Phuket Reports

[QUOTE=Horatio;2573479]Is the sandbox going to be a success or failure? Will tourists come back? I think I read that Phuket wants 1500 tourists a day. I think the rules they have set up are ridiculous. It seems they want tourist money but don't want tourists. I predict it's a failure. It will take a couple months for Thailand to say that then a few months to change, then that won't be anything good either. My prediction is Thailand gives up and let's people in sometime next year. Until then Thailand stays dead. Treating tourists like they are on parole isn't what tourists want.

What's your prediction?[/QUOTE]I think the success or failure will depend on what is finally decided about the "overnight guest" policy. It seems that these have yet to be clarified. But if there is a ban on this, effectively we will become like children looking into a toy shop window. What's the point of going on holiday if your options are, 14 days hotel quarantine or 14 days window shopping?

[QUOTE=DannyDuck;2573484]I think they open up when neighbors open, sin, hkg, Japan, etc.

All this we will let tourist in is just to give poor people hope so they don't Riot.[/QUOTE]Not sure about the potential for riots. In a survey in today's BKK post, many are concerned that plans to reopen the entire country in 120 days time, represent s serious risk.

[URL]https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2139239/most-think-reopening-the-country-in-120-days-not-feasible-poll[/URL]

[QUOTE=DannyDuck;2573055]I will give in. 1,500 baht may or may not be appropriate.

Show pictures, we can all chime in.

A True Stunner, one that Thai elite go for is nowhere near 1.5 k.

A Stunner found in a Beer Bar by an old German- definitely 1.5 is OK.[/QUOTE]Fair enough. Never been to Thailand, but my tastes are pretty varied. Ranging from 'sweet' little spinner to trashy and fake 'Insta-ho' style girl, taking a detour through MILFy types. Only going from Tinder, TF and Instagram so the reality could be different in person. And most of them will probably flake. Such is life.

In other news, I have my Shaba hotel QR code thingy. I booked the room for two guests, was asked for the details of the second guest and replied 'Booked for two in case I want to bring back an overnight visitor. ' Nothing was said.

Suck it and see. Not convinced I'll actually be flying on Wednesday.

[QUOTE=Horatio;2573479]Is the sandbox going to be a success or failure? Will tourists come back? …

What's your prediction?[/QUOTE]It's going to be a slow start for various reasons. Too much rain now in Thailand and better weather in other places. Visitors don't want to be there until the tourism support businesses are well operational. Thai government has made too many flip-flops and tourists worry about what is next. Too many restrictions now, will take time to relax. I don't think vaccinated tourists will cause COVID to increase.

My prediction is Phuket tourism will not be solid until January 2022 or later.

[QUOTE=Horatio;2573479]Is the sandbox going to be a success or failure? Will tourists come back?
What's your prediction?[/QUOTE]The covid numbers are not looking good in Thailand. If the numbers continue to increase then the Phuket sandbox will either be postponed, or if it continues you will be stuck in Phuket and not allowed to visit other parts of Thailand without a second quarantine. I was hoping to visit Thailand in either October or January. The current situation is very disturbing.

[QUOTE=HorseTrader;2573717]It's going to be a slow start for various reasons. Too much rain now in Thailand and better weather in other places. Visitors don't want to be there until the tourism support businesses are well operational. Thai government has made too many flip-flops and tourists worry about what is next. Too many restrictions now, will take time to relax. I don't think vaccinated tourists will cause COVID to increase.

My prediction is Phuket tourism will not be solid until January 2022 or later.[/QUOTE]There are 2 types of punters waiting on the sidelines for the green light to enter LOS. The 1st group of punters have Thai girlfriends so they are jumpin' at the bit and will be among the first to return and they do not care too much if the bars reopen or not. These guys will gladly do the 14 day Phuket sandbox (no hotel quarantine) and fly their girls in to keep them company. It will be real good for them. The beaches will be near empty and all for them. Very romantic! The hotels will have bargain rates and low quest numbers. Nice! And after the 14 day requirement is met, they will be able to go anywhere they want in Thailand with their girlfriends.

The 2nd group of punters are guys like myself. We may still have a few favorite girls, but the only reason I would return to Thailand is to enjoy the nightlife scene, hook up with a lot of new girls, 2 per day is my usual, and have a great time like in pre-Covid days when BKK and Pattaya were party centers. So a sandbox is not good enough for us if most of the bars and Go Go's are closed. I have a few reservations with BKK and Pattaya hotels set for April / May 2022. I can cancel at any time without penalty. Hopefully, things will be much improved by spring 2022, but who the fuck knows. The lockdown has gone on too long and has devastated the P4 P industry in Thailand. I don't know if Nana, Patpong, or Walking Street Pattaya will ever return to their former glory or more likely how long it will take the industry to get back to normal. But I know this: I won't step foot in Thailand until I hear that at least 65% of bars, Go Go's, nightclubs, and brothels are back up and running at pre-Covid levels.

