Thailand and Malaysia via Singapore

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acinod

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Dec 10, 2019
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I'm keen to go to Singapore but wondering the logistics and cost of going to Thailand and Malaysia from there.

On Thailand, I noticed this country is only one-way (can enter from Singapore but not the other way around). In that case, how would I get home from Thailand if I travel there from Singapore? There are flights from Bangkok to Melbourne via Singapore. I assume stopover is allowed? Will the number of tests I need then be:
  1. PCR test 48 hours before departing to Singapore - $150
  2. PCR test on arrival in Singapore - $160
  3. PCR test pre departure in Singapore (before flying to Bangkok) - $140?
  4. PCR test on arrive at Bangkok - $100?
  5. PCR test pre departure in Bangkok (before flying back to Melbourne via Singapore) - $100?
Or $650 total

On Malaysia, it looks you can do an ART test instead of the PCR test. Will the number of tests I need then be:
  1. PCR test 48 hours before departing to Singapore - $150
  2. PCR test on arrival in Singapore - $160
  3. ART test pre departure in Malaysia (before flying back to Singapore) - $10?
  4. PCR test pre departure in Singapore (before flying back to Melbourne) - $140?
Or $460 total
 
I think Singapore is going to start accepting ART test as pre-departure test, so potentially, you can save a few dollars on the very first test.
Screen Shot 2021-11-09 at 11.53.46 am.png
 
About the test on arrival in Bangkok, the way the process works is that you need to be booked into a test-and-go hotel package. This is a one night hotel stay at an approved hotel and the cost also includes the arrival PCR test as well.
This website has quite a bit of info:

Bangkok Hotel Deals – Bangkok Thailand Packages | THAIest

If you are planning a trip to Thailand and looking for Bangkok packages for your vacations, find the list of the best Bangkok hotel deals and special offers
thaiest.com thaiest.com
 
auriga said:
I think Singapore is going to start accepting ART test as pre-departure test, so potentially, you can save a few dollars on the very first test.
Click to expand...
Managed to find confirmation on the Singapore government's website, they'll accept ART tests starting 12th Nov, for pre-departure only though, still need to do a PCR test and isolate on arrival unfortunately.
Histopath can do the ART test and issue a cert at Sydney and Melbourne airports for $50.

EDIT: Just found that from 18th Nov the arrival test in Singapore will drop to SG$125.
 
Last edited:
Another thought. Will I even be able to enter Malaysia if I'm from Australia? Is it likely that I can just fly straight to Malaysia from Melbourne by Christmas?
 
acinod said:
Another thought. Will I even be able to enter Malaysia if I'm from Australia? Is it likely that I can just fly straight to Malaysia from Melbourne by Christmas?
Click to expand...
Malaysia is not open for international tourists yet. Langkawi is due to open in the coming week.
Yet to see details about the VTL between KL and SIN, whether all nationalities are able to utilise.
 
acinod said:
I'm keen to go to Singapore but wondering the logistics and cost of going to Thailand and Malaysia from there.

On Thailand, I noticed this country is only one-way (can enter from Singapore but not the other way around). In that case, how would I get home from Thailand if I travel there from Singapore? There are flights from Bangkok to Melbourne via Singapore. I assume stopover is allowed? Will the number of tests I need then be:
  1. PCR test 48 hours before departing to Singapore - $150
  2. PCR test on arrival in Singapore - $160
  3. PCR test pre departure in Singapore (before flying to Bangkok) - $140?
  4. PCR test on arrive at Bangkok - $100?
  5. PCR test pre departure in Bangkok (before flying back to Melbourne via Singapore) - $100?
Or $650 total

On Malaysia, it looks you can do an ART test instead of the PCR test. Will the number of tests I need then be:
  1. PCR test 48 hours before departing to Singapore - $150
  2. PCR test on arrival in Singapore - $160
  3. ART test pre departure in Malaysia (before flying back to Singapore) - $10?
  4. PCR test pre departure in Singapore (before flying back to Melbourne) - $140?
Or $460 total
Click to expand...
I am about to leave Bkk and return via HKG-MEL with Cathay using QFF points and $255.00. If you enter directly into Bkk you also have to factor in at least one night in an approved hotel awaiting your PCR test results. We are paying 2000Bht for our pre-departure test and that's the cheapest I have found. I suggest the better (more enjoyable) is come via coughet then either fly or hire a car and drive (Avis $25/day one way) We came via Singapore only a 2 hr stop over, and no issues there. I see Singapore are accepting the cheaper test. You may even be able to use the free one where the results come to your phone. I would suggest you look up Richard Barrow for updated info on entering Thailand. He is doing a really good and factual blog and news bulletin. He is on Facebook
 
