 Due
to the fact that we handle many teams a year, we have found it easier
to put together an info sheet with some basic general information
about doing an outreach in Thailand. This will most likely answer
a lot of your questions.
Important
Notice: The
Airport Authority of Thailand has just announced a ban on all carry-on
baggage that contains liquids, gels, creams, aerosol sprays etc
in excess of 100ml (3oz) per bottle or container. These items must
now be placed in your check-in baggage.
If you still have any other specific questions, please don't hesitate
to ask. We are here to serve you! 1.
If we come to Thailand to do an outreach, will there be someone
there to pick us up at the airport?
2.
How much does it cost to do an outreach in Thailand?
3.
Are there any other costs we should be aware of?
4.
What if we are just passing through Bangkok heading towards a ministry
location or perhaps just enroute to another country and need to
overnight with you, do you provide that service?
5. What
if our team needs to buy train tickets, bus tickets or book flights,
in advance, for traveling around Thailand during our outreach...can
you help us out with that?
6.
Do you provide our team with any kind of Orientation to Thailand
and the Thai culture?
7.
What is the Thai currency called and what is the exchange rate?
8.
What kind of immunization shots do we need to get? What about "malaria
pills? Medical insurance?
9.
Where can I exchange my money to Thai baht?
10.
Are there any emergency phone numbers we should have incase we have
problems at the airport or when we are elsewhere in Thailand and
need to contact someone?
11.
I have been hearing alot about using "cell phones" in
Thailand during outreach. Can you tell me if it is possible to rent
a cell phone? How much is it to rent? Is it necessary? What if I
have my own cell phone, can I just bring that instead?
12.
What about visas and getting invitation letters from YWAM Thailand?
13. What
about visas for other countries or neighboring nations? Do you have
any embassy phone numbers?
14. If we come in on a “free upon
arrival” 30 day tourist visa, can we extend it for an additional
30 days?
15.
Is it possible for our team to receive mail and packages from home
during outreach?
16.
What about sleeping bags and other bedtime necessities?
17.
Will there be “Western” style bathrooms and hot water
showers available?
18.
Do you have a basic checklist of what to bring that we can look
at?
19. Get our
Application
Form HERE
FYI
– We list the majority of all expenses in THAI BAHT only as
the currency exchange fluctuates on a frequent basis.
1. If we
come to Thailand to do an outreach, will there be someone there
to pick us up at the airport?
YES!
In fact, after you send us your flight information, we will arrange
to pick you and your team up from the airport and bring you back
to the YWAM Thailand National Office/Nancy Ross Training Center
(NRTC). Depending on the size and budget of your team we have
7 options available for you to consider.
Note: Prices listed below are for one-way fares.
 Option
1 - For small teams of 3 or less, we will simply pick
you up in a taxi and bring you back to our base. The roundtrip
cost is 400 baht.
Option 2 - For small teams of 3 or less that
are more adventurous and tight with funds, you can also go to
the main YWAM
Thailand website and download a PDF map in English
and Thai. Then, just give the map to taxi driver and point to
where you need to go. This will save you some cash. However, it
is still a good idea to send us your flight arrival info so that
we can have someone ready to "welcome" you upon arrival.
Please note as well that this method is not without it's hassles
and frustrations - be flexible and be prepared for anything to
happen! :-)
Option 3 - For teams that consist of 9 people
and under, we will use our air conditioned van (see below) to
take you and your team (including luggage) back to the base. The
cost for this service is 1,200 baht.
Option
4 - For teams that consist of 9 people and under, but
prefer a cheaper alternative to our van, then we use a specialized
(covered non air conditioned) pick up truck (see below) to take
you and your team (including luggage) back to the base. The cost
for this service is 1,000 baht.
Option
5 - For teams that consist of between 10 to 15 people,
we we will use our air conditioned van and a specialized (covered-
non air conditioned) pick up truck to take you and your team (including
luggage) back to the base. The cost for this service is 2,200
baht.
Option 6 - For teams that consist of between
15 - 20 people, we use two (2) specialized (covered- non air conditioned)
pick up trucks. The charge for this service is 2,000
baht per trip.
