The Bangkok situation

[N860CR]

So I've finally been able to take some time off for a holiday. BA J into BKK in 2 weeks, 4 days, then onto REP, back to BKK for a day then onto HKG in RJ J. Of course, now the media is reporting threats of protests and violence similar to the last round that shutdown BKK.

Is anyone in BKK (or has been passing through recently) and can provide an honest impression of the situation. I've learnt to pay little attention to the media and DFAT, however there is a little concern within that my hard earned holiday is going to fall into a heap!

 

[Renato]

So I've finally been able to take some time off for a holiday. BA J into BKK in 2 weeks, 4 days, then onto REP, back to BKK for a day then onto HKG in RJ J. Of course, now the media is reporting threats of protests and violence similar to the last round that shutdown BKK.

Is anyone in BKK (or has been passing through recently) and can provide an honest impression of the situation. I've learnt to pay little attention to the media and DFAT, however there is a little concern within that my hard earned holiday is going to fall into a heap!

I have lived in bangkok with family for over 7 sevens ,so seen coup, airport closure and Songran riots , last 2 on TV even though i live in Bangkok , i believe it will be safe to travel , if i was worried i would be leaving , as long as you stay away from demonstrations should be no problem ,enjoy your holiday

 

[N860CR]

Thanks, I'm not so worried about safety. I feel much safer in BKK than anywhere else I've been to regardless of the political situation! Only concern is the chance of disruptions at the airport again.

 

[meloz]

Thanks, I'm not so worried about safety. I feel much safer in BKK than anywhere else I've been to regardless of the political situation! Only concern is the chance of disruptions at the airport again.

I don't believe the government will allow things to reach that stage again. They went soft last time and too much damage was done. They will nip it in the bud quickly if that stunt is tried again.

Meloz

 

[Kennycbr]

Hi,
I passed through BKK this morning, and everything is as normal, although a much larger presence of police and army on routes in to the airport, so i guess they are watching for any sign of trouble and be able to "nip it in the bud",

Enjoy your holiday

 

[Mal]

Check your travel insurance carefully to ensure it is still protecting you. Some policies may be about to go into "no insurance" mode based on what DFAT thinks about the situation.

-- oh, and I wouldn't be worried about travelling to Thailand at the moment. Their political struggles are well documented and you should be able to predict what will happen (ie tourists generally left alone unless they do very stupid things). I doubt that they will close the airport again - there is too much at stake politics wise and the government will deal with the situation.

 

[N860CR]

Thanks. All that can get in the way now is a BA strike!

 

[oz_mark]

I am in BKK now, and haven't noticed anything in particular. I hlave been here during a coup before, and it is mostly a case of being aware of what is going on around you.

 

[JohnK]

-- oh, and I wouldn't be worried about travelling to Thailand at the moment. Their political struggles are well documented and you should be able to predict what will happen (ie tourists generally left alone unless they do very stupid things). I doubt that they will close the airport again - there is too much at stake politics wise and the government will deal with the situation.

I tend to agree with this statement. Over the years I have spoken with expats in Thailand and most times it is business as usual (except for elections) and you would not know what was going on if you did not read or watch television.

Apart for the airport siege last time generally most expats and tourists are not affected by any political situation in Thailand. I would feel safe travelling if the airport is open and I am planning to be there 3 more times this year.

 

[drron]

Besides the mob that closed the airport last time are the government now and widely believed to have the Army top brass on side so doubt the airport will be closed.

 

[Hvr]

As someone who was there last time and at the airport I never felt any danger but it was a tense situation.

I was of course the diplomat and when asked by the Thai people my opinion about the goings on would only say I was a guest and didn't understand what was going on therefore I couldn't comment.

Of course I took great care not to wear any red or yellow clothes.

The Thai people were in general greatly embarrassed by having tourists disadvantaged by the events of the time and I received many apologies from Thais in the street. After the first couple of days at the airport hotel I went to the city (on the advice of DFAT who were very responsive and provided great assistance) where things were a lot calmer and it was easier to assure friends and family I was actually safe.

My travel insurance company paid my claim for extra accommodation very quickly and Qantas did an absolutely amazing job getting us out the following week. They deserve a lot of praise for their efforts at that time (especially noting the tragedy of events in Mumbai was still unfolding and QF were also evacuating people from there as well).

Pity the Australian media in BKK (channel 7 in particular) were fervently trying to get people to abuse QF.

Hope this time passes quietly for everyone and no one is adversely affected, including the Thai people.

 

[JohnK]

Hope this time passes quietly for everyone and no one is adversely affected, including the Thai people.

It would be interesting to see official figures but from my observations over the New Year period tourism in Thailand experienced one of the quitest high seasons ever. Streets were almost empty and as usual the Thai solution is to increase prices.

I guess the global financial crisis would take most of the blame but they do not need further trouble to scare tourists away....

