Honeymoon... Thailand... Would you still go?

rcheltrvel Posted: Jan 06, 2005 12:31 AM

Honeymoon... Thailand... Would you still go?

We are Honeymooning in Thailand and Malaysia in June of 2005. We booked our tickets months ago into Bangkok and out of Phuket. My fiancé thinks it is no big deal, we can still go, even to the beach areas, I am not as enthusiastic. I am worried about disease. Would you still go? Do you think it will be ok in 6 months. Anyone ever been to the beaches of Thailand? If so, do you have any suggestions if we want to avoid going to Phi Phi and Phuket (which are the places we were going to go after Bangkok).

peabody Posted: Jan 06, 2005 12:32 AM

Re: Honeymoon... Thailand... Would you still go?

Posted by rcheltrvel

We are Honeymooning in Thailand and Malaysia in June of 2005. We booked our tickets months ago into Bangkok and out of Phuket. My fiancé thinks it is no big deal, we can still go, even to the beach areas, I am not as enthusiastic. I am worried about disease. Would you still go? Do you think it will be ok in 6 months. Anyone ever been to the beaches of Thailand? If so, do you have any suggestions if we want to avoid going to Phi Phi and Phuket (which are the places we were going to go after Bangkok).

This is a hard decision.

I honestly don't know what I would do, but I think I would still go.

cmastro25 Posted: Jan 06, 2005 12:40 AM

Re: Honeymoon... Thailand... Would you still go?

Honestly, I would talk to your travel agent. The tragedy was so massive that I don't think they would have recovered in 6 months. I know Phuket was pretty hard hit. I don't want to discourage you from going, especially since you are already booked, but you might want to find out more info. You want to make sure you are going to enjoy your time there.

gNi1125 Posted: Jan 06, 2005 12:43 AM

Re: Honeymoon... Thailand... Would you still go?

I would get in contact with the department of health and ask questions... if they do not know they will direct you to someone who knows

rcheltrvel Posted: Jan 06, 2005 01:25 AM

Re: Honeymoon... Thailand... Would you still go?

Those are really good ideas, thanks.

eogara Posted: Jan 06, 2005 08:24 AM

Re: Honeymoon... Thailand... Would you still go?

Definitely call around and make sure your hotels are even still there. I agree with you about the disease aspect, I don't think I'd chance it.

dkwife Posted: Jan 06, 2005 09:00 AM

Re: Honeymoon... Thailand... Would you still go?

Posted by eogara

Definitely call around and make sure your hotels are even still there. I agree with you about the disease aspect, I don't think I'd chance it.

I don't think I would go either... There are many other beautiful/exotic places, you have plenty of time to cancel.

Janice Posted: Jan 06, 2005 09:03 AM

Re: Honeymoon... Thailand... Would you still go?

I would not go, it is already January, and Colin Powell just said it looks like a nuclear bomb went off there. It also would give me a morbid vibe. sorry

agentangel Posted: Jan 06, 2005 09:04 AM

Re: Honeymoon... Thailand... Would you still go?

Bangkok is a 2 hour plane ride to Phuket, which was hard hit. That's like say NY to Chicago. You should avoid Phuket but Bangkok shouldn't be a problem. Why don't you change your plans a bit, instead of heading south head north from Bangkok to Chang Mai? That area is beautiful and there is a lot to see. And you can still get the beach thing in Malaysia. Plus it's a great way to show support. After 9/11 NYC tourism dropped. In Thailand, that is probably their #1 source of income. Plus 6 months is a lot of time. My company has an event scheduled in Bangkok in less than a month and we are moving forward with it... Just my 2 cents.

JPC1125 Posted: Jan 06, 2005 09:41 AM

Re: Honeymoon... Thailand... Would you still go?

no way...its been all over the news how tourists showed up for their holiday vacations an dlaid on the beaches while bodies were still being found

think about 9/11 here in usa....we had barely started cleaning up 6 months after ...and thailand has 5 times the devestation at the WTC

cancel your hm and plan for somewhere else

dont be insensitive to the people by flaunting your happiness

Backinneyork Posted: Jan 06, 2005 09:42 AM

Re: Honeymoon... Thailand... Would you still go?

