Frequently asked questions
The only stupid question is the one not asked...
We love sharing our knowledge and are always happy to spend time answering whatever questions you may have so if you can't find what you're looking for here - or can't be bothered to scroll through it all, just send us an email instead...
General
What is the situation with regard to single supplements?
If you are willing to share we will do our best to match you up with another single traveller of the same sex although we can't always guarantee this will be possible. If it isn't or if you would prefer more privacy then single rooms are normally available for a small supplement.
We really WISH we didn't have to charge any extra but most of the hotels we use charge per room rather than per person and there really isn't any way around this... What we CAN assure you is that we never make any EXTRA profit on single supplements and only charge you exactly what we are charged direct from the hotel.
What kind of clothes should I bring?
The temperature is pleasant in Thailand all year round so in general, summer clothes are fine. Evenings can get cooler, especially in the north so it's probably a good idea to bring a sweater just in case... you'll probably need it on the plane too!
Mosquitos can be a pain (even where malaria isn't a risk) especially at dusk so a long sleeved shirt and loose, long trousers are always useful for covering up and can also be used for modesty when visiting temples and other religious shrines.
If you're planning on doing any real jungle trekking, you'll probably appreciate a good pair of comfortable trainers/shoes/boots although TEVA-style sandals are usually just as good and mean that your feet will dry out more quickly when they get wet (and they almost certainly will!) When not doing so much walking, flip-flops or light sandals are the best choice for both men and women especially as footwear is almost always removed when entering buildings in Thailand - so you'll appreciate having something that is easy to slip on and off!
In the rainy season, a proper raincoat is probably a useful addition to your bag and doesn't take up much space. Alternatively, a foldable umbrella can be handy when participating in more sedate sightseeing or flitting from hotel to restaurant...
I'm vegetarian - is this a problem?
In a nutshell... no! Perhaps surprisingly for a Buddhist country, Thai's are not ALL vegetarians but the concept is very well understood (far more so than in some European countries) and you will find a wonderful range of delicious dishes on offer...
Generally speaking, avoiding dairy products is not too difficult either as there is very little milk/cheese used in Thai cuisine and although eggs are used, it is possible to find dishes which don't include them.
Who is your "typical" client and am I too old/young?
As for our typical client? There really isn’t one. If you’re 17 or 70 that’s fine. American, Canadian, Japanese, English, Australian or wherever you come from – that’s fine too. If you thrive on meeting people, experiencing excitement, culture and the environment then you will enjoy your adventure. Have you a good sense of humour? Like to participate? The occasional unexpected adds to the experience and the memory. Our trips are action-based by their nature but providing you are reasonably fit and healthy then all are welcome to come along.
What about bringing the children?
Our insurance requires us to specify that anyone under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a responsible adult ie. someone OVER 18, however, other than that children of ALL ages are very welcome on ALL of our trips - including the volunteering projects.
In fact, we would go so far as to say that we positively encourage you to bring the kids because (especially with offspring of our own!) we already know what an amazing experience this can be for them. Not to mention the fact that the Thai people just love children so you can be sure you'll never be short of a babysitter if you need one...
All this said, we do trust that you know your own children and their capabilities... if they start whining over a 10 minute car journey then you may be expecting too much if you think they'll cope with an overnight coach journey (although kids can surprise you when they're somewhere new and interesting, so you never know for sure!)
If you'd like our help/advice in assessing which trips might be best for you and your family, please do let us know. We've tested most of them with kids in tow so we'll be pleased to offer you the benefit of our experience!
Volunteering
Why do I have to pay to volunteer?
Occasionally we get asked why volunteers should have to pay to participate in a particular project when they are already volunteering their time and efforts...
Of course, there are some charities who can afford to pay and/or provide accommodation for their volunteers but unfortunately, the ventures we support tend to be small with little or no other means of income which means that this simply isn't possible.
Most of the projects with whom we work are small, local NGO's (non-governmental organisations) operating on a non-profit basis and receive little or no external funding so when we provide volunteers, it is essential that all costs are covered as well as providing vital income to the project itself.
In practical terms, this means that the price we charge has to include -
Administration - whilst we do everything we can to keep admin costs to a minimum, there are still essential office expenses to be covered both here in the UK and in Thailand including advertising (otherwise no volunteers!); staff to handle enquiries/bookings; ongoing liason/development with projects to ensure that both local and visitor needs are being met; and, of course, local staff to offer orientation/provide support to volunteers throughout their stay.
Food and accommodation - usually provided by local families/small hotels. Volunteers' payments for these services are a valuable source of additional income and help to ensure that not just the project but also the local community in general will benefit from your visit.
Project donation - probably most important of all, a percentage of your fee goes direct to the project to help with the ongoing daily expenses as well as future development plans. Whether it's used to buy food for the elephants, school supplies or a tank of petrol to reach the next village, most of our projects simply wouldn't survive for long without this kind of financial support.
In summary, by volunteering with Go Differently, your assistance will be two-fold – one through your volunteer work and two by providing much needed financial support to the project you visit.
As a footnote, it may also be worth adding that whilst there are undoubtedly some charity-supported projects who have the funds (from other sources) to subsidise their volunteers... it has also been pointed out to us on more than one occasion that there are also quite a few larger, profit-motivated companies who charge a lot MORE than we do!
Whilst we appreciate that this kind of option is not for everyone, we hope this at least goes some way to explaining the situation and if you have any further queries on this, please don't hesitate to let us know.
