Thailand
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July 1, 2022

2020-2022: The covid archives (part 1)

Should you ever get nostalgic, here's every pandemic update I wrote, buried in the deepest corner of the internet I can find.

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Should you ever get nostalgic about 2020 (and 2021 ... and a decent chunk of 2022)... here's every pandemic update I wrote, buried in the deepest corner of the internet I can find. 27,445 words on covid-era Thailand travel. >>Shudder<<. Below, find everything that was in descending chronology.

Much more fun to read? The Koh Samui Guide. Unlike much of the below, it involves planes and alcohol.

December 2021 (part 4)

Huge thanks to a Koh Samui Guide customer, James, for letting me know that it’s now possible to ‘Test and Go’ on Koh Samui. I so appreciate this collective spirit of information sharing – I think it’s the only way we’ll get the whole picture. Thank you James!! His kind tip led me down the rabbit hole of 340,459,454 browser tabs as I tried to reverse-engineer how it all works. As far as I can tell, what follows is a step-by-step guide to how it’s currently possible to arrive straight to Koh Samui from overseas, and complete your one-night Test and Go stay on Samui rather than in Bangkok.

‍Updated December 22, 2021

‍Announced today: New Thailand Pass applications and the Test and Go program will be temporarily suspended over the holidays. This is *hopefully* a temporary measure while sciencey people give Omicron a watchful side-eye. The situation will be reviewed in early January.

‍How to ‘Test and Go’ on Koh Samui‍

Now that you’ve read the above guides and FAQs, you’ll have an understanding of the Test and Go requirement and which hotels are qualified to offer Test and Go packages. (As well as the crucial, crucial knowledge about what happens to you if you test positive on arrival – please don’t miss this).

‍How to get to Koh Samui

‍To arrive in Koh Samui eligible for Test and Go, as a newly minted testable-entity, you need to book one of two flight options:

‍1. Domestic flight options

‍A ‘sealed’ route on Bangkok Airways from BKK to USM (Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport to Koh Samui). These are flight numbers:

  • PG5125
  • PG5171
  • Both flights run daily.

Let’s quickly look at flight timing and see if this makes sense for you to do.PG5125 leaves BKK at noon and PG5171 leaves BKK at 17:10. If your arriving flight into BKK doesn’t match up, just scrap the Koh Samui arrivals plan and book a Bangkok Test and Go hotel instead. No point in waiting for hours at an airport after a long-haul flight, rather than going directly to a comfy hotel room.

‍How to book one of these sealed flights?

‍Important! Your entire journey from departure airport to Koh Samui needs to be booked on one ticket. You can’t hop on to the Bangkok Airways’ website and book the Samui flight independently. All one ticket. This is best done through a travel agent or by phoning your airline and booking with a real person. For a test, I tried my luck with Thai Airways, British Airways and Eva on their websites. Eva couldn’t find anything, BA wanted to route me through Singapore and Thai told me that “transiting to domestic destinations in Thailand is currently restricted” (which – as this post is trying to demonstrate – is true with two exceptions, PG5125 and PG5171). However, if you click past the warning, Thai Airways does find the sealed route flights.

This is an example from London (LHR) to Koh Samui (USM), for a date in January, offering both sealed route options. But don’t miss the connection time in BKK: 6 hours' and 11 hours' waiting respectively. I’d way rather be showered and tucked in a fluffy Bangkok hotel bathrobe, you?

‍Why can’t I see flights PG5125 and PG5171 on the website?

‍You’ll only see domestic flights for sale on Bangkok Airways’s website. The two sealed Samui flights are only available via international carriers. (If they were available for purchase to domestic carriers they wouldn’t be sealed, right?). I’ve read that people had to reiterate to their airline that PG5171 and PG171 are different flights. Make sure you’re on the one that starts with a 5. It’s confusing because the two separate flights have similar arrival times.

‍How to change my existing booking to a sealed flight?

‍I’ve received emails from people wondering how to change an existing flight booking to include one of these sealed Koh Samui flights. I don’t know the specifics of your ticket conditions but my best guess is you’ll have to talk to your airline (a real human on the phone) and either pay rebooking fees or cancel and rebook it entirely. (Just a guess – covid-era airline fine-print is by no means my area of expertise).If you accidentally arrive in Thailand with an incorrect connecting flight (e.g. not a sealed flight), you’ll be required to do your Test and Go in Bangkok (and forfeit your Samui Test and Go booking). As I wonder a few times in this post … might it be easier just to spend a night in Bangkok and skip the worry and confusion?

‍2. International flight options to Samui

‍Can you fly into Koh Samui on an international flight and Test and Go on arrival? In normal times, you’d have a half-dozen options of direct international flights into Samui (USM), on several airlines. Currently, only Bangkok Airways is offering a direct international flight a few times a week from Singapore:

  • Flight PG962 leaves Singapore at 19:30
  • Monday, Thursday and Sunday

I can’t find any written proof from a reliable source that you can Test and Go on arrival in Samui on these flights … equally, I can’t find proof that you can’t. I suspect that it’s possible because that’s what should and would happen to fresh international arrivals into Thailand but … I don’t know this for absolute certainty. (If anyone’s done this or is doing this … let me know!). British Airways routes Samui bookings this way on its website (e.g. through Singapore), so I'm assuming this is true until told otherwise.

Ok, so now you’ve got your flights sorted – let’s look at your options for Test and Go hotels on Koh Samui.

‍Test and Go hotels on Koh Samui

‍As you’ve learned, you’re looking for “SHA Extra Plus” hotels which are “SHA Plus” hotels that have a hospital partner to perform the covid testing. It's my understand that the tests happen at Samui Airport, rather than at the hotel.

You need to book your Test and Go package either on Agoda or directly with the hotel in advance of your arrival (indeed in advance of your Thailand Pass application). As with Bangkok Test and Go, the package will include your arrival covid test, airport transfer (likely just one way), your one night's stay and a DIY covid test that you take on your 6th or 7th day. Double-check what the package includes in terms of food (as you’re not allowed to leave your room until a test result is received) and read the fine-print for cancellation/refund details.

‍Test and Go hotels on Koh Samui:

‍As of today, you have over 125 options for Test and Go hotels and villas on Koh Samui. No matter which you book, you’ll need a document from your hotel (“Samui Plus Pre-paid SHA PLUS Booking Authentication”) to submit for your Thailand Pass.

‍Booking Test and Go on Agoda

‍Compared to finding a Test and Go package on Agoda in Bangkok, it took a little more digging to do the same for Koh Samui Test and Go packages but it is possible.1) Follow the same process for Bangkok Test and Go.

‍IMPORTANT! Unless you follow this bizarre series of clicks, you won't see Test and Go packages in the results. I don't know why, but this is the way.2) At the top of your results page on Agoda, under the filter, click “International entry (SHA Extra+) and click “Certified SHA Extra+ hotels”. This is the key step to making the Test and Go packages appear in your results.

I was able to find packages for Amari Koh Samui: Note that Amari’s options include group and family room options – tons of flexibility.

‍OZO Chaweng Samui: My examples both include free cancellation up to the day of arrival but not taxes and fees.

Booking Test and Go directly

Looking at a few Test and Go package options for Samui, you’ll notice a few things in the details when booking directly through the hotel.

