Rants, Stupid Shit and Coronavirus in Thailand

[QUOTE=MrScand;2632738]I arrived Phuket today and have to say it was a quite smooth experience. Well organized and a fast process. Out in the cab to my hotel within less than an hour and that includes waiting for the luggage.

During the PCR test at airport they handed over some kind of rapid test to bring. Though, they forgot to explain when to use it and what to do with it when used?[/QUOTE]Ask your hotel. Mine said I should take it on the sixth day, take a photo of the result and send it to the hotel. I had never tried a self test before this, so I just watched a YouTube video explaining how to do it.

[QUOTE=BananaBoi;2632729]Those of you who haven't gone through the process of completing an eVisa and Thailand Pass are in for a treat. It's nothing tricky but just bothersome and it takes time as well as timing. Give yourself AT LEAST 2 weeks to complete this process. There are no instructions on what they are asking for so it's all guesswork unless you do hours of research on a site like AN. You have to take a selfie with you holding your passport in the exact pose they want you to be in and showing exactly what they want to see on your passport, knowing to take a photo of a blank page on your passport if you haven't travelled internationally in the past 12 months, converting every single pdf attachment to a jpg, bank statement, proof of income, having to book AQ hotels directly with the AQ hotel where there is lost in translation, people having problems paying because they are using Chrome or not using a gmail account, etc. Yes, you can book through Agoda but make damn sure you are paying for a true Test and Go package. Many hotels are selling hotel nights without the Test and Go package. A true Test and Go package will cost at least 4000 baht for 1 night but most are in the 6000-7000 baht range. If you have booked a regular hotel and not a Test and Go you will be denied at the Thai border and will have to purchase the NEXT flight out of Thailand back to where you came from no matter what the cost.[/QUOTE]The Thailand Pass part is not to hard if you have everything ready, images of your passport, Test & Go hotel reservation, a vaccination certificate, and separate QR images for each vaccination. If you have all of those you can get the pass in a few hours.

[QUOTE=Downandup;2633065]The Thailand Pass part is not to hard if you have everything ready, images of your passport, Test & Go hotel reservation, a vaccination certificate, and separate QR images for each vaccination. If you have all of those you can get the pass in a few hours.[/QUOTE]How long did it take you to get the Letter of Confirmation from your hotel? If it was quick please share with me / us which Test and Go hotel you booked with. How long did it take you to get your eVisa approved? Which Visa did you apply for? It's the eVisa that takes time, not the actual Thailand Pass. Thailand Pass is approved within hours for many countries with QR codes for vaccines.

[QUOTE=BananaBoi;2633102]How long did it take you to get the Letter of Confirmation from your hotel? If it was quick please share with me / us which Test and Go hotel you booked with. How long did it take you to get your eVisa approved? Which Visa did you apply for? It's the eVisa that takes time, not the actual Thailand Pass. Thailand Pass is approved within hours for many countries with QR codes for vaccines.[/QUOTE]For large hotels, you can book directly on their website, you get instant confirmation and an email follow quickly. Just look on the ASQ / SHA list which hotels you like and check if you can book directly online. That's how I booked in Bangkok and it was also clearly distinguished on the website between test and go package reservation and regular reservation.

[QUOTE=ElFrances;2633134]For large hotels, you can book directly on their website, you get instant confirmation and an email follow quickly. Just look on the ASQ / SHA list which hotels you like and check if you can book directly online. That's how I booked in Bangkok and it was also clearly distinguished on the website between test and go package reservation and regular reservation.[/QUOTE]How long did it take for you to get the Letter of Confirmation? If you got it quickly, which hotel was it (PM me if you wish)?

I contacted over 10 hotels of choice from the AQ hotel sites well over 2 weeks ago. All but one were 4 or 5 star hotels. One just got back to me yesterday. Some have yet to reply.

Thailand hunting down 783 missing Africans who came in on flights since November 15. Should that even be an issue if they are using the Mor Chana app?

