Travel

What to do in Bangkok this week (December 21 to 26)

Oh, Bangkok, always so exciting and full of events! Be it the weekend or a weekday, there are always fun things happening that sometimes we get a serious case of FOMO (fear of missing out). But don’t worry if you’re unsure where to go. Below,...

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  • Suvarnabhumi authorities passing the blame for long queues yesterday

    Suvarnabhumi authorities passing the blame for long queues yesterday

    PHOTO: Immigration Police A post about long waits and airport queues at Suvarnabhumi yesterday has sparked an immediate response from an immigration spokesperson today. Hundreds of people were queued up for hours in the departure areas, as they waited to be processed after checking in. The spokesman responded to reporters after claims on the Facebook …

  • Bangkok is #1 in travel index for fourth year in a row

    Bangkok is #1 in travel index for fourth year in a row

    PHOTO: TakeMeTour Bangkok, despite some recent tourist number woes, continues to be ranked near the top in most world travel indices. Now Bangkok has been ranked first in the Mastercard Global Destination Cities Index (GDCI) for international overnight visitors for the fourth straight year. And the sixth time in the past decade. Thailand is the …

  • Thai Airways absent from new Top 10 list of world airlines

    Thai Airways absent from new Top 10 list of world airlines

    PHOTO: airlineratings.com The airline review website AirlineRatings has just announced its list of the Best Airlines 2020 and Thailand’s national carrier is absent. In fact Thai Airways isn’t even in the top 20 airlines, as compiled by the website. The Nation reports that the list was drawn up by seven editors with a combined 200 …

  • Over 500 complaints lodged against fake Thai tour agent

    Over 500 complaints lodged against fake Thai tour agent

    …who scammed victims out of 31 million baht. A fake package tour agency who used social media to scam customers out of a total of 31 million baht now has 514 complaints lodged against it, with 100 complaints lodged with the Vice Minister of Justice yesterday. The complaints were lodged at the ministry’s offices in …

  • Drop your excise tax on jet fuel, or we’ll pull out – Airlines

    Drop your excise tax on jet fuel, or we’ll pull out – Airlines

    The Thai Excise Department is proposing local airlines increase the number of flights to the Kingdom’s second-tier provincial airports in return for a reduction in the excise tax on jet fuel. The Department’s aim is to increase tourism into Thailand’s lesser-known tourist areas and attractions. Nok Air, Bangkok Airways, Thai AirAsia, Thai Smile Airways, Thai …

  • Thailand’s high speed rail future “not the right fit”

    Thailand’s high speed rail future “not the right fit”

    After years of delays, negotiations and more negotiations, bullet trains (high-speed trans) are coming to Thailand. But with one project underway, another already approved and others being considered, many speculate if high speed rail is the right fit for the Kingdom. Critics say the existing contracts with the Chinese are more about a political jibe at …

  • Thai Airways says it won’t get into a price-war with other airlines

    Thai Airways says it won’t get into a price-war with other airlines

    PHOTO: YouTube National carrier Thai Airways says it won’t head down the ‘price-cutting’ route to be competitive in 2020. The struggling airline says, instead, they will focus on building a solid customer base and tap specific route segments. Airline president Sumeth Damrongchaitham says the carrier will continue to recruit stronger marketing partners and estimated that …

  • Thai Airways offers One Pass One Price Value Card

    Thai Airways offers One Pass One Price Value Card

    In a first of what will surely be a prolonged period of promotions, Thai Airways is offering a One Pass One Price Value Card Package which will cover four economy class fares from Bangkok to some destinations in Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam and Myanmar. Tickets start at 8,060 baht and are valid for trips from Bangkok …

  • TAT opens 100 baht tourism scheme

    TAT opens 100 baht tourism scheme

    TAT’s ambitious ‘฿100 Travel Around’ scheme opened yesterday. The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has opened registration for its “100 Baht Travel Around” campaign. According to the TAT website, the project is to promote domestic tourism by providing 100 baht packages for domestic tours and rooms. Registration will only be open on the four “catchy …

  • Absurdities of modern flying, and do we really need to be shown how to fasten a seat belt?

    Absurdities of modern flying, and do we really need to be shown how to fasten a seat belt?

