Is it really worth the hassle to travel out of Thailand in the next few months?

[Card]

I have booked hotel and flight for 5 weeks in Munich in late May with full refund for both if I cancel. I am about to cancel flight but leave hotel for later. I don't think things will significantly improve much as far as bureaucracy is concerned for 1-2 years so I will rebook my flights when they do. 

[ChrisY1]

6 hours ago, Lupusthai said:

Last visit to Europe in spring 2019. Have not seen my grandchildren no. 4-7 yet.????
No chance to visit my 5 children & grandchildren in the foreseeable future because not insurable at 75 suffering from COPD and (recovered) cancer. ????

May be the best time to make a trip.....loved ones are important

[xenophon]

4 hours ago, crouchpeter said:

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

Thanks for your info. Who (in Thailand) did you apply to to get your Thailand Pass? Or did you apply to overseas embassy from Thailand?

[NHPT]

I was due to fly to Thailand via Hong Kong tonight....

 

Test and go was cancelled

 

Cathay Pacific cancelled flights

 

Even if T&G reinstated, don't think I will try again this year.

 

All too iffy...flip flop flip flop 

[sambum]

7 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.

?? Drinking isn't banned many bars are packed booze flowing just need to close by 9 pm.

I thought all bars were still closed - only restaurants are allowed to sell alcohol with food?

 

That is certainly the case where I live (but it is surprising how many bars are now restaurants! ????)

[khunpa]

I have been traveling domestically lately. First Phuket and now in Bangkok, heading back home to Chiang Mai next week. Will keep traveling internally in Thailand as long as it is easy and possible.

 

Internationally is a total different issue. Not leaving before I am 100% sure I can get back in without quarantine.

 

 

[Pedrogaz]

I don't think it is worth it. The article is very good.....it is not what the current regulations are, it is what they might be when I want to come back that is the concern. And to be ripped off for insurance, possible long stays in ASQs, and endless testing, and the like....well who wants all that.

I'm double vaccinated but have no intention of going for a booster.

[sambum]

6 hours ago, internationalism said:

there is no way that 14 ASQ will be back.

At that time it's only 7 days  AQ or 7 days sandboxes in 4 provinces (and it will be growing to over 10 within months - so you can chose one next to your house).

I had to top up my yearly health insurance by 10k over my previous premium to meet $50k entry requirement. That is not any burden at all, covers all medical conditions in thailand and abroad.

Flights are cheaper than pre-covid. With the best airline, emirates, on a fully flexible ticket, it's 21k (pre-covid was over 30k). They throw in free covid insurance $200k for 30 days. Just on testing positive $100 per day for 14 days - so you have for hotel. Or pocket this money, if staying with family, friends.

Flying to europe doesn't require testing. Not even filling 2 minutes online locator form.

On way back pre-departure pcr e50 (results in 24h).

Landing pcr 2200b (included in T&G hotel booking).

Second test free, courtesy of thai government.

Doing T&G or sandbox is a 5 minutes work - attach insurance, hotel booking, vax. And wait a week or two - just a matter of proper planning and patience.

Testing positive on entering thailand can be nervous experience. Get an additional covid insurance for 1k per year. I have 2 - cover 300k. I expect to pay 100k for 10 days. Another 200k I will pocket for self-insurance for future travel.

 

"Let us know if you think it's worth it"

 

That is the question asked at the end of the article we are responding to.

 

I got half way through your post and the answer was blatantly obvious - NO!

[Harveyboy]

7 hours ago, Thaiophil said:

I have not left the LoS for 15 months and will not do so anytime soon.  Sky high airfares, tedious quarantines and a huge hassle if you test positive and can’t travel are major deterrents

same here over 2 year's now not being able to get back lost everything business.home belongings..all scavenged..

[Barefootknobby]

7 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.

?? Drinking isn't banned many bars are packed booze flowing just need to close by 9 pm.

Yep, the virus knows when it’s time to attack 

9pm is the deadline, just like when you were a teenager, have to be home before 9pm. Do as your told

[simola]

Is it worth bothering to travel TO Thailand. Sadly No. There are lots of places in the world that are now open and don’t require you to jump through hoops to enter and also have many less restrictions than Thailand. 

[captpkapoor]

I really haven't had much of a problem travelling to Dubai etc, neither entering Thailand under the Test and Go scheme in early Dec, only 1 day quarantine in a Bkk hotel. Neither do I anticipate much of a problem returning home next month; one just needs an RT-PCR test 72 hours before. Not a biggie. 

[stigar]

And some cant go back because or warrants in their homecountry.Just read in pattayaone/news

that they arrested a hungarian man age 48 for overstaying 4254 days.He was on a run after fraud of 42 million bath in hungaria.

[Screaming]

I would say that it is not safe to travel to Thailand during this time. I know many Thai people that have caught the new strain of the virus. My doctor called  me and told me to postpone my visit to him at a Thai hospital because of all the new covid patients coming into the hospital. I also have Thai friends who have been told to stay home from work because their place of employment is infected.

