Thai elections - should we cancel trip?
 

Hi folks,

Our trip is scheduled for Bangkok, chang mai and chang rai for 18th of November through 26th.

With the military coup etc happening is it safe to travel?

thoughts?

I leave for Thailand on Nov 3 and I'm not cancelling. Thailand has been through a number of coups, all peaceful. Unless something very unusual happens, I expect it to be perfectly safe to travel.

and i leave on oct 27 and i would not even think about cancelling

My only question is whether the new airport will now open in time. :)

rkkwan - lol

ok im feeling better already!

one of my friend's sent me the news clipping and said you don't wnat to be in a country during this type of emergency.

I was worried because the elections are postponed from Oct 15 to either Nov 17th or 26th...we're arriving on the 18th.

I was in Manila during their "mini attempted coup" this year. It will all blow over in a few days. So i say go ahead!

I've read that this happens pretty often, and that the thai people just take it in stride. With that said, I definitely feel your concern. We are scheduled to travel to be in thailand from 10/30 - 11/17. Hopefully everything will turn out well.

We leave for Thailand around the same time as you. We'll be there from Nov. 11th until Nov. 26th.
I, too, was concerned, but now I feel VERY reassured from asking friends who live there and have been through this before that this is NOT a big deal at all.
Believe me, with all that's going on in the world nowadays, I understand your concerns, but I wouldn't consider changing your trip unless something serious happens, an as far as I can tell, this is not serious.

My sister is scheduled to leave for Bangkok in 6 days - it's her honeymoon.

So far it's been peaceful and looks like it's not a big deal. I guess she'll just have to wait and see.

I am glad you are all so optimistic - wish I could be as cheery, but I guess you are right from the point of view of travelling here. November is a long way off and even if there is violence, this is Thailand and things will calm down. Keep an eye on the situation and if it still looks a bit hairy when it's time to go, just minimise time in Bangkok and Chiang Mai town center (Thaksin's home turf). You won't be in danger but you might not have much fun if things are closing early.

For heaven's sake, the coup is not yet 5 hours old -- there is no way at this point to have any idea of the repercussions, implications, and outlook.

If I were planning to travel to Thailand tomorrow, I would try to delay my planned travel.

If I were planning to travel to Thailand at any time after tomorrow, I'd sit tight, wait until the picture becomes clearer, and make an informed decision then.

I will be leaving for Thailand on Oct. 29-Nov. 30th and a herd of wild elephants couldn't keep me from going on this trip!

Cheers!

Ditto Rizzuto

It blows me away that people are willing to arrive at such instant knee-jerk conclusions without knowing the resolution of the event. Sometimes history repeats and sometimes it doesn't. I think a wait and see attitude is the most prudent. I would not travel to Thailand until the picture becomes clearer.

to 'vacation03' - do you have more info on your post below? thanks.

there's nothing to be shocked or amazed about. :) it's a forum to voice out thoughts. And we have only booked our tickets into and out of bangkok. This trip is part of a very expensive trip that begins from US to India to Maldives to Thailand and back as part of our impending wedding/honeymoon. And I have yet to book my domestic flights in thailand and hotels so if I can save us some non refundable $$$ grief and change our destination I would like to do so. It's perfectly unamazing that I would be concerned about this coup stuff. I'm from India and was in Bombay during the riots. It was certainly not pretty and not a place to be in during that time.

What more info are you looking for Obersee? We're arriving in Bkk on the 18th and leavin for Chang M on 21st. Plannin on Chang Rai for a few days from Chang Mai and back to Bkk on 26th for a day before we head back to SF. I'm getting ready to book our hotels and flights from Bkk to Chang Mai and Chang Rai to Bkk. Our tour guides and some hotels where $$ was not required for reservation are complete.

