
20.25 06.35+1 06.35+1 17.40 17.30 12.35
6.45+1 18.30
Depart HKT
Arrive LHR
07.15 18.55+1 19.15 06.25 17.45 12.30
Arrive LGW
Thailand sits at the centre of the Southeast Asia region and acts as a stopover to countries as far ranging as Australia and Vietnam
” Fly direct from the United Kingdom
Direct fl ights from the UK to Thailand take approximately 10½ to 12 hours Airlines fl ying between the UK
and Thailand with one stop include: Qatar Airways, Oman Air, Cathay Pacifi c, Singapore Airlines, Malaysia Airlines,
Korean Air, Air India, Sri Lankan Airlines, Korean Air, Asiana and KLM
”
NEED TO KNOW!
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