Thailand question: Phuket Sandbox or wait for a Hua Hin Sandbox?
Dear readers,
I'm a bit in doubt about what I can do best and I would like your advice. Normally I would go back to Thailand on October 4 through the Phuket Sandbox construction. 14 days there and then on to Hua Hin, where I would stay for 2 months. I've done the whole thing before at the beginning of this year (CoE procedure etc) so I know how it works. Very simple by the way. I had everything arranged and agreed in 3 days.
But now I read that from October there may also be relaxations and that there will also be sandbox constructions for Hua Hin, among others. My girlfriend has a return ticket to Thailand on October 4. Is it smart to wait for more details and perhaps avoid the 14 days because they will shorten that? It is also true that my girlfriend has a return ticket to Bangkok. In my opinion, if she participates in the Phuket sandbox, she cannot continue flying from Bangkok to Phuket. Only a direct flight is allowed, right?
Or is it better to just start the CoE procedure now and then fly to Phuket? The most ideal would be if we can go to Hua Hin, there in the Sandbox and then we are already where we need to be.
Anyone have more info on this? Or advice? And please don't come up with 'stay home' or 'wait another year' because we don't do that. We are leaving in October.
Thanks in advance!
Regards,
Sander
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According to the latest reports, the Hua Hin Sandbox is highly uncertain, and will not go into effect on October 1!
So only Phuket remains for the time being…
And indeed, you cannot fly via Bangkok, because you are not allowed to fly on to Phuket!
Only direct flights to Phuket are possible.
It does not look like the Sandbox can be started in Hua Hin in the short term. People are not ready for it yet.
It is easier to arrange for islands such as Phuket and Koh Samui.
Nobody has a crystal ball. Or at least not one of the magical type that allows you to see into the future.
What are the relevant considerations for you?
I think very simple
1. Phuket Sandbox is actually operational
2. Hua Hin reopening plan is still not approved today, let alone operational
3. Your departure date is only 26 days in the future, so waiting any longer may become problematic, since you yourself say that you will travel back on October 4 anyway.
Color
Sander, since you want to leave in October, Phuket is the only option without a 14-day quarantine.
That's right, you are not allowed to transfer in Bangkok and fly to Phuket. Transfers outside Thailand are allowed again.
Speaking of shortening, forget it. It's kind of a chicken/egg situation. Few tourists are hungry to come as long as that 14-day hotel or quarantine requirement remains in place, the Covid / vaccination rate situation in Thailand does not improve drastically [that countries issue negative travel advice] and catering / nightlife does not open.
On the other hand, as long as the vaccination rate remains low, the government, in consultation with the business world that influences the politicians [think of insurance me and large hotel chains], invents all kinds of expensive obstacles such as Thai covid insurance, a 14-day stay in a SHA + or ASQ hotel to still earn some money from the tourist in this way.
Because the rest of the catering industry is still in its tracks, so that the tourist cannot spend his/her money outside the door of the ASQ/hotel. Shortening length of stay simply means less income.
The provincial government of Samui today agreed to drop the quarantine requirement and wants to be completely quarantine-free, just like Phuket. But this still needs to be approved by the central government (CCSA). It will work because they are already part of the active sandbox. Because you have to apply for your COE very soon, waiting longer seems like a risk to me. The advantage of Samui sandbox was that you can fly via Bangkok.
According to journalists who are in regular contact with government institutions, Thailand is said to be working on a "living with corona" scenario. Because they're starting to see that, financially, they're not going to be able to keep this up for very long. Expectation is mid-January / February 22 a somewhat normal tourism again…