 Q:
“Who is Dr. Bob?”
A: “Dr. Bob” is actually Dr.
Robert Smith D.N., NCMT, a practicing Doctor of Naprapathy
and massage therapist. He is a 1997 graduate of the Wellness
and Massage Training Institute and a 2000 graduate of the
Chicago National College of Naprapathy. Dr. Bob joined forces
with fellow classmate Dr. Dexter Russell and formed Naprapathic
Associates LLC. In October of 2002, they founded the Center
for Natural Therapy in Evanston, Illinois.
Dr. Bob is presently
on staff at St. Alexis Hospital in Hoffman Estates and is
a practicing Naprapathic physician. Besides combining his
Naprapathic and massage practice, Dr. Bob is also a massage
instructor at Elgin Community College.
Q: “Is this a tour?”
A: No. This is an extended “field
trip” for massage students and their family or friends
who wish to study Thai massage and experience the sights,
sounds and beauty of Thailand. There are no tours or sightseeing
excursions planned for this trip. All sightseeing or extracurricular
activities taken are the sole responsibility of the individual
and not Dr. Bob. A class minimum of 7
is required to avoid course cancellation.
Q: “Do I need to be a massage therapist to enroll?”
A: No. This course is available to anyone
wishing to learn Thai massage. There are no prerequisites
to enroll in a Level 1 course ,
however Level 1 completion is a prerequisit to enrolling
in a Level 2 course.
If you have seperate previous coursework in Thai massage
and wish to enroll in a Level 2 course, please contact
Dr. Bob for more information.
Q: “When is the deadline for joining the course?”
Deadline for enrollment and full payment is 60 days before
departure. Students wishing to join
the class after this date can do so, but are subject to any additional airline
or hotel costs.
 Q:
“How much money should I bring?”
A: As much as you can. What do I mean by
that? The American dollar goes very far in Thailand. At the
moment the exchange rate is between 38 - 40 baht for every
US dollar. The important thing to remember is you can go very
far on a very limited budget, but, walking through the street
markets of Bangkok is much the same as being let loose at
your favorite shopping center with everything 70% off!!
The temptation here to spend is irresistible and the volume
and quality of the merchandise is first rate. You'll often
end up buying more than you expected. Price haggling
is common and you'll usually leave paying anywhere from 1/3
to 1⁄2 the asking price, depending on the time
of year. If you can set a budget and stay within in it, more
power to you; but in most cases, you'll fall prey to it, so
plan ahead.
Q: “What else should I bring?”
A: As little as possible. There are many
reasons for this. Whenever you fly intercontinental flights,
especially when your connecting,( as we are in Japan) the
chances of damaged or lost luggage increases greatly. I've
traveled with friends who violated this rule and it turns
into a nightmare every time! I suggest no more than 1-2 bags
max. Be sure your carry on contains all your valuables
(camera, passport, money etc.). Choose light weight luggage
that has handles and wheels and can be easily carried from
one terminal to the next.
Pack ONLY what you need. The weather will definitely be warm
so don’t bring anything heavy. A few changes of clothes,
toiletries, 2 pair of shoes (sandals are recommended) and
a camera are really all you will need. Believe me, if you
forget something, you'll have no shortage of outlets to get
anything you need and probably pay much less for it. The less
you bring the less you'll have to worry about and the less
you'll have to carry through the airport.
Remember, there are numerous security checks at each
airport as well as immigration and customs to pass
through in both countries (US and Thailand). Bag checks are
frequent and if you have a lot of luggage believe me, they
won’t hold the plane for you. So plan ahead and take
ONLY what you need. Remember, you'll ALWAYS be bringing more
back than your taking!
 Q:
“Do I need a Visa?”
A: No. Because your stay is only 10 days,
a visa is not required. You will need a valid passport. Make
sure all your information is accurate and up to date before
you leave for the airport. It is also highly recommended
that you make 1-2 photocopies of your passport in case it
is lost or stolen.
Q: “ Do I have to speak Thai?”
A: No. Most Thai people have a basic grasp
of English and can understand what you need, especially at
the hotels and shopping districts. You can get by all week
without speaking a word of Thai but it is highly recommended
that you learn at least 3-4 basic Thai phrases. Saying “Hello”,
“Goodbye” and “Thank you” in Thai
goes a long way with the people and they appreciate your effort.
It’s also a good idea to brush up on Thai cultural
differences. There are too many here to name, so I suggest
you spend a few hours on the internet or at the library
to familiarize yourself with Thai customs and traditions.
Your efforts are always rewarded.
 It is highly recommended you pick up DK
Eyewitness Travel Guide to Thailand. Full of great information
on festivals, culture, markets, beaches and Thai food and
customs, this book is rich with great color photographs.
You won't find a better guide book about Thailand.
Q: “What about transportation?”
A: Intercontinental flights
are provided by a major airline, and inter-island flights
are booked through Bangkok Air. Your package price does
not include transfers or airport departure
fees, which can range between $10-20 per passenger. All hotel
and airfare taxes are included.
