We understand that there is currently some concern over travel to Thailand because of the demonstrations that are going on in Bangkok. Certain travel reports have issued warnings which may have people worried about travelling to Thailand at this time. However, our group leaders are currently in Bangkok keeping a very close watch on the protests and at the moment there is absolutely no danger to travellers and tourism is continuing as per usual in the Kingdom of Thailand. Bangkok is a very large city, therefore it is easy to avoid any areas of the city where demonstrations may be happening. City highlights such as markets, temples, delicious restaurants and great nightlife can still be enjoyed, and BT's guides will always be keeping a close watch on current events in the city to make sure our groups are far from any demonstrations. If necessary, we do have plans arranged to avoid Bangkok altogether, leaving from the airport in private transportation and heading directly to our next destination, however we do not think that these courses of actions will be needed.
In western cultures we often take our political situation for granted, and the passion that the Thai people have for their country can seem foreign to us. We all must remember that the "Western Way" is not the way of the world, and try to understand and learn from the experiences of travel. One of the most valuable things that we hope all of our travelers take away from a Beach Traveller trip is a fresh outlook on the world, and a curiosity for how other cultures live their day to day lives.
As the Thai people sort out their political future, we ask for your patience and understanding as there may need to be some scheduling changes to ensure the safety and security of all Beach Travellers clients and staff. Thankfully right now the protest is a peaceful one, and we do not expect the airport closures to last for an extended period, nor do we anticipate that these protests will turn violent. We wanted to thank all of you for trusting Beach Travellers with your travel plans, and assure you that steps are being taken to assure minimal interruption to your experience. If at any time we feel that the safety of any of our clients could be compromised, we will notify you immediately with alternative options.
We also ask that each of you review your travel insurance documents to verify that you have proper coverage that you are comfortable with. Trip cancellation and trip interruption insurance can have different terms from policy to policy. Although we do our best to ensure that every trip runs safely on time, situations do exist that are out of our control, and precautions should be taken.
Naturally, reading news coverage on the story and hearing travel advisories can make people uneasy about travelling to Thailand. However our guides are in Bangkok watching these events unfold, and they have assured us that there is no cause for concern. Group safety is Beachtravellers' #1 priority, therefore we would never visit an area that could be potentially unsafe for our groups. We hope that this message will reassure anybody who was concerned over the matter. Our guides are eagerly awaiting the next groups' arrivals and are excited to travel through beautiful Thailand with a new group of friends!