The Anantara and W Koh Samui’s “Test and Chillax” options are non-refundable. I’d be much more comfortable booking something on Agoda with free cancellation – especially if you’re booking some distance in the future and, y'know, the world decides to totally go to sh*t.

The InterContinental option adds airport transfer and covid test on top of the room rate (THB 2,200 per car and THB 2,400 per person, net, respectively). Just flagging this so you make sure to read the small print you might otherwise skip past.

The Nikki Beach option requires a 3-night minimum stay and makes vague reference to “terms and conditions”.

Just to say – some homework will be required on your part before handing over your payment for a direct booking.

As for the full list of Koh Samui Test and Go hotel options, these are – alphabetically –

  • Absolute Sanctuary
  • Amari Koh Samui
  • Ammatara Pura
  • Anahata Resort Koh Samui
  • Anantara Bophut
  • Anantara Lawana
  • AVANI+ Samui
  • Baan Bophut Beach Hotel
  • Baan Chaweng Beach Resort
  • Baan Haad Ngam Boutique Resort
  • Baan Hin Sai Resort & Spa
  • Baan Samui Resort
  • Banana Fan Sea Resort
  • Banyan Tree Samui
  • Belmond Napasai Koh Samui
  • Bhundhari Chaweng Beach Resort
  • Bo Phut Resort and Spa
  • Cape Fahn
  • Casa De Mar
  • Celes Beachfront Resort
  • Centara Reserve Samui (new!)
  • Centara Villas Samui
  • Chaweng Cove Beach Resort
  • Chaweng Garden Beach Resort
  • Chaweng Noi Pool Villa
  • Chaweng Regent Beach Resort
  • Chaweng Villawee
  • Chura Samui
  • CHUZ Villas Samui
  • Coco Palm Beach Resort
  • Code
  • Conrad Koh Samui
  • Coral Cliff Beach Resort
  • Dara Samui Beach Resort
  • Eranda Villa
  • Escape Beach Resort
  • Fair House Beach Resort
  • First Bungalow Beach Resort
  • First Residence Hotel
  • Four Seasons Resort Koh Samui
  • Hansar Samui
  • Hyatt Regency Koh Samui (new!)
  • ibis Samui Bophut
  • Impiana
  • InterContinental Koh Samui Resort
  • J4 Samui Hotel
  • Kamalaya Koh Samui
  • Karma Resort
  • KC Beach Club
  • Khun Chaweng Resort
  • Khwan Beach Resort
  • La Vida Samui
  • Lanna Samui
  • Le Murraya Resort
  • Lotus Samui
  • Lub d Koh Samui
  • Luxury Villa Samui
  • Mai Samui Beach Resort & Spa
  • Malibu Resort and Beach Club
  • Mantra Samui Resort
  • Marina Beach Resort
  • Marina Villa
  • Melati Resort & Spa
  • Melia Koh Samui (new-is!)
  • Miskawaan Luxury Beachfront Villas
  • Montien House
  • New Body & Mind Retreat Koh Samui
  • New Leaf Wellness Resort
  • Nikki Beach Resort & Spa
  • Nora Beach Resort & Spa
  • Nora Buri Samui Resort & Spa
  • OZO Chaweng Samui
  • Panacea Retreat Private Estate
  • Panorama Samui Residences
  • Paradise Beach Resort
  • Pattra Vill Resort
  • Pavilion Samui Villas & Resort
  • Pawanthorn Villas
  • Peace Resort
  • Poolsawat Villa
  • Prana Resort
  • PS Thana Resort
  • Punnpreeda Beach Resort
  • Rajapruek Samui Resort
  • Renaissance Koh Samui Resort & Spa
  • Rocky's Boutique Resort
  • Royal Beach Boutique Resort & Spa
  • Rummana Boutique Resort
  • Samahita Retreat
  • Samui Garden Home
  • Samui Honey Cottages
  • Samui Jasmine Resort
  • Samui Palm Beach Resort
  • Samui Paradise Chaweng Beach
  • Samujana Villas
  • Sandalwood Luxury Villas
  • Santiburi Koh Samui
  • Saree Samui Natures Finest Resort
  • Sareeraya
  • Sea Dance Resort
  • Sea Valley Hotel & Spa
  • ShaSa Resort & Residences
  • Sheraton Samui Resort
  • Silavadee Pool Spa Resort
  • Skye Beach Hotel
  • Synergy Samui
  • Tango Luxe Beach Villa
  • The Beach Samui
  • The Briza Beach Resort
  • The Canale Samui Resort (new!)
  • The Hive Hotel
  • The Lamai Samui
  • The Library
  • The Passage Samui
  • The Ritz-Carlton, Koh Samui
  • The Rock
  • The Samui Beach Resort
  • The Sarann
  • The Sea Koh Samui
  • The Siam Residence Deluxe
  • The Spa Resorts
  • The Tongsai Bay
  • U Samui
  • Vana Belle
  • Villa Mia
  • Villa Nalinnadda
  • W Koh Samui

Which hotel should you choose? My preference for a ‘Test and Go’ hotel would be to choose the most well-oiled, practised machine that’s done this hundreds or thousands of times and has the system perfected. I really, really wouldn’t want to be the guinea pig for a Test and Go hotel that’s new to the party. (Any other day I’ll happily be the sacrificial lamb … but not with this). Me? I’d favour a Bangkok airport Test and Go hotel (Novotel Suvarnabhumi or Siam Mandarina), or a large Bangkok city hotel with a big bathtub and good view. Then, I’d transfer to Samui on any domestic flight and plan to spend my little heart out supporting every small business I can find – hotels included.

However – full disclosure – I'm not yet ready to travel given experiences like this. Very much eyes-on-the-prize for 2022 but I'll keep the updates coming and you do you!

‍Then what happens? What can you do and where can you go after completing Koh Samui Test and Go? After receiving negative test results, it’s just like a normal vacation. You can stay where you want and travel to other parts of Thailand. You can eat, drink and be merry (with the minor caveat that bars won’t reopen until at least mid-January). In short, you can enjoy every inch of Samui … as long as you don’t test positive.

‍P.S. You can subscribe by email and get all future updates straight to your inbox. Enjoy!

December 2021 (part 3)

How can I book my Test and Go Hotel? Is it possible to book a Test and Go hotel on a hotel booking site like Agoda? Yes! You can definitely book your Bangkok Test and Go hotel package on Agoda. Here's how:

‍1‍. Start at the Agoda page for an approved "SHA Plus+" hotel

‍Start at the Agoda page for an approved "SHA Plus+" hotel – one that's also participating in Test and Go.

For the sake of the example, I'll use the Siam Mandarina Hotel because it's close to Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport (10-15 minutes' drive depending on the time of day). It's not the best of Bangkok (find them below), but it's really convenient.

Note that at this point you won't see any Test and Go booking options – don't panic we're not finished! You have to add some more information (explained in the next step) before the quarantine packages appear.

‍2. Select your options (important – don't skip this!)Next, make a few important clicks to get your search set for success. In the top, choose your currency (otherwise you'll have to change it in each new tab you open). Then, choose your dates. You must input dates or you won't see the Test and Go quarantine package options. (Just add dummy dates or a rough guess if you're just window-shopping). For the sake of this example, I'll choose USD and dummy dates in mid-January.

