Dear readers,
A simple question with a difficult answer (because I've been looking for a good explanation for a long time). Hopefully there are real Thailand connoisseurs here who can tell us how it works in practice.
We (husband, wife, 2,5 year old son) want to go to Thailand for three weeks in mid-January/February. We are vaccinated, son not of course.
- I read that the entry rules have changed from December 16, but is this doable? Do you have to stay in a special hotel for one night or can you leave quickly after it turns out that you have tested negative. How can this be arranged from the Netherlands?
- How is tourism in Thailand at the moment? In Sri Lanka I understand from friends that it has been so quiet that it has been at the expense of hygiene. What's it like in Thailand? Because we don't want to travel too much, we are thinking of a tour around Rayong, Koh Chang and Koh Kut.
- What further advice would you have? To do or not to do? Book now or wait until a certain date?
In other words, thank you very much for all the answers. We'd love to hear from you.
Regards,
Frank
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100% definitely not going.
I think all your questions have already been amply answered in other threads on this forum, but concretely, I would postpone a trip for a while. You are going on holiday with restrictions, do you want this? Then the new variant, nobody knows what consequences this will have. So, postpone it for half a year, then there may be much more clarity…
Dear Frank, I live on Koh Chang and I say "do it".
Everything is almost open here, except for the nightlife, but I assume you and your children are not looking for that. The rule is now that as a vaccinated person you have to go to a special hotel on arrival where they take a pcr test. You will then stay overnight in the Hotel while waiting for the results. If you have tested negative, you are free to travel in Thailand. The only risk is that if someone on the plane, with a seat close to yours, tests positive, you will have to be quarantined and your 3 weeks of vacation will be pretty much ruined.
In other words, Koh Chang is doable if you test negative and are 'lucky' that you have not been around someone who has tested positive, in this case the extra costs are for yourself, if you yourself or your wife tests positive and has no symptoms, your Dutch health insurance pays nothing, hospital costs are around € 10.000 per person, I say: DON'T
Given the phrasing of the question, I have a serious feeling that you are in doubt. Isn't it wise to follow your own feeling. Now 2 answers, once and once no. I would say follow your mind, and hopefully there will be enough years to go to Thailand 3 times a year if necessary. Or does your son insist on coming in January?
Hello Frank,
We are going to Thailand on December 5, with two kids. Always only a return ticket to Bangkok. I already booked these tickets last summer. Due to the ever-changing coverage and measures, you can always wait or postpone.
Travel is “prepare for the worse, and hope for the best”.
Traveling is simply adapting to the people and the situation.
Now you have to do a pcr test, before you get on the plane and test again in Thailand, and previously in quarantine for seven days, demonstrably insured 50.000 etc.
Now it would go from a mandatory PCR test to a self-test on December 1 and that has now become December 16 and with the new variant it can be withdrawn just like that.
Booking a SHA+ hotel is fine, but arranging a test & go, that you are picked up, you get a pcr test in the hotel and possibly the food in your room, I can't get confirmation, while I do copy my credit card details. passports etc. to the hotel, via email.
Calling and emailing to arrange this is (in my case) no chance.
Yet my experience is that once there, this has been arranged, or can be arranged. It is a country where people are always friendly, you can eat and sleep everywhere, transport is never a problem, besides a nice temperature.
If you can't stand uncertainty and want to have everything arranged tightly in advance, many countries will not be able to travel or take a holiday, especially now, during this time.
If you're looking for a reason not to go, you can always find it. There has not yet been a trip to Thailand that I regret (had).
Success!
Frank, first of all the rules that would change on Jan 16, 2022 have been put on hold due to omikrom virus.
I think just do it as long as you follow the rules properly. Request QR Thai Download Marchana app and arrange for 1 night due to covid swapp SHA + book hotel in advance.
have fun
To fully enjoy a holiday and a tour, I would postpone it for a year, because the costs are not low either.
It is very quiet everywhere and many shops bars and restaurants are closed. (no alcohol)
A face mask is mandatory everywhere.
I have to contradict the last speaker, we were on Koh Chang 1 week ago it was quiet and a lot was closed.
Only on weekends the Thai people come from Bangkok.
