Exploring Thailand with Cebu Pacific Part 1: Preparing for Bangkok

The City of Angels - Bangkok, Thailand is NOW less than 4 hours away from ILOILO! 

Cebu Pacific Air recently launched its DIRECT FLIGHTS between Iloilo International Airport and Don Mueang International Airport in Bangkok.

With this 3rd international flight from Iloilo and even more domestic flights, Cebu Pacific continues to strengthen its Iloilo hub by offering more destinations to choose from - making it a gateway for travelers from Western Visayas to explore more of the Philippines and the world!

Together with my Iloilo Bloggers Inc fam, we were part of this historic Bangkok maiden flight - our third, after Hongkong last October 2024 and Singapore in November 2024. (Thank you, as always, Cebu Pacific)

Here’s the schedule of CEBU PACIFIC direct flights between Iloilo and Thailand

Iloilo to Bangkok

Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays 

ETD 0930PM Ph time 

ETA 1225AM Th time (-1 hour)

Bangkok to Iloilo

Tuesdays, Thursdays & Saturdays 

ETD 125AM Th time

ETA 0615AM Ph time (+1 hour)

MY TRAVEL PREPS and TIPs

Passports must be AT LEAST 6 MONTHS valid and FREE from wear and tear to avoid uneccessary delays upon check-in.

Round-trip tickets are cheaper and lucky if you availed Cebu Pacific PISO FARE or Seat Sale fares. Include baggage allowance when booking to get the best prices !

Amazing low fares during the CEB Iloilo - Thailand maiden flight seat sale

For my travel budget, I've been using my GCash Card to withdraw the local currency with the best exchange rates. You can also use this as a debit card when paying online, tapping or swiping abroad. It is also advisable to bring US dollars as back up.

Fill out the Philippine E-travel form and TDAC - Thailand Digital Arrival Card around 3 days before your scheduled flight. These are very important especially when entering the country. 

Remember both these requirements are FREE OF CHARGE. If you encounter ones that require payments - it's a scam!

Prepare your documents for immigration especially if it is your first time. These could be certificate of employment, authority to travel, bank statement and more. Though in my case, as a blogger, I haven't been asked to show these docs even at NAIA T1, T3 and here in Iloilo.

Also, the IO may ask for your itinerary and activities plus hotel bookings, again, if it is your first time to travel or you stay longer than the usual. Have them printed or keep a screenshot on your phones.

DEPARTING FROM ILOILO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

Arrive at least 3 hours at the airport and better if you already checked in online. Cebu Pacific has self check in kiosks installed at airports for easy self check-in

Pass through preliminary security checks before lining up for bag drop or manual check in.

Make sure you have paid your Travel Tax amounting to PhP 1620. You can do it when you buy your plane tickets, online through TIEZA website/app or at the airport - just look for the travel tax kiosk.

At the bag drop and final check in, present your passport, tickets and travel tax receipt then have baggage checked in.

At the Iloilo International Airport, flights abroad are subjected to a terminal fee of PhP 784 ( or is it PhP 900 now?). You must pay this before passing through immigration.

And now, IMMIGRATION. You will be reminded if you have filled out the E-Travel form when you queue.

Photo courtesy of Philippine Information Agency

Only, present your passport to the Immigration Officer who will scrutinize it - validity, integrity, etc. DON'T include the ticket, boarding pass, itinerary and other documents. 

Then the questioning begins... Where will you go? How many days? What will you do there? Are you going alone? 

And the is the most important of all - WHEN ARE YOU COMING BACK? You might be asked more than once about this to test the consistency of your answer (and that's why a return ticket and hotel booking if a big help in this case). If the IO is not satisfied with your answers, he/she might ask for supporting documents.

Also, take note of the VISA FREE STAY duration of the country you will visit (HongKong 14 days, Singapore 30 days, Thailand 60 days). The duration will reset when you exit and re-enter again - like a day trip to Macau from Hongkong or a side trip trip to Malaysia or Indonesia from Singapore and to Cambodia or Laos from Thailand.

When the IO stamps your passport, you can now post on FB story😆, for you are now ready to go.... (at least from the Philippine side)

After 3 hours and 20 minutes flightime, Cebu Pacific welcomes you to Don Mueang International Airport in Bangkok, with a reminder that Thailand is 1 hour behind Philippine time and you need to adjust your time pieces.

ARRIVING AT DON MUEANG AIRPORT

Make sure you haven't forgotten anything from your plane seat. Just follow the lead of other passengers if you are traveling alone.

A quick peek inside at CEB's cockpit during our ILO to DMK flight

First, will be the Thai Immigration which you will have to present your passport. They will know if you have or have not filled out the TDAC form - failure of which delays your immigration passage.

International (Asian especially ASEAN) immigration, based on my experience is less strict and less stressful if you are on vacation for a few days. Most of the time, no questions asked. You will just have your fingerprints scanned and picture taken for documentation.

Most countries still stamp your passport. But for HongKong and Macau, they provide a slip of paper - no stamp. In Singapore,  you just scan your passport at their e-gates, no stamp or slip of paper.

After immigration, it is time to  retrieve your checked in baggage from the carousel and have your first vacation photos taken.

BANGKOK, READY?!

It is advisable to purchase an E-Sim and activate it the moment you arrive.

Check out KLOOK for affordable E-Sims

It will be your connectivity during your whole trip - from Google maps, to personal messaging, social media updates, online payments and  ride-hailing apps.

But first you need money. The most convenient and practical for me is using GCash Card or GoTyme to withdraw local currency. Both ride on VISA card which is accepted worldwide. They have the best rates - better than the money changers.

BUT take note that in Thailand, every withdrawal will have a 220 baht surcharge, so better have a one time, big time withdrawal - I withdrew 10,000 baht when I arrived and that lasted me more than a week since I already pre-paid my accommodation and some activities. When withdrawing abroad, always remember to “CONTINUE WITHOUT CONVERSION.”

With local currency and e-sim on hand, it is now time to travel from the airport to your hotel. Iloilo’s international flights arrive early morning - around 2AM in HongKong and Singapore while 1230AM local time in Thailand.

It is very important to coordinate your arrival time with hotel and most especially hostels. While some have 24/7 check in, others only have up to 10PM.

Email or message your hostels (few days before) your arrival time so they can anticipate your early morning arrival. If not, you may end up at a fastfood or at the airport and wasted one day of your accommodation. 

Inside our GrabVan enroute to our hotel in Bangkok

With this early morning arrival, the best option is to take the taxi to your hotel (night bus in HK). You may also opt for ride hailing apps like Grab or Uber.

But in Bangkok, Bolt is a much cheaper alternative often almost half the price. Just be sure of your destination and pick up point. You can pay through the app or the most convenient - cash.

Good thing that the ILO-DMK flights arrive just past midnight and you can already check in at your hotel by 2AM giving you plenty of time to rest for the big day ahead.

But of course, if you’re lucky, there could be a nearby 7-Eleven from your accommodation, you can already start your Bangkok adventure through your stomach!

Enjoy your vacation! Sawasdee, Thailand! 🇹🇭