Reschedule Thailand trip-where should we go for honeymoon?
 

My husband and I were planning to go to Thailand at the end of March 2014 for a delayed honeymoon, but we are now concerned about safety after so many people were killed in the riots/protests. We really liked the idea of Thailand because it has a nice combination of beach, culture, safety( or it was) and good food. We need some new suggestions. We are in our mid thirties and don't' have children yet. Trip length 10-14 days. Budgett flexible. We would prefer a warm location, but we can go as late as April or May. Any ideas? We are coming from Ohio. We have been to the Caribbean and Mexico several times, so unless its something unique, I'd rather travel there for our honeymoon. We have also been to Hawaii, Italy, France, Greece, Barcelona, England. We have thought about Maldives, Tahiti, or seychelles, but though it looks beautiful and we love beaches, it seems like the only attraction are the beaches. Please help!!!

In my opinion Indonesia and Vietnam are good destinations for honeymoon. Indonesia have some very nice romantic resorts with spectacular scenery.

Hello - I just want to share our perspective as my husband and I are in Thailand for a two-week journey that started in Bangkok. The protests in BKK are in very confined area that is very easy to avoid. That said, we were in the area and came upon the protest site at Sukhumvit and it was very peaceful. We spent 3 days in BKK and loved it. We are in Chiang Mai now and then off to Krabi. We were on the fence about the trip and I'm just so happy we stuck with our plan.

That said, you must do what you're comfortable with. Just offering some personal experience.

Safe travels and happy honeymoon!
Sue

I would encourage you to keep to your Thailand original plan as scoyne suggests. just stay clear of the democracy monument area, which is easy to do.

also get an hotel on the river.

I would suggest capetown, so Africa and its coastline would be a wonderful alternative.

I agree with keeping your plans for Thailand. I also agree with staying on the river, as rhkkmk suggests. The protests cover a lot more than democracy monument area at this time, but they are still relatively easy to avoid. There are stages and rally areas around some of the major shopping complexes, but if you spend your time seeing the major sights, and not shopping, you should be just fine. Tourists are not targeted, but being in the wrong place at the wrong time is also possible. I have plans in place for trips to Bangkok in April and again in July. I will not change my plans. But I have also been to Bangkok nearly 3 dozen times, and I am aware of which areas to avoid.

I wouldn't hesitate to go to Thailand right now, but you have to do what you are comfortable with. If you cancel Thailand, I'd opt for Bali. Stay part of your time inland near Ubud and part of your time at a beach location - Semiyak or Sanur.

I'd say you have a week more to make a final decision ... and normally I'd agree with the group about going.

But yesterday's bombing -- and the ratcheting up of the red shirt contingent now -- would definitely make me think twice.

That bombing did not happen in a tourist area but it does dispel the notion that protests and violence are only contained to a certain area as it happened quite a bit away from the main area of protests from what I understand.

I would agree that Indonesia/Bali are good backups. Maybe start putting together a Plan B and pull the trigger next week once you have a better idea of which direction things are going.

I second the recommendation for Vietnam. In 14 days you can get in plenty of culture (Hanoi and HCMC) combined with beach (Hoi An or other) and maybe even a couple of days on a boat in Halong bay. The food is fantastic. I enjoyed Bali too, but if I had to pick one or the other, Vietnam would win for me because of the food.

thanks for all your responses….still not sure what to do. What about Brazil??? We do have some concern about safety there too……yikes….all the places we want to go seem unsafe right now……..thoughts on Brazil verse Thailand???

Also second the idea of Bali. For a delayed honeymoon of 10-14 days, a great solution would be to stay in two places: 5-6 days at a beach location for fun and sun, 5-6 days toward the interior for some amazing cultual experiences (Ubud is the main choice, but there are others).

I'd go to Thailand today for my own vacation, but I appreciate why someone would make an informed choice to go somewhere else. If I went, I understand that I'd have to keep a close watch on events and be prepared to leave instantly if necessary. And, while I'd go today, there's no telling what the situation would be like in a few weeks when OP is planning to go.

[The comments that the protests are in a "very confined area" and only in "democracy monument area" are not merely off-target; they're dangerous. A 5-year-old was killed yesterday (and his young sister injured) in a bomb that was about a block from the Hyatt hotel and Erewan shrine.]

I've never been to Brazil, so I can't compare the 2. However, having just come back for a trip to Thailand, including a 4 day visit to Bangkok right after the Shutdown was announced, I can share my own recent experience.

