So I have been coming to Thailand (Pattaya) twice a year now for the last 3-4 years but was not around in 2010 for the whole election/coup scenario which played out. Seeing as how my next scheduled trip will bring me back in late February of 2014, I am curious as to if I should just overall avoid the place. With the elections slated for Feb 2 and the military not having ruled out a coup, it could be a bad time. I am just looking for some general opinions on if you think the political situation will effect my current holiday plans. Right now my initial thought is to continue as planned but I had considered changing plans to goto Angeles City in Phils. Do any of you guys on the ground out there have any advise? Thanks in advance.

Unless you are watching the news, you wouldn't know anything was going on when you are here in Pattaya. Just another day. Luckily.

The biggest issues will be around transportation in and around Bangkok. Other than that, same same here!

Now, with the floods, we ran out of beer! 55555

I always try to get out of BKK as soon as humanly possible and do go the private car route - a service from Pattaya sends a car to the BKK airport to pick me up and shuttle me home. So I don't think there will be much trouble with that. I guess what I'm asking is, if you were around for the 2006/2010 situations, did it effect Pattaya at all? I would obviously be very disappointed if I showed up in Patts and there were riots or hell being more realistic, if the girls working the bars/go-go's stayed at home during the 'unrest'.

During the last coup there was no impact whatsoever on the day to day or night to night business in Pattaya.

I was here and unless you watched the news, you barely knew what was going on. The reds do hold rallies here from time to time. But they are somewhat small and only last a day or so. The biggest one was on Suk near Tesco and Big C, across the street in an empty lot.

But, this is Thailand. Ya never know. Highly doubtful there will be any problems though....IMHO.

My advice to you is to come any time you like.

Promise you will notice nothing wrong....being in bed with the bar girl.

Wish you a safe trip and.....Happy Endings.

Perfect, sounds like I shall proceed as planned. The real losers in all of this will of course be the girls of Angeles City, as they will yet again not have the pleasure of my company haha. Thanks for the advice guys.

I live in Bang Chang Rayong I did not know about the riots until I read about them in Thaivisa

Nobody here seems to give it a second thought

We have a street of bars in Bang Chang with a real nice English themed pub at one end called the Camel the girls say it's very quite at the moment so you could get a bargain with a bit of bartering some nice lookers too only 40 mins from Pattaya

I was here and unless you watched the news, you barely knew what was going on. The reds do hold rallies here from time to time. But they are somewhat small and only last a day or so. The biggest one was on Suk near Tesco and Big C, across the street in an empty lot.

But, this is Thailand. Ya never know. Highly doubtful there will be any problems though....IMHO.

I agree that Pattaya is largely unaffected, but I remember them taking over the elevated road leading out to the ASEAN conference and causing its cancellation and a bunch of nervous body guards for heads of state.

ASEAN Summit and Related Summits have been postponed as thousands of anti-government "red shirt" protestors held Saturday morning rallies outside the Royal Cliff Beach Resort Hotel, the venue of the 14th ASEAN summit and Related summits.

The Chinese premier, New Zealand prime minister, Japanese prime minister and South Korean president could not leave their hotels Saturday morning because the hotels were blocked by the red-shirted protesters.

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-04/11/content_11168414.htm

http://www.pattayamail.com/820/

Assuming the Airport stays open...