Thailand - Air Asia - Thai coup

Lianefc1 on 26/05/2014 - 11:35

Hello all, Some background. I took advantage of an Air Asia sale a while ago and booked 16 days (me and 3 friends, all male) to Bangkok, on the 10/6/2014. Flights cost us $630 each, the reason for the dates is because we are all Brits, we love footy (soccer) and the world cup will be on for those dates so we can see a few games while enjoying Thailand.

Disaster strikes and the Military take over Thailand. Now, I dont have a question as such for you OzBargainers I am just hoping to get some advice. My friend booked all flights on his Visa. We didnt take out insurance (I know!) but if we did they wouldnt help us anyway.

There is a curfew at the moment which is the only thing putting us off the thought of going anyway, As a true OzBargainer I dont want to lose my flight money but also dont want to spend my time and money stuck in our hotels.

What would you do if you were in my situation, we are flying through KL so is getting off the plane in malaysia an option?

Hope I havnt bored you too much!

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Comments

  • retiredfeline on 26/05/2014 - 11:52

    Have you asked Air Asia if you can cancel the KUL/BKK sector? It wouldn't be worth much due to the short distance, the only issue is whether they might cancel your return sector if you don't show up for the Bangkok sector. I'm sure this a FAQ for AA right now.

    Also the curfew is a night time one, so maybe could you stand to watch the footy on the hotel TV?

    • ianefc1 on 26/05/2014 - 12:19

      Yes we can watch the footy I think (so long as they dont close all the media/tv stations down for then!

      I want to wait it out and hope its resolved.
      1 friend wants the KL option
      1 friend (the one with a lot of money) wants to cancel all together and go to Bali
      the final friend is so laid back hes horizontal and will go with the majority.

      • retiredfeline on 26/05/2014 - 12:53

        Well at least find out from AA what your options are.

  • blitz on 26/05/2014 - 11:58
    +1

    we can see a few games while enjoying Thailand

    That would be mental!!

    There is a curfew at the moment which is the only thing putting us off

    I think the curfew will be resolved by then. Industry in BKK could not withstand that long a period without business flow.

    we are flying through KL so is getting off the plane in malaysia an option?

    Likely the airline will cancel the rest of your ticket if you don't inform them. Check with them. I'd try and get to Thailand, though.

    • ianefc1 on 26/05/2014 - 12:20

      Yeah I cant wait, my logic was "well i will be taking time off work anyway might as well get out of sydney for a bit"

  • Conka on 26/05/2014 - 12:25

    Sorry to hear of your conundrum. I don't have any advice for you, as it seems you've done your homework on the current situation, and only you can decide whether that the sort of thing you want to be in for

    I would say though, in true OzBargain fashion, I reckon you should take a couple of grand over and buy yourself a slightly used country at a bargain basement price.

    • ianefc1 on 26/05/2014 - 12:28

      Haha Im thinking on the same lines as you but on a smaller scale, Surely the day to day street vendors will be more flexible (with prices) knowing that tourism is taking a hit.

  • xyron on 26/05/2014 - 12:31

    While travel insurance probably wouldn't help you in this instance, you are a bloody idiot if you don't buy some before you go. With companies like TID it can cost less than 10% of the airfares depending how long you are gone for.

    For the true OzBargainer out there of course, you should have booked the holiday on your zero-annual-fee Bankwest Platinum Mastercard and enjoyed free travel insurance. :)

    I say get to Bangkok anyway - then book another flight from BKK out to Krabi, Phuket or up north - and enjoy a part of Thailand that isn't suffering from the coup!

    • ianefc1 on 26/05/2014 - 13:17

      Yes Travel insurance is on my list before we leave. 100%.

      The plan is,

      2 nights BK
      3 nights Pattaya
      7 nights Phuket ($70 rtn flights from BKK)
      3 nights BK

      Home.

      Booked all hotels on Book now pay later places thankfully.

      • Bystander on 26/05/2014 - 20:17

        Check Southern Cross insurance as well.

    • rilebags on 26/05/2014 - 16:01

      I'm fairly confident that the curfew is country-wide. I'm in Bangkok now and other than the curfew and a friendly military presence there is no change to every day life.