We stayed along the river and were completely unaware of any protests. We avoided the protest areas to the extent we could -- although we ended up passing some of the encampments when we traveled through the city, either as we went back and forth from the BTS or traveled by tuk- tuk with our guide from one part of town to another, but we were well away from any crowds or active protests.

The atmosphere that we saw was relaxed and peaceful; the numbers of people were pretty small and there were vendors and people milling about. The difficulty is that the violence is completely unpredictable, and while the likelihood is you'll be fine, there's no guarantee. But if you avoid all protest areas, it is really, really unlikely that you'll even know there's any protests going on.

Personally, I loved Bangkok and would go back again, but everyone's comfort level is different, and this is a changing situation.

I've been to Rio. I can't think of anywhere I've traveled (and I've traveled a lot) that I felt LESS safe than in Rio! I have no plans to return. Period. And yes, the city has some really beautiful places!

Again thanks. Any other ideas in the world to go end of March? What about Maldives, Seychelles or Mauritius? Anything near these locations that we could visit that have some cultural aspects so our trip to these locations would be a balance of beach and culture/sightseeing…???

Argentina is another nice place.

Maldives, Seychelles or Mauritius are not places you go for the culture. If you want culture as well as beach, it really is hard to beat Bali (since you have opted out of Thailand).

Another vote for Bali maybe in conjunction with Java or Lombok, depending on your interests. End of March is generally good weather.

Nyepi, or quiet day, is March 31. This is an extraordinary event in Bali -- a day and night of total silence.

You'll find plenty in Bali to satisfy the arts and culture category. The best beaches are big wave surfing beaches: they're not pristine with crystal clear water, but they're long and lively, with crashing waves and spectacular sunsets.

In Seminyak, you can rent your own villa -- near (not on) the beach -- enjoy privacy, your own pool and a staff to serve you. Or you can stay at a luxe resort overlooking the ocean.

When you're ready to emerge you have the choice of sophisticated restaurants, shops, spas, clubs. Plus the beach within walking distance.

In the Ubud area you can stay at a serene resort overlooking the rain forest and the river valley. Walk in the rice paddies, interact with village culture, explore volcanoes, go rafting and biking, shop for arts and crafts, engage in wellness activities like yoga and massage, observe the ceremonies, performing arts and pageantry of Bali Hinduism.

In Java you have centuries old temples and in Lombok pretty, quiet beaches.

I was in BKK mid January and agree with progol's assessment. We are on our way back to BKK right now for a couple days. I agree with filmwill in that the situation appears to be changing and it's impossible to predict what will happen. If I was planning a trip now I would certainly go elsewhere. Why have to monitor events and be careful where one wanders? It's a big world, so choose elsewhere for now. Thailand is great and will be there for another trip.

Of the places mentioned above that I have been to, I really liked VN and it offers you what you are looking for. Argentina is worth looking into. BA is fabulous and the NW beautiful as is the Lake District. Tahiti is as you said, beaches and that's about it.

DonTopaz - Valid point. I hadn't seen the news about this when I posted the "confined area" sentence.

[The comments that the protests are in a "very confined area" and only in "democracy monument area" are not merely off-target; they're dangerous. A 5-year-old was killed yesterday (and his young sister injured) in a bomb that was about a block from the Hyatt hotel and Erewan shrine.]

Sweetness - We did Rio and Buenos Aires last year and LOVED Buenos Aires - the food, the wine, the shopping. Agree with sentiments on Rio. Great beach city but you're always looking behind your back.

Just to clarify the bombing yesterday, my yesterday or 26 hours ago as in Thailand time, did sadly occurred at one of the main protest stage - Ratchaprasong stage. The only violence that happened outside the protest area is the one that filmwill was referring to and that happened in a town call Trat near to the Cambodian border. All the other violence that happened so far had been in area that has to do with the protest and all the violence were directed at the demonstrators.

To say that Central World or the Grand Hyatt hotel and Erawan shrine are not in the main protest area is very misleading as those are the area for the main demonstration.

Currently there are 5 Fodorites in Thailand that I know of, and to all of them I had advised that they stay well cleared of the demonstration area BUT not to be afraid if they were to seem demonstrators walking by.

However, as per my first response to this thread, a lot of us locals think that things will further escalate as the government has it's back to the wall and the PM is running the country from her Facebook page. Do consider going elsewhere for now.

Thanks for all your replies. I think we plan to hold off on this trip for now:(((( Eventually we hope to go on our honeymoon trip…..To bad all the places we want to go seem have best travel seasons from November-March. If anyone can suggest a honeymoon alternative consisting of beach, culture and good food. please let me know. Thanks Again!!
Christine