Tourist faces huge bill, separation from family after testing positive on arrival in Thailand

[chesterubi1]

It seems quite clear to me, refuse to sign anything and keep stating that you will not pay for anything if your insurance company declines. If they want to lock you up as an asymptomatic case, then they will need to pay themselves.

[RasiMike]

56 minutes ago, canopus1969 said:

Anyone who visits Thailand at this present time is crazy

Totally in agreement. We're desperate to visit our home, family and friends again but there's no way we'll be participating in the 'testing phase' of opening up. 

[Gold Star]

Getting in and out of Thailand is too risky at this time. Better off taking a holiday in Afghanistan. 

[wombat]

1 hour ago, Karma80 said:

The trap is sprung! You have to make it out alive too.

Remember that test before you fly? Better hope you didn't get covid while you were playing in the covid capital of SE Asia.

like old mate was saying the other day, with so many moving parts who is to say someone isn't being given an earner to put ''positive' on a form to send people off into quarantine?
times are tough and the rice bowl needs filling.

Edited November 10, 2021 by wombat

[Catoni]

Equador, Costa Rica, or Belize is beginning to look good now.  Maybe Sri Lanka.  Checking into those places. 

[kwak250]

Thailand the land of smiles.

 

Think i would smile more if i charged that much.

[wombat]

7 minutes ago, chesterubi1 said:

If they want to lock you up

my guess is you have never had that happen to you in LOS.

[Boomer6969]

13 minutes ago, Dmitry2222 said:

That's why many people waiting for the rule changes and do not bought tickets. Sad story.

I isn't a matter of "rules", when you get infected with Covid, of having been close to someone infected you must isolate yourself. If you are in a foreign country such isolation becomes problematic hence costly.

 

So common sense would say have your holidays as close to home as possible, hence travelling to Thailand being just asking for trouble. Anyone getting caught can just blame himself.

Edited November 10, 2021 by Boomer6969

[Cat Boy]

Around 7,000 people are still testing positive daily in Thailand, essentially all asymptomatic, like this man, but are advised to self-quarantine at home, no cost there.

This tourist however, having tested positive, with no confirmatory test though he requested it, was sequestered and compelled to submit to treatment and anti-viral at an expense out of pocket of 350,000 baht which insurance may or may not cover.

Anti-viral treatments are effective only in the first few days when symptoms are being exhibited but of no use whatsoever when there are no symptoms.

This is absolutely insane and obscene, and though the likelihood is low of this happening, it should send a chill through all would-be tourists to Thailand and an ongoing sense of anxiety preventing any "fun" while on holiday.

Unless this is made right it is a shocking incitement of the utter incompetency of the administration of this program. The father and the family are on a two-week holiday, which is utterly ruined and regardless of insurance payment reimbursement will be deeply out-of-pocket. 

Shame, Shame, Shame!!!!

[JustAnotherHun]

8 minutes ago, chesterubi1 said:

It seems quite clear to me, refuse to sign anything and keep stating that you will not pay for anything if your insurance company declines. If they want to lock you up as an asymptomatic case, then they will need to pay themselves.

you like to stay in an isolation cell of the IDC Bangkok until you get a flight back that you have to pay?

[Gottfrid]

1 hour ago, Chris.B said:

350,000 baht hospital bill, nearly £8,000 for 10 day stay! Must be a good room at 35,000 baht a night!

I think you missed a lot here. First he estimates that he may have to pay 350k baht. That is of course worst case scenario. That includes him already in hospital and if his wife and two children test positive after 3-4 days and might also need to stay in hospital for 10 days and maybe some more. That would be a minimum of 40 days in hospital and 3-4 days quarantine for wife and two children before that. Seems quite a good estimate to me.

[jaiyen]

So out of the 7000 Thai people who are testing positive every day, where are they going and how much are they paying ?  

[HashBrownHarry]

A friend of mine that lives here thought he had food poisoning so went to hospital, they did a covid test and he tested + so they kept him.

 

They wanted to charge him 20K per night, he simply told them he had no money.

 

Think he ended up paying 1K per night or something like that.

 

Everything is negoitable.

[chesterubi1]

6 minutes ago, JustAnotherHun said:

you like to stay in an isolation cell of the IDC Bangkok until you get a flight back that you have to pay?

If he is here on holiday, then he and his family already have plane tickets, so no need to buy anything.

