Thailand & recent events - FCO advises against all but essential travel to Thailand

BritRael

DKLS wrote: »

I suppose its all down to your own levels of risk perception, whilst I was there I received frantic emails from American relatives pleading with me not to leave the hotel as it was so dangerous.

When I found Fox news channel on the hotel I could understand why, scare mongering journalism as its very worst. ....

Couldn't agree more.

We've just returned after a month there, and had the same experience watching CNN and Sky. Both of them were totally exagerating the situation and scare mongering. Virtually every report I've seen has a 'reporter' ernestly saying how the situation is 'very tense' and behind them all you can see is smiling faces During our visit, the two areas of red shirts were Lumpini park (Patpong corner) and Democracy Monument. Both were very peaceful. After all, it's just too hot to demonstrate
Ok, there have been a couple of isolated incidents where voilence has flared, but that happens in demonstrations in London doesn't it? But just one hour ago I was watching Sky where they announced that Bangkok had been 'at a standstill for the last 6 weeks'. Total tosh.
Of course you've got to keep an eye on the situation as it could escalate. The best way to do that is visit internet forums and get real comments from people who are there. Just take all news reports with a pinch of salt.
Have a great holiday.

staffsunigirl

withabix wrote: »

Someone will correct me if I'm wrong, however:

If you have a package holiday or flights booked to a destination which the FCO advises 'against all but essential travel to', you have a legal right to cancellation and full refund of all monies paid, providing you have booked with a UK company.

You are likely to find that the company you have booked with actually contacts you about this, because they will start flying the planes out empty just to bring people back.

Insurance shouldn't come in to it.

Hello,

I noticed that you said that you can get a refund if you have booked with a UK company. A friend and I are due to go out there in July and have booked with Air India going via Delhi. Do you know what our rights are with a non UK company or where I could find out. The parents arent keen on us going anymore so it might be Oz now!

kazwookie

My OH is out there now, he arrived on Monday into BKK airport, he is now in a well know hol area, the red shirts are out side the local city hall, with their banners and singing apparently, he saw them when he went to tesco's which is about 5 mins up the road from city hall.

OH says he has not seen any trouble and he thinks it is blown out of all proportions by the news coverage.

Quentin

He's putting on a brave face so you won't worry about him!

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/travelnews/7646124/Tourists-told-to-avoid-Thailand-as-protest-grows.html

rose28454

BritRael wrote: »

Couldn't agree more.

We've just returned after a month there, and had the same experience watching CNN and Sky. Both of them were totally exagerating the situation and scare mongering. Virtually every report I've seen has a 'reporter' ernestly saying how the situation is 'very tense' and behind them all you can see is smiling faces During our visit, the two areas of red shirts were Lumpini park (Patpong corner) and Democracy Monument. Both were very peaceful. After all, it's just too hot to demonstrate
Ok, there have been a couple of isolated incidents where voilence has flared, but that happens in demonstrations in London doesn't it? But just one hour ago I was watching Sky where they announced that Bangkok had been 'at a standstill for the last 6 weeks'. Total tosh.
Of course you've got to keep an eye on the situation as it could escalate. The best way to do that is visit internet forums and get real comments from people who are there. Just take all news reports with a pinch of salt.
Have a great holiday.

Thanks so much for your post. My daughter left this morning for a 3 week organised tour. Her friends pulled out but as she has had t cancel this trip twice already due to other things she was determined to go. She is on a 21 day organised trip all around Northern Thailand and is only in Bangkok tommorow for a few hours.

BritRael

rose28454 wrote: »

Thanks so much for your post. My daughter left this morning for a 3 week organised tour. Her friends pulled out but as she has had t cancel this trip twice already due to other things she was determined to go. She is on a 21 day organised trip all around Northern Thailand and is only in Bangkok tommorow for a few hours.

You're welcome.

We were also up t'north for a couple of weeks: Chiang Mai and up in the mountains around Chiang Dao. Although 'the red shirts' are largely from these northern areas I didn't see any demonstrations there (or hear of any) and it was business as usual. There are thousands of tourists having a great time in Thailand and your daughter is now one of them. Internet cafes are all over the country so pretty soon she'll be giving you an update

ChefKev

Me and my fiancee have a honeymoon booked for the end of June/start of July for Koh Samui, an island off Thailand, should we be worried about going there? the flight arrives at Bangkok and then over to Koh Samui.

fifeken

ChefKev wrote: »

Me and my fiancee have a honeymoon booked for the end of June/start of July for Koh Samui, an island off Thailand, should we be worried about going there? the flight arrives at Bangkok and then over to Koh Samui.

At the moment I would have no hesitation in going to Koh Samui. Keep an eye on situation over the next couple of months.

rose28454

Just spoke to daughter who is in Kachapurna. She said the only evidence she saw of any unrest in Bangkok was a few policeman. She got a taxi across town for a part of her journey and said it was quiet. She is coming back into Bangkok tommorow for a couple of hours to meet her trip but is then off around Northern Thailand.