Fortunately there are alternatives outside of Thailand & SE Asia with smokin' hot girls and a vibrant nightlife scene. I do miss Thailand, but I am currently not missing out on a damn thing. Read other parts of this forum to see what I am talking about.

It's more then just punters. Will families want to go if they have to wear an ankle bracelet? How does that work at beach? Are most people going to accept multiple covid tests? Are families going to accept the uncertainty and constant changes on what is acceptable? I'm not a big monger, just a bit here and there. I just liked living in Thailand. But it seems like Thailand wants much less freedom and I don't think that's acceptable to almost any tourist who wants a fun carefree vacation.

It's not just the bars being closed, it's all the rules and uncertainty. I'm vaccinated let me be.

[QUOTE=NattyBumpo;2573746]There are 2 types of punters waiting on the sidelines for the green light to enter LOS. The 1st group of punters have Thai girlfriends so they are jumpin' at the bit and will be among the first to return and they do not care too much if the bars reopen or not. These guys will gladly do the 14 day Phuket sandbox (no hotel quarantine) and fly their girls in to keep them company. It will be real good for them. The beaches will be near empty and all for them. Very romantic! The hotels will have bargain rates and low quest numbers. Nice! And after the 14 day requirement is met, they will be able to go anywhere they want in Thailand with their girlfriends.

The 2nd group of punters are guys like myself. We may still have a few favorite girls, but the only reason I would return to Thailand is to enjoy the nightlife scene, hook up with a lot of new girls, 2 per day is my usual, and have a great time like in pre-Covid days when BKK and Pattaya were party centers. So a sandbox is not good enough for us if most of the bars and Go Go's are closed. I have a few reservations with BKK and Pattaya hotels set for April / May 2022. I can cancel at any time without penalty. Hopefully, things will be much improved by spring 2022, but who the fuck knows.[/QUOTE]

Maybe you can update us on the first categories where western or Asian men invite their Thai girlfriends to stay with them in Phuket during the sand box experiment. I was under the impression that the authorities would only allow married couples to stay in Phuket together during the 14 day quarantine time. I recall some discussion about this qualification last week but perhaps something has changed. Also, you better be sure that this Thai GF is someone you want stay with 24/7 for two weeks.

[QUOTE=NattyBumpo;2573746]There are 2 types of punters waiting on the sidelines for the green light to enter LOS. The 1st group of punters have Thai girlfriends so they are jumpin' at the bit and will be among the first to return and they do not care too much if the bars reopen or not. These guys will gladly do the 14 day Phuket sandbox (no hotel quarantine) and fly their girls in to keep them company. It will be real good for them. The beaches will be near empty and all for them. Very romantic! The hotels will have bargain rates and low quest numbers. Nice! And after the 14 day requirement is met, they will be able to go anywhere they want in Thailand with their girlfriends.

The 2nd group of punters are guys like myself. We may still have a few favorite girls, but the only reason I would return to Thailand is to enjoy the nightlife scene, hook up with a lot of new girls, 2 per day is my usual, and have a great time like in pre-Covid days when BKK and Pattaya were party centers. So a sandbox is not good enough for us if most of the bars and Go Go's are closed. I have a few reservations with BKK and Pattaya hotels set for April / May 2022. I can cancel at any time without penalty. Hopefully, things will be much improved by spring 2022, but who the fuck knows. The lockdown has gone on too long and has devastated the P4 P industry in Thailand. I don't know if Nana, Patpong, or Walking Street Pattaya will ever return to their former glory or more likely how long it will take the industry to get back to normal. But I know this: I won't step foot in Thailand until I hear that at least 65% of bars, Go Go's, nightclubs, and brothels are back up and running at pre-Covid levels.

Fortunately there are alternatives outside of Thailand & SE Asia with smokin' hot girls and a vibrant nightlife scene. I do miss Thailand, but I am currently not missing out on a damn thing. Read other parts of this forum to see what I am talking about.[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=Tomasb;2573890]Maybe you can update us on the first categories where western or Asian men invite their Thai girlfriends to stay with them in Phuket during the sand box experiment. I was under the impression that the authorities would only allow married couples to stay in Phuket together during the 14 day quarantine time. I recall some discussion about this qualification last week but perhaps something has changed. Also, you better be sure that this Thai GF is someone you want stay with 24/7 for two weeks.[/QUOTE]Virtual signaling by Thais.

Command center has been set up by Thai Seal Team Hok in Phuket to watch over Dirty Foreigners.

The idea is to quarantine not have Fun with Bargirls.

