Travel after completing Sandbox

[pj123]

I read here: https://royalvacationdmc.com/blog/phuket-sandbox/

 

"Guests must stay at least 14 Nights in Phuket before traveling to any other Province around the Country. They will need to do an RT PCR test 72 hours prior to Departure. In addition, they must present it with the COVID 19 Vaccination certificate to the Checking Point at this Destination. "

 

Is this correct? I am thinking of someone who will do their 12 day test on 29 September, Night 14 is 1 October, so they will fly to Bangkok (if available by then) on 2 October. If they have their Day 12 test in the morning of 29th and fly to Bangkok in the afternoon of 2nd, they cannot rely on their 12 Day test to meet this requirement for a clear RT PCR test for onward travel as it is more than 72 hours

 

So in this example he should try to do his Day 12 test as late as possible so it falls within the 72 hour rule, or fly as early as possible on 2 October. Or do another RT PCR test.

 

 

 

 

 

[impulse]

Good luck finding a flight...

 

Best to wait until closer to the day.  The rules and conditions on the ground are changing all the time.  Any advice you get today will probably be invalid by then.

 

[Espanol]

6 hours ago, pj123 said:

someone who will do their 12 day test on 29 September, Night 14 is 1 October, so they will fly to Bangkok (if available by then) on 2 October.

When he checks out of hotel he will receive a free certificate of sandbox complete. 

 

With this document he can board the plane (if any), bus or ferry going to next destination in Thailand. 

 

Anyway, On September 29th comment at your front desk where are you planning to go and they will tell you your options and can book for you.

 

 

 

Edited August 18, 2021 by Espanol

[chilly07]

Stay put. There's a pandemic on and Thais can't get vaccinated.

[SteveMdmt]

Are there any people reading this thread who have recently completed quarantine or sandbox and have experience of traveling to other parts of the country once released ?  Would be interested to hear what the situation is on the ground ... no flights, inter-provincial buses, etc

[pj123]

My reason for asking is we have an engineer traveling from Europe to do some work for us and he will be using the Sandbox before flying to Bangkok or maybe U-Tapao. I want to make sure his planning is based on the most up to date information. I will also be using the Sandbox in the first week of November.  

[geisha]

At the moment , there are only the south islands you can travel to outside of Phuket. The ones who have the same Sandbox rules. There are no domestic flights ( bar one I heard for Utapao) once a week os something. No buses tor travel into mainland travel allowed. Hard to say what happens in a month as Covid is on the rise in Phuket ., and very bad on the mainland. I’ve heard from’friends that there are a few restaurants open in the Rawai are if looking for SHA hotels.

[TXTony]

...

Edited August 19, 2021 by TXTony

[TXTony]

4 minutes ago, geisha said:

At the moment , there are only the south islands you can travel to outside of Phuket. The ones who have the same Sandbox rules. There are no domestic flights ( bar one I heard for Utapao) once a week os something. No buses tor travel into mainland travel allowed. Hard to say what happens in a month as Covid is on the rise in Phuket ., and very bad on the mainland. I’ve heard from’friends that there are a few restaurants open in the Rawai are if looking for SHA hotels.

This is misinformation. Posting responses like this only serve to add to the confusion for people trying to wade through this mess.

[TXTony]

4 hours ago, SteveMdmt said:

Are there any people reading this thread who have recently completed quarantine or sandbox and have experience of traveling to other parts of the country once released ?  Would be interested to hear what the situation is on the ground ... no flights, inter-provincial buses, etc

I completed the Phuket Sandbox on 14 August. I took the Sandbox Express bus for 1500 to BKK and stayed at a hotel near the airport that night. I have since moved on to Nonthaburi. 

 

Other than the bus, there were flight and taxi options. You can rent a car if you can find one. If nothing else, take a taxi to the bridge then hop over to the other side to grab another taxi. It's not necessarily easy or historically cheap to leave the island now but it is possible. I know several people that have gone as far as Chiang Mai from Phuket recently.

 

As for the Sandbox stay... Many businesses are still closed but more are opening each day. You should have little trouble finding something to eat or keep yourself entertained. There's lots to do and less people to get in your way now. 