    PHOTO: Groovy air-hostesses from the late 1960s when flying was more glamourous. “Now everyone can fly” and that’s brought us to where we are now. There used to be a time when flying was a pleasure, an expensive pleasure. The passengers were part of the ‘jet-set’, and they could smoke cigarettes and sit in wide, …

  • Thai passengers warned not to write on passports if they wish to travel

    Thai passengers warned not to write on passports if they wish to travel

    Thai-language news outlet Sanook reports that a Thai citizen, travelling as part of a group tour to South Korea, has been refused permission to fly as a result of writing found in the passenger’s passport. The story, covered by ThaiVisa, says that one of the pages in the passport had a ‘mystical’ symbol drawn on …

  • Thai Airways under pressure to deliver workable business plan

    Thai Airways under pressure to deliver workable business plan

    Thai Airways is coming under more pressure, after being given 30 days to deliver its new rehabilitation and business plans. Thaworn Senniam, the Deputy Transport Minister, gave the instruction yesterday while meeting with the executive of the national carrier for an update on its financial status. He says the business plan must provide clear information …

  • Airbnb reveals top 20 trending world destinations to visit in 2020

    Airbnb reveals top 20 trending world destinations to visit in 2020

    Latest Airbnb booking data has revealed growing interest in lesser-known destinations and eco-conscious cities across the globe, as Airbnb travellers look for new, local and authentic travel experiences beyond big cities. Thailand made #3 in the list and it’s not Bangkok, Phuket or Chiang Mai. And Paris, London and Sydney are nowhere to be seen. …

  • Study shows Phuket has highest number of tourists per square mile

    Study shows Phuket has highest number of tourists per square mile

    PHOTO: Bao Menglong (Unsplash.com) A study published by Travel Daily News reveals that Phuket has the highest number of tourists per square mile, with 5,090. The research was carried out by Columbus Direct, who examined visitor numbers in the world’s most popular places. With over 9 million visitors a year, Thailand’s largest island has ten …

  • AirAsia’s inflight WiFi is getting faster

    AirAsia’s inflight WiFi is getting faster

    WiFi on planes is the next-gen convenience, or potential annoyance, depending on your attitude to people being ‘connected’ all around you. But for business people, parents with families or bored flyers, it will be a welcome addition to the low-cost flying experience. Now passengers on board AirAsia can look forward to an “enhanced inflight entertainment …

  • Thai Airways defends in-flight catering following Facebook complaint

    Thai Airways defends in-flight catering following Facebook complaint

    PHOTO: Thai Airways Thailand’s national airline has defended its meal service after an economy class passenger travelling from Bangkok to Sapporo criticised the food served during his flight. The passenger posted about his experience on Facebook, saying he only received a sandwich and a drink. His post was then widely shared across the social network, …

  • “No liquidity crunch” – Thai Airways’ President

    “No liquidity crunch” – Thai Airways’ President

    PHOTO: Sumeth Damrongchaitham, Thai Airways’ President “Deputy PM says the rehabilitation plan had been implemented for a while now, but there was still no sign of the losses easing.” The President of national flagship carrier Thai Airways International is denying reports that it is experiencing a liquidity crunch. Sumeth Damrongchaitham claims that Thai Airways has …

  • Most of Thomas Cook stranded customers back in UK

    Most of Thomas Cook stranded customers back in UK

    PHOTO: The Guardian More than half of of the 150,000 holidaymakers left stranded abroad following the collapse of British travel company Thomas Cook are now back in the UK. The local Civil Aviation Authority says that 76,000 people have now been repatriated in the first six days of ‘Operation Matterhorn’ – Britain’s largest peacetime repatriation …

  • Japan airlines offering a seat map to avoid screaming kids

    Japan airlines offering a seat map to avoid screaming kids

    “JAL’s seat maps indicate where infants under two are sitting, with a child icon to let other passengers know.” No kidding. Prefer not to sit next to a screaming child on your next long-haul flight? On some Japanese airlines a new seat map warns you where potentially bawling babies and screaming six year olds are …

  • China opens mega airport in Beijing ahead of country’s 70th anniversary

    China opens mega airport in Beijing ahead of country’s 70th anniversary

    “China is expected to surpass the US to become the world’s biggest aviation market in the next couple of years.” by Poornima Weerasekara China’s President Xi Jinping has opened a futuristic new airport in Beijing, expected to become one of the busiest in the world. Xi declared the starfish-shaped airport open in brief remarks at a …

