Pattaya Reports

If this was the Delta variant, they may have taken a different tack but due to the incredible high rate of transmission of Omicron I am not optimistic they will lift the current quarantine 7 day plan. If so, that decision or non-decision will kill the remaining winter tourist season. See'est La vie. (It’s really annoying you can’t even write French expressions properly on here)

[QUOTE=MaxBkk;2644068]About 350 Omicron cases have been reported under the test and go scheme according to the Thaiger. The Thai government would probably quote this as a reason why not to continue test and go.

However, the test and go was seeing 10,000 arrivals a day. So the overall positivity rate was something like 0. 1 %. If you tested the general Thai population the positivity rate would probably be 10 times higher at 1%.

So it doesn't really make sense to suspend the program when your average thrice tested tourist is 10 times less likely to be positive than your local. But TIT. This is thailand.[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=Tomasb;2644042]I am not expecting any change in the policy on January 4th[/QUOTE]I think there's a small, but real chance they'd scrap the Phuket Sandbox on Jan 4th.

Current closures are mostly a political tussle. Anutin is aiming for the PM spot and backing Prayuth (who's in support of re-opening) into a corner. If the actual goal were to delay Omicron, they would have done this earlier (at the time they banned people from Africa), forcing everyone into ASQ, without exceptions for visitors already approved for ThailandPass or those coming through Phuket.

Whatever they decide doesn't have to make sense. It's part of a political tussle, and they have to appear to be doing something for the sake of public perception.

[QUOTE=Tomasb;2644080]I See'est La vie. (Its really annoying you cant even write French expressions properly on here)[/QUOTE]Pour quoi non? C'est la vie. Works fine!

[QUOTE=Crocodilexp;2644100] Anutin is aiming for the PM spot and backing Prayuth (who's in support of re-opening) into a corner.

Whatever they decide doesn't have to make sense. It's part of a political tussle, and they have to appear to be doing something for the sake of public perception.[/QUOTE]Anutin is a very much anti farang. He would be a pain in the ass if he became PM.

He has had a number of foot in mouth moments while bashing farangs. My favourite is when he was making a number of anti foreigner comments including how they don't wear masks. All this while surrounded by very much masked up journalists while he had his mask under his chin.

Once he made comments a week before 22nd of December that he was going to recommend abolishing the "test and go" it was dead in the water.

[QUOTE=AssAddict;2643853]You're surrounded by dumbass Thai bargirls every day and it seems that you listen and believe to whatever they say. You're generalizing their behavior with the one of every Thai ladies. Either you're as dumb as they are or you pretend to be so.[/QUOTE]I can't speak to Thai ladies who don't work bar, but I described how Bargirls view sex with Farangs. I am sorry that you don't agree with their opinions.

The other night, some Thai man delivered his wife to my pool villa so she could have paid sex with me. You won't find a bargirl who would find that surprising, as to them, it's just business.

XXXXX.

My ex is stringing a guy along, she is trying to make him go away without directly saying so, in case she needs him again. So, for Christmas, she told him she had Covid.

[QUOTE=Tomasb;2644042]...I am not expecting any change in the policy on January 4th so unless there is another change by Mid February, I don't see Thailand being in the cards for me this winter. Airfares are also jumping astronomically, at least from the US.[/QUOTE]Airline fares must be dependent on your itinerary and exactly when you purchase your ticket. I just looked and have never before seen lower economy class prices from my part of USA to Phuket (round trip under $900 with no ability to select your own seat). Business class is a bit more expensive than I remember from pre-COVID.

At the moment, I have zero temptation to go anyplace except the Phuket. Places like Pattaya, Samui, Chiang Mai, and Bangkok can wait until my 7-day Phuket sandbox is finished.

[QUOTE=PedroMorales;2643790]I don't have sufficient information to decide on all these things and nor do I have sufficient trust in Fauci and his co-conspirators. However, I am interested in your travails as I have lost st least 6-8 flights / vacations during this Covid madness, with another two flights lost next month.

