FAQ's

Q: Do I need a valid and up to date passport?

A: Passports are a must no matter where you live or are coming from. Without one, you cannot enter Thailand or SE Asia.

Q: How does booking the flights work? Am I responsible for booking my own flight?

A: No, you are not responsible for booking your flights as OMB takes care of it for you. It is included in the total price of your OMB adventure. However, depending on where you are coming from, we may need to increase the overall price of certain trips depending on your departure city, flight availability etc. (For example, if Americans or Canadians are coming from the East, prices may be slightly increased in order to get you to the West Coast where all departing flights take off to get to South East Asia).

Q: What kind of shots/immunizations are required and/or reccommended for my OMB trip?

A: In SE Asia no shots are required. However we highly recommend visiting your local travel vaccination clinic several months (at least 1) before your trip to go over what is needed. As for your OMB travel guides, we are all up to date on our typhoid and hepatitis shots. We highly recommend however that you avoid taking malaria pills as these have been known to have terrible side effects.

Q: How do I get in touch with an OMB representative if I have questions or concerns?

A: (Canadian citizens): As our head office is located in Canada, Canadian citizens can call us at 403-991-3990 or if you are in the Calgary area, we are more than willing to setup an appointment in person.
(American and Canadian citizens) Now that Facebook has taken over the world, the best way to get in contact with your OMB guide is via FB (or email). Our guides constantly check their computers and will respond to you in detail with any questions you have.

Q: How much spending money, what type of currency is accepted and should I bring and should I bring travellers cheques?

A: As for spending money, that is completely up to you. We suggest looking at our price chart provided on the Why SE Asia page to give you a better idea of how much you will need depending on what you want to buy and do once in Thailand and SE Asia. Ideally, the only thing you are responsible for is your own food, alcohol, shopping and extra activities you decide to partake in (We already cover elephant trekking, temple/Grand Palace visits etc.)

We also strongly advise against bringing travellers cheques with you. Everywhere we go in Thailand and the majority of SE Asia will have either an ATM or cash back options, so we highly recommend bringing credit/and or debit cards instead. American money is universally accepted in SE Asia so for all the American OMBers, you are lucky. As for Canadians, you encourage you to visit your local bank and either get American currency or Thai Baht (1 American dollar = about 30-35 Baht).

Q: What is the effect of jet lag and will it affect my trip?

A: Jet lag affects people differently. More often than not, your first day or two after arrival might be a little groggy, but nothing out of the ordinary. Believe us, once you get to SE Asia, jet lag will be an afterthought!

Q: What is the weather like in Thailand and SE Asia?

A: Gorgeous! To all you Canadians (especially those leaving in the winter time) you are going to be in for a shock. SE Asia boasts some of the most humid conditions in the world, and the temperature rarely falls below 20 degrees celsius in the South. To all the Americans, it may feel like Florida on steroids!! You will absolutely adore the climate. It is true it might rain on your trip, but that won't stop you as it never rains in Asia for more than a couple hours at a time.

Q: What should I bring with me on my trip and should I use a backpack or suitcase?

A: First of all, EVERYONE needs a backpack. Suitcases are useless and impractical in SE Asia, and sometimes there will be lots of walking! Be sure to visit a sporting goods store and ask for a high quality backpackers backpack. As for what to bring, the answer is actually a lot simpler than you think. We at OMB highly recommend travelling lightly and leaving room in your pack for goods purchased in SE Asia. A typical OMB tour guides backpack would consist of:

1. Several pairs of underwear (it is after all hot and sticky!)
2. 3-5 pairs of socks
3. COMFORTABLE FLIP FLOPS. You will be barefoot for the majority of the trip, so be sure you have great flip flops/sandals that you can also hike in
4. One pair of running shoes
5. 5-7 shirts
6. 1-2 long sleeve shirts/sweaters (remember it is 20-37 degrees)
7. 2-4 pairs of shorts
8. At least 2 swimsuits (salt water sometimes leaves an odour)
9. A hat
10. A toiletry kit (toothbrush, paste, deodorant, brush etc.)
11. *** A sheet!! – DO NOT bring a sleeping bag or blanket. These are heavy and take up too much room. A sheet will be sufficient enough for sleeping, as clean blankets are provided
12. *** Ipod or any portable music player is a must! These will come in handy for long bus rides and just chilling out on the beach
13. A camera

Optional first aid kit. Your OMB guides will have a fully equipped FA kit, but if you would also like to bring one, that is up to you.

Q: What not to bring on my OMB trip.

A: Anything of substantial value (IE expensive bracelets, rings, earrings etc.). Also items like sunscreen, sunglasses are much cheaper to purchase once in SE Asia. MOST IMPORTANTLY do not bring anything illegal or that could be considered illegal with you. This means no drugs, weapons, alcohol, or anything else that could land you in a SE Asian prison (not a fun place to be). If you are not sure about certain items, talk to an OMB member.

Q: Should I bring enough water for my whole trip?

A: Absolutely not. There is clean and safe bottled water everywhere we go in SE Asia. DO NOT bring water from Canada and definitely do not stock up on water beforehand (thats why 7-11s exist all over Thailand).

Q: What is the language barrier like in SE Asia? Do the locals speak English?

A: For the most part, 95% of people in SE Asia speak enough english to get by. More often than not, people at guesthouses, bars, and stores are more than able to communicate with you.

Q: What if I get sick on the trip?

A: Due to the nature and duration of the trip, we are unable to give refunds if you become ill or injured overseas and are unable to continue. However, SE Asia has very good medical facilities almost everywhere we go and we will do our best to get you back up and running again!

Q: Is there air conditioning and hot water where we will be staying?

A: For the most part no. Unless you stay at high-end places in SE Asia, hot water and a/c are usually nowhere to be found. However, hot water is rarely used anyway and who needs a/c when you have a fan and an ocean breeze!

Q: How strict is the itinerary and is everything organized in such a way that there will be no inconveniances?

A: During your adventure in SE Asia our schedule is not strict or overbearing. We set aside a lot of time for you to be able to do your own thing and explore the regions on your own time. As your OMB guides, it is our job to ensure we are on time for all transportation we will be taking and also come with you to events such as Full Moon and elephant trekking.

Most businesses and transportation agencies work on "Thai Time". This means that sometimes we will have to wait for buses, boats and other commodities. However, this is part of your experience, and no matter what kind of tour you take to SE Asia, waiting around and not getting exactly what you ordered or wanted is just part of the culture! You learn to appreciate the laid back nature of everyone in SE Asia, and after all when in doubt you can always stop at a nearby 7-11 for a Chang!

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