Thinking of applying for COE for Phuket sandbox and after 14 days will travel to pattaya where I live.

Anyone who has recently done this please recommend best SHA+ hotel - don't mind 4/5 star as long as area near by is open specially restaurants, massages etc. Are bas open ? Does restaurants serve alcohol ? Please recommend pros and cons or should I book ASQ in Bangkok or Pattaya.

 

Kindly give honest opinion. Many thanks in advance.

The difference between Phuket Sandbox and ASQ/ALQ that most people notice right away is that in the first you can leave your room for 14 days and in the second you can't. ???? 

But that little difference aside... restaurants are open but they don't openly sell alcohol, massage shops are open, bars are not open (unless they also happen to have food service, in which case they are but not serving alcohol),  In short, Phuket is not currently party central, but then I imagine is a slight improvement over being stuck in your room for 14 days in Pattaya or Bangkok.

Pros for Phuket Sandbox:

1. You're not stuck in your room
2. Can be cheaper because you're not paying as much for lodging/hospital services and meals built into the cost of ASQ

Cons for Phuket Sandbox:
1.  8,000 baht must be paid in advance for three RT-PCR tests.
2. Aside from perhaps breakfast no other meals are typically provided for you.
3. You will have to travel from Phuket to Pattaya.  Can probably fly Phuket to U-Tapao, otherwise have to arrange private transport via private car/van or rent a car and drive yourself.

You have to stay in a SHA Plus hotel such as these (around 400 to choose from):

https://www.shathailand.com/

2 hours ago, John9 said:

Anyone who has recently done this please recommend best SHA+ hotel - don't mind 4/5 star as long as area near by is open specially restaurants, massages etc. Are bas open ? Does restaurants serve alcohol ? Please recommend pros and cons or should I book ASQ in Bangkok or Pattaya.

 

Restaurant's don't "officially" serve alcohol, but most still do, and most of the bars do as well. You can still buy at 7-11 & all, plus theres loads of mom & pop shops about. 

 

I would absolutely do the sandbox over ASQ any day of the week, even if the trip to pattaya was a pain in the ass. Youll need to work that out as it changes all the time. 

I won't recommend any particular hotels but a decent 3-4+ star hotel close to Rawai or Nai Harn beach would be your best bet as its still mostly open there. Patong would be a waste as its still a cost town for the most part. 

14 hours ago, Leveraged said:

 

Restaurant's don't "officially" serve alcohol, but most still do, and most of the bars do as well. You can still buy at 7-11 & all, plus theres loads of mom & pop shops about. 

 

I would absolutely do the sandbox over ASQ any day of the week, even if the trip to pattaya was a pain in the ass. Youll need to work that out as it changes all the time. 

I won't recommend any particular hotels but a decent 3-4+ star hotel close to Rawai or Nai Harn beach would be your best bet as its still mostly open there. Patong would be a waste as its still a cost town for the most part. 

Agree with most of your post. Pros for Patong are that slowly things are reopening, and there are some excellent hotel deals available there.

I did my sandbox at the DoubleTree Hilton on Patong beach road and the total rate for 14 days with taxes/fees was in the low 20k baht range. No question that the sandbox is cheaper and better for your mental health than ASQ. 

 

Patong beach road is coming back alive with a few more places opening each week. I had drinks at two different "restaurants" on the beach road this weekend. I also noticed that Bangla road even had a few bars (officially restaurants) serving alcohol. 

I booked my sandbox at the 4* Palmyra Resort on Patong beach, walking distance from the beach, with restaurant, swimming pool and gym,  and the total rate for 14 days with taxes/fees was 10.000 bahts including breakfast.

 

Apart 8000 bahts of 3 PCR and 800 bahts transport from airport.

 

Indeed much better 2 weeks sandbox, going to beach, restaurant, gym, swimming pool and walking anywhere, than 2 weeks locked in ASQ hotel room eating packaged food.

 

The worst that can happen is that I test positive and have to do an ASQ, what will be paid by my insurance and the hotel will refund the money for my reservation. And only 0'2% of sandboxers tested positive so far.

 

 

 

 

 

I have completed 3 visits to LOS in last 12 months, I did 2 ASQ’S and 1 Phuket sandbox

I will NOT do an ASQ again unless no other option.

 

Many Many Many pro’s and cons, so I won’t list them

For me Mental health was primary choice, my wife flew down from Bangkok, we had wine with our dinner, we were away from the kids for 14 nights, etc etc etc

 

Up 2 U

 

Changes are happening every 2 weeks, so I’m eager to know what happens September –October November etc

 

24 minutes ago, Sticky Rice Balls said:

So 10000+8000+800+800(back)transport out-off-+meals+expenses=?????..total costs? Final tally?

 

If its thai insurance and thai hotel In my 12 yrs there a refund is something I have yet to see...hearsay

If anyone can actually verify this happening and getting refunds Im all ears...as I would like to once in my life witness a thai returning money in any situation----or a smoothly run process...

 

If they let me do 7 days sandbox and fly direct to CNX Id consider it....been burned too many times....

We are all different, I DON’T want to be locked in a room for 14 nights.

I’ve read about people getting moved from Sandbox Hotel to ASQ Hotel getting refunded because of close contact on the flight.

 

Millions or permutations for example, what if you test positive in your ASQ will you get a refund????, I haven’t read anyone getting a refund in ASQ, in the Phuket Sandbox YES I read about that but not BKK ASQ.

 

I’m due to arrive again in December so hopefully its all over with by then or at least reduced to in hotel until test comes back negative 1-2 nights maximum

 

Up 2 U as they say.

4 hours ago, Sticky Rice Balls said:

If its thai insurance and thai hotel In my 12 yrs there a refund is something I have yet to see..

Of course it's not a Thai insurance.

Actually, I have free travel insurance, covering Covid-19, up to 10.000.000 euros, in both my Revolut and N26 cards.

42 minutes ago, Sticky Rice Balls said:

Im down with this as its my home base

https://aseannow.com/topic/1229627-charming-chiang-mai-set-to-reopen-to-foreign-tourists-from-october-1st/

 

Good for you.

Lets hope this is the End, I'm waiting until 1st week December so plenty of time for things to change change change etc