Bangkok Advice, please

[Mojopac]

Thanks for the update. Well as for me. Wild Horses couldn't keep me from having a 3 day break on the way back from the UK at the Mandaring Oriental. I have been talking to ex-pats in Bangkok, and whilst demonstrations seem to centre around the CBD areas. I intend to be cautious.There's really no need to leave the Oriental. The hotel ferries come right up to the pier, it has everything I could ever need. I don't think I'll need to shop, but if I do, I'll just taxi it to Pratunam Market. Hopefully by the end of May things will have settled down.

 

[laineyee]

It is going from bad to worse. I have reports from friends on the ground telling me that several grenades exploded outside Dusit Thani Hotel damaging shops, bank, BTS and MRT platform. Both BTS and MRT has been shutdown for safety concerns.

I wonder if Dusit Thani and Pan Pacific will join InterContinental and Hyatt in the closing down...

Edit: A more complete report in Bangkok Post - Bomb terror grips Silom my thoughts goes out the families, shop keepers and workers in Bangkok.

Just heard from my Director to cancel my trip to bangkok next month, was booked to stay at Dusit Thani too. Heading to jakarta 3 days days earlier instead from Malaysia.. Phew..

 

[JohnK]

Does anyone have any recent news? Did some Australians die in a bomb blast in the last day or so?

 

[Mal]

Does anyone have any recent news? Did some Australians die in a bomb blast in the last day or so?

My opinion of Bangkok as being safe at the moment is degrading quickly. If I was due to travel there this week I would probably cancel my plans (Still planning on another Thai town though!).

There has been grenade explosions in the last 24 hours or so. An Australian was injured, but I don't think I've heard of any Australians being killed.

See Three dead in Bangkok grenade attack | Courier Mail

This trouble sounds different from previous spots of trouble, and seems to be escalating.

See also Brisbane teacher caught up in Bangkok bloodshed

Hopefully it won't affect me and my travel.

 

[JohnK]

Mal I agree with you but I love Thailand as a destination I could not bear to cancel a trip to go elsewhere.

I am not due there until early June but I do not think this will settle down and even if it does settle down it is like another volcano (pardon the pun) ready to erupt. My plan for the June trip is to land in BKK airport (hopefully they do not close airport again) and go straight to Pattaya and then return back to BKK airport again when ready to depart. I will not be spending any time in BKK hotels.

 

[MAX_1]

Does anyone have any recent news?

One of my staff flew out Bris - Siingapore- BKK last Thursday night. Got as far as Sigapore and was advised to stay there by Singapore Airlines. Waiting on news from her mother who also works for me.

 

[JohnK]

Not looking good but so far there is nothing to indicate there is any trouble outside of Bangkok.

Off course a civil war will change it all. Perhaps some sanity will prevail before then....

 

[joeymelb]

I have been advised by a couple of my Thai friends (who happens to work in hotels in Silom) not to visit Bangkok until things settle down.

Sala Daedang Station suffered bomb damage and I was told BTS and MRT line is down (may have since reopened). My advice is don't go to Bangkok. Go to Pattaya instead, it is not that far from BKK.

Even if you are going to stay by the riverside - Oriental, Peninsula or Hilton or Royal Orchard Sheraton - you still on the BTS line that just got bombed recently.

If you decide to go to Bangkok, please double check your insurance and make sure you are 100% covered.

 

[moa999]

At QF lounge BKK about to fly back on QF2.
Stayed 4 nights at Sukhothai on Sathon (next to Banyan Tree and Metropol) and shifted based on local advice to the Davis Hotel on Sukhimvit Soi 24 (reason was further away and very good access to expressways).

Both the MTR and BTS were closed at 6pm last night, so traffic was really bad, although BTS appeared reopened this morning. Morning papers suggest some sort of agreement is being sorted out, so things may settle the next couple of days.

Would not recommend the Sathon area as the protestors are really just on the other side of Liumpini Park and would not take much movement for Rama IV, Sathon and Wireless Rd to be shut down.
That said I stayed away from Silom and in four days did not see a single red shirt, although you could here them on one night from Vertigo at Banyan Tree.

Rest of the city is going about its business. Locals are more worried about being stuck in traffic due top protestors versus any actual violence.

 

[Bang4Buck]

I have been advised by a couple of my Thai friends (who happens to work in hotels in Silom) not to visit Bangkok until things settle down....

Hmmm, me too (except the Silom hotel friend part). I had planned to transit BKK in early May. Moreover, I had hoped to enjoy 2-3 nights in BKK around mid May on my return, but am now considering alternatives.

I wanted to try the TG 346 F service from BNE but now I'm not sure. Hmmm.

 

[Bang4Buck]

Well, I bit the bullet; my trip is now confirmed via BKK. Hmmm...

 

[Archphoto]

I live in BKK for business and admit, I don't live in the Suhkimvit/Silom areas.
However, I have no problems in the other areas of BKK.

Best advice to anybody travelling here - stay away from the affected areas.
If you aren't near the trouble, the chances of you being injured are close to zero.

