bberg

Once I can travel to Thailand (and other countries) without having to undergo PCR tests, quarantines, special pass systems etc, etc i will again be a tourist. Until such time I am not going anywhere unless forced by other means. I have traveled ... and I did not enjoy it at all - the insane airline handling of passengers, the insane behaviors experienced in airports for check-in and boarding, lastly the bad experience with pass systems and documentation including being scammed by insurance companies have taught me the lesson, avoid traveling until its clear. Specific for Thailand; I don't want to risk being found COVID19 positive and placed in convid19 "prison" paying up to 10,000 baht daily (reported - not experienced) and insurance don't cover it because it's not a hospital, and not a hotel, because I am not sick! Looking forward to when I can travel again and I will return to Thailand - when, in this context, it's without any ... issues in bureaucracy before traveling (likewise when returning to the country of origin) Hopefully soon and targeting after 1st July this year........hopefully is the word.

Not wearing mask - what is the health consequence?

What happens when / if persons are "found" COVID19 positive on day 1? Still punished to 10 days in COVID19 prison at own cost?

A move in the right direction. However, I will, regardless of COVID19, have insurance anywhere also in Thailand, I don't see much difference here. The 5th-day test was ridiculous but made revenue - a good business model but left many unwilling to travel to Thailand. The PCR test before traveling etc is not convenient for most travelers hence most will not bother and wait until all COVID19 related restrictions are removed. For me, I will come back to Thailand when its possible to travel without all the ridiculous rules in force to prevent a flue from doing what a flu does every year regardless, make lots of people sick and some people, around the whole world, will not survive the annual flu. Worth mentioning as a side comment to unwanted happenings - it's still 59 people every day on average, in Thailand, who pay the ultimate price in a traffic accident - not changed despite COVID19 restrictions. I say - let's start focus other issues than the flu which has a vaccine developed.

Seems to be impossible to do a Thailand weekend trip on short notice any longer. This will remove lots of travel from people in surrounding countries. The system Thailand has chosen to follow will be the end of many visitors and the damages has to some extent already happened. However, for one that fall others will rise, this may help other south east Asian countries a bigger take of short term / weekend type travelers from South Korea, Japan, Singapore etc. Vietnam and Philippines are similar destinations which may benefit nonetheless. For me personally I will not be able to travel like before, short notice, a trip to a place I used to call home for many years.

I have just returned to Korea, I did 1 week as a must do after nearly 2 years absent including foamily illness. Getting the COE was hard because the Thai embassy staff was probably not sufficient or prioritized Thai citizens - it was very stressful seeing the days disappeared but with hours left I managed to get the approval - its was pure luck and endless efforts. Thailand is generally not open for regular tourists - full stop, Sandbox programs perhaps but elsewhere not ready yet. A 7 days visit has resulted in 5 COVID19 PC test, 3 of the test i have paid 120USD, the two left is by tax people money in Korea. Quarantine hotel in Bangkok was ok but only because so few people travel so the airport organizers can cope. I read stories of people who have been subjected to positive COVID19 tests, directly or indirectly and will end of paying hundreds of thousands baht unless insurance pay which, I hope for them, is the case. I was almost rejected traveling to Ubon from Bangkok but luck on my side the latest PCR test was valid and I was granted boarding. I had issues with immigration due to e-VISA, I was the only person in the huge departure immigration last night when I arrived and was called to side due to the e-VISA item which was fast resolved. Almost all shops in the airport was closed and boarded up shut, I managed to get a coffee on ground floor next to airport link only. I have had 7 visits for hospitals for tests and to claim documentation. I hope soon the travel restrictions will become better, its a troubled road ongoing and in the immediate future but we will get there. For now I will say, based on my experience, if you go to stay in one place only its ok but be prepared to do numerous COVID19 tests at 120USD time upon coming and leaving. If you have a condo or similar and are familiar with Thailand in general its doable but much of the usual services and transport services are simply not there currently. Family holiday is not ready yet, unless sandbox perhaps, but I would advice to give it a few more months. Insurance is more important than anytime before to include all COVID19 related happenings, flight cancelation and rescheduled flexibility etc. is necessary too. You could if unlucky to be close to a COVID19 positive case face 10K USD a person easily - its a higher financial risk more than a virus risk in my opinion. We are getting there, was great to be back and I plan my next trip, hopefully a but longer in February. Keep it up folks - sunny days will return.

60K approx. 1.8K USD The revenue given approx. 200USD for 1 day quarantine including the first COVID19 PCR test + the second PCR test before departure is 120 USD that's 320 USD of the 1.8K USD directly leavening 49K THB to spend on hotels, food, transport etc, etc. over a say 14 days holiday averaging 3500 bath/day. Possibly.....

