Thursday, June 23, 2022

Travel to Thailand without Thailand Pass from 1st of July

From 1st of July no registration for Thailand Pass will be needed to travel to Thailand. This has been decided by Center for Covid-19 Situation (CCSA) under its director PM Gen. Prayut Chan-o-cha. Also no more Covid-19-insurance will be needed. Right now visitors are required to have US$10,000 Covid-19 insurance coverage. From 1st of July Thailands government only recommends to have such a coverage.

Travellers will still have to show proof of either a vaccine certificate or a COVID-Free test result (within 72 hours before departure). That will be checked by airline staff at check-in and once again when travellers arrive in Thailand.

The CCSA has also decided to move the legal closing hours for nightlife outlets from midnight to pre-pandemic hours or around 2 AM. It will be still recommended to wear masks in crowded spaces.


Wednesday, June 22, 2022

บ้านคุณย่า - Grandmom's House BKK

See the location of Grandmom's House BKK บ้านคุณย่า on #Mykrungthep Google Map

Well, this is not my own discovery, the Korean blogger niconico thai has just published a review of บ้านคุณย่า - Grandmom's House BKK (23 Soi Charoen Nakhon 26). Who likes the ambiance of traditional Thai houses in Bangkok should not miss it. It's open on weekends and offers yummi desserts.

When going there you will pass these graffiti:



If you see the sign on top, you are on the right way:



At Grandmom's House you will admire these coloured windows:



And you might enjoy this traditional Thai dessert:



You can stay in this garden:



Grandmom's House BKK is also on Instagram: @baankhunya.bkk

Thursday, February 24, 2022

Thailand visits with Thailand Pass (Test and Go): From 1st March no more Hotel Booking for 5th Night

Thailands Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA), the task force chaired by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, has decided: Fully vaccinated international visitors from 1st March don't need a hotel booking and a PCR test for the fifth night after arrival anymore. Instead they can do a self-antigen test.

Another decision: The minimal medical insurance coverage for visitors is reduced to no less than $20,000 from $50,000 from 1st March. Read details of the new regime.

Who wants to enther Thailand before 1st March still has to book a SHA Extra plus hotel for the 5th night and stay there until a negative PCR-test-result has arrived. See: Thailand Test and Go from 1st February


Tuesday, February 15, 2022

Thailand Test and Go: Bangkok, Phuket, Krabi, Phang Nga, Koh Samui, Pattaya, Koh Chang, Hua Hin and Chiang Mai among the Destinations

See Test and Go Hotels on #MyKrungthep Bangkok Google Map

For fully vaccinated international travellers from every country worldwide Thailand offers more destinations since 1st February. With the Thailand Pass they can visit the so calledTest and Go destinations and then travel on to other destinations in Thailand. After the arrival they have to do a PCR-Test, then stay in the hotel room until they get the negative result. From then on they are free to move inside Thailand. On the fifth day they have to do another PCR test and stay in the hotel room until they get the result. With the second negative result they can travel anywhere inside Thailand. The hotel will hand out the release form.


The Test and Go destinations:

Bangkok: By air you enter at Suvarnabhumi or Don Muang Airport. For the first night with test you stay at hotels in Bangkok. For the fifth night with test you can go anywhere, where hotels offer the Test and Go Package.
Hua Hin: By air you enter at Bangkoks airports. Hua Hin is within a five hours distance, so you can book a hotel in Hua Hin, which offers test and first night.
Phuket, Phang-Nga and Krabi provinces: In Phang-Nga Khao Lak and Koh Yao are included. In Krabi Koh Lanta and Ko Phi Phi are included. By air you enter at Phuket International Airport for Krabi, Phang-Nga (Khao Lak) and Phuket or at Krabi Airport for Krabi. You can also enter by Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport and then transit on a sealed flight for Phuket. There is a Sandbox Extension program between Phuket, Phang-Nga Krabi and Surat Thani (Ko Samui, Ko Pha-ngan, and Ko Tao). Sandbox travellers can travel within these destinations during the first 5 days in Thailand.

Koh Samui, Koh Phangan, Ko Tao in Surat Thani province: By air you enter at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport, then transit on a sealed flight for Koh Samui. The first night travellers have to stay on Koh Samui.

Pattaya and surrounding districts Si Racha, Si Chang and Sattahip (only Na Jomtien and Bang Saray beaches): By air you enter at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport, then transit on a prearranged vehicle on a sealed route.

Koh Chang in Trat province: By air you enter at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport, then transit by a prearranged vehicle on a sealed route.

Chiang Mai: By air you enter at Bangkoks airports and stay in Bangkok for the first night with test, then you travel to Chiang Mai and stay for the fifth night with test at a hotek there. Or you arrive by Chiang Mai international airport and stay for the first and fith night with tests there.

Other destinations in Thailand: You can go anywhere, where hotels offer Test and Go packages. For example you enter at Bangkoks airports, stay the first night with test in Bangkok and travel on to the destination, where hotels offer the fifth night with test.



