TECHNOLOGY including CELL PHONES, CAMERAS AND COMPUTERS
WANDERTOURS TRAVEL DETAILS
1. GETTING TO BHUTAN
Q. Do I book my plane tickets to Bhutan?
A. Due to Bhutan’s restrictions and control on visitors into the country, it’s not possible to book your own flight into Paro, so we book your flights into and out of Bhutan for you. Usually this is from Bangkok, where most people stay prior to the start of your tour. But there are flights into Bhutan from Delhi, Calcutta and Kathmandu (which we would also book), if you prefer to fly from one of those destinations and meet the group in Paro for the start of the tour.
We suggest you arrive early and stay overnight in Bangkok in the event of flight delays as the flight to Paro leaves early (7:30 a.m. on March 31st). We can suggest hotels in downtown Bangkok or near the airport.
Q. When I arrive in Bangkok before the tour, what’s the best way to get a taxi?
A. The taxi stand is located on Level 1 of Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport. Follow the signs to the taxi counter on Level 1 near entrances 3, 4, 7 and 8.
You’ll get a ticket from a taxi queue machine and then proceed to the lane number printed on your ticket.
The taxi will have a meter (make sure the driver turns on the meter!) and 50 Baht will be added to that for the airport surcharge. The driver MAY ask you to pay expressway fees.
The driver may or may not speak English. Consider printing the hotel name and address on a piece of paper or be prepared to type in the hotel name into his map app on his phone.
Q. What is the free checked luggage allowance for Druk Air and Bhutan Airlines flights between Bangkok and Paro?
A. Both airlines allow up to 30 kilos (66 pounds) of checked luggage. As these planes are very small, only one carry-on item – such as a purse, a coat or a camera – will be allowed on board. All other luggage (including luggage that is normally considered carry-on on other planes, like a 22″ bag) will need to be checked and included in your checked luggage allowance. Excess luggage charges will apply if weight exceeds 30 kilos. Baggage restrictions can be found here.
Q. Do I need to secure my own visa for Bhutan?
A. No, we handle that at WanderTours and it is included in the cost of your tour.
Q. I’m thinking of booking an early evening flight home from Bangkok on the last day of the tour. Will that work?
A. On the last day of the tour, our flight from Bhutan to Bangkok doesn’t usually arrive in Bangkok until 4:30 pm or later. We recommend that you book your international flight home for very late that night or that you consider staying in Bangkok for one night in case flights out of Paro are delayed (not uncommon).
2. WHILE VISITING BHUTAN
Q. Will bottled water be readily available?
A. Yes, it will but we strongly urge our tour participants to carry their own reusable water bottle and bring a water purifier, such as a SteriPen, so as to cut down on the number of plastic water bottles that get thrown out daily in the country.
Q. What kind of food should I expect on the tour?
A. Meals are usually served buffet-style at the hotels and include plenty of cooked vegetables, rice and meat (beef, chicken and pork). Vegetarians will have no issues finding enough to eat. Chile and cheese is the national dish of Bhutan and is often available at meals. Rice is always plain and vegetables are often served plain or with cheese.
Q. I was wondering if there is a need for altitude meds?
A. We arrive in Paro at 7,200 feet and at the highest elevation during the tour, we will be at about 11,000 feet. It’s not uncommon to feel some shortness of breath and perhaps a light headache due to the altitude.
Some people may have more severe symptoms but it usually doesn’t require high altitude medication. Rest and drinking lots of water will help stave off the effects of being at high altitude.
Having said that, we do recommend that you speak to your doctor about any possible issues. We recommend that our tour participants be fairly fit and expect to do light hiking throughout the journey.
Q. Do I need to worry about mosquitoes and/or malaria in Bhutan?
A. While you may encounter a stray mosquito or two, malaria and Japanese encephalitis are not found in the areas you’ll be visiting in Bhutan. Given that we will be starting in Bangkok, however, we suggest that you consult your doctor about whether you should take malaria medication.
Q. Should we bring our own toilet paper and should I expect squat toilets?
A. No need to bring toilet paper as it will be available at all hotels. All toilets (except for the woods) are western style. While we’re usually not far from a bathroom break, if you do need an emergency outdoor potty break, you can grab toilet paper from the hotel for this.
Q. Do I need a walking stick?
A. It depends on your fitness level and your balance. For most of our walking around, you likely won’t need a walking stick. But we will be doing a couple of short hikes and one longer one to Tiger’s Nest (which will be more difficult) and for those you might consider a collapsible hiking pole or two. There’s usually a man at the base of the Tiger’s Nest hike that “rents” them and sometimes the hotels have them.
