Francesca Schenker Travel Planner [email protected] The Expert Explorer http://www.theexpertexplorer.com

Hong Kong & Thailand Itinerary February 9, 2020 – February 23, 2020 Page 1 of 8

Calendar Overview Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

9 10 11 12 13 14 15

Depart JFK Fly to Hong Kong Hong Kong Bangkok Bangkok Food tour Pattaya

Night 1 in Hong Kong Night 2 in Hong 9:00 pm Kong Fly to BKK PM: Bus to Pattaya Night 2 in Pattaya Night 1 in Pattaya

16 17 18 19 20 21 22

Pattaya Chiang Mai Chiang Mai Elephant 9:00 am Koh Samui Koh Samui Sanctuary Fly to Koh Samui 7:35 pm Night 1 in Chiang Mai Night 2 in Chiang Tamarind Day Spa 8:20 pm Fly to Chiang Mai Mai Night 3 in Chiang Night 1 in Koh Fly to BKK Mai Samui

23

1:30 am Depart BKK for flights home

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Flights

Flight 1

Departure Airport Airline/Number Departure Date Departure Time Arrival Airport Arrival Date Arrival Time JFK EVA Airways 235 2/9/20 12:05 am Taiwan (TPE) 2/10/20 2:50 am TPE EVA Airways 265 2/10/20 5:00 AM Hong Kong (HK) 2/10/20 8:00 AM

Flight 2

Departure Airport Airline/Number Departure Date Departure Time Arrival Airport Arrival Date Arrival Time

HK Emirates EK 56 2/12/20 9:00 PM Bangkok (BKK) 2/12/20 11:15 pm

Flight 3

Departure Airport Airline/Number Departure Date Departure Time Arrival Airport Arrival Date Arrival Time

Pattaya Thai AirAsia 103 2/16/2020 7:25 pm Chiang Mai 2/16/2020 10:00 pm

Flight 4

Departure Airport Airline/Number Departure Date Departure Time Arrival Airport Arrival Date Arrival Time

Chiang Mai Bangkok Air 244 2/20/2020 9:00 AM Koh Samui 2/20/2020 10:45 AM

Flight 5

Departure Airport Airline/Number Departure Date Departure Time Arrival Airport Arrival Date Arrival Time

Koh Samui Bangkok Air 962 2/22/2020 9:50 PM Bangkok (BKK) 2/22/2020 11:50 PM BKK Asiana 2/23/2020 1:30 PM Vienna (VIE) 2/23/2020 7:00 AM VIE Asiana 2/23/2020 10:05 PM Newark (EWR) 2/23/2020 2:20 PM

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Hotels Explorer's Lodge in Hong Kong

Check In Address Phone Check Out Confirmation 2/10/2020 Hong Kong Disneyland +852 3510-2000 2/12/2020 CJ1234 Resort

Riva Arun Bangkok

Check In Address Phone Check Out Confirmation 2/12/2020 392/25-28 Maharaj Road, +66 02 2211188 2/14/2020 458769 Phraborom

Royal Cliff Resort Pattaya

Check In Address Phone Check Out Confirmation 2/14/2020 353 Phra Tamnuk Road, (+66) 38 250421 2/16/2020 Ab65H7

Floral Hotel Thapae Gate Chiang Mai

Check In Address Phone Check Out Confirmation 2/14/2020 109 Molmuang T.Sriphoom Rd. Sr +66 53 326 540 2/20/2020 J7H6GF

Tongsai Bay Koh Samui

Check In Address Phone Check Out Confirmation 2/20/2020 84 Moo 5, Bophut + 66 (0) 77 913 750 – 99 2/22/2020 AB67H

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Activities Things to do in Hong Kong

• Hike up to : The most popular option is to catch the from the Lower Terminus. The Peak Tram operates from 7am to 12 midnight and it takes only seven minutes to get to the top. Provided that the waiting line is short, this is the quickest way to get to Victoria Peak.

• Dim sum at Tim Ho Wan, Michelin starred restaurants in the central train station. Tim Ho Wan’s most popular dishes are The pork buns, the Steamed Egg Cake, Vermicelli Roll with Pig’s Liver and Pan Fried Carrot Cake

• Temple Street Night Market

• Hike Dragon's Back: The Dragon's Back is a mountain ridge in southeastern , Hong Kong that passes through Peak. It lies within the . In 2019, the Dragon's Back Trail was selected by CNN as one of the world's 23 best trails.

• Tian Tan Buddha. Tian Tan Buddha is a large bronze statue of Buddha Shakyamuni, completed in 1993, and located at Ngong Ping, , in Hong Kong. Visitors must climb a calf-aching 268 steps before reaching to the statue.

