October reopening?

[HappyExpat57]

Didn't I just read today a report on this forum of the government predicting levels of new cases reaching up to 45,000/day? I have a hunch that would put a crimp in an Oct 2021 full opening.

[NorthernRyland]

3 minutes ago, HappyExpat57 said:

Didn't I just read today a report on this forum of the government predicting levels of new cases reaching up to 45,000/day? I have a hunch that would put a crimp in an Oct 2021 full opening.

yeah exactly it doesn't seem likely at all. Besides that they need to announce this formally so people can plan around it. It's only 2 months away which is already tight planning for most people. If they don't announce my September 1st I think it's safe to assume it's off.

[Gottfrid]

1 hour ago, NorthernRyland said:

I've been waiting for 10 months now and I think we may just need to bite the bullet and go for Phuket. Summer is winding down and time is of the essence.

Looks like the best chance you will have at present time.

[Caldera]

18 minutes ago, HappyExpat57 said:

The same as "Why don't they enforce traffic laws with so many road deaths?" There's just nothing in it at the micro level. BiB can't be bothered.

Very true. I always have to chuckle when people mention the Wuhan lockdown as a potential model for Bangkok. No matter if you like that idea or not, there's a snowball's chance in hell that the Thai authorities could actually organize and enforce that. It requires superb planning and logistics skills, but also discipline all the way from the top down to each individual citizen. None of that available here.

[Cake Monster]

IMHO, the reality is that Thailand will be welcoming Tourists on 15 th October. 

Like the Phuket Sandbox Scheme, there will be nothing short of a Nuclear Explosion that will derail this plan.

All the lies, and betrayal of the Thais on Phuket should sound to you the very clear intentions of this Government to sell the Nations welfare and wellbeing for just a few Dollars.

And it will be a few Dollars, as many Countries are battling their own outbreaks of Covid.

Not in the least China, which has always been the targeted market for the October opening. They are now in a War against the Delta Variant, and all International travel will probably be banned by the CCP

 

[mtls2005]

2 hours ago, NorthernRyland said:

As I understand it the government said it will "fully reopen" in October

 

Actually it was "in 120 days" from some date TBD.

 

Haven't heard much about since, well, the day after the pm "proclaimed" it.

 

And "re-opening" was never, ever defined.

 

If you're holding your breath, don't.

[samtam]

17 minutes ago, Cake Monster said:

IMHO, the reality is that Thailand will be welcoming Tourists on 15 th October. 

Like the Phuket Sandbox Scheme, there will be nothing short of a Nuclear Explosion that will derail this plan.

All the lies, and betrayal of the Thais on Phuket should sound to you the very clear intentions of this Government to sell the Nations welfare and wellbeing for just a few Dollars.

And it will be a few Dollars, as many Countries are battling their own outbreaks of Covid.

Not in the least China, which has always been the targeted market for the October opening. They are now in a War against the Delta Variant, and all International travel will probably be banned by the CCP

 

And for Chinese (residents in China), there's the small inconvenience of 21 days quarantine upon return to the PRC.

[In Full Agreement]

1 hour ago, NorthernRyland said:

I agree but I'm not a tourist. I plan to say as many months as I can.

 

Still sounds like you're a "tourist".

[Cake Monster]

5 minutes ago, samtam said:

And for Chinese (residents in China), there's the small inconvenience of 21 days quarantine upon return to the PRC.

How true ! I had forgotten that small inconvenience.

[gearbox]

51 minutes ago, Cake Monster said:

IMHO, the reality is that Thailand will be welcoming Tourists on 15 th October. 

Like the Phuket Sandbox Scheme, there will be nothing short of a Nuclear Explosion that will derail this plan.

All the lies, and betrayal of the Thais on Phuket should sound to you the very clear intentions of this Government to sell the Nations welfare and wellbeing for just a few Dollars.

And it will be a few Dollars, as many Countries are battling their own outbreaks of Covid.

Not in the least China, which has always been the targeted market for the October opening. They are now in a War against the Delta Variant, and all International travel will probably be banned by the CCP

 

Sell the nation wellbeing for a few dollars? Do you think the foreigners arriving in Phuket are responsible for the current massive wave of infections?

 

I don't think fully opening Thailand would have any significant impact on the current covid crisis. And there won't be many people coming either - who is going to come to a country where the hospitals are full and there is a significant risk of catching covid?  As usual it would be returnees living here, or staying here for longer periods.