I doon't think so... There is no way that it will be re-built by then, but if it's any consolation, I work for Starwood hotels and apparently our property in Phuket is ok. I still wouldn't go though. Can you see if you can change your flights and go somewhere else in Asia?

soon2bMrs Posted: Jan 06, 2005 09:43 AM

Re: Honeymoon... Thailand... Would you still go?

Posted by agentangel

Bangkok is a 2 hour plane ride to Phuket, which was hard hit. That's like say NY to Chicago. You should avoid Phuket but Bangkok shouldn't be a problem. Why don't you change your plans a bit, instead of heading south head north from Bangkok to Chang Mai? That area is beautiful and there is a lot to see. And you can still get the beach thing in Malaysia. Plus it's a great way to show support. After 9/11 NYC tourism dropped. In Thailand, that is probably their #1 source of income. Plus 6 months is a lot of time. My company has an event scheduled in Bangkok in less than a month and we are moving forward with it... Just my 2 cents.

I agree with this 100% I would still go, however, I would probably avoid Phuket because it will not have recovered enough in 6 months.

chicagogal Posted: Jan 06, 2005 09:45 AM

Re: Honeymoon... Thailand... Would you still go?

I agree with the previous post. I would go to Bangkok and the otehr areas north and change the beach part of it. From what I heard Malaysia was OK. A couple of co-workers have tours to Thailand planned next month (not to southern resort areas) and they are still planning on going.

lillian771 Posted: Jan 06, 2005 09:58 AM

Re: Honeymoon... Thailand... Would you still go?

I'm sorry to say, I don't think I would go. It seems like its going to take much longer than 6 months for them to re-shape it into the tourist destination it was. Have you spoken to your travel agent about it? What do they think?

blushingbridetobe Posted: Jan 06, 2005 10:01 AM

Re: Honeymoon... Thailand... Would you still go?

Honestly I would not go. I don't think I could that close to tragedy celebrating my honeymoon, I would feel to bad. I would speak to your travel agent and see what they recommend. I just know I wouldn't feel comfortable, especially with all the disease that might be going on.

MCDO15 Posted: Jan 06, 2005 10:10 AM

Re: Honeymoon... Thailand... Would you still go?

no....even if the area was not directly hit, it has been impacted in a major way... deaseies are finally starting to get out and the area has years of redeveoplment.

i would change the plans..

shawl Posted: Jan 06, 2005 10:25 AM

Re: Honeymoon... Thailand... Would you still go?

I would still go, but probably not to Phuket. I seem to recall hearing that the west coast wasn't too hard-hit, and that there are beautiful beaches there as well. I do agree that tourism is an important part of the economy, and continuing to plan to visit Thailand would be sending a nice signal.

Sonicstef Posted: Jan 06, 2005 10:28 AM

Re: Honeymoon... Thailand... Would you still go?

Usually, I would be the first to say to go but I was reading some of the comments from the Thailand officials and citizens and they seem to indicate a lot of disguist with tourists who continue to visit. They may feel differently in 6 months but I think that would probably be enough for me to change my plans now.

cloddy Posted: Jan 06, 2005 10:38 AM

Re: Honeymoon... Thailand... Would you still go?

I guess it depends where you are supposed to stay. They showed pics on tv from a Marriott that is back up and running and had guests in their pool. It's got to be scary, but it would be incredibly philanthropic of you. They said the best thing Americans can do for them is to vacation there. But I could certainly understand if you didn't want to take chances with your honeymoon. I agree with everyone else that you should contact you travel agent see if anything is refundable, if you vendors are operating and check with state dept before you go.

LMFitz Posted: Jan 06, 2005 10:48 AM

Re: Honeymoon... Thailand... Would you still go?

Posted by lillian771

I'm sorry to say, I don't think I would go. It seems like its going to take much longer than 6 months for them to re-shape it into the tourist destination it was. Have you spoken to your travel agent about it? What do they think?

Ditto - I'd see how you can change the destination...6 months is nothing given what they've experienced. I was just in Florida for Christmas, where Hurricane Jeanne came ashore, and they still aren't recovered - and that's right here! Sorry to say it, but I'd be real cautious...