Option 7 - For teams that consist of 20 or more
we use two (2) specialized (covered- non air conditioned) pick
up trucks (2,000 baht
per trip) plus an additional pick up truck for every 10 people
over the initial 20. The cost of one additional truck, over the
initial two, is 1,000 baht.
Option
8 (Chiang Mai) - For teams that consist of 10 people
and under, we use a specialized (covered- non air conditioned)
pick up truck to take you and your team (including luggage) to
your housing location. The cost for this service is 300
baht.
Because
we do not have our own bus, car or taxi at YWAM Thailand, we hire
local drivers instead. These costs also include getting our YWAM
Thailand staff person to and from the airport as well as including
a small service charge to cover any expenses incurred (i.e. Toll
Booth). For all services listed above, please pay the YWAM Thailand
staff person accompanying you on the trip and he will pay the
driver.
In addition to this, we can provide this service for your team
whether they need to go back to the airport, to the train station
or anywhere else in town. The cost is the same per trip as listed
above. We have found this to be the best, most economical and
fastest way to get teams to and from the airport, the train station
and other places of ministry. However, for just getting around
town, teams can use local transportation. These services above
should only be necessary when traveling with team luggage etc.
Option 8 (Chiang Mai) - For teams that consist
of 10 people and under, we use a specialized (covered- non air
conditioned) pick up truck to take you and your team (including
luggage) to your housing location. The cost for this service is
200 - 300 baht.
Option 9 (Chiang Mai) - For teams that consist
of between 11 - 20 people, we use two (2) specialized (covered-
non air conditioned) pick up trucks to take you and your team
(including luggage) to your housing location. The charge for this
service is 400 - 600 baht per trip.
2. How much
does it cost to do an outreach in Thailand?
The
basic guideline that we tell teams when preparing their budget
is approximately $10-15 USD
per person, per day, depending on your location! This includes
housing, food, (Thai style) and transportation fees.
NOTE – Some ministry locations have different
rates than the approximate breakdown below.
The baht is currently rated at around US $1.00 = 30 baht. Depending
on which country you are from you can use the USD as a guide.
For the most recent currency exchange rate, please refer to the
following website at:
www.bangkokbank.com/Bangkok+Bank/main.htm
Here is an approximate breakdown of some areas...
Bangkok - $12 US per person per day ($7US Housing,
$3US food, $2US transportation/translator fees)
Chiang
Mai - $10 US per person per day ($4US Housing, $3US food,
$3US transportation/translator fees)
Chiang
Rai - $10 US per person per day ($5US Housing, $3US food,
$2US transportation/translator fees)
Isaan
(Northeastern Thailand) - $10 US per person per day ($4US Housing,
$3US food, $3US transportation/translator fees)
Mae Sot - $11 US per person per day ($3US Housing,
$4US food, $4US transportation/translator fees)
Pattaya
- $13 US per person per day ($5US Housing, $5US food, $3US transportation/translator
fees)
Phang Nga - $13US per person per day ($5US Housing,
$5US food, $3US transportation/translator fees)
Phuket
- $13 US per person per day ($6US Housing, $4US food, $3US transportation/translator
fees)
Kengtung, Myanmar - $12 US per person per day
($6US Housing, $3US food, $3US transportation/translator fees)
Bottom line - Don't let the prices scare you off!
If
you feel that the Lord is calling you to come to Thailand, we
want to make it happen for you. We
are willing to discuss a discount for teams that are tight on
finances!
3. Are there
any other costs we should be aware of?
There
is a 2500 baht one time
- per team administration fee that we ask teams
to pay after their orientation is complete. This covers all photo
copying expenses, faxes, and phone calls to various ministry locations.
If your team is on an extremely tight budget we can discuss several
options with you.
NOTE:
As of FEBRUARY 1, 2007 – airport departure tax will
be included in the overall cost of your airline ticket.
All teams will need to use a Thai translator because English is
not spoken here by many, especially in the villages. The translator
will accompany the team beginning at the airport pickup. The translator
will stay with you the entire time and their job is not only to
translate for you, but to serve your team as well. Based on the
equivalent of what a Thai young person would make at any other
job, we ask teams to factor into their overall budget 250
baht per day for each translator that they use.