[Chris.B]

4 minutes ago, HashBrownHarry said:

A friend of mine that lives here thought he had food poisoning so went to hospital, they did a covid test and he tested + so they kept him.

 

They wanted to charge him 20K per night, he simply told them he had no money.

 

Think he ended up paying 1K per night or something like that.

 

Everything is negoitable.

Hmmm sounds like a tall story for the pub. 

[ourmanflint]

What a load of barracks! You do everything right then the hotel puts you in a van with some random stranger who is found positive, and you also have to go into forced quarantine! 

Somebody should challenge this rubbish, I would not be going without a fight

[Nickelbeer]

52 minutes ago, tezzaaa said:

Re: Axa policy.. Looking at the policy this is more for kidnappings and I'm not sure it would cover this.. according to Thai law this wouldn't be a wrongful detention ..

Wrongful detention? What are you smoking?   This is Thailand.????

[Nickelbeer]

2 minutes ago, ourmanflint said:

What a load of barracks! You do everything right then the hotel puts you in a van with some random stranger who is found positive, and you also have to go into forced quarantine! 

Somebody should challenge this rubbish, I would not be going without a fight

This is extortion on a level with the Philippines "bullet scam". At least, in the Phil, we can be fairly sure that it will never happen again. Not so with Thailand.

[HashBrownHarry]

6 minutes ago, Chris.B said:

Hmmm sounds like a tall story for the pub. 

Ok.

 

Your obviously go about your life getting walked all over - enjoy!

[Expat60]

The message is clear, STAY HOME.

 

[JustAnotherHun]

9 minutes ago, chesterubi1 said:

If he is here on holiday, then he and his family already have plane tickets, so no need to buy anything.

If he's on a charter flight with fixed return, what you think they will do with him ujntil departure?

[JustAnotherHun]

1 minute ago, Expat60 said:

The message is clear, STAY HOME.

 

For tourists: yes!

But there are so many expats desperately waiting to meet their loved ones after a year or more. I understand those who take the risk.

[Karma80]

23 minutes ago, Dmitry2222 said:

That's why many people waiting for the rule changes and do not bought tickets. Sad story.

They call those people "sensible".

The sad part is that I personally doubt most people understand the true ramifications if they, or a member of their party do test positive. Welcome to your 2 week holiday from hell.

The criminal part is the TAT advertising and targeting anyone with a pulse to come to Amazing Thailand. Just don't worry about the small print.

 

 

[MichiganMarty]

yes, yesterday I read Richard Barrow's examples of these happenings. OMG just frightening situations for travelers to be put in.

[ezzra]

I didn't read all the 46 posts a head of me but i will say this, anyone who comes to Thailand now as a tourist should have their heads examined, i for one, will give this country a wide berth until things settle down and common sense prevails...

[thaibeachlovers]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

While the chances of testing positive on arrival in Thailand are small, it is perhaps a risk simply not worth taking for some tourists. 

LOL, the 350,000 baht risk.

 

Another nail in the coffin of Thai tourism, IMO.

 

 

[RedRoadRunner]

Welcome to Thailand ????????????

[thaibeachlovers]

26 minutes ago, Gottfrid said:

I think you missed a lot here. First he estimates that he may have to pay 350k baht. That is of course worst case scenario. That includes him already in hospital and if his wife and two children test positive after 3-4 days and might also need to stay in hospital for 10 days and maybe some more. That would be a minimum of 40 days in hospital and 3-4 days quarantine for wife and two children before that. Seems quite a good estimate to me.

Always plan for the worst and hope for the best. The worst is 350,000 baht.

[Nabby]

Do not go to Thailand unless you must. No need to visit this dry caliphate devoid of tourist infrastructure. Go elsewhere, or be prepared to have your year ruined. 

[thaibeachlovers]

34 minutes ago, Bkk Brian said:

Its in the UK Independent although they have a Paywall, here's the headlines, also running in the Financial Times:

 

TOURISTS RETURNING TO THAILAND STRUGGLE WITH NEW TRAVEL SYSTEM

 

From a tricky digital travel pass to the reality of hotel quarantine, some have found the system hard to navigate

 

https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/thailand-pass-reopening-rules-paperwork-b1954324.html

I don't get why any actual tourist would be so eager to visit Thailand so soon. Surely the temples are not that enthralling?

Does not apply to expats returning to family. Obviously wanting to go back asap.