Sad to say but I feel this is the end of my time in Thailand, at least temporarly.    I have postponed a trip to the UK since the start of the Covid pandemic and now plan to go at the end of March.   I believe that Covid is always going to be with us and if you put off your plans because of its presence, there will never be a good time to go.

 

My plan was to return to my wife in Issan at the beginnining of May, however, because I do not want to be a victim of the 'money making trap' instituted by the Thai Government in collaboration with the Private hospitals, involving the unnecessary Day 1 and Day 5 RT-PCR tests, I don't believe that will be possible, plus the doubts and the reluctance of Thai Insurers - who have 'sussed out' the Governments plan - to take part in the Test & Go Scheme.

 

Thailand is I believe, some way down the road to ruination under the Generals, who should stick to playing soldiers, and leave polotics to the growwn ups, and I feel such sadness for the ordinary Thai, who suffer and will continue to suffer hardships, whilst these clowns remain in power.

 

Before anyone asks, yes I will  continue to financially support my wife, come what may!

I hope it all works out well. Good luck with your plans....

40 minutes ago, Havenstreet1940 said:

the end of my time in Thailand, at least temporarly

This is the end of my time here ---"Temporally"............................

 

 

I guess the only thing to say is---Sorry we will never see you again-----until you arrive next time.

In life, its all boil down to what we are will to put up with and accept things we don't like or approve of for the sake of our well being, good life and safety, at times it seems, that some demands are not worth it and this is when its comes down to a personal choices, many of us are ok with what we have to put up with to stay in this country, others, throw the towel l in, temporally at least ...

It all boil down to financial and resources when it comes to retirement in another country. I do not believe for one second it is about government if you have enugh for the future. If you have the financial in order, government is not the issue. If you have more than enough, you have other and better options than Thailand but still Thailand can be a good choice, and if to little, the government become a problem. 
 

 

12 minutes ago, ezzra said:

In life, its all boil down to what we are will to put up with and accept things we don't like or approve of for the sake of our well being, good life and safety, at times it seems, that some demands are not worth it and this is when its comes down to a personal choices, many of us are ok with what we have to put up with to stay in this country, others, throw the towel l in, temporally at least ...

Can't disagree with that.  

Well I hope it all goes well for you, did you build in Issan or buy land there.  Lets see if things improve for your return in the future.  I expect they will.

In the same situation myself. Need to return to UK in around 3-4 weeks time. Now easy to enter UK and hoping that it won't be too long before Thailand relax their requirements too. 

Leaving aint the problem, getting back in might be.

 

Often it isnt the problem itself, its your attitude toward it.

Best of luck with your choices.

 

 

Im hesitate to leave as well, and wait for better times. In Norway they scrapt all the restrictions yesterday, and I believe it will not make it easier to get back here without to much struggle and unnecessary paperwork, tests etc. 

 

Hopefully we will see open borders soon. 

As others say, to come back to Thailand most likely will be more easy in the near future.

Good luck for you.

We find ourselves in a similar situation. but both me and wife are going together, We are going to Greece in April and will stay the summer, We are considering making Greece our retirement base, but we have never styed there longer than a few weeks, and we might be trading one set of problems with another, 

so we will see.

If by August the insanity persists in Thailand we will return to out Florida home for a while. and reassess our situation. 

Good luck on you return to the UK. Have you considered taking the wife there? will she even go? Difficult to be without your wife IMO

For me it is easier 'cause my wife and me  have spend 10 Years in the US together and she is comfortable being there. 

by May there probably won't be the 5th day test/hotel, which is a temporary measure against omicron.

On return you risk positive and some 30k for hospital or being put in ASQ for a little less.

Hospitalisation might also mean to pay for hospital bed (not for the treatment and medicines) and it's around 10k per day.

However, chances of testing positive are now around 1% on each test. Might be falling further to pre-omicron times of 0.1%.

There is a risk, but no drama.

While in the UK get a booster (or even 2 doses, if they allow you to), minimum 2 weeks before travel, to lessen chance of infection.

By putting your return in that light you risk braking your marriage 

4 minutes ago, sirineou said:

We find ourselves in a similar situation. but both me and wife are going together, We are going to Greece in April and will stay the summer, We are considering making Greece our retirement base, but we have never styed there longer than a few weeks, and we might be trading one set of problems with another, 

so we will see.

If by August the insanity persists in Thailand we will return to out Florida home for a while. and reassess our situation. 

Good luck on you return to the UK. Have you considered taking the wife there? will she even go? Difficult to be without your wife IMO

For me it is easier 'cause my wife and me  have spend 10 Years in the US together and she is comfortable being there. 

"insanity"? it's nowhere near that bad mate. you sound a bit soft.

The so called money making trap appears not to be true, only 3.3 percent of arrivals in the first 10 days of the new T&G tested positive. Yet this myth of planned scamming of arrivals continues. If you test + after arrival and have no symptoms you can insist on going home here anyway so why the hysteria? Tourists are another matter, I would not bother if I was coming for a few weeks.