For teams that consist of 10-15 people, the amount ends up being
absorbed by the overall daily budget. Most teams under 20 people
need only one translator but more can be arranged if necessary.
NOTE - If your team is coming at a busy time,
we may not be able to provide more than one translator per team.
We also ask teams to take care of food, transportation and housing
(when staying at a guesthouse or hotel only) expenses for their
translators as well. In other words they become another
team member! As well, with regards to transportation
costs, once at your ministry location, usually teams end up paying
for "bulk" transportation costs that are not based on
"per person" costs but rather, per trip so the translator
cost gets absorbed by the team. In the end, most teams really
end up paying for meals and any long haul trips (this includes
buying BUS, TRAIN and AIRPLANE
tickets for your translator) to and from a ministry location.
If you would like to bless your translator at the end of your
time, you are free to do so. Please keep in mind that many of
our translators are young Thai Christians who are also trying
to earn their keep and raise support to be in the ministry. This
is very difficult for our Thai staff because they do not have
the same kind of resources as many in the West.
- Any team activities, field trips or days off must also be included
in your budget. Feel free to ask us or your ministry location
host to help you plan any of these trips or debriefing times.
4. What if
we are just passing through Bangkok heading towards a ministry location
or perhaps just enroute to another country and need to overnight
with you, do you provide that service?
YES!
We can provide that service for you. Depending on your time frame
and budget, we can suggest a few options.
Option 1 - Nancy Ross Training Centre (NRTC) - Bangkok
www.ywamthai.org/bangkok/nrtc.htm
+ 66-2-752-8180
Located right next door to our YWAM Thailand National Office,
our newest housing complex comes with all the amenities to make
your stay as comfortable as possible! Our dorm style rooms come
equipped with air conditioners, bunk beds, and WIFI internet access
while the bathrooms are western style with hot showers. The suggested
charge is 250 baht
per person, per night..
As well, we also have a single room set up for visiting speakers,
leaders, couples etc. The room is nicer than the dormitory style
listed above and comes equipped with air conditioning, refrigerator,
desk etc. The charge is 500 baht
per night.
Note – If you are a traveling by yourself
(not with a team) and desire to stay at the NRTC, you will most
likely be put into a private room. The charge is 500
baht per night to stay in the air conditioned
private room. If you are tight on finances, the charge is 250
baht per night if you choose to use only the fans.
Please specify if you want the AIR or FAN option.
We are happy to set up your reservations for you here as well.
Option 2 - House of One Heart (BJD) - Bangkok
www.ywamthai.org/bangkok/bjd.htm
+ 66-2-209-7189
Located just down the street from the YWAM Thailand National Office,
we have a student ministry center called "House of One Heart"
(Baan Jai Diaow or BJD). If your team is coming to do ministry
with BJD, this is also the same place you will end up staying.
However, many teams that come to do some kind of ministry in Thailand
will usually end up staying at BJD at least a few nights while
passing through Bangkok.
The suggested charge is 200 baht
per person per night. The student dorm center is not fancy, but
it is clean and conveniently located near the National Office.
This cost also helps defer the rent cost for our Thai university
students, many of whom do not have a lot of money. Some of this
money also goes towards helping support some street kids/orphans
that we have staying with us as well. NOTE -
we do NOT have air conditioning or a pool at BJD. For teams coming
to do ministry at BJD, it is also important to note that the Ram
2 University is located directly across the street.
Option 3 - Avana
Hotel (Bangkok)
www.avanahotel.com
+ 66-2-744-4280
Another
option we have for teams passing through Bangkok or wanting a
nicer hotel for debriefing etc is the AVANA Hotel. The hotel is
located approximately 25 minutes from the airport or 20 minutes
away from the YWAM Thailand National Office and the Nancy Ross
Training Centre. They have clean, comfortable rooms with air conditioning,
cable TV, swimming pool, massage, snooker table, hi-speed internet,
gym, restaurant, coffee shop, karaoke, laundry services, in-room
safe and a mini mart too. Room rates start at -
Standard Room - 800
baht per room, per night. This rate is for 2 people
per room. If you would like to add a third person the rate increases
to 1,200 baht.
