Frequently Asked Questions: General Questions
Why travel with Sweet Mango Tours?
We truly believe that our services can change the world...or at least a few individuals. When traveling with Sweet Mango, you rarely feel like a tourist. We don't like that gaping cultural divide so we design to avoid it.
What do we mean by "meaningful travel?"
Sweet Mango Tours is committed to creating conditions that encourage the traveler to find some greater understanding of oneself and one's role in this incredibly diverse and fragile world in which we live. Often international travel is seen as a luxury. Meaningful travel is essential.
Why the village home-stay?
All set tours and all voluntours are designed around a home-stay experience. Sharing iin the real lives of your hosts is powerful...and meaningful. Take a look at Sweet Mango's values and beliefs, and we know you'll understand.
How does our host community benefit from our visit?
This is difficult to determine although we know that your interest in their culture, their customs, their environment, their music, food and traditions leaves an impression that serves to preserve all of these things. From you as a representative of a foreign country, your hosts learn about other cultures. The power of a real-life, cross-cultural exchange, even by one person, can do wonders at altering beliefs and assumptions. Your engagement in their day-to-day life is a gift - and the tears and hugs that typically accompany your departure are proof of the value of that gift.
If you are interested in the Voluntour experience, during the orientation you will develop a personal plan for service in your host community. In addition to specific service projects, or assistance that has been requested by your host community, you will no doubt help your hosts learn some English language skills. You will probably teach other things - how to sing a song, how to make a paper crane, how to swim, how to use sign language, etc.
Through our non-profit organization, the Sweet Mango Fund for Cultural Exchange, you have the opportunity to express your appreciation in a way that will last. Donating an education scholarship, advising a small business start-up, or establishing a village development project fund are examples of the kind of sustainable development that one person or a group of people can do.
Why "Sweet Mango Tours?"
We were looking for a company name that was lucious, inviting and intriguing. Did we succeed?
How safe will I be?
In addition to ensuring a meaningful travel experience, your health and safety are our top priorities. Sweet Mango Tour staff and guides, our drivers, our host families, village committees, and everyone else involved in supporting your experience are especially sensitive to your needs. This is the Thai way - the Buddhist way - it is not only part of their training, it is part of their culture.
What do I need to know about the climate?
Southeast Asia has three seasons: hot, hotter and too hot. Our visits are scheduled to coincide, generally, with the "coolest" season (late October through February). The rains begin to provide relief at the end of the "too hot" season, with monsoon-like afternoon downpours beginning in June and ending mid-October. The rice planting and harvesting cycle begins with the rain in June and winds down in November or December. The temperature at that time averages 75 - 90 degrees during the day and 55 - 65 at night. These temperatures creep upwards in February and are closer to 95 to 100 during the day in March and April. Although it is uncommon, it does occasionally rain during the dry season (November to May).
What kind of accommodations should I expect?
Clean, comfortable and moderate. Standard accommodations are two people per room (unless where otherwise noted on the itinerary). In hotels and inns, you typically will have a private bath. On occasion, and during the village home-stay, there will be access to shared bath facilities. A limited number of private accommodation arrangements are available for an additional fee.
What do I need to know about the food?
Thai food is world famous for its sophisticated flavor combinations (sweet, sour, hot and salty), and for its spiciness. Rice or noodles provide the foundation to most meals, typically accompanied by some meat (pork, chicken, or beef) and vegetables, stir-fried or in a curry sauce. A common midday meal is noodle soup; rice-noodles, meat and vegetables in a rich broth with an intriguing assortment of condiments that allow you to establish your favorite combination of sweet, sour, salty and hot. The fruit variety is astounding. Rambutan, lichee, dragon-fruit, and mangosteen are examples of the colorful, delectable bounty we'll find in the street markets.
We will be eating in a variety of dining establishments, from night market noodle stands to cook-you-own suki (soup), and from upscale restaurants to sticky rice and fish wrapped in banana leaves for a hike. It is possible to avoid chilies. It is possible to be vegetarian and eat well. It is also likely that you'll have the opportunity to try snails, or ant eggs, or congealed pig blood. Of course, you will always have the choice of whether you indulge or not.
Please do share your concerns about diet, eating and food with the staff at Sweet Mango Tours LLC so that we can make sure you are comfortable and satisfied. If you have particular dietary needs, habits or desires, please let us know and plan to accommodate these special needs yourself.How do I stay healthy while traveling?
Sweet Mango Tours are for the adventurous traveler and assume good to excellent health for our participants. If you have a physical problem or limitation, please make it known before you make a payment. Refunds are not given if you are not up to the rigors of the trip, or if your physician disqualifies you from the trip at the last minute.