      • peter on 28/05/2014 - 09:27

        A friendly military presence - Friendly? Appearances can be deceiving. Of course a tourist can travel around relatively unaffected but why risk losing your life from a stray bullet in an environment which is so volatile and where violence could break out suddenly and unxpectedly? I'm all for adventure tourism but not at the cost of my life.

  • insular on 26/05/2014 - 13:32
    +6

    2 nights Pattaya

    i GUARANTEE you pattaya won't have a curfew imposed on it. no way in hell. so don't worry, the ladyboys will be waiting for you ;)

    • [Deactivated] on 28/05/2014 - 07:06

      Pattaya has a curfew.

      Check Tim Sharky's facebook.

  • Malarkey on 26/05/2014 - 13:44

    Still go, I was over there in February when the protests were on (a few police and protesters died from memory) and in Bangkok the only issues we had was a little extra traffic and the MBK fight night was cancelled :(

    As others have said already it's really unlikely that the curfew is still going. My advice would be to still fly into Bangkok, assess the situtation when you get there and if it's crap grab some flights to Phuket or even Cambodia/Vietnam!

  • JoyVee on 26/05/2014 - 22:53
    +1

    My That friends assure me it is safe to travel in BKK AND other tourist spots except Chiang Mai. The North is a bit of a red shirt stronghold and army have already confiscated arms and explosives from area around Chang Mai. It is also Ying luck's area of strongest support. Of course do not go to southernmost part near Malaysian area as that is always volatile with insurgents.
    Generally BKK will be safer now than in previous years with its many demos.
    Curfew is still in place 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. Guess you may have to watch the game on TV.
    No one knows when the curfew will change. Rumors abound. Good source of most up to date and continuing info is Richard Barrow on twitter. He also has a blog if twitter is blocked. Reliable source and will check him while I'm in BKK NEXT WEEK.He also publishes any sky train disruptions in real time. Good luck.You will have a ball

    • blitz on 27/05/2014 - 21:28

      Yep Richard Barrow is the goods.

    • voteoften on 29/05/2014 - 14:20

      Wow
      I would have said go to Chiang Mai. Didn't know that about the need shirts. Thanks.

  • epicaricacy on 27/05/2014 - 02:08
    +2

    Just go to Phuket

    My parents are there at the moment, and there is no curfew there. Good luck shutting down Bangla Road anyway, the ladyboys will get 'em!

  • Peck on 27/05/2014 - 09:25
    +1

    I am on my way there now and have no apprehensions. Been there during coup before and it was better than normal. Footpaths not crowded etc etc. was also there during the worst trouble a couple of years ago and it was also great. The trouble spots are easy to ID AND JUST STAY WELL AWAY FROM THEM. If you see a protest just go in the opposite direction. You will be 100% safe. Curfew now 11pm and easing. Businesses will close about 1 hour before curfew. Also it is not like the troops are shooting people during curfew or anything extreme like that. Go and enjoy your trip.

  • ianefc1 on 27/05/2014 - 14:42

    Thanks for all your replies, looks like im going regardless as we wont get money back and i am set on getting some cheap dental work done over there so its happening, coup or no coup. I have seen a lot of people saying the curfew is starting to be ignored so i assume that 2 weeks today when we fly it will have been withdrawn completley, if not I will just watch England get hammered in my room in peace, at least no one will see my cry. Thanks again. Ian

  • [Deactivated] on 27/05/2014 - 14:54

    im leaving on airasia on the 14th
    the curfew will be over from this sunday.

    business as usual.

  • IdBuyThat4aDollar on 27/05/2014 - 18:48
    +1

    Im going Bangkok myself June 19. Unless things get seriously worse, Im still going.

    I recommend checking out http://www.richardbarrow.com/ …he's a expat in Bangkok with a very informative blog site for tourists/expats. Check out his twitter feed for up to the minute news about the thai coup.

    Regarding travel insurance, it may still be worth getting if you can. While all insurers probably won't cover any loss/damages arising as a result from the coup, regular things unrelated to the coup should still be covered (eg. lost luggage, falling off a bike, etc).

    Also if its the curfew holding you back, I wouldnt be suprised if the curfew is relaxed or lifted by the time you go.

