Dec 7, 2013, 1:13 pm
Last edit by: aBroadAbroad
This thread is for posting questions and specific news/updates of direct relevance to those traveling in or to the area.
Discussion of underlying and peripheral issues, comparisons to similar past events, and speculation about future conditions
belong in OMNI/PR or the Thai News & Open Discussion Thread. Off-topic posts will be moved or deleted.
Thanks for your assistance.
Discussion of underlying and peripheral issues, comparisons to similar past events, and speculation about future conditions
belong in OMNI/PR or the Thai News & Open Discussion Thread. Off-topic posts will be moved or deleted.
Thanks for your assistance.
Update
13 June 2014:
Curfew has been lifted nationwide.
Travel advisories issued by a number of foreign governments remain in place. Check your country's embassy or consular website for travel advice and updates.
Courts martial have been established for violators of criminal code sections dealing with lèse-majesté, and those covering the broad subject of "national security" (including civilian violators). The NCPO has warned that it will crackdown on anti-coup protests if they do not cease. Visitors are strongly advised to stay away from all political gatherings.
Media gag has been eased, but strict censorship orders are in place, with local press and broadcast outlets reporting only approved content. ISPs have been ordered to monitor social media, and to block disruptive or "negative" content. Accurate and comprehensive information remains difficult to obtain, both in and out of the country. Censorship violations are among those subject to courts martial.
Hotlines for Tourists in Thailand
- TAT Call Centre 1672
- Tourist Police Call Centre 1155
- Traffic Police Call Centre 1197
- BMTA (city bus and van service) Call Centre 1348
- BTS Hotline +66 (0) 2617 6000
- MRT Customer Relations Center +66 (0) 2624 5200
- SRT (train service) Call Centre 1690
- Transport Co., Ltd., (inter-provincial bus service) Call Centre 1490
- AOT (Suvarnabhumi Airport) Call Centre 1722
- Thai Airways International Call Centre +66 (0) 2356 1111
- Bangkok Airways Call Centre 1771
- Nok Air Call Centre 1318
- Thai AirAsia Call Centre +66 (0) 2515 9999
Links to External Information Sources
- Rolling breaking news updates: Bangkok Post Lite Version (might load better than the full site for some users)
- Updates from TAT News: Tourism Authority of Thailand
- Breaking News: Thai PBS
- Latest News from NNT: National News Bureau of Thailand (government public relations)
- Travel blogger Richard Barrow: Thai news twitter feed (ongoing updates)
- Richard Barrow's map: Protest Sites in Bangkok in May 2014 (updated regularly)
- Independent web-based Thai news publication: Prachatai - Coup 2014 (English)
Special thanks to FTer c_9 for initiating this Wikipost
Safety of Travel in Thailand 2014 — Martial Law, Peaceful Military Coup
Mar 6, 2014, 9:05 am
#421
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Tri-State Area
Posts: 4,728
According to Richard Barrow tweet, protestors shutdown Wireless Rd, and were staged in front of the US Embassy. So much for the Oriental Residence [and Conrad across the street] being protest-free!
Guess my next trip scheduled after Songkran in late April will need to relocate back to Grande Centrepoint Ratchadamri?
Guess my next trip scheduled after Songkran in late April will need to relocate back to Grande Centrepoint Ratchadamri?
Mar 6, 2014, 11:04 am
#422
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: BKK
Programs: AA Plat, HH Diamond, SPG Gold
Posts: 2,395
According to Richard Barrow tweet, protestors shutdown Wireless Rd, and were staged in front of the US Embassy. So much for the Oriental Residence [and Conrad across the street] being protest-free!
Guess my next trip scheduled after Songkran in late April will need to relocate back to Grande Centrepoint Ratchadamri?
Guess my next trip scheduled after Songkran in late April will need to relocate back to Grande Centrepoint Ratchadamri?
Mar 6, 2014, 5:59 pm
#423
Join Date: Oct 2012
Programs: UA Mileage Plus, AAdvantage, Southwest, HHonors, National
Posts: 528
Departure time from hotel
I'll be staying at the Millennium Hilton towards the end of this month. Assuming there are still significant protests, how much time should I allow going to the airport? My flight departs at 7:40am and I've currently arranged a car to pick me up at 6am. I'm thinking of changing the pick-up time but not sure how much more time I need.
Mar 6, 2014, 6:28 pm
#424
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Tri-State Area
Posts: 4,728
But keep in mind the airport is quite busy in the morning hours. If you're flying business or first, then Premium/Fast Track will insure no long lines. Otherwise, expect long security lines and possibly long immigration lines.
Leaving by 5:30 am might be safer - normally ride is 35-45 minutes and get breakfast at the airport
Mar 6, 2014, 8:48 pm
#425
FlyerTalk Evangelist
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Location: Bangkok or San Francisco
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I'll be staying at the Millennium Hilton towards the end of this month. Assuming there are still significant protests, how much time should I allow going to the airport? My flight departs at 7:40am and I've currently arranged a car to pick me up at 6am. I'm thinking of changing the pick-up time but not sure how much more time I need.
I make it a rule on an international flight to have the car pick me up 2 1/2 hour before flight time. Your biggest potential delay is not so much traffic as it is Immigration. They can get backed up.
I'd rather spend an hour in the lounge at the airport getting bored than worry about missing a flight because of a demonstration, traffic jam or long lines at Immigration.
