Thailand Test & Go & Bangkok in Feb 2022

[JohnK]

Hoping things will be easier in May.

You and me both.

It was a breeze for wife and daughter on the weekend in coughet apart from passport issues. Daughter Thai citizen but passport expired and they actually admitted her as an Australian citizen and my wife has to get Thai passport inside 30 days.

 

[Pablo]

So close to being scammed in Thailand after testing positive for COVID.

I wanted to stay at the Pullman Bangkok Grand Sukhumvit Asoke instead of another hotel that my hospital was recommending. The Pullman Grand Sukhumvit is a 'Hospitel' (spelling is correct) - ie, one of the official hotels in Bangkok where you can stay when receiving treatment for COVID. You don't have a choice - you have to stay in a "Hospitel" if you can't stay at home or in another facility, and the Sofitel So Bangkok (where I'm staying) is not registered as a Hospitel - you can do your first nights Test and Go program there but not if you're positive.

I called the Pullman Grand Sukhumvit directly on their main number from the website because I was told that I could book directly with them and was transferred through to the nurse. Her name was Kao - or so she told me.

She told me to send her details on sms to her private number and she also emailed me confirmation - but it was from a gmail account. Emails and sms' were very vague. She told me the 10 night stay would be THB120,000 (AUD$4,794). But she spelt the Suite as Sweet and nothing was on official letterhead or email addresses.

When ended up feeling like this was a scam and I told her no, the next couple of messages I got from her gave proof of it being a scam:

Ples honey
Come back to me
I take care off you

Close call. I suggest, as there's not much information about the Hospitels in Thailand if you test positive, to stick with what the hospital is telling you to do. The rooms looks pretty comfortable - although it's a VERY Expensive process. Thankful for Travel Insurance.

If anyone has details of a senior person at Accor, would you be able to pass their contact details on? I'd like to be able to report this. Have done so to the hotel directly but I don't trust whoever is managing their booking process (you can't book there currently because it's one of the quarantine hotels)

 

[Drummer]

Sorry for the delay, then traveling through Philippines. 2-3 days, but based on your posts, I think you've already made it!

On the money! Been, gone and come back. That said I return next week...

 

[BensAdventures]

On the money! Been, gone and come back. That said I return next week...

I've just booked my return for 4 weeks from now. Great to be traveling again!

 

[Hvr]

Did my pre-departure supervised RAT test this morning. THB700 and printed certificate ready in 30 minutes.
Must have your passport with you to get the required 'fit to fly' certificate'.

Store opened at 0730 hrs and arrived at about 0715 hrs. Another couple of people were behind us when the doors opened.

Paid cash (credit card has 3% surcharge) and had the stick up the nose. Walked along the beach and when I returned there was a queue out the door. Stood in line and the receptionist recognised me and called me forward to get my results.

Negative, gave me the test result and fit to fly certificate, told me to check all details were correct.

Quite easy and uploaded to my DPD which is another story ikn that thread.

 

[drron]

It is now suggested that the on arrival PCR will be replaced by a medically supervised RAT on May 1st. if cases don't rise all restrictions may be gone.

Travel rules eased if cases fall

The Test and Go scheme and Thailand Pass registration are expected to be scrapped by June 1 if there is no surge in infections or fatalities during the Songkran festival in April, says the Tourism and Sports Ministry.

www.bangkokpost.com

 

[BensAdventures]

It is now suggested that the on arrival PCR will be replaced by a medically supervised RAT on May 1st. if cases don't rise all restrictions may be gone.

Travel rules eased if cases fall

The Test and Go scheme and Thailand Pass registration are expected to be scrapped by June 1 if there is no surge in infections or fatalities during the Songkran festival in April, says the Tourism and Sports Ministry.

www.bangkokpost.com

Yeah, I read that. I'll be arrive a week before that!

 

[lonewolf]

I have booked my return flight but havent booked my departure flight yet but was planning on booking it After May after i saw the travel rules being possible eased. So correct me if i am wrong.

I dont need a PCR in australia before i bought my flight for Thailand? (Singapore Airlines via Changi transit).
I still need to get a thai pass and in order for that I need special travel insurance up to a certain limit as well as do i still need to book a test and go special hotel even if by May the PCR will be changed to RATs? ( I guess we dont know yet if it will happen).


And thats all i need now right? I dont need to do any more tests to return to australia or any tests on day 5 etc.

 

[pippen_2k]

And thats all i need now right? I dont need to do any more tests to return to australia or any tests on day 5 etc.

You still need to do a RAT on day 5 and lodge the result online.

 

[Hvr]

You still need to do a RAT on day 5 and lodge the result online.

I didn't do it and it was never mentioned. Nor was the RAT provided when I did the arrival PCR, although they were sitting on the desk.

As previously mentioned I'm still waiting for the PCR test result taken on arrival at HKT AP on 17/03/2022. Hope I wasn't positive.

 

[pippen_2k]

I didn't do it and it was never mentioned. Nor was the RAT provided when I did the arrival PCR, although they were sitting on the desk.

