MarkyM3

I can believe it! The hospital aligned to my ASQ place is Bangpakok 9 Intl Hospital. Since I've passed the day 1 test, next opportunity to fail is on day 7 or if my temperature submissions go awry before then (I'm having to take temperature twice a day and submit photos via Whatsapp or Line to the "nurse" here...). I'd hope I'd just be kept here longer, should I test positive, than told to go to hospital/hospitel but the truth is - no-one knows for sure. Arrival at BKK - near deserted. Flight from Doha was near empty as well.

Easy to say it's paranoia though. You have been lucky so far. I touched down yesterday and am in ASQ in Bangkok. 2 years away and urgent personal business to deal with that couldn't wait anymore. Its a risky strategy if you test positive. I have 10 million gbp of insurance cover but will it cover asymptomatic hospital/hospital? Trying to get a definitive answer was unsatisfactory. Passed day 1 PCR so the crunch comes on day 7 with 2nd test. From what i can see, my hotel has a clear tie in with a private hospital and you have to consent to paying up if you "need" to be treated. Whether you have any say in the matter, who knows

Scrubbing Rajawongse off the list then for telling porky pies ???? I'm also interested in getting a suit and some shirts made when I'm in Bangkok but not sensing much consensus from the comments so far. I'm on the short and stocky side so off-the-peg stuff doesn't work that great for me. Going to agree with TheHammer2021 (probably the only time ever) that the Narin website is very poor....when it finally loads. Doesn't instill confidence, despite Tropposurfer's positive comments.

Thanks...that was what I'd read intitially but anyways, I'm sticking with AQ. Can't see the point in taking the risk of infecting between day 1 and day 5 and facing asymptomatic hospitalisation. Plus it's now become clear that applications for revised T&G won't resume until 1st Feb, which was no good since I depart the UK on 2nd Feb. Did the Thailand Pass application yesterday and got it approved in less than 24 hours.

Just spent 3.5 weeks in the US. Found the situation pretty normal. Am in the UK now and there are a lot of cases but there has never been a move to plan 'B' because hospitalisations and deaths have not followed the upward trajectory in cases. People don't have another year to wait imo, especially those losing their jobs and businesses. Already nearly 2 years into this.

What isn't clear also (at least to me) is whether they will allow people entering after 1st February to apply for a T&G TP now or whether the TP site will not allow applications at all until 1st February. In my case, I arrive on 3rd February, so can't wait until 1st Feb to apply on the off chance it works and is turned around in less than 48 and will have to stick with my AQ arrangements. Cut-off for my is Monday morning UK time. I'll apply for TP via AQ at that point if no progress. Already got my 60 day SETV.

I agree 100% and I'm hardly looking forward to arrival in Feb for 5 months with things as they stand. Howeve, in Asia at least, the picture is hardly better. I planned to travel in the region and, as of now, can't even get into Malaysia or Vietnam. Philippines is 5 day quarantine I believe. Singapore does have quarantine free entry but several tests post-arrival. So the Asia picture isn't great. Perhaps South America etc. are better destinations for those who are flexible. FWIW, I just spent Christmas and New Year in the US and the atmosphere was very normal. I took one antigen test 24 hours before departing UK and that was it. A recommendation to do an antigen on day 3-5 and I was given a kit when arriving in Chicago. No obligation though and it would be home isolation on your own account. The UK and US figures are high but hospitalisation/death rates have not climbed in a corresponding manner and they will be the first out of this Omicron wave. Shutting up shop simply is a waste of time here and the sooner we learn to live with this virus, the better.

I think they are but I'm mainly talking about people crossing illegally from Myanmar, which has hundreds of miles of borders with Thailand. As do other countries. Myanmar in turn borders Bangladesh, which borders India etc.. I just don't see what this T&G scheme is achieving, it's AQ-lite and is a real fudge.

Indeed, I'm only coming in Feb-June for essential personal business that has been on ice for 2 years. Two of my friends who want to travel to the region have dropped the idea.

The vast majority of C19 cases are coming in across the porous land borders and have been since the start of the pandemic. Foreigners arriving by air, being double or triple vaxxed and tested before and on arrival, carry a relatively low risk. The lack of testing in Thailand means no-one has any idea about the real prevelance of C19 in the community. People testing positive on day 5 of this scheme will most likely have picked it up in Thailand.

Coming to same conclusion. I arrive on 3rd Feb from the UK. This day 5 test means a risk for picking up C19 while walking round outside, assuming you pass the day 1 test, and then facing the possibility of hospital/hospitel sanctions and the aggravation around getting an insurer to pay for it if asymptomatic. It would be handy to be let out of the room, though, to go poolside/sunbathing as I'd assume that's low risk if ensuring socially distancing/hygiene (and not expecting many guests about anyway....). In any case, the TP website still shows the Test & Go option hasn't been updated so it's not selectable as of now. I'm not willing to wait more than 8 days before I make my TP application so if it's not sorted by next Monday then I am just applying via the AQ method.

Wish you the best in your new home, Simon ????. Mauritius sounds like a better bet for now!

