cerox

7 hours ago, Bluetongue said:

So look for a relatively early announcement of whether Airport is to open on 1 July. Airlines will need as much lead time as possible as will potential passengers. And i think it will be a s**t show to start off with especially on the inbound side if they dont revoke the Covid test and insurance requirements or give operators enough time to establish those things. I notice some Airports in Europe are offering outbound passengers same day Covid tests with paperwork. 190Euro.

Could you please give us the airports or source you have seen to be offering the same-day covid tests and some details?

I read Vietnam wants to open and issue eVisas in July, but there are no details yet whether they require some kind of covid test or quarantine. I need an alternative in case Thailand does not open until August.

please delete; posted in wrong topic

I had an April Emirates full flex ticket, which can be cancelled for free, so there is not even a need for another reason to cancel it. I cancelled the ticket on March 10th.

Was approved, but did not get any money back. Many calls and e-mails later - still no money.

In the beginning of May I wrote them a letter to their airport office in Europe threatening a lawyer - refund was done 2 days later.

Had to do something similar with the Eurowings airline 2 years ago when I was entitled to 600 EUR because of a flight delay.

Now I learned my lesson. Next time I only write letters. Do not bother anymore with calling the airlines.

Of course you can book a ticket for June.

The airlines need some money. After that, they can suggest you to rebook your ticket for free for a later date but still they have some money to work with.

Here we go again.

Foreigners complaining about the pollution in Chiang Mai. Instead of moving out they stay and will start the same complaining cycle again December until May. See you in December.

You have to wait.

I cancelled a full flex ticket with Emirates more than 1 months ago. Was approved but never received the money. Took them now 3 weeks to reply me and tell me it will take more time.

Sorry, I do not know that because it is all new.

But I would start asking in a private hospital - surely they will be interested or know someone so they can earn money. Please keep us posted if it worked for you.

The medical certificate was somewhere in the Forum here before Thailand closed down. Best course of action would be to wait for the new entry requirements and the new forms if still required - until then you could ask around so you know where they are willing to do it.

How did you do the 14day isolation in the Philippines? At home or did you have to pay for some hotel?

Keep my fingers crossed about the quarantine.

Hopefully at least they wave the quarantine depending on the departing country. So for example if the Philippines opens up earlier and has no quarantine and is not on Thailands "quarantine blacklist" I could wait out there for a few weeks. Also much easier to get the covid test there. Duterte said they cannot afford more lockdown.

Cambodia, although so dependent on tourism, I really doubt the government will care at all. Could be closed for a long time.

What is "Thai approved health insurance"?

The requirements before mentioned health insurance with 100k USD cover. Which I have with AXA international health insurance covered up to 1.275.000 EUR. I prepared a written confirmation by them too that Corona is covered.

I am however worried about the quarantine. It is a waste of time if I have to go to some hotel and a huge waste of money. Esp. for people who leave Thailand regularly - how are we going to pay 100 USD for a "nice IO approved hotel" + "hotel food" for 14 days? Every entry to Thailand 1400 USD. Great.

Corona certificate - difficult in Europe for me now. But I think easier in countries like Philippines which might open up first. Pay some money in a private hospital, they should be happy to do the test.

Health insurance is not a problem for those who already have it or those who are younger, because most new policies cover pandemics and Corona (health insurance, not travel insurance).

However I find it very difficult to get this Corona lab test in Europe. So we might be forced to fake it - just talking out the truth what many might have already thought.

Does anyone know how the current quarantine looks like for foreigners?

Assuming it was May 1st today and a foreigner could enter, would he be quarantined at arrival point (e.g. Bangkok) or is it self-quarantine at home as mentioned before? If it is self-quarantine I wonder if that person was allowed to travel from Bangkok to another province to be home or if there is a quarantine facility in BKK. Also the cost would be interesting to know. For sure that quarantine for 14 days will not be free and might be some expensive hotel?

Lots of doom&gloom here.

