Ok, had enough. Where can I go in SE Asia?

[CG1 Blue]

So normally I'll spend a fair bit of time in Thailand every year. My last visit was Jan 2020, then of course Covid happened. 8 months on and I'm stuck in the UK, listening to depressing Covid news stories, and no nearer to visiting LOS. The latest Phuket experiment is of no interest to me, because I can't take more than 3 weeks off work at a time, and I have no desire to be holed up in a hotel for 2 weeks. 

 

I've reached the point where I need to get away and I can't wait any longer for Thailand to open it's doors. I've spent a lot of time previously in Singapore and HK, and briefly visited Vietnam, Cambodia, Philippines, Laos etc. 

 

I'd love to hear from learned TVF members about where I could go that will a) let me in the country, and b) offer me some of the many joys that Thailand provided before Covid. 

 

Thanks in advance! 

 

[Upnotover]

You will be better off seeking the "joys" of Thailand at your local Chinese massage parlour.  I don't think any country is open and certainly not for a short holiday.

[CG1 Blue]

18 minutes ago, Upnotover said:

You will be better off seeking the "joys" of Thailand at your local Chinese massage parlour.  I don't think any country is open and certainly not for a short holiday.

Thanks, but maybe I shouldn't have chosen the word "joys". As you say, I can get the female 'company' at home. For me the joys include tropical climate, jungle treks, fishing, beach life, Thai food etc etc. 

[redwood1]

20 minutes ago, CG1 Blue said:

Thanks, but maybe I shouldn't have chosen the word "joys". As you say, I can get the female 'company' at home. For me the joys include tropical climate, jungle treks, fishing, beach life, Thai food etc etc. 

Go to Mexico....

[NightSky]

Unfortunately its a global pandemic, the entire world is affected in some form or other.

[CG1 Blue]

4 minutes ago, redwood1 said:

Go to Mexico....

Where would you recommend in Mexico? I've been to Mexico a couple of times. Cancun with a gf, and Playa Del Carmen with my daughter. 

[CG1 Blue]

5 minutes ago, NightSky said:

Unfortunately its a global pandemic, the entire world is affected in some form or other.

Agree, but I'm not willing to trash my entire life for a virus

[redwood1]

1 minute ago, CG1 Blue said:

Where would you recommend in Mexico? I've been to Mexico a couple of times. Cancun with a gf, and Playa Del Carmen with my daughter. 

It depends what your looking for?

City life

Beach life

Deserts 

Jungles and pyramids..

Cheap living

Expensive living

 

[daveAustin]

I hear ya, but probably best to sit tight while the second wave does its thing. All a bit risky booking flights even for sanctioned places... one could end up quarantining out and in!

[CG1 Blue]

2 minutes ago, redwood1 said:

It depends what your looking for?

City life

Beach life

Deserts 

Jungles and pyramids..

Cheap living

Expensive living

 

Beach life I guess, at this time of year. Jungle stuff would be a bonus. Seen enough pyramids. Budget not really an issue. 

[Jack Hna]

Cambodia is open but it's a hefty deposit with a quarantine prior to releasing you into the wild. $2000 deposit plus insurance required too.

 

 

 

 

[CG1 Blue]

5 minutes ago, Jack Hna said:

Cambodia is open but it's a hefty deposit with a quarantine prior to releasing you into the wild. $2000 deposit plus insurance required too.

 

 

 

 

Good to know, thanks. Do you know how long the quarantine is for? 

 

 

[Jack Hna]

Just now, CG1 Blue said:

Good to know, thanks. Do you know how long the quarantine is for? 

 

 

Pretty sure all are 2 weeks as that is time needed to spot the covid.

 

 

[redwood1]

Well my favorite beach area in Mexico is Tulum....Beautiful beaches......The area use to be dirt cheap but since about 2000 the prices have gone up a whole lot....But with Covid I bet some great deals can be had......Also not far from Tulum are some spectacular clear cenotes you can swim it......

 

A few hours from Tulum is a town called Palenque......The town is not to special but its right near a national park also called Palenque.....You can rent cabanas right on the edge of the park.......The national park is natural jungle with waterfalls,howler monkeys, and Mayan ruins......Many people think they are the best in all Mexico....

