Hi all
Help help Help
we are supposed to be going to Koh Samui in 2 weeks, we are flying from Heathrow into Hong Kong and then in to Koh Samui for 8 nights and then back to HK for 5 nights, we have been advised that we can cancel the thailand part of it, but id we try to twin in with another place it is really expensive as we are so close to departure.
what shall we do? if we still go our insurance is invalid so we are stuck between a rock and a hard place
We also have friends coming with us who are flying down from edinburgh to heathrow
if we leave it too long we may have our LHR flights to HK and nothing else
Bernie
it is a worry isn't it? I might be trying to change my holiday too at this rate. Who have you booked through and which destinations were you thinking about?
Koh Samui will be safe...but i guess it's the insurance business that's the problem and this darned FO advice.
You could try Cambodia (Sihanoukville) or Vietnam (Nha Trang) from Hong Kong. Similarish beachy places.
You could try Cambodia (Sihanoukville) or Vietnam (Nha Trang) from Hong Kong. Similarish beachy places.
Hi fiona
we booked through a company called Destinology, there are based in Bolton i think, very good service but as we have always used high street travel agent who we can talk to face to face, this is very awkward
I want to still go to thailand, as I feel we are so far away from any trouble we will be ok, but dont know really what to do for the best
we paid more for this holday than we normally do and were looking forward to something different.
the alternatives we have been offered are so expensive. we have been offered Borneo, Penang or Bali, but it is a minumum of £500 each to change.
yours
Bernie
we booked through a company called Destinology, there are based in Bolton i think, very good service but as we have always used high street travel agent who we can talk to face to face, this is very awkward
I want to still go to thailand, as I feel we are so far away from any trouble we will be ok, but dont know really what to do for the best
we paid more for this holday than we normally do and were looking forward to something different.
the alternatives we have been offered are so expensive. we have been offered Borneo, Penang or Bali, but it is a minumum of £500 each to change.
yours
Bernie
Destinology - we have had a few members using this company. I'm sure they are doing the best they can for you.
Ask them if they can cost out Cambodia or Vietnam- as Chris suggested. I also agree with him about KS but of course no-one knows what can happen next. From an insurance point of view, its not worth the risk IMO. Good luck!
Ask them if they can cost out Cambodia or Vietnam- as Chris suggested. I also agree with him about KS but of course no-one knows what can happen next. From an insurance point of view, its not worth the risk IMO. Good luck!
what do you mean" from an insurance point of view" ? will travelers still be covered for medical etc? from my understanding only flight cancelations are exempt. In saying that I am not that clued up on this sort of thing. Is there anything else with insurance I should be aware of?
with the current fco advise, if you still go to Thailand and need to claim for anything at all, its highly unlikely you will get it. Best to check your insurance.
if you still go to Thailand and need to claim for anything at all, its highly unlikely you will get it.
Strangely enough the cases we've dealt with are now telling a different tale. Claims will be entertained in the majority of cases as long as they do not involve 'civil unrest'.
The most important thing as Fiona says is 'Check with your Insurers'. If you speak to someone who sounds uncertain, say thank you, hang up, and speak to someone else. Then if you want to travel and they say you are covered for everything else GET IT IN WRITING!.
It sucks that insurance companies are able to change the rules after you have purchased. typical 
I bought mine 2 months ago and all was well but after speaking with frquent traveller friend of mine today he has advised that their is a good chance if things dont settle I will not be covered as mentioned above.
Its like a car insurance company saying if you park you car at a certain shopping centre you wont be insured because theft rate is high. Total rubbish..
Its the gamble they take by insuring someone . seems the gamble is all one way to me.
I bought mine 2 months ago and all was well but after speaking with frquent traveller friend of mine today he has advised that their is a good chance if things dont settle I will not be covered as mentioned above.
Its like a car insurance company saying if you park you car at a certain shopping centre you wont be insured because theft rate is high. Total rubbish..
Its the gamble they take by insuring someone . seems the gamble is all one way to me.
Hopfully things are coming to an end but i think in the case of civil unrest the Thai government are obliged to insure you in some way.....Just what i read somewhere. 
Hopfully things are coming to an end but i think in the case of civil unrest the Thai government are obliged to insure you in some way.....Just what i read somewhere. :que
Nope - they are under no obligation, and will help you not one jot. Sounds like wishful thinking has got caught in a game of chinese whispers!
Thanks everybody for your thoughts and views, we have had a sleepless night and now decided to go after all as we are not going to Bangkok at all Now we just have to sort the ash cloud out as our friends are flying down from edinburgh the day we go
just seen on the internet that it looks like it might be coming to an end anyhow, keep fingers and toes crossed everybody for me
Bernie
just seen on the internet that it looks like it might be coming to an end anyhow, keep fingers and toes crossed everybody for me
Bernie
Nope - they are under no obligation, and will help you not one jot. Sounds like wishful thinking has got caught in a game of chinese whispers!
Copied from Thaivisa...no details on who, how or where though:
For the record, right now, the Thai government, thru a private insurance company, is providing a three-part insurance coverage for tourists in Thailand relating to any impacts from the current political unrest. The government coverage is structured so the tourist must pay any covered expenses directly first, and then seek reimbursement. Specifically, that coverage is:
--$10,000 U.S. benefit if someone is killed due to the unrest.
--up to $10,000 in hospitalization coverage due to injuries incurred due to the unrest, and
--up to $10,000 in trip delay expenses if the cause is due to the unrest.
(each of these three is separate coverage, meaning it is NOT a $10,000 combined amount)
These Thai government coverages do not apply to ex-pats who are living here, such as those with work permits or on retirement visas. But the coverage would apply to a tourist whether they've arrived here on a tourist visa, visa exempt entry or visa on arrival. This government coverage is in effect now and will remain in place through the end of March 2011, though hopefully the political mess will be settled before then.
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