They just hoped that Jeju Air would fly in from Incheon on Friday. I can inform traveling from Korea has been nearly impossible due to the slow turnaround of COE and contacting the Thai Embassy is nearly impossible. Assume the lack of possibility to contact is down to many calling for information. Let alone, without COE or now Thailand Pass you cannot travel hence nobody can book flight consequently no flight to fly. Another massive impact is the cost of COVID PCR test - 100USD each time and the uncertainty involved if, if, if etc put people off, add that to the airlines cancellation policies are not aligned to the short 72h timeline to get everything into order most families and typical Asian travelers which is manly long weekends (few days) where you are forced to stay 1 night in quarantine at hundreds of USD and another COVID19 PCR followed by yet another 100USD/person COVID19 PCR before returning to,in this example Korea, what then left of your holiday? Its not gonna work for short time visitors which is mainstream Asian market. Until test regimes are different, i.e. cheaper and more on the spot rather than visiting hospitals and clinics traveling cannot work efficiently.

I am going on the 3rd November and the difficulties I have had obtaining certification has been something I wont allow myself into twice. I hope the Thailand pass regime will provide easier procedure for those who seek travel to Thailand. People should also be aware its not quarantine free but minimum 1 day at selected hotels which include transport to a hospital for COVID19 test and locked up to wait for the result before people can be "free". The cost related to COVID19 tests are horrendous, I just paid another 100USD for the pri. 72h flight test, I expect on a return leg to do 4-5 PCR tests these days so allow 4-500USD pre person in COVID19 PCR budget. The traveling, out of work hours etc to do and pick up documents are none budget items but also a cost for many. Although I am looking forward to the trip after 22months stuck I cannot see the main stream tourist returning in numbers, its too uncertain, to costly and to bureaucratic. I believe we will see an immediate rush and a quick fallback when tourists see the cost of COVID19 PCR test and the share time it takes overall to get the required pass. I try to remain positive and hope we all can return to somewhat normality but I don't see it just arriving yet, but a step in the right way at least.

Allow me to correct myself - reading the information I got in my AQ/SHA+ below direct copy/paste: MEDICAL SERVICE BY PIYAVATE HOSPITAL:  Transportation pick up from airport to hotel by Piyavate Hospital on arrival date  24-hour stand-by nursing at the hotel  ONE Covid-19 screening testes; at Piyavate Hospital  Daily telemedicine service 24 hours

Give lots of time to make sure the application are being handled in time - that is the key to success. The system COE is not difficult for most but the bottleneck is the system handlers are impossible to get hold of and are notoriously slow in some places. What Thailand Pass will become remains to be experienced but I doubt it will be a 5 min job all clear away you go job.

....and it will cost you a few hundred USD including PCR test and air port pick in the booking. Be aware they may require a hotel certificate if booking at AGODA etc. Its still unanswered questions and if go, start very early in the planning since it could take a long time to get all the documents to pass.

Hi - The PCR test is part of your SHA+ / AQ booking. It will be done at the hotel and the transport will be from the airport which is also included in your SHA+ / AQ booking.

A confirmed payment for a 1-night stay at SHA+, AQ, OQ, or AHQ accommodation, and 1 RT-PCR test. Be aware this is not necessary 100% true, they may also require a Hotel certificate in addition to the booking if its not a direct booking. I used Agoda and Thai embassy in Seoul in my case rejected the application (COE application) because Agoda booking did not have the actual hotels COVID19 certification approved by Thai government. Be also aware contacting any Thai embassy could take days, I have spent today 6h calling Thai embassy in Seoul and had to pretend I was Thai national to get anybody to talk to me, even then they put the phone down on me 3 times, on the 4th call I pretended to be Thai I got some kind of answer followed by a rejection of the application due to missing official certificates from the hotel. I called the hotel in Bangkok, they were very helpful and I received everything within 20min. Until I hear a good story regarding this so called opening I will remain in my view, if you don't need don't go. Unfortunately I must go due to family.

As a turn of events - last try calling Thai section of the Korean embassy after a few on hold and a couple rejections finally got through. My hotel booking was rejected and I booked a new hotel which was on an official list, its 1 day quarantine whatever people might say, at 150USD/night I got a Bangkok hotel which included transport and COVID19 tests as required. There is still a slight hope I will be able to travel next week....what a ride this has been and all common sense tell me to cancel the trip but for the old woman sake I will go if able.