 

I have been to these places a number of times and hope to go back some day....

 

Mexico is huge but here are a few ideas.....

 

[spiekerjozef]

2 hours ago, CG1 Blue said:

I've reached the point where I need to get away

To spread the virus?

[ezzra]

1 hour ago, CG1 Blue said:

Agree, but I'm not willing to trash my entire life for a virus

The thing is that now days it's not up to us where to go, Covid  detect us where we can go and what we do, and so it shall remain until a vaccine will be found...

[shdmn]

2 hours ago, redwood1 said:

Go to Mexico....

Yes, Mexico is opened for tourism and depending where you are there are flights.

Edited September 18, 2020 by shdmn

[shdmn]

2 hours ago, CG1 Blue said:

Where would you recommend in Mexico? I've been to Mexico a couple of times. Cancun with a gf, and Playa Del Carmen with my daughter. 

Cancun is the most popular area but I would recommend the west coast because it's less popular.  Mazatlan, Puerto Vallarta or Ixtapa.

Edited September 18, 2020 by shdmn

[baansgr]

Firstly you need a country that you won't have to quarantine for 2 weeks when returning to UK...however they seem to be adding so many at short notice it's hit and miss. SE Asia dosnt offer anywhere at present. Some parts of Greece are still OK to visit, still warm enough but it's not the tropics and although Greek food is wonderful, maybe not what you are looking for.

[CG1 Blue]

8 hours ago, baansgr said:

Firstly you need a country that you won't have to quarantine for 2 weeks when returning to UK...however they seem to be adding so many at short notice it's hit and miss. SE Asia dosnt offer anywhere at present. Some parts of Greece are still OK to visit, still warm enough but it's not the tropics and although Greek food is wonderful, maybe not what you are looking for.

Last week the UK removed Thailand and Singapore from the quarantine list. Fat lot of good that is when it's not reciprocal though. 

Greece is an option, yes. 

[CG1 Blue]

9 hours ago, spiekerjozef said:

To spread the virus?

I don't have the virus. And nor does anybody I know. 

[Nout]

10 hours ago, NightSky said:

Unfortunately its a global pandemic, the entire world is affected in some form or other.

Bulgaria is open as is Macedonia but they are not SE Asia.

[from the home of CC]

10 hours ago, CG1 Blue said:

Where would you recommend in Mexico? I've been to Mexico a couple of times. Cancun with a gf, and Playa Del Carmen with my daughter. 

stay away from tourist traps, you'll have a better time..

[Nout]

10 hours ago, daveAustin said:

I hear ya, but probably best to sit tight while the second wave does its thing. All a bit risky booking flights even for sanctioned places... one could end up quarantining out and in!

What about the 3rd wave,  4th Wave, 5th Wave .Its here and its not going away.

[stouricks]

8 hours ago, baansgr said:

Firstly you need a country that you won't have to quarantine for 2 weeks when returning to UK

Thailand was just removed from the UK list of 'clean' countries, so no quarantine needed......YET!

[Billpro785]

Cambodia has a 14 self isolation, as said before, you need to deposit 2000.00USD upon arrival . You also need to buy the health insurance policy for 90.00 as well. I've been looking at The Dominican Republic for a trip, There is no test to enter, and no quarantine either. Plus the government is offering free health insurance to tourists for Covid 19. 

[CG1 Blue]

4 hours ago, Billpro785 said:

Cambodia has a 14 self isolation, as said before, you need to deposit 2000.00USD upon arrival . You also need to buy the health insurance policy for 90.00 as well. I've been looking at The Dominican Republic for a trip, There is no test to enter, and no quarantine either. Plus the government is offering free health insurance to tourists for Covid 19. 

Never been there, might take a look. I'll be checking the weather first - as I assume they have a hurricane season, being in that neck of the woods.  

[Kalorymetr]

Come to Portugal, lots of Brits here, town I stay in I started calling "British village".

[searcher22]

CNN: As Asia's 'travel bubbles' fail to materialize, travelers face prospect of long winter at home

[simple1]

Check out if can travel to Sri Lanka / islands off east coast of Malaysia