Well said rizzuto.

Last nights events were awful. As are ALL acts of terror. I too am booked to visit Thailand in February once again, and of course I am concerned. However, at this moment in time I have not even considered cancelling my trip. There are many parts of the world where extreme care and caution are required when visiting, but that is not yet the case with Thailand.
There are always multiple innocent victims of terrorism. Probably, the wonderful gentle people of Thailand will suffer as a result of this but as things stand, they can count on my tourist pounds!

We're in Bangkok later this month and while we're not yet considering canceling, the Canadian government just issued a travel advisory warning against non essential travel to the region until further notice. The problem for us is that warning invalidates our travel insurance should we go to Bangkok. We'll keep monitoring the situation for the next couple of weeks.

I emailed Tong right away to make sure she was OK (we're booked with her the 23rd and 24th) and I was surprised that (unasked) she recommends a wait and see approach for the next couple of weeks.

Elizabeth-if nothing happens in the interim, I would go ahead with your trip. Of course, feeling safe is a personal choice. Go with your instincts.

Tong is wonderful. You will enjoy your time with her. Say hello to her from Bob and Andy.

Gpanda - that's definitely our plan .... I just hope our government lifts the travel advisory because I hate traveling without insurance.

Also - I really hope for the sake of all citizens of Thailand that the situation improves.

I also am monitoring very closely as I am scheduled to leave on my "vacation of a lifetime" on Jan8. Am I concerned - yes, but will I cancel - as of right now no. I obviously will proceed with great caution, but unless the is a serious disintegration of the current situation - full speed ahead. It is a world in which an event like this can happen anywhere, anytime, unexpectedly - see Bali bombings, London bombings, Madrid bombing, Japan Saran gas attack, NYC World Trade Center. To be educated is great, to live in fear is not to live. Those of you on the board, just say a little extra prayer for those of us heading over shortly and I will continue to keep you in mine.

E-I'm guessing that the Thai government will try to get travel bans lifted as soon as possible. I do note that we have never gotten travel insurance.

W-I can assure you that the Fodorite community has you and all SEA travellers in their best wishes. We want you to love it as much as we. One warning. We went on our trip of a lifetime in 2002 and have been back every year since then. We just completed our fifth life. Hop[ing for more than the feline nine.

Thnak you rizzuto, for being the voice of reason.

I note that the NYT and Bangkok papers are suggesting that the bombs do not bear the mark of the Muslim insurgency, but rather are more likely the work of the political opposition.

My best wishes to Wildman and Elizabeth and all Fodorites for safe and happy travels.

Gpanda and W - last year our "trip of a lifetime" was South America which led to this year's SE Asia, NZ and OZ "trip of a lifetime" - just need to worry about "money for a lifetime" ;)

My best wishes to the people of Thailand...hope everything works out and justice is served.

Thank you rizzuto, spot on analysis.

Aloha!

Gpanda: Your quote 'we have never gotten travel insurance'. Surely by accident and not by design!!
It's a very rash traveller that sets off without travel insurance.
ELEMENTARY in my opinion!

Leigh, I never buy "travel insurance" (trip interruption or cancellation, baggage, etc) as such bundled insurance is expensive and has little value for me. I do carry medical evacuation insurance (through DAN, $42 per year for both of us).

My own medical insurance will reimburse emergency medical treatment costs.

My credit cards provide extra baggage insurance.

As I never book tours, I don't have huge upfront costs. If I had to cancel, my air tickets can be rescheduled for anywhere from $75 - $200. The cost of a occasional pre-paid hotel room in case of cancellation is minor (and many pre-paid arrangments can be changed), and many of my hotel stays are reserved but can be cancelled with less than 24 hours notice at no cost.

So, no, I don't buy travel insurance, and it is by design.

To each his own on travel insurance - for us we always buy medical "top up" and emergency return but same as Kathie don't usually have enough exposure to warrant buying Cancellation/Interruption.

As Canadians traveling in the States we've just gotten used to buying extra insurance as our provincial plans will pay the same amount for an out of province medical issue as they would have paid in province if you needed medical attention. The rates here are much lower than the rates in the U.S.

At the time of the tragic Bali attacks several Canadians were affected and didn't have medical coverage - it was well covered in the press and sticks in my mind.

Kathie, I noticed that you have DAN insurance, are you a fellow diver????

If Tong is that atuned, actually in Bangkok now, of course, and she suggests "wait and See" that seems like worthwhile advice. The bloodless coup took 7-10 days to see it's impact which was neglieable. I would guess this is a bit more of an unfoced trrorist-type of attacks, hitting more than 1 spot, that tells me if I were going I would wait 2-3 weeks to see if the dust settles which it likely will just as it did in Bali.

travelduo, I'm not a diver, but joined DAN for the med evac.

Elizabeth, you are so right that we all are in different situations and have different needs for travel insurance.

I forgot to add that we have had the opposite luck from ExpertTripPlanner, we left thailand 2 weeks before the tsunami, left London 2 weeks before the bombings, and now just left BKK 3 weeks ago!! My parents think that our luck has about run out!

Usually something goes wrong in the U.S. when I travel - hurricane Fran, ice storms, 9-11 - my friends now get nervous when I leave! I was in SEA for the tsunami, but luckily in Laos.

Like Kathie, I carry only medivac insurance, which I have actually needed. I'll take a look at DAN for my next trip, as it's even cheaper than the outfit I've been using. But if my medical insurance didn't cover me for emergencies I'd definitely carry that, too.

Leigh, I also have NEVER purchased travel insurance and it is also "by design" not by "accident". I should also point out that I travel fairly exptensively with at least one overseas trip per year.

I don't believe there is anything rash about not purchasing it.

£108.00 per year. Worldwide multi-trip fully comprehensive cover and thats per couple. Around 50p per week. As we take at least five overseas trips per year that is money well spent. It also covers any UK travel that includes an overnight stay.
I was taken ill in Crete a number of years ago, needed to be hospitalised,and flown home on a special flight. A lifetime of paying £108 per year would not cover that cost. And medical cover is just a small part of travel insurance.
Each to their own. I wouldn't be without it.