Thailand Flood FAQ

Thai Travel News Thank you for your ongoing support during this very difficult time for Thailand and Bangkok.  The team at Thai Travel News has truly appreciated all of your kind wishes and concern.

Well, so much has changed since the last FAQ that I completed.  I looked at it before and felt quite astounded at how the situation has managed to change so quickly and suddenly. At that time, all indications were that Bangkok was going to avoid flooding.

So, here’s an updated FAQ for concerned travellers who may be thinking about travel to Thailand or have a tour booked.

Should I postpone my holiday to Bangkok?

The answer to that question depends on when you have booked.  If you have booked any time within the next two weeks and you are a first-time holidaymaker to Thailand, I would strongly consider cancelling out of the inconveniences faced in Bangkok at the present time.  Right now, traffic is quite unpredictable due to road closures, and some foods are difficult to buy, and the sight of flood barrier protection along the streets does have a tendency to make travellers a little anxious.  Also, a number of tourist attractions have closed due to the flooding.  Many are still open, but the extent of the flooding is yet to be seen and its effects on those which are open.

If you can postpone and it doesn’t cost too much financially, that’s fine.  I personally believe that it’s best Thailand is seen looking her best, not when she’s in the middle of a crisis.

If you have non-refundable tickets, don’t throw them away.  There’s hundreds of places where you can go which aren’t affected by flooding.

The most logical and nearest is Pattaya, situated about 90 minutes to the south of Bangkok’s Suvarnabumi Airport.

Travellers with non-refundable tickets should  consider finding alternatives to Bangkok, the most logical being Pattaya, situated 124 km towards the south of Bangkok, costing just 124 baht with the Airport Pattaya Bus Company (http://www.airportpattayabus.com). For travellers who want a private car to pick them up at the airport, we offer private transfers fromm Suvarnabhumi to your hotel in Pattaya for $47.08 one way.  Click here for more information  or for the return route from Pattaya to Bangkok, click here. Alternatively, you can chat with us through the website.

Thai Travel News and Agoda has the complete range of rooms available, from as low as $14 a night, to five-star luxury villas, and everything in between.  To see our current promotions in Pattaya, including free nights, upgrades and significant discounts, click here.

Other alternative destinations include Koh Samet and Koh Chang along the southeastern coast, or by taking a bus in the other direction in the west, making the three-hour drive toCha-Am and Hua Hin.  All these areas are safe and no problems have been reported, except for some heavy traffic due to the exodus of travellers and residents of Bangkok who have taken the opportunity to escape the floods.

Thai Travel News and Agoda can assist with finding the most suitable accommodation for you.  We are more than happy to chat with you, our Skype ID is – thaitravelnews, and we have just recently added a LiveChat function to our website.  This is monitored at most times, but please accept our apologies if we are unable to respond.  In that case, send us and email and we will respond within a matter of hours.

Will I be able to get from the Airport to Sukhumvit?

There are three routes that travellers can take between the airport and Sukhumvit, or anywhere else in the city.

•  The Expressway –   The majority of this road is above ground.  This road is German designed and features an exellent drainage

  

  The expressway which runs from Suvarnabhumi Airport to the city.

  system.

• Bang Na – Trat Road – this is the back way.  Although it may take a while to reach the airport (maybe, 1 hour), it provides an alternative should travellers find themselves stuck due to flooding.
• Airport Link Railway – This is actually the quickest way to reach the airport from the city.  This above ground rail line operates at a higher level above ground  than the BTS, which should make it completely safe from floodwaters.   Travellers can depart from two stations in the city – Phayathai and Makassan.

Is Phuket Safe?

Absolutely. Phuket is at no danger to flooding.  The current flooding in Bangkok is caused by excessive rainfall in the north of the country.  It’s like a bath that has overfilled.  The simplest way to described it is Bangkok is the Bathroom, while Phuket is the bedroom.  It simply can’t get flooded.

For tourists, the following places ARE safe: Krabi, Koh Samui, Phuket, Hua Hin, Cha Am, Pattaya, Koh Chang, Koh Samet, Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai. 

I heard there was flooding in Krabi.  Is it flooded?

Yes, I wrote an article about that in mid-September.  There was some heavy rain that caused flash flooding.  That unrelated to the current flooding situation affecting Bangkok now.  Krabi is safe.

Is …. Flooded?

If there is any place that I haven’t mentioned? Check out this map.  This should help.

Thailand Flood Map

Is …. Road closed?

There have been many road closures around the city.  I try to report them all when I can.  However, there’s this map.  This should give you a basic guide, even if you don’t understand Thai!

Map of Road Closures Caused by Flooding

Which hotels are safe?

Bangkok’s five star hotels, especially those near the river, have gone to great lengths to protect guests.  Read this article.

I can tell you now, that every hotel has safety procedures in place.  Knowing people who work in the Thai hospitality industry and speaking to the stakeholders, the utmost priority is placed on the safety and welfare of guests.

Of course, if you ever find yourself in a situation where you feel unsafe, don’t feel ashamed to get yourself out of that situation.  I do it with taxis all the time!

I’m passing in transit and was wondering if there was a chance that I would be stranded and they shut down the airport?

This is an article on the airport’s flood protection mechanisms that are set in place. The amount of information that I have heard about Suvarnabhumi staying open, I am  convinced that the airport is not under any threat.

IF…. IF! You were flying into Bangkok and the airport was closed, your plane would be diverted.  No airline wants to have their aircraft stuck on the ground, as this costs money.  Ultimately, IF! (worst case scenario, I don’t foresee it happening), Flights would be shifted to U-Tapao Airport in Chon Buri, near Pattaya.

Is Paragon/Centralworld/MBK Open?

Yes, all major shopping centres within the inner suburbs are open at this stage.  Some of the suburban department stores, in the north, east and west of the city have been closed due to flooding.  Shopping centres would most likely remain open until floodwaters were right out the front.

If you have any further questions, please feel free to send me a message on LiveChat, which can be found on the bottom right of the screen.  Otherwise, send me an email or add me to Skype, and I would be more than happy to answer any specific questions.

Don’t forget, 2 million Thai’s have had their livelihoods affected in some way or another in what has been Thailand’s worst flooding in almost 60 years.   If you would like to donate, click on the following link and find out more about how you can help Thai flood victims.