Then, choose your room requirements – important if you're travelling with kids and want to see options for suites, family rooms or connecting rooms – it will do the math for you to find the right number of rooms for the right number of people. Finally, click SEARCH.

‍3. Find your Test and Go hotel optionsAn Agoda search page will briefly appear and then you'll see your results for your dates, with your original hotel (e.g. Siam Mandarina Hotel) at the top. Open this hotel page in a new window (to preserve your list of results).

On the hotel page, scroll just a second down the page and you'll probably see a box that says 'Quarantine Package'. This is the Test and Go option.

‍4. Choose your Test and Go room type and packageWhen you scroll down to your room choices, make sure that the package includes "Medical services and hygiene measures", airport pick-up and – crucial – free cancellation. As you have to pay in advance, make sure you have free cancellation (like actually read the fine print). We all know that things can change overnight and you don't want to be stuck with a hotel booking that you can't use.

Note that not all room types include Test and Go package options, so if you don't see the option at the top (which are often cheapest) room types, keep scrolling (or search the page for "Medical services" to find it quickly). On my test dates, some Test and Go room types were sold out at some hotels, so it's good to be flexible (with your dates or the hotel). Once you see what you want (and have read the fine print about any fees) – book it (again, with free cancellation!).

Again – this is the line you're looking for next to the room type – "Medical services and hygiene measures" – it means it's a Test and Go package. You might not see it available for each hotel as they may be sold out for those dates or those room types. Keep clicking through your options, you'll find one!

As a quick point of reference, some of Agoda's best-rated Bangkok Test and Go hotels that are directly bookable with quarantine packages include:

You can book directly with the hotel as well, but some people report a slow response time to email inquiries. Purely for the sake of research and comparing your options, Agoda's a place to start.

Tip: If booking direct through a hotel (especially at more budget establishments), make double sure what the price includes. Some travellers have assumed a "Test and Go" price included everything and were surprised to learn that airport transfer and Covid tests were extra.

‍After you've booked your Test and Go hotel

‍As for the rest of your trip, once you've completed your Test and Go (with a negative test result), you're free to travel Thailand as normal (what a concept!) and can make hotel bookings for the rest of your trip any way you like, whether on Agoda, Booking.com or direct through the hotel.

December 2021 (part 2)

Confused about your Thailand travel options right now? I've spent days weeks entire months in front of 60,000 browser tabs and will try to simplify things as much as I'm able. Below, find a massive list of answers to your current Thailand travel FAQs covering Thailand Pass, Test and Go programme and hotels, the arrivals process, Sandbox options and more.

‍Updated December 22, 2021Announced today: New Thailand Pass applications and the Test and Go program will be temporarily suspended over the holidays. This is *hopefully* a temporary measure while sciencey people give Omicron a watchful side-eye. The situation will be reviewed in early January.

‍Thailand Updates – December 2021

Are bars and nightclubs open? No. They'll remain closed until at least January 16, 2022. However, you can order alcohol in Bangkok restaurants. On Koh Samui, there's a "green zone" policy for restaurants that follow a variety of covid safety measures (e.g. vaccinated staff, socially distanced tables). You won't struggle to find a drink on the island – there are over 300 restaurants and "restaurants" with lots of tasty tipple.

‍Are restaurants open? Yes, at least those that choose to be and/or have remained in business. Using Samui as an example, you'll find that a lot of Chaweng remains closed (like, a lot a lot – even McDonalds, Starbucks and Burger King outlets) but there are dozens if not hundreds of open restaurants elsewhere around the island.

‍What are the rules about wearing a mask? They're probably more stringent than you're used to. Masks are required anywhere outside of your house or hotel room (even outside) when not seated for dining. This includes inside a car that has passengers. You can be fined for noncompliance.

‍What are tourists numbers like in Thailand? International (foreign) arrivals to Thailand:

  • 2019: 39,600,000
  • 2020: 6,700,000 (most of these in January and February)
  • 2021: 106,117 (through October)
  • 2022: Some estimate that 20% of 2019 tourist numbers could return. (You get a shrug and a clinking wine glass from me).
  • (source)

What does SHA + Plus Extra Plus or whatever mean? You don't love an unexplained acronym? Let's back up. Last year, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), the Ministry of Public Health and some other buddies joined together to set hotel certification around covid safety measures. The result is "SHA" or "Amazing Thailand Safety and Health Administration certification". It's designated with a round blue badge (you'll see it on hotel booking sites).

Hotels, restaurants, tour operators and transport companies can all have "SHA" certification. A blue “SHA” badge will indicate that the establishment has passed a detailed inspection and follows all recommended COVID health measures such as single points of entry and exit, contact tracing, required use of face masks, enforced social distancing, hand-washing stations, etc.

As for SHA ++ Extra Plus Plus Plus More Plus? Officially it's "SHA Extra Plus" or "SHA ++". The difference with the "extra plus" bit is that they have a partner hospital with whom they'll administer PCR tests. So these "pluses" are what you need to see when you look for any form of quarantine accommodation.

Should we make it more confusing?

  • All Test and Go hotels must be SHA++/SHA Extra Plus
  • But not all SHA++/SHA Extra Plus are Test and Go hotels (it's up to the hotel)
  • However, all SHA++/SHA Extra Plus hotels (in 26 Blue Zone provinces) can be Sandbox hotels.
  • Can you handle one more? There's another level. "SHA +" or "SHA Plus" ... They're just "extra good" but have no partner hospital, so they're not Test and Go hotels but can be Sandbox hotels.
  • Can I really recommend life as a travel writer right now.

Tip: If you want to quickly find "SHA Extra Plus" hotels or "SHA Plus" hotels on a booking site, it's really easy. On Booking.com, start with your destination:

Enter your dates and, on the search results page, click the top box "Properties that take health & safety measures". Then scroll down the page to find "review score". Click Very good: 8+ and Superb: 9+. You'll notice that almost every hotel in the results has "SHA Plus" in its title. In Bangkok, where Test and Go is most readily available, you'll also see "SHA Extra Plus" hotels.

‍Test and Go: How can I book my Test and Go Hotel? Is it possible to book a Test and Go hotel on a hotel booking site like Agoda? Yes! You can definitely book your Bangkok Test and Go hotel on Agoda.

‍How many people have tested positive for Covid under the Test and Go scheme so far? As of Nov 25: 0.08% (Bangkok Post).

‍What happens if I test positive for Covid while I'm in Thailand? Want to travel to the 7th ring of hell? Read "[An] experience testing positive (Reddit)". If you test positive, whether during Test and Go or at any point during your stay – even if you're asymptomatic – you have to go to an 'Alternative State Quarantine' hotel or hospital for 14 days and you'll be separated from your travelling party. Please understand that Thailand travel during Covid does include this risk. Richard Barrow covers the unfortunate cases of two travellers for whom this happened and their experience was far from "relaxing tropical holiday".

Note as well that your insurance must cover you for hospitalisation in the case of symptomatic and asymptomatic Covid (find more details on travel insurance further down).

‍Who is eligible for Test and Go? If you're fully vaccinated (with an approved vaccine) and have been in one of 63 approved countries for the past 21 days.

‍If I arrive in Thailand on a flight that lands after midnight, which night should I book for my Test and Go hotel? If you're arriving in the early hours, you want to book your hotel for the night preceding (For example: your flight lands February 1 at 1am. Book your Test and Go hotel for January 31).