But yes, I am aware restrictions might be still heavy in May. So the truth when we can come back might be somewhere in the middle.

I expect them to relax step by step starting in May for economic reasons.

Will be interesting which country opens up first and which will be the most clever route to Thailand. Already some flights scheduled from Europe to Thailand starting April 30, arriving May 1st.

I guess the restrictions with insurance and corona test could be there for a few months more.

I still do not know how to get that test. Maybe it is easier to fly to another SEA country, which opens to, do the test there - private hospitals will take money and do it I guess compared to Europe where they tell me politely to f*** off.

Quiet entertaining thread.

The girls are one of the reasons why I always kept my assets in my home country and never talked about it with any girl.

Whenever I am in Thailand, I rent - I have no property. I have no car. I can always say I have no money and they believe it. I love it.

I recently (two weeks ago) bought health insurance, compared different ones (the big majors) and most of them covered Covid. It seems to be that only travel insurances are the ones that exclude pandemics/epidemics.

Most health insurances I found to be fine. I am still concerned about the covid test however, do not know how I can get the test once Thailand opens its border again.

I am in the same situation and in Germany now.

Until April 30th we cannot enter Thailand. After that lets wait until Thailand is open - they might just extend it another 1-2 months.

Also when the country is open again, we need details about the quarantine and corona test. For now I could not do such a test in Germany - I think it is the same in other countries. They are too busy and cannot test / fill out forms for "people on holiday".

Quarantine: Need to know details. If we enter Thailand lets say in BKK but we live in CNX, Hua Hin etc. can we go there after entering via BKK and self-quarantine for 14 days in our own accommodation? Or do we need to quarantine in BKK? If yes, which accommodation could we get? Are hotels open for that? Etc.

I think after the country is open it will take some time until we know these details.

Also at least for me and some others here it is important that some of the neighboring countries open up too. Makes travel into Thailand easier - not everyone can enter via Bangkok depending on their history. Also for the quarantine it might be easier to enter Thailand close to where you live.

Lots of waiting ahead. Flights seem to be the smallest problem. At least I can see many airlines have already scheduled flights for May- but less than before of course, but not an issue for flexible people.

After 2019 smoky season, which I watched from remote, I said I will give it another year to see if it is always like that (new pattern) or if it was an exception.

I am now not in CNX but I was there in December/January, which caught me totally by surprise that they now burn 6 months per year instead of the already long 3-4 months before.

There is nothing you can do apart from leaving/moving which I will do too after that virus thing when I am able to return to Thailand.

Do not waste your time:

- measuring AQI (it is bad anyway so just use your purifier)

- listening to people who tell you it is no problem

- listening to people who complain about it all day and tell you what Thais should or should not do - will not change anything

Something in Northern Thailand obviously has changed. So much more to burn. I do not know what it is - e.g. more forest burning, mushrooms, corn fields, or corporate burning. Whatever it is - it does not matter because it has changed and is here to stay.

The days of "I live in Chiang Mai for 9 months of the year" are over. It is a constant thing now.

Bye.

Dont wanna live in pollution all my life.

Why do they go out every year to extinguish the fires? Let them burn, more pollution. Everyone will love it.

I hope Corona needs all the resources so they have no time for the fires. They put the fires on, so why not breath it in for a long time.

As far as I understand the requirements 100.000 USD (not THB) is required as a minimum coverage.

I am also still working on that to get back in one day. Maybe someone has good advice for new insurance policies.

I do not know how this medical cert. can be so easy for some people here. Might depend on the country.

A close relative of mine was in Spain and now needed to do a test when returning to Germany for work. Test result is not here yet after 6 days.

Also they only test emergencies, people with strong symptoms and when it is required (e.g. by the employer as in this case).

Also I still do not understand the health insurance requirement: does it specifically need to state "cover for corona"? I have no idea how to return to Thailand with these requirements. That "Frank" broker who sells "corona insurance" is only up to 1M THB.

Those who know how, please share your knowledge instead of boasting how easy it is. I do not go back now but preparation is necessary.