Would You Advise Your Family And Friends To Come To Thailand For A Holiday?

[Mobi]

Both my adult daughters and their partners are due to visit me next year. I also have an old friend who has already booked his ticket for himself, wife and kids to come and visit me in Pattaya next year.

The question is: is it safe, and can I give them reasonable assurances that they will be able to fly home at the end of their holiday?

All my intended visitors have jobs back in the UK and mortgages to pay, and it would be a major problem if any of them got stuck here and were unable to return home on time.

OK – anywhere you go in the world there are risks, and we cannot protect ourselves from unforeseen emergencies and local happenings which we may get caught up in.

But right now I do not feel I can give them the necessary assurances about holidaying in Thailand.

Maybe over the next few weeks the situation may change and the country might start to become more stable. But right now – no way.

What do you think?

[jackr]

Telling the folks to sit tight before they book their flights... the reds could start getting their ass out in a big way before long

[Boater]

If they are only to holiday in Samui or Phuket it is fine, just stay away from bangkok

[IMA_FARANG]

Both my adult daughters and their partners are due to visit me next year. I also have an old friend who has already booked his ticket for himself, wife and kids to come and visit me in Pattaya next year.

The question is: is it safe, and can I give them reasonable assurances that they will be able to fly home at the end of their holiday?

All my intended visitors have jobs back in the UK and mortgages to pay, and it would be a major problem if any of them got stuck here and were unable to return home on time.

OK – anywhere you go in the world there are risks, and we cannot protect ourselves from unforeseen emergencies and local happenings which we may get caught up in.

But right now I do not feel I can give them the necessary assurances about holidaying in Thailand.

Maybe over the next few weeks the situation may change and the country might start to become more stable. But right now – no way.

What do you think?

There is no country in the world that is gaurenteed "safe". New York city loves to talk about how it is now being tough on crime, but if you look at the figures more people are still being mugged/assaulted/robbed in New York city daily than in Bamgkok (yes, the population there is higher, I know). There are streets in San Diego where you can be shot for not wearing the "color of the day", i.e. wearing a red shirt of blue shirt day. O.K., that may only apply to those that are in the 'gang banger" group, but it is a fact.

As for being "stuck" in country, the only place where I have been stuck for political reasons was in the U.K., where I spent an unwanted 24 hours delay due to the customs workers staging a "work to rule" at Heathrow airport. I landed at 8:30 a.m. and waited on the plane until 13:30 on the taxiway. This was when many U.K. unions were trying to bring down Maggie Thacher (aka baggy Maggie). Due to their strike (I'm sorry their "work to rule") we couldn't go through customs for over 4 hours because the building was too full. Fire safety rules.

I missed my connecting 12:30 flight, and had to stay in london until the next day.

My point is, Thailand is far from perfect, but so is anyplace. And Thailand is still safer and less crime ridden than mainly places in the world.

So would I tell my parents (for example) to come to Thailand for a vacation? Yes, I would....I wouldn't lie to them about the problems, but I would tell them there are still many places in Thailand where you can have a good time at a decent price.

Just stay out of Pattaya and Phuket. Too many farangs f**king the place up.

Edited December 19, 2008 by IMA_FARANG

[Mobi]

Safety is one thing, and I really don't have many concerns there. I feel pretty confident I can keep my guests safe.

But will they get stuck here? Thailand is one of the few - if not the only - country in the world where the main airports were shut down for a week causing much distress and chaos. And don't forget that the PAD previously shut down some provincial airports in the South leaving tourists stranded and forced to take unsafe bus journeys to Bangkok.

Who is to say that it wn't happen again, if the PAD don't get their way? Or maybe it will be the red shirt's turn this time.

IMHO it is far too early to predict a peaceful outcome to the movement for a Democrat led government.

[londonthai]

southern airports, as we have seen in aygust, can have problems as well - not only bangkok.

it's unlikely that many of the thai international airports will close at this same time. The safest being chang mai and utapao (military grounds).

as you are in pattaya you at the door of utapao and close to BKK and DMN - if not one than the other airline will still fly. Otherwise it's a detour from thailand to kuala lumphur or singapore

[marshbags]

Telling the folks to sit tight before they book their flights... the reds could start getting their ass out in a big way before long

You can be sure they will not be doing anything peacefully, if past actions are anything to go by.

Just to kick things off for you.............................. courtesy of The Nation, breaking news.

Red shirt crowds to hold mass rally on December 28

The red shirt crowds will hold a mass rally at Sanam Luang on December 28, one day ahead of the policy debate, organiser Veera Musigapong said on Friday.