I live 50/50 UK/Thailand ordinarily and what media I read in either country really has little to do with the points I previously made, if you study the discussion. They have absolutely nothing to do with me being unhappy at all. I just like to address what I perceive as rose-tinted double standards from certain posters on the forum. I accept Thailand for what it is, as I do the UK, and behave accordingly. Otherwise I wouldn't spend time in either place. Nowhere is perfect. But that doesn't mean I'm not going to point out holes in people's reasoning here or to keep my head in the sand. FYI, I read the Bkk Post and Nation occasionally. They are very poor newspapers generally. As you well know, political criticism is not well tolerated in the country. I prefer to receive my news from a variety of other sources with servers not based in the country. And...I clearly mentioned earlier some examples of the double standards pertaining to previous posts..crazy defamation laws (Computer Crimes Act), front loading of the senate etc.

I don't care which side of the political spectrum you inhabit. That's not the point. The point is about an open society and a free media.. of which Thailand has precious little of either, whether or not the country is nice to live or retire in. Whether you like what the UK media represent is your issue. There is plenty of it available and no state censorship of it as of now. The BBC or Guardian represent a soft left view. Plenty of other independent media around. You completely missed the point. And...ti address your political point...with 23k+ people crossing the English Channel in dinghies last year I'm glad the govt are finally waking up. Most Brits are fed up with it. 40k+ in 3 years via that route alone. The UK is one of the softest touches around. But you don't need to worry about it in any case, surely? Living in a country which accepts no refugees...????

Thought you were moving to Northern Cyprus?! Agree 100% with everything you say btw ????

Are you serious? ???? BoJo is on the verge of resignation/leadership challenge due to the media onslaught. I'm in the UK, you clearly are way off base. There's plenty wrong with the country but I don't see evidence of a Computer Crimes act which allows hotels to sue guests posting reviews they dislike or cops shooting rubber bullets at democracy protestors. Open your eyes man.

I thought your comment was a pisstake but seems not? Prayuth and his democratically appointed senators make the rules, no one else ????

Decided to stick with current AQ hotel because revised T&G says I have to spend 5 days at one hotel anyway, rather than 7 for AQ, and still do the 2 * PCR tests. The differences will be I can get out of the room if I pass Day 1 test and won't need the 3 meals a day delivered thereafter. I have asked them if they will give me a discount on that. That's all assuming the T&G website is adjusted quickly to allow T&G applications to be filed now where they become effective after 1st Feb, otherwise I can't leave it to last minute and will just have to apply for the Pass under AQ.

Advice needed...arriving 3rd February from UK. I've just got my 60 day tourist visa from the London embassy and had to submit evidence of accommodation as part of that. I'd booked ASQ at one of the Centre Point hotels in Bangkok but there is free cancellation until 31st January. Haven't commenced application for the Thai Pass - was going to apply under the ASQ category but it now seems not required! Presumably it's OK to change my accommodation booking now to a T&G package at Centre Point or elsewhere as soon as these options show and then apply for Thailand Pass on that basis? Note: Thailand Pass website https://tp.consular.go.th/en/plan still has Test & Go option greyed out. Presuming that will change in the next 24 hours....if it's not selectable until 1st February then people like me will be stuck with AQ.

I'm coming in early Feb for 4 months for essential personal reasons, having been unable to travel for nearly 2 years. First time I can say I'm not looking forward to coming! And, having to cough up nearly £1k for a decent ASQ place (impossible to do sandbox because all travel must be booked at same time and I booked flight to BKK in October, expecting reopening by December...) The tourist season is dead, even if test and go resumes. Particularly with the idiotic stance of hospitalisation of asymptomatic c19 cases. Way too much paperwork to do as well. Fact is, c19 new variants are seeping across land borders, regardless of international arrivals, and it is well established in the local population for a long time now. The hysteria is particularly weird when you consider there are circa 25k road deaths a year...

He's on my ignore list, the facts and ol Lou don't have much of a relationship. Unfortunately I still have to see his musings in quoted posts. Meanwhile, the AseanNow reactionaries are clearly out in force in this thread justifying 2 on 1 violence over beer. Makes me wonder why they ever came to "lawless" Thailand given their slavish desire for their interpretation of law and order and irrespective of whether the facts support it?!

Sad to hear that. I regularly stayed near Benjakitti when in Bangkok and used it most days for walking. Not been in Bangkok for 2 years so was looking forward to the "new improved" version. What on earth they are thinking getting rid of the wooden decking and not even allowing access to what replaced it......C19 paranoia?

New infections plateau at 90k last 3 days in UK. Little to no corresponding increase in hospital admissions. Feels to me like hysteria is the main driver https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10333125/Covid-cases-stay-flat-fifth-day-row-90-629-expert-says-Omicron-peaked.html

Meanwhile hundreds/thousands come across porous land borders and have done throughout the pandemic......If the Thai authorities truly want to seal their borders then it ain't gonna happen.

Flew from Heathrow to Chicago with United in "Premier Plus" on Friday. Dire is the word...disinterested and sometimes rude staff, no better than economy class. Old 767, despite the cabin being tarted up. Had similar experiences in the past. Delta are the best of the US legacy carriers. Gulf and Asian airlines are way ahead of legacy airlines in US and Europe in all cabin classes.