Are the islands accesible yet?

[samran]

Hi everyone - am based in Bangkok and was thinking about getting out of town for a few weeks, taking the car and the family down south.

 

Was wondering if the islands are open for business yet? I hear the ferries are working but is it only for locals, or can anyone come and go now?

 

[petermik]

No

[samran]

5 minutes ago, petermik said:

No

Thanks - so why are flights being allowed?

[petermik]

7 hours ago, samran said:

Thanks - so why are flights being allowed?

Followed by 14 days quarantine...go for it

[samran]

13 minutes ago, petermik said:

Followed by 14 days quarantine...go for it

crikey! Okay, back to square one. Appreciate the prompt response!

[simple1]

Samran, aren't you a Thai citizen fluent in Thai? Why not call the ferry operator / local hotel for latest info

[KhunBENQ]

1 hour ago, petermik said:

Followed by 14 days quarantine...go for it

Does this also apply for Ko Samui?

[spidermike007]

I think they are wide open. A friend of mine on Samui recently traveled there, and had no issues. Inter provincial travel appears to have loosened up alot. However, here is his post from yesterday. Does not sound like a pleasant place to visit, at the moment. I was thinking of taking a drive down in a week or two, but does not sound like much fun.

 

Ran into Daw at post office today. (motorcycle rental lady) Found out some stuff... She's building a small smoothie shop outside a 7/11. Couple pieces of plywood, a sign, she pays 5000 bht to owner per month. She said many thai owners of business on Samui aren't coming back until foreigners come back to Samui. She said only 3 countries in future, China, S. Korea, and Russia. And a few northern Europeans. But not enough foreigners to open now and looks like islands businesses, a high % needs a full house of busy customers. Earliest she heard, December/ January, if co19 stays low in all countries. Word is from Govt., do not count on regular tourists in full, plan to work elsewhere, stay where u are, no guarantees for customers.

Daws cycle shop sits open, (she has about 20 bikes for rent, zero rented as of now) as her son now sits in office playing on phone all day, no customers at all. I drove around Samui today, saw 12 Koreans walking through Hinta Hinyai area, and out again. Place is all delapadated, from non maintenance. Busted up, broken down look, until a new owner comes back and renovates a spot for his business. A few restaurants open, no activity, no customers. Almost like a hurricane passed here last month, and a very few people are wandering around curious to look at what's left. I think unlike mainland, where tourism is minor. In Samui the heart of energy was torn apart, being tourism is everything. Definitely locals only here to support the few stores of food, the basics. Still a bit busy on traffic, but like a dead low season with no energy in town. Any action right now seems to be on Tinder. 

Edited May 28, 2020 by spidermike007

[khunPer]

2 hours ago, samran said:

Was wondering if the islands are open for business yet? I hear the ferries are working but is it only for locals, or can anyone come and go now?

If you mean visiting the island, the answer is yes.

 

Two daily flights from Bangkok, from June 1st four daily, Bangkok Air announced a price of 2,300 baht one way. Car ferries are operating, but might not be on full schedule. Some Lomprayah (catamaran) routes are operated by speed boats.

 

The major hotels/resorts are closed, and Chaweng Beach is closed down, but a number of smaller resorts are open, as well as numerous local restaurants; however probably not serving alcohol.

 

And the beautiful beaches are not too crowded...????

 

You can easily find a beachfront bungalow and if dining on you own balcony, you can drink alcohol together with your meal...????

[khunPer]

58 minutes ago, KhunBENQ said:

Does this also apply for Ko Samui?

No!

[Tropicalevo]

Samui and KPN are both open. I do not know about Tao.

Samui by air and ferry. KPN by ferry.

Where I live, many villas rented out to people looking for a beach break or guests who have been here for months. Obviously prefer Samui to their 'lock down' home country.

Rent a villa. Private pool and lots of places delivering food and alcohol.

There is no quarantine ruling.

Some hotels are open as they have had guests since the lockdown. eg Sala at Choengmon.

Forget Chaweng, it is not the only thing on Samui. Try some of the more quiet, pristine beaches. There are lots of them.

 

Edited May 28, 2020 by Tropicalevo

[samran]

1 hour ago, simple1 said:

Samran, aren't you a Thai citizen fluent in Thai? Why not call the ferry operator / local hotel for latest info

I've contacted a few on the west coast myself - defintely closed. But it was a bit slow, hence my question.

[Tropicalevo]

2 minutes ago, samran said:

I've contacted a few on the west coast myself - defintely closed. But it was a bit slow, hence my question.