Well lets see the one we had in Manila lasted only a couple of days - so I predict it all blows over by Friday!

filmwell - good to read your earlier post!!!! If ppl who live in thailand are saying it's not such a big deal...maybe i'll go ahead and book our hotels n stuff after all. :)

If you read the latest reports from the BBC and Reuters you will see that "reasonably" non-vested reporting sources say the impact upon the general public and tourists visiting markets, restaurants and shopping malls, less than 24 hours after the coup, are going unfazed in their activities of daily life. You need to put this action in the context of Thailand over the last 50 years. In this coup according to the reports of the BBC and Reuters "NOT A SHOT WAS FIRED". While this may not be totally true it is closer to the truth than the figments of several travels imaginations as expressed earlier on this posting.
Having visited Thailand 3 times in 9 years and even gone within about 75-80 miles of the unrest in the south near the Malaysian border earlier this year I did not even know, if I had chosen not to listen to the radio/T.V. or read the newspaper, that there way a a problem.
Just as we are told in the US to be extra careful and alert of unusual behavior in the major cities like NY, etc. the same holds true when traveling.

Scores of Thailand residents (both native and expat) have been posting on the BBC website and none of them seems overly concerned about things. Seems to be one of those plus ca change kind of things around there...I wouldn't get too worried about it.

Several Thai residents have posted on this board - Hanuman and MichaelBKK posted on an earlier thread. I expect we'll hear more from them when it's day time in Thailand. James A is also in Thailand and I expect will report.

Plus, most of the people in Thailand have been agitating for the removal of the PM, so this coup may be rather popular with the general public.

Hi
I'm not sure I agree with that 'most people' have been agitating for the removal of Thaksin. It's true that a lot of the middle classes in Bangkok dislike Thaksin intensely and did demonstrate against him. But if you ask people outside of Bangkok - especially in the north, and those of a (to put it bluntly) poorer background, he is extremely popular. It was only last year that Thaksin was voted in for a 2nd term with an even bigger majority than before.
It's a crying shame for democracy that this coup has occurred.

bkkmei,

that is of course if you believe that the election was fsair and just. As I understood it the election appointing Mr Thaksin was neither fair nor just and was ruled as not official by the courts. Mr Thaksin appointed himself as caretaker whilst a new PM was found and has blatently demonstrated no intentions to step down. During the supposed run up to an election he has resumed his radio campaign and this is absolutely not democracy as it gives him a real advantage to the people against the other parties.

I am currently resident here in Bangkok and have lived here for 3 plus years. I am personally saddened by the way he has raped the ocuntry for his own benefit and it never ceases to amaze me that he has survived. It is absolutely correct that his main supporters are the poorer people as he has had a prgram of vote buying through almost free medical for them, low rate interest loans and almost free housing. all this to buy votes whilst he makes himself richer at everyones expense.

Anyway, politics aside, all is peaceful here at the moment, no one knows where it will go but if Thaksin does try and retaliate I do fear some sort of agression to be displayed as I believe he does have hos own inside team in the army. We can only hope things are resolved peacefully and I certainly wouldnt panic at the moment.

I feel confident that this issue will be resolved peacefully.

Best,

BigT

My brother has lived in Thailand for approx 15 years and he is of the opinion that this will blow over quickly. If the King agrees with the coup then the Thai people will accept it. I have already had emails from thais rejoicing at the change.

Big T
I'm in no way a Thaksin supporter! I still feel it's a shame that the army has taken control of a democratic country - however fledgling and imperfect that democracy is.
Anyhow, like you, hope it is resolved peacefully. We're booked to be back in BKK early October and we're not changing our plans!
Keep safe in the meantime

The king has endorsed the coup. All will be back to normal soon.

I'll see many of you in November. No worries.

bkkmei,
don't change your plans I am sure all will be well. lets see what happens.

