General Reports

[BionicMan]

Hmmm, early 2022 is looking like a possibility.

It's 3 days to that the-day, it's not going to happen.

[Turgid]

Reports are that quarantine will be reduced to 7 days for vaccinated individuals on October 1.

Hmmm, early 2022 is looking like a possibility.

[Explorer8939]

Reports are that quarantine will be reduced to 7 days for vaccinated individuals on October 1.

[CIMguy]

Nothing personal but that is what I'm trying to express everyone's situation is different. For the record, I here in Pattaya call it stuck whatever? I usually make a trip home to S. F. Once or twice a year particularly during the start of Chinese New Year, the last trip was at the beginning of 2020 as noted two weeks max I was lucky to leave when I did because by March it got bad and the lockdown. In reverse pretty much I owned in the States is gone particularly a resident so if a deadline isn't met by the Thai Embassy or a positive test prior to leaving for my scheduled flight that will cause a scramble to reset everything which includes the flight, hotel, etc.

My major reason for going home was to see my mother who passed away this March right after her 103rd Birthday, my little brother who is mentally challenged then my two nieces' financial Trust. My greatest resentment due to the pandemic I wasn't able to return and bury her personally with all the inconsistent obstacles in returning to Thailand. Leaving and not being able to return freely back to Thailand in a timely manner with a Thai family and its own problems not complaining puts things in reverse.

I'm sorry about your mother, but it sounds like she lived a long life. 103? Wow.

I also understand hardship from this pandemic. I won't go into it here, but suffice to say my life was turned inside out.

[CIMguy]

Thanks for the clarification there are so many ideas being thrown out by these leaders tough to keep track I guess they got so much criticism with the word bubble they started to be creative with names like " sandbox " I remember now about that particular program what I do know that was in fact the program a few days prior to the first plane arriving which they were making successful claims the had to admit they had no application yet a week or so later the first arrived with a bit over 100 passengers?

While they favor the Chinese so much everyone else had to jump through hopes for a see. O. E. Even for those like myself have investments here and carry an IMMG-O for 15 years, even Elite Visa had pretty much done the same how is that program going? A year back it was much tougher to obtain the see. O. E. There was nothing in place from my conversation with other Expat the Thai Embassy didn't even answer the phone? It is also a head-scratcher for a country that didn't create the Virus and put forth a vaccine in record time with very little data approved by the W. H. O. Still demands so much caution when returning to China? Thanks.

You keep saying this but it isn't true. Chinese people still have to do a COE. I talked to a Chinese person in Phuket and he had to do it. It only took me two days to get my COE. It goes through the embassy so maybe the Thai Chinese embassy is just efficient or has little to do right now. But they do have to do COEs.

And I say this as someone who pretty much hates everything that has to do with China. I think they will destroy everything that is good about SE Asia if given the chance.

[LittleBigMan]

Obviously everyone's situation is different, but I was just saying it's really not that bad of a time commitment to get here. I think I spent 3 hours doing everything if you discount the trouble I had using one of the pay portals from China. Most people don't have a place in Pattaya like you. For you, maybe it's not worth it. I just don't want people to think this is some terrible task like it was for the first people who tried it. The system is running pretty well, I think. I hope. You can make it here soon. Maybe the news of relaxing some of the obstacles will help you.

I also didn't want people to think it was somehow easier for me because I was coming from China. It wasn't. In fact, it may have been harder because getting a covid test and getting an English copy of everything is a pain there. Then the stuff at the airport. Plus, I was working 60-70 hours a week at a boarding school and I had other things going on because I was moving here and also looking for a job. I had to carve out time to do it. Most people won't have those obstacles.

Nothing personal but that is what I'm trying to express everyone's situation is different. For the record, I here in Pattaya call it stuck whatever? I usually make a trip home to S. F. Once or twice a year particularly during the start of Chinese New Year, the last trip was at the beginning of 2020 as noted two weeks max I was lucky to leave when I did because by March it got bad and the lockdown. In reverse pretty much I owned in the States is gone particularly a resident so if a deadline isn't met by the Thai Embassy or a positive test prior to leaving for my scheduled flight that will cause a scramble to reset everything which includes the flight, hotel, etc.

My major reason for going home was to see my mother who passed away this March right after her 103rd Birthday, my little brother who is mentally challenged then my two nieces' financial Trust. My greatest resentment due to the pandemic I wasn't able to return and bury her personally with all the inconsistent obstacles in returning to Thailand. Leaving and not being able to return freely back to Thailand in a timely manner with a Thai family and its own problems not complaining puts things in reverse.

[LittleBigMan]

The 39 Chinese which were Thailand's 1st foreign tourists in 7 months (oct 2020) did not come through a travel bubble.

