Foreign Office issues urgent advice for British tourists in Thailand
The UK Government has updated its advice for British tourists holidaying in Thailand and Cambodia.
Thailand's army has closed country's border crossings into Cambodia after a deterioration in relations between the two Southeast Asian countries.
In an update on the FCDO advice page for Thailand, the Foreign Office says: 'Land borders/crossings between Thailand and Cambodia are temporarily suspended due to a dispute between Thailand and Cambodia.
'Take extra care and stay alert in border areas and follow the instructions of local authorities, especially at tourist destinations such as the Preah Vihear temple, the Ta Kwai temple and the Ta Muen Thom temple.
'There are also unexploded landmines in the border area. Stay on marked paths especially around Ta Krabey.'
The border is currently closed to nearly all travellers, including international tourists.
Thailand's Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra said on Monday that Thailand would block departing tourists.
There are exemptions in place for students, medical patients and people who need to purchase essential goods.
In the Foreign Office's advice for Cambodia, the government also shared an updated warning over the closed land borders.
It advises tourists to 'follow the instructions of the local authorities' and 'take extra care'.
Tensions between the two countries have been high since May when troops exchanged fire at a contested area of the border.
A Cambodian soldier was killed in the incident between the two countries. In the weeks since, Cambodia has banned Thai films from TV and cinemas and put restrictions on imports.
Both Thailand and Cambodia are popular backpacking destinations with many travellers visiting both countries as part of one trip.
Known as the 'Banana Pancake Trail', tourists tend to take follow a route through Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand and Laos.
Many travellers choose to cross at the country's land borders, rather than taking internal flights.
The Poipet border is one of the busiest crossings between the two countries as it's closest to Bangkok and the ancient city of Siem Reap in Cambodia.
Siem Reap is one of Cambodia's major attractions and a huge draw for tourists in southeast Asia
Local media reported that many travellers were left stranded at the crossing after the border closure on the morning of June 24.
Cambodia's casino industry is likely to be impacted by the closure as the attractions are a key draw for Thai visitors.
Casinos located in Cambodia's capital Phnom Penh are a central part of its tourism industry.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Times
2 hours ago
- Times
Bangkok has a new luxury hotel — next to the city's most peaceful park
Bangkok took the title of the world's most visited city in 2024, with 32.4 million travellers taking a bite of the Big Mango last year. Its recent starring role in The White Lotus season three has boosted its appeal further, and now the Thai capital has the ultimate luxury endorsement: an Aman hotel. Aman enjoys cult status within the hospitality industry. The brand invented the high-end boutique hotel concept almost four decades ago and has since expanded to 36 properties that remain the byword for exquisite taste. Aman is also famous, make that infamous, for charging truly eye-watering prices — just the thought of the £150,000 joining fee and £11,500 annual subs for gym membership at its New York property puts me in a cold sweat. Bank managers look away now, devoted Aman fans from Mark Zuckerberg to Kate Moss gather round: there's an argument that despite rates starting at £830 a night, its new Bangkok property is actually a relative bargain, at least compared with the group's two other urban properties. Rooms in New York are rarely less than £2,000 and those in Tokyo are north of £2,500. In Thailand you'll arrive in style because the rate includes a limousine transfer and fast-track service through Suvarnabhumi airport, where it can sometimes feel like 32 million of those 32.4 million visitors are in front of you in the immigration queue. The hotel throws in a complimentary minibar, restocked daily with everything from champagne to kombucha, and breakfast — the kimchi omelette is delicious. If that sounds something like sufficient bang for your buck, the question is: can this place deliver an