Should I cancel my booking?

[donchen]

Hi guys,

I am in a little dilemma and hope you guys can give me some priceless advices/suggestions.

Couple of months ago, I booked a holiday trip to Bangkok leaving on the 18th of December 2008. Due to all the confusion now, I may need to make some changes to my plans.

My airline is pretty flexible so that is not an issue. The problem is with the hotel i booked at Bangkok. I booked the hotel via asiarooms.com. If i were to make the cancellation now, I will get my full refund (SGD$178) but I will have to pay 20USD (About SGD$35) penalty.

If i were to wait longer, I was informed by asiarooms.com that it will depend on the hotel if they will do a full refund back for me. So i hope to get some advices from you guys what I should do now.

Do you think things will probably be better by 18 DEC 2008? Or should i go ahead and make the cancellation now?

Your help is very much appreciated! Thanks!

Don

[webeagle12]

Don't count on it, tension are growing and actually airliners sending empty planes to pick up passengers ( they using military airport). The planes that were parked in international airport were allowed to leave empty yesterday. Bangkok said it will take a week after protest to get airport back on track. Cancel it, don't risk it.

http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/i...E4B00M820081201

Edited December 1, 2008 by webeagle12

[donchen]

Thanks webeagle for the advice!

I am thinking of cancelling it as well but I feel is unfair for me to pay the penalty since the airport is closed.

This is so frustrating!

[webeagle12]

Thanks webeagle for the advice!

I am thinking of cancelling it as well but I feel is unfair for me to pay the penalty since the airport is closed.

This is so frustrating!

call up and ask talk to the manager, explain your situation, maybe he can do something.

[Avogadro]

As for travel advice you may want to have a look at this excellent resource by the Australian government.

http://www.smartraveller.gov.au/zw-cgi/view/Advice/Thailand

[acnpt]

I think you will have to pay the cancellation fee, as the hotel has nothing to do with the airport.

Maybe they will let you re-arrange the hotel dates??

Thats the problem with booking things separately, you don't get much protection if things go wrong.

[gregb0b]

Did I miss something happening in Bangkok? I know what happened in India but have been out of the loop because of thanksgiving week :(.

[BoJo]

^There's a sit-in going on at the airport in Bangkok, staged by protestors who want the prime-minister to step down.

[MillionVoltss]

Theres something i heard, if an Airline cancels flights you can take the booking paperwork to another company ie thompson's and book with them and they'll sue the previous company for the cost, but i might be wrong on details so dont quote me.

Lots of helpful info about flights here.

http://www.ajc.com/travel/content/travel/o...ravel_0511.html

http://www.forbes.com/2008/04/09/travel-ca...0409travel.html

[mtrftw]

it's $20 USD...

[donchen]

Thanks for everyone's response and suggestions... I think i should just cancel the trip and just pay the 20 USD penalty.

Matteo: Yeah.. its just 20USD. And i am a full time student and not working hence money doesn't come around much.. .heh.. therefore feeling the pinch.

[acnpt]

Considering a bomb has just gone off at an airport in Bangkok, I'd cancel for now until things calm down.

[Fred Derf Veteran]

US$20 is a pretty minor fee. I'd cancel it.

[donchen]

@acnpt: Huh ? When? I didn't catch that.... was it today?

Ahh... alright.. Just saw the news.

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp.../393539/1/.html

[+Nik Louch Subscriber²]

It WILL be over by then. The King's birthday is the end of this week, and it's been predicted to be over by then. Politics aside, they all adore the King, and will be peaceful.

[donchen]

But even though it will end due to the King's Birthday, do you think that there will be any aftermath?

[donchen]

Looks like they left the airport already. What do you guys reckon?

I also heard from my local news that the airport will most likely open again on 13th December. My holiday is on the 18th.

[webeagle12]

Looks like they left the airport already. What do you guys reckon?

I also heard from my local news that the airport will most likely open again on 13th December. My holiday is on the 18th.

Let it put it this way, if you feel that you will be in danger, don't go, but if you think everything will be all right then go. :)