Deluxe Room (includes coffee pot and tea) - 950
baht per room, per night. This rate is for 2 people
per room. If you would like to add a third person the rate increases
to 1,350 baht
NOTE – If you desire to check in before
12:00 PM the AVANA Hotel will add on an additional
250 baht surcharge
to each room.
Option
4 - Queen’s
Garden Resort (Bangkok)
www.queensgardenresort.net
+66-2-734-4540-02
info@queensgardenresort.net
Queen’s
Garden Resort provides comfortable accommodation just five minutes
away from Suvarnabhumi International Airport. The rooms are simple
but clean / nice with air conditioning, refrigerator, internet,
restaurant, hot water showers and satellite TV. Room rates start
at:
Single Room (1 person) - 900
baht per room, per night.
Double Room (2 persons) - 1,000
baht per room, per night.
Triple Room (3 persons) - 1,300
baht per
room, per night.
Once again we are happy to set up your reservations for you here
as well.
Option
5 - We-Train Guest House (Bangkok)
www.we-train.linethai.co.th
+ 66-2-929-2301
+ 66-2-967-8550
For those teams that are passing through Bangkok to another location
or country, but don't have lots of time, we suggest you stay at
the We Train International Guest House. We have a good working
relationship with the We-Train Guest and are more than happy to
set up your reservation with them. They have dorm style rooms
as well as regular rooms starting from 200
baht and up. They are located near the old Don
Muang International airport.
Option
6 - KT Guest House (Bangkok)
www.ktguesthouse.com
+ 66-2-276-3462
reservation@ktguesthouse.com
For teams/groups wanting to have easy access to downtown, this
guest house offers you a peaceful oasis amidst the hustle and
bustle of Bangkok, and, a warm and friendly relaxed and welcoming
atmosphere to make you feel at home. They offer clean, spacious
bedrooms with air conditioning or fans in a quiet residential
area. Other services offered available are a restaurant, internet,
pool, phone & fax, international phone. Located close to Moh
Chit Bus Station and the Sky Train for easy access to downtown
Bangkok.
Single Room (1 person) - 450
baht per room, per night.
Double Room (2 persons) - 550
baht per room, per night.
Option 7- Mountain View Guest House (Chiang Mai)
www.mountainview-guesthouse.com
+ 66-53-212-866
+ 66-53-217-843
For
teams that will be traveling to Chiang Mai or choosing to do their
debrief in Chiang Mai, we recommend the Mt. View Guesthouse. The
Mt. View has beautiful wooden rooms, comfortable atmosphere, a
quiet garden and is conveniently location to almost everything!
The Mt. View has both air conditioned rooms and fan rooms. Services
offered include laundry service, meals, internet, and excursions
to nearby tourist attractions!
Air Conditioned Room – 400-600
baht per room, per night.
Fan Room – 250-300
baht per room, per night.
Extra Bed - 100
baht per person, per room, per night.
Once again, we are happy to set up your reservations for you here
as well.
NOTE
– If you desire to check in before 12:00 PM please be aware
that the Mt. View Guesthouse may not have your room ready. This
would require you to wait until your room is cleaned and made
available to you for check in.
Option
8- Chiang Mai Gatehouse (Chiang Mai)
www.cmgatehouse.org
+66-53-404-157
The
Chiang Mai Gatehouse offers you and your team a quiet, relaxing,
and affordable stay while in Chiang Mai. The Gatehouse is set
up with your teams comfort in mind by offering a vast amount of
space that is ideal for team times, meetings, worship times etc.
The Gatehouse also provides air conditioned rooms, western bathrooms,
hot water showers, wireless internet and free tea and coffee!
The cost is 200 baht
per person per night and all profits go towards ministries helping
children-at-risk along the Thai-Myanmar border.
Option
9- Lighthouse Guesthouse (Chiang Mai)
www.lighthethai.com
+66-81-111-3979
Lighthouse
Guesthouse is located only a few blocks from the Chiang Mai Night
Bazaar. There are a total of 10 rooms with 8 rooms currently furnished
and ready for your arrival! Each of the rooms are equipped with
Western style bathrooms, hot showers and wireless internet access.
