Costs of forced repeated tests threaten Canadian Sandbox holiday

[snoop1130]

“As long as all 3 test results are negative, after a 14-night period in Phuket, you will be able to freely travel domestically within Thailand.” Not quite. Tests are required in order to travel to any other parts of the country, including other Sandbox areas such as Samui or Phi Phi Island. Image: Screenshot from TATNews.org

 

PHUKET: Confusion over what extra COVID tests required for Sandbox tourists to travel ‘freely’ to other Sandbox tourism locations has thrown an 11-week holiday by a retired Canadian couple into jeopardy.

 

The couple, staying in Phuket as Sandbox tourists, were told that in order to travel to Phi Phi Island and Koh Samui as part of their extended holiday would cost them an extra B35,000, or nearly US$1,100, just to have the COVID tests done to allow them them to travel the other designated Sandbox tourism areas.

 

The couple also sent emails about one week ago to [email protected] and [email protected] for clarifications of the rules, but did not receive any response.

 

Full Story: https://www.thephuketnews.com/costs-of-forced-repeated-tests-threaten-canadian-sandbox-holiday-81464.php

 

 

-- © Copyright Phuket News 2021-09-20

 

- Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you

- Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

[Gold Star]

It is not a sand box, it is a sand trap!

 

Thailand is killing off their tourist industry, and is far from being ready for it.

 

With such brutal restrictions, mandatory costly testing, and stupid new rules popping up like sunscreen fines and enjoying alcohol, the only tourists that could enjoy themselves are those from Nocturnal Alcoholics Anonymous organizations.

[kevin612]

38 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

 

The couple also sent emails about one week ago to [email protected] and [email protected] for clarifications of the rules, but did not receive any response.

Don’t you think this is normal, who cares about the rules, just make your payment. 

[bkk_bwana]

Anyone that wants to travel during a pandemic and take a vacation needs to accept that rules and regulations, just as at home, are likely to change. I live in Bangkok. The rules for me to travel to Phuket, Samui, Ko Tao, Phi Phi, any of those places or other provinces have changed regularly over the last few months. 

[madmen]

32 minutes ago, Gold Star said:

With such brutal restrictions

Drama queen alert ????

[Bkk Brian]

I guess this was not one of the tourists interviewed in a recent survey by T.A.T. 

 

Or maybe it was and they filed it in the bin

[ArcticFox]

I have a few US friends who were planning to come in February, but unless this silliness stops fairly soon I doubt they'll come and instead reroute to Mexico.  It's not the shots - it's the expensive testing.  Somebody is making serious change with the forced overpriced testing.  The fact is that double jabbed foreigners pose less of a threat than most Thais.  Well maybe to a point.  All the Covid vaccines are 'leaky' and double-jabbed can still contract and spread the virus - but where does it end?  Foreigners aren't anymore of a risk than the average Thai and the average Thai isn't required to take a PCR test every few days.

Thailand can kiss their High Season goodbye if they don't loosen up and learn to live with this.  Imho.

[RichardColeman]

With UK relaxing restrictions for US and Europe double jabbed people then Thailand is really just extending its own pain and misery by nonsense demands on foreigners

[it is what it is]

1 hour ago, RichardColeman said:

With UK relaxing restrictions for US and Europe double jabbed people then Thailand is really just extending its own pain and misery by nonsense demands on foreigners

 

up to them.

[smedly]

8 hours ago, bkk_bwana said:

Anyone that wants to travel during a pandemic and take a vacation needs to accept that rules and regulations, just as at home, are likely to change. I live in Bangkok. The rules for me to travel to Phuket, Samui, Ko Tao, Phi Phi, any of those places or other provinces have changed regularly over the last few months. 

my understanding is that proof of full vaccination was the max requirement

 

this couple were told - stay in the sand pit for 14 days then you are free to travel anywhere in Thailand just like you or me

