Where to go instead of Bangkok?
 

I am arriving in Bangkok on November 4th. I was supposed to stay there for 3 nights but it's not looking like a good idea right now. My initial itinerary was the following:

Bangkok: 3 nights
Penang: 4 nights
Singapore: 4 nights
Krabi/Koh Lanta/Koh Phi Phi: 12 nights
Bangkok: 2 nights

I tried changing my flight to arrive in Kuala Lumpur but Qatar Airways is asking for an insane amount of money so that's not going to happen. I have a few options that I'm considering in the event things get worse in Bangkok (and it looks like they will) and I decide to skip my first 3 nights. All my hotels/flights are booked and have been paid for so I'd rather not change anything except for the first 3 nights in Bangkok. Here are my options:

1 (Cheapest/easiest option): When I land in Bangkok, get a taxi to Pattaya (kinda looks seedy but better than a flooded Bangkok?) or Hua Hin for 3 nights. I could then come back to the Bangkok airport after 3 nights for my flight to Penang that I already paid for on Air Asia. The only thing I'm worried about is the roads to/from the airport becoming flooded.

2 (Slightly more expensive): When I land in Bangkok, get directly on a flight to Kuala Lumpur for 3 nights. It would be easy/cheap to get to Penang from there on Air Asia.

Are there any other good options worth considering? As my trip is coming up very soon, any help would be greatly appreciated. I'm pretty calm about the situation but since this will be my parents' first trip to Asia, they're starting to freak out a little bit lol.

Thanks!

Well, Hua Hin would be easy - about a 2.5 hour drive. If you are interested, I'd make reservations ASAP, as others are seeking refuge there. On the other hand, you are spending most of your time at beaches, so Hua Hin would just be more of the same.

Flying to KL seems like a reasonable option. There are lots of nice hotels in KL. Even though it's not my favorite Asian city, there is enough to keep you occupied for a few days.

It's a week and a half until you arrive in Bangkok. It's hard to know what things will be like by then, as this sort of flooding is unprecedented. And since the people who should know what is going on have not been forthcoming, it's hard to know what to expect. You might want to make hotel reservations that can be cancelled without a penalty in case things look entirely different by the time you get to Bangkok.

I think I'm going to wait until this weekend before I make a decision. Going to Hua Hin would probably be the easiest option. I'll start looking at hotels.

Another option I'm considering would be to fly to Phuket. I could then fly from there to Penang.

So much to think about!

Unlike Kathie I rather liked K.L. You could visit Melaka as a day trip. You could also take the train (see seat61.com for details), or a bus (the long distance buses in Malaysia are very comfortable) to Penang as a change from flying and see more of the country.

fly to Phuket JW Marriott.com awesome there

from personal experience $80/nt betterbidding.com

Lots prettier than others you are considering

join preffered guest program flash your card

for free upgrades suite club floor awesome!

I am following this topic as we are also flying into BKK on Nov 4 for 3 nights. We also fly out on the 7th to Bhutan, so must return to BKK on the 7th. Hopefully the airport will be ok. Any other choices for 3 nights?

It doesn't make much sense to go to Phuket since you will have 12 nights in the phuket area at the end of your trip.

Another choice for three nights might be to fly to Chiang Mai.

Suggestion to QV - you have good advice but need to read folks' posts more thoroughly. I notice that you really didn't connect that well on another post on Ubud and the airport earlier today. Throwing out random ideas and links to websites doesn't really help if you don't read the posts.

Now for my reply - Langkawi is an easy, short hop to Penang via air or ferry but you'll have to switch at KL to get there. Don't know how that fits in but if you are looking for other options, it's a good bet.

Sorry to butt in to this thread, but it is timely. Unfortunately we arrive at 11:40pm on the 4th so can't really get a quick flight out anywhere, then have to leave at 7am on the 7th for Bhutan. I think we are destined for Bangkok, keeping my fingers crossed.

Patiricia (love the spelling) - you might want to make a reservation that you can cancel at an airport hotel while keeping your reservation in Bangkok.