authentic Aman experience? Aman, after all, is a Sanskrit-derived word meaning 'peace', and the group's enduring appeal hinges on its minimalist aesthetic and seamless service, conjuring a state of uncomplicated calm in even the most contrary guest. I did indeed feel ridiculously relaxed from the second I stepped into Amanyara's cathedral-like lobby in Turks and Caicos. I was perfectly chilled at the Acropolis-style Amanzoe in Greece and soporifically content amid the airy splendour of Amangalla in Sri Lanka. But peace and quiet in Bangkok, that 24/7 hot mess of belching traffic, human ant trails, go-go bars and general bedlam? Squirrelled away, though, in Pathumwan, the Mayfair of Bangkok, is a wondrous anomaly: Nai Lert Park. It is seven serene acres of botanical beauty and birdsong over which now tower the 36 sparkling storeys of the new Aman Nai Lert Bangkok. It's a promising location to give peace a chance. In the early 20th century Nai Lert, full name Lert Sreshthaputra, was Thailand's answer to Richard Branson, Conrad Hilton, Harry Gordon Selfridge and Willy Wonka rolled into one. He pioneered the city's public transport systems, cut the ribbon on Hotel de la Paix, one of Bangkok's first luxury hotels, opened its best department store and established its first ice factory, paving the way for all manner of sweet treats. Nai Lert's great-granddaughter Naphaporn Bodiratnangkura, who now runs the family business that includes the park, wanted to honour her ancestor's incredible legacy with an appropriately remarkable hotel, so she turned to Aman. Four and a half years and £144 million later and I'm greeted at the hotel's discreet entrance by a welcoming committee that has the poise and grace that ten years at a Swiss finishing school couldn't top. It's April 10, eight days after the launch and just two weeks after the Myanmar earthquake that brought Bangkok to a temporary standstill. I suspect there's a fair bit of swan action behind the scenes, but with an 'Amansanti'(eg staff member) to guest ratio of more than 4:1, there's never any hint of paddling in public. I'm whizzed up to the vast light-flooded lobby on the ninth floor, where the stunning triple-height atrium is anchored by a 12m sculpture, inspired by a century-old chamchuri tree in the park below and adorned with 6,000 gold leaves. It's a wildly impressive but surprisingly warm, unintimidating space. This area sashays into the glamorous 1872 bar (the year of Nai Lert's birth), which serves tea-infused martinis from a 3D-printed miniature replica of the entrepreneur's old water tank, and beyond to Arva, a romantic Italian restaurant where the truffle pasta is worryingly moreish. • Bangkok's best cocktail bars The fingerprints of the architect and interior designer Jean-Michel Gathy, renowned for his artistic interpretation of local heritage, are everywhere. Thoughtful details include the 3,000 spinning tops behind the reception desk that form the Thai numeral one in a nod to Nai Lert, the country's numero uno, tactile barklike bronze light fittings that echo the park's persimmon trees, while hundreds of metallic 'lasagne' sheets are suspended from Arva's ceiling. The 52 suites, on floors 11 to 18, are a masterclass in clean-lined understatement, a symphony of cream, toffee and taupe tones, with warm woods, baby-soft leather furniture and a mesmerising contoured installation, a sort of sexy spin on an Ordnance Survey map, across one wall. While the circular tub in the swanky bathroom is so huge, it probably should have a lifeguard on duty. Most overlook the park canopy. Mine also looks across to apartment blocks where I watch one well-groomed woman 'walk' her fluffy purse pooch on her balcony. Another more harassed female flounces into a hammock on hers while her toddler amuses himself underneath it. The fabulously cool 25m outdoor infinity pool's centrepiece is an intriguing elliptical void through which bursts an ancient sompong tree, thought to be Bangkok's third-tallest tree. Its branches create natural protection that throws every flavour of shade on your standard sun umbrella and contrasts spectacularly with a horizon of high rises. I do miss watching the procession of long-tail boats, water taxis and canal barges glide along the Chao Phraya River available from other luxury waterfront properties such as the Mandarin Oriental, but, in compensation, Pathumwan is close to upmarket