[spidermike007]

1 hour ago, ubonjoe said:

I cannot see them doing away with the quarantine entirely.

There is already proof that being vaccinated and having a negative covid 19 test before arrival is not enough. Look at how many have tested positive after arriving in Phuket.

They might be able to lower the quarantine to 7 days for those that are vaccinated.

I suspect most of the foreigners who test positive after arrival, is due to being exposed to infected the Thais and Burmese. 

[ubonjoe]

5 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

I suspect most of the foreigners who test positive after arrival, is due to being exposed to infected the Thais and Burmese. 

That would of been on the flight to here. They do a test as soon as your arrive for the sandbox. But some tested positive for their 2nd test.

It would be interesting to know which vaccine they got in the country they were in before traveling to here.

 

[jonga80]

3 hours ago, internationalism said:

there is still phuket and samui sandboxes. After 2 weeks you can travel by bus to bangkok and onwards to anywhere.

Or do ASQ in bangkok/pattaya area, but it's being locked in as room and is more expensive, than ALQ's.

I think on special visa you can stay up to 9 months. Or better sort out some other one, even marriage visa

I want to go to visit my family, my idea was in the end of this year. But I only will go if I can comeback to Thailand, and with the current situation I don't see how can I go to Spain and comeback to Bangkok.

 

The sandbox still working? If I go to the Phuket Sandbox.... after two weeks can I come to Bangkok? Really???

Edited August 14, 2021 by jonga80

[ubonjoe]

2 minutes ago, jonga80 said:

The sandbox still working? If I came to Phuket Sandbox.... after two weeks can I come to Bangkok? Really???

Yes you can.

Nok Air starting flights from Phuket to Utapao on Monday. I assume the will have those special flights until domestic flights are allowed again.

[internationalism]

yes, sandbox is still working. But can be closed (and re-open) with a short notice of a few days or few weeks.

Don't plan anything more than a week or two. You can get air fare just with a few days advance. Even already after your pcr test. Just get your travel bag ready to make on spot decision.

[HashBrownHarry]

2 hours ago, ubonjoe said:

There are no international flights arriving in Chiang Mai at this time. That means only arriving in Bangkok or Phuket is possible at this time. There is also the Samui sandbox with flights transiting through Bangkok  to there.

Can you transit through BKK to get to Phuket or must it be a direct flight?

 

When left i bought my return ticket from Europe to BKK only as the sandbox was not on the go then, am i going to have to throw that away and buy a new ticket direct to HKT?

 

Thanks.

[jonga80]

• Quote

   

  • Vaccine Certificate/proof of vaccination
  • ThailandPlus alert application on mobile phone
  • RT-PCR COVID 19 test before arrival in Phuket
  • COVID-19 Insurance
  • Certificate of Entry (COE) issued by Thai Embassy/Consulate
  • Stay at SHA+ Hotel in Phuket and Sealed Routes
  • Pre-paid RT-PCR COVID 19 tests in Phuket

   

  I'm reading the requirements, I would like to save all the possible money, it's expensive to do the Sandbox? I saw in Agoda some hotels 600 bahts per night, I expected more expensive. Are there any extra expenses that I don't know about?

[ubonjoe]

4 minutes ago, HashBrownHarry said:

Can you transit through BKK to get to Phuket or must it be a direct flight?

At this time there are no transit flights at BKK to Phuket.

But Thai Smile is starting some "charter flights" from BKK to Phuket. Not sure you will be able to connect to it. If you do not have checked luggage it might be easier to do.

[Espanol]

1 hour ago, HashBrownHarry said:

Can you transit through BKK to get to Phuket or must it be a direct flight?

You can transit through BKK to get to Phuket, but final destination in your ticket must be Phuket. 

 

You may not flying to Bangkok and once there booking a flight to Phuket. 

[Espanol]

13 minutes ago, jonga80 said:

it's expensive to do the Sandbox?

Besides airplane tickets and booking SHA plus hotel, you have to pay PCR before boarding your airplane to Phuket, get a $100.000 travel insurance, pay in advance 8000 bahts for 3 more PCR once in Phuket and about 1000 bahts for private transport from airport to hotel. 

[HashBrownHarry]

11 minutes ago, Espanol said:

You can transit through BKK to get to Phuket, but final destination in your ticket must be Phuket. 

 

You may not flying to Bangkok and once there booking a flight to Phuket. 

 

 

 

 

 

What airlines are flying BKK - HKT?

