The Bangkok situation

[JohnK]

I like Thailand, but aren't sure I could live there long term. Many things about the place concern me, although perhaps I may think about purchasing some property there in the longer term.

I probably could not live there long term either but there are worse places one could be stuck.

Sure the current situation is not desirable but there is not much one can do about it. There are plenty of expats who are not affected carying on with with their everyday lives. I am sure the number of tourists has dropped considerably but people are still going. It should not be difficult to avoid Bangkok and I have been reading reports from people on the ground.

 

[samh004]

Don't mean to be rude but I would rather be stuck in Thailand with all their problems than be stuck working in Brisbane for 2+ years. YMMV....

I am surprised you have not had any bites with that comment JohnK :!:

I’d rather be stuck there too

 

[Sprucegoose]

Don't mean to be rude but I would rather be stuck in Thailand with all their problems than be stuck working in Brisbane for 2+ years. YMMV....

Having lived through three meltdowns around the place it is not pleasant and i try generally to stay out of peoples way while they are having their squabbles. There is a personal danger element as well.

I am sure BNE will have its advantages at this time.

cheers


SPRUCE

 

[Alanslegal]

Not sure how it affects trips where flights transit through such a country

I'm looking for a new annual multi-trip policy, as my current TID will not cover 30+ days, I gave 1cover a call and as an example, said they won't cover the Thailand parts but will cover the remains of my upcoming RTW travels. I'll have to read the PDS in detail before I commit though.

 

[Alanslegal]

I am travelling in 5 weeks dep. 23 June, where I have 4 nights in coughet then 4 nights in Bangkok. I know that between now and then *anything* could happen in Bangkok but now I need to make some contingencies plans.

My flights are all non-refundable and mainly are SYD-HKT-BKK-CAI and so on.

As of today, I am only prepared to go to coughet but not BKK, but as I have a paid BKK-CAI flight I am prepared to transit in BKK.

Now, depending on the whole outcome in the next fortnight, I could possibly skip coughet (and forfeit my hotel reservation - due to no insurance see my above post) and fly somewhere else eg. PVG and go to the expo before going flying back to BKK to transit onto CAI. I need to try and do this cost effectively though.

 

[Jeffrey O'Neill]

Alanslegal

I would suggest calling the hotels and airlines and seeign what they will do for you.

Due to the situation I think most would be willing to either refund or reschedule for you.

It's worth a go.

 

[Alanslegal]

Thanks Jeffrey, I was going to give them a call in the first instance anyway, but if they won't budge I'm more than Ok to forfeit the $ as it's prepaid/non cancellable etc as I have taken that risk (for the lower rate).

 

[markis10]

There has been no complaints about elite guest treatment at the IC or HI lately, they have now been closed for some time:

Michael Yon's Photos - Wall Photos | Facebook

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I'm looking for a new annual multi-trip policy, as my current TID will not cover 30+ days, I gave 1cover a call and as an example, said they won't cover the Thailand parts but will cover the remains of my upcoming RTW travels. I'll have to read the PDS in detail before I commit though.

I am confused about this 'no insurance cover'.

I understand insurance cover won't cover pre-existing - so we know about the thailand problem now and fair enough, if you book a ticket now knowing the situation then cancellation coverage would probably be excluded.

I can also understand you might not be covered if you are in the thick of a riot.

However - are you saying 1cover won't cover anything related to thailand? Or is it just related to the cancellation policy?

I am assuming that anyhting not immediately related to the riots would still be covered - so if you injured yourself crossing the road in Koh Samui you'd still be fully covered for medical etc etc. Same as if you had your bag stolen at BKK airport - nothing to do with the riots.

 

[Dave Noble]

However - are you saying 1cover won't cover anything related to thailand? Or is it just related to the cancellation policy?

I am assuming that anyhting not immediately related to the riots would still be covered - so if you injured yourself crossing the road in Koh Samui you'd still be fully covered for medical etc etc. Same as if you had your bag stolen at BKK airport - nothing to do with the riots.

Many policies have an exclusion clause which means that they will not cover travel at all to locations where the advisory is "reconsider need" or "do not travel" ; no medical cover etc .

for instance, from my annual policy

Travel Advisories
You should refer to the Government travel advisories in
respect of the areas you are travelling to as there is no
cover under this insurance if you travel to a destination
where your Government is advising against travel.
Australia Smartraveller: The Australian Government's travel advisory and consular assistance service - Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
New Zealand Official New Zealand Travel Advice - SafeTravel.govt.nz

 

[vt01]

Just returned from BKK yesterday morning. Was due to be there all this week. I was at a customer meeting
on Monday when my local host came in at 10:30 and said that our companies HR department had
ordered all foreign employees to leave BKK immediately. I was on a plane at 18:10 that night.

From what I could see, the violence was all in the barricaded area. All the Thai's every where else
were going about their normal lives as if nothing was happening.

We stayed in a hotel north of the city and drove past the city on one of the expressway's on the way to
the customer. we could see the smoke from the burning tyres and see one of the barricades.

That was about it.. Arrived on Saturday and left Monday.. quickest trip I've ever had!

 

[v8Statesman]

V8statesman - hope you got out OK, sounds like things really heated up last night!

Yes, We got out. Ended up flying to Hong Kong then on to Macau. It was the quietest I had ever seen Bangkok.

On the way to the airport. The army had set up ready to protect the airport.

 

[drron]

Looks like the final push is on.APCs entering the encampment.Definitely not a time to be in BKK.
Reading many Thai blogs and some reports quite disturbing.How many will die?What damage will they do beforehand?Wouldn't want to be a red shirt leader today.

 

[Archphoto]

Travel Advice update now reads "Do Not Travel" : Bangkok (excluding Suvarnabhumi Airport.)

"Australians are advised not to travel to Bangkok (excluding Suvarnabhumi International Airport) due to the extreme risk of violence around military cordons and the possibility of widening violence. The Thai authorities have intensified military operations around a cordoned area in central Bangkok and heavy fighting is likely. There is a risk of violence breaking out elsewhere in Bangkok. Australians in Bangkok are advised to stay indoors, monitor local media and follow the advice of local authorities. Australians in Bangkok without essential business should consider departing if it is safe to do so."

 

[drron]

Reports coming through of Red leadership surrendering-some may have got out.
Unconfirmed reports of grenades near the Oriental.
Uprisings in UDON and Khon Kaen.
Really nasty.

 

[JohnK]

Travel Advice update now reads "Do Not Travel" : Bangkok (excluding Suvarnabhumi Airport.)

Interesting travel advice. Does this mean that the rest of Thailand is not an issue?

 

[Archphoto]

Interesting travel advice. Does this mean that the rest of Thailand is not an issue?

No this is just the update for Bangkok which changed from "Reconsider your need to travel" to "Do Not Travel".

Still other travel advice for TH - I just removed the information that didn't pertain to this thread's topic.

Full read:

Travel Advice for Thailand - Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

 

[drron]

Central World has gone up in flames.Zen department store end gutted.Things wont be back to normal for some time.
A video of this.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NuCLcjRIbJc
Now this does appear to be a piece of government propaganda as reports suggested that snipers prevented fire crew from fighting this blaze yet cameramen can wander around with impunity.
Another video-
http://vimeo.com/11876856

 

[samh004]

How does burning down a shopping mall help either sides cause? To me it just shows they don’t care about their country.

 

[yohy?!]

How does burning down a shopping mall help either sides cause? To me it just shows they don’t care about their country.

Perhaps targetting symbols of Bangkok as a tourist destination:?:

The pictures of the Zen signage in ashes brings the situation closer to me as a tourist having been there before.