Thailand now on UK red list, Advice/Ideas?

[ketherin]

Good Morning 

 

UK has from Monday 30th 4.00am put Thailand on its red list, meaning 10 days quarantine in airport hotel at exorbitant cost, we have flights booked with Qatar Airways leaving BKK 26th Sept, flying into London via Doha. 

 

We're not going to pay the cost for quarantine in London in a poor quality hotel airport, so trying to find different options (legal options) 

 

At the moment we think our best option is stay in Doha in quarantine for 10 days in a suite at a 5* hotel at a fraction of the UK quarantine cost. Then fly to London from an amber country and self isolate. 

 

Anyone have any ideas, views etc. 

Flights are very flexible so could fly somewhere else, appreciate your help and advice, thank you ???? 

[clivebaxter]

Is a 5 star in Dohar a fraction of the UK cost? seems unlikely 

[theoldgit]

It seems like you would only be allowed to stay in Qatar if you are vaccinated with an approved vaccine.

 

Are you both British Nationals, or have UK residence rights?

[EricTh]

@ketherin

 

If the purpose is to save cost, your idea of staying in Doha first is plausible but Qatar doesn't seem to be on the green-list so you still have to quarantine when you go back to UK.

 

The full list is

• Anguilla (Green watchlist)
• Antarctica/British Antarctic Territory (Green Watchlist)
• Antigua and Barbuda (Green Watchlist)
• Australia
• Austria
• Barbados (Green Watchlist)
• Bermuda (Green Watchlist)
• British Indian Ocean Territory (Green Watchlist)
• Brunei
• Bulgaria
• Cayman Islands (Green Watchlist)
• Croatia (Green Watchlist)
• Dominica (Green Watchlist)
• Falkland Islands
• Faroe Islands
• Germany
• Gibraltar
• Grenada (Green Watchlist)
• Hong Kong
• Iceland
• Israel and Jerusalem (Green Watchlist)
• Latvia
• Madeira (Green Watchlist) – Mainland Portugal and the Azores are on the amber list
• Malta
• Montserrat (Green Watchlist)
• New Zealand
• Norway
• Pitcairn, Henderson, Ducie and Oeno Islands (Green Watchlist)
• Romania
• Singapore
• Slovakia
• Slovenia
• South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands
• St Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha
• Taiwan (Green Watchlist)
• Turks and Caicos Islands (Green Watchlist)

Added recently

• the Azores (Portugal)
• Canada
• Denmark
• Finland
• Liechtenstein
• Lithuania
• Switzerland

 

[ketherin]

21 minutes ago, EricTh said:

@ketherin

 

If the purpose is to save cost, your idea of staying in Doha first is plausible but Qatar doesn't seem to be on the green-list so you still have to quarantine when you go back to UK.

 

The full list is

• Anguilla (Green watchlist)
• Antarctica/British Antarctic Territory (Green Watchlist)
• Antigua and Barbuda (Green Watchlist)
• Australia
• Austria
• Barbados (Green Watchlist)
• Bermuda (Green Watchlist)
• British Indian Ocean Territory (Green Watchlist)
• Brunei
• Bulgaria
• Cayman Islands (Green Watchlist)
• Croatia (Green Watchlist)
• Dominica (Green Watchlist)
• Falkland Islands
• Faroe Islands
• Germany
• Gibraltar
• Grenada (Green Watchlist)
• Hong Kong
• Iceland
• Israel and Jerusalem (Green Watchlist)
• Latvia
• Madeira (Green Watchlist) – Mainland Portugal and the Azores are on the amber list
• Malta
• Montserrat (Green Watchlist)
• New Zealand
• Norway
• Pitcairn, Henderson, Ducie and Oeno Islands (Green Watchlist)
• Romania
• Singapore
• Slovakia
• Slovenia
• South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands
• St Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha
• Taiwan (Green Watchlist)
• Turks and Caicos Islands (Green Watchlist)

Added recently

• the Azores (Portugal)
• Canada
• Denmark
• Finland
• Liechtenstein
• Lithuania
• Switzerland

 

Thank for your reply, much appreciated.... But I did on my original post state that when flying back to London from Qatar we would have to adhere to Amber country self isolation. 