My Thai producer and I haven't ventured near the problem areas since the Red Shirts descended last month. Any meetings we need to have with clients who have offices near the area are changed to hotels away from the troubles - we don't want to take any unnecessary risks.

Foreigners have been advised (along with the locals) to stay away from the immediate areas surrounding the Red Shirt camp etc for their own safety. If you wouldn't venture near a violent protest group in your own country, why would you do so in a foreign one?

Keep things in perspective and use common sense - not all of Bangkok is affected - you can still enjoy all it has to offer and do so safely.

 

[bits]

I'm scheduled to visit BKK 8 Aug - 14 Aug 2010 and have TID travel insurance.

Flying with AirAsia from KL to BKK, staying at Novotel Siam Square BKK. Primary purpose of trip is/was holidaying/shopping/eating around BKK area only.

Ideally I'd like the travel insurance to just let me rebook everything as I'd rather just be elsewhere now (since large areas of BKK have gone up in smoke). I can't claim anything with the insurance company right now as they say they'll review the situation at the time of my trip.

Given the immediate security risk seems to have ended and assuming DFAT downgrades it's travel advisory from Do Not Travel, is the travel company going to tell me later I won't be covered since there's no longer a civil riot going and that my claim is essentially one for loss of enjoyment (which I know is not covered)?

I know I can approach the hotel/airline directly and ask(beg) for a refund of non-refundable tickets (dont have high hopes with AirAsia though). Assuming I can't get any refunds, will there be any point in me still go BKK at that time? ie Is the fire damage likely to be fixed by August?

 

[Archphoto]

I'm scheduled to visit BKK 8 Aug - 14 Aug 2010 and have TID travel insurance.

Flying with AirAsia from KL to BKK, staying at Novotel Siam Square BKK. Primary purpose of trip is/was holidaying/shopping/eating around BKK area only.

Ideally I'd like the travel insurance to just let me rebook everything as I'd rather just be elsewhere now (since large areas of BKK have gone up in smoke). I can't claim anything with the insurance company right now as they say they'll review the situation at the time of my trip.

Given the immediate security risk seems to have ended and assuming DFAT downgrades it's travel advisory from Do Not Travel, is the travel company going to tell me later I won't be covered since there's no longer a civil riot going and that my claim is essentially one for loss of enjoyment (which I know is not covered)?

I know I can approach the hotel/airline directly and ask(beg) for a refund of non-refundable tickets (dont have high hopes with AirAsia though). Assuming I can't get any refunds, will there be any point in me still go BKK at that time? ie Is the fire damage likely to be fixed by August?

Centralworld is gutted and has collapsed, Siam Cinema and Gaysorn Plaza have had heavy damage.

I don't really believe any of those properties (or others further out) which have been extensively damaged are going to be up and running by August.

Other shopping centres are quite ok, and the tourist attractions are still there to be visited. However, if your main aim is to shop til you drop at some of the better known malls, you'll be disappointed.

Things are relatively normal now, many of the protesters have been bussed home for free, and the curfew seems to be doing its thing. Bangkok is slowly trying to recover from the events of this week, but it's going to take quite some time for it to truly return to the Bangkok most people know and have fallen in love with.

 

[JohnK]

I'm scheduled to visit BKK 8 Aug - 14 Aug 2010 and have TID travel insurance.

Flying with AirAsia from KL to BKK, staying at Novotel Siam Square BKK. Primary purpose of trip is/was holidaying/shopping/eating around BKK area only.

Bangkok is a huge place. Sure some parts of it are damaged but there are still many places to do the things you want to do. Hopefully life will be back to normal by August.

I will be in Thailand in less than 3 weeks but I am bypassing Bangkok this time around.

 

[drron]

Due to fly in 6/8 and at this stage am not thinking of changing plans but will be watching closely.Hua Hin or Krabi at present will be the back up.

 

[Aussie_flyer]

Bangkok is a huge place. Sure some parts of it are damaged but there are still many places to do the things you want to do. Hopefully life will be back to normal by August.

I will be in Thailand in less than 3 weeks but I am bypassing Bangkok this time around.

Good post. A shame you are going to skip Bangkok this trip, they need our support but I totally understand.

Today in Bangkok has been declared 'Big Cleaning Day'. There is thousands of Bangkok citizens out volunteering cleaning up the affected areas. There are some great shots of hundreds of people sweeping and clearing up rubbish. Great community spirit and really made me smile.

Ill be there in 8 days

 

[JohnK]

Good post. A shame you are going to skip Bangkok this trip, they need our support but I totally understand.

I normally spend 1-3 nights in Bangkok on most trips but I just do not feel it is worth spending time there this trip.y

It has nothing to do with being scared but simply do not want to push my luck too far. Hopefully all will be right for my Christmas trip.

 

[Alanslegal]

Ill be there in 8 days

Good luck with the trip, I hope it goes all well and you can report back - confirming it

I'm scheduled to be there in 5 weeks so all my *fingers are crossed*

 

[kpc]

I'm scheduled to be there in 5 weeks so all my *fingers are crossed*

When is that Alan? I'm due in BKK July 7:shock: