Job Discussion Forums

[wonderingjoesmith]

I am trying to get away from all the noise and other inconveniences of Chinese Spring Festival holiday that is approaching scarily. The recent news of Bangkok unrests have discouraged me and I have sought a trip to Cambodia. The poor law and order in that nation, however, has caused me a degree of anxiety as well.

Haven't given up on Thailand. How and where on the end of January and beginning of February is my question. Not asking for much; hotel with food near the sea and some gym, pool and tennis court. And above all safety.

[plumpy nut]

Don't overblow the unrest in Thailand. You might be inconvenienced a little if you go to Bangkok, but your perfectly safe there. Safer than a city in the USA.

[EFL Educator]

Hello there,

You will be safe anywhere in Thailand....no worries....Good luck!

[sigmoid]

Well, I have to disagree to some degree here.

Things in Bangkok are likely to get much worse starting this Monday, 13 January. You may be more than slightly inconvenienced.

In addition to that, Phuket and Pattaya are well known high crime areas with attacks on and ripoffs of tourists increasing recently. Clashes between the two main political factions occurred in Chiang Mai just a few days ago. Plus, I think it is "haze season" up there now, isn't it?

On the other hand, if you leave Bangkok immediately and go to some less popular resort area or island, you will probably be fine. Also, you will get better and better rates on the exchange rate for the baht (currently 33 to $US 1 and falling) as the situation worsens.

Anyway, whatever you decide, keep an eye on the news in the coming weeks.

[damn_my_eyes]

So long as you exercise basic common sense I think you'll be pretty safe anywhere across Asia.
I've spent about five years traveling and working all over Asia and never felt in danger in the way I often did on a night out back home in the UK.

[steki47]

I was under the impression that the protests are limited to specific neighborhoods in Bangkok. I went to MBK early Sunday morning in December and as I was leaving the traffic was slow due to people marching in the streets. Eventually my taxi turned off the road (I forget which) and the traffic cleared up quickly. Tuesday, the BTS was down and traffic was extra horrible.

While I was in Pattaya, a cop was killed on the 26th. Very bad, but my point being that I was not in any danger at any time.

Not sure what will happen in the future.

[mw182006]

I fly into BKK on the 15th, and as of the other day added a leg to Krabi. I'd rather not take my chances with the chaos and hope things will have calmed down a bit by the end of my trip in mid-Feb. Hopefully I can spend a couple days checking out all BKK has to offer!

[sigmoid]

Best of luck:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/travelnews/10568743/Bangkok-map-steers-tourists-clear-of-shut-down-protests.html

[plumpy nut]

Right now if you read this message OP make a reservation for the Atlanta Hotel Bangkok for when you arrive. You can get the information to do that off of their website. The hotel is directly off of the Sky Train so you can go straight from the airport to the hotel via the Sky Train. Because otherwise the roads are being blocked. Another option is the Nana Hotel bordello(slightly pricey, but still reasonable at least for one night). If you do get a reservation there PM me and I will tell you exactly where it is at from the Sky Train.

[wonderingjoesmith]

Thank you all for the contributions and help offered. Due to the reports about the unstable situation in the country, I have decided not to travel there or travel anywhere in the near vicinity to China where demonstrations are only organized by the governing party and where people are most often unmoved by events around them. Peace seems to be a relative term.

[Yasuke]

Any updates on the situation on the ground now that the protest leader has been killed?