There was a 14 days quarantine in Thailand and another 14 days quarantine which became 21 days when going back to China.
Had there been a travel bubble between both countries that there would have been many more travelers but people aren't going to quarantine 5 weeks to spend a few days in Thailand.

"Under the program approved by the Thai Cabinet in September, foreign tourists who commit to a stay of at least 30 days are issued 90-day visas that can be renewed twice. After arriving, they must stay in government-approved quarantine at a hotel or hospital for 14 days and prove they have long-term accommodations. ".

Thanks for the clarification there are so many ideas being thrown out by these leaders tough to keep track I guess they got so much criticism with the word bubble they started to be creative with names like " sandbox " I remember now about that particular program what I do know that was in fact the program a few days prior to the first plane arriving which they were making successful claims the had to admit they had no application yet a week or so later the first arrived with a bit over 100 passengers?

While they favor the Chinese so much everyone else had to jump through hopes for a see. O. E. Even for those like myself have investments here and carry an IMMG-O for 15 years, even Elite Visa had pretty much done the same how is that program going? A year back it was much tougher to obtain the see. O. E. There was nothing in place from my conversation with other Expat the Thai Embassy didn't even answer the phone? It is also a head-scratcher for a country that didn't create the Virus and put forth a vaccine in record time with very little data approved by the W. H. O. Still demands so much caution when returning to China? Thanks.

[Sinofaguo]

I wonder back last year when they did the bubble for the first time for the Chinese the leaders projected thousand would come when the date came in Sept, they finally had to admit no one applied but a week later a small planeload arrived I wonder how in a week so many applied for the Certificate of Entry and got clearance a week before no one applied?

The 39 Chinese which were Thailand's 1st foreign tourists in 7 months (oct 2020) did not come through a travel bubble.

There was a 14 days quarantine in Thailand and another 14 days quarantine which became 21 days when going back to China.
Had there been a travel bubble between both countries that there would have been many more travelers but people aren't going to quarantine 5 weeks to spend a few days in Thailand.

"Under the program approved by the Thai Cabinet in September, foreign tourists who commit to a stay of at least 30 days are issued 90-day visas that can be renewed twice. After arriving, they must stay in government-approved quarantine at a hotel or hospital for 14 days and prove they have long-term accommodations. ".

[CIMguy]

What I mean is? Your first report basically outside of obtaining the see. O. E. " I have tons of gettings on the plane in Beijing " " etc. For someone like myself who wants to plan a trip back home who lives in Thailand with an IMM-O extension that needs to be within a specific time frame not a lot of flexibility if there is a delayed? All my trips in the past have been 14 days at best even when I had a resident the last few years I booked a hotel within those 14 days I had commitments daily whatever time I had to myself was getting up a 5 am and having breakfast and reading the local paper.

Personally, I don't have time to apply for a C. O. E. And wait for permission to leave, arrange a quarantined hotel, purchase insurance, which in the case of a long stay in Thailand buying a policy to match my extension is just a money grab agreement made between the insurance companies and the government leaders. Then the policy of quarantine for someone like myself who already has a home here in Pattaya like everyone else must quarantine the family can't visit or have a contact at the facility but is allowed to leave during the day visit the family at the home then return at night. Does that even make sense to the human mind?

My flight booking my situation is leaving on a specific day and return no delays I just don't have the flexibility any delay is a hardship having something like a communist fucker trying to delay my flight because he has a hair up his ass is secondary.

Obviously everyone's situation is different, but I was just saying it's really not that bad of a time commitment to get here. I think I spent 3 hours doing everything if you discount the trouble I had using one of the pay portals from China. Most people don't have a place in Pattaya like you. For you, maybe it's not worth it. I just don't want people to think this is some terrible task like it was for the first people who tried it. The system is running pretty well, I think. I hope. You can make it here soon. Maybe the news of relaxing some of the obstacles will help you.

I also didn't want people to think it was somehow easier for me because I was coming from China. It wasn't. In fact, it may have been harder because getting a covid test and getting an English copy of everything is a pain there. Then the stuff at the airport. Plus, I was working 60-70 hours a week at a boarding school and I had other things going on because I was moving here and also looking for a job. I had to carve out time to do it. Most people won't have those obstacles.

[LittleBigMan]

I still had to do all of those things. I had to get insurance, the COE, and everything. Everything took about as long as it said it would on the website. Most everything is just a few clicks and filling out some forms. I did it all in a few hours. Not a big deal.

I have heard some people have trouble getting the hotel to do their part quickly, but my hotel (Austrian garden) was really good. They allow girls, who just have to give their ID, and it's very clean. No problems. I had some trouble with payment of the COVID tests because I was in China and the hotel just paid it for me and I repaid them.

