chang1

10 hours ago, ChC1 said:

The currently CoE requirement will stop 99% of vaccinated tourists. If you want more tourists, make sure everyone is vaccinated, so no family with children, they can wait for the second stage of opening. Then make sure only a vaccine certificate is required to apply CoE. Then you may see more adventurous tourists. Be selective, yet be more open, I wonder if the Thai government agencies can do this?

Why no children? They have much more natural immunity than adults so, as far as I  know, are no more riskier than vaccinated adults. 

I don't see the point of all the testing, if tourists are fully vaccinated they are worse than locals. One test before flying in and then 3 lateral flow tests after arrival should do. 8000 baht for pcr tests is way over the top and cost us (3 of us) more than the hotel. It is far more important to keep out any new more dangerous strains than worrying about a few more cases brought in by tourists/returnees. 

COE is a big deterrent, I told my mate not to even think about tryptophan come with us because of it. Although I doubt anyone would be refused it there is a real perceived risk in having to prebook everything including insurance before even passing the first stage. As even the hotel and testing is non refundable and flights can only be changed not refunded it is a big commitment. If he could have had his itinerary passed and then booked accordingly that would be much better. There is also the need to self isolate before flying as you don't want to get infected before the fit to fly test. 

Next they have to guarantee onward travel is available as most of us have other places to that we have to go to. 

I was told no beer with my meal yesterday. Not a big deal but why? We were the only people in the restaurant, 2 adults and a kid. Bars maybe but restaurants - pointless. Then there is the wearing of masks outside. The last figure I heard was masks reduce transmission by 30% indoors. Outdoors I thought the concensus was that they did nothing except if people could not keep apart in such places as stadiums. Until they can promote these sandbox islands as restriction free tourists are not coming. Just an alcohol ban will stop them yet alone all the other nonsense. 

41 minutes ago, stevenl said:

4 hours ago, Brickbat said:

Morons ! it has to be ! Risking their lives to holiday and irresponsible to allow this to happen . Responsible governments have shut their borders. 

The international tourism has not been responsible for any significant covid numbers.

I am vaccinated so at extremely low risk and probably safer here than in the UK. 

Responsible governments vaccinate. The UK is now opening up - too soon? Maybe but it has to be done sooner or later. Just look at the normal death toll on Thai roads yet we still use them. If a few anti vaxers are lost along the way it is their fault alone (or YouTubes). The ones I feel sorry for,  are those unable to get vaccinated for whatever reason and those dying, like my brother, (possibly) due to resources being diverted. 

Tourists coming relatively risk free is the lesson that needs to be shouted out to those who think the sandbox is dangerous. Tourism is desperately needed here so the fewer restrictions are imposed the more will come - even genuine holiday makers!

42 minutes ago, the green light said:

how Phuket can get away with it and not be under the lockdown conditions.

NO malls

No health spa

No swimming pools

No travel

No restaurant...only take out

 

We've just started our time at Karon beach. 

No malls - good

No health spa - not a problem 

No pool - ours is great and only 2 metres from the door.

No travel - I presume you mean onwards travel - in 2 weeks if still the case is the biggest problem by far.

No restaurants - plenty around unless you can't go native. 

First thing to do is rent a bike - 200 baht a day. The roads are quiet and a joy to use. No taxi vans around apart from the one that sits all day at the front of the hotel, my heart bleeds for the poor guy trying to screw us for 400 baht to go a few kms to patong. The fool would get me every night if he dropped to 200 each way assuming there are some bars open. 

The weather although not great is good for me, a good onshore breeze all day long. Nai Harn was great today with nice big waves.

So even if we don't get to see the in-laws it will not be a waste of 5 weeks. 

Worst bit so far - having my brain scraped by the person in one of the booths in the photo - training definitely lacking but my eyes stopped watering after a few minutes and don't think there is any permanent injury. As for money - about 2000 baht a day all in for food and the bike. 

The flight from Manchester to Singapore had 16 people on a wide body plane (but was full of cargo) - the smaller plane to Phuket was about 3/4 full. 

Only our 2nd day but so far very enjoyable. 

2 hours ago, Whale said:

Ah the smell of money has the real estate boys frothing at their mouths. Greed again. Give them half a chance and they will concrete over the whole island and not give a damn.

That's what ruined Samui after the tsunami. They left Phuket and moved the 2 week holiday makers over. Turned coconut island into Spain so now not worth going to anymore. 

2 minutes ago, Guderian said:

And this would help young Thai families trying to buy their first home how?

Only good for wealthy land owners so may have a chance to get passed.

I think restricting land ownership to a few rai would help the average Thai far more. Why does anyone need to own vast amounts of land? If you go back far enough no-one owned any land so it has never been anyones to sell or give away. Yet most people seem to have no problem with super rich owning vast amounts of land while poor working people are forced to rent meaning money only flows up to those who do very little.

Maybe a land tax that increases exponentially with the amount of land owned would solve this. 

3 hours ago, kickstart said:

5,500 baht a day all in ,in  English that would be 120 GBP ,I would say it would be difficult to finding  any cheaper, that is for one person , for a couple it  would not be a lot more .

Unless it is a flea pit, and you eat one bowl of rice a day .

Normaly  when you go on holiday you go to enjoy your self ,not the above. 

£120 a day for hotel and food is cheap? You must have stupidly expensive tastes, if a couple can't easily live on over £200 a day. Our hotel is about £550 for 15 days including breakfasts for the 3 of us. Another 25000 Baht for tests still leaves plenty for something with the rice. 

3 hours ago, tonray said:

That's what must be padding the bill....the Covid swabs three times a day....

We are flying to Phuket this week. The transfer and testing will cost more than the hotel. 

5 hours ago, Bkk Brian said:

Former red-shirt leader Nattawut Saikua has just posted on Facebook that he has tested positive for #COVID19. “I was vaccinated with 1 dose of AstraZeneca vaccine on 8th June. On 8th July I went to test for COVID-19. I was told a moment ago that I have tested positive.”

https://twitter.com/ThaiNewsReports/status/1413867805661798400

 

Why is this important?

The vaccines don't stop you getting covid19. They greatly reduce its effects and chance of dying. They also reduce the risk of infecting others.