[Tony125]

2 hours ago, geisha said:

At the moment , there are only the south islands you can travel to outside of Phuket. The ones who have the same Sandbox rules. There are no domestic flights ( bar one I heard for Utapao) once a week os something. No buses tor travel into mainland travel allowed. Hard to say what happens in a month as Covid is on the rise in Phuket ., and very bad on the mainland. I’ve heard from’friends that there are a few restaurants open in the Rawai are if looking for SHA hotels.

As other poster said that is false information. You can get a special sandbox tourist bus that will take you to Suvanpoom Airport for 1500 baht and then get transport from there.

[JerseytoBKK]

Vietjet announced new and resumption of cross-regional services connecting Phuket to Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, and Udon Thani starting Sep 15. No flights to Bangkok.

[pj123]

Nokair have flights to U-Tapao in August. No flights available after the end of August. Price rather high at 6,000 one way

[Espanol]

 

"Bangkok Airways set to resume flights between Phuket and Samui on Aug 25."

 

 

 

https://indonesia.shafaqna.com/EN/AL/3733274

 

 

 

Edited August 20, 2021 by Espanol

[geisha]

On 8/19/2021 at 4:15 PM, Tony125 said:

As other poster said that is false information. You can get a special sandbox tourist bus that will take you to Suvanpoom Airport for 1500 baht and then get transport from there.

Sorry but that was not what I heard from friends on Phuket, and the printed rules for not leaving/ entering the island . Last week came the rule that you can use the other south islands mentioned on the Sandbox program.  Otherwise, what was the use of this program at all if everyone can come and go as they please. ??

[richard_smith237]

1 hour ago, geisha said:

Sorry but that was not what I heard from friends on Phuket, and the printed rules for not leaving/ entering the island . Last week came the rule that you can use the other south islands mentioned on the Sandbox program.  Otherwise, what was the use of this program at all if everyone can come and go as they please. ??

Please provide a link the ‘printed rules’ you imagined that said no one can leave the island ?

 

The use of the program was to ‘study’ the risks involved with allowing vaccinated foreigners to enter Thailand.

 

Once foreigners have completed their 14 nights of ’island isolation’ they are free to travel to other parts of Thailand in exactly the same manner they would be had they quarantined at an ASQ in Bangkok (local / provincial restrictions permitting).

 

There have been busses departing for Bangkok (3x per week)

There have been private vans arranged (people booking together or inviting others online)

People have been renting cars, shared or alone.

There have been flights to U-Tapao

Bangkok Airways have announced flights to Samui

 

Thai Airways have announced flights to Bangkok (twice per week) from Sept.

https://aseannow.com/topic/1228088-thai-airways-to-resume-flights/

 

[richard_smith237]

On 8/19/2021 at 2:43 PM, geisha said:

At the moment , there are only the south islands you can travel to outside of Phuket. The ones who have the same Sandbox rules. There are no domestic flights ( bar one I heard for Utapao) once a week os something. No buses tor travel into mainland travel allowed. Hard to say what happens in a month as Covid is on the rise in Phuket ., and very bad on the mainland. I’ve heard from’friends that there are a few restaurants open in the Rawai are if looking for SHA hotels.

I have also heard that Rawai is one of the busier area’s along with Laguna area as this is were there are most expat residents.

 

But regrind travel off the island, your comments are rubbish. One read of the ‘Sandbox’ facebook groups highlights exactly how people are travelling off the island to other areas of Thailand. 

 

 

[geisha]

On 8/21/2021 at 8:17 PM, richard_smith237 said:

I have also heard that Rawai is one of the busier area’s along with Laguna area as this is were there are most expat residents.

 

But regrind travel off the island, your comments are rubbish. One read of the ‘Sandbox’ facebook groups highlights exactly how people are travelling off the island to other areas of Thailand. 

 

 

Hi, this is what I read, can’t print from Facebook, 

phuket provincial order no 4627/2564 

upgrading of travel screening.  From 17 th August 2021 to 31 August 2021.

it clearly states top of page that all types of vehicles are prohibited from entering 

Phuket, ( except transport , urgencies etc) 

Either by land, ( Chat Chai) by water( port) and domestic channels ( Phuket International Airport ).

Theres lots more “:must be vaccinated, Must be tested RT. PCR “:for those that can enter.

So sorry for confusing myself with “Official “ rubbish , friends at Rawai says that’s the law at the moment but obviously people are getting through, and that if you’ve finished your sandbox with all the documents needed you can leave to mainland but it’s highly discouraged.