‍Do kids need to be vaccinated to travel in the Test and Go program? Short answer: If they're travelling with you (their parents) and they're under 18 – no. The same is true for kids travelling in the Sandbox program as well. Kids aged 6-17 travelling without their parents need at least one shot of an approved vaccine.

‍Thailand Pass

What's Thailand Pass? As of November 1, it's all your travel paperwork (e.g. vaccine certificate, negative covid test result, hotel booking, flight booking) uploaded into a Thai government website ... processed for a few days ... and returned to you (if approved) in the form of a QR code. The QR code is scanned on arrival at Thai immigration as a way to speed up the handling of lots of admin.

‍Who has to apply for Thailand Pass? Anyone (foreign national) who wants to enter Thailand under any of the existing travel schemes needs a Thailand Pass: Test and Go, Sandbox or "Happy Quarantine Nationwide" for unvaccinated travellers (that's really what it's called).

‍Do I need one for each member of my family or do we apply as a group? Quick answer – all adults need their own Thailand Pass. For children, it depends on the travel scheme you're using as the vaccination requirements are different for kids under Test and Go and Sandbox.

For Test and Go: Everyone ages 12+ needs their own Thailand Pass. You can add younger children to your own application (include them in the 'personal information' section).

For Sandbox: Everyone ages 18+ needs their own Thailand Pass. You can add younger children to your own application (include them in the 'personal information' section).

‍How far in advance should I apply for Thailand Pass? User's choice! If you can't relax until everything's sorted, you can apply as far in advance as you'd like. However, you're pretty locked into your plans once you've applied (only your flight time can change within a 72-hour window). To keep your options open, you might want to wait until closer to your travel dates. Officially, you must apply for your Thailand Pass 7 days before your departure date.

‍How long does it take to get approved for Thailand Pass? Just like anything slightly complicated, "results may vary" and, anecdotally, it can take mere minutes or up to a week. We're used to getting instant results when we click anything so train yourself to expect a 7-day wait and not to panic. (According to Richard Barrow, about 50% of applicants are automatically approved).

Factors that affect the timing:

1. Where you live. Thirty countries (all European except Singapore) have an automatic/online system of vaccine verification ("PKI" or public key infrastructure) so your approval time might be instant if you're applying from the following countries: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK.

‍2. Your email address. Many applicants have reported problems when using hotmail or outlook email addresses. Also – check your spam settings!

3. The quality of your uploads. Crank the DPI on any scans you make and ensure everything is clear and easy to read. For the moment at least, the registration site wants JPGs not PDFs. (Baby Boomers ... before you ask ... How to Convert PDF to JPG on Mac). PDFs will hopefully be accepted soon so watch this space.

‍What happens if my travel plans change after I've received my Thailand Pass? You have some wiggle room for changes, even after you've received your Thailand Pass. Your flight times can change within a 72-hour window as long as everything else remains valid. However, once you start changing hotel bookings you'll need to reapply.

‍Do I need specific travel insurance for getting my Thailand Pass? Yes – it needs to offer US$50,000 coverage for "the cost of the treatment and other medical expenses associated with being infected with COVID-19, including in-patient hospitalisation for the whole duration in Thailand” (TAT). AXA offers a "Sawasdee Thailand" package for these specifications. I have zero affiliation with AXA and have never used it myself, it just ticks the boxes and looks pretty straightforward: See package details and their FAQs. Make sure that any insurance you choose covers hospitalisation if you have a positive test result but show no symptoms.

‍If I have a 30-day visa but I'm not staying that long, what period does my travel insurance need to cover? It just needs to cover the length of your stay, so the end day of your insurance can be the date your returning flight arrives home.

‍How much will my travel insurance cost? Looking at policies that offer (A) asymptomatic coverage (crucial!) and (B) US$50,000 of coverage (mandatory!), I found quotes through AXA and Tune Protect starting at THB2,250 for 30 days. (Using an example of a 35 year old American). That's approximately US$65, GBP50 or EUR60. Just an example, but hopefully that gives you a rough idea.

‍Can I get a Thailand Pass if I had covid? If you've had covid within 3 months of your departure date, you need to get a medical certificate of recovery for your Thailand Pass application. Additionally, you'll need to have been vaccinated with at least one shot of an approved vaccine.

‍What vaccines are considered "approved" vaccines for Thailand Pass? Oh, all the usual gang! (Any WHO-approved vaccines).

  • AstraZeneca
  • Covaxin (newly approved)
  • Janssen (Johnson & Johnson)
  • Moderna
  • Pfizer-BioNTech
  • Sinopharm (aka ‘COVILO’
  • Sinovac (aka ‘CoronaVac’)
  • Sputnik V

For two-dose vaccines, you must have had the second shot at least two weeks prior to departure. Also – for all you golden oldies who got your first shot really early – your vaccine cannot be older than one year.

‍Ok so ... how do I actually apply for my Thailand Pass? Gather all your details and documents (again, make sure they're JPGs that are as crystal clear as possible – this is not the time for sub-par scans). You need:

  • Your passport ID page (JPG!)
  • Your certificate/s of vaccination for both doses, if applicable (JPG!)
  • Your hotel confirmation – this will vary depending whether you're doing Test and Go, Sandbox or full quarantine. If it's Test and Go it must show proof of payment for the full package including transport and covid testing. (JPG!)
  • Your travel insurance confirmation (JPG!)

You don't need to upload any flight documentation, but you will need to input your flight details into the form.

Got an email address that isn't hotmail or outlook

Once you've gathered all your documents, go to the Thailand Pass registration site. The site will then very easily guide you through the application starting with whether you're Thai national or foreigner. Then you select your type of quarantine program (Test and Go / Sandbox / Alternative Quarantine). From there, you're off to the races ... it's just a standard arrival questionnaire.Any admin time will be spent in getting your hotel, flights and travel insurance sorted but the actual time on the Thailand Pass website will be minimal – perhaps just fifteen minutes a person (and quicker if you do it for a second or third family member). As long as you've got your details sorted at the start, it's really no different than filling out an arrivals card on a plane.

‍Is there a fee to apply for Thailand Pass? No, it's free.

‍Can I pay someone to apply for my Thailand Pass for me? If you're horrified by the thought of this and can't possibly handle basic admin, you can outsource the task to a full service Thailand Pass. Rates start at THB 2,750 per person (approx US$80, £60 or €70).

‍More Thailand travel questions?

‍As Porky Pig says ... that's all folks. (For now!) Things are constantly changing so my best suggestion is to subscribe to updates and that way you'll find out when restrictions are updated or altered. Certainly (hopefully) January 2022 might mean a bright new world. (Then again ... pretty sure we said that last year).P.S. You can subscribe by email and get all the details straight to your inbox. Enjoy!

‍Resources and more reading

December 2021 (part 1)

I originally published this post on October 30th and have updated it on December 21, 2021. Find prior updates below in red text.

Have you seen the headlines? Thailand's reopening as of November 1? Quarantine-free? Is it ... the Future Times? Whether you couldn't find your passport if you tried, or are already packed and raring to go, here's absolutely everything you need to know about Thailand travel from November onwards. There's a lot of good news, some "optimistic horizons" and – as always – some crucial bits you need to consider. Ready?