BigT

I've read a biography of Taksin and have followed him and the politics of thailand for awhile. The bottom line is that while he is certainly corrupt and has favored his conies, he is also enormously popular among the poor in the rural areas (north and northeast -- not south where he has been brutal to moslems) where he has done a great job for them including giving them health care. The people who hate him are primarily in the cities and the intellectuals. The more I have read about him the more convinced I am that this is NOT a black and white issue. He has actually done a huge amount of good but also a lot of bad. That said I think any military takeover no matter for what reason is a blow for democracy. They are now saying that elections will not be held for at least a year -- not good.

Now on the question of whether you should go -- I suspect that this will have no affect on tourists after the next day or so. You can go, be perfectly safe and not even know that a coup had taken place. You can shop and go to the tourist sites and eat in wonderful restaurants and go to spas just as you could have a week ago. And I expect that since tourism will probably be down you'll be able to get great values

Personally, if I could I would be on a plane tomorrow for bangkok because I'd like to learn more about what people are thinking and feeling first hand.

I was interested to read that the coup leader Gen Sonthi is a Muslim. I am sure the news media will blow that way out of proportion...

As for Vacation03- don't cancel your trip!!! These events will likely have little if any impact on normal tourist activities.

The Australian Government is advising us to delay our travel plans until " we see what happens". Maybe they are just playing it safe and I guess people will make up their own minds whether or not to risk it.

Many of us are going to be there when you arrive. I'm going next month and wouldn't think of cancelling. Unless it gets bloody, but that won't happen.

Yikes. I'm going in 10 days!! My Thai wife assures all will be well...

as I said in another post. coup d etats in thailand have historicly been bloodless but the often end in mass shooting and deaths of protesters.

My gut instincts tell me that it is not only safe to travel to Thailand, but perhaps, an ideal time to do so.
My husband and I are celebrity impersonators. www.almostcher.com and www.nearlyrod.com We are currently negotiating a deal to perform in Phuket, in order to help re-build the tourist trade after the Tsunami. We would very much like to spend some time in Bangkok as well. I am having some new Cher costumes made there, as we speak.
I wonder if anyone could give us some insight as to whether a good, Vegas-quality impersonator show might be well-received. We are thinking that perhaps some of the bigger, upscale hotels might consider it. Any advice will be much appreciated. If there is anyone willing to act as an agent to book us, we will happily pay a commission.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Helene A. Masiko-Crews &
Steven L. Crews

Helene, you may want to start a new thread with a title reflecting your question "Like Celebrity Impersonators in Thailand"

Just click on "start a new thread" and type the title into the title box, then give the details. Tagging on to other Thailand posts won't get you as focused an answer.

I know the history of Bangkok and the recent bloodless coups but I would not travel to Bangkok until this is over.

Troops with loaded automatic weapons and tanks armed and ready in the streets(all it would take is one shot or nut) are not condusive to family fun and a restful vacation.

I do love Bangkok and will return when the peace is made(looks like it should be soon)but I don't consider troops with loaded weapons, total news blackouts and martial law prerequisites to a funfilled vacation. Just not a family place right now.

Hope it all clears up soon!!!!

Aloha!

Finally found an article on the situation in Thailand geared toward travelers. This should put us at ease:

Thailand Is Open
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...092200418.html

So many people are optimistic, that I figured I should include some reason to skip thailand at this present moment. There are so many places to visit in the world, it doesn't make sense to take a risk in an unstable country.

1) The last coup turned bloody. Thaksin is way too powerful and rich to give up this easy. If Thaksin stages a counter-coup guns will be fired. Do you want your family in the middle of that???

2) There is a strict censorship rule currently being enforced. If you say or do something out of line, it could land you 6 months in prison. If you get into trouble, there are no laywers or courts who can help you.

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=84529

3) Early closing. A curfew is in effect requiring you to be off the streets by 11pm. Do you want to spend your vacation sitting in a hotel room??

4) Border Closing. Several of the border posts have been closed along the Laos, Berma, and Cambodian borders. Foreigners have been stuck at border crossings.

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=84543

So many people are optimistic, that you figured you should be pessimistic. Iraq is an unstable country...Thailand, not so much ;)