Unofficial Tourism Poll

[Randy Cornhole]

[seasidesurfer]

Having spent time in Libya, Iraq , Iran ,The Congo and many other less than safe countries the only place I felt unsafe was Nigeria ( Corruption was Total from top to bottom )
So, a few minor problems in Bangkok wouldn't stop my Winter Holiday in HuaHin.

[MartinJ]

Still coming just may not spend as much and spend more time looking at the sun and sleeping at night

but i sure will still have a great time

[BaaBaa.]

Still coming just may not spend as much and spend more time looking at the sun and sleeping at night

but i sure will still have a great time

I'll just be buying Archa beer instead of Singha from the little shop at the end of the soi.

[STEVE G]

Hi Steve G,

I would say you were more then just drunk, can you actually remember the wedding, I know you slept through the reception.
But your dancing was a sight to behold.

See you in December if your around

Hi Kev, it is you! I remember the wedding very well; I saw the video when we got back to Hua Hin, and I remember you being a bit of a hit on the dance floor as well.
I’ll be in Hua Hin and Issan over Christmas and New Year so see you around.
(Sorry everyone else, a bit off topic.)

[margaretcarnes]

Certainly won't be put off at all by the fairly localised problems in Bangkok, and won't be put off staying over there rather than chase straight down to HH. Shame theres no rail link from Swampy to HuaLampong though.
As an earlier poster rightly pointed out, we spent years here as sitting ducks for the IRA. At least in Bangkok we know where to avoid.
Why is it always the package tourists who seem to cancel? Surely they are safer and more cosseted than others?

[BaaBaa.]

Why is it always the package tourists who seem to cancel? Surely they are safer and more cosseted than others?

Probably because they've got other options. Most of us have got ties (Thais ) or are frequent visitors so have more insight than the Embassys "Only travel if absolutely necessary" BS warnings.

[Irish Kev]

Hi Steve,

Need to get hold of your e-mail address, might try Shayne to see if he has it.

Regards
Kev

[lomuamart]

My wife and I went up BKK on the day a "State of Emergency" was declared there. She was watching on Thai telly and I could see it all over the internet.
"Shall we go?"
"You need The Embassy letter"
"OK. Suppose we'd better stay away from Government House". I never found out where that was

A few years ago, we were up in Pai (northern Thailand) and I overheard some travelers discussing whether they should go to Samui and islands for the parties. I pointed out that the "troubles" were just a little bit further down the road. The British Embassy's website was just stipulating to be careful "down south". HH was included in that generalisation. Any place south of BKK was. Rubbish
On another note, the only three provinces I wouldn't visit now are Pattani, Yala and Narthiwat (sic). Shame really because I used to have great fun in Sungai Kolok.
Then again, maybe I've been looking at advisory warnings too much?

[STEVE G]

Hi Steve,

Need to get hold of your e-mail address, might try Shayne to see if he has it.

Regards
Kev

I'll send it by PM.

[migrant]

Leaving in 6 days, 9 hours, 49 minutes, 32 seconds, 33, 32, 31, 30........

[sandman67]

Lomu

have any farangs actually been targeted down south? I thought the militias just took pops at the authorities.....?

The only UK Foreign Office travel advisories I ever paid heed or credence to were ones for Kashmir and Algeria...which are generally best heeded. I always think that they are written by some grey suited grey souled muppet in a rainy Whitehall office and treat them that way. If I had taken them seriously Id be a lot less well traveled than I am, and would have missed out on some real experiences.

Otherwise Ive always taken advice from people who have already traveled to where Im intending to go....useful indeed when Columbia and Haiti were two I visited......

... shame the package tourist donkeys dont seem to do the same.

weird thing is my mum said last night theres not much in the UK news about all these troubles in Bangkok.

[Jaime]

Why is it always the package tourists who seem to cancel? Surely they are safer and more cosseted than others?

Probably because they've got other options.

Exactly - why take a chance on having your holiday disrupted when you can just go somewhere else!?

[JAJA]

We are booked to leave on 17 December. We booked and paid for airfares several months ago so paying to get there is not an issue. The political situation doesn’t worry me. The prospect of recession/depression does worry me. I think we are going to have to revise downwards our budget for the 6 weeks away although the Mrs isn’t willing to listen to what is going on in the world. She says that if I can’t tell her something positive then she doesn’t want to hear it!

[Super Joe]

The political situation doesn’t worry me. The prospect of recession/depression does worry me.

That's how I see it, I don't think you can find the troubles if you tried, ie: it's limited to certain streets and if you get close you will most likely get turned back by police. We went past it in a taxi about 3 weeks back (while it was peaceful) and certain roads and routes were cordoned off.
The recession will be a big blow to tourism for sure.

SJ