  • IdBuyThat4aDollar on 27/05/2014 - 18:59

    By the way, any OzBargainers have any recommendations for hotels in the Sukhumvit area?

    • rilebags on 28/05/2014 - 03:17
      +1

      tune @ asoke if you can get a good online rate. it's a small room but cheap and clean and very close to both train lines.

    • ode1online on 28/05/2014 - 12:03

      check out http://www.phacharasuites.com/
      Its a very nice and modern hotel/apartment.
      NOTE some rooms have shared bathtub and shower so ask them which rooms have Separate Shower.

      ACROSS the road is the grand sukhumvit hotel (SORRY CANT GET WEBSITE WORKING)

      http://www.tripadvisor.com.au/Hotel_Review-g293916-d613026-R…

      Its worth a look also , NEVER STAYED BUT LOOKS NICE

      Away from the NOISE but close to enough to the skytrain at asoke

      GOOD LUCK AND ENJOY

  • radicalvin on 28/05/2014 - 11:01
    +1

    Curfew is now 12-4, going in 2 days >=}

  • ozmikeli on 28/05/2014 - 12:35
    -2

    curfew is from 10pm-5am, and yes everything closes even the street food vendors. best way to go is divert your plans and go to one of the many islands around bkk and phuket. (koh samet, koh lan, koh chang) curfew don't apply there. i was on koh samet 2 days ago and it was still going off at 2am…

    Also there is still no date on when the curfew will end.

    as for hotels there is Holiday inn on sukhumvit 22 and grande centre point at terminal 21, both are close to where you want to go ;)

    • [Deactivated] on 28/05/2014 - 12:53
      +1

      curfew is midnight to 4am.

  • Peck on 28/05/2014 - 18:35

    I arrived last night. I have not seen any army. About midnight last night here and there a policeman would call into a business/ bar etc and tell them to close. Can still walk the streets as safe as before. Seems to be a curfew only on businesses. Tonight curfew starts midnite. Easy as pie getting taxi from airport 10pm. Go with confidence.

    • retiredfeline on 28/05/2014 - 18:48

      Did the authorities fiddle with the Internet to duplicate your posting and thus be more emphatic in attracting visitors? :)

      • Peck on 28/05/2014 - 19:41
        +1

        Oops sorry about dupe. Post. Damned fat thumbs. Hehe coup good for visitors. Not too good for local businesses. Suddenly I am a much more 'handsome man' than normal. Maybe they found out that I am an OZB member. = rich.

        • retiredfeline on 28/05/2014 - 22:13

          Nah, not your fault, this happens often with slow links, you click and nothing seems to happen and you click again and it's posted twice. Maybe the site devs can program some debouncing?

  • Peck on 28/05/2014 - 18:36

    I arrived last night. I have not seen any army. About midnight last night here and there a policeman would call into a business/ bar etc and tell them to close. Can still walk the streets as safe as before. Seems to be a curfew only on businesses. Tonight curfew starts midnite. Easy as pie getting taxi from airport 10pm. Go with confidence.

  • michaelTito on 29/05/2014 - 14:27

    i was in bangkok 2 days. everything was ok except that shops closes at 8pm (normally 10pm) apart from that everything else was normal. the news like to exaggerate things.

  • Peck on 29/05/2014 - 19:03

    TODAY- Curfew NOW midnight to 4am. Skytrain stops 11pm

  • ianefc1 on 02/06/2014 - 11:08

    Curfew still 12-4am. Getting dangerously close to ruining my holiday plans!

    • Peck on 02/06/2014 - 14:05

      Only if you are a night owl. Very safe to get around after midnight but most watering holes are calling 'Last drinks' at about 11.30pm.

      • ianefc1 on 02/06/2014 - 16:59

        Yeah were all 26-28 so them hours are primetime for the types of night outs we had planned! Still hoping forthe curfew to be called off

  • JoyVee on 18/06/2014 - 21:12
    +1

    Curfew removed from all Thailand last Friday. Has been business as usual here in Bangkok. Less tourists so easier to get around in taxis, on sky train and less crowded in popular shopping malls and MBK.
    Seems to only rain heavily once or twice late afternoon and evening. At worst you can enjoy getting soaked and it still being warm outside. JoyV

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