Trip departures
are booked through Chicago O'Hare and LAX Los Angeles Airports.
Departure from other cities can be arranged. Any additional
costs that exceed the contrated rate granted to Dr. Bob's
Thai Trip is the sole responsiblity of the traveler.
Q: “Am I supposed to tip people there?
A: Gratuities are not included and are
not required but are greatly recommended. Thai people work
very hard for very little and every penny given is greatly
appreciated by them.
Q: “Are my meals included?”
A: All breakfast meals are included at
both hotels. A Thai lunch is included with
the class fee and served during class hours.
Lunch meals are not included with the Family/Friend package.
Bottled water is provided by the hotels and it is highly
recommended you drink only bottled water throughout the
trip. Both hotels have restaurants on site and can meet
most needs. Graduation Dinner is included for both the student
and family and friend packages, however all drinks are the
sole responsibility of the traveler.
Q: “Do I need insurance?”
A: Due to unexpected circumstances with
either the airline or hotels and Thailand’s absolutely
horrifying lack of traffic laws, anything can happen; especially
for those of you looking to rent transportation (jeep, motorbike
etc.) The hospitals in Bangkok are first rate and among the
best in all of Asia, but when you reach Ko Samui, it’s
another story altogether. Be safe and be prepared.
Dr. Bob highly recommends every passenger purchase travel
insurance. For a cost of $62 (under age 40), a comprehensive
travel insurance protection plan can be purchased through
Travel Insured Inc., a licensed brokerage firm from Connecticut.
This plan covers everything from emergency medical/dental
to missed connections and flight delays. Simply log onto www.travelinsured.com
to register or for further details.
Q: “What if I need to cancel?”
A: Rates for your Workshop Package and Family & Friend
Package are
only good up to 60 days before departure. Beyond that, Dr.
Bob’s contractual discount with the airline
expires and passengers are subject to possible additional
fees to cover the cost of airline tickets. This counts only
with intercontinental travel and not inter-island travel.
If you do not purchase travel protection
insurance within 10 days of paying your deposit, cancellations
will be charged the per person fees listed below. In fairness
to others and because of expenses incurred, we cannot make
exceptions:
- 61 days or more prior
to start of trip: Fee is $250.00
- 60-8 days prior to start
of trip: Fee is 50% of package price
- 7-4 days prior to start
of trip: Fee is 75% of package price
- 72 hours or less prior to start of
trip or during trip: Fee is 100% of package price.
Time of cancellation will be when notice is received at
Drbobsthaitrip.com. Traveler is responsible for any penalties
or cancellation fees issued by hotels and airlines.
 Q:
“What do I get with my deposit?”
A: A $500 non-refundable deposit
fee
covers all your hotels, class fees and taxes. You will receive
a “Welcome Aboard ” letter from Dr. Bob confirming
your class reservation and a written receipt confirming
your payment. (Deposits are refundable, less a $200
processing fee.)
You will also receive a set of 5 Cd’s, 10 lessons in
all, on “How to speak Thai”. These Cd’s
are extremely helpful and are designed for the casual tourist.
They will provide you with a number of basic phrases and pronunciations
to help you to speak and understand basic Thai conversation.
Your deposit does not cover the costs of your airline
tickets. These can only be purchased after the full
balance due is paid. Airlines tickets, once purchased,
are nonrefundable.
Confirmation of your payment will be mailed to you and any
seating preference requests must be done in writing before
final payment is received.
Q: “When do I receive my airline tickets?”
All tickets are electronic tickets and are to be issued
at the airline ticket counter on the day of departure. A
valid passport will be required before any boarding pass
is issued. It is important to arrive 2-3 hours before departure
to avoid any delays.
Q: “What is NOT included in the package?”
A: Package price does not include hotel/airport
transfers (except Ko Samui) and airport departure taxes.
Transfers average less than $5 per traveler. Airport departure
taxes out of Bangkok are about $10 and less out of other
airports. All departure taxes are paid at the aiport prior
to departure.
Q: “Do I have to share a room?”
A: No, you do not have to share a room.
Your package price includes a private
room for each traveler at every hotel.
If you wish to share a room with another traveler or family
member, double occupancy can be easily arranged. You
must notify Dr. Bob in advance to make such arrangements.
Due to prearranged hotel group rates, there
is no discount available for sharing a room.
 Q:
“Do I need any immunization?”
A: No special vaccinations are
required, If you have any special conditions
that would require possible vaccination, it is highly recommended
you consult your physician to better address your particular
needs or concerns.
Although SARS and the “Bird Flu” have been documented
in Thailand, they have affected very few individuals. The
media has done a wonderful job scaring many potential tourists
from Asian countries during these outbreaks but not a single
case of any tourist being infected has ever been documented.
Customs is very strict in all Asian airports about screening
anyone who exhibits symptoms of any of these disorders and
have done an excellent job of restoring security among travelers.
If you are in good health, traveling through Thailand is
very safe. As an extra precaution, it’s always a good
idea to beef up your immune system 30 days before departure
by taking a good multi-vitamin. |
