Should we put off travel due to floods?

[jacko 8,762]

 

 

 

It's back. Hey, good one. I hadn't seen that one before. This one here is for the North. One tiny little rain cloud as I look right now. Dry, cool - excellent place to visit right now and for the next few months.

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The Rayong radar seems to be stuck in a loop for October 20th for me! So not much use. Previously it had given me great warnings of rain on the way.

[lovedog100 1,372]

Hi

 

My mates and I are traveling to Pattaya on the 27th of this month. Flying into Bangkok Airport and then Mr Toom to Pattaya.

 

Just wondering if members think that it would be a good idea to put off the trip due to the flooding. Not really concerned about the water in Pattaya but more about not being able to get from Bangkok airport to Pattaya or back.

 

Any input would be appreciated.

 

I think Pattaya will be as fun as always for you. I wouldn't worry to much about flooding here. It does happen, but Pattaya is close to the sea, and it drains away fairly fast. If you were going to do a tour of Thailand I might say rethink that, but Pattaya is fine. There are shortages because of the floods, however the government has removed import tariffs for those needed items. I would expect them to start arriving soon. Right now I think some hording is going on, as well as fear buying. Since the flooding has started, I haven't seen anyplace closes it's doors other than one day due to floods, or shortages. There are still lots of ladies, food, drink, and things to do.

[voracious 31]

just seen on UK Sky News the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office has just posted:

 

"We now advise against all but essential travel to the city of Bangkok and the 26 provinces in Thailand affected by flooding. Our advice against all but essential travel to the city of Bangkok does not include transit through Suvarnabhumi international airport."

 

All areas of Bangkok on watch now.

Went to Chinatown & Sukhimvit and all was business as usual + sandbags.

Some shopkeepers are actually building cinderblock flood walls around their doorways (walk around the corner from MBK for a good example) and have a set up steps to get over and back down the wall.

 

Some tuk tuk driver tried to convince me the way I was walking in Chinatown was neck deep in water and he'd drive me to a better area (yeah right 555). I politely declined

 

I didn't see any flooding, but I didn't head up to Chatachuk either so...

[fiferx 3]

I saw something on the News saying that tourists were being warned not to go to Bangkok.

 

I'm going to Pattaya on Wednesday next week.

 

As far as I can see the airport is open and isn't expecting to have any problems.

 

Pattaya seems to be OK.

 

The forecast for Pattaya for next week is mostly sunny. There's a 10% chance of rain on Wednesday and 0% chance for Thursday/Friday/Saturday/Sunday.

 

Sounds good to me.

 

I got this forecast on www.weather.com.

 

Jim

[Hami123456 7]

Although my trip is planned for the second week of December, and it should be dry by then, but I’m thinking to cancel, I’m not worried about the flood itself but the effect that will follow on Pattaya, like the availability of food, hotels will be full of escaped families, diseases from non-clean water, delays in flights because of crowed, many things to worry about which I don’t need in a relaxing vacation, the country will be on emergency for the next 6 months at least.

[joekicker 53]

I saw something on the News saying that tourists were being warned not to go to Bangkok.

 

British foreign office. Good advice for the next... oh, week.

 

As far as I can see the airport is open and isn't expecting to have any problems.

Pattaya seems to be OK.

 

Yes and yes.

 

The forecast for Pattaya for next week is mostly sunny. There's a 10% chance of rain on Wednesday and 0% chance for Thursday/Friday/Saturday/Sunday.

 

Rain is not a factor. It's a huge wall of floods from the North, and high tides from the south, meeting right at Bangkok. Rain can't affect the situation any more.

 

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[voracious 31]

Hami, most food and water shortages appear to be short term and one grocery has already made arrangements to import water from malaysia to compensate for the 40% reduction in water production capabilities that their suppliers are experiencing at the moment.

 

I would suspect that you'd be fine in December.

 

(or else can I have your tickets? :D jk)

 

Only you can decide for you, but if you're going straight to Pattaya all these problems are passing them by and the stores are not necessarily as hard hit as they appear on international news. even here in Bangkok it was business pretty much as normal at the two Thai open markets I went to, with plenty of food.

 

Vendors may be experiencing temporary price increases, so that 25 baht bowl of noodle may be more like 35 baht, but it won't kill your wallet. Two of us at a great bring-home open market dinner tonight for under a couple hundred baht...

[jacko 8,762]

Although my trip is planned for the second week of December, and it should be dry by then, but I’m thinking to cancel, I’m not worried about the flood itself but the effect that will follow on Pattaya, like the availability of food, hotels will be full of escaped families, diseases from non-clean water, delays in flights because of crowed, many things to worry about which I don’t need in a relaxing vacation, the country will be on emergency for the next 6 months at least.

You are being a worry wart.

The hotels are always full around Christmas, flood or not.

By December waters will have receded and the supply chains re-instated, people will be anxious to get back to making money and work hard to achieve it.

Water supplies in Pattaya are unlikely to be affected by flooding in Bangkok.

Why should flights be affected, so far, long hauls have not been and we are in the worst of it.