Mar 6, 2014, 10:12 pm
#426
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Snooky
Posts: 2,508
As of right now, traffic isn't an issue. Occasionally PDRC will hold a march down one of the streets (saw it on Ploenchit 2 days ago) but that's during the day.
I make it a rule on an international flight to have the car pick me up 2 1/2 hour before flight time. Your biggest potential delay is not so much traffic as it is Immigration. They can get backed up.
I'd rather spend an hour in the lounge at the airport getting bored than worry about missing a flight because of a demonstration, traffic jam or long lines at Immigration.
I make it a rule on an international flight to have the car pick me up 2 1/2 hour before flight time. Your biggest potential delay is not so much traffic as it is Immigration. They can get backed up.
I'd rather spend an hour in the lounge at the airport getting bored than worry about missing a flight because of a demonstration, traffic jam or long lines at Immigration.
Mar 9, 2014, 3:05 am
#427
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The protesters have expanded from Lumpini further into Rajdamri. All southbound lanes are blocked with barricades and vendor stalls. They are allowing 1 northbound lane. That, combined with the flyover blocked for security reasons traffic is suffering rather badly as of right now.
Mar 9, 2014, 8:26 pm
#428
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It almost appears as if someone is listening down in Lumpini. There have been some complaints from locals that the protesters are interfering with them. There is a Korean based group (2000 something) and a Tae Chi group that both meet around KM marker 2.1. The tents have been removed from those spots and the people are back.
A lot of the areas where there was open sewage (literally) have been cleaned up.
Rajdamri is re-opened. That may just have been a Sunday event.
All in all it's a bit better as of this morning. Just crowded.
A lot of the areas where there was open sewage (literally) have been cleaned up.
Rajdamri is re-opened. That may just have been a Sunday event.
All in all it's a bit better as of this morning. Just crowded.
Mar 14, 2014, 7:18 pm
#430
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I get the feeling that this is about to end. PDRC announced that they would no longer be demonstrating in front of Thaksin-connected businesses. There has been almost nightly shootings inside Lumpini (a couple of injuries on Withayu, stray bullets it's assumed) but the PDRC have refused to let the police into the Park to investigate. A few days ago they reversed and said the police can come in. No reports of shooting since then. And no more street marches down Ploenchit.
All this makes me think that there are talks going on behind the scene and both parties want things to stay calm so they can get to a resolution.
I'd still avoid Lumpini at night, but during the day it's OK.
All this makes me think that there are talks going on behind the scene and both parties want things to stay calm so they can get to a resolution.
I'd still avoid Lumpini at night, but during the day it's OK.
Mar 16, 2014, 8:20 pm
#432
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As long as it stays in the "rally" form, no concerns. Yet. It will depend on what happens in any talks.
In the meantime, I've noticed new military kiosks/bunkers on Lang Suan and Sarasin. 3 new ones, in all. Not sure the implication.
Also, since the PDRC let the police into Suan Lum, no new reports of shootings. So all in all it's safer. Still, avoid Lumpini Park at night. If you have to walk up Withayu, do it on the East side of the road.
In the meantime, I've noticed new military kiosks/bunkers on Lang Suan and Sarasin. 3 new ones, in all. Not sure the implication.
Also, since the PDRC let the police into Suan Lum, no new reports of shootings. So all in all it's safer. Still, avoid Lumpini Park at night. If you have to walk up Withayu, do it on the East side of the road.
Mar 18, 2014, 10:24 pm
#433
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No one was injured. This was originally reported as a bomb or grenade near the main entrance to Lumpini Park. Only one went off. Scared a few people, though.
http://www.bangkokpost.com/breakingn...odes-on-rama-4
http://www.bangkokpost.com/breakingn...odes-on-rama-4
Mar 19, 2014, 6:19 pm
#434
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: BKK
Programs: AA Plat, HH Diamond, SPG Gold
Posts: 2,395
Thailand State of Emergency Lifted
Thai Government Lifts State of Emergency Four Days Early
Thailand's government on Tuesday lifted a state of emergency in Bangkok and surrounding areas nearly two months after imposing it to curb anti-government protests, saying that the number of demonstrators has steadily declined.
The government decided to revoke the emergency decree, which expanded the power of security forces, four days before the originally scheduled expiration date after security agencies said the violence had "significantly decreased," said Department of Special Investigation chief Tharit Phengdit.
The government decided to revoke the emergency decree, which expanded the power of security forces, four days before the originally scheduled expiration date after security agencies said the violence had "significantly decreased," said Department of Special Investigation chief Tharit Phengdit.
Mar 20, 2014, 6:13 pm
#435
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For those who have been running off to Pattaya to avoid the safety concerns in Bangkok, we were just informed that there will be a "Red Shirt" gathering in Pattaya this Saturday (22nd).
Also the popcorn gunman has been arrested and confessed to the shooting at Lak Si before the election. He says he was paid by the PDRC to be a guard. There may be some reaction from either side blaming him or blaming the police for obtaining a "confession".
http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/loca...nman-confesses
So it's a good idea to stay alert this weekend.
Also the popcorn gunman has been arrested and confessed to the shooting at Lak Si before the election. He says he was paid by the PDRC to be a guard. There may be some reaction from either side blaming him or blaming the police for obtaining a "confession".
http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/loca...nman-confesses
So it's a good idea to stay alert this weekend.