Holiday Cancellation Rights - Thailand

swillso

Hi,

I booked a holiday to Thailand back in December to travel December 2014. Since our booking was made, there has been a military coup in Thailand and mass unrest. It would appear that the situation has calmed somewhat however, the FCO is still advising against un-necessary travel. I contacted my holiday firm (Thomas Cook) who advised it would cost me £250 to make a change to my booking however, they will not refund me if I change my mind. I remember seeing an article on the BBC news a few weeks ago advising that holiday firms cancellation policy was unjust and had been challenged in the courts. Did anyone else see this article or could anyone direct me towards advice I could use to challenge the travel firms position?

Many thanks

Simon

Doshwaster

There really is no problem going to Thailand at the moment. The curfews have been lifted and tens of thousands of people are having trouble-free holidays.

The FCO travel advice (https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/thailand) for "essential travel only" covers certain parts of the country, mostly around the borders with Malaysia and Cambodia, which has always been the case. The military may still be in charge but in many ways that makes the country safer than when there was an unstable government.

As long as you don't poke your nose into military installations and avoid public demonstrations then you will have zero problems.

loveduppaul

I have been to Thailand twice this year, one time at the height of the protests and the other when the military had only just taken over. Both times I really didn't have a problem. Yes the curfew's caused a few little problems as we had to stay in the hotel in the later evening but never really saw anything else. To be fair the only thing that caused any sort of disruption was when the Tuk Tuk drivers blockaded a route to Phuket airport.


Travelled a few different places including Bangkok and its very much business as usual. Agree with Doshwaster, its probably even safer at the moment than when the blockades and protests were happening.


Absolutely no reason to cancel your holiday.

blossomsuz

We travelled to Phuket in June, no issues or trouble there at all. Thailand is a lovely country.

Caz3121

As you are not traveling until December, I doubt the company or insurance would entertain a refund/claim until much closer to the time

swillso

Thanks everyone, trouble has a habit of bumping into me! Sounds sensible though.

lovesgshp

You don't need to worry. You did not state where you are going to in Thailand, but son lives in Phuket and says it is so much better since the Army took over. He has lived there since before the Tsunami in 2004, so is very up to date.

PeteDoff

swillso wrote: »

Since our booking was made, there has been a military coup in Thailand and mass unrest.

This is normal.

vegasvisitor

We are thinking of booking for January. Someone in Australia told me it was a no-go for their citizens but I can't find anything to back that up.

I do wonder though, would there be any issues with insurance, particularly if booking a trip now. Obviously someone booking before the coup would hopefully still be covered during the coup or allowed to cancel.

Doshwaster

lesley74 wrote: »

We are thinking of booking for January. Someone in Australia told me it was a no-go for their citizens but I can't find anything to back that up.

This is the Australian government's travel advice for Thailand
http://smartraveller.gov.au/zw-cgi/view/Advice/Thailand

Which is essentially the same as the UK's FCO. Only certain parts are no-go and those aren't tourist areas anyway. There are always thousands of Australians in Thailand so I really wouldn't worry about it.