As previously mentioned I'm still waiting for the PCR test result taken on arrival at HKT AP on 17/03/2022. Hope I wasn't positive.

I thought that may be the case in regards to the day 5 test. It will be policed as well as when Queensland tried it
How did you get to leave your day 1 Hotel without a result ?

 

[Hvr]

How did you get to leave your day 1 Hotel without a result ?

I checked in near midnight (the plane left MEL very late). The hotel staff told me to stay in my room for at least six hours unless I got my result before then.

I went for breakfast at about 0830 the next morning and it was never mentioned again.

 

[ozmouse]

So close to being scammed in Thailand after testing positive for COVID.

I wanted to stay at the Pullman Bangkok Grand Sukhumvit Asoke instead of another hotel that my hospital was recommending. The Pullman Grand Sukhumvit is a 'Hospitel' (spelling is correct) - ie, one of the official hotels in Bangkok where you can stay when receiving treatment for COVID. You don't have a choice - you have to stay in a "Hospitel" if you can't stay at home or in another facility, and the Sofitel So Bangkok (where I'm staying) is not registered as a Hospitel - you can do your first nights Test and Go program there but not if you're positive.

I called the Pullman Grand Sukhumvit directly on their main number from the website because I was told that I could book directly with them and was transferred through to the nurse. Her name was Kao - or so she told me.

She told me to send her details on sms to her private number and she also emailed me confirmation - but it was from a gmail account. Emails and sms' were very vague. She told me the 10 night stay would be THB120,000 (AUD$4,794). But she spelt the Suite as Sweet and nothing was on official letterhead or email addresses.

When ended up feeling like this was a scam and I told her no, the next couple of messages I got from her gave proof of it being a scam:



Close call. I suggest, as there's not much information about the Hospitels in Thailand if you test positive, to stick with what the hospital is telling you to do. The rooms looks pretty comfortable - although it's a VERY Expensive process. Thankful for Travel Insurance.

If anyone has details of a senior person at Accor, would you be able to pass their contact details on? I'd like to be able to report this. Have done so to the hotel directly but I don't trust whoever is managing their booking process (you can't book there currently because it's one of the quarantine hotels)

was looking for an update from pablo?

where did you end up quarantining? did you get a list of hotels? i assume you were looking for an accor property?

 

[gty222]

Entry to be easier from May

RT-PCR tests for foreign visitors are expected to be replaced by antigen tests from next month in a bid to attract more tourists and revitalise the struggling sector.

www.bangkokpost.com

 

[Notyourbag]

Entry to be easier from May

RT-PCR tests for foreign visitors are expected to be replaced by antigen tests from next month in a bid to attract more tourists and revitalise the struggling sector.

www.bangkokpost.com

I'm flying into BKK and then to DOH on two separate tickets on the 3rd June. Let's hope they drop the RAT testing by then! They are falling behind what other ASEAN countries are doing

 

[Ansett]

Arrived in HKT Friday evening went through Passport Control did PCR test and collected baggage and in a car to the hotel in less than 20 minutes. Received verification of negative result around 4 am via an email confirmation to the hotel quietly slipped under my door. All straight forward and well organised. Very impressed with the whole process, other than the time needed to do all the paperwork lol.

 

[pippen_2k]

10 days out for me. Looking forward to it

 

[pippen_2k]

Just a heads up anyone wanting to get Thai Baht before travelling. I have been unable to convert AUD to THB (Cash) 7 days out from travel. Travelex, Aus Post etc have all stated that due to the floods, covid to expect a delay. I have a feeling it's also to do with the current high demand which was unexpected.
I now will be heading over with AUD only and will convert on day one in Bangkok.

 

[JohnK]

Just a heads up anyone wanting to get Thai Baht before travelling. I have been unable to convert AUD to THB (Cash) 7 days out from travel. Travelex, Aus Post etc have all stated that due to the floods, covid to expect a delay. I have a feeling it's also to do with the current high demand which was unexpected.
I now will be heading over with AUD only and will convert on day one in Bangkok.

Thats not good. Is everyone heading back to Thailand already? Eerily quiet there from what Im led to believe.

P.S. I came back with THB25000 in March 2020 and gave half to wife and daughter last month.

We have a bank account in Chinang Mai that we use Wise to transfer money and wife will open a bank account with ATM card in Pattaya for me to use while I am there. I'll use Wise when exchanges are favourable and keep money there. No more carrying wads of AUD.

 

[pippen_2k]

Thats not good. Is everyone heading back to Thailand already? Eerily quiet there from what Im led to believe.

P.S. I came back with THB25000 in March 2020 and gave half to wife and daughter last month.

We have a bank account in Chinang Mai that we use Wise to transfer money and wife will open a bank account with ATM card in Pattaya for me to use while I am there. I'll use Wise when exchanges are favourable and keep money there. No more carrying wads of AUD.

I meant demand in regards to travel in general, not Thailand in particular. I presumed that maybe it took the currency exchange businesses by surprise.