For those of you criticizing the flip flops of the Thai authorities, things are much worse in Europe. Where the irresponsible British cannot be consistent from one day to the next.[/QUOTE]It sounds a lot like you feel this whole thing is a global conspiracy just to wreck your vacations. Had no idea you were so important!

[QUOTE=HorseTrader;2644155]At the moment, I have zero temptation to go anyplace except the Phuket. [/QUOTE]Are you really considering buying your 4th plane ticket?

If you are changing your plans to Phuket, wouldn't your eVisa and Thailand Pass be invalid? Those would have the wrong date of entry, hotel info, plane info, etc.

I agree that it is all about politics. But as I mentioned in a prior post, Omicron appears to be so highly transmissible that even if you are careful, have your vaccinations and booster, wear masks etc. You can still catch it and test positive upon arrival. Even if you are asymptomatic, it's off to the hospital you go courtesy of your required $50 k health care policy. Or am I incorrect about that assumption?

[QUOTE=Crocodilexp;2644100]I think there's a small, but real chance they'd scrap the Phuket Sandbox on Jan 4th.

Current closures are mostly a political tussle. Anutin is aiming for the PM spot and backing Prayuth (who's in support of re-opening) into a corner. If the actual goal were to delay Omicron, they would have done this earlier (at the time they banned people from Africa), forcing everyone into ASQ, without exceptions for visitors already approved for ThailandPass or those coming through Phuket.

Whatever they decide doesn't have to make sense. It's part of a political tussle, and they have to appear to be doing something for the sake of public perception.[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=BananaBoi;2644168]Are you really considering buying your 4th plane ticket?

If you are changing your plans to Phuket, wouldn't your eVisa and Thailand Pass be invalid? Those would have the wrong date of entry, hotel info, plane info, etc.[/QUOTE]You are correct. My plane tickets #1 and #2 have been refunded. Plane ticket #3 (Bangkok) will be held for some time. I don't yet have #4 in hand (Phuket). Depending on how rules change in early January, I will decide later if I will go to Bangkok or Phuket first. For me, Phuket has special important.

If I go to Phuket first, I'll need to change everything except my COVID insurance (travel dates don't change).

I've been paying premium prices so that all my flights and hotels are fully refundable.

[QUOTE=Tomasb;2644194]... it's off to the hospital you go courtesy of your required $50 k health care policy. Or am I incorrect about that assumption?[/QUOTE]Who knows whether the policy pays if you're asymptomatic.

[QUOTE=AssAddict;2643853]You're surrounded by dumbass Thai bargirls every day and it seems that you listen and believe to whatever they say. You're generalizing their behavior with the one of every Thai ladies. Either you're as dumb as they are or you pretend to be so.[/QUOTE]They are LOSO girls. Low Society.

Just an observation my high level Friends say.

[QUOTE=Tomasb;2644194]I agree that it is all about politics. But as I mentioned in a prior post, Omicron appears to be so highly transmissible that even if you are careful, have your vaccinations and booster, wear masks etc. You can still catch it and test positive upon arrival. Even if you are asymptomatic, it's off to the hospital you go courtesy of your required $50 k health care policy. Or am I incorrect about that assumption?[/QUOTE]Don't forget that if you are sitting close to a person that tests positive on the Plane you will be required to stay in an ASQ hotel for 14 days. At your expense, and you cannot leave the door of your room until you test negative twice.

Welcome to LOS.

[QUOTE=XXL;2644298]Who knows whether the policy pays if you're asymptomatic.[/QUOTE]A good travel insurance pays hospital expenses due to Covid-19 regardless if your symptoms are mild, severe or you are asymptomatic. If you are asymptomatic Corona positive and you are sent to hospital in Thailand then the insurance covers the bill. I have such an insurance. Everyone should have.

BTW are you guys sure that all positive tested tourists will be sent to hospital regardless of their symptoms? Is this a raw fact or just supposition?

[URL]https://aseannow.com/topic/1244602-thai-police-launch-crackdown-on-prostitution/[/URL]