Veera said he would push for the Democrat-led coalition to dissolve the House right after announcing its policy statement to Parliament.

He said he had no confidence in the Abhisit Vejjajiva government because it had the linkage with the People's Alliance for Democracy.

The Nation

Unquote

marshbags

Edited December 19, 2008 by marshbags

[MyphuketLife]

you have a valid concern, but no one has the answer.... Having them come here and be stuck is a small gamble.

Thailand is in a political nightmare, and well it is possible that the REDS would try and take the airport just like the PAD....

I personally would tell them to come, as BKK is not their only option out of the country....

Also what are the odds that the RED's even try to take the airport? if they do, what are the ods that the army or police won't force them out? if the above two happen what are the odds it happens during the period your family is supposed to fly home?

odds are they will be fine coming and going....

Edited December 19, 2008 by MyphuketLife

[BEENTHEREDONETHAT]

It is a hard question to answer. It depends on the potential visitors situation. If he/she are working or have commitments that put them in a bad spot if they are delayed, I would say wait until things settle down.

If they are retired or in a position for an additional week or two that will not matter, I'd say come on ahead, just be ready for possible delay.

Keep in mind the current crisis around the world could cause many other spots to become unsafe and the delay before coming could be considerable.

[southerndown]

Both my adult daughters and their partners are due to visit me next year. I also have an old friend who has already booked his ticket for himself, wife and kids to come and visit me in Pattaya next year.

The question is: is it safe, and can I give them reasonable assurances that they will be able to fly home at the end of their holiday?

All my intended visitors have jobs back in the UK and mortgages to pay, and it would be a major problem if any of them got stuck here and were unable to return home on time.

OK – anywhere you go in the world there are risks, and we cannot protect ourselves from unforeseen emergencies and local happenings which we may get caught up in.

But right now I do not feel I can give them the necessary assurances about holidaying in Thailand.

Maybe over the next few weeks the situation may change and the country might start to become more stable. But right now – no way.

What do you think?

There is no country in the world that is gaurenteed "safe". New York city loves to talk about how it is now being tough on crime, but if you look at the figures more people are still being mugged/assaulted/robbed in New York city daily than in Bamgkok (yes, the population there is higher, I know). There are streets in San Diego where you can be shot for not wearing the "color of the day", i.e. wearing a red shirt of blue shirt day. O.K., that may only apply to those that are in the 'gang banger" group, but it is a fact.

As for being "stuck" in country, the only place where I have been stuck for political reasons was in the U.K., where I spent an unwanted 24 hours delay due to the customs workers staging a "work to rule" at Heathrow airport. I landed at 8:30 a.m. and waited on the plane until 13:30 on the taxiway. This was when many U.K. unions were trying to bring down Maggie Thacher (aka baggy Maggie). Due to their strike (I'm sorry their "work to rule") we couldn't go through customs for over 4 hours because the building was too full. Fire safety rules.

I missed my connecting 12:30 flight, and had to stay in london until the next day.

My point is, Thailand is far from perfect, but so is anyplace. And Thailand is still safer and less crime ridden than mainly places in the world.

So would I tell my parents (for example) to come to Thailand for a vacation? Yes, I would....I wouldn't lie to them about the problems, but I would tell them there are still many places in Thailand where you can have a good time at a decent price.

Just stay out of Pattaya and Phuket. Too many farangs f**king the place up.

Come off it. Thailand is 7th most dangerous place in the world. op should read economist website, timesonline and wikipaedia. not all thaivisa posters are that credible and i will never understand why they post such misledaing posts or who they really are.

[lodesafun]

I don't find this question hard to answer.

I would say come. the airports closing again are a slim chance, with the havoc caused last time Nobody wants that again.

But if it did happen as last time you were only stranded here if you could only get out using the ticket you came in on. a Train south, 31 hrs and a new ticket departing from singapore got the folks that HAD to be home that I know home in time.

the odds that the airport will be closed again are long and i would'nt have a second thought about it.

Thailand is overall still one of the safest places I know of.

But I'm noone who would Really KNOW absolutly.... who does. but if your looking for opinions this is mine.

[Priceless]

Come off it. Thailand is 7th most dangerous place in the world. op should read economist website, timesonline and wikipaedia. not all thaivisa posters are that credible and i will never understand why they post such misledaing posts or who they really are.

You made the same claim on another thread (in the Thailand News clippings forum). I asked you there for a source for this claim, but you (understandably) chose not to come back and supply one.

/ Priceless

PS I note that you have been a ThaiVisa member for all of five weeks. How long have you lived in Thailand?

