Sunsail – Thailand

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Thailand - Essential Holiday Information

Sunsail Phuket
Phuket Boat Lagoon
22/1 Thepkrasatti Road
Tambol Koh Kaew
Amphur Muang
Phuket
Tel:00 66 76 239057
Fax:00 66 76 238940
Base Manager : Ian Hewitt

Sunsail Koh Samui
Fishermans Village
Bo Phut
Koh Samui
Surrat Thani
Thailand
Base Manager: Guy Harrison
Contact via Sunsail Phuket

Sunsail Koh Chang
Koh Chang Marina & resort
48/14 Moo 2 South Koh Chang
Ao Salak Phet
Thepkrasatti Road
Koh Chang
Trat
Thailand
Base Manager: Morgan Hayes
Tel: +66 (0) 87 894 1872
Email: kohchangbase@sunsailasia.com

TIME
• Time difference between the UK and Thailand is + 7 hours

LANGUAGE
• Thai and English

PASSPORT & VISAS
• Please ensure your passport is valid for the period of travel and for six months after you return.
• Your passport name must match the name on the flight ticket otherwise you may not be able to travel and insurance may be invalid.
• If your child is not already included on a valid British Passport they are required to hold their own passport.
• Visas not required for British passport holders for visits less than 30 days. For longer duration holidays you should obtain a visa from the Thai Consulate. You should apply, enclosing a stamped addressed envelope, to the Visa Dept, Royal Embassy, 29-30 Queen’s Gate, London, SW7 5JB.
• Non-British passport holders, please contact your local consulate for advice on visa and passport requirements.

FLIGHTS
• Gatwick Information 0870 000 2468
• Heathrow Information 0870 000 0123
• Manchester Information 0161 489 3000
• Luton Information 0158 240 5100
• Glasgow Information 0141 887 1111
• Luggage allowance is 20kg per person. Only one item of hand luggage per person is allowed and this must not weigh more than 5kg. For storage aboard we recommend traveling light and using folding luggage.
• Lost or damaged luggage whilst flying is the responsibility of the airline and is not covered by your travel insurance, however First Choice Airways has no liability for loss or damage to valuable or fragile items packed in hold baggage however caused. You must not include in Checked Baggage money, jewellery, precious metals, computers, personal electronic devices, negotiable papers, securities or other valuables, business documents, passports and other identification documents or samples.
• If an incident occurs, immediately report it to airport officials and ensure Property Irregularity Reports (PIR) are completed. Claims will not be considered once you have left the airport.
• If you are taking our First Choice Charter flights and wish to enquire about pre booking seats please call the airline direct on 0870 757 2757. Group seats are available for pre booking through Sunsail. Call the team for more details.
• SAVE UPTO 30% when you book your airport parking with BCP through Sunsail. Call the team for more details quoting Sunsail reference BN545

AIRPORTS
• PHUKET BASE - Bangkok’s Don Muang Airport, approximately 20 miles outside the city centre. From Don Muang, you will require the Domestic Terminal for your connection to Phuket Airport.
• KOH SAMUI BASE -  Bangkok’s Don Muang Airport, approximately 20 miles outside the city centre. From Don Muang, you will require the Domestic Terminal for your connection to Koh Samui Airport.
• KOH CHANG BASE - Bangkok’s Don Muang Airport, approximately 20 miles outside the city centre. From Don Muang, you will require the Domestic Terminal for your connection to Trat Airport.
• On most airlines it is no longer essential to reconfirm all onward flights 48 hours prior to departure – check with your airline. Airport taxes are charged at around 50 Bahts per outgoing domestic flight and at around 500 Bahts per outgoing international passenger.

CUSTOMS & IMMIGRATION
• Before leaving the airport, you will have to clear Immigration and Customs.
• A landing card will be given to you on the plane, along with a Customs declaration form. Airlines will assume no liability for perishable articles, e.g. food, which may also be confiscated by Customs.

TRANSFERS & TAXIS
• If your Sunsail Holiday includes our charter flight, a Sunsail representative will meet you at the airport and escort you to your transfer.
• If your holiday is flight exclusive, we request that you send your travel arrangements to us so we can assist with transfer details where required.
PLEASE NOTE: Guests arriving separately should bring a copy of the charter contract / invoice.
• Taxis are available at Bangkok Airport (not Phuket Airport, which operates an Airways Limousine service only) and can be hired in any town.
• Tuk Tuk’s, the popular local form of transport, and buses are also available for journeys between towns.
• PHUKET BASE - Transfers from Phuket Airport to the Base can be arranged on request. The approximate cost of a taxi for up to 3 people is £13 each way, a minibus for up to 10 people £19 each way.
• KOH SAMUI BASE - Transfers from Phuket Airport to the Base can be arranged on request. The base is located 10 mins from the airport. Transfer costs approx 800 Baht for a mini bus.
• KOH CHANG BASE - Transfers from Trat  Airport to the Base can be arranged on request. The base is located approx 1 hour 10 mins from the airport. You will need to transfer using ferry and taxi.

