We’ve been seeing on the news about the flooding n Thailand.

Do you think it would be wise to postpone our Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai trip that arrives there on November 1st?

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Is the flooding in Thailand not as serious as they make it our
to to be on the news?

Yes, it is the rainy season and the rain should moderate by November 1st, but I’ve read that the rain and flooding are worse this year.
I’m concerned about checking into a hotel with a lot of mud and construction around it.

It’s hard to tell from your posts the level of commitment to the locations you currently have planned. Do you want to visit these locations only or might you go elsewhere?

When I have a trip planned I’d have a hard time canceling it or even postponing it. If I were in your shoes and, presumably, flying into BKK, I think I’d plan to go ahead, watch what’s happening in those locales and plan to divert if, as you say, conditions are not conducive. I’ve found Asia a relatively easy part of the world to adjust plans to my whims so I’d likely just move right on from Bangkok to, say, Penang.

In the past I’ve arrived, walked to the ticket-selling location & bought a seat on the next flight onward. It’s a way you could postpone your decision until it must be made. Unless, of course, you want those destinations & no others. I’d certainly choose to go & decide when I get there. But then I tend to build flexibility into my wandering. Not everyone does.

Adding to the above, some of my very best adventures have been the diversions, places recommended to me by other travelers along the way. And I don't recall in years of extensive travels any I've regretted. But I also realize it's not for everyone..

MmePerdu…..I applaud your ease in adjusting during your travels. I think if it was just my husband and I it would be easier to change plans.
This trip is with 12 ladies. We aren’t really tied into certain areas as none of us have ever been to that area before.
Our travel agent will be with us so we will rely on her expertise to lead us. She is with a group in Poland right now so I don’t want to bother her.
I’m still on the fence about canceling, cost be damned. I have visions of staying in a hotel, or tour sites, with mud and construction everywhere. Been there, done that on a previous trip.
I realize the weather cannot be controlled so we will just have o wait and see.
I was just hoping that someone from the area might be able to give some insight as to how bad the flooding actually is and past years experience with the cleanup.

A very different situation, indeed. I was either on my own or with a travel pal who was happy with anything I came up with. I was picturing 2 of you. I hope someone with real knowledge of conditions turns up here for you. It would seem to me to be the responsibility of your travel agent to have the facts for you, though, to help with a decision for the whole group. But, again, I don't have the full picture.

Thanks again for at least listening and voicing your opinion.
We do have a Thailand travel meeting coming up when she returns from Poland and I will state my concerns to our agent then. I do want to visit Thailand but will bow out if conditions are a muddy mess.

I hope it all works out & you have a great trip. SE Asia can be addictive!

November 1 is three weeks away so there is plenty of time for the region to recover. That said, November is still the wet season and the rains could still continue so it could go either way. I have been in various locations in SE Asia at most times of the year and have experienced floods in places like Hanoi, Bangkok and Chiang Mai. It is not a lot of fun especially when you consider that you could be walking through water that contains raw sewage. There may still be travel disruption and floods in early November, there may not, it really is anyones guess. I would be a lot happier taking my chances if you said you were leaving towards the end of November when the cool dry season should have arrived.

I doubt the new agencies are sensationalising the flooding, certainly not the primary news sources like Reuters. The problem is that once the initial impact is over the reporting will tail off drastically and reliable information is harder to source.

In your position, especially with a party of 12 I would certainly be considering other options and possibly continue with flights into Bangkok and look at other destinations - Cambodia and Laos should be easily reached by budget carriers from Bangkok as would Vietnam (north and South - avoid the central region). Regardless or not of your TA being on another trip, it is events like this where travel agents should really earn their commission.

crellston….thanks for your post on the flooding. That is just the kind of info I was looking for from someone who has been
there.

Of course the weather could go either way . I guess we’ll have to hope the rains and flooding subside a bit before we go. I’ll see my TA next week and then make a decision to either take a chance and go or cancel the trip.

Given the current flooding in Thailand, it might be wise to monitor the situation closely as your trip approaches. Flooding can disrupt travel plans, especially in areas like Bangkok, Chiang Mai, and Chiang Rai. Consider checking official travel advisories and local news for updates. If conditions worsen, postponing or adjusting your plans could ensure your safety and comfort.