What you need to enter Thailand:

Apply for Thailand Pass: From 1st February on https://tp.consular.go.th. After your registration you should get the Thailand Pass within seven days.
Do a PCR-Test before the flight: Bring a medical certificate with an RT-PCR lab result indicating that COVID-19 is not detected, issued no more than 72 hours before traveling.

Must have a health insurance policy: Coverage no less than US$ 50'000.

Hotel payment confirmation: A confirmed payment for 1st and 5th day stay at approved accommodation establishments in the sandbox destination.

Confirmed payment for 2 RT-PCR tests: For Krabi, Phang-Nga and Phuket you reserve and prepay at www.thailandpsas.com (4,200 Baht for 2 tests). For Koh Samui, Ko Pha-ngan and Ko Tao you book and prepay, when booking and prepaying for accommodation at SHA++ hotels (4,400 Baht for 2 tests). The first test will be conducted at Samui International Airport and the second test at hospitals on Ko Samui, Ko Pha-ngan or Ko Tao. For Pattaya and Koh Chang you book packages for first and fifth night, including tests and transfer from Suvarnabhumi or Don Muang airports.

Certificate of Covid-19 vaccination or recovery from Covid-19: Vaccinated at least 14 days before traveling to Thailand.


Test and Go Hotels

During the first and fifth night in Thailand travellers have to stay at SHA Extra Plus hotels. You find the official list here:

Bangkok SHA Extra Plus hotels
Hua Hin SHA Extra Plus hotels
Phuket SHA Extra Plus hotels
Phang Nga SHA Extra Plus hotels (included Khao Lak and Koh Yao)
Krabi: Krabi SHA Extra Plus hotels, Koh Lanta SHA Extra Plus hotels, Koh Phi Phi Extra Plus hotels

Koh Samui SHA Extra Plus Hotels
Koh Tao SHA Extra Plus Hotels
Ko Phangan SHA Extra Plus Hotels

Chonburi: Jomtien Beach SHA Extra Plus hotels, Pattaya SHA Extra Plus hotels. Check the hotel location on Treasures of Pattaya SHA Extra Plus Hotels Google Map

Koh Chang SHA Extra Plus hotels

Chiang Mai SHA Extra Plus hotels

SHA Extra Plus hotels in any destination in Thailand


Frequent asked questions

Can I stay own house between the first and the fifth night?
Yes you can, but you have to stay at the hotel during the first and the fifth nights, says Giorgio Bonfante on Facebook, who is very well informed.


More detailed informations you can read at tatnews.org.


Tuesday, December 21, 2021

Thailand suspends Test and Go - again Quarantine for vaccinated international Tourists or Phuket Sandbox

Thailand’s Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and the Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) ordered an immediate suspension of issuing the “Thailand Pass” for the "Test and Go"-Scheme from Tuesday 21 December until January 4th in 2022. This to prevent spreading of the Omicron variant of Covid-19 in Thailand. This means that fully vaccinated international visitors have to go to quarantine again, if they want to enter Thailand. They can register with the "Thailand Pass" for a 7- oder 10-night quarantine in a quarantine hotel or for Phuket Sandbox.

These are the details of the new regulation:

People who have got the Thailand Pass already can still enter the kingdom through the “Test and Go” scheme for fully vaccinated arrivals from 63 low-risk countries and territories until January 10th, 2022. They still have to get a PCR Test after arrival and wait in their SHAplus hotelroom, until they get the negative result. After 6 days they have to do another PCR-Test (no additional cost). After that they are free to travel inside Thailand, if the test is negative.

Applicants who have already registered, but have not yet received their QR Code, must wait. Once approved, they can enter Thailand under the "Test and Go"-Scheme or another they have registered. After 6 days they have to do another PCR-Test (no additional cost). After that they are free to travel inside Thailand, if the test is negative.

New applicants for Thailand Pass can visit Thailand with a 7-days oor 10-days quarantine in so called ASQ hotels, where they have to stay in the hotel. Or they can enter Phuket Sandbox, where they can leave the hotel after they got the negative PCR-Test-result and have to do another test after 6 days, before they are allowed to leave Phuket island an travel in Thailand.

Sandbox-programmes in other areas than Phuket are suspended. The prime minister said that the government will review the situation again in January and decide whether the “test and go” scheme should resume.


Sunday, October 31, 2021

Thailand opens for visitors from 63 countries - Thailand Pass operational from 1st November

On his Facebook page Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-ocha announced on 21 October, that Thailand opens the country for fully vaccinated visitors from 46 countries, who arrive by airplanes. The Ministry of Forein Affairs announced the 46 countries shortly after his announcement. On 30 October 17 more countries have been added. The countries, from where the residents can enter with Thailand Pass Test and Go system (exemption from quarantine):

Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Bhutan, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Canada, Chile, China, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kuwait, Laos, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Oman, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Vietnam and Hong Kong.