Volunteering with Elephants
Is it safe?
Elephants are big, fairly immovable objects if
they so choose and they are still essentially wild animals
so need to be treated with respect.
In view of the fact that in Thailand there are are tens of thousands of domestic elephants working together with tourists on a daily basis, the number of incidents is actually very low, however, in order to reduce possible problems, we always make sure that -
Staff and guide are together with volunteers at all times.
If the elephants have their 'musth' period, they are set aside and will not participate in any activities as elephants can be particularly difficult to control at this time. (Not all parks take respect of this, especially when financial concerns are allowed to override those of safety.)
The elephants are under relatively little stress as they do not work for long hours and do not perform any show tricks.
In addition, our partners in Thailand do also have accident insurance. Of course we dont want to use this, but volunteers are covered in case of problems.
So far we have not have any incidents at the park. Of course we cannot guarantee that there will never be an incident, but the chances are small and we try to make it as safe as possible.
What is the accommodation like?
Accommodation is very comfortable. You will stay in a modern, fully furnished apartment 100 metres away from the project. Rooms have air-conditioning, hot water and TV. You will normally share the room with another volunteer.
You will be served a variety of Thai local dishes 3 times a day. In the morning, bread and jam are also available. Sometimes you may be requested to help out with the cooking. Cold water, tea and coffee are included with meals. Soft drinks and water can also be purchased from the shop at the project.
Will I have the same mahout for the entire stay?
Yes. The elephant needs to build a relationship with you in order to trust you completely. It is necessary therefore that you will work together with the elephant and mahout for as long as possible and in order to control the elephant.
Does the mahout speak English?
The mahouts at the project speak very limited English. They are keen to learn though so if you want to help them this is highly appreciated. English speaking staff are always present at the project.
What does a typical day look like at the mahout project?
You will normally volunteer from Monday to Saturday midday. We usually start at 6.30 in the morning followed by breakfast at 8. Some of the tasks you will perform include preparing food, bathing of the elephants, cleaning the area and of course, you will practice controlling the elephant. Work normally finishes around 3, although if you wish, you may like to spend some time teaching English to the local people or brushing up your Thai cookery skills. Evenings and weekends are free.
Is the Mahout training difficult?
The mahout training is not difficult, however, you do need to be patient and give the elephant some time to get used to you.
What do we learn at the project?
The 1 - 4 week project gives you the great opportunity to get a basic understanding of the Thai domestic elephant and their relationship with their mahout. You will not only learn how to control and ride your elephant but also how to care for him/her. You can also learn about the traditional life of the mahouts and about the life of local people.
What is the different between doing the Mahout training alone or with a small group?
There is not a big difference. When other volunteers are present at the same time you can interact with them but the program remains the same.
Are the elephants treated well and do the village-people still use sharp tools to make the elephants obey?
The elephants here are treated like friends and have been trained well by their mahouts. Almost every mahout in Thailand has a tool which can be used in emergencies when the elephant doesn't respond to other forms of control and can become dangerous however this is very rare and under normal circumstances, it is not used.
Are there other volunteers at the home stay and volunteer projects?
We usually have several volunteers at the projects at the same time, however, occasionally you may find that you are the only one. That said, you will never be all on your own and English speaking staff are always available.
Teaching English - Thai Homestay
What is the accommodation like?
Accommodation in the village is very basic. You will stay in the bamboo house of a local family. You will receive a handmade mat to sleep on and clean bedding. If you prefer not to sleep on the ground, you may want to bring a sleeping bag to put between you and the mat.
Do I need to bring a mosquito net?
If required we can provide you with one locally but these are often rather well used and easily become torn. We therefore recommend that you bring one with you. Nets are not expensive and can be purchased from most good outdoor retailers but if you do have any problems locating one, please do let us know and we'll be pleased to advise.
Where/with whom do we eat?
You may either eat at the house of the local teacher together with the staff or help with cooking and eat together with some of the villagers.
Do the villagers speak any English?
Most villagers do not speak English, however, there will always be staff present who do speak English.
What happens on a typical day?
Wake up around 7 and have breakfast. In the morning we will visit the local school and will teach for about 2 hours. After lunch we will repeat this activity. In the evenings, you will also have the opportunity to help out and learn about Thai cooking. You can also assist with other activities performed by the Karen people such as farming or hand weaving. Playing with the children is, of course, also very welcome here!
What level of English needs to be taught... do I need to bring any teaching aids?
The level of English of the children of the village is basic. No special teaching skills are required, although some preparations for ideas of teaching methods may be helpful to you. Postcards of your hometown, photographs and other visual aids always go down well. Let your imagination run riot!
What other duties are expected?
Besides the willingness to teach English to local people, we require you to help with basic domestic activities and, depending on the season, help with farming may also appreciated.
What should I bring in the way of gifts?
This is certainly not expected but if you do want to bring some small gifts for the people you will be visiting, here are some suggestions –
For the children - any small toys, balloons or sweets (this last depends on your view of the ethics of sweets but the villagers certainly don't object and we really can't see the harm in an occasional treat!) Clothes (t-shirts), paper and pens/crayons are always useful, as are postcards/photos (anything from your hometown/family to London sights, english houses or double decker buses) which provide a useful discussion point. Also football and in particular premier league are very popular. If you're into football (or even if you're not) anything about English teams/players always goes down well.
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