Good news holiday planners: vaccinated travellers can now visit Phuket in Thailand via a new ‘sandbox scheme’ without having to quarantine – opening the door for some serious island hopping fun.
Instead, you’ll have to download the ThailandPlus app, stay in an accredited hotel and take a PCR test (which comes back negative).
You have to stay on Phuket itself for a minimum of seven days, but you can then island-hop via the ‘7 + 7’ scheme to Krabi, Phang-Nga or Surat Thani for an additional seven nights – as long as you continue to test negative.
Fancy a more off-grid island? The Samui Plus Sandbox works in a similar way, with travellers either having to spend 14 nights in a designated hotel there, or seven nights there, then seven more in Koh Phangan or Koh Tao.
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It might sound complicated, but for a fortnight on the beach, it could be worth it.
As for other parts of the country? It’s thought similar schemes will be introduced in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Chonburi (Pattaya) and Hua Hin in October.
In the meantime, though, travellers to Bangkok have to quarantine for 15 days in a hotel regardless of vaccination status.
Under the country’s current ‘visa exemption’ scheme, travellers from the UAE can stay for up to 45 days without a visa.
All travellers must provide a negative test result from within 72 hours of arrival, as well as evidence of medical and travel insurance that will cover COVID-19 for at least the length of your stay.
Even if you don’t have to apply for a visa, you must apply for a certificate of entry and remember to download the ThailandPlus app before arrival.
So if you’re looking for your fix of street food and tropical islands, Thailand could be back on the agenda.
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