  • UPDATE: Thomas Cook financial collapse

    UPDATE: Thomas Cook financial collapse

    “These insolvency proceedings do not involve the continental and Nordic businesses.” The UK Thomas Cook businesses are now under the control of the official receiver who has appointed AlixPartners and KPMG as special managers to oversee the liquidation, and in the case of AlixPartners, to work with the business to assist the UK Civil Aviation …

  • Travel giant Thomas Cook teetering on financial collapse

    Travel giant Thomas Cook teetering on financial collapse

    Unable to adapt to the move online as smaller, nimbler travel companies thrive, Thomas Cook, the household name in international travel, is close to financial collapse. And the collapse could leave up to 150,000 British tourists stranded overseas. The iconic British travel giant Thomas Cook say they’ve failed to find any further private investment to …

  • UAE boycott bites – Qatar Airways reports $639 million loss

    UAE boycott bites – Qatar Airways reports $639 million loss

    Qatar Airways has hit turbulence posting a net loss for the year to March 2019 of $639 million. The airline blame the losses on key markets closing their airspace to Doha. Qatar Airways currently operates flights to three destinations in Thailand, with services 35 times a week to Bangkok, 14 times a week to Phuket …

  • Thai poll favours new airport in Nakhon Pathom, west of Bangkok

    Thai poll favours new airport in Nakhon Pathom, west of Bangkok

    Sanook report that most Thais are in favour of building a new airport in Nakhon Pathom, 57 kilometres west of the capital Bangkok. The old Don Mueang airport is to the north of Bangkok and Suvarnabhumi, to the east. In a Nida Poll 65% of respondents thought the new airport in Nakhon Pathom was a good idea citing …

  • Boeing suspends testing of new long-haul 777 jet

    Boeing suspends testing of new long-haul 777 jet

    “A source close to the matter said a door of the plane blew out during the test.” by Luc Olinga Boeing is suspending testing on its new long-haul 777X aircraft, yet another setback as the US aviation giant tries to rebound from the 737 MAX crisis. The so-called “final load” tests are part of the …

  • Bangkok Airways posts losses, Samui routes performing badly

    Bangkok Airways posts losses, Samui routes performing badly

    Following the opening of its swanky new passenger lounges at the Phuket Airport last week, Bangkok Airways has just posted a net loss of 190 million baht for the first half of 2019. In posting the figures yesterday the company’s President promised to turn results around in the second half of the year to ensure …

  • Japan’s Okinawa takes on Bali and Phuket

    Japan’s Okinawa takes on Bali and Phuket

    by Bill Barnett While Okinawa is often called the Hawaii of Japan, a changing Asian travelscape driven by low-cost airline carriers is seeing the resort destination attract a rising number of regional tourists. Last year, arrivals hit 9.84 million which is now elevating the market to the likes Asia’s twin resort icons, Bali and Phuket. …

  • More than four million guests stayed in an Airbnb on August 10, 2019

    More than four million guests stayed in an Airbnb on August 10, 2019

    “Airbnb has created an opportunity to meet people from all around the world.” – Pim, an Airbnb Host in Thailand Exactly 11 years since Airbnb was founded, the home-sharing hospitality company and ‘accommodation disrupters’ celebrated its biggest night ever, with more than 4 million people spending the night in an Airbnb listing on August 10, …

  • Some Mac Book Pros banned on Thai Airways flights to the EU

    Some Mac Book Pros banned on Thai Airways flights to the EU

    Thai Airways is telling passengers travelling on their fleet that some Apple MacBook Pro notebooks, distributed between 2015 to 2017, won’t be allowed on flights to and from EU countries. According to the Bangkok Post, the vice president of Thai Airways’ aviation safety department, Flt Lt Prathana Pattanasiri, claims the flag carrier is banning MacBook Pro …

  • Thai foreign minister criticises visa waiver proposal

    Thai foreign minister criticises visa waiver proposal

    The Foreign Ministry opposes the Tourism and Sports Ministry’s proposal to waive visas for Indian and Chinese tourists, calling it a “risk to national security”. The proposal was put forward at a meeting last Friday, as part of a series of measures to boost the economy through an injection of over 300 billion baht in tourism. …