Traveling to Thailand? Everything you Need to Know

One of the world’s most popular tourist destinations, Thailand, has been slow in opening to visitors. The Southeast Asian nation is now allowing fully vaccinated travellers from 63 countries, including the United States, to visit quarantine-free after many reopening experiments. Vaccinations are not required for children under 12 travelling with their parents.

Tasara Taksinapan, an employee in the travel industry based in Bangkok, says Thailand had the country to itself for 15 months without international tourism.

“I went to temples around Thailand that I wouldn’t usually go to because they were crowded and touristy,” Taksinapan said.

In light of the fact that tourism has not yet fully recovered, “right now is the best time to travel to Thailand while everything is still fresh,” he said.

The following information will help travellers plan a trip to Thailand.

Entering Thailand: What you need to know

Before heading to Thailand, travellers who are vaccinated need to follow a few steps through the Test and Go program. It is essential that they purchase a plan that covers at least $50,000 in Coronavirus treatment, and that they book a one-night hotel package that includes private transportation and a PCR test upon arrival at the hotel.

As an example, Mandarin Oriental Bangkok is one of those luxury hotels. Therefore, travellers can stay in luxury and comfort while they are getting over jet lag and waiting for the PCR test results. This is according to Desiree Overhage, a consultant for Book HumanTravel.

Furthermore, double-check that transportation and testing are included in the room purchase. There have been instances when hotels and websites misled Test and Go visitors, resulting in them being forced to buy a new package or go home.

In addition to vaccination proof and accommodations, travellers must upload their documents to the Thailand Pass system, which provides a QR code.

Up to seven days to get the QR entry code

In an interview with Major Hotels, which operates the Anantara and Avani hotels in Thailand, Marion Walsh Hedouin explains that the Thailand Pass is difficult to obtain for travellers who apply at the last minute. Currently, there is a spike in demand, and it may take up to seven days to get the code.

A negative Coronavirus test taken within 72 hours before departure must be presented to the airline before boarding. Upon arrival, vaccinated travellers will present the Thailand Pass QR code and they will then be brought to the property for the on-site PCR test via prearranged transportation.

Afterwards, the visitor must wait for a negative result in the hotel, and once that clears, they are free to leave. During their holiday in Thailand, travellers will receive an antigen test kit to use on the sixth or seventh day. They must log the result into Thailand’s health department’s MorChana tracing app.

Those who aren’t fully vaccinated are ineligible for Test and Go. Instead, they must adhere to the Alternative Quarantine program and stay in authorized hotels for a 10-day quarantine after arriving.

During a pandemic, restrictions evolve as well. Depending on when someone travels, whether it’s December or February, we anticipate that things will have changed as well – hopefully for the better, said Jeffrey M. Krevitt, a spokesman for Inside Travel Group, which runs InsideAsia Tours.

What you need to know about Thailand’s restrictions

Travellers won’t have to show their vaccination status when they visit tourism sites and businesses in Thailand, but there are some changes compared to visiting before the pandemic.

According to Taksinapan, there aren’t many restrictions. He says that 80% of the country is back to normal.

In public settings in Thailand, everyone is required to wear a mask indoors and outdoors. Breaking this rule is already bringing attention to tourists, who are fined about $600.

Entertainment venues such as bars and karaoke places remain closed, according to the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT). Nonetheless, most businesses and activities in Thailand’s “Blue Zone” destinations, including Bangkok Chiang Mai and Phuket, have resumed normal hours; restaurants, markets, theatres, scuba diving, and massage facilities are among those that operate.

“You can go out and about the city, catch a taxi, go to a museum and restaurant, travel to Chiang Mai,” Hedouin said. “The only thing which might be different than perhaps other countries right now is when you’re outdoors you must wear a mask.”

As for the country’s famous street food, Taksinapan said, “it’s definitely here.” “There might even be more than before.”

Getting a Coronavirus test before returning home

To fly into the United States, anyone over the age of 2 must undergo a Coronavirus test, regardless of his or her vaccination status. Unvaccinated travellers must get their test within one day of their flight if they haven’t been vaccinated. Vaccinated travellers have a three-day window to get their test before their flight. People who have recovered from covid-19 in the past 90 days can provide a note from a licensed healthcare provider.

It shouldn’t be difficult to find a Coronavirus test in Thailand, Taksinapan said. PCR and rapid tests that meet U.S. testing requirements can be arranged at local hospitals, ranging from 1,500 Thai baht (about $45) to upwards of 4,000 baht ($120). In some hotels in the country, Coronavirus testing is included in special packages.

Alternatively, travellers can pack an approved self-test, like this BinaxNOW kit, ahead of time.

Source: Washington Post