Volunteer Vacation FAQ |
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- Who
can travel with Morethailand.com?
If you are those who are young enthusiastic and adventure- loving person
of between 18- 35 years of age, regardless of background and nationality.
If you are above 35, it is also possible to travel with us. Intention
to help less fortunate people does nothing with age. You can see further
for detailed qualifications
needed for Tsunami Support and Volunteer Vacations.
- Are
there any restrictions at all?
You must be eligible to enter Thailand and you need to hold a tourist
visa. If you are not eligible for these, you shouldn't apply.
- What
is the group size like?
We can arrange volunteer vacation for you whether you are independent
traveler, a couple or a group. We encourage participants to come with
a friend, spouse, or family members. Early booking should be made, enabling
us to arrange the project and accommodation, including activities that
suit you, at the areas targeted to be helped and supported. Please contact
through Online Request Form or at reservation@morethailand.com
for availability.
- How
can I extend my Visa?
You can ask your travel agents in your countries to deal Visa arrangement
for you. Our Tsunami Support and Volunteer Vacation lasts for 14 days,
but if you would like to extend your vacation longer and probably longer
than 30 days, you should ask your travel agents to arrange for you to
obtain a Visa that covers your expected stay in Thailand (Tourist Visa
is valid for 30 days.). We do not have Visa arrangement service, but
we can give you directions for obtaining it.
- When
is the project available?
Tsunami Support and Volunteer Vacation project has arrival dates
twice in each month during Thailand's rainy season in a year. See
Schedule and Itineraries.
- How
does Morethailand.com address the language barrier?
Our representatives can speak English
at varying levels of proficiency. We do ask volunteers to try and learn
some basic Thai words and phrases in order to enhance their experience.
Using your hands and a dictionary may also help.
- Do
I need to learn a local language before I travel?
Sometimes, it is vital you know the local language. Often, it is preferable.
And on most, you will be fine with English. In Thailand, most local
Thais like and are hospitable, always welcoming foreigners, and pretty
much more if you could talk Thai, even just a bit of it. As a volunteer
traveler, it would be preferable and useful to know local language.
Morethailand.com
travel advisor can discuss requirements with you.
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- How late
can I apply?
The minimum-booking deadline to fill up in advance of your traveling
is two weeks. The trip will be divided into series between June
and mid October, since this is not an emergency relief work. You can
contact and get advice from www.morethailand.com
all the way.
- Where do I book?
Once you get interested in Morethailand.com Tsunami Support and Volunteer
Vacations, you can book it through www.morethailand.com
, by simply click the ‘Request Online' for request form, or book
via email and book by talk over the phone. If you would like to get
some advice on the project and availability, and discuss your travel
plans, please click here for contact details.
Email: Reservation@MoreThailand.com
Help Desk & Reservation: Mr. Worrachat: 661 671 9462; Ms. Sansanee:
661 9541683
German Speaking: Mrs. Oraphan (Piek): 669
135 6946 Bangkok, Thailand.
Direct Office Tel: 662 954 1680; 662 954
1689; 662 954 1688 (10 lines) ext. 17 or 23
- What
if I get sick during my vacation?
Our Morethailand.com team is trained on how to handle medical emergencies
and will ensure you are well cared for. For the duration of your vacation,
you are also covered by our fully comprehensive insurance policy. You
are required to bring the prescription with you for reference.
See Health-
Related FAQ for more information.
- Do
I need any immunizations?
Thailand does not require any immunization for entry into Thailand
unless you came from a Yellow Fever area.
- Do
I need any vaccinations?
Taking vaccination against water- borne diseases such as diarrhea,
typhoid fever, and vector- borne diseases such as malaria and tetanus,
is suggested. See
details about flooding and communicable diseases.
- Will
I be able to travel during my vacation?
You are committed to working hours set out by Morethailand.com as found
in the Itinerary
, but we also provide to you free time for your leisure. Side trips
to explore and conserve beaches and islands will be arranged for you.
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- Can
I travel after the project?
Yes, once you complete your volunteer project, you can extend your vacation
to other tourist destinations and travel independently. You may travel
with new friends you met at the project. Trips can also be arranged
upon your request. See
more details of our recommended packages in Thailand and Indochina.
- Weather to go
The project takes place between June and mid October, which marks
the annual rainy season of Thailand. The rainy season is actually an
annual monsoon that moves east and northward in the first half of the
year before shifting south and west in the second half. This means that
when the rains are at the heaviest on Phuket in May, they are still
rather light in Koh Samui and haven't even started in Chiang Mai.
- What
should I bring with me?
Keep in mind that Thailand is a tropical
country where any kind of jacket is rarely required. However, dressing
in shorts all the time is not a good idea either. Not only the dangers
of too much sun, and mosquitoes, especially in rainy season, you also
need to keep in mind that most temples and palaces require visitors
to wear long pants. Natural fabrics such as cotton breath better and
so will keep you cooler than artificial cloth.