Thailand's and Vietnam's health care systems are quite well developed. However, we travel often to remote areas and off-the-beaten-track destinations, so it may be difficult to find immediate medical assistance. It is recommended that you come as prepared as you can be. Almost all prescription medicines, pain or sleep medication, antibiotics, codeine, anti-fungals, etc. are available over the counter in pharmacies. Sweet Mango Tour guides carry a medical kit with the most common remedies, ointments and bandages. However, we recommend you bring your own medication with you.
Consult with your doctor for up to date medical travel information well before departure. Some vaccinations are required and may require months prior to travel. Make sure you are up to date on tetanus, and arrange to be inoculated against Hep A and B.
Can I combine a Tour and a Voluntour?
Easily. Time your voluntour to end in time for one of our tours - or vice versa. We will work with you throughout the connection. You will receive 5% off the price of your voluntour if you choose to combine a tour with a voluntour.
What if I want to arrive early or extend my stay?
We will gladly help with lodging arrangements prior to or after the official tour dates. There is no fee for this service. Our pick up and drop off services are available to you whenever you decide to arrive or depart. If you have a desire to explore Southeast Asia before or after your Sweet Mango Tour or Voluntour, our guides and in-country staff love to share their suggestions and to help with making arrangements.
How do I join the group?
Detailed instructions for joining your Tour group or Voluntour will be included in your confirmation packet. Sweet Mango Tours begin and end at our hotel in Bangkok. Sweet Mango Voluntours begin at the hotel in Bangkok and end at the Ubon Ratchathani train station. We offer airport pick up and/or drop off services for USD50 each way. Arrival in a foreign place can be stressful, and we can help make the adjustment smooth and safe. We assume that you will develop a certain level of comfort getting around by the end of your visit, but will also help make that transition smooth and safe.
How are placements determined?
Placements can be arranged for an individual, a family, or a group. An original request will be made as part of the registration process, and modifications to the plan can be made during orientation. Host villages are surveyed annually to determine their capacity to host, their specific community development needs (if any), and/or their desires.
What is involved in the Voluntour Orientation?
The Orientation will help you adjust to the climate, the food, the language, and the time change in preparation for your village placement. Each Voluntour group will be cared for by SMT staff, and guided through a highly structured five days of orientation activities meant to prepare you for your placement. During the orientation, we spend time developing individual personal learning and service plans. The intention is to match your interests and skills with the needs and desires of a particular community. This process, while highly structured, is flexible enough to consider options that will enhance your stay - placement with another voluntourist, for example.
What skills, knowledge and/or experience are helpful?
The most essential things to bring are curiosity and a sense of humor.
What should I bring for my host family?
For your host family, and as token gifts for locals who you want to appreciate, you probably want to carry some knick knacks from your home community or state - a mug with your city's name on it, key-chains with the state logo, picture books about your part of the country, etc. It is our experience that your family values something that reminds them of you - clothing, pictures, something of yours - these are powerful reminders of your visit and relationship.
In addition, we recommend thinking in terms of what you can bring to your host village. Children's books, art supplies, wall maps and posters, school supplies, etc., all go to good use for all. A list of gift suggestions will accompany your travel information packet.
What's included in the price of my tour or voluntour?
- Pre-departure info and support
- basic travel insurance package
- all meals as outlined in itinerary (average 2/day)
- Basic, comfortable and clean double occupancy accommodations (single supplement available for additional fee)
- Ground transportation relevant to tour activities
- Entrance fees for scheduled events and sites
- Local, attentive, bi-linqual guides, trainers and program staff
- A welcoming host family and community
- One hour Thai massage
- Sweet Mango T-shirt and water bottle
Voluntours also include:
- 5-day orientation and delivery to and pick up from your placement
- up to 30 days of in-village, personal support and assistance by a local Sweet Mango Cultural Interpreter
- 24/7 access to assistance (local and by cell phone)
What is NOT included in the Tour or Voluntour Price:
- Passport fees, visa fees and photos
- Vaccinations and immunizations
- Flights - unless outlined in the itinerary
- Transportation to and from airport (available for a fee)
- Meals and/or drinks not articulated in itinerary
- Laundry services
- Optional excursions and activities
- Personal items and incidentals, including communication charges
- Tips for guides (see "what other expenses should I expect" below)
- Excess baggage
- Airport departure taxes
What other expenses should I expect?
Please review the list of what is NOT included in the price of the tour and contact us for more detailed information if needed.
