UTH001

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I like to go to Vientiane for a day trip. Seem to recall that after Covid, a one night stay was required but don't know if that rule/requirement still exists. Possibly now to just enter Laos in the morning and return to Thailand in the afternoon (with Thai re-entry visa)?

3 hours ago, austhai said:

I think for most tourist 300 bt is not an issue. But for principle wise it should be waved for us working here with social security & some private insurance. Plus we pay more taxes than many here. Maybe to wave it on return flights bought this end & proof of work or tax card. Of course also for expats on a non immigrant with proof of insurance. Maybe too much work for them to check so only Thai passports waved.

I agree, don't think too many won't visit because of that fee. BUT: I am also annoyed that I will have to pay this fee each time I enter. But I am curious how they will include that fee in the ticket price, but exclude Thai nationals. Will they require airlines and booking systems to change their IT systems to make that distinction? Or eventually set up kiosks at airports instead?  In addition to the absolutely useless re-entry visa (Bt. 1,000), double or triple pricing (plus their plans to make hotel rooms for foreigners more expensive...) and me paying Thai Income tax each year (which close to 90% of Thais do NOT...). And being required to have Bt. 800,000 in my account for five months of the year, yip, they really make foreigners welcome!

 

Just started taking Melatonin 2mg, not working for me. Increased to 6mg (three tablets), still not being able to sleep well. At least though, no hangover feeling in the morning. Guess it works for some people and not for others. I wish I could get cannabis on prescription...

1 hour ago, Andylongtime said:

As I know first hand that the Koh Samui police are corrupt from top to bottom. I’m sure the boyfriend payed for his escape and the police will resell the drugs. 

Would be interesting to know what actually happened to the 'boyfriend'...

My experience? I get a tax residence certificate each year. But ONLY after I have paid some taxes here. Not paying any taxes = no tax residence certificate, at least in Udon Thani!

Same with the Thai Income Tax number, by they way. You only get that, once you are paying taxes.

On 5/13/2022 at 7:07 PM, croftrobin said:

 

Rubbish

 

I came to Thailand on the 2nd of May. My UK bought travel insurance covers me for 10 million US Dollars. This was accepted for the Thailand Pass.

 

If you do not know, do not write rubbish.

Well, I am thrilled for you, of course. But there is possibly a slight difference between ME LIVING HERE and YOU NOT. AXA travel insurance is not accepted (purchased locally, which I have to do as I live here!), I am told to buy AXA SAWADEE instead. 

And I rarely to never write rubbish, just by the way!

On 2/5/2022 at 11:20 AM, Bvor said:

FYI see attached from ThaiEmbassy.com website - note it is an agency & not gov't............up to you. 

Really don't quite understand all this: AXA has a normal travel insurance (Bt. 3,138 for one year) that covers medical expenses like Covid up to Bt. 2,000,000 (US$59,000). Now that the requirement has been dropped to US$10,000, why is that insurance not acceptable. But one is required to buy the far far far more expensive AXA Sawasdee insurance?

13 hours ago, Meat Pie 47 said:

Well I have news for you try any normal shop or 7/11 in Oz to buy alcohol is a no no you can only buy alcohol in bottleshops but they are open all day not in supermarkets but some have a bottleshop attached but not in a supermarket or 7/11

What's that got to do with the topic at hand? Australia has had a history of very weird alcohol laws, mostly copied from the UK. I remember the days when being a 'bona fide' traveler, you could drink as much as you liked on a Sunday afternoon and then drive home...

Was told a few weeks ago by one Post Office that packages to the US can only be sent by courier, completely incorrect (and the 'suggested' rate was R2,150). Went to another post office and posted for R990 (airmail), without any problems. And yes, overseas shipping has become very expensive via Thai Post. Will no longer do it but post overseas, not worth it. 

Funny thing though? If I post in Germany via Deutsche Post / DHL to the US, the cost is a third, the new rates by Thai Post are a complete rip off.

9 hours ago, hotchilli said:

Just been notified from the health authority in my province that boosters will be available from 3 months after your #2 jab.

Phizer being offered if you has a mix of Sino/Astra or 2x Astra.
Astra if you had 2xSino

Being a 'dirty falang', very interested what the 'rules' will be put in place for boosters after 2x Pfizer. 

5 hours ago, josephbloggs said:

 Yes vaccinated people can still get infected (two double vaxxed in my household have had it - very mild symptoms) but you get rid of the virus faster and are therefore contagious for a much shorter time, ergo vaccinated people are putting fewer people at risk then unvaccinated, simple fact.

https://theconversation.com/no-vaccinated-people-are-not-just-as-infectious-as-unvaccinated-people-if-they-get-covid-171302

 

I do believe in free choice but also believe society as a whole has a responsibility to each other and it is up to each business who they serve, and up to each employer who they employ.  It will leave some people out of things but that is their choice and this is just the way it will be worldwide if you want to eat out, catch a flight, go to an event.

