Back and forth…..
Fortunately, there is no 'canceled' on my flight
No, dear readers, I am not on the famous ferry of Drs. P. (*) but in the moderately busy Lufthansa plane that takes me from Frankfurt to Amsterdam in less than an hour. Left Chiang Rai with VietjetAir yesterday afternoon, waited over 6 hours at Suvarnabhumi for the Lufthansa flight to Germany and hung out at Frankfurt airport for 3,5 hours early this morning. So I've been on the road for a while, it will be about 30 hours from door-to-door.
Do I now travel 'there' or do I now travel 'again'? That depends, just as in the text of Drs. P., depends on your view of the situation. I see the Netherlands as my base, even when I spend more than half of the year in Thailand. That's why I consider this the return trip; so 'again'.
In the past few weeks I looked forward to this return trip with joy, but at the same time a little worried about the trip in the opposite direction in - hopefully - a few months. Unfortunately, that is currently a bit difficult. Thailandblog readers know better than anyone that the rules and conditions can change continuously. I left Thailand with a valid residence period on my non-O visa until mid-May next year plus a re-entry permit, next Sunday I will receive the first Pfizer or Moderna vaccination, the second in mid-July – I can do much more don't do it yourself, I guess.
Little activity in the departure hall
The ball is in Thailand's court: will there be a moment this year when you can enter the country as a vaccinated person without quarantine obligations, etc.? I did the full 15 days of quarantine in December last year and I got through it well, but I'm not really excited to have to do that again. But what if that turns out to be the only way to enter the country later this year? And what if the insurance requirements currently associated with the Certificate of Entry still cause problems? I don't know and I don't intend to lose any sleep over it for too long - I'm just going to enjoy the summer in the Netherlands for now!
Back to the journey that is now coming to an end. For a long time I was under the impression that I could go back without a Covid test, but after a reaction from a blog reader I discovered that Germany had changed the rules on May 20 and that I now also had to present a negative Covid test at the airport as a transit passenger to get in.
So I was looking for a test location in Chiang Rai that could also provide me with an English certificate. From the Overbrook hospital, founded by missionaries in 1903, I received the information that they could do such an RT-PCR Covid test; no appointment needed, I could just walk in on the desired day and time. Two days before I was to have the test done, I inquired again just to be sure – it is Thailand, after all – whether I indeed needed to make an appointment, and was then told that they no longer offered that test…. Fortunately, another local hospital, Kasemrad Sriburin, was able to perform that test. Testing before 3300am (for 3 baht) meant that the result and an English-language certificate could be collected at XNUMXpm – unless the result was positive, of course, because then I would be obliged to be admitted!
Right after Immigration. In 'normal' times this is impossible to photograph without people in the picture
It was also a bit of a shock the day before departure when a blog reader commented that Belgium had moved Thailand to the list of 'red' countries on 9 June. This meant, among other things, that you have to go into home quarantine for 7 days upon arrival. When I received a message from Lufthansa a little later that from now on a negative Covid test result was also required for entering the Netherlands, I simply assumed that the Netherlands had done the same as Belgium. I needed that test result anyway, but the thought of having to stay indoors for 7 days after arrival: that didn't make me happy...... In the end, the Netherlands turned out not to have done that and that was a relief.
Hanging out at Suvarnabhumi for more than 6 hours is no fun, and it wasn't in pre-corona times either. It was quiet, very quiet at the airport. The check-in desk opened at 19.30:23.00 PM for the flight departing at XNUMX:XNUMX PM. I checked in immediately (and had to submit my Covid test result) and then went through security and Immigration within minutes. The intention to have something to eat and drink, something I last had at the beginning of the afternoon done, turned out to be a bridge too far. There was absolutely nothing open that night. Not a single restaurant, coffee shop or shop...... Empty corridors, boarded up shops, the occasional traveller: what a huge contrast to the bustling place that the airport once was.
