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We know it can be scary going to a totally foreign country for the first time. And since some people have expressed interest in doing some things as a group, we thought we would
put together an itinerary where we will take everyone from point A to point B to island C, etc. Feel free to take part in any, all, or none of the
scheduled events.
First of all, this itinerary assumes arrival in Bangkok by Sunday, Nov. 23. The itinerary is written for 1am arrival (if you arrive later in the day we'll
make sure you know how to meet up with everyone else) and for an afternoon departure on the 29th or later. See Getting There for more info.
Note: Our recent flight arrived in Bangkok at 1am. We were able to check into a hotel, get plenty of sleep,
then had plenty of energy to be active the whole day. There is also no traffic when arriving at that hour. :)
Please view the hotel sections for each of Bangkok, Koh Wai, and Koh Chang & Trat.
We prefer that you make your own reservations. However, if you want to stay at the Wild Orchid, Koh Wai Paradise, Sai Rung, or Guy Guesthouse, you can let us know and we can try to set up the rooms the week before
(since they don't take reservations). Just let us know what nights & type of room and we'll do our best. Or you can do what we usually do and just show up and take what's available.
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 • Arrive at Bangkok's Don Muang International Airport.
No need to stop at the "Visa upon arrival" desk. Go straight through to Immigration, get your luggage (if you packed correctly, you only have carry-on anyway ;),
then through the green "nothing to declare" line for customs. You will then be in the main arrival hall where there are money exhchange counters.
We will meet everyone in the main arrival hall of Terminal 2.
• Take taxis to Khao San area where hotels are.
The taxis are clean and air conditioned. 45 minutes, $5 per taxi, 3-4 people in a car.
Check in, sleep. After checkout at noon, the hotel will watch your bags.
• For those not needing as much sleep, we can meet for breakfast around 10am, then take in
a few of the many sights around Bangkok.
Perhaps we can take a boat down the river 
to visit the Grand Palace and Wat Pho with its reclining Buddha.
• Grab our bags and take the 2pm(?) bus to Trat ($3.50, 6 hrs - you can sleep if needed), check into hotel, walk around night market (if we have the energy), sleep.
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Sleep in a little, go to the internet cafe, have some breakfast. We've decided that we'll probably charter a boat, so we don't
have to wait until 3pm when the 'regular' boat leaves.
• 10:30am take songthaew and ferry to Koh Wai ($5.50, 2 1/2 hours)
• Ahhh, arrive at Koh Wai.
Let's relax and enjoy this gorgeous place. Eat, snorkel, hike, or just chill out on the lovely beach. See Koh Wai activities.
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• 9am wedding ceremony
The exact time will probably change after we secure the details two weeks before the wedding.
We figure 9am will be close since we want to incorporate some buddhist elements
and the monks must be done by 11am.
 • 11:30am(?) go to Koh Chang
We'll take the ferry to the island (1 hr), have a fresh seafood lunch in the fishing village of Bang Bao, then take a ride up to White Sand Beach where the
hotels are (45 min). Total cost for transport is around $6.25.
• Check into hotels, freshen up, and meet out at KC Resort for food and reception party!
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This is a leisurely day. Sleep in, stay up late, do nothing, whatever. We will probably be nursing hangovers.
• Meet for breakfast and decide what to do for the day. Waterfall hike, snorkeling/diving trip, sit on the beach, etc. See Koh Chang's activities.
If you prefer something other than Koh Chang, now's the time to head back to Koh Wai or head out to spend a couple of days in another part of Thailand.
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 • 8:30 - 11:30 Elephant trek at Ban Kwan Chang
Elephant bathing, feeding, performance, and a 1 1/2 hour elephant trek into the forest. $21 includes transportation to and from your hotel, drinking water and bananas to feed the elephants.
• We'll have to be true yanks and arrange a Thankgiving dinner. It might not exactly consist
of turkey and mashed potatoes, but we'll have fun anyway.
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• Meet for breakfast, check out of hotels and head to Trat via songthaew, ferry, songthaew.
 • Hop on a Bus to Bangkok (5 hrs), check into hotels, and decide what time to meet up.
• Now's the time to get the shopping in! There's great shopping all around the Khao San area
where we'll be staying, so not need to go far.
• At night we'll head over to the world-famous Patpong area.
It's an odd experience shopping for clothes or souvenirs when mere feet away, through an open doorway,
you catch glimpses of ladies dancing topless on a stage in a go-go bar.
Other options are catching a performance at the National Theater or going to see a kick boxing match.
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• Visit the picturesque floating markets of Damnoen Saduak.
This will be an early start since the markets are only good first thing in the morning.
Depart 5am. (total travel time will be around 2 1/2 - 3 hours each way, total cost $4)
• We'll either walk around, or rent a boat to tour the beautiful markets.
• Return to Bangkok via boat & bus.
We'll take a longtail boat part way back to Bangkok on what is considered one of Thailand's most beautiful stretches of waterway.
• Relax, shop, lunch, taxi to airport, fly home.
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