Due to go to Thailand on Honeymoon

BritRael

researcher wrote: »

I think the one thing you are forgetting is that this is the OP's honeymoon we are discussing here, not your average holiday, but one planned and thought about a year in advance. As much as I love Thailand and Bangkok and travel there regularly (twice in the last year), my advice to the OP is forget about visiting now, go at a later date certainly as it is a wonderful place, but go elsewhere for your honeymoon, somewhere where you can relax and have a wonderful time after the stress of your wedding.

I think one thing you are forgetting is that the op is going to Phuket, not Bangkok. As there have been no problems, why are you recommending that they not go there?
Of course, if the FO are recommending not to travel (to all of Thailand) that would give them a reason to request a change, but at this moment in time it's too early to tell.

Moonchild

researcher wrote: »

I personally would call and insist on changing my plans now, I'd talk to a manager and threaten going to the press unless they did something.

What, them and the other 20,000 odd Brits due to travel to Thailand before the OP?

Should note that the Southern Beach Resorts have had absolutely no problems, zilch, zero. Our Foreign Office is exceptionally paranoid (reference- Bali 2002-2004), and is not advising travel to these areas such as Phuket as they are safe as they ever have been. They, our government, is saying there is no additional risk to the OP's holiday (in Phuket). So as worried as they maybe watching the news yesterday, they will not have found a single reference to problems in Phuket.

And the reason why it's generally pointless to threaten a shop manager... it won't get you anywhere. Unless you are staying in Bangkok or Chiang Mai, the airlines will not refund the Tour Operators. The hotels will not refund the Tour Operators.

So therefore, the Tour Operators will not refund the client. They will not simply re-book them to another destination (like Barbados) because it's a completely new holiday, and they still have to pay their suppliers for the old ones (note - Thomson's or whoever the OP booked with are not running the flights - it will be Thai Airways, or EVA, or BA etc and they are looking after their commercial interests).

Tour Operators will not send someone the Foreign Office advises against travel to ever - they could be sued out of hand.

As the OP is going to Bangkok, they will in time (as the Foreign Office advice will not be lifted in the next couple of weeks imo) be able to pursue an option of a full refund (with no guarantees), but most likely a re-route to fly through Bangkok. So maybe it might be worth looking at what they can do with their 4 days they should spend in Bangkok? Maybe Krabi, a Phang Nga Island, Khao Lak, Elephant Hills, have a look and see what else the Tour Op offers in the region that is accessible from Phuket airport.

dickydonkin

Should note that the Southern Beach Resorts have had absolutely no problems, zilch, zero. Our Foreign Office is exceptionally paranoid

Have to agree - but I suspect they are covering themselves.

I reckon that you are more likely to come to harm in somewhere like the US that in Thailand, but unfortunately, the tour operators and travel insurers have to adhere to their advisories.

For anyone travelling out there now or in the near future, it has been a difficult time. If striking BA don't scupper your plans, the volcanic ash or demonstrators will.

A holiday you can reschedule, but for a honeymoon, this current situation must be heartbreaking.

There are no restrictions on BKK airport so it is possible you could fly to Bangkok using your original flight and fly on to say Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore etc.

Whatever you do, I hope it works out OK for you but you never know, your original trip may still go ahead.

Donnie

Here is someone who didn't listen to FO advice. Hope it isn't BritRael.

Puddings

Well I was supposed to go to Thailand on the 11th June and now its cancelled - to say I'm GUTTED is an understatement.

And its nothing to do with volcano's, BA strikes or protestors - my company has cancelled my trip (well they say postponed but we'll see) because we're going through the process of being sold and we need regional managers on site and not all together at a global conference.

If I win the lottery I'd go on the next flight out - OP see if you can just pass through BKK and spend the 4 days somewhere else (I highly recommend Hua Hin)

I normally get some updates from my Dad or my brother on the situation but there is a news blackout so he can't find out much. Brother lives in BKK, though, and says the situation is being very well contained in the small occupied area which people can easily avoid.

I do hope you get to go, Thailand is an amazing destination (although Phuket doesn't thrill me), safely and insured! TBH I haven't read the FO advice though... this is just the ramblings of someone with strong ties to the country!

dickydonkin

Donnie wrote: »

Here is someone who didn't listen to FO advice. Hope it isn't BritRael.

Hi Donnie - that clip just confirms my belief that some people should just not be allowed to travel beyond our borders - and you wonder why the 'Brits Abroad' get such a bad name.

The upshot of that is that such a complete nob is annoying other people and leaving us at home alone! Maybe the not so tolerant Thai police or army will hopefully have acted as he would stand out like a sore thumb - or more like a pain in the @r$e!

Moonchild

dpassmore wrote: »

Hi Donnie - that clip just confirms my belief that some people should just not be allowed to travel beyond our borders - and you wonder why the 'Brits Abroad' get such a bad name.

The upshot of that is that such a complete nob is annoying other people and leaving us at home alone! Maybe the not so tolerant Thai police or army will hopefully have acted as he would stand out like a sore thumb - or more like a pain in the @r$e!

Just when you think you've seen the bottom of the human gene pond, another one comes out to prove you wrong. What on earth? I hope the Thai police gave a freebie to the Bangkok Hilton. How utterly disrespectful of the people who had genuine grievances.

Puddings

Exactly! What on earth has any of the situation got to do with some random farang!! I'm sure he wouldn't have been looked upon favourably by either 'side' making a mockery of their protest.

Donnie

Another? here too Might be Thai though.

BritRael

Donnie wrote: »

Here is someone who didn't listen to FO advice. Hope it isn't BritRael.

Can't see this as it's blocked here I'll be home in a couple of months, so if I remember I'll look at it then.

fyi, I didn't 'ignore FO advice'. When I went there was no blanket advice against travel.

Having said that though, (agreeing with the above post about over-reaction from the FO) I would go back tomorrow, as from my personal experience it is perfectly safe if you avoid the easily avoided areas. Also, as has been said, as a foriegner, you are far more likely to come to grief in the USA (or Manchester for that matter) than you are in Thailand.