VACCINATIONS
• Immunisation or tablets are recommended for protection against Hepatitis A, Polio and Typhoid and against Malaria if incorporating a visit to the north of Thailand.
• Immunisation against Yellow Fever is essential if arriving from an infected country.
• Please refer to the Department of Health's 'EHIC and health advice for travellers' web page at www.dh.gov.uk or consult your family GP for further details.

CURRENCY
• The Baht.
• Cash and Travellers Cheques can be changed at banks, exchange shops and airports. Major credit cards are generally only accepted in the larger towns.
• Currency can be exchanged commission free at any high street First Choice Retail travel agent on production of your Sunsail invoice. You can pre-order your currency from a First Choice travel agent by telephoning them in advance on 0870 9005154 to find your nearest branch.
Sunsail recommend taking cash with you as the nearest ATM and currency exchange is at Bang Bao, approx one hours sail from the base.

BOARDING/DEPARTURE
• PHUKET BASE - The Sunsail base is located at the Boat Lagoon in Sapam Bay. NB: sailing in this area is tidal and as such, will influence the times that you can set off from and return to the Base. If in Thailand before your charter starts, please contact the Base to be advised of the best time to arrive. Full information on tide times can be found at: phuketgazette.net/tides/index.htm
• KOH SAMUI BASE - The Sunsail office is located next door to the Lodge Hotel. Yachts are situated at anchor off the fisherman’s village in Bo Phut Bay on the north coast of Koh Samui. Please call the Base Manager Guy Harrison on +66 7 894 1872 on arrival in Koh Samui. NB: sailing in this area is tidal and as such, will influence the times that you can set off from and return to the Base. If in Thailand before your charter starts, please contact the Base to be advised of the best time to arrive. Full information on tide times can be found at: phuketgazette.net/tides/index.htm
• KOH CHANG BASE – The Sunsail base will be located at Koh Chang Marina, Salak Phet.
• Your yacht will be ready at 1600 hrs for boarding and must be returned to the base on the final night of the holiday between 1600 hrs and 1800 hrs for vacating at 0900 hrs the following morning.

SAFETY
• All yachts are equipped with life jackets and a harness for everyone on board. We leave it up to you to decide when personal safety equipment should be worn.
• We suggest that children who are not strong swimmers should not be allowed in a dinghy without a life jacket or buoyancy aid and that they should wear a buoyancy aid or harness when on deck.
• Children under the age of 16yrs should not operate an outboard engine.

ILLNESS OR INJURY
• Contact a member of Sunsail staff as soon as possible on either a lead boat or at a Sunsail base.
• If you need to make a claim for curtailment due to illness, ask the base manager for assistance and contact your insurer's emergency medical service immediately.
• Your insurance company will assist with travel arrangements, advice and payment of bills.
• Obtain receipts for any medication, treatment or transport you have to pay for and submit with your claim.

EQUIPMENT ON THE YACHTS
Sunsail yachts are equipped with just about everything you will need for a safe and enjoyable holiday.
• A deposit is required for dinghy, outboard engine, windsurfer, ocean kayak, cruising chute and GP.
• A refundable security deposit of £300 (regardless of number of items booked) is payable by credit card or Travellers Cheques at the Sunsail base against the loss or damage of these items, whether included in the basic holiday price or as an extra.
• You will be given a checklist on arrival to make sure you have all the items listed on the inventory.
• Please inform the base manager before you leave the base if anything is missing as it is not always possible to replace or exchange items once you have departed on your cruise. Stolen items must be immediately reported to Sunsail management and the local police. An incident report will be completed for insurance purposes
• Any problems with, or damage to, your yacht must be reported to the local staff immediately. If not we cannot be held responsible.
• Each yacht is equipped with two pairs of snorkelling equipment, linen and bath towels and navigation equipment. Please bring beach towels with you. We advise you not to bring self-inflating life jackets or buoyancy aids fitted with gas-cylinders as they may not be allowed on the aircraft.
• Clothing – In Sunsail locations dress is informal, but we ask you to respect local etiquette. Wet weather gear and fleeces are advisable for early and late season.

BRIEFINGS
• The personalised chart briefing given on your arrival describes the cruising area and any potential hazards.
• The yacht briefing introduces you to your yacht, it’s systems and rigging. It is carried out individually for each yacht. It is important that all systems and equipment are fully understood. Briefings are mandatory.

