Could Thailand now be the place to book a holiday?

[webfact]

File photo

 

OPINION | by Michael Bridge

 

There seems to be a visible change in Bangkok and the resorts around Thailand with the airports receiving international travelers at long last.

Even the hotels are starting to welcome overseas guests again too.

Bars are open and the general atmosphere is more upbeat.

It seems Thailand has come out of a very long dark tunnel into the bright lights!

This week, Kasikorn Bank’s financial pundits have said the Thai baht is likely to remain weak for the next few months, which bodes well for overseas vacationers’ wallets.

OK as we know the price of a seat on a flight from Europe or the States has jumped due to fuel costs and longer routes to avoid flying near Russia.

That said there are other ways that the attraction of coming to Thailand will help tourists.

Firstly, the rates being charged by hotels across the country are very competitive.

Checking online with Agoda there were several good deals to be had arriving in Thailand on July 20th.

A couple could pay THB2,607 at the 5-star Novotel BKK Ploenchit down from THB6,308.

In Chiang Mai they would pay THB1,818 at the 4-star Eastin Tan Hotel down from THB10,000.

And on the island of Phuket, they would save a whopping THB10,705 at the 5-star Dusit Thai Laguna and pay just THB2,398.

The price of eating out is generally lower than in pre-pandemic days, and even renting a car is affordable too.

Those of us living here will also know that the popular tourist attractions are still quiet so no one needs to queue anymore.

Those planning to play golf will find the rates are still low compared with overseas rates.

According to Golfasian, the leading Asian tour operator, because of the pandemic, many golf clubs have spent time on badly needed maintenance, so the courses are in tip-top condition.

With the relaxed entry regulations announced airline passengers arriving in Thailand do not need to complete any complicated forms or need to feel threatened by being forced into a Covid hotel for a week’s isolation.

The pent-up need for a holiday by those who have not travelled anywhere for the past couple of years means there are a lot of people wanting to get away.

This time they can make all their travel arrangements online.

The only fly in the ointment is will the airlines have enough staff on duty the day you travel and who will take care of your suitcases?

 

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[steven100]

Could Thailand now be the place to book a holiday?

 

Nope .................

[arithai12]

40 minutes ago, webfact said:

The price of eating out is generally lower than in pre-pandemic days, and even renting a car is affordable too.

In your dreams. Does the writer actually live/eat out in Thailand?

 

40 minutes ago, webfact said:

Those of us living here will also know that the popular tourist attractions are still quite some no one needs to queue anymore.

 

Not sure what he's trying to say. But if we live here, maybe we don't need this?

[RichardColeman]

For this year ? Not a chance, the idiots have left it all to late.

[spidermike007]

Way too little, way too late in the game. The near retarded delay has cost Thailand dearly. While other countries were opening and demonstrating courage, Thailand continued with extreme timidity. Thailand is now the land of the forgotten. 

 

You cannot shut down the entire tourism industry for nearly 2 years, decimate the nightlife, hotels, restaurants and countless related businesses, engage in a very poorly planned vaccination program, create a climate of fear and panic, and then just expect because you open your doors again, millions will flood in. The world does not work like that. 

 

Thailand is NOT the center of the known universe. It is becoming less relevant by the minute. Tourists are forgetting Thailand. Thailand needs foreigners 100x more than they need Thailand. 

 

 

 

[Fat is a type of crazy]

Where I am is cold and wet.

A week and a bit ago I was in a top resort with my girlfriend that had been quarter of the cost of a similar Australian hotel on a nice clean beach. 

I think some of the full costs quoted in the article  were never going to be charged in low season but there are definitely good deals to be had.

Good dining options half or less the cost of Australia. 

Keep in mind most people don't have the mindset of the naysayers who have followed the to and fro of the pandemic in Thailand, Thailand Pass, TAT policies etc. They are cold and bored after 2 years without a holiday.  They see a nice hotels and beach at a good price. I think many will be back.

 

 

 

Edited June 27, 2022 by Fat is a type of crazy

[notrub]

Especially attractive now the mask mandate is gone.  Great! Invite people from all over the world and breathe in their breaths.  I am keeping my mask handy and will wear it in any public place.  Here in Isaan we still wear them in shops. 