 

but instead they are being treated like they are in a never ending sand pit - that is 100% incorrect, 14 days done and they are free to do what they want, it matters not a jot if they decide to book another SHA hotel - the restrictions tests etc no longer apply, from 14 days onwards the same rules apply to them as locals ............................................. it is very obvious someone is trying to rip them off - no surprise there 

[paahlman]

41 minutes ago, smedly said:

my understanding is that proof of full vaccination was the max requirement

 

this couple were told - stay in the sand pit for 14 days then you are free to travel anywhere in Thailand just like you or me

 

but instead they are being treated like they are in a never ending sand pit - that is 100% incorrect, 14 days done and they are free to do what they want, it matters not a jot if they decide to book another SHA hotel - the restrictions tests etc no longer apply, from 14 days onwards the same rules apply to them as locals ............................................. it is very obvious someone is trying to rip them off - no surprise there 

Yes.. my understanding was simliar.. Or.. I thought that .. for example to go to Krabi from Phuket would require nothing on exit and nothing in Krabi, but that IF you wanted to go back to Phuket it was required a rapid test only if you are fully vaccinated that all in the sandbox have to be anyway.

 

If going to Bangkok.. I am not sure.. , but I do know a friend who drove from phuket to hat yai with no problems along the way. Only required a rapid test on reentry.. That said. The laws have a way of changing every week so one can not be sure.

[cheapcanuck]

Good information to know. I'm holding off any trips to Thailand indefinitely till authorities get their act together. Ha ha, inother words scratch Thailand off my travel list for the rest of my life.

[Aussieroaming]

The bigger issue is the PCR Test costs, which are excessively expensive here and are a further deterrent to tourism. PCR tests are part of the new travel regime I'm afraid for at least the next year or two and I mean that on a global travel scale, not just in Thailand. PCR Test costs need to come down and needs to be in line with other comparable overseas tourist destinations.

 

The sandbox tourists are also vulnerable to financial exploitation as well because local industry seems intent on squeezing as much cash out of the cow as possible, which just makes the tourism bubble less palatable.

 

These sandbox tourists should only require the additional tests if those tests are currently mandatory for all people travelling to the end destination from Phuket or wherever their local travel start point is.

[Wildliferescue]

Instead of the expensive PCR test they can just do the antigen test, 600 Baht only. We all have to when we travel and when entering or leaving Phuket and Samui it is done in 20 minutes.

[malibukid]

8 hours ago, ArcticFox said:

I have a few US friends who were planning to come in February, but unless this silliness stops fairly soon I doubt they'll come and instead reroute to Mexico.  It's not the shots - it's the expensive testing.  Somebody is making serious change with the forced overpriced testing.  The fact is that double jabbed foreigners pose less of a threat than most Thais.  Well maybe to a point.  All the Covid vaccines are 'leaky' and double-jabbed can still contract and spread the virus - but where does it end?  Foreigners aren't anymore of a risk than the average Thai and the average Thai isn't required to take a PCR test every few days.

Thailand can kiss their High Season goodbye if they don't loosen up and learn to live with this.  Imho.

the hospitals here clearly taking advantage of the situation.  a friend was in overnight for food poisoning and was charge 30k!  8K of that was for 6 changes of PPE

[bkk_bwana]

1 hour ago, smedly said:

 

 

this couple were told - stay in the sand pit for 14 days then you are free to travel anywhere in Thailand just like you or me

 

People were told' they could travel to Thailand and back to the UK, and self quarantine. Then, the British government decided that Thailand was a 'red' country and Brits on holiday in Thailand had to change their planned self isolation at home to a state quarantine costing 2,000 GBP for 10 days.

We are in the middle of a pandemic. Things change all the time.

Edited September 21, 2021 by bkk_bwana

[hotchilli]

10 hours ago, Gold Star said:

It is not a sand box, it is a sand trap!

 

Thailand is killing off their tourist industry, and is far from being ready for it.

 

With such brutal restrictions, mandatory costly testing, and stupid new rules popping up like sunscreen fines and enjoying alcohol, the only tourists that could enjoy themselves are those from Nocturnal Alcoholics Anonymous organizations.