[ketherin]

49 minutes ago, clivebaxter said:

Is a 5 star in Dohar a fraction of the UK cost? seems unlikely 

Thank you for your comment, but I would not of posted that information if I hadn't already done my research. 

A 5 * junior quarantine suite in Doha for 10 nights, is less than 50% of a very average London airport quarantine hotel.... 

[ketherin]

46 minutes ago, theoldgit said:

It seems like you would only be allowed to stay in Qatar if you are vaccinated with an approved vaccine.

 

Are you both British Nationals, or have UK residence rights?

Thank you for your help.. We are both UK citizens. And by the time of travel will both of had 2 Astrazenica vaccinations 

[BKKBike09]

If you've been double vaccinated then possibly an option could be to fly to Finland and have a holiday there, then go on to UK. 

 

However the rules for Finland are quite complicated. Basically it seems to be the case that if you've had two doses of an approved vaccine and have the certificate(s) to prove this, you don't have to quarantine. But much depends on your nationality, when vaccinated etc etc.

 

Also, with Thailand going on Red List, possibly Finland will now tighten up on travel from Thailand.

 

Have a look at:

 

https://valtioneuvosto.fi/en/entry-restrictions

https://raja.fi/en/guidelines-for-border-traffic-during-pandemic

https://thl.fi/en/web/infectious-diseases-and-vaccinations/what-s-new/coronavirus-covid-19-latest-updates/travel-and-the-coronavirus-pandemic

 

The biggest problem with any travel plans in these woeful times is the uncertainty: what holds true today could be completely changed by the time you travel.

[ketherin]

26 minutes ago, BKKBike09 said:

If you've been double vaccinated then possibly an option could be to fly to Finland and have a holiday there, then go on to UK. 

 

However the rules for Finland are quite complicated. Basically it seems to be the case that if you've had two doses of an approved vaccine and have the certificate(s) to prove this, you don't have to quarantine. But much depends on your nationality, when vaccinated etc etc.

 

Also, with Thailand going on Red List, possibly Finland will now tighten up on travel from Thailand.

 

Have a look at:

 

https://valtioneuvosto.fi/en/entry-restrictions

https://raja.fi/en/guidelines-for-border-traffic-during-pandemic

https://thl.fi/en/web/infectious-diseases-and-vaccinations/what-s-new/coronavirus-covid-19-latest-updates/travel-and-the-coronavirus-pandemic

 

The biggest problem with any travel plans in these woeful times is the uncertainty: what holds true today could be completely changed by the time you travel.

Thank you for your help.. I'll have a look at those links... And your 100%correct regarding the uncertainty in trying to plan any travel.... Absolute nightmare ???? 

[EricTh]

39 minutes ago, ketherin said:

Thank you for your help.. I'll have a look at those links... And your 100%correct regarding the uncertainty in trying to plan any travel.... Absolute nightmare ???? 

I think travelling within the next few days shouldn't be a problem as things don't get changed so fast.

 

I am just wondering how the UK government monitors self-quarantine at home. There are many people who flout the rules and actually go partying.

[Will B Good]

A fly in the ointment might be Doha being moved to the Red List whilst you are in quarantine there, then you will end up paying twice!

[ketherin]

3 hours ago, BKKBike09 said:

If you've been double vaccinated then possibly an option could be to fly to Finland and have a holiday there, then go on to UK. 

 

However the rules for Finland are quite complicated. Basically it seems to be the case that if you've had two doses of an approved vaccine and have the certificate(s) to prove this, you don't have to quarantine. But much depends on your nationality, when vaccinated etc etc.

 

Also, with Thailand going on Red List, possibly Finland will now tighten up on travel from Thailand.

 

Have a look at:

 

https://valtioneuvosto.fi/en/entry-restrictions

https://raja.fi/en/guidelines-for-border-traffic-during-pandemic

https://thl.fi/en/web/infectious-diseases-and-vaccinations/what-s-new/coronavirus-covid-19-latest-updates/travel-and-the-coronavirus-pandemic

 

The biggest problem with any travel plans in these woeful times is the uncertainty: what holds true today could be completely changed by the time you travel.

BKKBike09

 

Really interesting idea this... But as you say the entry rules into Finland are very complicated, but definitely worth investigating thank you so much (potential added bonus is UK moved Finland onto its green list yesterday, so after 10 days in Finland they'll be no quarantine or self isolation required upon entering UK)