Bailing out short in KUL (BKK unrest related)

[Shelf]

SWMBO and I are off to BKK/HKT for an anniversary in a couple of weeks. SWMBO is getting a bit twitchy as a result of the various articles in the media.

I hope for everyone's sake the situation is resolved peacefully.

 

[JohnK]

What had been planned in Bangkok (>6 months ago) would mean staying and travelling around the protest sites in the city. If things stay as they are now, perhaps it will be ok, but the situation may deteriorate in a months time. No one knows. I also have rather unadventurous travel partners.

I stupidly booked HI Express a couple of weeks ago.

My girlfriend arrived about 9:00pm Sunday night from Chiang Mai. I got in a few hours later. Taxi driver at BKK airport was panicking as there had been a bombing earlier in the day. Took some convincing but all Ok.

Both of us were dropped off about a block away. All OK next day.

 

[Programme]

I just had a look at ITA Matrix to check out KUL/BKK airfares & putting in a random date of 18 March it comes up with AUD63.00 for MH796 2155/2300 based on the sales city of KUL booked in "O" class

Matrix - ITA Software

If you're overnighting in BKK I would just stay at the Novotel BKK Airport who allow you to checkin any time & give you a 24 hour stay so you could checkin at midnight on a Tue & checkout midnight on Wed. You could do some kind of day tour in and around BKK but I'd keep well away from the protest area & be safely indoors by nightfall.

I think I'll take your recommendation of buying a separate ticket KUL / BKK and doing a quick turnaround at BKK Airport. After looking at all the options it looks like the one that makes the most sense, and closure of the airport looks rather unlikely at present.

The flight home is QF24, which leaves at 5pm or thereabouts. So there isn't a requirement to stay overnight in BKK. If I take MH, hopefully they can interline baggage with QF and check me in for QF24 as well.

Thanks for your help. Are you a travel agent by any chance?

SWMBO and I are off to BKK/HKT for an anniversary in a couple of weeks. SWMBO is getting a bit twitchy as a result of the various articles in the media.

I hope for everyone's sake the situation is resolved peacefully.

Thailand is a fairly big country and if I were headed for HKT, I wouldn't worry at all. Central Bangkok on the other hand...

I stupidly booked HI Express a couple of weeks ago.

My girlfriend arrived about 9:00pm Sunday night from Chiang Mai. I got in a few hours later. Taxi driver at BKK airport was panicking as there had been a bombing earlier in the day. Took some convincing but all Ok.

Both of us were dropped off about a block away. All OK next day.

I'm actually booked at the Mercure/Ibis, which is even closer to the protest than the HI Express - I think it may actually be inside it!

Good to hear that all was OK.

 

[Shelf]

I'm not worried about the HKT portion of the trip.

I guess we can re-assess the BKK component closer to the date.

 

[BensAdventures]

Bangkok Shutdown shut down | Bangkok Post: news

Looks like things are going to calm down for a while at least! Good timing to me too, I'll be right near Asok in 9 days. The political troubles are far from over though!

 

[Programme]

Bangkok Shutdown shut down | Bangkok Post: news

I read this article too, and hopefully it means that things around the city centre return to something closer to normality. Maybe it means that there's no need to bail out at KUL either!

 

[ozbeachbabe]

I think I'll take your recommendation of buying a separate ticket KUL / BKK and doing a quick turnaround at BKK Airport. After looking at all the options it looks like the one that makes the most sense, and closure of the airport looks rather unlikely at present.

The flight home is QF24, which leaves at 5pm or thereabouts. So there isn't a requirement to stay overnight in BKK. If I take MH, hopefully they can interline baggage with QF and check me in for QF24 as well.

Thanks for your help. Are you a travel agent by any chance?

Many moons ago yes, before working for a GDS & since then have had various other aviation industry related roles.

 

[ethernet]

Just returned from BKK.
My HK friend said stay away from Victory Monument, and avoid Sundays. (and probably Lupini Park) and TV stations. Buses to seaside destinations outside BKK were full , and advisable to book ahead. If you need to move hotels or get out, leave before 11am.

Said public transport should be fine, as that is what the demonstrators use to get around. But it also means 4-6pm is packed/sardine on MRT and BTS. Huge queue for the ticket machines.

The emergent problem is not the govt but the rice farmers. Seems some stored rice was not stored properly/ rats /birds/ rotten, packed too high and no cameras. Attempts to sell sight unseen will be a problem. Therefore some real money has been lost. Seems some rice substitution has been going on too.

When govt + rice becomes an issue, things will reheat.

BTW BKK airport / KING duty free really hiked their prices like 1100bt for Cointreau, so Dubai is where you should buy. Use the airport staff cafe on the floor where you catch the busses- Magic something?

 

[Masonic Phantom]

Just returned from BKK.
My HK friend said stay away from Victory Monument, and avoid Sundays. (and probably Lupini Park) and TV stations. Buses to seaside destinations outside BKK were full , and advisable to book ahead. If you need to move hotels or get out, leave before 11am.

Said public transport should be fine, as that is what the demonstrators use to get around. But it also means 4-6pm is packed/sardine on MRT and BTS. Huge queue for the ticket machines.

The emergent problem is not the govt but the rice farmers. Seems some stored rice was not stored properly/ rats /birds/ rotten, packed too high and no cameras. Attempts to sell sight unseen will be a problem. Therefore some real money has been lost. Seems some rice substitution has been going on too.

When govt + rice becomes an issue, things will reheat.

BTW BKK airport / KING duty free really hiked their prices like 1100bt for Cointreau, so Dubai is where you should buy. Use the airport staff cafe on the floor where you catch the busses- Magic something?

Wondering about the Grand Hyatt area...any advice??