21 minutes ago, xenophon said:

Re re-entry, how much can you put in place before leaving rather than dealing with it from overseas.

For example, if the Thailand Pass is reinstated, were you able to get that before leaving (assuming you knew your arrival date, etc.)?

Got my Thailand Pass before I left on 26th Nov., arriving back from Sydney 30th Dec. Yeah, your return date is written in stone!

Impossible for anyone to predict the future.  It's entire possible a new variant will crop up that changes everything.  They are cropping up all the time, like the new one in France.

 

If you want to travel now, you just have to accept the risks.  Being stuck somewhere, perhaps in a quarantine hospital, losing money on flights, and not being able to get back in the country.

 

That's what happened to us when we traveled last summer.  Dodging covid restrictions as we cruised around. Not fun.

I will definitely not be traveling internationally (out of LOS) until things are back to "normal," (and 6 months after that). Yes, the ever changing travel rules and the always present possibilty of case spikes and renewed border closures, will keep me in Thailand for the foreseeable future. However, I have no complaints as there are much worse places to be and Phuket is more or less completely open. Have a heart for the foreign nationals of Japan who were caught out when Covid hit...they've been locked out of the country going on 3 years now!

1 hour ago, Henryford said:

I have given up on the idea of travelling anywhere in, or especially out of, Thailand. Thailand changes the rules every 5 minutes so no it's not worth the risk. The world will still be there in 2023 onwards.

I agree, but sadly most business's within the entertainment industry will not be !

4 hours ago, mokwit said:

I think the real question may still yet be: would not being allowed back in be a problem?

I'm planning on overseas travel in September. But with all the trouble of entering Thailand, I'm not planning to be back until late 2023, hoping that 'things' will be easier by then.

Sticking to the topic, for me, it would have to be something extremely urgent, life or death in nature, for me to leave at this time. Too many uncertainties.

5 hours ago, bkk6060 said:

I bet there will be no more lockdowns and restrictions will be eased. There is discussion of returning test and go which which will probably come back in some form.

There maybe some, or at least a bit of truth, in that. So, I may travel to from Buriram to Bangkok next to see my doctors and consulate. But it will be with the lingering fear of ending up in a Covid jail like some other poor sods. I definitely wont be seen getting my nose poked at the entrance of what's left of Soi  cowboy...

For the return flight I'll take a couple of ATKs before I get an "official" test. I'll forget flying and take a taxi if the worst came to the worst.

After nearly 2 years I had flights booked to see friends and family in the UK for April. Needless to say with all the uncertainty here I have cancelled the flights.

5 hours ago, Thaiwrath said:

Thailand does not have any "clever" ministers, far from it, from the top to bottom ! ????

Cleverness aside there is no such thing as a minister for travel.

No worth going anywhere. But I will be leaving to see my parents by this July regardless 

The degree of the severity of the illness needs to be factored into policy…

 

when the symptoms equate to flu like symptoms at worst, the policy needs to reflect reasonable policies…

 

they currently are not reasonable given what Omicron is - very low hospitalization and mortality rates  

The Gov't thought the economy could survive without the 20% contribution of tourism and travel. It may have done for 1 year ... but we are entering the 3rd year now and that equates to massive prolonged systemic shock throughout the economy. As inflation looms, we could be heading for darker global days ...... and a longer recovery time. Travel ... its always been a pain in the back side ... its just 10x that now.

With the flip-flops, contradictory talking-heads and hysteria, I am not planning  anything short of a trip to Big C here in town.

The real question is why should I travel to Thailand? For the last two years I’ve considered going back to Thailand but if I go there for a month or two I might gonna be able to go scuba diving? Am I going to be able to walk around outside without wearing a mask in the hot humid weather? I get that indoors I’d probably have to wear a mask but I’ve heard that even driving in a car with more than one person you have to wear a mask. That’s just ridiculous . And then of course once I’m there comes all the questions that you guys raise. If the government shuts down am I gonna be able to get to where I wanna go or even back home

I know someone, with over 35 years of (temporary) residence in Thailand, who decided not to travel to the recent funeral of his mother in the UK. 