[Ricardo]

Come off it. Thailand is 7th most dangerous place in the world. op should read economist website, timesonline and wikipaedia. not all thaivisa posters are that credible and i will never understand why they post such misledaing posts or who they really are.

Maybe we're misleading because we actually live here, and post based on our on-the-spot real-life experience, rather than believing everything we might read in the alarmist international media, who make their money by exaggerating sometimes, to enthrall or excite their customers ?

Perhaps we're all being paid by the TAT ? (NB to self ... this week's cheque is delayed again !)

Personally I feel safer here, than when I'm back in the UK, and having travelled & worked in Africa & the Middle-East, there is simply no way that I would count Thailand as being as dangerous as you believe. But I could be wrong.

[lioness]

No one can guarantee anything but if it were my friends and family I would say to them to come.

As for Thailands being listed in the top 10 most dangerous places in the world, ( one of the UK papers, can't remember which one ) well I can only assume this is written up by someone reading of events and not actually living here. For those of us who do reside in Thailand, life goes on as normal.

[DP25]

You made the same claim on another thread (in the Thailand News clippings forum). I asked you there for a source for this claim, but you (understandably) chose not to come back and supply one.

/ Priceless

PS I note that you have been a ThaiVisa member for all of five weeks. How long have you lived in Thailand?

I remember reading an article that claimed the same thing a while back. It was based upon an anonymous internet poll on a UK newspaper website.

[britmaveric]

Safe? Yes

Stuck? No guarantee

[wensiensheng]

My brother in law and a friend of his are coming in the first week of Jan. Why not? At the very worst, maybe they are delayed going back by a few days because they can't be bothered to go to KL or Singapore and get a fllight from there. So what? The world isn't going to stop revolving just because they are here a few more days. OK, they are fairly self sufficient, but if my elderly mother was coming, I'd say the same thing.

Try getting off the isleand of Jersey when there's fog!!! Sometimes there are thousands of people delayed for a day or two. Inconvenient, but a serious problem....I think not

[bangkokboro]

No one can guarantee anything but if it were my friends and family I would say to them to come.

As for Thailands being listed in the top 10 most dangerous places in the world, ( one of the UK papers, can't remember which one ) well I can only assume this is written up by someone reading of events and not actually living here. For those of us who do reside in Thailand, life goes on as normal.

I agree lived in BKK for 5 years now around all the crazy places for a night out like nana and after hours only trouble i have ever seen is with tourists thinking its spain.

[mommysboy]

No one can guarantee anything but if it were my friends and family I would say to them to come.

As for Thailands being listed in the top 10 most dangerous places in the world, ( one of the UK papers, can't remember which one ) well I can only assume this is written up by someone reading of events and not actually living here. For those of us who do reside in Thailand, life goes on as normal.

I agree lived in BKK for 5 years now around all the crazy places for a night out like nana and after hours only trouble i have ever seen is with tourists thinking its spain.

I've never felt unsafe, but check whether travel insurance covers you and don't go south or you could get yer ead chopped off, don't hang around gov't buildings or you could get a hand grenade lobbed at you, and don't eat the food, drink the water, overstay yer visa, or consort with any of the locals for fear of disease.

Apart from that, chocks away!!!

[duncaw]

I wouldn't advise people to visit but that would be more about exchange rates than other factors.

[Chaimai]

There are no guarantees anywhere.

For the alternatives are:-

(a) Hide under the bed until all the bad things in the world have gone away (be prepared for a long wait!) or,

( Get on with your life, taking prudent advice about travel situations. In the case of Thailand the decision is do I go or not ? Once you are here there is little or no risk to disruption to your holiday. If you can't get either in or out (I share the view that the airport occupation is unlikely to be repeated) then airlines give you the option of re-booking or taking a refund - an earlier poster quoted one route out, and there are others.

My choice ? - Get on with your life visit the people and places in Thailand that you want to - and enjoy your vacation !

Edited December 30, 2008 by Chaimai

[duncaw]

This dubious statistic about Thailand being the Xth most dangerous place in the world gets trotted out by the UK press fairly regularly.

Usually it's based on somebody looking at the number of UK nationals who die in any given country over the course of the year, possibly divided by the number of UK nationals who visit or live in that country during the same period.

Thailand will be fairly high on any such list as it includes deaths by natural causes as well as unnatural causes. Would suspect that other "dangerous" tourist destinations on the same list (and possibly ranked more dangerous than Thailand) would be Spain, France and USA.

Thailand's UK expat population has a fairly high proportion of retirees which could skew the statistics further.