And I came through Hong Kong, so very few of the people on the flight were Chinese. They are getting very few people from China, I think. Most people on my flight were American or European. They have a setup. I can't imagine they change the setup based on who is on the flight. That would be madness. It's quick and easy on arrival. I went to get my second covid test the other day. I was in and out in 15 minutes. I think people are overestimating how much trouble it all is. Don't get turned off by the COE. Just follow the links on the website and fill things out. You don't even need a visa as an American. I posted links earlier, but let me know if you need them again. This is easy. Come to Thailand! The people here need us.

What I mean is? Your first report basically outside of obtaining the see. O. E. " I have tons of gettings on the plane in Beijing " " etc. For someone like myself who wants to plan a trip back home who lives in Thailand with an IMM-O extension that needs to be within a specific time frame not a lot of flexibility if there is a delayed? All my trips in the past have been 14 days at best even when I had a resident the last few years I booked a hotel within those 14 days I had commitments daily whatever time I had to myself was getting up a 5 am and having breakfast and reading the local paper.

Personally, I don't have time to apply for a C. O. E. And wait for permission to leave, arrange a quarantined hotel, purchase insurance, which in the case of a long stay in Thailand buying a policy to match my extension is just a money grab agreement made between the insurance companies and the government leaders. Then the policy of quarantine for someone like myself who already has a home here in Pattaya like everyone else must quarantine the family can't visit or have a contact at the facility but is allowed to leave during the day visit the family at the home then return at night. Does that even make sense to the human mind?

My flight booking my situation is leaving on a specific day and return no delays I just don't have the flexibility any delay is a hardship having something like a communist fucker trying to delay my flight because he has a hair up his ass is secondary.

[CIMguy]

Your story outside of the see. O. E. Doesn't really bother me I've not been a world traveler like many of you but shit happens right? But regardless of your story of getting to Phuket may be a bit different since the Thais leaders have such high regard for the CCP, they would wave or do anything to get those high spenders here. I wonder back last year when they did the bubble for the first time for the Chinese the leaders projected thousand would come when the date came in Sept, they finally had to admit no one applied but a week later a small planeload arrived I wonder how in a week so many applied for the Certificate of Entry and got clearance a week before no one applied?

Regardless, we disagree coming from the States, in spite of all the optimistic news by the leader here of opening you still need to apply for the see. O. E. Nothing regarding the rules of being relaxed except the shortening of the quarantine when one arrives. Because of the uncertainty Airlines from the States are still limited, then you still got the insurance requiring $100,000 USD in coverage for the Covid which within the fine print will only cover you within a certain situation (timing).

Until those restrictions are clearly removed I won't be hopping on any aircraft when there are so many?

I still had to do all of those things. I had to get insurance, the COE, and everything. Everything took about as long as it said it would on the website. Most everything is just a few clicks and filling out some forms. I did it all in a few hours. Not a big deal.

I have heard some people have trouble getting the hotel to do their part quickly, but my hotel (Austrian garden) was really good. They allow girls, who just have to give their ID, and it's very clean. No problems. I had some trouble with payment of the COVID tests because I was in China and the hotel just paid it for me and I repaid them.

And I came through Hong Kong, so very few of the people on the flight were Chinese. They are getting very few people from China, I think. Most people on my flight were American or European. They have a setup. I can't imagine they change the setup based on who is on the flight. That would be madness. It's quick and easy on arrival. I went to get my second covid test the other day. I was in and out in 15 minutes. I think people are overestimating how much trouble it all is. Don't get turned off by the COE. Just follow the links on the website and fill things out. You don't even need a visa as an American. I posted links earlier, but let me know if you need them again. This is easy. Come to Thailand! The people here need us.

[LittleBigMan]

I think that's a thing of the past. I haven't heard of any problems recently and I certainly had no problems. I had tons of problems getting on a plane in Beijing. The guy there deliberately tried to have me miss my plane. He kept finding problems with my stuff, even though everything was perfect. The only thing not perfect was my COVID test had one word in Chinese that was not translated to English. He kept me an extra 45 minutes at check-in for that, forcing me to call the testing center and get them to wechat me a new one, which he then made me wait 20 minutes while he printed it out. So Check-in total took 3.5 hours before I could even start making my way through immigration and security, which is extensive in Beijing. When I left check-in, I had 25 minutes before the flight. He told me not to worry because it was not far to the gate. Turns out I had to get on a shuttle bus, then there was yet another app to download and fill out and immigration and photos and security. I got to the plane 20 minutes after it was supposed to take off but it was delayed and I just made it. That guy really tried to make me miss my flight, which is par for the course in China. So glad I'm out of that hole.

I then had a 17 hour layover in Hong Kong, which wasn't quite as bad as it sounds. The only really bad part was trying to find a place to sleep because of construction and all the Chinese people playing on their phones without headphones.

