Sunday Times Travel's Directions analyses the risks and the options faced by those planning travel to those regions.

Is Thailand safe? Thailand is in the midst of a concerted, occasionally violent campaign by the People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) to oust the government, and while the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has stopped short of advising against holiday travel to Thailand, it is careful to advise those planning trips to “consider the present situation when making your decision”.

If you are visiting or transiting through Bangkok, be aware that the situation remains tense and that there is a substantial, ongoing risk of being caught up in civil disturbances.

Beyond the capital, there has been violence in the northern city of Chiang Mai, a popular backpacking destination, where government supporters attacked a radio station occupied by PAD protesters, and the FCO advises against all but essential travel to the southern provinces of Yala, Pattani, Narathiwat and Songkhla or overland to and from the Malaysian border, where acts of terrorism by Muslim insurgents have reportedly left over 3000 dead since 2004.

There have been no reports of violence or civil disturbance in the holiday hotspots of Phuket and Koh Samui, and package holiday charters to these destinations are unaffected. Is India safe? Unlike the disorder in Thailand, the deadly attacks in India specifically targeted westerners. Consequently the FCO advises against “all but essential travel to Mumbai until further notice”. Jammu and Kashmir remain off limits, and nonessential travel to Srinagar in the north and Imphal in the north east is not advised.

The FCO reports recent terrorist attacks in Delhi, Ahmedabad and Bangalore, but does not advise against travel to popular tourist areas such as Goa and Kerala. However, Sir Richard Stagg, British High Commissioner to India, counsels caution in all areas. “India is a very big country, and it would wrong to draw the conclusion that those travelling to other parts of the country should not go ahead with their plans,” he said.

“But everyone coming to India needs to be aware that it has a history of terrorism.”

If you’re leaving tomorrow If you’ve booked a package deal to Thailand and you’re flying to Phuket then the current advice is that your flight will depart as normal. If you’re flying via Bangkok, your tour operator will contact you to make alternative arrangements. “All those affected will be offered three options,” says Sean Tipton of the Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA).

“You can either defer your departure to a later date, make arrangements to travel to an alternative destination or request a cancellation with a full refund. No administration charges will apply, although those choosing an alternative holiday of a higher value will pay the difference.”

Tour operators have confirmed that holidays will depart to India as normal and that itineraries including Mumbai will be amended to include alternative destinations.

Independent travellers are advised to contact their airline. Scheduled carriers such as British Airways, Emirates and Thai Airways are offering passengers travelling to Bangkok the opportunity to rebook for a later departure, subject to availability, at no extra cost, or claim a refund.

BA says the same applies to those who have booked flights to Mumbai. If you’re leaving next week Operators and airlines say that as soon as Bangkok’s airports reopen, all trips will depart as planned. For Mumbai, the situation is less certain. Kirker Holidays says for those not travelling in the next few days “it is too early to make an accurate assessment of whether or not it is appropriate to adjust future plans now.”

Cox & Kings says it is allowing people to cancel if the main part of the trip is spent in Mumbai – such as those booked for the Test Match on December 13 – and Kuoni says it wil consider bookings on a case-by-case basis. If you want to cancel If you’re travelling on a package to Bangkok or Mumbai in the next couple of days you’ll be offered a refund or alternative arrangements.

For those disinclined to travel in the coming weeks, though, tour operators advise that “normal booking conditions apply,” meaning that if you cancel, you lose your money. For independent travellers, options are similarly limited. Economy flights tend to come with the most restrictions, says Trailfinders, meaning that in most cases you can neither cancel nor defer your trip.

The advice is to check the small print. If you’ve reserved accommodation direct with the hotel, the booking conditions usually allow you to cancel up to 24 hours before arrival without penalty.

Travel insurance In the absence of a FCO travel advisory few policies will entertain claims against losses due to a disinclination to travel, says Malcolm Tarling of the Association of British Insurers and if you do travel, the advice, as usual, is to check the small print: many policies will not cover losses or medical expenses consequent to acts of terrorism or civil unrest.

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