Welcome to gougers island... should've chosen your paradise holiday a bit more carefully.

That small print and all those hidden but not so little extras that Thailand is notorious for.

[hotchilli]

1 hour ago, smedly said:

my understanding is that proof of full vaccination was the max requirement

 

this couple were told - stay in the sand pit for 14 days then you are free to travel anywhere in Thailand just like you or me

 

but instead they are being treated like they are in a never ending sand pit - that is 100% incorrect, 14 days done and they are free to do what they want, it matters not a jot if they decide to book another SHA hotel - the restrictions tests etc no longer apply, from 14 days onwards the same rules apply to them as locals ............................................. it is very obvious someone is trying to rip them off - no surprise there 

More like quick sand.

[Letseng]

4 hours ago, RichardColeman said:

With UK relaxing restrictions for US and Europe double jabbed people then Thailand is really just extending its own pain and misery by nonsense demands on foreigners

Wouldn't travel to either country considering the rise in infections in both places. They can relax all they want.

[PumpkinEater]

Common sense tells me that if you do the “sandbox” day 12-13 test (negative) then you are free to enter another province with that test result 72 hours prior to travel.

There shouldn’t be another test on arrival and/or quarantine..

 

 

[DFPhuket]

Those arriving internationally mostly have mNRA vaccinations and are required to take 4 PCR tests. Domestic people coming to Phuket, mostly vaccinated with Sinovac, take 1 less reliable rapid test.

 

It's all so frustratingly stupid. 

[ronster]

Sounds like they fell into quicksand !! ????????????????

[dallen52]

3500 baht

3500 baht

3500 baht

Freedom.

Oh, not quite.

3500 baht.

3500 baht.

 

How negative do you have to be?

[Bangkok Barry]

11 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

The couple also sent emails about one week ago to [email protected] and [email protected] for clarifications of the rules, but did not receive any response.

That speaks volumes, doesn't it. It is a basic courtesy to respond to emails but, instead, guests that have been lured to the country by false or misleading and ever changing rules are arrogantly dismissed. The pair that have been cheated and cold-shouldered by the authorities are amazingly restrained in their response, but I hope that when they return home they will alert others via their national media to avoid Thailand at all costs.

 

Thailand really needs to learn that it is not the only country in the world worth visiting, but their brainwashing from birth that it is the greatest country on Earth means that will never happen. It simply can't imagine that anyone wouldn't want to come, and at any cost.

Edited September 21, 2021 by Bangkok Barry

[mjakob007]

11 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

The couple, staying in Phuket as Sandbox tourists, were told that in order to travel to Phi Phi Island and Koh Samui as part of their extended holiday would cost them an extra B35,000, or nearly US$1,100

Wait for something along the line of;

 

' We have generated XXX million from covid tests in sandbox during 3 months starting July.  This would generate YY billion during 2021 & XX trillion in 2022' 

[0815]

A friend and his wife travelled to their home in Chiang Rai province after 14 days sandbox and asap forced to do a 14 days quarantine in their home.
Property got completely sealed off with warning signs !
Forced by the poo yai baan because, as he told them, he has the power, he is the law.

Amazing LOS ...

[ezzra]

There was this goose who laid golden eggs... do i need to continue with the metaphor?...

[dallen52]

What's wrong with Antigen tests?

FREE! In the UK.

Self test whenever you want.

 

Someone is cashing in on the cash cow well and truly.

Rip the farang off continuously.

Sad really..

 

 

[Joules]

I am pretty sure it was Kafka that wrote this script.

[crazykopite]

 My understanding is if you have completed 14 days quarantine in the sandbox and your 3 tests were negative you are free to go anywhere in Thailand without having to endure further costs so I get a feeling this couple are being ripped off by some unscrupulous money making people . My friend who completed the Phuket sandbox is now back on KP having tested negative on the 3 tests required 

Edited September 21, 2021 by crazykopite