As KhunPer wrote - many hotels are closed.

Travel is open. Airbnb is your friend.

[samran]

25 minutes ago, Tropicalevo said:

As KhunPer wrote - many hotels are closed.

Travel is open. Airbnb is your friend.

Sounds promising then! Thanks for the further clarification. 

[petermik]

7 hours ago, samran said:

Sounds promising then! Thanks for the further clarification. 

You will be faced with 14 day quarantine as a new arrival........

[khunPer]

1 hour ago, petermik said:

You will be faced with 14 day quarantine as a new arrival........

Do you have any proof of that statement?

[Tropicalevo]

3 hours ago, petermik said:

You will be faced with 14 day quarantine as a new arrival........

You are spreading fake news. (Or trolling.)

None of the guests that I have checked in this week are in quarantine. None of them have been told or asked to quarantine. They have come both via Suratthani airport and Samui airport.

[PoorSucker]

Treat yourself and family on a nice vacation. 

You can get good deals right now. 

For example, crystal bay yaht club 850 baht, down from 5000.

You can see how crowded the beach is here. 

 

[RickG16]

1 minute ago, PoorSucker said:

Treat yourself and family on a nice vacation. 

You can get good deals right now. 

For example, crystal bay yaht club 850 baht, down from 5000.

You can see how crowded the beach is here. 

 

Surprisingly busy when I looked.

[samran]

6 minutes ago, PoorSucker said:

Treat yourself and family on a nice vacation. 

You can get good deals right now. 

For example, crystal bay yaht club 850 baht, down from 5000.

You can see how crowded the beach is here. 

 

Thanks - will take a look!

[khunPer]

6 minutes ago, RickG16 said:

Surprisingly busy when I looked.

The beaches often gets busy from about 5 pm due to low sun and it's not too hot, busy both by locals and foreigners. Around 6:30 pm people begin to head home or back to their rooms.

[RickG16]

2 minutes ago, khunPer said:

The beaches often gets busy from about 5 pm due to low sun and it's not too hot, busy both by locals and foreigners. Around 6:30 pm people begin to head home or back to their rooms.

Well yeah that's true everywhere... still, didn't expect there to be that many people considering the current situation.

 

How busy is Chaweng right now? 

[PoorSucker]

8 minutes ago, samran said:

Thanks - will take a look!

How about The Privilege Hotel Ezra Beach Club. 

1.100 baht, down from 51.500 baht. 

Something to tell mother in law about ????

[PoorSucker]

3 minutes ago, RickG16 said:

 

How busy is Chaweng right now? 

https://youtu.be/tihJ58_qiH0

[RickG16]

Just now, PoorSucker said:

https://youtu.be/tihJ58_qiH0

Yeah I'm aware of those webcams... but they don't tell the whole story. Anywhere which is wall to wall bars is not going to busy, but the hotels might still have some guests?

[RickG16]

2 minutes ago, PoorSucker said:

https://youtu.be/tihJ58_qiH0

That road still looks in a state ????

[khunPer]

4 minutes ago, RickG16 said:

Well yeah that's true everywhere... still, didn't expect there to be that many people considering the current situation.

 

How busy is Chaweng right now? 

Dead as a dodo, except the southern public beach entrance, which looked like this last time I was there a lazy afternoon...

 

 

In front of Al's – about middle of Chaweng Beach – about same spot before and during Covid-19 lockdown...

 

 

Chaweng beach-road...

 

[Tropicalevo]

4 hours ago, RickG16 said:

Well yeah that's true everywhere... still, didn't expect there to be that many people considering the current situation.

 

How busy is Chaweng right now? 

Forget Chaweng.

It is a ghost town.

Bars still cannot open. Chaweng is a small part of Samui. Most of us who live here do not go there. Expensive and mostly for party animals. There is no partying with Covid 19.

Also, currently, there is new drainage and water pipes being installed in Chaweng.

Enjoy the rest of the island.

[RickG16]

8 minutes ago, Tropicalevo said:

Forget Chaweng.

It is a ghost town.

Bars still cannot open. Chaweng is a small part of Samui. Most of us who live here do not go there. Expensive and mostly for party animals. There is no partying with Covid 19.

Also, currently, there is new drainage and water pipes being installed in Chaweng.

Enjoy the rest of the island.

You are making a lot of assumptions about my intentions / how well I know the island huh? 

[cheapcanuck]

Samui, yes.