A depressing sight, that empty terminal
The Airbus A350, which was at most half-filled, departed on time. Just like on the outward journey, I had a comfortable seat in Premium Economy, with plenty of room in the length and width. The meal served after an hour, after the forced fasting at the airport, went down like the proverbial cake. A good glass of red wine, the stewardess herself offered to put a second glass next to it and of course you cannot refuse such an offer…..
By the way, all praise for Lufthansa. Correct, pleasant service on board and excellent customer service. I had contact with the office in Bangkok a few times, both by telephone and by e-mail, in connection with the changes I wanted to make to the return trip, and action was taken immediately and the outcome was then confirmed.
Continues to fascinate me: the first daylight at 12 km above the earth
I will get my first shot on Sunday, I wrote. The appointment for this could be made online, but that turned out not to be possible from abroad. They are working on that, they let me know, but so far it has not led to results. Calling was the alternative offered, but that is not an attractive option from abroad, given the sometimes long waiting times. In the end I only installed a VPN – Virtual Private Network – on my iPad, so that I could access the appointment site.
An additional advantage for this cycling enthusiast: I was suddenly able to follow the live broadcasts of the Giro d'Italia on Eurosport and watch the riders travel through the beautiful Italian landscapes for weeks on end. For years I went cycling in South Tyrol for a week in spring and autumn, from a hotel between Merano and Bolzano, and inspired by the beautiful images, the desire came to me to go again in the coming months. With the condition built up in 6700 Thai kilometers this year (see my 9 episodes of 'Chiang Rai and cycling') and a carbon fiber mountain bike that weighs more than 6 kg lighter than my heavy-built Thai workhorse, that would also be on my 75e still have to be able to – or are dreams a hoax after all?
Then through the loudspeakers: 'Cabin crew, prepare for landing'. End dreams. It's over, I'm back!
Beautifully written, with humour.
What a hassle at the moment, both to go to Thailand and back home.
I can imagine, if you don't do this again, with all those rules.
Wish you luck and hope everything goes back to normal.
Hans van Mourik
Hello Cornelius,
Thanks for your description. Fun and humorous. Welcome home and good luck. I have about the same front and back.
Departure for the Netherlands with Lufthansa the day after tomorrow. Going to do a covid test tomorrow in Trat and to be on the safe side also one in Bangkok dr Donna.. Arranged everything quite some time ago and they were not quite sure whether the offer to take the test was still available given the varying messages about whether or not at pretty much everything promised during covid in thailand. Phuket, testing etc. Live on Koh Chang where no paper certificate test was offered within the required time. So do that first on the mainland. But getting there takes quite a bit of time. Ferry and onward transport to Trat.
I live in the Netherlands near the German border, so I alternate between departure from the Netherlands and Germany. This time with Lufthansa departed from Germany. I flew out at the end of December. Quarantine was actually not too bad for me. Choose a large room. Have used the time in quarantine to learn online lesson thatse language.Lovely pastime! Can I recommend.
Enjoy your time in the Netherlands and don't worry too much about your return. Is worrying enough!!
Because a tour couldn't be simpler directly with KLM to Amsterdam 30 hours on the road, terrible and I thought I didn't need a covid test for the Netherlands.
And you don't have to fast at the airport of BKK, you can eat in the food park, buy some receipts and find out what you want to eat, it's that simple there.
I think you have to wait a long time before you can enter Thailand without quarantine, big money is still being made with those quarantine Hotels.
Hi Caspar,
Yes, I know you can eat downstairs in the food court – and also on the 3rd floor – but that is of little use if you have already passed Immigration.
I chose Lufthansa because I like to fly Premium Economy, just like before with EVA. As for the difference in travel time: even if I had flown with KLM, I would have spent 6 – 6,5 hours at Suvarnabhumi, because during these times there are only limited flights from Chiang Rai. You won't hear me complain about it either, it is the way it is.....
