Latest entry requirement to Thailand

[Centrals]

Found cheap flights with reasonable transits in SIN, so I can arrive directly to Phuket, do 5 days local diving or sneak in a 2 night LOB, then long LOB trip after. Possibly spending more than 5 nights in Phuket before the longer trip for buffer days.

This is your best option except the idea of sneak in a 2 days LoB. Your hotel might report your disappearance to the authority and you could be in big #$%^. Why bother.
NO need to waste any money and time in BKK at all. Time is money.
Get the Thailand Pass first.

 

[BoundForElsewhere]

That's some crazy odds. But if you can afford the time and the risk it sounds like an amazing trip.

 

[Dan]

That's some crazy odds. But if you can afford the time and the risk it sounds like an amazing trip.

I did similar thing last month in Palau and passing 4 swab tests to stick with the trip itinerary. Luckily in Palau you don't have to report to the health authority where you are during the first 5 days, as they knew where we were, that is diving 5 times / day while on Palau Aggressor II.

In Thailand, I think, it is a bit different. All travellers must download and install the MorChana application, Mor Chana app – what you need to know and set it on at all times for the COVID-19 precautionary measures and to report the result on Day 5-6 on MorChana. I read somewhere (couldn't find the link at the moment) that you need to check-in (report) your status everyday on MorChana for the first 5 day in Thailand. You won't be able to do that if you are at sea with limited mobile phone signal, unless you carry satellite phone or the liveaboard has one of those satellite phones to be used as hotspot, I guess.

Speaking about MorChana app, it seems buggy. There are few negative comments about the app here, MorChana - หมอชนะ - Apps on Google Play. I guess I need to figure out a better way to report in once I am there.

 

[Centrals]

That's some crazy odds. But if you can afford the time and the risk it sounds like an amazing trip.

Phuket marks 412 new COVID cases, one death

PHUKET: The latest Phuket Provincial Public Health Office (PPHO) daily COVID situation report has marked 412 new local infections confirmed across the island yesterday (Jan 22), bringing the total num

www.thephuketnews.com

412 new cases with 116 from "Sandbox" and 3 from "Test & Go" ie. 28% from overseas travellers! Pretty high indeed. I have no idea where were those infected persons original travelling from but I would take more than necessary safety precautions at least 1 wk before commencing the trip.

 

[dumpsterpurrs]

This is your best option except the idea of sneak in a 2 days LoB. Your hotel might report your disappearance to the authority and you could be in big #$%^. Why bother.
NO need to waste any money and time in BKK at all. Time is money.
Get the Thailand Pass first.

Test & Go, I only have to stay in SHA+ hotel on Day 1 and Day 5 and free to move around the rest of the time. I meant "sneak in" as in "include," not to commit an illegal act.

 

[tridacna]

Test & Go, I only have to stay in SHA+ hotel on Day 1 and Day 5 and free to move around the rest of the time. I meant "sneak in" as in "include," not to commit an illegal act.

You should write a novel based on this adventure. Should be epic!

 

[dumpsterpurrs]

Based on my experience for getting Thailand Pass, your plan should include the 7 working days (not counting Saturdays & Sundays) to get the Thailand Pass Test & Go model. Fortunately Feb 1 is a Tuesday. It’s a slow process. Feb 17 would be the earliest for you to get on a week long liveaboard, if all of the 3 swab tests turned out negatives.

Here is what I think is going to happen to you, assuming you get negative (-) results for all 3 swab tests:
Feb 1; apply for Thailand Pass Test & Go model
Feb 8; get pre-flight - swab test at home
Feb 10; receive Thailand Pass QR code
Feb 11; fly to BKK, Day 1 swab test & stay 1 night in SHA+ hotel in Bangkok
Feb 12; receive Day 1 - swab test, fly to HKT
Feb 15; get Day 5 swab test & stay in SHA+ in Phuket
Feb 16; receive Day 5 - swab test.
Feb 17; you are free to go anywhere in Thailand.

Any + result from Feb 8, Feb 11 and Feb 15 swab tests will mess up your plan. That’s why you are required to get the travel insurance with a minimum $50,000 Covid-19 rider and follow the Covid-19 protocol from Feb 1 to Feb 15 to make sure you won’t contact Covid-19 & pass all those 3 tests.