Laundry service, tour packages, breakfast and transportation are
all available upon request as well.
Fan
Room - 300 baht
per room, per night.
Extra Mattress - 100 baht
per person, per room, per night.
Once again, we are happy to set up your reservations for you here
as well.
5. What if
our team needs to buy train tickets, bus tickets or book flights,
in advance, for traveling around Thailand during our outreach...can
you help us out with that?
YES!
We would be more than happy to assist you in this. However, please
understand that sometimes, your first choice of tickets may not
be available depending on how late you book and what season it
is. Please note as well, that we will charge your team a small
service charge fee of 500 baht per team, for this service. This
simply goes towards the taxi trip to the train station or bus
station, which are about an hour away from our base.
Transportation costs will also vary depending on how much you
travel and where you need to travel to. For example, if you need
travel to:
NORTH (i.e. Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai) - The cost
is approximately 700 – 900
baht per person, one way. It is good to budget
this particular amount and then be blessed if it is less.
SOUTH (i.e. Khao Lak, Phuket) - The cost is approximately
800 – 900 baht
per person, one way. It is good to budget this particular amount
and then be blessed if it is less.
NORTHEAST (i.e. Khon Kaen) - The cost is approximately
400 – 650 baht
per person, one way. It is good to budget this particular amount
and then be blessed if it is less.
CENTRAL (i.e. Ratchaburi, Suphanburi) - The cost
is approximately 200 – 500
baht per person, one way. It is good to budget
this particular amount and then be blessed if it is less.
SOUTHEAST (i.e. Rayong, Pattaya) - The cost is
approximately 300 – 400 baht
per person, one way. It is good to budget this particular amount
and then be blessed if it is less.
Most teams find that these trips tend to get "absorbed”
into the daily transportation costs as local transport tends to
be quite cheap based on "per trip" rates. Unless your
team is doing excessive amounts of travel in a short time period,
you should be fine with the stated daily budget.
Flying is also an available option but it is still considered
expensive for most teams compared to bus and train. If you DO
want to purchase air tickets to your particular destination PLEASE
consult with the Outreach Teams Department prior to booking your
tickets to make sure the dates / times work with everyone involved.
There are many discount airlines that now operate in Thailand
offering great prices to many locations in Thailand. Those airlines
are -
Those airlines are:
Air
Asia
Nok
Air
1-2-GO
Teams are welcome to check into these fares, however please be
aware that at this time we cannot purchase these tickets for teams
as it requires a credit card and the tickets need to be purchased
online. As well, teams need to be aware that many of the airlines
have luggage restrictions so many teams coming from overseas on
a 2 month outreach end up having problems getting their luggage
on the plane (i.e. Air Asia has a 15kg limit per bag). PLEASE
check with the airline prior to buying your tickets. What most
teams are finding is that the reported "savings" end
up being less than they hoped once you add tax etc. Also, whereas
long haul bus or train travel tends to be absorbed into a teams
daily budget, that is not the case with air travel within Thailand.
If you desire to fly on more established airlines such as -
Thai Airways
Bangkok Airways
We can recommend to you a reputable travel agent. Please email
us for further details.
NOTE – The
Airport Authority of Thailand has just announced a ban on all
carry-on baggage that contains liquids, gels,
creams, aerosol sprays etc in excess of 100ml (3oz) per bottle
or container. These
items must now be placed in your check-in baggage.
6. Do you
provide our team with any kind of Orientation to Thailand and the
Thai culture?
We
will be happy to give your team an orientation to Thailand and
the Thai culture. In fact, we insist upon it! Most people who
have not been to an Asian culture before comment on how radically
different it is to the West. Because we want teams to be able
to have the most impact for the cause of Christ, we need to be
able to share how the Thai person thinks from behind his Buddhist
mindset. Often times, we can be offending the Thai by something
we are doing all the while thinking we are loving them in the
name of the Lord. Because we all live and work here, we feel a
sense of obligation and responsibility to help you understand
the Thai people and their culture so that you can minister most
effectively to them. It is also YWAM Thailand policy that
all incoming YWAM teams go through our cultural orientation prior
to doing their outreach here in Thailand.