• Afternoon tea at the Peninsula Hotel: There is nothing more iconic in Hong Kong than experiencing the acclaimed Peninsula Classic Afternoon Tea. Served daily in The Lobby, which has long been recognized as one of the most elegant meeting places in Hong Kong, this revered tradition is accompanied by The Lobby Strings, playing live daily. An à la carte menu showcasing authentic Continental and Southeast Asian delights is served throughout the day.

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Things to do in Bangkok

• Floating Market: Taking a boat tour of the canals is one of the unmissable things to do in Bangkok, but beware of scams. The tour should last at least one hour and should cost no more than 100 Baht per person and depart from one of the official docks around town – it is better to check in advance for the departure points.

• Chatuchak Market: Travelers recommend visiting in the morning when there are fewer crowds and the heat isn't oppressive. Considering an average of 200,000 people visit this market per day, you're going to have to share space with lots of locals and tourists regardless. Visitors say you shouldn't be afraid to bargain here, as some vendors are willing to come down on their prices. Also, make sure you bring lots of cash. Most vendors don't accept cards and many travelers said they walked away buying way more than they had initially planned.

• Temples o Visit Wat Pho to See the Reclining Buddha (1-2 hours) o Wat Arun (less than an hour) o Visit the Grand Palace (2 hours to half a day. If you can swing it, arrive as soon as the attraction opens) o TIP: Typically hanging out around major tourist attractions, such as the Grand Palace, exceedingly friendly locals will say that the attraction is closed and invite tourists to do something different, offering transportation and guidance for an inflated price. Checking the opening times of attractions is one of the things to do in Bangkok to avoid this scam.

• Head to the Vertigo and Moon Bar, located on the 61st floor of the Banyan Tree Hotel. It’s the perfect place to admire the skyline of Bangkok with a drink in hand. Drinks are not cheap by local standards, but the view is worth every penny.

• Massages: For an affordable treatment, head on over to Ruen Nuad by Convent Road. Here, you can avail of a no-frills massage with a simple menu composing of a Thai massage, foot massage, and one with aromatic oils. Another recommended and popular spa is Health Land. Despite being a chain, they come well recommended and gives good value for their massages: Health Land or Asia Herb

• Bangkok Food Tour

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Things to do in Chiang Mai

• There are four temples you shouldn’t miss: Wat Chedi Luang (right in the heart of the Old City), Wat Pan Tao (made of teak; very near Wat Chedi Luana), Wat Phra Singh (dates back to the 14th century), and Wat Chiang Man (13th century; elephant statues) — all are within walking distance in the Old City.

• Your first stop is Doi Suthep, perhaps Chiang Mai’s most popular destination. A mountain 1,676 meters tall about 15 kilometers from Chiang Mai, the main destination on the mountain is Wat Phrathat (pronounced ‘pra-taht’). Dating back to 1383, the pilgrimage site requires a 309-step climb or a 30 baht fee (about $1 USD) to take a tram. This is as good a place to get an early lunch, so go ahead and do so across the street from the temple entrance.

• For a cheap massage pop into any little shop but for a more complete experience and nicer atmosphere, try Fah Lanna Spa in the Old City or Oasis Spa available in four locations in Chiang Mai.

• Chiang Mai Elephant Sanctuary

• Night Bazaar

• Food o Khao Soi: You can't visit Chiang Mai without trying khao soi, the regional noodle curry with a sweet-and-spicy taste. Nearly every restaurant in town has it on the menu, but a few specialize in khao soi. For the "real deal," go to Khao Soi Khun Yai on the northern edge of the Old City. This is one of those no-frills, no-menu places that does one thing (khao soi) very well. They close at 2 p.m.

o The House by Ginger, although pricey by local standards, serves delicious food in a beautiful setting. Find the popular restaurant just north of Tapae Gate. You'll probably need reservations on weekends.

o If you prefer to make dinner a more inexpensive "local" experience, go enjoy the outdoor eating scene at Chiang Mai Gate in the southeastern part of the Old City. Numerous carts sell delicious local food cooked in front of you.

o You’ll find the highest concentration of coffee shops and cafes in the east side of the Old City or in the Nimmanhaemin area to grab a cup of joe.

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TRANSPORTATION TIP Getting from Bangkok to Pattaya: The trips to Pattaya usually take about 2 hours, but times vary. Travel agencies and hotels, particularly in the Khao San Road area, also offer mini-van transport, usually at around B400 per person. This option is worth considering as you will usually be picked-up at your hotel and delivered to your digs in Pattaya. Another 'door to door' option is to take a taxi. The official fare is B1500 plus expressway fees, but there are private cars

Things to do in Pattaya

• Enjoy the beautiful infinity pools and restaurants at your hotel

● Pattaya floating market

● Yunomori Onsen and Spa

● Cabbages and Condoms for a fancy cocktail

Things to do in Koh Samui

● Relax on the private beach at your resort

● Enjoy one of the pools

● Tamarind Day Spa

Thank you for booking with The Expert Explorer! Page 8 of 8