Test and Go: Return to Thailand without quarantine

Test and Go: a call to return to Thailand

In an effort to restart the tourism sector, hit hard by border closures, Thailand has allowed fully vaccinated travelers arriving by air from low-risk countries to travel without quarantine.

This program, called "Test and Go", is a more attractive option than the other possibilities so far with the "Phuket Sandbox" and the "Samui Plus" program. Indeed, if you have one of the nationalities of the 63 countries authorized so far to participate in this program, you will be exempt from quarantine and will have access to the entire country without constraints.

Concretely, you are eligible for a quarantine-free trip to Thailand if you are:

• A fully vaccinated traveler.
• Travel by plane
• From one of the approved countries.

In this case, there is no need to stay in a hotel for 7, 10 or 14 days as with the Phuket Sandbox. The only real constraint is the mandatory PCR test upon arrival at your hotel, to be booked in advance with a package including the test, for which you will have to wait for a negative result before being able to move freely throughout Thailand.

Here is the list of 63 countries approved so far under this program:

Small novelty from December 24, a land border with Laos will be opened at Nong Khai (which overlooks Vientiane, the Laotian capital), and the maritime borders will reopen from December 16. The conditions of entry into Thailand remain subject to the conditions of "Test and Go", namely being vaccinated, having the PCR test and a SHA plus + hotel reserved.

All the information about the changes taking effect on December 16th is here: https://www.tourismethai.fr/actualites/mise-a-jour-des-regles-dentree-en-thailande/

What steps should you take to benefit from the Test and Go program?

Even if the procedures are simplified and the constraints reduced, there are still a whole series of documents to obtain before being able to travel to Thailand, even if you are well vaccinated, and coming from a country approved by the authorities.

Here are the conditions to be met to travel under the program:

• A round trip flight reservation
• A valid Thailand Pass
• A vaccination certificate (fully vaccinated) with an approved vaccine at least 14 days before travel.
• Persons previously infected within 3 months must have received 1 dose of an approved vaccine at least 14 days before travel.
• A medical certificate with a negative RT-PCR test result, delivered within a period of 72 hours before the trip (this concerns all travelers).
• An insurance policy with coverage of at least $50.
• A confirmed payment for a AQ or SHA Plus + hosting (with RT-PCR test).

To get into the details, here are some elements to prepare you as best as possible. Everything seems intimidating at first, but by simply following the steps and obtaining the requested documents, the process is not as complex as it seems.

Source: Bangkok Post

Thailand pass

I mentioned it in my previous article, the famous COE (Certificate of Entry) is replaced by the Thailand Pass, which has the advantage of being able to be requested online and can be validated in 24 hours if you have all the documents.

To do so, visit the official Thailand Pass website: https://tp.consular.go.th/

Small downside, the site is only available in English, and I know that some people struggle with the language of Shakespeare, so if possible, try with Google Chrome's automatic translation.

Provide all the necessary documents (some of which are listed below) by uploading a scanned version and wait for the validation of the latter, which will be confirmed with the sending of a QR code that the authorities will ask to scan at your arrival airport.

Vaccination certificate

Obviously, this is the sine qua non condition. Depending on the country where you were vaccinated, the format could vary in its form but the certificate should in all cases have an associated QR code.

Important point, but I think few of you will be concerned, the certificate will be accepted only if the vaccine is approved by the Ministry of Health in Thailand or the World Health Organization.

Another point to clarify is that you must have been vaccinated with both doses at least 14 days before your planned departure date.
Children under 12 years of age will not be required to be vaccinated as long as their parents or guardians are vaccinated and have a vaccination certificate.

Negative RT-PCR test

It is obviously required to obtain a negative test. The test, RT-PCR only (not antigenic) must be carried out within 72 hours max before the date of your departure.

If you have had Covid, a certificate proving that you have fully recovered for at least 3 months may be requested.

Medical insurance covering Covid-19

It will be necessary to purchase medical insurance which will cover medical expenses in the event of Covid infection during your stay in Thailand.

The insurance must cover a minimum of $50,000. Personally, I chose AXA, which has a plan specifically designed to meet the requirements of the Thailand Pass: AXA Sawasdee Thailand

Another good option being my blog partner insurance, ACS:

ACS Travel Insurance

Confirmation of a reservation for an AQ or SHA Plus hotel +

Under the Test and Go program, it is necessary to book at least one night in one of the establishments stamped AQ (Alternate Quarantine) or SHA Plus + (Safety and Health Administration), also written SHA ++ or SHA extra plus, because hotels simply SHA + are now no longer sufficient for this program. This denomination being a certificate issued by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) to hotels and services that meet the safety and health standards at the pandemic level.

Since the Test and Go program was introduced, several AQ and SHA Plus+ hotels have introduced overnight stays with a package that includes the items requested for this first night. This night is necessary while waiting for the result of your PCR test carried out on site upon arrival at the chosen establishment.

To be suitable for the Test and Go program, the pack must include:

• an RT-PCR test (carried out upon your arrival at the establishment
• A kit with an Antigen test (Antigen Test Kit or ATK), the latter being to be done yourself a few days after your stay in the hotel of your arrival
• A room for one night
• Transportation from the airport

List of hotels in Thailand including one night packages for Test and Go program

First, there is my choice for this upcoming return to Bangkok, where I booked the Chillax Heritage, which, besides being located not far from my home, was among the cheapest and with a very good quality/price ratio.

The next two on the list are the ones I was hesitant about and the next three (4, 5 and 6 on the list) are hotels that I normally recommend in Bangkok and also offer Test and Go packages.

For the rest, it is a non-exhaustive list, there is not really an order of preference or prices, but it is a list among the first to come out when doing a search on my favorite site, Agoda.

1. Chillax Heritage
2. 56Surawong Hotel Bangkok
3. Center Point Pratunam Hotel
4. Casa Nithra
5. Art Hotel
6. Casa Vimaya Riverside
7. Nouvo City Hotel
8. Villa De Khaosan by Chillax
9. GLOW Sukhumvit 5 by Centropolis
10. Aspira Hana Residance Thong Lor
11. Montien Riverside Hotel
12. Grande Center Point Hotel Terminal 21
13. Grande Center Point Hotel Ratchadamri
14. Solitaire Bangkok Sukhumvit 11
15. Trinity Silom Hotel
16. Lancaster Bangkok
17. Grande Center Point Sukhumvit 55 Thong Lo
18. Center Point Silom River View Hotel
19. Amara Bangkok Hotel
20. Maitria Mode Sukhumvit 15 Bangkok

If you have any questions or want to share your experience, don't hesitate to comment!