[joekicker 53]

the country will be on emergency for the next 6 months at least.

 

Don't be goofy. Fact: In TWO months, the country will be fretting the crippling drought.

 

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[nkped 1,208]

Although my trip is planned for the second week of December, and it should be dry by then, but I’m thinking to cancel, I’m not worried about the flood itself but the effect that will follow on Pattaya, like the availability of food, hotels will be full of escaped families, diseases from non-clean water, delays in flights because of crowed, many things to worry about which I don’t need in a relaxing vacation, the country will be on emergency for the next 6 months at least.

So much for the idea that mongers will persevere in the face of adversity.

[voracious 31]

Apparently parts of Chinatown did flood a bit yesterday. Royal palace has a few inches of water. Sukhimvit Soi 49 South in Phrakanong has had a break in their flood wall.

 

What does this all mean in Pattaya? Nothing.

Rain in Pattaya? No problem. The water from the North is not flowing your way.

Water levels in Late November or December? I wouldn't worry too much about it.

Supply Chains? I would bet it'll be resolved very shortly. We have Malaysia and other countries to buy from, and many chains are already establishing supplies from there.

 

The ONLY thing you need to worry about at the moment is if you are imminently going to arrive in Bangkok and had planned to go somewhere in the flooded area.

 

This tempered with the fact that high tide is expected tomorrow night.

 

I figure if we clear the weekend the problem will diminish rapidly from there.

 

If you're headed anywhere but Bangkok, don't worry too much.

[Hami123456 7]

So much for the idea that mongers will persevere in the face of adversity.

 

I’m already hearing about thousands of people moving from Bangkok to Pattay , so its gona be a big mess for a while.

[Gary 4,100]

If I had a trip planned to Pattaya in the next month, I'd seriously consider cancelling. There will be too many shortages of everything from food to rooms.

 

If your trip is scheduled for the second week of December or later, the floods will be forgotten and everything will be pretty much back to normal.

[Hami123456 7]

If I had a trip planned to Pattaya in the next month, I'd seriously consider cancelling. There will be too many shortages of everything from food to rooms.

 

If your trip is scheduled for the second week of December or later, the floods will be forgotten and everything will be pretty much back to normal.

 

I hope so, I think I’ll wait and decide by the end of November, there is always an option for all-inclusive Caribbean, and I’m losing 300$ for cancellation if I did anytime, so I’ll stay following the news and see how it goes.

[jacko 8,762]

I hope so, I think I’ll wait and decide by the end of November, there is always an option for all-inclusive Caribbean, and I’m losing 300$ for cancellation if I did anytime, so I’ll stay following the news and see how it goes.

I'll be in Pattaya for a night on the town tonight. I was considering not bothering as I expect traffic problems and crowds, and there is always a good chance City Hall will clog some roads for a market or some festival just to add to the confusion.

[m_right 0]

Good luck getting a room or finding a parking place. But don't worry the floods are north of Pattaya.

Anyone on this board in Pattya?

[bonzo19 2]

i am flying on monday i hope if my plane going i will be on it

[joekicker 53]

i am flying on monday i hope if my plane going i will be on it

 

No problem.

 

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[voracious 31]

Bangkok Ratchadapisek update: Woke up this morning and the streets are dry. Traffic is typical for ~8am. Rained last night and water rose quickly to 5-10cm (street and hotel parking lot) and then drained once the rain stopped. No big deal here. Closer we get to tonight, the less I'm worried about it. If we get to Monday with no problems I think it'll be fine for inner Bangkok (barring any breaks in flood walls)

[Hami123456 7]

when its expected to hit hard?

[joekicker 53]

when its expected to hit hard?

 

Have a look at the Thailand newspapers. BangkokPost.com, Nationmultimedia.com are big national newspapers. Full stories, many of them.

 

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[voracious 31]

high tide tonight about 6pm.

 

some new areas are getting wet here in Bangkok.

 

Thai Flood Map

 

Richard Barrow is cycling around Bangkok and taking pictures of areas that are flooding and putting it up on Twitter HERE

 

Still dry (and hot) here on Ratchadapisek. We're going to just hang out here & Sukhimvit and not bothering evacuating unless it floods here...

[Hami123456 7]

Have a look at the Thailand newspapers. BangkokPost.com, Nationmultimedia.com are big national newspapers. Full stories, many of them.

 

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thanks Joe

[yobbo71 156]

Hmm I was looking at travelling to Pattaya between 5-21 Nov. Should I put it off till early next year? It will only cost me about $100 to change my ticket. Would it be worth $100 to put off the travel? Just this talk about shortages of stuff isn't sounding too good.

[jacko 8,762]

Hmm I was looking at travelling to Pattaya between 5-21 Nov. Should I put it off till early next year? It will only cost me about $100 to change my ticket. Would it be worth $100 to put off the travel? Just this talk about shortages of stuff isn't sounding too good.

Airport and Pattaya have no flooding issues.

There are some shortages of items on the shelves but supply lines and logistics are coming together.

I had breakfast in town yesterday and dinner at a restaurant near my home and could discern no problems.