Trip to Thailand - Problems!

Im going in 27th May !! But with all these problems im not sure what to do now either. i brought tickets via expedia and they were the non redunable flight tickets !!

Ive send an email to expedia but they are backlogged with this ash problem still
 
iamtheoneneo said:
thats stupid advice...sorry.
the demonstrations are throughout thailand not just in one area...despite what the mainstream media would have you believe.
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And you're basing that statement on?

I've been to Thailand twice over the last few years. Both times were against the official advice from the foreign and commonwealth office. I didn't have any more problems than I would in this country.
 
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I would go, i was there last year when a similar thing happen, though not as bad. Provided you stay away from bangkok things were pretty normal. Last year on Koh tao most people didnt even know about it. Talking to people there now they say the islands fine. Ill see if anyone i know is elsewhere
 
Thailand isn't East enough for me, I've been to China and Japan, (want to try South Korea)

But every man and his horse has been to Thailand it's just a ruddy cliché and looks like a ****hole to be frank everytime it's on TV
 
As said above it's a problem in an area of Bangkok. I've got a mate who lives over there and works around the corner from the problem area. The office was closed at the end of last week due to trouble nearby. Unfortunately it's not uncommon for this to kick off every 12-18 months...

If the option is there to cancel I suspect I'd be taking it.
 
robgmun said:
Thailand isn't East enough for me, I've been to China and Japan, (want to try South Korea)

But every man and his horse has been to Thailand it's just a ruddy cliché and looks like a ****hole to be frank everytime it's on TV
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That's a bit harsh but each to his own :p
 
robgmun said:
Thailand isn't East enough for me, I've been to China and Japan, (want to try South Korea)

But every man and his horse has been to Thailand it's just a ruddy cliché and looks like a ****hole to be frank everytime it's on TV
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Agreed, Thailand has had it's day.
 
My 2p from living in Thailand for the whole of 2009 and some of 2010.
Avoid Bangkok at the moment. Its unlikely you would have any problems but its a very real possibility. Everywhere else in Thailand is fine outside of Bangkok, I know this from many work colleagues who are still there.
 
I flew back from Thailand on Sunday and I encountered no problems at all in the two weeks I was out there, probably worth avoiding Bangkok, although the two nights I spent there I encountered no problems at all. The Islands and Chiang Mai are certainly unaffected, chatting to the locals in Chaing Mai and there doesn't appear to be any chance of anything kicking off there, they are just annoyed at both sides and wish they'd all shut up!
 
As someone who travels there regularly and has a house there, avoid Bangkok.

All the time.

Permanently.

And for those wondering why everyone wants to go to Thailand, I agree when it seems as if every poster just wants to go to Full bloody Moon parties on a beach. But if you dare to go to the north, north-east or east, Thailand is unspoilt, warm-hearted and beautiful.
 
MikeTimbers said:
As someone who travels there regularly and has a house there, avoid Bangkok.

All the time.

Permanently.

And for those wondering why everyone wants to go to Thailand, I agree when it seems as if every poster just wants to go to Full bloody Moon parties on a beach. But if you dare to go to the north, north-east or east, Thailand is unspoilt, warm-hearted and beautiful.
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Bangkok is great fun (usually), the full moon parties are a hell of an experience, and the north east is beautiful but ropey and a bit short on accessible beaches compared to the islands. So I pretty much disagree with all of your sentiments :p. Yes you live there, so you're probably sick of what most tourists think is awesome.
 
the_chicco said:
I'm in the same boat. I literally almost booked a few days ago only for the FCO to raise it's alert. Now I know they have to err on the side of caution but you might want to check Sky News.

It has literally just kicked off, a Thai soldier has been shot in the head. I think it's going to take a turn for the worse. I'm hoping it won't but the Red Shirts seem a determined bunch. Really peeved me off as well because I planned a 3 week trip and I was going to propose to my GF too :(

Someone suggested Malaysia as an alternative for the time being. Anyone been?
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The pockets of trouble are mainly in one area and mostly if not all in down town Bangkok, like somebody has said previously it's not like the whole population are out in the streets with pitchforks

I would go imo but i'd avoid Bangkok, some of the small islands/resorts have more tourists than locals and are very relaxed, i'd be very suprised if anything kicked off on them, ever
 
I'm going with my gf who's got family in thailand, providing we can get from the airport out to the country - should be a blast (not a grenade)
 
As mentioned by others, Bangkok shopping areas are where it is at currently.