I have lived in Thailand KhonKaen for 12 years so have some insight
After half following this daily changing hassle around traveling to Thailand, I draw the following conclusions:
Do you like a gamble and/or is the longing for Thailand so intense that you no longer want to wait? Then go. Take all kinds of uncertainties into account. Measures are still changing from day to day, although the trend so far has been relaxing little by little. This can be reversed if the Covid situation requires it according to the authorities. Read: more restrictions and paperwork. Also realize that at this moment, one of you is tested positive in Thailand, which will mean mandatory admission and isolation for that person with the necessary costs (check insurance!). If you guess wrong, one of you will soon be admitted and the rest will be in quarantine for x days (1? until everyone has tested negative again?). If you guess correctly, you will have a “nice and quiet” holiday and you will also help local businesses or hotel and retail chains with your money.
If you prefer to be sure, the risk of forced splitting, red tape and hassle (if tested positive) is not worth it to you, then wait a little longer (?) for better times.
I would really like to go back to Thailand, but I am still waiting for things to go a bit easier. Preferably with almost 0 paperwork, a chance of almost zero that I will be forcibly admitted or more of that kind of thing. My crystal ball tells me: Rob just wait that Eva flies more or less normally from Amsterdam again, then it will be somewhat like pre-corona again with limited hassle and laughter. But I can't wait for another year's delay!
Hello Frank,
I leave around the same period and oa. also to Koh Chang .. at least if the Omikron variant doesn't throw a spanner in the works.
I am not a specialist of Thailand, although I have been going to Koh Chang every year (outside 2021 because of …) for the nature, tranquility .. the simplicity (Phuket, Koh Samui, etc. is past history for me)
The key question is of course “what are you looking for and what is your budget?” In any case, Koh Chang has beautiful resorts and child-friendly beaches, so in this respect "good choice".
Personally I always stay in The Chill (very child friendly resort) but for the rest I advise you to view the iamkohchang.com site and if necessary contact the man behind it (Ian = cool down to earth Englishman) who will answer your questions sincerely to answer. He knows KC and surrounding islands like no other. By the way, I always call on him for the transport BKK / KC that runs around 4k bath per single trip.
I hope this has been of some service to you
Good luck and have a good trip and greetings from Antwerp
I would wait until mid-December and then decide. Situation can be very different at that time. Think that the new variant may also mean that more restrictions will come later. Unfortunately, it all remains very uncertain and will remain so for a while. If you really want to, just do it and hope it works out.
Dear Frank,
I live in Thailand for 30 years and come from the travel world, it's crying with the cap on.
The risks you want to take are too great for a family with children. Many forget that Thailand is in fact still a developing country with all the disadvantages (and advantages !!) that entails.
The biggest disadvantage with regard to the Corona pandemic is that the government does not know what to do with it (in several countries) and introduces / withdraws measures from one day to the next, the consequences of which cannot be foreseen,
Moreover, the entire tourism infrastructure is in tatters and there is little fun for those involved and tourists.
Wait sorry.,
Regards, Theo Thai
Before COVID, this question was a “no brainer” as the risks were minimal. Now there are so many question marks and risks. Even with vaccination, one of you can get into serious trouble, with major consequences for fellow travelers. Europe may tighten the rules, making it difficult for you to return. Thailand can change the rules. The flight may be canceled and you may have difficulty getting a refund.
The many uncertain factors can make for a calvary instead of a relaxing journey. I don't want to put that stress on my fellow travelers.
An example. An acquaintance of mine left for Turkey at the end of January 2020 to stay in an apartment near the sea. A stay of 3 weeks was booked. After a lot of effort and without COVID infection, they were only able to return after 3 months.
A simple answer to a simple question. Do not. Too many uncertainties. And then also with a small child. I don't see carefree travel to and through Thailand happening in 2022 either. With an emphasis on carefree. Unfortunately. But we are all still powerless against this invisible enemy. In that respect, I am pessimistic that this will come to an end in the foreseeable future.
Dear All,
First of all, thanks for the enormous amount of responses within half a day. It shows the relevance of the question and your involvement, for which we thank you.
Partly based on your advice, we will not do it. Also because we have read several stories of people who tested positive without complaints and were admitted for an amount of 350.000 Baht / 9000 euros.
As someone has already pointed out: the need is not there for us. We don't have family visits or anything and we can wait. Now we will look for another destination with good weather, and then not the ABC islands, because we have been there too often and personally find it less interesting.
Thanks again for all the quick responses and for those who do go: good luck and have fun. Also for those who are in Thailand of course.
Frank