 

Edited January 19, 2022 by onthedarkside
edited post

[trainman34014]

All this talk of Closed Bars in Nonsense in our area; i could go and get a drink anytime near home and meet Policemen drinking there as well.   As for travel; we have forgotten it and will continue to forget it until all restrictions are dropped as we are happy at home and don't have itchy Butts !

Edited January 19, 2022 by trainman34014

[stigar]

A british man get fined 4000 bath for overstay because he had to do 10 days quaranene.The confirmation from hospial didnt help at all.Good luck folks.

[10baht]

8 hours ago, webfact said:

So, is it really worth the hassle of getting a visa and all those medical tests and insurance, just for a few days away?

I think the restrictions were needed before vaccines, now only for anti vaxxers. 

[RubenRemus]

I've travelled a lot since the pandemic began, including several arrivals to Thailand and including with family. It's not as impossible as many here are saying. You need to do your homework and have patience, of course, given there are more hoops to go through. But the worst case scenario is C19 infection or exposure that gets you put in quarantine. This has happened for some but not for the vast majority. The next worst case is sudden policy changes that lead to a short halt in visa approvals. We have seen this is not the end of the world even in the Omicron phase – again, you just need to be patient. The final big hurdle is the risk of having to switch from Test & Go to a sandbox scenario. But having done both Phuket sandbox (7 nights on the beach) and BKK ASQ (15 nights in a room), the bad old days appear to be very much behind us.  Again, you just need to be patient. 

 

Now, having the money for all of this is another story.....

[Jimbo53]

7 hours ago, ChrisY1 said:

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

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

I hoped in March 2020 that i would be able to fly to LOS in Nov 2020...here we are in 2022,and going nowhere until all the BS Bureaucracy is over with..Good luck with March!!

[wombat]

I think the question should be if you don't have family here is it worth the hassle to travel to Thailand?

[bristolgeoff]

It was possible before test and go  the 1 day test .You had to show alot of paperwork.then the gov changed the rules again and everything  cancelled.Anyone who was prepared to go cancelled again,then the gov said it may be active again in feb or march.With all this happening people will wait again to get back,because it is not worth the hassle to go thru with the paperwork needed

[Expat68]

I decided to to tour the Southern Islands at the beginning of December, my friends thought I was crazy but the levels were low at the time and knew come New Year there would be a spike and I was right

[xenophon]

23 minutes ago, RubenRemus said:

I've travelled a lot since the pandemic began, including several arrivals to Thailand and including with family. It's not as impossible as many here are saying. You need to do your homework and have patience, of course, given there are more hoops to go through. But the worst case scenario is C19 infection or exposure that gets you put in quarantine. This has happened for some but not for the vast majority. The next worst case is sudden policy changes that lead to a short halt in visa approvals. We have seen this is not the end of the world even in the Omicron phase – again, you just need to be patient. The final big hurdle is the risk of having to switch from Test & Go to a sandbox scenario. But having done both Phuket sandbox (7 nights on the beach) and BKK ASQ (15 nights in a room), the bad old days appear to be very much behind us.  Again, you just need to be patient. 

 

Now, having the money for all of this is another story.....

Yes, a mate is flitting in and out of Bangkok from Australia (4 times in 6 mos) with all the paperwork and testing. No problem he says. So far no quarantine for him

[SGD]

8 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. 

And if they make insurance compulsory for an extension of stay, then what ? Where does that leave you ?

I consider that is something people should be considering and if insurance, even for Thai costs, is impossible at increasing age, then what sum of money on deposit, not forged each year but really on deposit, would be required to effectively self insure. If that was 5m baht, 99% of retirees would fail to qualify.

Edited January 19, 2022 by SGD

[Jimbo53]

11 minutes ago, Expat68 said:

I decided to to tour the Southern Islands at the beginning of December, my friends thought I was crazy but the levels were low at the time and knew come New Year there would be a spike and I was right

Can i borrow your Crystal Ball for a while ????????

[CM Dad]

8 hours ago, Thaiophil said:

I have not left the LoS for 15 months and will not do so anytime soon.  Sky high airfares, tedious quarantines and a huge hassle if you test positive and can’t travel are major deterrents

Fifteen months!  I have not left for fifteen years and will not do so anytime soon.

[daveAustin]

1 hour ago, hkt83100 said:

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

Don’t really apply to you then bruv. ????
 

Know topic is would you travel ‘out of Thailand’, but same same really… although I’ve said it like 15,000 times, I’ll say again. If going one way (or maybe for a funeral), then perhaps yes, but just for a holiday!? Why on earth would you want to bestow on yourself such misery?

[daveAustin]

1 hour ago, worldview said:

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!

That sucks but reckon you’re doing the right thing. At least you have many options/locations to live comfortably in the US. Don’t look back.

All the best. 

[hotchilli]

9 hours ago, webfact said:

Let us know if you think it is worth it?

Not worth it.

[dutchweller]

For me and my family.

We are absolutely delighted we are finally leaving Thailand at the end of this month PERMANENTLY!