Update on thailand pass and thailand no quarantine

[richard_smith237]

39 minutes ago, Carrbhoy said:

3 hours ago, treetops said:

SHA+ in Bangkok?  When did/does that start?

I arrive into Bangkok 22nd October. Flights, Insurance, PCR test, SHA+ package & condo deposit 1 month all paid out weeks ago so no point cancelling. Just need to take the hit!

People are getting their acronyms mixed up…. Hardly surprising given all the different announcements & schemes… 

 

But…  SHA+ is for Phuket Sandbox or Samui Plus. 
 

Quarantine in Bangkok is ASQ (can’t leave hotel room) 

[impulse]

13 hours ago, gk10012001 said:

So pay for one expensive night, instead of starting the weekly or monthly longer term discount one plans in a hotel of their choice.  And then trust Thais to do the test properly?   Sorry, If vaccinated and a negative test to get on the airline in the first place that has to be it. 

I'd disagree if Thailand had close to zero new cases a day. 

 

But with 10,000 indigenous cases popping up each day, the risk of a tourist fully vaccinated and tested before their flight making things any worse than that are miniscule.  One of the appeals of tourism in Thailand is the idea that you can just hop on a plane with no visa, and virtually no formalities.  Take that away, and Mexico (along with 100 other destinations) look better.

 

[impulse]

3 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

People are getting their acronyms mixed up…. Hardly surprising given all the different announcements & schemes… 

 

But…  SHA+ is for Phuket Sandbox or Samui Plus. 
 

Quarantine in Bangkok is ASQ (can’t leave hotel room) 

I'm reading that they're rolling out SHA and SHA+ all over Thailand with the new opening.  Just a day locked up waiting on test results.

 

[Chad3000]

Someone is getting very wealthy off PCR tests (and backhanders from hotels).

[scorecard]

Thanks for your informative and valuable post, much appreciated.

 

No doubt many members are 'watching this space' right now.

 

My main interest has been whether Australia would be on 'the list'.

 

Initially a total number of 10 was mooted.

Then a first list of 5 announced but the additional 5 not mentioned.

Then a total number of 27, then 39 but no full lists.

 

Now your post mentions a total of 12 with Australia at 11th spot (but whether the position on the list is meaningful I don't know). 

 

But of course there's 2 more weeks to 1 November, so plenty of time for the 'the list' change and for other factors to change.

 

We wait and see. Again thanks for sharing.

[portlandtree]

So only one night quarantine no problem get to catch up on time change but what hotels only in Bangkok? Anybody know if one can do it in pattaya? Please someone tell me if you know

[sirineou]

Our final destination being KKC , unless we arrive early in the day, we usually stay  the night in BKK anyway, And our travel from the US is so long, we are tired and jetlagged, so the wait for test results is really no problem for us.

We are excited to be able to go to our home in Khon Kaen  after a short delay, and we look forward to seeing the full list of qualifying countries as we would also like to go to Greece and take care of some business we have neglected with all these covid travel restrictions.

I am sure initially there will be some confusion, as there always is. I wish they would refrain from all these announcements  until they had a solid plan ironed out, All these announcements  only serve to cause more confusion as different people read different versions.    

Following this Thread with great anticipation 

[scorecard]

21 hours ago, ubonjoe said:

But only for the first night to wait for the covid 19 test results.

True of course but hopefully there will soon be more details from the Thai gov't to give travelers more details: e.g.

• - Will travelers know in advance the location of the swab hub they will be taken to?
• - Who selects the 1 night hotel? (Connects to the point above.)
• - What happens if test result comes early? Can traveler immediately check-out and commence next in their travel to their actual holiday location.
• - Without answers to the above (timing details) many travelers can't book their next flight (if they are travelling as quickly as possibly to another location in Thailand for their holiday. And not sure what arrival date to give to the hotel/resort whatever for their holiday.

 

But still 2 weeks to 1 Nov so hopefully a lot more details in that 2 weeks.

[scorecard]

20 minutes ago, portlandtree said:

So only one night quarantine no problem get to catch up on time change but what hotels only in Bangkok? Anybody know if one can do it in pattaya? Please someone tell me if you know

And does the 1 night hotel have to be on an approved list? Or any hotel?

[sirineou]

4 minutes ago, scorecard said:

And does the 1 night hotel have to be on an approved list? Or any hotel?