[mnomad]

5 minutes ago, notrub said:

 Great! Invite people from all over the world and breathe in their breaths.

How did you manage before - did you breathe in the breaths ???? of all these dirty global travelers before the pandemic?

[Bangkok Barry]

The main thing that will keep people away is the economic situation in Europe and the USA, which is bad and growing worse as each week passes. There is far too much uncertainty about the future to spend money on long haul holidays. Anyone with any sense will just suck up another year without a foreign vacation and try to put some money away for spending it on things they really need.

[mnomad]

Quote

The price of eating out is generally lower than in pre-pandemic days

Maybe he got confused with the 50/50 deal if he was paying via his GF but no - not cheaper, generally a few baht more

[mnomad]

2 minutes ago, Bangkok Barry said:

The main thing that will keep people away is the economic situation in Europe and the USA, which is bad and growing worse as each week passes. There is far too much uncertainty about the future to spend money on long haul holidays. Anyone with any sense will just suck up another year without a foreign vacation and try to put some money away for spending it on things they really need.

From a few people I asked from back home, not a great sample size admittedly, the uncertainty isn't related to covid - it's spread - it's effect - its related to kneejerk reactions in regards to travel restrictions - you have to consider your starting place and your origin - and sometimes even transit places - 'if i book thailand will be last minute as dont know when and if they will flip flop when someone sneezes'

[KhunBENQ]

38 minutes ago, Bangkok Barry said:

The main thing that will keep people away is the economic situation in Europe and the USA, which is bad and growing worse as each week passes. There is far too much uncertainty about the future to spend money on long haul holidays. Anyone with any sense will just suck up another year without a foreign vacation and try to put some money away for spending it on things they really need.

Combine that with exploding flight prices and the total chaos at many major European hubs.

A mate with wife and child was lucky having booked return flights (eco) for some 800 Euro. Price currently doubled.

His trip was also quite an ordeal. Details ommitted.

[Gottfrid]

Yes, it could be great to book a holiday right now! But, better hurry before the dirty and filthy foreigners arrives in droves and make it horrible and disgusting again.

[AlQaholic]

Certainly, because a Boutique Hotel on South Jomtien that cost 800 Baht about 2 months ago for our family of three, now cost about 1,800 Baht and we have to pay 700 Baht for an extra bed for our Daughter. We thanked them and said no thanks.

[zzaa09]

1 hour ago, spidermike007 said:

Way too little, way too late in the game. The near retarded delay has cost Thailand dearly. While other countries were opening and demonstrating courage, Thailand continued with extreme timidity. Thailand is now the land of the forgotten. 

 

You cannot shut down the entire tourism industry for nearly 2 years, decimate the nightlife, hotels, restaurants and countless related businesses, engage in a very poorly planned vaccination program, create a climate of fear and panic, and then just expect because you open your doors again, millions will flood in. The world does not work like that. 

 

Thailand is NOT the center of the known universe. It is becoming less relevant by the minute. Tourists are forgetting Thailand. Thailand needs foreigners 100x more than they need Thailand. 

 

 

 

Just becoming comfortable with little or none around. 

The only real damage to be seen are within the Farang/Tourist Ghettos.

the rest of the country functions nicely, as it always has, without the myth of the tourist economy. 

[BritManToo]

9 minutes ago, zzaa09 said:

Just becoming comfortable with little or none around. 

The only real damage to be seen are within the Farang/Tourist Ghettos.

the rest of the country functions nicely, as it always has, without the myth of the tourist economy. 

No foreigners where I live and everyone appears extremely short of money.

Something is definitely wrong with the Thai economy.

[jvs]

Some of you are talking about people not going to come because of the economic

situation.

I think just because of that a lot of (older) foreigners are wanting to spend the coming

winter over here.

Prices of fuel and energy(heating costs) but also electricity are soaring!

If people can rent a cheap house over here for 3 or 5 months they can be warm all winter

for the same amount of money as staying there.

Yes flight costs are also increasing but for the sake of quality of life i know what i would do.

Of course Covid is also a concern and in a few countries ,including Thailand new cases are

on the rise again but there are no indications yet the new variations are really dangerous.