 

[djfuzz]

The other Bangkok thread didn't quite seem on point, so I thought I'd try here -

Does anyone have any sort of inside perspective on the current escalation of the situation in Bangkok? We were hoping to spend a few days there next week, but given our hotel is near Victory Monument and the protests haven't abated, we are now starting to consider whether to cancel or head elsewhere...

 

[ozbeachbabe]

Put Utaphao Airport (UTP 3 letter IATA code) in your GPS. It's 100 kays south of BKK and several airlines including CX used this as an alternate when BKK was closed in December 2008.

Hope you don't need to use it.

Cheers Oz

 

[joeymelb]

The other Bangkok thread didn't quite seem on point, so I thought I'd try here -

Does anyone have any sort of inside perspective on the current escalation of the situation in Bangkok? We were hoping to spend a few days there next week, but given our hotel is near Victory Monument and the protests haven't abated, we are now starting to consider whether to cancel or head elsewhere...

I have just returned from Bkk and endured 7-days of Siam Paragon closures and some blood shed. My hotel is located in Silom (Dusit Thani). I felt sorry for guests in InterContinental and Hyatt Erawan as they are blocked in by Red-Shirts.

Honestly, I would recommend that you go elsewhere away from Bangkok or find another hotel that's got EASY access to BTS or/and MRT. Even though the Red Shirts leave tourists along, but the tension in the ground is high and can be uncomfortable for some. Imagine waking up in the morning and seeing your hotel surrounded by Red Shirts with police in full riot gears blockading the hotel entrance. That's what I woke up to on couple of days of my stay. (Personally, Victory Monument is not the place I like to stay, but it does have BTS that can take you to Sukuhmvit directly.)

If your hotel is blocked in and taxis can't come and go.... MRT and/or BTS will save your day.

That said, if you are not afraid of Red or Yellow and less degree - the Pink - there's tonnes of bargains around! Trust me, my baggage was 10kg over... and nearly 40kg back... I virtually lived in Siam Paragon cleaning out their shelves after they re-opened.

Edit: Allow extra time for going to the airport. Military has set up checkpoints along the freeways leading to the airport. The traffic can slow down and literally at stand still. However, I doubt the Reds will follow Yellow's lead in closing the airport. With heavy military presence, I suspect Military will not tolerate such behavior either. (Just my 2 cents.)

 

[JohnK]

Does anyone have any sort of inside perspective on the current escalation of the situation in Bangkok? We were hoping to spend a few days there next week, but given our hotel is near Victory Monument and the protests haven't abated, we are now starting to consider whether to cancel or head elsewhere...

Have you tried a local website like Thaivisa? They may have more up to date information.

Things are not looking good for the Thai tourism industry. It was extremely quiet during the Christmas/New Year high season and they cannot afford to lose more tourists.

 

[sinophile888]

My husband and I returned yesterday from 4 days in Bangkok after a cruise. We stayed at the Millennium Hilton which is on the Chao Praya River. It was booked out on the Tuesday night before we arrived.
Passengers from the cruise who were booked to stay at the Four Seasons hotel were all transferred to the ShangriLa which is opposite the Hilton. In that area there are also the Mandarin Oriental and the Sheraton Royal Orchid. (Most of the British passengers were on packages which included 3 or 4 days in Bangkok until Saturday night. Who knows when they will leave Bangkok!)
There were areas we were advised by the concierge not to go to, including a shopping centre which only sold jewellery. I’m still not sure whether my husband gave the concierge an incentive to tell me that area was also unsafe.
Considering we arrived only 4 days after the riots, we were hardly inconvenienced by the situation. On Thursday, we went by skytrain to see Jim Thompson’s House/Museum. When we walked down to ground level from the skytrain, we found ourselves in the middle of a red shirt street blockade. My husband wisely decided not to take photos and we left the area pretty smartly. But it all seemed like a day out rather than an atmosphere which had so recently turned violent.
Of course, if the yellow shirts mobilise or the military intervenes, then it would be a whole different story.

 

[meloz]

I'm in BKK at the moment, the third of 3 visits in the last 3 weeks.

I've surveyed the rally on every trip and did not feel threatened mixing it with the red shirts. Buy yourself a bandana and you'll fit in just fine. It's a bit of a party atmosphere, that is, until they decide if they will send in the troops. BTS is running fine.

Millenium Hilton porter who I know quite well stated the hotel was running 60% occupancy this morning.

Meloz

 

[meloz]

I'm about to depart BKK but had a chance to check things out today. I saw Silom heavy with troops and razor wire, over in the red shirts camp they were lifting pavers from the footpath and breaking them up for ammo. Many have sharp bamboo sticks and I witnessed a truck load of new sticks arriving. Their camp was being fortified with truck tyres and bamboo fence.

Both the troops and the reds are in good mood but I kind of sensed some pressure building, especially on the reds side. The next few days should tell the story and outcome.

Meloz

 

[markis10]

IC/HI & Hyatt are closed while the four seasons is running with minimum facilities according to press reports this morning, the IC and HI wont reopen before SAT.