It will have to be from a list of qualifying hotels. Of which there will be many.  

I think all the hotel has to do to quality is . for his staff to be vaccinated,  to follow a approved covid cleanliness regiment, and be able to assist on providing the PCR test results.  

Edited October 16, 2021 by sirineou

[scorecard]

45 minutes ago, sirineou said:

Our final destination being KKC , unless we arrive early in the day, we usually stay  the night in BKK anyway, And our travel from the US is so long, we are tired and jetlagged, so the wait for test results is really no problem for us.

We are excited to be able to go to our home in Khon Kaen  after a short delay, and we look forward to seeing the full list of qualifying countries as we would also like to go to Greece and take care of some business we have neglected with all these covid travel restrictions.

I am sure initially there will be some confusion, as there always is. I wish they would refrain from all these announcements  until they had a solid plan ironed out, All these announcements  only serve to cause more confusion as different people read different versions.    

Following this Thread with great anticipation 

Agree, from now to 1 Nov hopefully all the details needed by travelers and with full clarity and early enough so that travelers needing to travel further for their planned holiday (e.g. flight to Chiang Mai) can get on with their bookings. 

[sandyf]

21 hours ago, fusion58 said:

That’s my question too.

 

I’ve already applied for COE and I’m awaiting approval. My flight arrives at BKK on November 12.

COE applications that were in the system prior to the Oct 1st changes were suspended and they started processing again on 30th Sept, mine was one of them. I was due to fly 7th Oct.

Once they did start they were very quick, I was initially rejected, edited the application and had approval within the hour, and that was late evening.

If your quarantine is reduced don't expect much of a refund, my original price for the ALQ was £58/night and ended up at £92/night.

[sandyf]

18 hours ago, sirineou said:

I had to call the Embassy and argue with them that surely Unlimited coverage was better that 100k coverage, and they relented, 

How do I resolve that issue , now? Will there be an option to bypass the portal and go to a live person with override power. ?? 

I guess we will see when it happens,   

Not sure what you mean by "portal", The COE is handled by the local embassy.

The rejection email is from a no reply source but in it there will be a reply email address, think mine being London was "consularLON4".

No reason why you can't still phone.

[NoshowJones]

On 10/16/2021 at 9:06 AM, Caldera said:

It's still too convoluted for your typical tourist, which I'd guess will be reflected in the number of actual arrivals.

 

As it was labeled a "bold" move, they should have done away with the PCR test upon arrival and SHA+ hotel booking requirement that comes with it.

No, that can not happen, do you think that the unelected PM and his Generals are going to cut part of their income stream completely?

[Jeffr2]

15 minutes ago, sandyf said:

Not sure what you mean by "portal", The COE is handled by the local embassy.

The rejection email is from a no reply source but in it there will be a reply email address, think mine being London was "consularLON4".

No reason why you can't still phone.

The consulate I went through was extremely prompt at answering emails. Not interested in phone calls! LOL

[yimlitnoy]

21 hours ago, HiSoLowSoNoSo said:

Wonder how long it will take the clowns who run the show here to understand that there are other countries with more friendlier rules that the tourists are going to instead of Thailand? 

I am not traveling to Samui or Phuket this year, you need a PHD and time to understand all the requirements.  A PCR test on departure to Thailand should be sufficient, why a test on arrival coupled to an expensive hotel stay?  Why do you want us to spend our money on 2 Thai insurances corporations instead of spreading our money among the Thai people who are suffering at this moment?  Even the Thai do not trust the local insurance companies as demonstrated in their rally 2 weeks ago. 

 

What if the test on arrival shows a false positive situation, you will send us to an expensive hospital for foreigners for 14 days at our expense? 

 

What if I am infected while in Thailand due to low vaccination rate of the Thai population and this is only discovered on the departure from Thailand PCR test?  No, I am not traveling to Samui or Phuket this year.  I am fully vaccinated and in my book it is sufficient and adequate for travel anywhere.  

Edited October 17, 2021 by yimlitnoy
correction

[scorecard]

5 hours ago, Sticky Rice Balls said:

So if my final dest being CNX with a layover in BKK for a few hrs..would I be tested in BKK and have to stay a night in BKK at ASQ or can transit to CNX for test-ASQ?

Thanks in advance..

Good question. I'm in the same situation but my guess is test and 1 night in Bkk, then to CNX, & hopefully no further tests or monitoring etc.