 

[Greg O]

Spot on Spider Mike ! 

[zzaa09]

7 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

No foreigners where I live and everyone appears extremely short of money.

Something is definitely wrong with the Thai economy.

The usual suspects are easily fooled and seduced.

The same folks who really know little of the society/country.

 

[robertson468]

Why does Asia Now have more 'nay sayers" who clearly are totally uninformed than one would expect on a normal forum.  We have our own little resort on Samui and the activity of the booking platforms is absolutely buzzing!  I suggest some of them would do well to take a more informed and balanced view before leaping on to their key boards!

[Jotho]

With the prices of airline tickets and just overall prices in europe skyrocketing, then Thailand has big time missed out on european tourists by opening up so late.. Most people simply do not have the spending power that they had 6 months ago, so it ended up as so many said, that Thailand would be the big looser of the countries around that region with the holding back strategy for so long...

[sandyf]

5 hours ago, steven100 said:

Could Thailand now be the place to book a holiday?

 

Nope .................

Unlikely from the UK.   With all the all the problems at airports and on the trains difficult for people to  go anywhere, although long haul is a big less of a risk than short haul.

About a month ago I had my flight from  Gatwick to Belfast cancelled at 36 hours notice. I made an error on the claim  and had to resubmit, in the space of 24 hours over 10,000 claims had been submitted. Still waiting on the outcome.

The board would be on fire if people actually had something concrete to whinge about.

[Hanuman2547]

My luk krung son was looking to come over to Thailand in December.  Airfare jumped from a high of around $900 to $1350 economy in a matter of weeks.  Those are about the cheapest fares around.  A lot are in the $1500-$1600 range.  A far cry from when they were $600-$750 just a few years ago.  Maybe after September the prices will come down some.

[shackleton]

My  wife and I are looking forward to a break end of July to Hua Hin 

So looking forward to cheaper hotels and good seafood

At a reasonable price plus not to many Tourists 

Nice and quite relaxation ????

[jerrymahoney]

15 minutes ago, robertson468 said:

Why does Asia Now have more 'nay sayers" who clearly are totally uninformed than one would expect on a normal forum.  We have our own little resort on Samui and the activity of the booking platforms is absolutely buzzing!  I suggest some of them would do well to take a more informed and balanced view before leaping on to their key boards!

Well good for you! Some on here like to paint Samui as a tropical version of Chernobyl.

[mikebell]

All tourists must be dog lovers and have had their rabies jabs.

[RafPinto]

My friends, who lived for years in Bangkok, moved to Vietnam, 2 years ago.

They just arrived back in BKK on Sunday.
They said they were shocked, arriving at Suvarnahbumi. 

They were out in 15 min, no queues at all.
They are at a hotel, Asoke area and very quiet.
Vietnam is booming and very busy.

They came back to organise the sale of their house in HuaHin.

 

Also, their 2kids are studying in UK. Flights are extremely expensive as the cost of living.
Doubt that many will come for a holiday because of very high cost of living and expenise airfares.
Actually, weather is lovely in Europe and many beautiful beaches as well.
Why to fly to Thailand?

 

[Boomer6969]

I could understand [hardly though] someone from Europe considering Thailand as a winter destination, but during summer?? OMG!

[sanuk711]

1 hour ago, zzaa09 said:

Just becoming comfortable with little or none around. 

Yer--I wish I had traveled Thailand more the last 2 years, done about 6 trips around , and the Thai pass was good-- Goverment paid for 40% of our meals in Phuket and 30% of the hotel. The only thing stopping people coming to Thailand, I think will be the horrific price of the air fares---

[spidermike007]

1 hour ago, zzaa09 said:

Just becoming comfortable with little or none around. 

The only real damage to be seen are within the Farang/Tourist Ghettos.

the rest of the country functions nicely, as it always has, without the myth of the tourist economy. 

False. A total fantasy. Thousands of Thai establishments have closed. Empty stores in malls. Car dealers barely selling any new cars. Condo towers nearly empty. Rents dropping. Market stalls empty. The signs of economic devastation are everywhere. In non tourist areas. You simply have to look, or ask. Many Thais tell me their income is way down.