‍Updated December 22, 2021: Announced today: New Thailand Pass applications and the Test and Go program will be temporarily suspended over the holidays. This is *hopefully* a temporary measure while sciencey people give Omicron a watchful side-eye. The situation will be reviewed in early January. What’s changed? There are three outcomes, depending on the status of your Thailand Pass.

‍1. If you already have your Thailand Pass, don’t worry – you don’t need to change your plans. You can still come to Thailand under the scheme for which you registered. (For instance, if you already have your Thailand Pass you can arrive as a Test and Go traveller or a Samui Sandbox traveller). There’s no deadline or suspension date. Whatever your arrival date was on your application, still stands. Some media reported January 10th as a cut-off point but, per Richard Barrow, that’s incorrect.

‍2. If you’ve applied but don’t have your Thailand Pass yet – wait for the approval. If approved, you can come under the scheme for which you registered.

‍3. If you haven’t applied for your Thailand Pass – you have three options: you can apply for (A) Phuket Sandbox and (B) Alternative Quarantine, details below or (C) wait until January to see what changes. Your country and your vaccination status will determine whether you’re eligible for Phuket Sandbox and the length of Alternative Quarantine required.

Special bonus treats: An extra covid test for everyone – no longer a self-test but done at a government facility – on the 7th or so day of your trip. The Phuket Sandbox program is still running (roughly 1 night of quarantine at a wide choice of hotels and, after 7 days on Phuket, you can travel freely throughout Thailand). To do this, apply for the Thailand Pass. There are no sealed flights from BKK to Phuket (HKT) so your arrival flight into Thailand must be direct. Alternative Quarantine is that “2020 revisited” full-on hotel room quarantine 10+ days (depending on your country and your vaccination status).

‍Resources: As always, I recommend Richard Barrow as a trusted source for immigration updates. He’s spoken personally with a senior official at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs so I refer you to his update. Khun Saksith Saiyasombut is also a great reference. To receive updates from me – subscribe now.

‍Crucial info – Start hereNumber one thing you should know: I've said it in this post, this post, this post – ad nauseam really – if you come to Thailand and either test positive OR (this one's crucial) have "high-risk contact" with someone you never even spoke to (e.g. someone sitting near you on a plane), you're no longer in charge of your trip. A positive Covid test result, at any point, means a hospital stay (covered by your mandatory insurance). A "high-risk contact", whether with a family member or a total stranger, means a 2-week hotel-room quarantine stay, at your expense, at a limited list of options (Alternative Local Quarantine – ALQ). Please know the "if-this-then-that" risks involved with Thailand travel at this time. "Quarantine-free" sounds wonderful but it does have this major caveat.

‍High-risk contact? Note that Thai citizens are exempt from the 72-hour pre-departure PCR test. As well, unvaccinated tourists are allowed to travel to Thailand. Unvaccinated visitors have to quarantine for 10 days but you still might sit next to them for 12+ hours. Small comfort? Many countries won't let partially or unvaccinated people board a flight but this isn't universally the case. Maybe wear an "I love science" t-shirt and see who asks to switch seats. High-risk contacts have recently been defined as someone you're sitting next to (so definitely pay the extra for a private car to your hotel).

‍If you test positive for Covid while travelling in Thailand: If you're the positive result, everyone in your travelling party will have to quarantine for 14 days at an ALQ hotel at their expense. Your cushy SHA+ Plus hotel will be cancelled and refunded and you're off to somewhere you probably won't get to choose. While nice options do exist, it will be a matter of availability.

‍*A final piece of really, REALLY important reading: [An] experience testing positive (Reddit).

Within, this poor, poor person describes:

  • “The van was not going anywhere until we got 20,000 THB for a ‘deposit’.”
  • “On about day 4 or 5 we run out of water and request more. We’re told by the 'Hospitel' that they don’t supply water.”
  • “If there is one take away from this whole post, it’s this; GET A SIM CARD FOR EVERYONE IN YOUR PARTY.”

Number two thing you should knowMy November travel tip? Don't. Wait until December or January. (Later into January will mean better weather on Koh Samui). The new "quarantine-free" option opens to 46 63 countries on November 1.

Thailand expert Richard Barrow's suggestion: "Don’t rush to come. If you come during the high season in December and January, it will be a much smoother experience and everyone will know what to expect." In sum? Let someone else play guinea pig, and plan to saunter into the picture in a few months' time. (To start planning? Get your guide).

Ok, let's review the current Covid situation in Thailand and then jump into your new travel options. There are some massive changes – this is probably the post you've been waiting for.

‍Ongoing Covid restrictions in Thailand / Nationwide

Alcohol sales: All bars/pubs/nightlife venues remain closed until maybe December 1st (maybe?) at least January 16, 2022. As of Monday, Nov 1, Bangkok restaurants will be allowed to sell alcohol.

‍Case numbers: While vaccinations are ongoing, there were approximately 8,500 new daily cases (nationwide) this week. 98.6% of new cases are the Delta variant, of which Hua Hin is experiencing a particular outbreak.

‍Curfew: The curfew will end on October 31 in 17 provinces including Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Krabi, Phang Nga, Phuket and Surat Thani (Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Koh Tao).

‍Gatherings: You and 499 of your closest friends will now be able to gather in "tourist reopening zones".

‍Masks: You still have to wear a mask in public at all times (including in a car if you have passengers). Violators are fined.

‍Travel insurance: Note that the travel insurance coverage requirement for non-Thai nationals has been reduced from US$100,000 to US$50,000. It must "cover the cost of the treatment and other medical expenses associated with being infected with COVID-19, including in-patient hospitalisation for the whole duration in Thailand" (TAT).

‍Questions?

Vaccinations: 42% 67% of Thailand's population is fully vaccinated and "the average number of new infections reported in Thailand has been decreasing for 10 days straight" (Reuters). AstraZeneca booster shots have been made available to people who received Sinovac for their first two doses. Additionally, Moderna supplies will start to arrive next week, ramping up to 1.9 million doses in December for a total of 8.6 million by March 2022. (Cue dance party). Schoolchildren have been receiving Pfizer jabs. In Bangkok, between 75-80% of registered citizens have been fully vaccinated.

‍Koh SamuiCase numbers: As of this week, new cases on Samui were approximately 14 per day (Oct 26) 21 per day (Dec 2) and approximately a dozen new cases on Koh Phangan/Koh Tao.

‍Did you want peace and quiet? Note that many island shops remain closed and major thoroughfares like Chaweng Beach Road are very quiet – often still the 'ghost town' atmosphere of 2020. Much of Central Festival mall (including Starbucks) is closed. Bars and nightlife venues will remain closed until at least December 1st January 16 (with some exceptions, see below). If operating, expect that tours and charters are offering private options only. Introverts, this is your moment.

‍Where to get a drink? Koh Samui has an exception to the alcohol bans in its "Green Zone" policy and you can get a drink at any of 138 300+ qualifying restaurants (or "restaurants" that were bars until developing a very recent interest in the culinary arts). Favourites include Antica Locanda, Bar Baguette, Coco Tam's, Krua Bophut and the restaurants of many mid-range and high-end hotels:

Incidentally, all of these hotels are SHA Plus+ certified and are therefore superb options for a Sandbox stay. Want to plan ahead? See inside The Koh Samui Guide.