We will usually have the first part of your two day orientation
the day after your team arrives - from 9:30 AM - 12:00 PM. As
well, there is NO charge for this service! The
following day we normally take teams on our Bangkok Temple Tour/Prayer
Walk day. This is a great introduction for teams who have never
been to Asia, Thailand or the 10/40 Window before. It is also
a great introduction to Buddhism and allows your team a great
opportunity to actually see and
experience the city and the things you have heard about in the
orientation.
7. What is
the Thai currency called and what is the exchange rate?
The
Thai baht is divided into 100 satang. The currency consists of:
NOTES
1,000 - grey
500 - purple
100 - red
50 - blue
20 - green
COINS
10 baht - brass disks in a silver ring.
5 baht - silver coin.
2 baht - silver and smaller than a 5 baht coin.
1 baht – silver and smaller than a 2 baht coin.
50 satang (0.50 baht) - small brass coin.
25 satang (0.25 baht) - small brass coin.
The baht is currently rated at around US $1.00 = 31 baht.
Depending on which country you are from you can use the USD as
a guide.
For
the most recent currency exchange rate, please visit: www.bangkokbank.com/Bangkok+Bank/main.htm
8. What kind
of immunization shots do we need to get? What about "malaria
pills? Medical insurance?
Please
note that we are not able to give specific information to teams/individuals
about which shots to get before coming to Thailand. We recommend
that each team contact their local travel clinic to receive proper
thorough medical advice by people that know what shots and pills
your team will need for your situation. We receive so many teams
each year that come from various locations around the world, that
it is impossible for us to know each team members background and
what shots they may or may not have had. As well, every team goes
to different locations throughout the country so a team that stays
for 2 months in Bangkok may not need anything while a team that
is staying along the Cambodian border in the jungle, may need
entirely different shots. Furthermore, we are not medical people
and don't want to be held responsible for any illnesses you may
get while in Thailand.
With regards to malarial medication, we do recommend that teams
take malarial meds IF they will be traveling to a village or remote
location during their time in Thailand. If your team is staying
predominantly in larger city centers - Bangkok, Chiang Rai or
Pattaya - there is no real need to take malaria medication. Malaria
pills are available at any Thai drugstore and are much cheaper
to purchase here in Thailand. As well, the doctors here know the
proper pills to give you based on where your team will be going.
For the most part, we rarely ever have a problem with team members
contracting malaria (no reported cases in the last 5 years
with over 500+ teams) but it is always good to err on
the safe side.
Lastly, please keep in mind that malarial meds will NOT
prevent you from contracting malaria - the best way to ensure
not getting malaria is to avoid affected areas, use mosquito sprays
while outdoors, wear long sleeve shirts and long pants..
If you are
looking for good short term/group medical insurance we recommend
"Talent Trust" - Please check out their website at:
www.talent-trust.com
9. Where
can I exchange my money to Thai baht?
We
recommend to all teams that it is a good idea to exchange at least
half (50%) of their teams budget at the airport
just after you arrive. We have found that the exchange rate is
very close to what you would get at a bank and there is less hassle.
Most teams waste a lot of time trying to get to a bank in their
first 3-4 days and end up wasting a lot of time and effort when
they could have just done their money exchanging at the airport
upon arrival. Of course, if you are going to be in Thailand for
a longer period of time, you can always make plans to exchange
more money at a bank at your convenience. Please note as well
that all exchange counters and banks will accept most currencies
at fair value. There is usually no need to "trade" up
to USD if you are coming from Australia, Canada or Europe.
NOTE – When bringing USD, it is best to
bring $100 and $50 bills as they tend to get the best exchange
rate when compared to $20, $10 and $5 bills.
As well, the majority of banks and
currency exchange counters will only exchange USD bills that have
been printed after 2003.
NOTE
- When bringing travelers cheques, please be aware that there
is usually a $1 - $2 USD fee for each cheque regardless of the
amount.
10. Are there
any emergency phone numbers we should have incase we have problems
at the airport or when we are elsewhere in Thailand and need to
contact someone?
YES!