In addition: no, you do not need a Covid test from Thailand for the Netherlands because NL has not put Thailand on the 'red' list, as Belgium did. The message from Lufthansa that I mention was therefore not correct. The fact that I still needed a negative test result was due to a German rule set on May 20 - Germany requires Covid tests from almost all countries - which meant that I also had to submit a test certificate as a 'transit traveler',
@Cornelis
Hi ,
So if I understand correctly, a Belgian who flies directly to the Netherlands / Schiphol with a KLM direct flight would not have to have a Covid test for boarding, but would then have to be quarantined after Schiphol (via Thalys) upon arrival in Belgium...
(since one's own nationality is always allowed to enter one's own country), with the necessary health documents completed, under penalty of a fine if not done.
I first need it next year, but already in "covid travel info training" (lol), my main concern is getting on a plane with all those rules, I always fly with excellent KLM
PS excellent travel report, useful to know in these difficult travel times.
Hi David, let's hope that next year traveling will be back to normal - but of course it's always good to stay in training!
You don't earn big money with a few quarantine hotels.
It helps a few hotels keep their heads above water, but no more.
You earn big money with streams of tourists.
As I am flying with Finnair via HEL to AMS on Wednesday 23rd June this was a useful and informative story, thank you. Especially the info around the pre-dept. covid test helped me. And very well written!
Time flies, nicely written Cornelis!
In December last year I flew from Adam to Bangkok. Of course followed the entire procedure, 15 days quarantine in Bangkok and then home in Nakhon Nayok. Back to the Netherlands at the beginning of March. No problem. Now, June 30th I'm going back to Thailand. I have now had my 2 Pfizer vaccinations, certificate and credited to the yellow booklet. For a moment it seemed that I would only have to quarantine for 7 days. But Prayut reversed that a few weeks ago. So test Covid again, request COE and 15 days in an ASQ hotel. What an overwrought measure for someone who is already fully vaccinated.
Welcome back again Cornelius,
Juicy written and I also taste the melancholy to be able to go back in Sept / Oct.
Enjoy cycling in Trentino!
This year I will again pedal to Lake Garda, via Eiffel, Black Forest, Fernpass, the Resiapass and then cycle south along the Adige. You rely on pure muscle power, but I have been assisted electrically for 3 years.
Bike & enjoy
Nice route, PEER. My base was always in Nalles, on that Adige you mentioned. Beautiful cycling route along that river, pedaled there, to Trento - and back. Also did the Stelvio twice but I won't start that anymore ..,,
Have fun!
Great story, good tips
I'm going to KLM soon
The Netherlands.
First pass a test in Chiang Mai
then to Bangkok waiting 7 hours
to go to the Netherlands.
Vaccine I get in The Hague first call
for appointment.
I'm curious, it's fine.
If you fly directly from Thailand to the Netherlands with KLM, you do not need a negative covid test! So save yourself that effort and costs 😉
See also the current official travel advice https://www.nederlandwereldwijd.nl/landen/thailand/reizen/reisadvies#anker-coronavirus
@Branco
Indeed, according to current NL obligations, but the airline (KLM and others) can maintain its own standards to allow boarding, I'm afraid that's where the shoe pinches.
KLM also does not request a negative test result. I fly back to Amsterdam from Bangkok on the 27th with KLM. You can check this on the KLM website.
The travel advice can of course still change. It is therefore important to follow this closely.
Hello Cornelius,
I haven't read the blog in a while, but as always you made it a beautiful story.
Welcome to NL.
I'll be heading the other way soon… end of July if all goes well.
And then I stay there.
I have already had both my Pfizer shots, but despite that I fear I will have to go back into quarantine. But then again via ChorCher hotel... like in December.
Enjoy the Dutch summer and who knows see you in the winter in Thailand.
Hi Ferdinand,
Good luck with the big step you are taking! Would be nice to meet each other in Thailand, a little further in time!