MOORING FEES
• No fees are charged at the majority of anchorages at present. Water and electricity are available on the berths at the Bases and there are shower and toilet facilities in the Marina complexes. As a guide, fuel charges cost around £20 for two weeks on a large yacht.
• There are some mooring buoys available but they are not reliably maintained so overnight stops must be at anchor.

CRUSING TAXES/MARINE PARK FEES
• There is a charge of 200 Baht per night, per person for cruising the National Parks of Thailand.
• The fee for clearing in and out between Malaysia and
Thailand is 175 RM per person + 50 RM per yacht

PROVISIONING
• We offer an on-line pre-provisioning service for Phuket and Koh Chang so you can order goods before your holiday starts. The provisioning pages will confirm the latest order date for your chosen destination.
• PHUKET BASE - A supermarket is located near to the Sunsail office, but provisions may be supplemented along the way at Krabi and Phi Phi Island. It is advisable to stock up on beverages before your departure from the Base, as this Marina is the only facility where you can tie up to a quay to load things onto your boat easily.
• KOH SAMUI BASE- The main shopping area is Chewang Beach, a 10 min taxi ride from the base. There is a Tesco, bakeries, Boots chemist and all major brand shops as well as a local fresh market. There are large banks and ATMs n Koh Samui. There is an ATM situated in Bo Phut and money can also be changed at beach resorts on Koh Phangan and Koh Tao.
• KOH CHANG BASE– There are no provisioning facilities at this base - you MUST pre-provision your yacht before departure. Please contact your sales team for more information.

EATING OUT
• PHUKET - In large towns such as Patong and Phuket Town, there is a wide range of restaurants, offering everything from European to oriental and local cuisine.
• KOH SAMUI - There is a wide selection of restaurants around Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Koh Tao.
• KOH CHANG – Food is very cheap in Thailand and there are restaurants available at most recommended anchorages.

COST OF LIVING
Prices vary between areas and from restaurant to restaurant, however the following is a guide for your reference:
• A bottle of wine costs about £5 - £10 in a supermarket and about £10 - £15 in a restaurant.
• A bottle of beer costs about £1 - £1.50.
• A three course meal in a cosmopolitan restaurant is likely to cost over £10 per head. However in a local restaurant you may be able to buy a two course meal for as little as £2 per head.
• A cheap snack can be bought for about 50p.

WEATHER
• There are two seasons in Thailand - the North East Monsoon (Dry, November to April) and the South West Monsoon (Wet, May to October).
• During the Dry season, the weather is consistently sunny and dry with wind speeds of Force 2-5. Temperatures are generally in the region of 30 C.
• During the Wet season the prevailing winds are south westerly Force 2-6. Rainy periods may be experienced at this time, which consist approximately an hour and a half of rain a day during the late afternoon or early evening.

CHARTS AND PILOT BOOK
• On board your yacht will be the ‘Sail Thailand’ pilot book, ISBN number 974-88825-7-8 published by Artasia Press.
• Charts and pilot books can be purchased in advance from www.imray.com or www.kelvinhughes.com

LOST PROPERTY
• If any valuables are left behind in your base, please contact the relevant base as soon as possible after the loss.
• Our base staff will endeavour to locate your property and will contact you with the result of their search.
• Return of property to you will normally be by DHL. The cost of the courier service plus a £15 charge will have to be taken by credit/debit card.
• If goods are left on the plane you will need to contact the airline direct. For First Choice Airways this number is 01293 507160. The office is open between 10am and 4pm. If there is no reply leave and message and they will return your call.
PLEASE NOTE SUNSAIL DOES NOT ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY GOODS THAT SUBSEQUENTLY GO MISSING DURING TRANSIT TO THE UK

PLEASE NOTE
• If you feel that a problem may adversely affect your holiday, you must give our staff the opportunity to resolve it for you. If the problem is not resolved to your satisfaction, please ensure that you inform the base manager and it is essential that you complete a holiday report form.
• Unfortunately, claims made for problems not reported first to the base staff and then to the manager locally, cannot be considered.
TO REITERATE THE HOLIDAY BOOKING CONDITIONS, ANY COMPLAINTS OR CLAIMS MUST BE RECEIVED IN WRITING WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THE END OF YOUR HOLIDAY.

SUNSAIL – RESPECTING DESTINATIONS
• Sunsail remain committed to looking after the environment and supporting the cultures where we operate and over many years you have helped us to ensure that our presence does not negatively impact these areas. Please continue to assist us to leave these areas ‘As good or better than we found them’

PLEASE NOTE: Times and prices are correct at the time of going to press, but are subject to change without prior notice.
Thailand Information Sheet last updated 02.07.07