While hardly surprising to the old hands here. And I was half-expecting it myself, the whole sandbox thing has turned into a cluster-fuck. Constantly changing requirements. Every single person trying to get there is playing COE ping-pong with their respective embassies. Rejected for one thing, fix that thing, re-submit, get rejected for another.

I'm more than likely going to lose a little bit of money on this. Fortunately, an insignificant amount. Now looking for alternative destinations (I have a pre-flight covid test this morning). Mexico is looking like the most attractive option currently!

Just seen this: [URL]https://thethaiger.com/news/national/thailand-news-today-phuket-sandbox-no-money-no-honey-no-gdp-june-29[/URL].

Apparently, (at about 6 minutes in), Embassies issuing COE's will only do so if you have booked your hotel on SHA website. Same rooms advertised on Agoda are about 30% cheaper, but they will not accept proof of bookings from this source. Combine that with the fact that you can only use the sandbox scheme if you arrive on Thai Airways, and it looks like whatever you want to do, ypu will always have to choose the more expensive Thai option.

I am going to start looking for an alternative to Phuket.

[QUOTE=Dublin12;2574489]Just seen this: [URL]https://thethaiger.com/news/national/thailand-news-today-phuket-sandbox-no-money-no-honey-no-gdp-june-29[/URL].

Apparently, (at about 6 minutes in), Embassies issuing COE's will only do so if you have booked your hotel on SHA website. Same rooms advertised on Agoda are about 30% cheaper, but they will not accept proof of bookings from this source. Combine that with the fact that you can only use the sandbox scheme if you arrive on Thai Airways, and it looks like whatever you want to do, ypu will always have to choose the more expensive Thai option.

I am going to start looking for an alternative to Phuket.[/QUOTE]Those Spacesuits Somchai has to wear to bring you your morning toast don't come cheap.

[QUOTE=Dublin12;2574489]Just seen this: [URL]https://thethaiger.com/news/national/thailand-news-today-phuket-sandbox-no-money-no-honey-no-gdp-june-29[/URL].

Apparently, (at about 6 minutes in), Embassies issuing COE's will only do so if you have booked your hotel on SHA website. Same rooms advertised on Agoda are about 30% cheaper, but they will not accept proof of bookings from this source. Combine that with the fact that you can only use the sandbox scheme if you arrive on Thai Airways, and it looks like whatever you want to do, ypu will always have to choose the more expensive Thai option.

I am going to start looking for an alternative to Phuket.[/QUOTE]I booked my hotel direct. I'm also flying Qatar Airways.

Had my COE approved this morning by the London Embassy.

Nobody, especially the embassies, seems to know the rules the Sandbox is operating under. Your COE application getting approved comes down to who is approving it and what they've read on Facebook!

This should be. Interesting.

[QUOTE=JJanni;2574361]Now looking for alternative destinations (I have a pre-flight covid test this morning). Mexico is looking like the most attractive option currently![/QUOTE][QUOTE=Dublin12;2574489]I am going to start looking for an alternative to Phuket.[/QUOTE]Guys, this is what I am talking about. Forget Thailand. The Thailand we all knew and loved is gone and it is anybody's guess when or even if it will ever return. But here is the good news: there are countries with smokin' hot girls providing better sex at cheaper prices than LOS pre-Covid. It took a worldwide pandemic to open my eyes to the alternative possibilities because I was so enthralled with Thai girls and the Thai nightlife scene and other SE Asian hot spots as well. But I have just returned (less than 30 days ago) from a 5 week trip to South America and I can tell you that it is real good down there. So do some research, RTFF, then get off your asses and book a flight to Colombia or Brazil. I guarantee you that you won't give a shit about sand box Thailand after a trip to SA.

[QUOTE=NattyBumpo;2574546]Guys, this is what I am talking about. Forget Thailand. The Thailand we all knew and loved is gone and it is anybody's guess when or even if it will ever return. But here is the good news: there are countries with smokin' hot girls providing better sex at cheaper prices than LOS pre-Covid. It took a worldwide pandemic to open my eyes to the alternative possibilities because I was so enthralled with Thai girls and the Thai nightlife scene and other SE Asian hot spots as well. But I have just returned (less than 30 days ago) from a 5 week trip to South America and I can tell you that it is real good down there. So do some research, RTFF, then get off your asses and book a flight to Colombia or Brazil. I guarantee you that you won't give a shit about sand box Thailand after a trip to SA.[/QUOTE]I took a long hard look at Colombia, and the the CV rates doubled in six weeks. Brazil is just as bad. CR is relatively easy to enter, but the mandatory insurance cover is ridiculously expensive and is about 3 times the price of the Thai product, and then you only get about 1/3rd of the cover. I do get the impression that there are backhanders involved in the mandated spend wherever you see it.

Just need to keep looking. I think vax passports will be be a gamechanger.