 

Do you know anyone that has done this?

 

Thanks.

[Espanol]

Just now, HashBrownHarry said:

What airlines are flying BKK - HKT?

 

Do you know anyone that has done this?

 

Thanks.

Sorry, no idea at the moment.

 

I just mentioned which is the normative right now, but no idea about if there is an airline flying XXX-BKK-HKT.

 

Turkish Airlines had that option before, but they already cancelled that flight.

 

However, a few weeks ago I was looking for tickets to Phuket in Skyscanner and some of the option included transfer in BKK. I think that KLM was one of those. 

 

[HashBrownHarry]

37 minutes ago, Espanol said:

Sorry, no idea at the moment.

 

I just mentioned which is the normative right now, but no idea about if there is an airline flying XXX-BKK-HKT.

 

Turkish Airlines had that option before, but they already cancelled that flight.

 

However, a few weeks ago I was looking for tickets to Phuket in Skyscanner and some of the option included transfer in BKK. I think that KLM was one of those. 

 

thanks, i actually hold a KLM flight, i will investigate.

[kingstonkid]

On 8/14/2021 at 10:31 AM, NorthernRyland said:

I agree but I'm not a tourist. I plan to say as many months as I can.

Then get get your visa sorted, book an ASQ either here or in Phuket, get a ticket and come.  No one is stopping anyone from coming here.

 

As stated the country has been open for tourism for almost a year as long as you ASQ.  

[kingstonkid]

On 8/14/2021 at 12:50 PM, spidermike007 said:

I suspect most of the foreigners who test positive after arrival, is due to being exposed to infected the Thais and Burmese. 

Not necessarily the funny thing is that these shots do not prevent you from being a carrier.  You can get the shot and still be positive later.  The shots do not prevent covid they only minimize the reaction.

Therefore you can get on a plane with someone from any country that has been vaxxed and they can still have covid 19 D or L 

[kingstonkid]

22 hours ago, HashBrownHarry said:

What airlines are flying BKK - HKT?

 

Do you know anyone that has done this?

 

Thanks.

Unless someone is flying into Samui or Phuket in the next week I would suggest that it is a <deleted> shoot.  You do not know when or if they are going to change the rules.

To me if I am coming to BKK then I would book to BKK and do the ASQ in BKK.  Simple and easy no hassles and o chance of the rules changing.

[WhiteBuffaloATM]

Current Phuket Sandbox simply must continue from 1 Oct. for “ high season”.High Vax Rate. Minimal Delta Impact. Many reasons to visit.

Beaches clean / uncrowded, Resorts, Restaurants, Temples, Forests, Diving, Gym, Squash, Golf, Main Mall are all OPEN.Very FEW Tourists. Thailand Travel possible after 14 Days. Just avoid the large modern cities.

Great for Families, Couples, Singles Chilling. Low Prices…….

 

Have been here now 17 months as semi retired Resident Property Owner

(since 2004) with Family so yes trolls & naysayers I DO know Phuket very well indeed.

[HashBrownHarry]

21 minutes ago, kingstonkid said:

Unless someone is flying into Samui or Phuket in the next week I would suggest that it is a <deleted> shoot.  You do not know when or if they are going to change the rules.

To me if I am coming to BKK then I would book to BKK and do the ASQ in BKK.  Simple and easy no hassles and o chance of the rules changing.

Have you done the ASQ in BKK yet?

 

The difference between being locked in a room and being able to roam around phuket freely is huge, it's a no brainer to me.

[billd766]

On 8/14/2021 at 10:42 AM, sanuk711 said:

I believe it's the 32nd..........................................

Still in Octember though.

 

It could be the 12th of never.

[billd766]

On 8/14/2021 at 1:39 PM, jonga80 said:

I want to go to visit my family, my idea was in the end of this year. But I only will go if I can comeback to Thailand, and with the current situation I don't see how can I go to Spain and comeback to Bangkok.

 

The sandbox still working? If I go to the Phuket Sandbox.... after two weeks can I come to Bangkok? Really???

quote "The sandbox still working? If I go to the Phuket Sandbox.... after two weeks can I come to Bangkok? Really???" 

 

Possibly. That can only happen if you get a negative result on all 3 of your nasal tests. One positive of even a false positive and you are off to the ASQ asap.

 

You will have to pay for those 14 days from your own pocket. Also, though you may have the $100,000 insurance, if your country had put Thailand on the red list, the insurace company will use that as an excuse not to pay up.