I’ve been tested 18 times for my 10 overseas diving trips in the last 12 months, knock on wood that I have never contracted Covid-19. However, statistically that odds are against me with how contagious Omicron is. Eventually I will get it. Just don’t know when. So stay vigilant in following the Covid-19 protocol (self distancing, wearing mask in public places or when self distancing is not possible, etc.).

Good luck!

Thanks! In a relatively ideal world here's what I would likely end up doing:
Feb 1; apply for Thailand Pass Test & Go model
Feb 11; get pre-flight - swab test at home
Feb 13; fly to HKT via SIN, Day 1 swab test & stay 1 night in SHA+ hotel in Phuket
Feb 12; receive Day 1 - swab test result
Feb 12-18: dive locally in Phuket/check possibility of 2N LOB
Feb 17; get Day 5 swab test & stay in SHA+ in Phuket
Feb 18; receive Day 5 - swab test.
Feb 18; 7N LOB
Late Feb: Perhaps Maldives LOB? Since I'll be out of the country anyway...

However, it might turn out I'll have a commitment at home that can't be moved, so this plan stays flexible. As all COVID travel plans should be!

 

[dumpsterpurrs]

That's some crazy odds. But if you can afford the time and the risk it sounds like an amazing trip.

I'm lucky to live in the region with several budget airlines connecting my home airport with the main hubs. I honestly can and usually do wait until the absolute last minute to book anyway, so hopefully if anything changes I'll be informed. And even if I have to lose any money, it won't be a heartbreak.

 

[Dan]

Thanks! In a relatively ideal world here's what I would likely end up doing:
Feb 1; apply for Thailand Pass Test & Go model
Feb 11; get pre-flight - swab test at home
Feb 13; fly to HKT via SIN, Day 1 swab test & stay 1 night in SHA+ hotel in Phuket
Feb 14; receive Day 1 - swab test result
Feb 14-18: dive locally in Phuket/check possibility of 2N LOB
Feb 17; get Day 5 swab test & stay in SHA+ in Phuket
Feb 18; receive Day 5 - swab test.
Feb 18; 7N LOB
Late Feb: Perhaps Maldives LOB? Since I'll be out of the country anyway...

However, it might turn out I'll have a commitment at home that can't be moved, so this plan stays flexible. As all COVID travel plans should be!

Corrected typo in bold letters.

The plan looks reasonable to me.

For Maldives LOB, you may want to review my latest Maldives trip reports:

Trip Report - Carpe Vita Real Time Review: March 7-18, 2021 Trip to Maldives Deep South

Day 1 I arrived in Gan, Maldives yesterday. Carpe Vita offered $20 for wifi access during the trip. So, I thought, why not use it to do real time review of the trip, so it’ll be much easier for me to write the trip report afterwards, as some of the important notes would have already been posted...

scubaboard.com

Trip Report - The Best of Maldives, 20-28 March, 2021

Summary This is a nine-day (March 20-28, 2021) liveaboard trip around central Maldives, named “The Best of the Maldives” route, with Emperor Voyager (20-21 March) and Emperor Leo (21-28 March). The itinerary, as shown in Table 1, includes 7 days of diving, 3 dives / day + 1 night dives, to a...

scubaboard.com

 

[Centrals]

Thanks! In a relatively ideal world here's what I would likely end up doing:
Feb 1; apply for Thailand Pass Test & Go model
Feb 11; get pre-flight - swab test at home
Feb 13; fly to HKT via SIN, Day 1 swab test & stay 1 night in SHA+ hotel in Phuket
Feb 12; receive Day 1 - swab test result
Feb 12-18: dive locally in Phuket/check possibility of 2N LOB
Feb 17; get Day 5 swab test & stay in SHA+ in Phuket
Feb 18; receive Day 5 - swab test.
Feb 18; 7N LOB
Late Feb: Perhaps Maldives LOB? Since I'll be out of the country anyway...

However, it might turn out I'll have a commitment at home that can't be moved, so this plan stays flexible. As all COVID travel plans should be!

Nothing is ideal in reality.
You have to report back to the hotel every night during the initial qualifying period. 2N Lob is only possible after you have been cleared to depart from Phuket.
You have to confirm with the Sand Box regulation because I believe it is for 7 nights. Check it out.