Thailand is renowned as one of the cheapest cities in the world to enjoy 5 star hotel accommodation at the best of times. But with the recent week long closure of both city airports by anti-government protesters, hotels struggling to cope with record low occupancy rates are slashing prices in desperate attempts to attract guests.

In what should be Thailand’s peak tourists season, hotel occupancy rates are as low as 19% throughout the country.

Prakit Chinamourpong, president of Thai Hotels Association (THA), was quoted by Bangkok newspaper The Nation;

“Some luxury hotels are running with a single-digit occupancy rate, sharply down from the average 70 per cent rate recorded in the same period last year.”

“For the overall hotel industry, the average occupancy rate this month alone has declined 19.1 per cent,” he said, adding that the impact of the Bangkok airports’ shutdown was greater than the 2004 tsunami.”

A quick search around for current rates on offer reveals some amazing bargains for travellers still willing to come to Thailand this season.

For example the Hyatt Regency Erawan, a 5 star luxury hotel in Bangkok with rooms that normally start at USD 224 on discount hotel reservation sites, is now offering rooms for as little as USD 141 in early January.

Likewise, you can also get rooms at the beautiful 5 star Bangkok Marriott Resort & Spa for as little as USD 109.

If you are looking for executive serviced apartments, the luxurious Emporium Suites Hotel on Sukhumvit Road, where the smallest room usually starts at around USD 150, can now be had for USD 119 at Agoda.com.

The recent closure of both Bangkok airports has scared away a lot of tourists in what is supposed to be the high season. This has caused a lot of hotels to be virtually empty, with one 5 star, 15 storey hotel in Chiang Mai reportedly haveing onlu 2 guests last Thursday evening.

Now is an EXCELLENT time to get fantastic rates on all hotels in Thailand if you are prepared to do a little searching online. Or if you are in Thailand now, you are in a great position to negotiate great rates as a “walk in” guest. All guests to Thailand now are sure to be greeted with open arms and more warmly than usual.

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