Asianatic

Most of the news coming out of Thailand at the moment is BAD news ,young boy drowns in Pattaya fun park ,woman arrested for stealing beer mat, king power fiasco at the airport .

now much of it is actually the fault of the tourist ,such as the woman was drunk and abused the police but the papers do not report it that way ,now the Danish govt are warning tourist of scams and corrupt police in the airport .

The tourists are few and far between here in Pattaya and if they think its all going to be O K in 4 months ,well then collectivly they are burying their head in the sand and talking out of their a-ses.

Yeah, tourism will increase by the end of the year - that's for sure. In the west we are setting up fake western villages complete with saloons to attract tourists. Where in the world can tourists experience a real gunfight ?

Phuket has so much to offer for the tourist !

Yes, indeed another reason to stay away from this third-world country. I'll be heading to more civilized nations in the immediate neighbourhood.

Thanks for the useful list of possibilities to and from Phuket ! I need to go to the Philippines first and it looks like there's no way to get that done through my confirmed booking with Thai via Bangkok. Althought it is scheduled only on the 18th - I start to be nervous.

What I don't understand is why some websites showing departures and arrivals on schedule at Suvarnabhumi Airport : http://www.bangkokairportonline.com/node/129

It makes me confused.

Our Ministry of Exterior affairs has officially announced to its citizens to avoid traveling to Thailand. I'm traveling since 16 years to the Land of Smiles and the past 5 years there was hardly a trip which did'nt include any incident. Time to look for another destination indeed.

Eddy - Belgium

After numerous visits each year the past 16 years as a tourist who want nothing more (or less) than having a good time and party, I am seriously considering to skip Thailand and look out for a more covenient place to spend my Euros. If it is not the BIB who wants every visitor to get to bed by 2.00am, then it will be one or another strike at the touristic airports. If no strike then there's always one or another anniversary or election that will fall into our hard earned holiday to keep visitors dry when they just want to have a beer at night.

No thanks...

Bali and Philippines - I will be back soon !

The Greens face up to 10 years in prison if convicted on all charges, the statement said.

No problem, they will bribe themselve out of the Bangkok Hilton.

Arrived here for a months holiday 4 days ago, was in Bangkok until yesterday (great so far) and then arrived in Phuket last night, got showered dressed and headed out as normal only to be told by the hotel reception that there is a ban on the sale of alcohol and that all the bars are closed!!

First I heard of it, so headed out anyway to see what the craic was. Disaster.

Patong Beach was basically a ghost town, just 100's of dismayed thai ladies wondering where their usual custom was and a load of lonely bored looking tuctuc drivers sitting beside their emtpy tuctucs.

Gave up after about half an hour and was back in my hotel room by 00:30.

Case in point I didnt spend a penny of my tourist money. Wont tonight either.

Just googled it now and this is the first link that came up, and is also the first time I've learned that I am basically having another 4 nights of my holiday wasted and taken away from me by the thai government. I had previously assumed it would end at midnight tonight. And again on the 22nd?! For fuc_ks sake they must be mad.

Its a f*cking disgrace. Im also not happy with the TAT for not mentioning this, if they knew, before sending us down here. If I had of known I would have booked some kind of route away from the non-existing nightlife for these prohibition days.

I literally have nothing to do here during the night hours now today and tommorow except mess around on the internet and get very very bored in this hotel room. I mean yes I can technically get drink in the hotel, its sitting there in my rooms mini-bar. But sitting in this room with my mate drinking or roaming deserted streets at night is NOT what I came to Thailand for and is not what I look for in any holiday.

I also will probably not risk coming here again if this is the kind of thing that can happen. In one swoop the government has effectively reduced my holiday from 26 nights to 22. Not happy, not happy at all.

I completely understand and agree what you mean. It is the same sh_t this side. I do not need alcohol to have a great night, although I admit that it helps But this is some of the worst facts I have ever faced during my past 17 years of holiday making throughout South East Asia. I go to Patong to enjoy myself with friends.

If I would have knew before, I would have planned my itinerary accordingly and avoid these dates at all times. Where I live back home is a quiet village with not much going on during weekends, so the main reason to fly half-way around the globe for us is to have some good fun.

Amazing Thailand indeed !

I love to see all these posts from people who are outraged by not being able to drink for a few days.

Is it that bad?

If the answer is yes then you need some help.

Zuki.

No it is not that bad as I am working most of the year except my annual holidays of which I like to have some fun. AND I do not mind to have a night of fun based on juice, coke or water. THE thing is that ALL venues will be closed !

I truly regret that I did'nt spend my hard earned holiday in the Phils or Indo.

We are in Patong during both weekends for holiday, to have fun and we were ready to leave our Euro's in Thailand by having good times. We do NOT have to vote for these [admin edit] so I can't get it why we (tourists) have to suffer too ?

What a brilliant idea again !!! Specially during peak season.

Ah, great to know too ! I've been wondering when it will open. Me, be a regular visitor (4 times yearly). Stayed next door at Royal Phawadee last august. Fully booked now in dec. Will arrive dec. 21 which seems to be right on time. Got booking elsewhere but will sure drop down to have a look.

Eddy