If you’re relatively steady and have good walking shoes, you may not need to bring walking sticks with you but this will be a decision you’ll need to make.
Q. I get motion sickness. Will I be able to sit in the front of the bus on the tour?
A. We do try to make our tour participants as comfortable as possible, so please tell your tour guide if motion sickness is an issue for you. We can’t guarantee the front seat of the bus every time as it really depends on how many people in the group tend towards motion sickness or have other medical issues where they may need a different seat. We suggest that you bring ginger, wrist bands or ask your doctor about a prescription to mitigate motion sickness symptoms.
3. HOTEL INFORMATION
Q. What are the accommodations like in Bhutan?
A. Hotels are quite comfortable, usually in the 3- to 4- star range (5-star hotels are an additional $1,000+/night!) and have private bathrooms, heat and hot water.
Q. Will you be sending a list of hotels?
A. All of our hotels are listed on our itinerary and you will receive a list of hotel contact information about two weeks before departure (note: it is subject to last-minute changes).
Q. Will the hotels have a laundry service so that I can pack light?
A. They definitely have laundry service at a reasonable rate. You’ll want to consider having it done at one of the hotels where the group is staying for more than one night as it will be difficult for your clothes to dry in that climate. Also, be sure that you bring quick-drying clothes made for this purpose.
Q. Are there hair dryers at the hotels?
A. Sometimes, but don’t count on it.
4. PACKING INFORMATION
Q. Will I be responsible for carrying my own luggage?
A. You’ll have very little interaction with your luggage as the guides and hotel staff help with moving our bags from the bus to your room. We do encourage you to pack light so a small roller bag that is carry-on size (under 22″) would be ideal.
Q. How should I dress based on the weather in the spring or fall?
A. You might consider either a fleece and/or light rain jacket for your outer layer, then a button up shirt underneath and a t-shirt as a bottom layer. Evenings will be cool – possibly freezing – and days will can get up to the low 70’s if it’s sunny.
We will provide a full packing list once you’ve registered for the tour.
Q. Do I need to cover my shoulders and knees while in Bhutan?
A. Bhutan is somewhat conservative in terms of their dress. It’s recommend that your shoulders and knees are covered and this will be required when we go into temples.
Many local women wear their national dress which covers them up pretty much from neck to feet.
A. It’s best not to wear above the knee skirts to temples. They could potentially deny you entrance. Calf-length skirts will be fine.
Q. Will I need a swimsuit?
A. No swimsuit is needed in Bhutan, but your hotel in Bangkok might have a small pool – check their website (and the weather) to determine whether you should bring a swimsuit.
Q. Do I need any dressy clothes?
A. Nope.
Q. What kind of shoes should I hike in?
A. It depends on how much ankle support you need. Hiking boots may not be necessary. Consider light hikers or even something like Keen or Teva sandals that have a grip on the bottom.
Q. Do you know if I can bring hiking poles in my carry-on bag?
A. It seems as though security at the airport does not like hiking poles in your carry-on. We do know people who have been able to bring them through with no problem, but you may not want to risk it. Even though we generally do not recommend checking bags (except when it’s unavoidable, like for the flight into Paro), if you’re bringing poles, this may be your only option.
Q. Would you recommend taking a rain coat?
A. The vast majority of time, you should have nice weather in Bhutan, but you might experience a rain shower or two. A light rain jacket isn’t a bad idea. Remember to dress in layers, too, so that when the sun’s out, it’ll be easy to layer down into lighter clothes.
Q. What tricks do you use to fit all that stuff into a carry-on? And still have room somewhere for souvenirs?
A. It’s true that if you pack light, you’ll have to do more laundry. But we recommend rinsing out some clothes every four or five nights rather than lugging around a big bag. Check out this article on secrets to packing light.
5. TECHNOLOGY including CELL PHONES, CAMERAS AND COMPUTERS
Q. Will we have internet access?
A. Most hotels in Bhutan have WiFi. However, the connection can be very slow or not work at all. It’s best to set your expectations low and then be pleasantly surprised when it does work.
Q. What sort of power adaptor do I need?
A. Bhutan uses types D, F and G power plugs (although D, pictured, is the most common). Note that some outlets at hotels actually accept the US-style of power plug.
Q. Will I need a converter for my electrical devices?
A. You will need a power converter for any devices unable to handle 220 (i.e. a hair dryer, curling iron, etc.).
Q. Can I use my cell phone in Bhutan?
A. It’s likely that you can but check with your mobile provide first for pricing. Some may offer a day pass (about $10/day) while others will charge very expensive roaming charges. Consider downloading an e-sim app such as Airalo and purchasing one of their plans. (Use the code: ELIZAB3290 to save some bucks on your plan.) You may not have access to your regular cell number while on it but you will have a data plan and can use WhatsApp and other messaging services to stay in touch with family and friends at home.