If you are going for a fun time with a rent-a-girfriend (or two or three) then it may be better to postpone as those 'entertainment' areas are around the same area as the some of the main shopping complexes and the red shirts also recently took to chucking tyres on the skytrain tracks.

You can get flights out of Bangkok to most places or fly from the Uk to Singapore for a couple of days then direct from Singapore to Phuket, for example.

I was recently in Phuket and it was fine.

RB
 
As someone currently living in Thailand, I can confidently say the whole country has not descended into chaos. I was even in Bangkok 10 days ago ago and apart from the area mentioned already there's no trouble. I've never even seen a red shirt. However, my suggestion would be to book an air asia flight to another part of the country on the day your flight arrives. They fly from Survanabhumi so you don't have to set foot in bangkok. Leave a considerable gap in case your flight is late, or book on arrival.

The major caveat with going to Thailand now is the insurance thing. Since apparently everyone apart from me goes to thailand to get wasted on the beach, drive motorbikes while drunk, burn their leg on the exhaust and then crash, before getting high on hookers in the evening, travel insurance is a very good idea. Even if you're a wonderful straight edge conservative who doesn't do anything dangerous, Devvo and his mates from Sunderland who have come to thailand aren't, and might well deck you on the beach or crash into you with their bike. Minor stuff (4 stitches in my heel and one fingernail removed in my case) are cheap (£8-20) but if you get badly hurt, it's expensive.

The nonsense comments about Thailand being awful are great to see. Since all the commenters have seen are the red light areas on sensational tv shows, they show great ignorance in labelling the whole country a dump.

Still, no skin off my nose. I'm sitting in a lychee orchard up a mountain chatting with a load girls who can't speak any english and eating copious amounts of fruit. Just having to watch out for snakes.
 
the_chicco said:
Someone suggested Malaysia as an alternative for the time being. Anyone been?
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Not yet but am booked to go at the end of June for a long weekend in Genting. Travelling from Singapore by coach (22 business class seats, one each side of the isle with personal TV and downstairs a walkabout area). Should take around 6 hours. From what I have seen Genting is up in the hills and so much cooler and has amusements and rollercoasters and casinos, bit like Southend really :eek::(.

There is Sunway lagoon just outside KL (Kuala Lumpur) which is a water park, adverture park, wildlife park etc all rolled in to one.

There are also some beautiful beach resorts around. A number of friends have been to Langkawi and highly recommend it. They do suggest hiring a car or bike to get around though.

If you like partying then quite a few people from Singapore travel over the causeway to Johor Bahru. My wife used to go there as a teenager and has a number of disturbing stories of girls going missing. She did used to attend more 'local' clubs though. The tourist areas will probabily be fine.

Also remember, Malaysia is a Muslim country and people, especially ladies will be expected to follow the customs and culture. Tourists do get some tollerance but be aware of the laws. Being British is not going to protect you.

Also remember the tough stance on drugs in Asia. A number of countries will kill you regardless of where you come from.

RB

RB
 
Problem is now the Foreign Office has changed the warning to the whole of Thailand.

http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travel-and-living-abroad/travel-advice-by-country/asia-oceania/thailand

My frined is due to fly there in 3 weeks to the islands and his tour operator has said he can have a full refund for the holiday. They have also advised him he could still choose to go but all his travel insurance will be null and void.

So if your injured or just come down ill, it will be up to you to pay your medical bills and make your own travel arrangements back.

On that basis, although I beleive much of Thailand is very safe to visit, I just wouldn't risk especially since you are being offered a full refund.
 
To be honest I'd probably go with that and take the refund. If you got seriously injured there are big bills. The only experience I have is a girl's french boyfriend having a bad motorbike crash that wasn't his fault and needing some surgery and a four of five day stay in hospital, being given a bill of around £5,000. Worth the risk if you don't have insurance?
 
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