We provide, on average, two meals a day for the duration of the tour. Meals can cost as little as B35 (~USD1) for a decent street meal to B240 or more (USD7+) in a fancy restaurant to B1000 (USD30+) in a 5-star hotel. Coffee and espresso is available in surprising places and often in the larger cities. A good espresso at a gas station café might run you B30 (USD1), a European cup of coffee at the coffee shop just next door to out hotel is B65 (USD2), and the prices at Starbucks near our Bangkok hotel are similar to those in the US. We will provide you with your own reusable water bottle and opportunities to fill it often - however, you may on occasion find that you want to purchase bottled water. Bottles typically cost B10 to 20 (USD0.30 to .75) Hotel laundry services typically run B20 to 40/item (USD0.50 - 1.25), and our personal field station service is slightly less.
Tipping is generally not expected but is nice to do. We will provide guidance on this process once we're together. In the meantime, assume approximately USD25 to 40 total for tips to guides and special guests.
Should I carry cash?
You will be able to change currency upon arrival at the airport and at our hotel on the day that we meet up. Travelers Checks are not convenient as they take time to cash - ATM cards are useful in most locations, and we schedule banking time into our itineraries. There are ATM machines in all major cities and often in smaller towns in Thailand. Check with your bank, too, about daily withdrawal limits, etc. Bring a credit card for emergencies (lost airline ticket or passport for example).
Plan to be extremely conscious about where and how you carry or store your valuables. Sweet Mango Tours staff will help you protect and manage these things once you are in-country. Bring copies of credit and debit cards that you plan to use, and store them with your other important papers. Make sure that you have the contact numbers to call in case the card(s) get stolen or lost.
Feel free to ask contact Sweet Mango Tours staff with questions about this and all other topics.
Exchange Rate:
http://www.x-rates.com/d/THB/table.html
Do I need a passport?
Yes - everyone MUST have a passport with an expiration date at least six months later than the final day of your Tour or VolunTour. As of January 2007, a valid passport is required of all US citizens (including infants and children) traveling by air to and from Canada, Mexico and Central and South America.) Please note that this new law has resulted in a back log of passport applications so please plan accordingly.
Do I need a visa?
The answer to this question varies depending on your destination(s). You are granted a 30-day tourist visa for Thailand upon arrival in Bangkok. This can easily be extended to 60 days while in-country. However, depending on your plans, you can apply for a 3, 6 or 12 month visa, single or multiple- entry. If your Sweet Mango Tour itinerary involves other countries, see below for visa information and application materials on-line. You are responsible for acquiring the appropriate visa(s) prior to your departure date. We can help you with the process.
General info, forms and express options for many countries: www.passportexpress.com
Thailand (extended stay and/or multiple-entry visas): http://www.thaiembdc.org/index.htm
Laos:
http://wikitravel.org/en/Laos
http://www.travisa.com/instructions/Laosint.htm
Cambodia:
http://wikitravel.org/en/Cambodia
http://evisa.mfaic.gov.kh/
Vietnam:
Do I need travel insurance?
Travel insurance is required and included in the cost of your tour. We do this for your and our peace of mind. The application form will be included in your introductory packet. You will have coverage for trip cancellation, travel interruption and delays, baggage loss or damage, emergency medical care and more. You can choose not to purchase insurance, however it will not reduce the tour fee and you will be required to sign a waiver. Your travel agent can assist you with additional insurance if so desired.
Our voluntour placement fees include a 21-day comprehensive insurance policy that covers medical, hospital and emergency dental, repatriation and related worldwide transport, trip cancellation and/or curtailment, accident insurance, personal liability, and baggage loss or destruction. Coverage can be extended for as little as $3.50/day USD. We can help make these arrangements.
What extra documentation should I carry?
We suggest making two copies of all of your documents, including your passport. You should leave one set at home with someone, and stash one set in your luggage away from the originals. We can hold your passport while you are on the tour or voluntour if you would like. Replacing a passport takes time and money, and can hamper your adventure.
If you will be traveling to other countries (Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia) you must bring two extra passport photos for each country. You can print and purchase your own passport photos at http://www.epassportphoto.com/
How can I book my flight?
Our travel agent, Bangkok Starlite Travel, would be happy to help you. We invite you to contact them by phone (301) 933-8830, by fax (301) 933-8849 or (800) 728-5881, or by email at bkkstarlite@msn.com. Please tell them you are traveling with Sweet Mango Tours.
If you prefer, Sweet Mango Tours staff can make arrangements for you as well. Please "check" that option on the reservation form and we will contact you for more information.