ppatrick

Thanks for the nice tip! Your screen name made me smile though ????

Thanks for the info. Do you know whether Grab has SHA+ certified rides? I'm coming for the Sandbox program. Someone here told me that I need to use the SHA+ certified transportation. My final destination is Bangkok. So I'll be in Phuket for 7 days and probably not renting a car (thanks for the advice though). I speak Thai fluently (native level). Maybe I'll try to call the hotel to chat with them to see if I could get a better deal. I know that the "farang price gouging" is real.

Thanks. Does Grab have SHA+ certified vehicles?

Thanks for the details. My hotel increases the transportation charges based on the number of passengers: * 900 baht per way for 1-2 passengers * 1,200 baht per way for 3 passengers * 1,500 baht per way for 4-6 passengers Hmm...

LMAO at "pimped orange color limo" ???? Yes I'm coming from abroad. Thanks for the info. So the regular price is around 500 Baht. The SHA+ certified is double that amount. They probably only spray some alcohol and spend a few minutes to rub the seat inside for the SHA+ certified ones. Man, that's a good way to make an extra 500 Baht in a few minutes ????

Thanks for the info. Did you pay that 800 Baht to the taxi or another hotel shuttle? So, this price include someone waiting at the airport with name on a sign? Interesting ????

Hi, I'm coming to Phuket by end of this month. The hotel (The Marina Phuket Hotel) that I made the reservation had an option of paying 900 Baht for a ride from the airport to the hotel. Based on google map, it would be a 45 min ride. I've traveled to Bangkok a million times and always use Taxi. Unless the taxi rate is wildly different in Phuket, a 45 min ride shouldn't cost 900 Baht. In Bangkok, it would be around 300 Baht. Does 900 Baht charge sound right to you (who live in Phuket or know the rate)? If it's not, which route should I go? ride share or Taxi? Please advise. Thanks.

I've got your point. I might get infected from other people on the plane too. Frankly I'm accepting that risk because I am not on vacation/holiday. I would not go on vacation anywhere during pandemic unless it's family related (like in this case).

The link is really helpful. Thank you ????

Thanks for the link. This is very very helpful. I used Google Translate and found the content that you mentioned: ● Foreign passport holders must undergo a molecular test 72 hours prior to departure and must have a negative result (not required for Thai passport holders). So, it sounds like Thai passport holder could board the flight without the test results to allow them to return to Thailand. It makes sense.

I don't know whether I would fail. I'm just paranoid. This is my 3rd plane ticket that I bought to go to Thailand already. The first ticket had to be cancelled because the Test & Go was scrapped out. The second ticket had to be cancelled because Thailand Pass denied me. Now I just got the approval of Thailand Pass with my 3rd plane ticket. It would be a real bummer if I couldn't board the plane because I test positive. I've heard that Omicron is very contagious. Statistics show that 50% of the people who have Omicron don't have symptoms. Since I'm super healthy, it's possible that if I'm infected I wouldn't have any symptoms.

Thanks for the info. I'm also flying Qatar to Phuket as well.

They just added another 72 hour PCR test requirement (yeah the 3rd PCR test) before boarding the plane. I wonder how would they enforce this? The airlines don't know the Covid rules of every country. My guess is that this newly added 3rd PCR test before boarding seems useless because by the time Thai officials at Thai airport get to review, another PCR test on arrival would be more accurate (because it's newer), right?

Hi, I'm planning to visit my family in Thailand around end of this month. Lots of Covid requirements are confusing to say the least. Yesterday I talked to a Thai Pass hotline agent. She told me that airlines would not allow me to board the plane unless I show the 72 hour negative test result. This sounds odd. Would the airline force passengers to abandon their plane tickets? The 72 hour negative test result sounds like a requirement to enter Thailand. The common sense tells me that airlines don't know the rules of every country. Hence they cannot enforce it (deny boarding when passengers have no test results). Also, does it matter if the passengers have the PCR or rapid test results? PCR takes multiple days to get the results. 72 hour limit is really pushing IMO. Rapid test makes more sense to me. I would like to know if anyone could board their flights to Phuket (that's my destination to participate in the Sandbox program) without the test results? Please share your experience. Thanks.

Thanks for the info. Yes I have both US and Thai passports. I don't know that having a Thai passport would exempt the 72 hour PCR test. Could you provide the source?

Thanks for the info. Is the PCR test for when arriving Thailand or for leaving the US?

Very good point. How do I find out that? Is it different from airline to airline? My last travel frim Puerto Rico to USA didn't require any Covid test. It would be odd if the airline wouldn't allow you to board the plane because you don't have the test results. People pay money to buy the plane tickets. Would the airline force people to waste their tickets (and other hotel booking and what not at the destination)? I'm curious.

Yes you could fly to Bangkok after you spend 7 day and test negative in Phuket.

Hi, I'm traveling to Thailand to visit my family. I already got denied for Thailand Pass twice. Bummer. So I'm trying the third time. The first 2 times I chose the Sandbox program. However I would like to try the Alternative Quarantine (AQ) because it has less requirements. The major is that I don't need to have a PCR test results 72 hours before flying out. I'm afraid of failing the test 72 hours before flying. Therefore I'm willing to be in the quarantine longer in Phuket to increase the chance of actually getting there. The https://tp.consular.go.th/en/plan website has 3 options. The AQ option is the right one. It say "Booking for 7/10/14 days ...". See the red circle in the attached picture. So, how many days do I need to book the hotel? 7 or 10 or 14 days? It's not clear there. I'm coming from the US. Please advise. Thank you, Patrick

Great idea! Only people who have business or family matters should be allowed to enter Thailand during this pandemic time. Tourists can visit Thailand months later when things get better.

Hi Bear9, I feel your pain. I too had the same problem waiting for Thailand Pass and eventually had to cancel flights and hotels. The cancellation for full/partial refunds have to happen more than 24 hours before the departure time. Luckily I cancelled because I later got denied on my Thailand Pass application. The reason was because they couldn't read the hotel reservation which was a load of <deleted>. It's English, plain, and clear. How could they said it's blurry. Unreal. To answer your question, I applied for Thailand Pass on December 26 and just received the denied results today January 5. So roughly around 10 days or maybe 8 days (because the 31st and 1st were holiday). Good luck

Which agent? Does it really work? Most advertisements sound better than the actual services/products :-)

Thanks for the info. I'll cancel my Bangkok flight and get a Phuket flight.

Thanks for the link. It's really helpful.

Hi, I will be visiting Thailand for a few months from early January to late March. Originally I planned to do the 1 day Test & Go in Bangkok. Yesterday they suspended the Test & Go. The only option left is to go to the sandbox Phuket. I already bought a ticket to fly from the US to Bangkok. Do I have to get another ticket from Bangkok to Phuket? The arrival time in Bangkok is already late (about midnight). I doubt that I would be able to find another flight to go to Phuket on the same night. What to do? Sleep at the airport? Try to find another flight that's more direct to Phuket? I've been to Thailand over a dozen times. This would be the most complicated time... Please advise.