In Singapore a company can legally terminate an employee if they refuse to be vaccinated or refuse to disclose their vaccination status.  Other countries are moving this way too.  In Singapore also there is no free medical care if you willingly decided not to vaccinate.

Personal choice is fine, I am all for it. But health insurance premiums for non vaxx people should increase as they pose a higher risk (and potentially higher cost to the insurer). 

After all the glowing reports about Roojay, I signed up with them. I paid my premium on September 29, got the insurance papers on October 9 (via email) and then, nothing. I realized on October 27 that I had not received the insurance confirmation to be put onto the car window. I called, I was promised to get it via email (to print out myself). Nothing. I contacted them via the app on October 28, nothing. I called again today, someone eventually called me back. Turns out they 'forgot' to send it to me (not that they admitted to that, of course), only posted it on October 28, it is still 'on the way somewhere' (policy starts tomorrow). And all that seems perfectly ok for them, no apology, no nothing, <deleted> weak service, if you ask me. 

On 10/14/2021 at 12:03 PM, Bkk Brian said:

Dissent in the ranks again, this is not what Prayut said in his speech:

 

"All that visitors will need do is to show that they are COVID-free at their time of travel with an RT-PCR test undertaken before they leave their home country, and do a test in Thailand, after which they will be free to move around Thailand in the same way that any Thai citizen can do."

 

 

Glad you mention THAI CITIZENS: How will that work for them? The usual PCR test before boarding the plane to Thailand. But what happens when they have landed at Suvarnabhumi? PCR test or no PCR test? Just curious..

1 hour ago, TheFishman1 said:

That COE is preventing many people from coming here they should do away with a TIT

Not sure if it is the COE, I think the Covid insurance is a bigger issue (and quite costly!)!

On 10/5/2021 at 9:58 AM, Neeranam said:

The Thai government look after foreigners more than their own. How many Thais do you know who  have had Pfizer? How many expat? 

What a silly comment! Out of the 1.5 Mio doses donated by the US government (donation free of charge!), 1.35 Mio go to Thais, 0.15 Mio go to foreigners. Seems that yesterday in Udon Thani, hundreds of THAI students got Pfizer. Please stop your racist postings!

I am planning a one week road trip (by car) from the NorthEast to the NorthWest. That's should be possible without much hindrance, I expect? Anyone has more information?

8 hours ago, Mac Mickmanus said:

No it wasn't  that law was bought in to stop people from drinking all day long , to stop people from having a beer in the morning /afternoon and then keep drinking all day 

And of course THESE people don't have a fridge or access to ice...

42 minutes ago, pagallim said:

As of 27th September, 37,576 international arrivals in Phuket (from 1st July).

I am not arguing that number. But I know ONE PERSON personally who is a resident here and 'did' Phuket to avoid hotel quarantine in BKK. But like others have stated, I am pretty sure that the number of  REAL tourists (people who don't live here or have ties to Thai families) is miniscule.

On 9/27/2021 at 5:28 PM, Mavideol said:

and they still want to open, if there are enough "desperated" visitors to come...... these government likes playing with people's life and well being

It is not just the 'desperate' visitors. I really need to go to Europe to get a few important things done, I have tried to go several times, but quarantine and (expensive and useless) Covid19 insurance made me decide NOT to go. It is a travesty that residents are treated like this (Thais too, of course)!

1 hour ago, placeholder said:

But the insurance has to last as long as your visa does. So if you're in thailand with a retirement visa and it expires sep 22, 2022, your covid insurance is going to have to cover that entire length of time.

Which of course makes no sense whatsoever, as it is fairly unlikely that I develop Covid19 after possibly having caught it overseas three months after arriving in the country...

I am pleased that there has just been an announcement to reduce hotel quarantine to 7 days for fully vaccinated travelers entering Thailand. But what about the compulsory Covid insurance? It's all fine for real tourist to pay for say 4 weeks insurance, but what about Non-O visa holders? My visa renewal is in October each year, and if I decide to travel overseas in say November, I am stuck with having to pay for 12 months Covid insurance, which is completely ridiculous (and costly at Bt. 23,000!). Is anyone aware of any changes to this rule?

1 hour ago, RichardColeman said:

Unless those steps to reopen are :

1. Drop COE

2. Drop Quarantine.

3. Drop Insurance demands.

4. Drop PCR tests.

 

Then they aint coming !

 

I really cannot comprehend how TAT can talk of OPENING UP anything, while all these restrictions are kept in place. I have been waiting for quite some time to go to Europe (not only for 'pleasure') but with these restrictions (or 'silly rules'?), I just cannot. My visa renewal is in October and returning in December would mean 10 months Covid insurance, which would probably set me back US$1,000. I am fully vaccinated, I don't mind doing a PCR test on the way back (well, one to board the plane, one on arrival), if that is really deemed necessary but not all that other <deleted> too. Besides, even if 5 foreigners arrive daily with Covid19, surely that's not exactly putting millions of Thais at risk, considering the daily OFFICIAL numbers currently hover around 15,000. I feel like I am in prison, don't like that feeling much!