You should make sure you have the phone number for Paw Pan 089-209-7189
(in-country) and Chris Lenty 081-695-5085 (in-country)
who both work with the Outreach Teams Department. It is also good
idea to have the phone number to the YWAM Thailand National Office
02-752-8180 (in-country). Also, please note that
all of our translators that accompany teams now have cell phones
in case of emergency. Once you meet up with you translator, you
can then give out that number to parents, friends and family members
should they need to contact your team while you are here on outreach.
We rarely give out the phone numbers for ministry locations as
most people calling from overseas cannot speak Thai so it tends
to be more of a frustration than a help. Lastly, unless your team
is staying in a very remote area, most cities and towns now have
internet cafes as well. We
realize that most bases and church groups require contact info
for their records and we will provide that specific info to you
upon request.
11.
I have been hearing alot about using "cell phones" in
Thailand during outreach. Can you tell me if it is possible to rent
a cell phone? How much is it to rent? Is it necessary? What if I
have my own cell phone, can I just bring that instead?
YES!
Nowadays, most teams find that having a cell phone is a tremendous
benefit to not only the team and their leaders, but also for emergencies,
staying in touch with our office, and friends and family back
home. If you use a mobile phone from Thailand you can receive
and make phone calls overseas to selected countries...America,
Canada, England, Japan at an average cost of approximately 25
cents per minute. An important thing to keep in mind is that mobile
phone plans work differently here in Thailand then they do in
western countries. You only pay for phone calls that you make.
Any time someone calls you, there is no fee for that airtime except
to the person making the call.
If you are bringing your own cell phone, you just need to keep
in mind that "newer" tri-band phones from America, Europe,
Australia etc have had no problem working here, but older non
tri-band phones do not usually work here in Thailand. NOTE
- Thailand
operates on the 900-1800 GSM
network.
12. What
about visas and getting invitation letters from YWAM Thailand?
For
the most part teams coming to Thailand won't need any special
visas to come into the country unless you are staying longer than
60 days. For anything UNDER 60 days, please just
come in on a tourist visa. If you are coming in on a 30 day tourist
visa, you can get those upon arrival at the airport here in Bangkok,
but you must apply for the 60 day tourist visa through your local
Thai embassy or consulate. You can get both the 30 day and 60
day tourist visas from most countries.
Under the new immigration law which
went into effect on October 1, 2006 - nationals from the below
41 countries will be allowed 30-day tourist visas (granted FREE
upon arrival) which may be extended twice, after which the individual
will have to stay out of Thailand for at least 90 days before
returning again.
"Tourists (from the 41 countries) will not be allowed to
stay in Thailand more than 90 days every six months," said
a statement issued by the Immigration Department.
The 41 countries with a 30 day visa-free privilege are:
AUSTRALIA, AUSTRIA, BAHRAIN, BELGIUM,
BRAZIL, BRUNEI, CANADA, DENMARK, FINLAND, FRANCE, GERMANY, GREECE,
HONG KONG, ICELAND, INDONESIA, IRELAND, ISRAEL, ITALY, JAPAN,
KOREA, KUWAIT, LUXEMBOURG, MALAYSIA, NETHERLANDS, NEW ZEALAND,
NORWAY, OMAN, PERU, PHILIPPINES, PORTUGAL, QATAR, SINGAPORE, SOUTH
AFRICA, SPAIN, SWEDEN, SWITZERLAND, TURKEY, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES,
UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND, UNITED STATES
OF AMERICA, VIETNAM.
The
14 countries with a 15 day visa-free privilege are:
BHUTAN,
CHINA, CYPRUS, CZECH REPUBLIC, HUNGARY, INDIA, KAZAKHSTAN, MALDIVES,
MAURITIUS, POLAND, RUSSIA, UKRAINE, SAUDI ARABIA, TAIWAN.
Please
check your team roster in case you need to make special visa arrangements
for a particular student or team member. For further information
on visa requirements please check out the following website: www.thaiembdc.org/consular/visa/visa.htm
We would also ask that you use caution in telling embassies what
it is that you are doing in the country. Please DO NOT mention
anything about religion work or evangelism or doing missionary
work (especially the word - "work"). For their purposes,
you are coming in as tourists. In most cases you will not need
any letter of any kind from YWAM Thailand. If you do need some
kind of invitation letter, we can supply that to you upon request.