I'm a bit stumped into what to book at the moment. I have 9 days and I want to visit Singapore and either Thailand or Malaysia but it doesn't look that easy because:
  • The details of Malaysia-Singapore VLT are still being finalised. There's a risk it won't be allowed for Australians.
  • If I go to Thailand, I can't come back to Singapore (at least not out of the airport).

I believe these are my options and none feel super optimal. Any help on if I'm missing something or what to go with at the moment?

  1. Book Singapore Return ($1632 via Singapore Airlines)
    • Pros - Visit Singapore
    • Cons - Potentially stuck in Singapore for 9 days (we really don't want to stay for more than a few days given we've been before). Can't go Thailand because Singapore doesn't allow non-SG visitors from Thailand. Likely can't go Malaysia if VTL is only for SG citizens.
  2. Book coughet Return ($1170 via Singapore Airlines)
    • Pros - Visit coughet + cheap
    • Cons - Not able to travel to Singapore. Even though we can transit via Singapore, we can't actually leave the airport because of COVID restrictions. Probably won't have enough to do in coughet for 9 days given we've also been to Thailand before.
  3. Book MEL-SIN-HKT-MEL as a multi-trip ($1255 via Scoot and Singapore Airlines)
    • Pros - Visit Singapore + coughet
    • Cons - Have to fly Scoot from Melbourne to Singapore which also gets to Singapore at midnight instead of in the morning.

I think I might go with Option 3 for now and change my flights if something better pops up once the rules are more finalised?
 
Last edited:
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unclebobl said:
We are paying 2000Bht for our pre-departure test and that's the cheapest I have found.
Click to expand...
I've been thinking about heading up to Bangkok myself, how was it up there, are things largely normal or are there still restrictions? Also, if you don't mind me asking, where did you get the pre-departure test done and was it easy to get?
 
I wasn't able to find an answer to this but what happens if your flight arrives in the morning in Thailand? Do you get to go straight to your hotel before check-in opens? How long do results normally take?
 
From what I've been seeing the hotels offering this are offering all-day check in of one sort or another. As for how long the test will take, most places are saying "within 24 hours" but I know of at least one person who got it done last week and it came back in six. The Novotel at Bangkok Airport is quoting 6-10 hours.

I guess this might also vary depending on how they go about collecting it, the Sofitel had a more detailed FAQ that they now seem to have removed that noted they would drive you from the airport to the hospital drive through testing facility then to the hotel. That seemed a pretty good idea to me but some of the hotels might have a nurse who collects it from you on or after arrival, which could introduce extra delays.
 
auriga said:
Malaysia is not open for international tourists yet. Langkawi is due to open in the coming week.
Yet to see details about the VTL between KL and SIN, whether all nationalities are able to utilise.
Click to expand...

Details on air travel between KL and SIN have now been released.

Australians are allowed to travel from SIN to KL only if they have been in Singapore or Malaysia in the last 14 consecutive days.

So that pretty much rules out Malaysia until next year.
 
acinod said:
Details on air travel between KL and SIN have now been released.

Australians are allowed to travel from SIN to KL only if they have been in Singapore or Malaysia in the last 14 consecutive days.

So that pretty much rules out Malaysia until next year.
Click to expand...
Unfortunately that seems to be the case, unless Malaysia opens to Australia directly.
Seems to work out OK for me though, but disappointed by the testing requirements for MY (PCR)
SYD->SIN (3 weeks)> KUL (2 weeks)>SYD
 
Apologies for hijacking this thread but seems appropriate.

Wife and daughter flying SYD-SIN-HKT on QF and 3K on one ticket in 3 weeks. Do we need to apply to transit SIN? They're not going out of airport and its only a 4 hour transit.
 
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