Where to go instead of Bangkok?
 

I am arriving in Bangkok on November 4th. I was supposed to stay there for 3 nights but it's not looking like a good idea right now. My initial itinerary was the following:

Bangkok: 3 nights
Penang: 4 nights
Singapore: 4 nights
Krabi/Koh Lanta/Koh Phi Phi: 12 nights
Bangkok: 2 nights

I tried changing my flight to arrive in Kuala Lumpur but Qatar Airways is asking for an insane amount of money so that's not going to happen. I have a few options that I'm considering in the event things get worse in Bangkok (and it looks like they will) and I decide to skip my first 3 nights. All my hotels/flights are booked and have been paid for so I'd rather not change anything except for the first 3 nights in Bangkok. Here are my options:

1 (Cheapest/easiest option): When I land in Bangkok, get a taxi to Pattaya (kinda looks seedy but better than a flooded Bangkok?) or Hua Hin for 3 nights. I could then come back to the Bangkok airport after 3 nights for my flight to Penang that I already paid for on Air Asia. The only thing I'm worried about is the roads to/from the airport becoming flooded.

2 (Slightly more expensive): When I land in Bangkok, get directly on a flight to Kuala Lumpur for 3 nights. It would be easy/cheap to get to Penang from there on Air Asia.

Are there any other good options worth considering? As my trip is coming up very soon, any help would be greatly appreciated. I'm pretty calm about the situation but since this will be my parents' first trip to Asia, they're starting to freak out a little bit lol.

Thanks!

Bkk. Air Asia - Penang 7 nights. Back on track.
In the event Bkk is still in turmoil !!
Extend Krabi/Koh Lanta/Koh Phi Phi: 12 nights - 14 nights

Get a return flight BKK-CNX connecting upon arrival at BKK... assuming you can find any tix... seems like lots of people in Bangkok are heading to Chiang Mai.

Thanks but did you read my post? I can't head to Chiang Mai when I need to go to Penang/Singapore.

Can't imagine taking my parents to Pattaya!
 

The OP seems to say he is taking this trip with his parents. Pattaya is not an option. It is more than a little seedy. Hua Hin is a pleasant and easy to get to choice.

Alternately, you could fly to Phuket and fly onwards from Phuket to Malaysia. This would save transit time.

:confused: !

I wasn't replying to you lol. Sorry if it was rude. I was just thinking that it's kinda pointless to fly all the way north to Chiang Mai when my destination is going to be Penang. I'd rather go somewhere south.

Did you read our post? Get a RETURN ticket BKK-CNX... meaning, land in BKK, catch a flight to CNX, spend your three nights in Chiang Mai, catch a return flight to BKK in time to catch your flight to Penang. Much like your option #1 to travel by taxi to and from Pattaya (which is definitely seedy), except in this case you're flying to and from Chiang Mai.

Anyway. It was just a suggestion, with the thought that you'd probably find CNX to be something quite different (and way better) than Pattaya... after all, it's only a 60-90 minute flight, not much different than the drive to Pattaya.

I would not plan on Pattaya--besides being a cesspool at the best of times, I wouldn't count on land routes remaining unflooded in that direction. (or from BKK, in any direction--BKK may end up an "island" or could end up closing. I also wouldn't count on accessing Hua Hin overland either.)

Inbound: Since your destination is southbound, I would not go to Chiang Mai (which everybody else fleeing Bangkok is doing). In fact, I personally would not stick around in Thailand and would book one-way flights from BKK to KUL, refundable (or if you can get cheap, even nonrefundable if you are willing to potentially eat cost). Scheduled so that you have only around 3-ish hours at BKK airport for connection purposes. Scenarios:

1) Bangkok remains a viable place to visit for 3 days. Keep your original plans and get a refund on the extra tickets (or eat, if cheapies).

2) Bangkok city is nonviable but BKK airport remains open. Qatar refuses to change your routing. Invoke the BKK-KUL tickets, and head to Malaysia immediately. There is plenty to choose from between KL, Melacca, Teman Negara park, etc. for 3 days, very easy to get overland to Penang, then pick up the trip in Penang as scheduled. Try to get a refund on the BKK-Penang tickets (though little chance from Air Asia), otherwise eat the cost--which likely wasn't that much to begin with if it was Air Asia.

3) Bangkok city is nonviable and BKK airport closes. In this case, Qatar will have to change your routing, have it to KUL. Get the extra BKK-KUL tickets refunded. Same result if BKK airport doesn't close, but Qatar changes policy to allow a re-reroute. In the event of a BKK airport closure during your scheduled original BKK-Penang flight on Air Asia, Air Asia should be giving refunds or credits (which you may have to fight for/wait a long time for).

The return date through BKK is just too far out to know, so that will likely have to be dealt with separately and while you are traveling. Certainly, if worst case happens and BKK airport is not functioning for your return, you should have options for a connecting reroute.

Contingency plans cost money but consider it an investment in being able to carry out most of your holiday intact. Understand that at some point, you may be ponying up some extra cash, and cannot be made completely "whole" financially though you should certainly try with your airlines. C'est la vie.

I know you were not replying to me. I guess i should have explained what mr&mrs has so politely replied. ;)

I disagree about Pattaya. It is a good option and closer to BKK than Hua Hin. Can get there for $30-$35 by taxi from BKK.

Jomtien area is more of a traditional beach area. Might be a good choice.

Some good choices in Pattaya would be the Sheraton/Royal Cliff area and the new Hilton at the Central Festival mall is very nice. There are also some nice quiet places in the Naklua area.

I would take option 2 and fly to KL immediately, you can easy kill 2 days/3nights there. If you choose HuaHin or Pattaya its just another beach option where you later on will anyway spent quite some time.

Another option would be to fly direct to SiemReap in Cambodia from BKK and have look at AngorWat. This would be a typical 2d/3n destination. Its an 1-2 hours flight from BKK. Return to BKK afterwards and follow your original itinerary.

We're probably going to go to KL. The flights are pretty cheap and it makes sense to go there since our next stop is Penang.

I went to Siem Reap last year and I would love to go back and show my parents the sights but I just checked flights and it would cost about 300$ per person. Yikes!

KL is a good choice... we enjoyed it quite a bit the last time we went. Where will you be staying?

Good trains and monorail. Some very nice malls if you like shopping or need to get out of the heat. But you might want to plan a daytrip outside of the city center -- three days can seem a long time there. Also, if you're thinking of doing Petronas Tower, suggest you get your tickets in advance to avoid standing in long lines.

Hi, we're not sure yet. Maybe the Traders Hotel. I stayed at the Maya Hotel last year and I liked it. It was close to the Petronas Towers. How can we get our tickets in advance for the towers?

You live in Bangkok right? From what I've read this morning, it seems the city centre is better off than expected. Is the worst over or is there still a risk of flooding in the city? Maybe I should stay in BKK instead of fleeing to KL. Ah, too many decisions to make!