With regards to filling out the arrival cards at immigration,
it will be necessary to fill in a location where you are staying.
We DO NOT want teams using YWAM or YWAM Thailand in this space.You
can use the address below:
NRTC
6/479 Ramkhamhaeng 2 Road Soi 4
Bang Na- Trad 8km
Dockmai Prawet
Bangkok 10263
SPECIAL NOTE:
Once your team is in the country doing ministry, we ask that teams
refrain from stating they are "working" with YWAM Thailand
etc. Should any government official ask you questions, please
remember NOT to use YWAM's name. You are students/tourists
coming in to visit the country NOT doing missionary
work with YWAM Thailand. This can jeopordize our standing with
the government so please be cautious about using YWAM's name.
13. What
about visas for other countries or neighboring nations?
If
you need to apply for a visa or visa extension for another country,
we can provide you with complete and comprehensive information
on any number of foreign embassies and consulates in Thailand,
especially within Bangkok. Please email us for a list of nations
provided.
For those individuals needing a visa to Cambodia,
apply
here on line.
For
those individuals needing a visa to Myanmar,
apply
here on line.
Important Embassy Phone Numbers
American Embassy - 02-205-4000
Australian Embassy - 02-287-2680
British Embassy - 02-253-0191
Canadian Embassy - 02-636-0540
Chinese Embassy – 02-245-7032
German Embassy - 02-287-9000
Japanese Embassy – 02-258-9915
Philippine Embassy - 02-259-0139
Singapore
Embassy – 02-286-2111
South Korean Embassy - 02-247-7537
Swiss Embassy - 02-253-0156
14. If
we come in on a “free upon arrival” 30 day tourist visa,
can we extend it for an additional 30 days?
YES!
This is the route that most teams take when needing to extend
their “free upon arrival” 30 day tourist visa by a
few days or weeks. There are several surrounding nations that
are easily accessible i.e. Myanmar and Cambodia
(email us for further details). However, if you enter Thailand
on a “free upon arrival” 30 day tourist visa, you
can only extend it twice (a total of 60 additional days) before
needing to leave the country for three (3) months.
"Tourists (from the 41 countries) will not be allowed to
stay in Thailand more than 90 days every six months," said
a statement issued by the Immigration Department.
For further information on visa requirements please check out
the following website: www.thaiembdc.org/consular/visa/visa.htm
15. Is
it possible for our team to receive mail and packages from home
during outreach?
YES!
You can have your mail and package sent to the following address:
Team Name - Team Members Name
C/O Outreach Teams Department
P.O. Box 20 Thungsetthi
Bangkok 10263
Thailand
Once we receive any mail or packages for your team, we will try
to deliver it to you and your team at your ministry location. If
we are unable to deliver your mail or packages, it will be waiting
until your teams return to the YWAM Thailand National Office.
NOTE – Please make sure that any and all
mail or packages is clearly marked for the intended recipient. If
it is NOT clearly marked, we will need to open the mail or package
to determine who it is intended for.
16.
What about sleeping bags and other bedtime
necessities?
As you pack for outreach we would recommend that you allot extra
space to bring a sleeping bag. The majority of ministry hosts will
provide a thin sleeping mat, sheets and pillows. Yet, if you are
looking for additional comfort and / or warmth (especially during
November - February) bringing your sleeping bag would be a wise
choice. You may also want to consider bringing your own pillow and/
or thin sheet, however, you can also buy those items once here.
NOTE - If you suffer from occasional or frequent
back pain - we would recommend that you bring a “Therma-Rest”
to help alleviate the pain.
17.
Will there be “Western” style bathrooms and hot water
showers available?
While here on outreach, we ask that you prepare yourselves to
use “Thai” style bathrooms, squattie potties, as opposed
to “Western” style bathrooms. As well, it is also
recommended that you brace yourselves for Mother Nature’s
wake-up call, also known as a cold water shower :) While it is
quite likely that your team will encounter “Western”
style bathrooms and warm showers at many ministry locations, it
is not available everywhere which is why we ask you to prepare
for the worst and be blessed by the best!.
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