Children under the age of 18 who are not eligible for vaccination, and are travelling with parents, only need to do a RT-PCR test no more than 72 hours before departure. Also adult people have to do this test.
See from which countries you can enter Thailand without a Visa for tourism purposes here.



An article by Thaiger shows how Bangkok is preparing for the entry of fully vaccinated international tourists from first of November. On Thaiger we read, that the tourists, who have arrived at Bangkoks airports Suvarnabumi and Don Muang, will be tested outside of the airport in swab hubs. Approved limousines will bring these guests to SHA plus hotels, where they will have to stay in the hotel room until they get the negative test result. They will be tested at these hotels or in nearby test hubs. According to this report over 300 hotels are waiting to receive the SHA plus certificate. See list of SHA plus hotels in Bangkok. See Bangkok SHA plus Hotels Google Map

As Richard Barrow tweets, the arriving guests will have to book a SHA+ hotel for the first night within a two hour drive from the international airport. For example, if you land at Suvarnbhumi, you can go straight to Pattaya, but for Hua Hin, must stay in Bangkok.


How to get Thailand Pass and who still has to register for COE

The CCSA (Centre for Covid-19 situation administration) has announced that the new Thailand Pass system will be operational on 1st November. The process then can take 7 working days. Therefore Thailand Pass registration is for people who travel after 8 November. Until then travellers have to do the COE (Certificate of Entry) registration process at https://coethailand.mfa.go.th/ and COE registrations will be valid after 1st of November. But the mentioned 7 days of staying in a SHA plus hotel are not definite. At the immigration Public Health officers will that reduce to 1 day. From 1 November 2021, the Certificate of Entry (COE) registration website will be closed for new registrations. But it will allow travellers, whose application has been pre-approved, to continue their application process to obtain COE until 7 November 2021.

Travellers who are in the process of requesting a COE and travel before 12 November can submit a SHA plus hotel confirmation for only 1 night instead of 7.

Travellers, who will travel before 12 November must still request a COE around two weeks before travelling. You can submit a SHA plus hotel confirmation for only 1 night instead of 7.

The registration for Thailand Pass will be possible at thailandpass.go.th/ from 1st November. Thailand Pass will require travelers to upload a vaccine certificate. Travelers can then download the Thailand Pass QR Code immediately after receiving the approval.

By doing Thailand Pass registration, you may get an error at the end. If this happens, do, what thaiger.com recommends: Thailand Pass workaround for API error.



The Regulations for Entry in Thailand

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has published formal regulations for entry to Thailand as follows:



The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has published the following FAQs. The Ministry says:
If your COE has been pre-approved, you will need to submit the rest of the required documents by 7 November 2021. Otherwise, your COE request will be automatically rejected, and you will need to register with the Thailand Pass system to travel to Thailand.

If your COE has not been pre-approved by 1 November 2021, your COE request will be automatically rejected, and you will need to register with the Thailand Pass system to travel to Thailand.

Exemption from Quarantine scheme: You can travel to any destinations in Thailand once the RT-PCR test upon arrival received is negative.


Entry to Thailand with Sandbox scheme

Travellers from any country of the world can use the Sandbox scheme: You can travel freely in the sandbox area for the duration of 7 days once the RT-PCR test upon arrival received is negative. Once you have completed your 7-day mandatory stay within the Sandbox area, you can travel freely to other parts of Thailand. There are 17 Blue Zone Sandbox destinations:

Bangkok, Krabi, Chon Buri (Banlamung, Pattaya, Si Racha, Ko Si Chang, Sattahip - Na Jomtien, Bang Sarey), Chiang Mai (Mueang, Doi Tao, Mae Rim and Mae Taeng), Trat (Ko Chang), Buri Ram (Mueang), Prachuap Khiri Khan (Hua Hin and Nong Kae), Phang Nga, Phetchaburi (Cha Am), Phuket, Ranong (Ko Phayam), Rayong (Ko Samet), Loei (Chiang Khan), Samut Prakan (Suvarnabhumi Airport), Surat Thani (Ko Samui, Ko Phangan and Ko Tao), Nong Khai (Mueang, Sangkhom, Si Chiang Mai and Tha Bo), Udon Thani (Mueang, Ban, Dung, Kumphawapi, Na Yung, Nong Han and Prachaksinlapakham).

Read this checklist.


Updated informations about Thailand Pass can be found here.


Read more about COE registration:
How to use Phuket Sandbox: Now 7 Days on Phuket or in Phang Nga, Krabi or on Ko Samui, Ko Phangan and Ko Tao


Tuesday, October 26, 2021

In Bangkok 153 SHA plus Hotels are waiting for visitors with Thailand Pass

You will now find 153 hotels in Bangkok with SHA plus certificate, among them Mandarin Oriental and Peninsula. More will come. You need a SHA plus hotel for the first night after arriving in Bangkok, if you arrive with Thailand Pass from 1st November. You have to wait at this hotel for the PCR test result. Check the official Bangkok SHA plus hotels list in the following days and you will find more hotels. See Bangkok SHA plus hotels Google Map


Read how Thailand Pass works.