‍Your Thailand travel options (and updates)Are you fully vaccinated and ready to roll? You've earned some brand new travel options.

‍1. No Quarantine Thailand travel if you're fully vaccinated and come from one of the following 46 63 countries (listed below) including the U.S., UK, Australia, Canada, Germany and Singapore.

‍2. Sandbox Thailand travel if you're fully vaccinated but your country is not on the list below.

‍3. Partially vaccinated or totally unvaccinated? 10 days of quarantine for you, have fun.

‍4. Omicron and Africa travel bans/updates (as of Dec 1)

  • There is now a travel ban for visitors from Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe.
  • For visitors from other African countries, there's now a 14-day hotel quarantine requirement.

December UpdatesYou may have read that the test-on-arrival requirements in Thailand were due to change in mid-December (from a RT-PCR test to a faster ATK test). While this was never made official, the plan has been scrapped/paused while the new Omicron variant is assessed. To reiterate – what was the case on November 1 still stands:

  • The Test and Go scheme still requires a minimum 1-night hotel booking
  • The Sandbox scheme is still 7 days (not reduced to 5)
  • Both schemes still require RT-PCR tests on arrival

No Quarantine Thailand travel / Countries – Who's eligible?

  • Australia
  • Austria
  • Bahrain
  • Belgium
  • Bhutan
  • Brunei Darussalam
  • Bulgaria
  • Cambodia
  • Canada
  • Chile
  • China
  • Croatia
  • Cyprus
  • Czech Republic
  • Denmark
  • Estonia
  • Finland
  • France
  • Germany
  • Greece
  • Hong Kong
  • Hungary
  • Iceland
  • India
  • Indonesia
  • Ireland
  • Israel
  • Italy
  • Japan
  • Kuwait
  • Laos
  • Latvia
  • Lithuania
  • Luxembourg
  • Malaysia
  • Maldives
  • Malta
  • Mongolia
  • Myanmar
  • Nepal
  • Netherlands
  • New Zealand
  • Norway
  • Oman
  • Philippines
  • Poland
  • Portugal
  • Qatar
  • Romania
  • Saudi Arabia
  • Singapore
  • Slovakia
  • Slovenia
  • South Korea
  • Spain
  • Sri Lanka
  • Sweden
  • Switzerland
  • Taiwan
  • United Arab Emirates
  • United Kingdom
  • United States of America
  • Vietnam

Note that some countries on the "list of 63" continue to discourage their citizens from travelling to Thailand during Covid.

  • Australia: "Reconsider your need to travel to Thailand overall due to the impacts of COVID-19."
  • Canada: "Exercise a high degree of caution in Thailand"
  • U.S.: "Level 4: Do Not Travel. Do not travel to Thailand due to COVID-19."

These cautions will hopefully change as vaccinations continue.

‍Small print! You need to have been in one of the above countries for 21 days OR a combination of those countries (e.g. a Canadian could fly from the U.S. to Thailand, or a Swiss person could have been in France or Germany, etc). You must have been fully vaccinated for at least 14 days. You can fly to Thailand with a layover in a different country (not on the list) if your transfer lasts less than 12 hours and you don't leave the airport.

‍Quarantine-free ... except for 1 night of quarantine. Were you wondering "where's the catch?" No quarantine actually means "after receiving a negative test result and spending one night sequestered at a qualifying hotel". (Which must be pre-booked with airport transfer). These are called "Test and Go" hotels. Before your mind starts trumpeting bad news – here's my take on Test and Go. It's a good thing. Why?

1. Every visitor to Thailand might have Covid. Hopefully not, but maybe. Allowing 24 hours to reasonably reduce that threat through testing and a temporary quarantine period seems the least we visitors can do to keep the Thai population safe (remember – many Thais especially outside cities and tourist centres are still waiting for their first vaccine dose).

2. As you'll read below, the Test and Go phase will largely happen in Bangkok – a major city with the resources, personnel (and hospital beds) to handle the volume. Should anything go awry with your plans, you'll want to be in Bangkok with options galore and world-class facilities.

3. Finally, just think back to twelve months ago and what you would have given to spend a night in a fancy hotel. Consider it a superb way to break up a long journey, enjoy an incredible hotel while making sure you're keeping others safe.

Official party line? This is a clever solution and we're going to enjoy ourselves.

‍So what happens when you arrive in Thailand?

Airport and arrivals

‍After clearing immigration and baggage claim, you're taken by pre-arranged transfer to your Test and Go hotel. You can't meet/reunite with family/friends or loved ones at the airport, so rewrite the Love Actually reunion to happen in your hotel lobby the next day.In Richard Barrow's words: "When you come out into arrivals you are still a potential Covid patient. You cannot kiss and hug anyone. The [airport transfer] driver will most likely be in full PPE suit and the interior of the car will be covered in plastic (Dispatch 1)."

‍Transfer to your Test and Go hotel

‍You must travel to your hotel in a "sealed" form of transport (e.g. directly arranged with the hotel) and cannot use a taxi, a private car or a rented/hire car. Check the details of your Test and Go hotel package for the specifics. The base package might be a shared van with other arriving passengers, with the option to upgrade to a private transfer.

If arriving into Bangkok: Your Test and Go hotel can be up to two hours' drive from Bangkok (e.g. Pattaya and possibly Hua Hin), but you'll have the most choice and perhaps the best selection of partner hospitals in Bangkok. (Not to mention you'll avoid a long drive after a potentially long-haul flight). See below for suggestions and hotel specifics.

‍Testing ... at your Test and Go hotel

‍Arrive at your hotel and take an RT-PCR test. This might be done at check-in, it depends on the hotel and your arrival time (more on that below).

‍Room rules: You're not allowed to leave your hotel room until the test results are received (though many hotels offer balcony options). This includes using hotel facilities – four walls only, folks (so I offer some nice views below). Your package will likely include food (room service only). If you've never been to Bangkok, it might be nice to stay somewhere with a view of the city. Coming from a cold winter? Maybe book a garden view room with tons of tropical plants. Given that you'll likely be tired from your journey (and perhaps jet-lagged), book a comfy bed, a big bathtub and enjoy the break. At most, it's 24 hours but probably will be less. If this is the piece of the puzzle that keeps Thai people safe, it's really the least we can do.

Negative test result? Go forth, Thailand awaits. You're allowed to check out and start your trip – you can go anywhere in Thailand. Pause and let that sink in. It's the Future Times calling.

Positive test result? Sorry to say, you're going to the hospital. Someone in your family, travel group or a "high-risk" contact (but total stranger) tested positive? You really won't like this – 14 nights of "2020-style" hotel room quarantine at your expense.

‍Who can share a Test and Go hotel room?

‍TBD – It's not yet known if your travelling party (including family members) can stay together in the same Test and Go hotel room. For example, in Alternative State Quarantine (ASQ), only married couples and their children/legal dependents under 18 could share a hotel room ... and only if they were arriving together on the same flight.

If you're travelling together and aren't married - be careful. Many do (and should) allow it, but some hotels interpret the rules differently and only allow married couples to share a room. You experience might vary. I've read about all of the following:

  • Difficulty if you have different last names
  • It's ok if you can prove you share your home address
  • Allowed if you "sign a statement" that you live together

... A cynical attempt to get two hotel bookings out of one couple? Hmm. Short story: if you travel together it "should" be allowed. Best to make a short-list of hotels and confirm with them directly before booking.