dining and shopping malls such as Siam Paragon and Gaysorn Village. • 21 of the best hotels in Bangkok With such great Thai food on the doorstep, the hotel has decided not to compete. Apart from the excellent Italian cucina, the Aman also has Hiori, a lively teppanyaki restaurant with a carefully curated list of sakés and Japanese craft beers, and Sesui, an intimate eight-seat omakase counter where I'm entranced by the two chefs as they create 19 tiny courses of perfection before my eyes, including surgically sliced goldeneye snapper, delicately flavoured black throat sea perch and matcha ice cream. Wellness is a central pillar of the Aman ethos. In Bangkok it has partnered with the Hertitude Clinic, responsible for tweaking Thailand's rich and famous, to offer jet lag-slaying cryotherapy and IV infusions, while the main Aman spa menu offers a lullaby to blissful sleep. I have to peel myself off the treatment bed after my jasmine-scented Lert Siam massage. I don't have time for the three-day detox devised by the tennis star Novak Djokovic, Aman's recently appointed and first global wellness adviser. His programme includes Pilates, yoga, a circulation-improving beating with birch sticks and … flower meditation — you make a garland to lay at a spirit house in the park. • 10 of the best things to do in Bangkok Djokovic is undoubtedly a brilliant athlete but he's only ever one dodgy line call away from an on-court hissy fit so I'm not convinced he has ever made a floral tribute for the gods. But if he manages to remain in a state of uncomplicated calm at Wimbledon this year, I'll take that back and give thanks to Aman. This article contains affiliate links that can earn us revenue Susan d'Arcy was a guest of Aman Nai Lert Bangkok, which has B&B doubles from £830 ( Fly to Bangkok
Times
2 hours ago
- Times
These bars show off the best of Bangkok's nightlife scene
Forget the backpacker bars of Khao San Road — Bangkok is a playground for nightlife aficionados, with sky-high bars offering panoramic views of the illuminated cityscape and speakeasy-style hideaways crafting some of Asia's most innovative cocktails. This article contains affiliate links that can earn us revenue And sometimes you don't even need to leave your hotel. BKK Social Club at the Four Seasons Hotel Bangkok at Chao Phraya River impresses without trying too hard: gilded arches and rose gold columns channel 1970s Buenos Aires, while the recently refreshed menu includes Argentinian and Mexican-inspired cocktails. A cigar terrace adds to the grown-up charm (cocktails from £11; In the St Regis hotel, near Lumphini Park, Zuma Bangkok brings a modern take on the Japanese izakaya experience. DJs create a vibrant atmosphere nightly, with live percussionists adding energy on weekends. The sleek open kitchen setting complements a menu of modern Japanese dishes. A highlight is the miso black cod, which is rich, tender and pairs beautifully with the koi peach highball (mains from £10, cocktails from £8; For cocktails in a majestic setting visit Bar Sathorn, set in the House on Sathorn, an elegant 19th-century neoclassical mansion. This architectural wonder features monthly-changing local mixes, including 12 signature cocktails infused with Thai ingredients. Standouts include the Rice Flower (vodka-based with Thai basil and soju) and the Ambassador's Favourite, its take on Old Fashioned blending whisky, cognac, tropical fruits and Thai flower essence (cocktails from £9; • Read our full guide to Bangkok On the sixth floor of the W Bangkok, the Wet Deck offers a view of Bangkok's skyline that has made it a popular spot in Sathorn, a district known for its mix of creativity and nightlife. While the rooftop pool and bar are open to hotel guests throughout the day, it's the Sunset Splash parties that draw a wider crowd. These regular events have transformed the space into one of the city's most stylish gathering spots, where house beats flow from dusk till dark, bridging Asian and global electronic music scenes (entry £11; For something more refined, Penthouse Bar + Grill at Park Hyatt Bangkok delivers Manhattan-style sophistication across three top floors. The multi-venue space includes a gorgeous rooftop bar, but it's the signature grill restaurant that steals the show. The exclusive whisky room stocks rare single malts, while the motorcycle-themed cocktail bar draws a stylish crowd after 10pm (cocktails