[sirineou]

20 minutes ago, sandyf said:

Not sure what you mean by "portal", The COE is handled by the local embassy.

The rejection email is from a no reply source but in it there will be a reply email address, think mine being London was "consularLON4".

No reason why you can't still phone.

The new version of the CoE will be called Thailand Pass, (or something like that) and as far as we know so far, will  be handled through a web based portal. 

[NoshowJones]

18 hours ago, bolt said:

ANY arrivals need COVID insurance for the value of $100k.

so no matter what insurance you have, it must state COVID coverage for the sum of $100K

What a scam, get the $100K insurance so that the brown envelopes keep flying in the same direction.

[Salerno]

4 minutes ago, sirineou said:

The new version of the CoE will be called Thailand Pass, (or something like that) and as far as we know so far, will  be handled through a web based portal. 

Guess what the current COE is ... a web based portal.

[yimlitnoy]

8 hours ago, Chad3000 said:

Someone is getting very wealthy off PCR tests (and backhanders from hotels).

Sure, it looks like it.

Edited October 17, 2021 by yimlitnoy
remarks

[sandyf]

7 minutes ago, sirineou said:

The new version of the CoE will be called Thailand Pass, (or something like that) and as far as we know so far, will  be handled through a web based portal. 

Apologies if I was mistaken, but I thought you said you had submitted COE application which would be with the local embassy.

COE is not dead in the water, still used for land and sea. I suspect ones in the system will still be accepted for air travel in the weeks following any change that may be approved.

 

[bolt]

15 minutes ago, possum1931 said:

What a scam, get the $100K insurance so that the brown envelopes keep flying in the same direction.

What do you mean SCAM????

My COVID insurance was issued outside of Thailand, so do you mean brown envelopes were passed inside or outside of Thailand.

 

I repeat my COVID insurance has no connection with Thailand, Yet Doom Mongers blame the Thai’s

[sirineou]

1 minute ago, sandyf said:

Apologies if I was mistaken, but I thought you said you had submitted COE application which would be with the local embassy.

COE is not dead in the water, still used for land and sea. I suspect ones in the system will still be accepted for air travel in the weeks following any change that may be approved.

 

No apologies nessacery,  No one is more confused over the cluster (deleted) than me , I typed the ("deleted" part myself to save the Mods the trouble LOL)

We did the CoE thing when we got back from the US last spring . I will be very happy to see the dreaded CoE tossed in the dustbin of history  ????

[NoshowJones]

2 minutes ago, bolt said:

What do you mean SCAM????

My COVID insurance was issued outside of Thailand, so do you mean brown envelopes were passed inside or outside of Thailand.

 

I repeat my COVID insurance has no connection with Thailand, Yet Doom Mongers blame the Thai’s

Yes, your right. Thailand does not make the rules regarding the insurance scam for the $100K insurance. Sorry about that.

[sandyf]

3 minutes ago, sirineou said:

No apologies nessacery,  No one is more confused over the cluster (deleted) than me , I typed the ("deleted" part myself to save the Mods the trouble LOL)

We did the CoE thing when we got back from the US last spring . I will be very happy to see the dreaded CoE tossed in the dustbin of history  ????

I didn't have a problem with the COE, just screwed into the ground by Agoda.

[NoshowJones]

15 hours ago, puck2 said:

Thai problem:

is Unlimited Coverage more or less than $100K ??? . They didn't learn it at school or university.

Military Academy perhaps? 

[Heng]

It's not quarantine because we changed the name.    If it got us out of War War II war reparations, it'll be fine this time as well.

[TorquayFan]

6 hours ago, portlandtree said:

So only one night quarantine no problem get to catch up on time change but what hotels only in Bangkok? Anybody know if one can do it in pattaya? Please someone tell me if you know

Worth a try - I booked the 'Ravindra Resort' at Jomtien for my 14 day / 7 day ASQ. Looks a good place. Good luck !

[PadPrikKhing]

On 10/15/2021 at 7:09 PM, BritTim said:

 If you qualify for visa exempt entry, that is often the best route to a Non O visa and subsequent extension(s).

This is what I'm thinking of doing (in March or April). Would you please outline what would qualify/disqualify a US person for visa-exempt entry? I know that before the pandemic it was basically an automatic thing for Americans.