Addition to sensible clothing, some medicines
for basic illness should be brought with you. You'll probably want to
bring a camera. If you're still using film, all types of film can be
purchased just about anywhere in Thailand. We would also suggest you
bring an inexpensive rain poncho. The lightweight plastic kind take
up almost no space in your camera bag or backpack, but can really come
in handy if you get stuck in the rain.
- What
type of clothing should I wear during the fieldwork?
Volunteer vacation will be arranged
in rainy season in Thailand (between June and mid October), which has
continuous rainfall and sometimes hardly. Rain- protecting clothes and
equipments should be brought with. During the project, practically,
comfortable clothing is suggested in order to support your fieldwork
activities. Wearing jeans also is a good idea.
- As
a woman, will I experience any obstacles while spending time in Buddhist
Wats (Temples)?
During the volunteer project, you will
have an opportunity to immerse yourself in Thai temples and participate
our Buddhist ceremonial activities such as merit making. Women should
be conscious never to touch a monk, and understand that they therefore
cannot hand anything directly to the monks or novice monks. There is
nothing in Buddhist law or tradition that prohibits western women from
observing and experiencing Buddhism in Thailand. For dressing, typically,
females should wear skirts or slacks. (See Thai Etiquette)
- Thai Etiquette
In order to travel in Thailand with confidence and less culture shocks,
you should know some of Thai etiquette.
• Thais revere their royal family.
• Outward expressions of anger
are regarded as crude and boorish.
• Visitors should dress neatly
in all religious shrines. They should never go shirtless, or in shorts,
hot pants or other unsuitable attire.
• Shoes should be removed when
entering a private Thai home, a Buddhist temple chapel, any of the Islamic
community's mosques.
• Each Buddha image, large or
small, ruined or not, is regarded as a sacred object. Never climb onto
one to take a photograph or do anything, which might indicate a lack
of respect.
• Public displays of affection
between men and women are frowned upon. Westernized Thai couples may
hold hands, but that's as far as it goes in public.
• It is considered rude to point
your foot at a person or object.
• Thais regard the head as the
highest part of the body, literally and figuratively. Therefore, they
do not appreciate anyone patting them there, even as a friendly gesture.
• Thais customarily ask questions,
which are regarded elsewhere as being personal. If the visitor is asked,
‘Where are you going?' or ‘How much do you earn?' such questions are
asked in a friendly manner and signify genuine interest.
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- What
does the organization do and how is it funded?
We arrange the children- oriented activities, especially on language
skill, in order to make them familiar with foreigners and prepare them
to be able to use English as a second language, in both listening and
speaking skills. Moreover, we also get involved in helping local people
do daily life- used accessories such as fishing equipments. Our company
is not a funding organization, therefore does not manage to provide
any fund to the Tsunami- affected people. But all the expenses are from
volunteers applying to join our volunteering program, and those payments
are non- profit making. Our determine aim is to help recover and boost
the economics of local people, hoteliers, restaurateurs, and other travel-
related people, by bringing tourists there to experience by themselves
the rebirth of Andaman Sea.
- Are
placements arranged directly through the organization or does it act
as a sending agency?
The placements are arranged by travel agent.
- Who
can volunteer with the company and how are volunteers selected?
If you are those who would like to help people recovered and relieved
from the disaster trauma, and be willing to engage in English language
teaching, and handicraft making activities, this Phuket Volunteer Vacation
Initiative can be your choice.
- What
will I be doing on the project and how will this benefit local people?
See
How you can help them.
- Where
are the placements and how long do placements last?
The placement for this program is Khaolak, Phang Nga Province.
- Can
volunteers choose where to go?
Volunteers are required to engage in the activities and routes indicated
in our itinerary, but special requests can be arranged. Please discuss
via email.
- Can
volunteers extend the placement after they arrive or visit more than
one place?
Only pre- tour or post- tour can be arranged.
- How
much does the placement cost and what is included (e.g. flights, visas,
insurance, meals, accommodation)?
See
our Itinerary and Cost
- Is
insurance included? If not, make sure you take out sufficient travel
insurance before you leave.
Accident insurance is included in the cost
you pay.
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- Is
any training provided (this may take the form of an orientation program
before you leave or after you arrive in the country)?
There is an orientation on the second day after your arrival, which
provides you general information about the program, itinerary, some
precautions, and do’s and don’ts during your stay.
- What
happens if things go wrong? Is there a local representative or emergency
number you can call to provide assistance in an emergency? Is medical
care available?
Yes. We make ourselves ready for medical and emergency concerns by preparing
a representative who will take care of volunteer group.
- Do
volunteers work in groups or alone? Will other volunteers be living
nearby?
Volunteers are required to work in group in each activity indicated
in our
itinerary.
- What
are the living arrangements? Do volunteers share rooms or stay with
local families? Are meals provided?
The company arranges hotels for volunteers’ staying.
- Is
it possible to volunteer with a friend or partner?
You will volunteer with groups of friends and partners.
- How
can volunteers keep in touch with local friends and family?
Volunteers can join activities with local people at the fishing village.
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