Asalha Bucha Day 2014 - July 11 - and the Consulates

[MrWorldwide]

Just wanted to flag this for those planning a visa run in early July - a holiday for Buddhist Lent Day the following Monday might catch some out.

http://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/thailand/

That page doesn't list Buddhist Lent Day - nor does the Wikipedia page, but the Singaporean Consulate seems keen for a holiday in lieu of Saturday's 'Holy Day':

http://www.thaiembassy.sg/about-rte/opening-hours-and-official-holidays-of-royal-thai-embassy-singapore

Not sure how many other Consulates observe the 'holiday in lieu' but it might be wise to check before booking flights/hotels etc.

http://wattampainenglish.com/apecial-events-main/asalha-puja-day-buddhist-lent-2012.html

[KhunBENQ]

Thai Embassy Berlin, Germany

Closed on Fri, July 11 AND Mo, July 14.

So I guess the other consulates and embassies wordwide will do the same.

(as all government offices in Thailand of course)

http://www.thaiembassy.de/de/feiertage

Edited June 29, 2014 by KhunBENQ

[ubonjoe]

The best list of Thai holidays is this one. Public Holidays 2014

[KhunBENQ]

Berlin closed:

http://www.thaiembassy.de/de/feiertage

London closed:

http://www.thaiembassyuk.org.uk/?q=node/36

"Substitute Buddhist Lent Day"

Paris closed anyway

Bern, Switzerland, closed:

http://thaiembassybern.org/en/embassy-holiday.php

Vienna and Rome do not show 14th as a substitute.

But I would not bet on an embassy being open on July 14th.

Edited June 29, 2014 by KhunBENQ

[LuckyLew]

Good post, i can just see a lot of people on tour groups and visa runs to vientiane being caught out

Sent from my GT-N5100 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[KhunBENQ]

Vientiane website is down

And in general: avoid travel on July 14th.

Very heavy traffice due to the "long" weekend.

I learned my lesson last year.

600 km in 12 (!) hours.

Edited June 29, 2014 by KhunBENQ

[MrWorldwide]

Vientiane website is down

And avoid travel on July 14th.

Very heavy traffice due to the "long" weekend.

I learned my lesson last year.

600 km in 12 (!) hours.

Sounds like an excellent weekend for that trip to Jakarta that I've been putting off for the last two months. At least when I'm stuck in that hideous traffic I can take solace in the knowledge that I may have been just as unhappy in Bangkok or Patts. Jakarta-KL-Penang - should take care of 8-10 days nicely.