I am on the ground right now in BKK, and I am planning my return to the USA a few days early. Flooding is a very real threat now. There is something called the king tide, which will happen this weekend. It is when the water in the Gulf of Thailand rises (high tide) and it will pretty much STOP the flow of water down the Chao Phrya of the flood waters. The water will all back up and this is when I ++think++ the biggest threat will come.

People here say that the center city of BKK will not flood, but right now, I think that is getting to be a much less possibility. I hope I am wrong. I am getting more doubtful as each day goes by and I see the water coming in this direction.

I will leave, probably Thursday or Friday, and not wait for my reservation which is already secured for next Monday, 31st.

Now, to the OP... If it were me, and it isn't, I would not be wanting to go somewhere outside of Bangkok that would require driving to the airport from a distance. No one can tell you with any certainty that roads (or the airport for that matter) will remain clear and open. I would want to leave BKK by plane for some other part of Southeast Asia.

Good luck to one and all. This country of wonderful people is facing a disaster that is huge. I hope that it is short lived and that people can get on with their business as soon as possible.

Keep Thailand in your prayers.

Yeah, Carol. I am worried about the roads, especially if I can't come back to the Bangkok airport. Even though Hua Hin would be the easiest option, I think it's best that I get out of Bangkok ASAP. I'll book a flight to Kuala Lumpur this weekend if things get worse in BKK. Have a safe trip back home.

We really enjoyed Melaka. If you fly to KL you could take a bus their the next day for an overnight.

maybe bkk will be spared... JUST WAIT A WHILE AND SEE... i would not change anything yet...

we are at khao lak and it is beautiful here at the JW Marriott... easy to fly in and out of phuket to other countries too...

if you do go to bkk make sure your hotel is is the central city: sukhumvit area, or along the river...

I am breathing a sigh of relief now that I've made my decision(s) to go to Phuket, and then stay at Novotel (I have a room booked now) on Sunday night at the BKK airport, before flying home on Monday.

DS (bradinbangkok) will be leaving BKK on Friday for Jakarta for the weekend. IF things in city center are not looking so good when he returns to BKK on Sunday (same as me) he will try to get on my flights home on Monday. I think there is still room... knock on wood. Lots of people are trying to leave now. Very limited availability!!!

rhk says to make sure you are staying in the city center. I would agree with that (or the airport!!!) because hopefully the water is not quite so deep there. Even breakfast room staff today is talking about the coming floods. They were happy that I am going to leave the city tomorrow. I see very little of the "It can't happen here" attitude now. Folks are getting lots more realistic about the situation. And it really is not good.

I hope I'm 100% WRONG about this!

When I get back into the city on Sunday, I'm thinking I will take the city line train into city center to have a look. The elevated train should be safe to use, I would think. I'd hesitate to grab a taxi if there is standing water on Sukhumvit Road.

Another vote for KL. We have spent quite a bit of time there over the years and really like the city. It has a unique mix of cultures - Malay, Chinese, Indian etc. and the great cuisines that go with them - IMO the best range of eating places of anywhere in Asia. There is lot to see although it is not as overtly geared towards tourism as Bangkok. As other have indicated, Melaka, as others have indicated, is definitely worth considering for a day or overnight. Easily reached by train or bus.

If it were me, I would be thinking of booking flights now as I am sure others will be doing so and it may not be as easy to find flights in a few days (or the fares could rise dramatically). Whatever you decided, good luck and have a great time.

Looks like we're going with KL, although we are worried about the airport closing before we arrive. Qatar won't change/refund our tickets still.

Not sure what the situation is with the railways, but you can take a train south in normal times....

"we arrive at 11:40pm on the 4th...leave at 7am on the 7th"

Another option; I'm not sure what is available. Consider Bangkok Air to and from the same airport to Siem Reap to see Angkor Wat.

Bangkok (Suvarnabhumi), Thailand (BKK) to
Siem Reap, Cambodia (REP)
Fri 04 Nov

BKK 13:55 PG 913
REP 14:55

Sun 06 Nov
REP 15:45 PG 914
BKK 16:40

Passengers: 2 Total:20810 THB

Cheers, Alan, Australia.
--
Born Under a Wandering Star http://loraltravel.blogspot.com