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Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Overnight stopover en route to Thailand. Emirates flies Dubai to Bangkok (BKK) and Phuket daily. Stay airside or grab a city hotel near the airport for comfort. Request bulkhead or aisle seat with direct access — Emirates Business on the 777 offers fully flat beds with aisle access on most configurations.
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Bangkok, Thailand
Gateway city with excellent medical facilities — reassuring for FMS travellers. Stay in the Sukhumvit or Riverside area for easy, flat access to restaurants and transport. Avoid peak heat (April) if joints are sensitive; November to February is ideal.
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Chiang Mai, Thailand
Cooler temperatures in the north make this especially comfortable for FMS sufferers. The Old City is walkable and compact with excellent massage and wellness options. Thai Airways and Bangkok Airways offer short domestic hops from Bangkok.
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Koh Samui, Thailand
Bangkok Airways operates a near-private terminal and flies directly from both Bangkok and Chiang Mai. Chaweng and Bophut areas offer flat beachfront access ideal for low-impact walks. Numerous wellness retreats and spa resorts cater well to chronic pain conditions.
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Phuket, Thailand
Fly directly from Koh Samui or Bangkok; Phuket is also a direct Emirates destination making your return journey straightforward. Laguna and Bang Tao Beach areas are flat, quiet and resort-friendly. Consider Banyan Tree or similar wellness resorts that specialise in therapeutic treatments.
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Doha, Qatar
Alternative overnight hub if flying Qatar Airways, which offers the Qsuites Business Class product — widely considered the best in the sky with direct aisle access from every seat. Qatar flies Phuket and Bangkok direct to Doha. A one-night stopover hotel near Hamad Airport is simple to arrange.