‍Tip: I've read that Somerset Ekamai Bangkok and Amara Bangkok allow travel pairs to share a room so that might be a good starting point. Certainly no outside people can join you for the Test and Go period (e.g. a friend or family member already in Thailand). I've seen pricing for couples and extra children so my working assumption is that it will be similar to ASQ.

‍Test and Go hotels in Bangkok

Tests and timing: You'll want to make sure that your flight's arrival time aligns with your hotel's testing times. For instance, if you arrive on a night flight you'll want a hotel that offers 24-hour testing rather than daytime-only testing. Otherwise, you might have to stay two nights total to wait to take a test (the next morning) and then await the results.

Bangkok airport hotels, Novotel Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport and Siam Mandarina Hotel Suvarnabhumi Airport both offer 24-hour testing and would be a good option if you want to take an onward domestic flight early the next day. I've stayed at the Novotel myself many times and thoroughly recommend it. It's SO convenient – truly door to door in under three minutes. Rather than check-in/-out times, your 1-night booking covers a 24-hour period. PCR test results should be ready within 6 hours.

‍How to choose a Test and Go hotel

‍My suggestions include:

  1. Most convenient: Novotel Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport
  2. Best rated: Lancaster Bangkok
  3. Best views: Shangri-La Bangkok
  4. Best value: Citrus Sukhumvit 13 Bangkok
  5. Best bath: Casa Nithra

Another tip if you want to be on your way in a hurry: If you want to stay in Bangkok rather than at the airport, choose a big, name-brand hotel and ideally one with a hospital partner, e.g. Bangkok Marriott Marquis Queen’s Park which is partnered with Samitivej Hospital. Your test results will hopefully be faster this way.

‍Qualifying hotels: You can select any hotel offering "Test and Go" if it's SHA+ Plus-certified (or Alternative Quarantine – AQ, Alternative Hospital Quarantine – AHQ, organisation Quarantine – OQ). The booking must be for at least 1 night and include accommodation, food, airport transfer, your arrival RT-PCR test and the Antigen Test Kit (ATK) you take later (details below).

‍Test and Go hotel pricing: 1-night packages for Bangkok Test and Go hotels start at approximately THB4,200 up to THB6,900 per person for standard rooms. Packages might include in-room breakfast and dinner or offer it as an add-on. Some hotels offer couples pricing at slight savings, while others charge for an extra person (approximately THB3,500 to THB5,500 for adults or THB2,500 to THB5,000 for a child under 12).

  • Standard rooms from THB4,200 per person (approx US$125)
  • Extra adult from THB3,500 (approx US$105)
  • Child from THB2,500 (approx $75)

If you want something particularly plush, as always, Thailand's hospitality awaits. You've got options.

As for other amenities (and in Bangkok, that means rooftop pools galore), note that it's possible you'll be "let out" early and might get to enjoy some of your hotel's facilities. Or sightsee nearby – Bangkok's Royal Palaces reopen on November 1.

‍How to transit to Phuket or Koh Samui? For now, your hotel must be within a two-hour drive of your arrival airport. (From Bangkok Suvarnabhumi that takes you about as far as Pattaya or Hua Hin). For the fastest possible transfer the best option – currently – seems to be an overnight stay at Novotel Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport with an onward domestic flight (e.g. to Koh Samui) the next day. (If testing results are promised within 6 hours at Novotel, it's feasible – on paper – that you could arrive early in the morning and take a late evening flight. However! A pre-booked one night's stay at a qualifying hotel is mandatory. Let's assume "2020 Rules" and expect worst-case scenarios – plan to stay the night).

‍Tip: When booking your Test and Go hotel, check the airport transfer details. Likely, it will only include one-way travel from the airport to the hotel so plan to make your own arrangements for your onward domestic flight.

‍Then what happens? Once you've had a negative test result, you're free to leave your hotel room, check out and proceed with your trip. You're free to travel around Thailand. Stay where you like. Go where you please. Do normal things. (Always wearing a mask). However, you'll be given a rapid antigen self-test kit (ATK) to use (A) if you experience any Covid symptoms or (B) on day 6/7 of your trip. You'll need to show the test result to your hotel and upload it to a Thai travel app used for monitoring such things (the MorChana app).

‍Kids? Children under 12 travelling with parents or guardians don't require vaccination but must (A) have a negative PCR test (72 hours prior to your flight) and (B) stay for one night in a "Test and Go" hotel. Kids aged 12+ must be fully vaccinated to qualify for this type of travel, and have medical insurance as required for adults. As of December 16th:

‍Kids aged 6-17 who are travelling with their parents don't require vaccination but must (A) have a negative PCR test (72 hours prior to your flight) and (B) complete either the Test and Go requirements or Sandbox requirements.

‍Kids aged 12-17 who are NOT travelling with their parents must have (A) one shot of an approved vaccine, (B) have a negative PCR test (72 hours prior to their flight) and (C) complete either the Test and Go requirements or Sandbox requirements.

‍Kids aged 6 and under who are travelling with their parents don't require vaccination or a negative PCR test before their arrival (however their parents do). The children will take a saliva test on arrival.

‍Sandbox Thailand travel

‍(You might also see this scheme called "Living in the Blue Zone". The blue zone includes lower risk provinces – currently 17 26 of 77).

‍What's changed? The Sandbox option used to be everyone's Thailand travel option. From November 1, it will change in two ways:

  1. It's the "Plan B" if your country is not one of the 46 63 listed above.
  2. Your Sandbox options now include 17 26 provinces, not just Phuket or Koh Samui.

As explained in the Phuket and Koh Samui Sandbox guides, you arrive on an international flight to an airport within one of the 17 26 provinces (most likely Bangkok or Phuket, but possibly Samui via Singapore).

You're then transferred to your pre-booked "SHA+ Plus" accommodation. This hotel can be within a 5-hour drive of the airport – as long as it's SHA+ Plus and in one of the 17 26 qualifying provinces. Five hours from Bangkok covers a lot of ground, so you definitely have options.

You take a PCR test on arrival. Then, you must remain in your hotel room until you receive a negative result – within 24 hours.

Following that, you're free to travel around the island or province of your Sandbox selection. You can't leave your chosen province within the 7-day period (so choose a good one).

After a negative test on day 7, you're welcome to travel Thailand "normally". Or, if you're staying for fewer than 7 days, you must leave Thailand on an international flight.

‍Kids? Children under aged 6-17 travelling with parents or guardians don't require vaccination but must (A) have a negative PCR test (72 hours prior to your flight) and (B) stay for seven nights in a Sandbox hotel. They must have medical insurance as required for adults. As of December 16th, children under 6 don't require the negative PCR test before departure but will saliva test on arrival.

‍Unvaccinated travellers: 10 days of quarantine at Alternative Quarantine hotel. 240 hours. Here's some reading material to pass the time.

‍What comes next? (Misc. updates and "TBD")

November 1: Certificate of Entry becomes Thailand Pass. The Thailand Pass website will go live at 9 am on November 1st, however pre-existing COEs will be accepted. Once live, the Thailand Pass streamlines all immigration documentation (e.g. proof of vaccine, proof of hotel booking and your health insurance) into a single QR code so it will hopefully be a fairly quick plane to baggage claim process (the aim is 25 minutes or less). Plan to apply about seven days before you travel and expect to wait 3-5 days to receive approval.