The uncertainty about being able to return to his Thai family was the reason.

6 hours ago, mokwit said:

I think the real question may still yet be: would not being allowed back in be a problem?

Well you and 9 others who liked your comment think not...But the real question  is..are you and the nine others actually  here in Thailand?

8 minutes ago, Judo said:

The real question is why should I travel to Thailand? For the last two years I’ve considered going back to Thailand but if I go there for a month or two I might gonna be able to go scuba diving? Am I going to be able to walk around outside without wearing a mask in the hot humid weather? I get that indoors I’d probably have to wear a mask but I’ve heard that even driving in a car with more than one person you have to wear a mask. That’s just ridiculous . And then of course once I’m there comes all the questions that you guys raise. If the government shuts down am I gonna be able to get to where I wanna go or even back home

You make good  points. You are happy  being outside Thailand and live in a country where masks are not required.

Not worth it - unless you really have to.  The processes are do-able (I travelled to Korea on business), but the constant changes, poor communication and dodgy IT systems make it an infuriating process.

 

Plus there's the significant cost and the Russian Roulette tests.

I need to go back to the UK but am reconciled to idea I may not  be able to return here.

6 hours ago, ChrisY1 said:

I'll be travelling to Australia in March, situations at that time permitting of course.

I would0 hope in 2 months the covid situation will improve to make travel easier....but who knows....another strain could well emerge in the meantime

We are going too on 1st April, I think it will be no problem then

I travel for fun and this is not fun! I will not travel until all restrictions are removed. Worrying about what the flip-flop Thai governement is going to do is far too stressful. The Thai government cannot be trusted to make a good decision. Caviat emptor ... "let the trveller beware".

Edited January 19, 20224 yr by riverhigh

I'm planning to visit my family in the UK in July. But I won't be booking anything until the last minute. Too much chance of another variant sending the world into mass hysteria again.

 

Best to wait and see the situation a few days before the trip and then deciding whether to go or not. I work here so the last thing I need is to get locked out due to some new strain while I'm overseas.

 

IMHO we are over the worst of it now and things will get easier from here on, but I'm not prepared to put several thousands of pounds on it by booking now and then sweating on it for 6 months.

Not being out of the country since November 2007 why should I go now?

No. The extreme cowardice of the leaders here makes it a great hassle. And there is the unpredictability factor. Not worth it. I am going to wait until Omi kills covid. Just a few more months, hopefully. 

6 hours ago, Gandtee said:

Correct. For people like me at 88 years of age, insurance which is required to return to Thailand is impossible to get. My days of visiting my family around the world are over. It sounds dramatic but we are trapped here unless we are prepared to leave our wives and loved ones for ever. I'm certainly not. 

If they really  want to see us so bad they can come here. Our weather here beats most countries hands down!

No

I have just returned to Thailand following a 6 month stay in the USA.  I left in order to ensure that I received my vaccinations (I am now fully vaccinated, and have my booster).  I had tried to get back earlier, but had trouble finding medical insurance, as I am over 75.  I had intended to move back to the USA in October of this year, but due to the continuing unknown situation here in Thailand, I have decided to permanently move back to the USA within the next 60 days.  Traveling inside and, especially, outside of Thailand will continue to be problematical, so there is no reason to stay here any longer.  I love you, Thailand, but after 22 years it is time to go home!

Better just to hide under my bed and hope for the best….????????????????

Sad realality is that Omicron has not yet been fully established in Thailand so that the majority of the population has immunity to Covid. Until this happens it is really not worth the risks of travelling to Thailand and all entry and local restrictions lifted.

Is it to much hassle to travel OUT of Thailand? Same answer as to travelling INTOO Thailand, yes it is.