[QUOTE=BananaBoi;2633139]Thailand hunting down 783 missing Africans who came in on flights since November 15. Should that even be an issue if they are using the Mor Chana app?[/QUOTE]The press release went something like: "no need to panic, all 783 missing africans are in Bangkok, they have not moved to other areas", friggin hilarious.

Guaranteed the Omicron variant is already in Bangkok and circulating through the community.

[QUOTE=BananaBoi;2633137]How long did it take for you to get the Letter of Confirmation? If you got it quickly, which hotel was it (PM me if you wish)?

I contacted over 10 hotels of choice from the AQ hotel sites well over 2 weeks ago. All but one were 4 or 5 star hotels. One just got back to me yesterday. Some have yet to reply.[/QUOTE]I've had a similar problem with test and go at my favored BKK hotel. I sent email to hotel requesting clarification and some additional details. Received a quick reply that was clear and complete. Turned out to be useless since the hotel's website was inconsistent with the email guidance.

I would also appreciate the name of a specific hotel that has the test and go bugs worked out. Ideally will be between Cowboy and Nana plaza.

[QUOTE=HorseTrader;2633233]I would also appreciate the name of a specific hotel that has the test and go bugs worked out. Ideally will be between Cowboy and Nana plaza.[/QUOTE]I was happy with Aloft Bangkok Sukhumvit 11 for my 1-day quarantine. They emailed me the required letter within 24 hours of booking, without my having to ask.

I found it listed on here: [URL]https://asq.in.th/[/URL].

[QUOTE=Thomas9;2633234]I was happy with Aloft Bangkok Sukhumvit 11 for my 1-day quarantine. They emailed me the required letter within 24 hours of booking, without my having to ask.

I found it listed on here: [URL]https://asq.in.th/[/URL].[/QUOTE]Thanks for that. I'm still in the process of dealing with this stuff for my next trip. Thanks to those who first found these links, I'm just copying here for anybody who needs them:

Thailand Pass: [URL]https://tp.consular.go.th/[/URL].
Thailand E-Visa: [URL]https://www.thaievisa.go.th/[/URL].
Test and go hotels: [URL]https://asq.in.th/[/URL].
COVID Insurance: [URL]https://asq.in.th/thailand-covid-insurance/[/URL].

I remember some sort of notice about the E-Visa website going down for a few days, perhaps about now. It doesn't work at the moment, but it worked in the past and I expect it will work again in a few days.

[QUOTE=HorseTrader;2633292]I remember some sort of notice about the E-Visa website going down for a few days, perhaps about now. It doesn't work at the moment, but it worked in the past and I expect it will work again in a few days.[/QUOTE]Next week. It's working now.

[QUOTE]Due to system upgrade, Thai e-Visa service will be temporarily unavailable from 10 December 2021 at 11.00 AM to 12 December 2021 at 11.00 PM (UTC). Should there be any enquiries, please contact Thai Embassy/Consulate at your country of residence.[/QUOTE]

Hello,

Just asking if anyone knows.

I got my insurance cover from [URL]1cover.com.au[/URL].

They are advertising that it covers for Covid etc.

But a threads ago, HorseTrader Included a link for insurance coverage by other.

Thailand approved company's.

Am I to use one of these company's or will my 1 cover insurance policy suffice?

Thanks.

[QUOTE=ChocoJelly;2634145]Hello,

Just asking if anyone knows.

I got my insurance cover from [URL]1cover.com.au[/URL].

They are advertising that it covers for Covid etc.

But a threads ago, HorseTrader Included a link for insurance coverage by other.

Thailand approved company's.

Am I to use one of these company's or will my 1 cover insurance policy suffice?

Thanks.[/QUOTE]All you need is an insurance policy that states that you are covered for at least $50,000 of medical, it does not have to be from Thailand and does not require a statement that it covers Covid. I have my Thailand pass with that.

[QUOTE=Downandup;2634314]All you need is an insurance policy that states that you are covered for at least $50,000 of medical, it does not have to be from Thailand and does not require a statement that it covers Covid. I have my Thailand pass with that.[/QUOTE]Thank you for the info.

South Africa study shows double vaccinated Pfizer is 33% effective for Omicron. That's not good.