Staying at a Hotel During Bangkok Flooding?
7 Ways to Handle It Without Panicking
Whenever heavy rain hits Bangkok, one of the questions that tends to worry people heading to the Ramkhamhaeng area is, ‘Is Ramkhamhaeng flooded?’ This is especially true for those coming in from other provinces to sit an exam at Ramkhamhaeng University, take care of some business, or stay at a hotel they’ve already booked in the area.
If you get to your hotel and find heavy rain or flooding nearby, don’t rush outside and try to make your way through the water. Once the rain stops, the water level may slowly go down.
So, let’s take a look at how to handle the situation safely when you’re staying at a hotel and find yourself dealing with flooding.
1. Don’t Rush Out of the Hotel Yet; Check the Situation First.
When there’s heavy rain, don’t immediately head out. Check the traffic, the route you’re planning to take, and any weather or flood warnings first, especially if you’ll be travelling along the main roads during rush hour.
You can also ask the hotel staff. People in the area usually know which routes are affected, which places are better to avoid, and when it would be better to leave.
Sometimes, sitting in the lobby with a cup of coffee is simply better than going outside and spending the next several hours sitting in traffic.
2. Check the Route Before Calling a Grab or Taxi
On a day of heavy rain, the route we used yesterday may not be quite so convenient today.
Before leaving your Ramkhamhaeng hotel, check the map and see what the traffic is like. It’s also a good idea to have another route in mind, especially if you have somewhere important to be, such as an exam, a job interview, a meeting, or the airport.
If you’re booking a car through an app, you can also ask the driver whether there’s flooding along the way and whether there’s another route you can take instead.
Also, give yourself some extra time. Even if the road in front of the hotel is not flooded, traffic on nearby roads could still affect your route and cause more congestion than usual.
3. Don’t Walk Through Floodwater If You Don’t Know What’s Underneath
Even if the water doesn’t look very deep, don’t assume that it’s safe to walk through.
Floodwater on the road can hide what’s underneath, such as potholes, manhole covers, curbs, broken glass, or things that have been carried along by the water.
If you really need to leave the hotel, ask the staff whether there is a safer way out. For elderly people, children, or anyone carrying a lot of luggage, it may be safer to wait for the situation to improve rather than try to walk through the water.
4. Have an Exam at Ramkhamhaeng University? Don’t Wait Until Exam Time to Leave.
This one matters particularly if you choose a hotel near Ramkhamhaeng University because you have an exam or some business to take care of at the university.
If the weather forecast says there’s a chance of heavy rain in the morning, wake up and get ready earlier than usual. Check the route before leaving, and give yourself more time than you think you need.
One advantage of staying near the university is that at least you don’t have to begin the journey from the other side of Bangkok.
Even so, being nearby doesn’t mean you don’t need to allow extra time, particularly on a day with heavy rain.
Arriving five minutes late for an exam can be a serious matter. Waking up 30 minutes earlier, on the other hand, means you get to spend a little longer eating breakfast!
5. Keep Your Phone and Power Bank Ready
Your phone can become just about the most important piece of equipment when a journey stops going according to plan.
You’ll need it to check maps and weather updates, contact your driver or family, or find another route.
If you can see that the rain is getting heavier and is likely to affect your journey, charge both your phone and your power bank before you head out.
It’s also worth saving the hotel’s phone number, in case you’re already outside and need to ask how to get back to your accommodation.
6. If You Don’t Need to Go Anywhere, You Can Stay at the Hotel
Plans can change. Safety comes first.
If you don’t have anything important scheduled that day and it’s raining heavily outside, changing “Today we’re going to visit all five places” to “Today, we’ll stay in” does not exactly mean the trip has been ruined.
Spend some time at the hotel. Rest. Have something to eat. Make a new plan, or wait until the rain eases and go out later.
Bangkok will still be here. You can carry on sightseeing tomorrow.
7. Before You Leave the Next Day, Check the Weather, Flooding, and Traffic
Just because the rain has stopped doesn’t mean travelling will immediately return to normal.
Some areas may still have standing water, while other roads may be backed up with traffic from the heavy rain.
Before leaving the hotel the next morning, spend a few minutes checking:
- The weather forecast
- Traffic conditions
- The route you’ll be taking
- Whether your destination is open as usual
- How much extra travel time you should allow
A little preparation can save you a great deal of trouble later in the day.
Have somewhere to be around Ramkhamhaeng University during the rainy season? Staying nearby is more convenient.
If you’re coming for an exam, visiting the university, going to work, or running some errands in the area during the rainy season, choosing a hotel near Ramkhamhaeng University can reduce the amount of travelling you need to do each day.
Regent Ramkhamhaeng 22 is located in Soi Ramkhamhaeng 22 and is suitable for anyone looking for a hotel in Ramkhamhaeng or accommodation near Ramkhamhaeng University, whether you’re coming to sit an exam, take care of some business, or simply stay in Bangkok.
Especially on days when the weather is less than cooperative, having somewhere to stay close to your destination makes planning the journey considerably easier.
And if you wake up to heavy rain, there’s no need to panic.
Check the situation first. Check your route. Give yourself extra time. And if you don’t actually need to go anywhere, wait for the rain to ease.
Because rain or flooding may force you to change your plans. It does not have to ruin the entire trip.