from £8, mains from £29; • 21 of the best hotels in Bangkok For an even more elevated experience, the bar at Ojo restaurant commands the 76th floor of the King Power Mahanakhon building in Silom and at 300m is one of Thailand's highest rooftop bars. The crystal cave-inspired design and Mexican-themed drinks go along with panoramic city views, and there's an elevator heading to the building's Skywalk observation deck (cocktails from £8, mains from £35; While the rooftop venues give you a bird's-eye view of Bangkok, the city's soul reveals itself at street level. Down in Chinatown's frenzied lanes, the Red Rose restaurant and jazz bar provides a refuge within the Shanghai Mansion, once a department store and now a boutique hotel. The venue serves great cocktails, with live jazz setting the mood on Friday and Saturday evenings (cocktails from £9; Min Sett Hein was a guest of Four Seasons Hotel Bangkok at Chao Phraya River, which has B&B doubles from £441 ( W Bangkok, which has B&B doubles from £148 ( and Park Hyatt Bangkok, which has B&B doubles from £281 (
Times
4 hours ago
- Times
Bangkok is better — and cheaper — than Center Parcs for a celebration
Last week I flew to Bangkok for a group holiday that had been years in the making and involved about 679 different messages with flight times, hotel bookings and memes about The Hangover. To borrow the Gen Z parlance, the trip finally made it out of the WhatsApp group. We were seven women, arriving from various parts of the world (London, Paris, Hong Kong, how terribly international). Our connection was that we once lived and worked in Hong Kong together, almost a decade ago in what now feels like the last glory days of Asia's world city. For this long-planned trip we considered various cities in Europe (too expensive),as well as Dubai (too hot), before eventually settling on the Thai capital (cheap, fun). When some of you are welcoming your fifth decade on Earth, the vibe is very much go big or go home — which meant I could swallow the 6,000 miles it took to get there. • 21 of the best hotels in Bangkok It turns out I'm part of a trend to supersize milestone celebrations. According to research from M&S Bank, we are shelling out an average of £2,650 on luxury trips to mark a big birthday, such as, ahem, turning 40; and 42 per cent of the survey's 2,000 respondents said they were planning a big trip in the next five years. I'm still recovering from my Bangkok bender, so I'm not planning on doing another one for at least the next half decade, but it got me thinking. First, about the cost. The great thing about choosing Thailand is that it cost me nowhere near £2,650, despite staying in the lovely Shangri-La hotel right on the Chao Phraya River. The flights were the biggest outlay, but still cost just £600; I had four massages over as many days; plus there was the shopping in chichi Chinatown. I spent £1150 in total. In August that won't even stretch to four nights at Center Parcs. Second, it made me think about the etiquette of big group trips, and navigating different interests and needs now that we're embracing middle age. Seven years ago, in a villa outside Hoi An in Vietnam, we drank the bars dry and didn't go to sleep until the sun came up. Now, with young children and serious jobs, bedtimes were … well, an entire working day earlier. Most of us got up to use the gym before breakfast; some of us even wanted to see some temples — unthinkable a few years ago. The most action took place in the bill-sharing app Splitwise, which diligently tracked our spending. Rather than eating street food on the backpacker party strip of Khao San Road, we spent evenings in posh Thai restaurants in quiet residential areas. Out went the Thai moonshine buckets in banging nightclubs: instead it was cocktails with live jazz in the Mandarin Oriental. (It wasn't all classy — one night I did manage to strong-arm the group into a party minibus and on to Soi Cowboy, one of the sleaziest strips in the city, to carry on the night. When in Bangkok!) • Read our full guide to Bangkok But of course the most important lesson is the mawkish one. Take the trip. Spend time with your friends. A decade on from meeting in Hong Kong, our group's lives are scattered across the world; having a few days to create anecdotes to feed the WhatsApp group for a few more years feels like the ultimate privilege. Let's do it all again for our fiftieths?