To access your regular cell number, you can use your phone over a WiFi network (which is possible through a setting on your phone). Although WiFi will only be available at hotels and, even then, not 100% reliable, it will be free and you can make and receive both calls and texts this way.
Q. Can I bring my laptop?
A. Of course, you will have power at all of the hotels. Power outages do happen but not frequently.
Q. Are ATMs available in Bhutan?
A. There are ATMs in Bhutan but they may or may not accept foreign credit/debit cards. We suggest you change US dollars at the airport in Paro or at a bank in Paro or Thimphu.
Q. Can I use a credit or debit cards in Bhutan?
A. Some hotels and handicraft emporiums will accept credit and debit cards and may or may not charge a percentage of the sale (upwards of 7%) to do so. Many places will accept US dollars. Unless you plan to spend a lot of money (typically this would be for textiles, which can be quite costly), it’s best to bring cash and either pay in US dollars or exchange your dollars into ngultrum at the airport or at a bank.
Q. How much money do you recommend bringing?
A. Remember that most everything will be covered during your time in Bhutan – hotel, food, transportation and water. If you want soft drinks or alcohol (beer is widely available as is wine) these will be extra. The most common souvenir purchases include tapestries and thangkas (wall hangings). They CAN be expensive but range from about $20 upwards (easily into the hundreds, and even over a thousand dollars). Prepare for this if you plan to bring home some nice souvenirs. There are plenty of inexpensive souvenirs you can pick up as well.
It’s difficult to give a recommended amount of money to bring to Bhutan. It just depends on your buying habits. We’ve seen people spend a hundred or two over the course of a tour while others spend far more than that on the tapestries.
Q. Do my dollars need to be new bills?
A. Yes, you must have newer bills in good shape (no tears) as shopkeepers won’t take bills that are old, wrinkled or torn.
Q. How safe is Bhutan?
A. Bhutan is an incredibly safe country so there’s o need to worry about theft. For peace of mind, you may choose to use the room safe for your money or lock it in your bag with a luggage lock.
Q. How much should we tip in Bhutan?
A. Tips for our guide and driver are included in the cost of your tour. But if you’d like to give something extra at the end of the trip, it would be greatly appreciated by both the guide and driver.
There are often tip boxes at the hotels for tips to the staff. This is not included and we encourage you to leave a small amount for the cleaning and service staff.
Q. Do you recommend bringing small gifts for the children we will encounter?
A. No, it’s best not to bring gifts such as candy, chocolate etc. If you want to interact with the children, you could consider bringing a bottle of bubble liquid and you can entertain them by blowing bubbles for them. Remember to put in your checked luggage, though.
7. WANDERTOURS TRAVEL DETAILS
Q. Do I need insurance for this tour?
A. We do suggest that all tour participants acquire travel insurance, but we do not require it. We have now partnered with Travel Insured International so that you have ability to purchase “cancel for any reason” insurance. We HIGHLY recommend travel insurance (no matter who your provider is) to protect your travel investment from any possible issues. Although we are technically not requiring it, you will be asked to sign additional paperwork acknowledging the risk of traveling without insurance.
Q. Is there a schedule for installment payments?
A. We don’t have anything formal set up, but you can definitely send in payments on your own schedule. Some people send in monthly payments while other people send in payments when it’s convenient. You might consider talking to your bank to send regularly scheduled checks until the tour is paid in full by the final payment due date.
Q. Will I receive a refund if I have to cancel my participation in this tour?
A. Once you have paid a deposit, there is a cancellation fee if you cannot join us. The cancellation fee depends on the tour and how far in advance of the tour you cancel. Our refund policy is covered in our Booking Terms and Conditions and is also outlined on the Registration Form that you’ll receive within 24 hours of registering with a deposit.
Any refunds will be sent by check within two weeks of our receiving written notification of your cancellation (email notification is fine). We will respond via email and ask for confirmation of your mailing address for any refunds. Address must be confirmed within six months, otherwise expect forfeiture of refund as we close out our books at that time.
Q. Will you be sending an updated itinerary with our overnight accommodations so we can leave it with folks at home?
A. Yes, you’ll receive the hotel information as well as emergency contact information one or two weeks before departure (note: it is subject to last-minute changes).
Q. What’s the emergency contact info that I can give my family?
A. About two weeks before your departure, you will be given a cell phone number for your tour escort and someone in-country employed by our local tour operator.