CG1 Blue

So you're saying if somebody tests positive when they arrive in Thailand they can self-isolate at a place they choose, and do not have to pay to stay at government approved 'quarantine' accommodation? I think you're wrong.

As has been stated many times in this thread, airlines DO NOT require covid test results before boarding. Why would airlines put obstacles in the way of generating desperately needed revenue? If passengers are travelling to a country that requires a negative test result, the airline may ask for proof before they board. That is driven by the destination country, not the airline.

I'm hearing similar stories. Jakarta has popped up a few times among friends / friends of friends. These other destinations will see a rapid increase in tourist numbers. Maybe then Thai authorities will see sense. Might be too late by then though. I mean, if you look at somewhere like Chaweng on Samui there is nothing left for tourists apart from the beach now. So sad.

Johnson lifted restrictions because he vast majority of the people in the UK are fully vaccinated and the majority of the public don't want any more restrictions. Plus he himself is anti-lockdown. This is clear from his actions throughout the pandemic. If he had his way the UK would have followed the Sweden model. I'm all for criticising Boris for his many failings. But being cynical about everything he does is pointless.

Insurance might (or might not) cover the cost. But insurance won't stop your long awaited holiday from being ruined by forced quarantine. Unless you like being banged up in a hospital for most of your holiday...

I don't think the airlines require testing. Proof of vaccination maybe, but not tests. Why would they put barriers in the way of reviving their battered businesses? If the destination country requires proof of a test the airline ground staff might check that you have the necessary proof.

I know exactly where you're coming from, and you're right. But we're not going to change that, as the Irishman found out.

Hanging out in these kinds of establishments, getting plastered and enjoying the ladies is a dream for most blokes, but it comes with some risks. Bill padding is one of those risks and if I ever got stung (I don't recall it happening to me in 20+ yrs) I would politely ask them to check the bill. If it was obvious they weren't going to back down I'd swallow my pride, pay the bill and leave - and never go back there / tell friends etc. It's just not worth arguing a lost cause and getting in a fight. The same could be said of girly bars in the UK. I've heard loads of stories about blokes being ripped off, or beaten up by door staff if they refused to pay. If you want scam free safe beer drinking go to a Wetherspoons. But it's not half the fun ????

Yeah, officially the route is stopped until October. You'll see some prices for October next time you get a chance to look. I don't know if an airline like BA can bring forward a route restart date, for example if Thailand removes the tourist repellent measures sooner rather than later. Probably not easy to do.

Only problem is, BA scrapped the BKK-LHR route a few months ago

Rumour has it the discussion on Friday will be about dropping the pre-departure test, not the test on entry. So the risk of testing positive on entry would still remain, putting off the vast majority of travellers to Thailand. Great opportunity for Cambodia/Vietnam to attract all the would-be Thailand tourists.

If travelling to Cambodia via BKK, will people still face the danger of being captured by the Covid gestapo at Swampy during transit?

There are no Covid tests required for fully vaccinated people holidaying in the main European destinations as far as I'm aware. For example, a UK citizen flying to / from Spain, Canary Islands etc., zero Covid tests are required on either leg of the journey. Those countries understand that once the virus is already widespread, testing incoming tourists is pointless. And I can't see airlines putting unnecessary barriers in the way, given that most airline businesses are on life support.

It's good to hear about any easing of the entry process. BUT, the PCR test before arrival in Thailand is not the main problem. The post-arrival tests need to be scrapped if they want tourist numbers to recover. Most tourists will not travel to a country which tests you on arrival, with the chance of being hospitalised for most of your holiday at great expense.

I have those exact symptoms plus a few more. I tested negative, so I just have man flu. Hope your GF gets over it fairly quickly like the majority seem to with Omicron.

Herd immunity is absolutely real. It may not be achievable with our current Covid vaccines because they don't fully prevent people from catching the virus. Maybe that's what you meant? There's a good explanation here: "For example, if someone with measles is surrounded by people who are vaccinated against measles, the disease cannot easily be passed on to anyone, and it will quickly disappear again. This is called ‘herd immunity’, 'community immunity' or 'herd protection', and it gives protection to vulnerable people such as newborn babies, elderly people and those who are too sick to be vaccinated." https://vk.ovg.ox.ac.uk/vk/herd-immunity

So basically you told the IO you live in Thailand, right? And you were trying to enter as a tourist. I assume that was the reason.

Ukraine hasn't joined NATO, and is nowhere near being admitted to NATO

Yeah because Putin has always been a big supporter of LGBT rights.... ????

You'll struggle to find anyone who supports the invasion of Iraq, so I'm not sure how this supports your argument.

The highly unstable Putin is guaranteed to launch a freaking nuclear war if NATO countries get directly involved. Supplying weapons and finance to Ukraine to help them repel the invasion (not sitting on their butts), and strangling the Russian economy is the best we can do at this stage. War is an expensive business and Putin's piggy bank will be pretty empty soon. Plus the sanctions make it more likely one of his cronies will try to take him out. Why do you think this Russian businessman is offering a bounty - out of the goodness of his heart?

So are the discos hidden away somewhere, i.e. not in the main town centre?

I stayed in LP because I wanted to visit the Kuang Si Falls. Didn't see anything resembling a disco in LP, in fact everything in town was tame, and closed by about 11pm I think. But it was a lovely peaceful place, and Kuang Si is breathtaking (I geek out on nature treks). I'll never forget the sound of the bell ringing monks walking the streets in the early morning. Going to LP was my calm between the storms and I loved it.

Freelance scene, really? Before I visited Laos (Luang Prabang) a few years ago I was told Laos women were strictly off-limits unless you agreed to marry them, and heard stories of this 'rule' being forcibly imposed by the locals. So basically, guys who had indulged in a bit of nooky were forced to marry the girl. Is this just an old wives tale?

That reminds me, having been to Vietnam a couple of times I was always put off being a regular visitor by the hassle of getting a visa, the long queues at arrivals, and the over officious nature of the authorities there, i.e. never quite knowing if you might get banged up by the police for something trivial. Right now though I'd say Thailand trumps Vietnam in these areas. So maybe Thailand is the new Vietnam ????