In Thailand, I was through everything in less than 30 minutes and in a car to my hotel. I didn't stop to use the restroom coming out of the plane and that really helped. I was one of the first 20 people to get to the testing part. You just had to sit down in these chairs, download a short phone app, show people walking through the chairs your paperwork, then go over to a desk. Then out to baggage. Then to a testing line. Then to the cars. It was extremely efficient. The only thing that wasn't perfect is that we didn't use the app they told us we would use before we got there, so I had downloaded an app and filled it out and that was wasted effort. It took about 20 minutes.

Whenever a new soft ware comes out for a computer or a new phone is released, people run to be first. I never do because I know there are kinks to be worked out. I waited for the kinks to be worked out with the sandbox and it was smooth. Don't listen to the people who rushed to be first. Those people always have problems.

Your story outside of the see. O. E. Doesn't really bother me I've not been a world traveler like many of you but shit happens right? But regardless of your story of getting to Phuket may be a bit different since the Thais leaders have such high regard for the CCP, they would wave or do anything to get those high spenders here. I wonder back last year when they did the bubble for the first time for the Chinese the leaders projected thousand would come when the date came in Sept, they finally had to admit no one applied but a week later a small planeload arrived I wonder how in a week so many applied for the Certificate of Entry and got clearance a week before no one applied?

Regardless, we disagree coming from the States, in spite of all the optimistic news by the leader here of opening you still need to apply for the see. O. E. Nothing regarding the rules of being relaxed except the shortening of the quarantine when one arrives. Because of the uncertainty Airlines from the States are still limited, then you still got the insurance requiring $100,000 USD in coverage for the Covid which within the fine print will only cover you within a certain situation (timing).

Until those restrictions are clearly removed I won't be hopping on any aircraft when there are so many?

[CIMguy]

True? Between the lines of the message one still need to go through the process of obtaining the C. O. E. From the Thai Embassy then as the Phuket first set of visitors found out things can change while you are on the way.

I think that's a thing of the past. I haven't heard of any problems recently and I certainly had no problems. I had tons of problems getting on a plane in Beijing. The guy there deliberately tried to have me miss my plane. He kept finding problems with my stuff, even though everything was perfect. The only thing not perfect was my COVID test had one word in Chinese that was not translated to English. He kept me an extra 45 minutes at check-in for that, forcing me to call the testing center and get them to wechat me a new one, which he then made me wait 20 minutes while he printed it out. So Check-in total took 3.5 hours before I could even start making my way through immigration and security, which is extensive in Beijing. When I left check-in, I had 25 minutes before the flight. He told me not to worry because it was not far to the gate. Turns out I had to get on a shuttle bus, then there was yet another app to download and fill out and immigration and photos and security. I got to the plane 20 minutes after it was supposed to take off but it was delayed and I just made it. That guy really tried to make me miss my flight, which is par for the course in China. So glad I'm out of that hole.

I then had a 17 hour layover in Hong Kong, which wasn't quite as bad as it sounds. The only really bad part was trying to find a place to sleep because of construction and all the Chinese people playing on their phones without headphones.

In Thailand, I was through everything in less than 30 minutes and in a car to my hotel. I didn't stop to use the restroom coming out of the plane and that really helped. I was one of the first 20 people to get to the testing part. You just had to sit down in these chairs, download a short phone app, show people walking through the chairs your paperwork, then go over to a desk. Then out to baggage. Then to a testing line. Then to the cars. It was extremely efficient. The only thing that wasn't perfect is that we didn't use the app they told us we would use before we got there, so I had downloaded an app and filled it out and that was wasted effort. It took about 20 minutes.

Whenever a new soft ware comes out for a computer or a new phone is released, people run to be first. I never do because I know there are kinks to be worked out. I waited for the kinks to be worked out with the sandbox and it was smooth. Don't listen to the people who rushed to be first. Those people always have problems.

[Java Man]

All these news reports about Thailand reopening on Oct 1 are misleading. For now, they're ALL Proposals. This Friday, Sept 17, Thailand's Center for COVID-19 Situation Administration, (CCSA) will meet to discuss these proposals. Once they decide on what to do, it's passed up to the PM for his signature. It becomes law once it's published in the Royal Gazette. Also the 9 p-4 a curfew is still ongoing. The CCSA said last week, they would discuss on the curfew at the end of this month. At this point no one knows what is going to happen. We'll know shortly.

[Explorer8939]

True? Between the lines of the message one still need to go through the process of obtaining the C. O. E. From the Thai Embassy then as the Phuket first set of visitors found out things can change while you are on the way.

I am in Thailand now, but want to go back to the US to handle some logistics. I am fully vaccinated and don't want to do 14 days quarantine, when returning to Thailand.

It's unclear how bad the new rules are going to be. I could probably do 7 days, but longer than that would be torture.