BANGKOK FLOODS: LATEST TRAVEL INFORMATION

This is for all HI customers travelling to Bangkok. HI has been in direct contact with our Regional Development Co-ordinator and the National Youth Hostel Association in Thailand. The office of Thai Youth Hostels Association is operating now as usual. The flooding situation in Thailand is mainly affecting the central provinces along the Chao Phraya River including Bangkok and Ayutthaya. Other popular tourist destinations in the central region including Pattaya, Hua Hin, Kanchanaburi and Ko Chang have not been affected by the floods. Tourist destinations in the south of Thailand including Phuket, Krabi, Surat Thani, Ko Samui, Hat Yai and Phang-Nga; and in the north including Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai and Sukhothai, also have not been affected by the floods. Flood waters in Ayutthaya and some other central provinces have begun to subside, although many areas are not yet fully accessible. Tourist attractions in Ayutthaya will reopen once they have been restored. Events relating to Loy Krathong, an ancient tradition that has been celebrated since the Sukhothai Era, will still take place in many locations throughout Thailand including Sukhothai, Chiang Mai, Tak, Hat Yai and Surat Thani between the 8th and 10th November. Some Loy Krathong events have been cancelled in Bangkok, Ayutthaya and Suphanburi due to the flood. Situation in Bangkok Areas flooded in Bangkok Metropolitan Area includes suburbs in the east and west, the west bank of the Chao Phraya River, and districts in the northern part of the city. In central Bangkok, businesses, hotels, shops and tourist attractions remain open as per normal in areas including:

• Khao San Road
• Phetchaburi Road
• Ploenchit/ Chidlom
• Pratunam
• Rama 1 Road
• Rama 4 Road
• Ratchaprasong (Central World area)
• Sathorn
• Siam Square/ MBK/ Siam Paragon
• Silom/ Surawongse
• Sukhumvit Road/ The Emporium
• Yaowarat (Chinatown)

Given the rapidly changing nature of the flooding situation in Bangkok, visitors should also check multiple sources of information to make an informed decision about whether they should visit central Bangkok at the present time. Please check http://www.thailandtourismupdate.com for all the latest updates about the flood situation. The BTS Skytrain and MRT subway are operating normally at this time. Visitors are advised to check with the BTS and MRT regarding the current status of their operations. Taxis and tuk tuks are available as per usual. Many BMTA bus routes have been rerouted or suspended due to the flooding. Express boat services on the Chao Phraya River have also been suspended, as have most water-related tourist activities. For HI Customers travelling to Bangkok
Please keep following the official travel advice issued by the Foreign Office. If you have a booking at an HI hostel in the city of Bangkok for the next week (up to Monday 14th November 2011) please contact support@hihostels.com for more assistance. We are happy to refund any bookings inclusive of that time period. Please make sure:

• You reference your HI booking number
• Send your email from the email address you made the booking from

HI extends all the best of wishes to our customers and colleagues in the affected areas at this time. Please stay safe.

07 November 2011 RSS-Feed