‍November 1: The Royal Palaces will reopen (specifically the Grand Palace and the Temple of the Emerald Buddha). Why not plan to visit them after departing your Bangkok Test and Go hotel?

‍January 12: Aussie airline Jetstar will resume its three weekly return flights from Sydney to Phuket.

‍January 14: Qantas will offer five weekly return flights from Sydney to Bangkok.

‍Still have questions? Me too. But that's absolutely every.single.detail. I can find for now. Even Richard Barrow (expert of all experts) doesn't have all the answers yet. So take the above as a vague outline and resolve to wait and see for the next month or so. It's promising, and you can see that it's heading somewhere quite exciting. For now, make sure you're on my email list to continue to get updates.

‍Resources and more reading

October 2021

After 18 months of near-total confusion, how about some easy answers? To make the next few months of travel planning as straightforward as possible, I've put together a total resource list for the most current Thailand/covid travel updates.

To get your copy, join the list to get email updates. As accurate Covid travel information depends on (A) where you live, (B) where in Thailand you want to travel and (C) the exact moment of inquiry, it's better to give you the resources directly, so you've got the most up-to-date details for your situation. With that said, here's a quick catch-up since the last round of updates.

‍November: The end of quarantine in Thailand?

Just announced! On November 1, Thailand will (probably?) allow fully vaccinated visitors from select countries to skip quarantine and travel freely around Thailand. (Nearly like the olden days but with masks, curfews, restricted alcohol, mandatory PCR tests ... and the ever-present delta variant that's also travelling Thailand). The final list will (probably?) include up to ten "low-risk" countries but the following five have been announced so far:

  • China
  • Germany
  • Singapore
  • United Kingdom
  • United States

Note that the U.S. currently advises against travel to Thailand in deep, dark red so – as ever – I'll provide the info and you make your choices. Thailand's Prime Minister acknowledges this November no-quarantine plan has inherent risks but that people's livelihoods in tourism must also bear consideration.

‍Requirements: Arrive by air. Although the quarantine requirement will be lifted, other requirements remain in place. As before, all visitors will need to provide

  • Before departure for Thailand: negative PCR test #1
  • On arrival in Thailand: negative PCR test #2

To be announced: (A) The other five countries on the "low-risk" list, and whether or not qualifying no-quarantine visitors will have to (B) stay in a SHA+ Plus hotel and (C) prepare a Certificate of Entry (COE). These details might be announced as early as next week.

‍Other qualifying low-risk countries will likely be added in December and January. Meanwhile, visitors from medium- and high-risk countries will still be required to quarantine.

‍Don't book flights yet: Resident expert Richard Barrow cautions that none of the above is official until it (A) passes Thailand's Centre for COVID‐19 Situation Administration (CCSA), (B) passes Cabinet and (C) is published in the Royal Gazette. So watch this space until (probably) Tuesday, October 19th when it (fingers crossed) should be made official.

‍Other countries? As a total guess (total guess), other countries that (as of August 1) were considered "low risk" include: Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Austria, Norway, Switzerland, Qatar, Denmark and Israel. Then again, the United States, the UK and China all sit on the "medium risk" list in the same publication – so who knows?

‍Case numbers in Thailand

‍Please don't conflate "quarantine is winding down" with "Covid's finished in Thailand". Far from it. Nationwide, cases remain at about 10,000 per day.

‍Vaccine progressAs of October 6, roughly 48% of Thailand's 70 million population has received the first dose and 30% has received two doses of vaccine. Note that a significant proportion of these numbers are Sinovac and Sinopharm vaccines and booster jabs (Pfizer and AstraZeneca) are underway. The hope is to reach a 70% vaccination rate by the end of the year.

‍Ongoing restrictions and upcoming changes

Mask mandate: A nationwide mask mandate remains in place anywhere outside one's home or hotel room (with strict fines).

‍What's open: Spa services including salons, gyms and swimming pools, movie theatres and museums have re-opened. (And, yes, Major Cineplex is showing the new James Bond). Nightlife venues might reopen on December 1 (see below).

‍Alcohol: There's currently a nationwide ban on alcohol sales and alcohol service in restaurants (with some exceptions on Koh Samui and Phuket, see below). This will (probably?) end on December 1, alongside the (potential?) reopening of bars and nightclubs.

‍Length of quarantine: As of October 1, the quarantine required for fully vaccinated visitors has been reduced from 14 days to 7 days and to 10 days for partially vaccinated or unvaccinated travellers (arriving by air – otherwise 14 days). Again, this will (probably) change from November 1 for qualifying fully vaccinated travellers (explained above).

‍Koh Samui and Phuket updatesDomestic travel to Samui and Phuket: As of October 15, fully vaccinated domestic travellers arriving to Samui from other parts of Thailand don't need to show a negative covid test. Just their proof of vaccine. Which could be two doses of Sinovac. Not fully vaccinated? Then please show a negative covid test ... as long as it's less than seven days old. If your brain just played a screechy-record-player-grinds-to-a-halt noise and then you tilted your head sideways like a confused dog ... yup, me too.

‍Phuket Sandbox and Samui Plus updates: These travel programmes are now open to visitors from any country. Visitors are now able to travel to Koh Phangan or Koh Tao without a week's stay on Koh Samui (following a negative PCR test on arrival). Likewise for visiting Krabi from Phuket. The requirement to stay 14 days has been reduced to 7 days, after which visitors can travel freely around Thailand.

‍Koh Samui's current restrictions include a limit of up to five people per restaurant table and alcohol served only in one of the 87 "Green Zone" establishments (listed in part below). Social gatherings are limited to five people with alcohol and up to twenty people without alcohol. Public transport is operating at 50% capacity. A "please behave because we're asking nicely" curfew exists from 11 pm to 4 am.

‍Green Zone alcohol policy: Where to get a drink before the alcohol restrictions are lifted on (probably) December 1? On Samui, look for a "Green Zone" restaurant. Qualifying restaurants meet criteria including fully vaccinated staff, fully vaccinated customers (or separate zones for unvaccinated customers), socially distanced tables, 50% capacity and barriers in place. Such restaurants can serve alcohol and currently include many hotel favourites:

Also:

  • Antica Locanda
  • Bar Baguette
  • Coco Tam's
  • Krua Bophut
  • Smile House Restaurant
  • Stacked Burger
  • The Cliff
  • The Road Less Travelled
  • The Shack
  • Think and Retro Cafe

As mentioned above, the alcohol restrictions might finish on December 1 in time for the holiday period.

‍More questions about Thailand travel Covid updates? With a year’s worth of Thailand travel updates regarding covid, quarantine of varying duration in various places, visa requirements and easily 20,394 uses of the words "probably", "maybe" and "fingers crossed" ... you know the drill: stay tuned for more updates (get them by email) and hang tight for a few more months. If you're considering 2022 travel, this update more than any previously sounds like it might be ok to start some hazy future plans – at least the early research. Start planning: The Koh Samui Guide.

‍Resources and Further Reading

UK drops advice against non-urgent travel to 32 destinations, Thailand still on red list

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