2 hours ago, Havenstreet1940 said:

Thailand is I believe, some way down the road to ruination under the Generals, who should stick to playing soldiers, and leave polotics to the growwn ups

You mean grown-ups like Boris?

Take your wife with you as it may take a lot longer than you think for a return to normal, maybe even another year

3 minutes ago, tomazbodner said:

You mean grown-ups like Boris?

Maybe the generals should organise a few party's (Sorry work events ????)

We can only hope this is the start of the new after covid, and Thailand soon announce the same

 

Updated February 12, 2022.

No testing, no quarantining, no registration! As of February 12, 2022, all COVID-19 entry requirements have been lifted for all travellers to Norway.

It is now super easy to travel to Norway, and we have lots of space! Spectacular outdoor adventures, ski slopes, and plenty of indoor kos await this winter, and summer is just around the corner! 

Other restrictions have also been lifted. You do not need to wear a face mask anywhere in the country, and social distancing rules have also been lifted. Social and cultural life is now back to normal: all bars, restaurants, and museums are open, and you can attend all kinds of events, such as concerts and conferences. 
 

What happens if you get COVID?

If you are infected with COVID-19, it is recommended that you isolate yourself for 4 days. Although there is no longer a testing requirement, it is recommended that adults with symptoms test themselves. Note that this does not apply to children. 

 

https://www.visitnorway.com/plan-your-trip/coronavirus-and-travelling-to-norway/

11 minutes ago, BE88 said:

Take your wife with you as it may take a lot longer than you think for a return to normal, maybe even another year

Was away for nearly 2 years, and then decided to come back - sadly a week before ludicrous new test and go came back again, so being away a long time could happen  !! Hopefully Thailand will open up without stupid nonsense soon when they see nobody thinks thialand is special enough to come for tourism under these military people and their reams of paperwork to get in  !

2 hours ago, Havenstreet1940 said:

  I have postponed a trip to the UK since the start of the Covid pandemic and now plan to go at the end of March. 

 

2 hours ago, Havenstreet1940 said:

My plan was to return to my wife in Issan at the beginnining of May

So where are you now?  Your location says Nakhon nowhere?  You have not returned to your wife, and have not gone back to England.  Why do you need to go back to England if your wife is in Thailand?  

Cannot follow?  Why travel if you are already here, and if not here in Thailand why not? 

 

Beautiful cool sunny dry season now down in Pattaya.  You sound unhappy for some reason believe things here are difficult or overly governed.  

No matter what is in the news, Thailand has very little enforcement and people seem much happier since November or so as things are opening up

Our situation is the complete opposite. We haven't returned to our home in Thailand since the beginning of the pandemic.

Hopefully soon it will be, "hello from her and hello from me"

Edit. I love Greece. I lived there for a while. Addictive. You mightn't want to go back to Thailand.

41 minutes ago, clivebaxter said:

The so called money making trap appears not to be true, only 3.3 percent of arrivals in the first 10 days of the new T&G tested positive.

Wait till all the Indians arrive with their dodgy fake paperwork !

I indicated that I am going to UK late March.  Did you miss that or chose to ignore it.   As for Pattaya - P L E A S E !!!  Wouldn't go near the place!

3 hours ago, Havenstreet1940 said:

because I do not want to be a victim of the 'money making trap' instituted by the Thai Government in collaboration with the Private hospitals, involving the unnecessary Day 1 and Day 5 RT-PCR tests,

So you tell us you won't come to Thailand to see your wife because you don't want to waste 10,000 THB or something like that, correct?

What do you do in the UK if the government wastes your money? Do you refuse to pay tax? Or what?

 

I think sometimes we just have to accept the world like it is and accept some compromises, even if we don't like it.

1 hour ago, clivebaxter said:

If you test + after arrival and have no symptoms you can insist on going home here anyway

No you can't

1 hour ago, clivebaxter said:

The so called money making trap appears not to be true, only 3.3 percent of arrivals in the first 10 days of the new T&G tested positive. Yet this myth of planned scamming of arrivals continues.

Well said but that won't go down well, here!  Actual statistics and facts are not appreciated by the majority of Thai-bashing members whose preference is for myths, anecdotal hearsay and unjustified speculation!

36 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

So you tell us you won't come to Thailand to see your wife because you don't want to waste 10,000 THB or something like that, correct?

I consider it well worth 10,000bht for access to regular sex.

Obviously some guys are happy to do it themselves.

19 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

I consider it well worth 10,000bht for access to regular sex.

Obviously some guys are happy to do it themselves.

That's so sad. some don't need to pay B10,000 for regular sex.

2 minutes ago, Liverpool Lou said:

That's sad. some don't need to pay B10,000 for regular sex.

I doubt there are any over 60 year olds in that group.

Doubt there are many over 40 years olds getting free regular sex either.