On September 19th, the Thai military overthrew Prime Minister Taksin Shinawatra while he was on an official visit to the United Nations. The coup was quick, bloodless and long overdue. The new government is being installed and democracy will prevail.
So, should you cancel your travel plans to Thailand? Absolutely not. Thailand is still a great place to visit and if you hadn’t seen the coup on TV, you would never have known it happened.
Life goes on in the Land of Smiles with the only difference being a new Prime Minister being installed. General Surayud was appointed the new PM, has selected his cabinet and restored calm to the country. Free elections will commence next year.
Apart from the newly appointed government, nothing has changed in Thailand. You can still go shopping, dine in some great restaurants and ride elephants. The Thai people will still welcome you with open arms, smile all day long and treat you to the best vacation you have ever had.
In addition, you will get to see the most spectacular airport in all of Asia. Suvarnabhumi Airport opened on September 28th and is a sight to behold. It is located 50 kilometers south of the “old airport” – Don Muang. So, if you are planning on visiting Pattaya, your ride from the airport to Pattaya should be approximately 30 – 45 minutes faster.
If you have plans to visit Bangkok or any of the other cities in Thailand, there is no need to cancel. If you have never been, now is a good time to go.
Exercise the normal cautions you would on any trip to a foreign country. Register with the state department or your local embassy. Don’t flash your money or jewelry, use the buddy system, and be aware of your surroundings. Be safe and have a great vacation.
