Trouble in Thailand and Mumbai

Though trouble in Thailand and major mayhem in Mumbai, India, has caused the the U.S. government to issue travel alerts for both places, folks on the ground in perennially popular backpacker destination Bangkok say all's quite calm provided one stays away from temporarily closed airports, while those in Mumbai are agreeing that tourists really should stay away from Mumbai for the moment, period.

Travel alerts are issued because of short-term conditions which may pose "significant risks to the security of American travelers"* and are less strongly worded than travel warnings, which mean the U.S. State Department recommends that Americans avoid travel to a country altogether. It's been my experience that travel alerts can be heeded by using the same simple travel safety precautions one usually employs, while travel warnings do often mean I might want to change my travel plans... at the least, either condition means I'll make mental note if headed the way of any country experiencing enough unrest to warrant a U.S. guv-issued alert or a warning and do some research accordingly (Lonely Planet's Thorntree forum is often a great place to get the real story on current happenings worldwide -- the forum had *the* most current haps during the shutdown of Tibet last spring, for instance).

Read, read, read before you make any decisions on any places with guv-issued travel warnings and alerts before you go, and those include Thailand and India at the moment (Nicaragua, China and Mexico are on the short travel alerts list, too).

Learn more about travel alerts and warnings:

• Difference Between Travel Warnings and Alerts

Learn more about the current travel alerts for and situations in Thailand and India:

• Thailand
  -- Thailand Travel Alert (reads in part: "Americans in Thailand should avoid travel to [Bangkok’s international and domestic airports] airports until airport operations return to normal. Americans in Thailand, or who have plans to travel to or transit Thailand, should monitor local media and contact airlines for the latest departure/arrival information.")
  -- About's Thailand blog: "PM Declares State of Emergency: Move on Protestors Expected Tonight"; Suvarnabhumi Airport Information Hotlines

• India
  -- India Travel Alert (reads in part: "The Department of State warns U.S. citizens about heightened security concerns in India, and advises U.S. citizens traveling to or already in India to maintain a high level of vigilance and to take appropriate steps to increase their security awareness [following late November terrorist attacks]... Over 100 persons are believed to have been killed, and hundreds injured. Casualties include both Indian and foreign nationals. Americans appear to have been among those specifically targeted. U.S. citizens should exercise caution and take prudent security measures, including maintaining a high level of vigilance, avoiding crowds and demonstrations, keeping a low profile, varying times and routes for all travel, and ensuring travel documents are current. In the aftermath of the terrorist attacks, the Department of State urged Americans to defer travel to Mumbai for at least 48-72 hours.")
  -- About's India blog: Local's perspective on Mumbai's current conditions
  -- Lonely Planet Thorntree Forum: Mumbai Attacks

Related stuff: Student Travel Safety | Travel Emergencies | Travel Safety Overview | Countries the US Government Consider Sponsors of Terrorism

*According to the U.S. State Department

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