Is it stupid to book flights to Thailand for Xmas?

[Sundiamond]

We've not been anywhere since Lockdown, with no plans on the horizon.

I wanted to see how things panned out.

But thinking ahead to Xmas. I realise it could be a period of higher infections, but presuming more robust testing measures are in place globally, is planning to go further afield stupid?

Or just do something last minute, have the time off ready and see whats available to go to a couple of days beforehand...

One of my colleagues is on a short term contract which ends at the end of August. He's paid for a flight to Mexico for beginning of September, and says hes planning to staymin some village in the middle of nowhere and teach Englush (we're both mental health nurses, so not teachers). Mexico has not got amid of coronavirus AT ALL.. Now I get he's not worried about catching it (I'm old enough to be his mum but not worried about catching it, but stick to guidelines to prevent spread and a second lockdown) but really? I've told him he's clinically insane, they'll be going into lockdown, he won't get insurance, likely if he does get out there he won't get back, his accommodation will likely close down but hes insisting it will all be fine. He reckons if he goes into lockdown while there that will be fine because they'll be nice weather!

He had planned a holiday in Italy earlier this year, insisted he was going to be going no matter what and of course he couldn't due to no flights.

He's a pain in the arse, very entitled and thinks he and his plans are unaffected by the pandemic.

You could book it last minute if the Thai government open up.

I live in Thailand. Don't book it. It's extremely unlikely our borders will be open to tourists from the UK at that point. Possibly to a limited number from other countries, but the UK will definitely not be on that list! If you're desperate to go away, I would consider another destination.

(I've told my own family to not expect to come til at least Easter)

Make sure you are prepared for quarantine when you return, or limited travel when you get there, or having to cancel last minute.

I have flights to NZ for this Christmas, booked in January to go and see family - I am gutted as I am 99.9% sure we aren’t going, the flights were 5k and that money is tied up until the airline (Singapore Air I am looking at you) decide to actually cancel the flights and 3 weeks of annual leave are on hold on the very small chance we actually get to go.

I personally wouldn’t book anything is it is just a hassle

Head over to the Coronavirus board and find the thread about 'Anyone else in a developing country hit by Covid' or something like that.
You won't want to go to Thailand.

We booked in January to go to Australia for new year. It's the biggest (and by far most expensive) holiday we have ever booked. We put it on a credit card in case the travel company went bust. We cant afford to quarantine for 2 weeks after, I'm not convinced we'll still go although DH and DC are much more optimistic.

Thanks all. A moment of madness, clearly!

But you're all right, and it's a stupid idea.

I quite fancy Christmas away but won't book until last minute - we've pencilled it into work calendars only

@DipSwimSwoosh

Head over to the Coronavirus board and find the thread about 'Anyone else in a developing country hit by Covid' or something like that. You won't want to go to Thailand.

Id rather be in thailand than uk covidwise

0 cases in 2 months. 58 total deaths. Government took it seriously and put measures in place.

How does that compare with uk?

I was talking to my cousin in Thailand this week.
He says it all feels pretty normal there now - restaurants all open as before etc.
EXCEPT the reason it is like that is that the borders are firmly shut, no alcohol for sale and no plans to relax either at the moment. Air bridges are being considered but only local and to places with similar CV rates.
He hasn't beem able to visit hos parents in their 90s in the UK since lockdown (usually does 10 days every 6 weeks). This is not a place open to tourists, despite its economy being so dependent on them.

If you don't mind parting with the money and you are sure you can change the tickets to a later date if the trip can't go ahead, then I don't see any harm in booking OP.

However, if things look much the same in December (or worse) than they do now, I wouldn't be going to any developing country. If you get sick out there and need hospital treatment you could be in real trouble.

Yes

Sitting in a petri dish for 10+ hours? I wouldn't.

I was in Thailand in February. Their handling of the virus was so much better than the UK. Thermal sensors in all shopping malls, temperatures taken in hotels.

Though it's unlikely you will be able to enter the country.

Many hospitals in Thailand have very high standards.

It's good for my mental health if nothing else.

I can’t see how potentially getting lockdowned or quarantined in a different country for 2 weeks and then being quarantined in the UK for 2 weeks is going to improve your mental health.
Everyone else is in the sane situation and would love to get away from it all but it’s impossible when it’s worldwide.

@Scarby9

I was talking to my cousin in Thailand this week. He says it all feels pretty normal there now - restaurants all open as before etc. EXCEPT the reason it is like that is that the borders are firmly shut, no alcohol for sale and no plans to relax either at the moment. Air bridges are being considered but only local and to places with similar CV rates. He hasn't beem able to visit hos parents in their 90s in the UK since lockdown (usually does 10 days every 6 weeks). This is not a place open to tourists, despite its economy being so dependent on them.

I hadn’t realised other countries had stopped the sale of alcohol, that’s very interesting. Shutting the borders for us, given we are an island, might have been an idea you would have thought.

I’d not book anywhere for this year and unlikely for next year yet either. I’d want to know it was very safe to travel as I wouldn’t want to get stuck somewhere or fall ill with the virus somewhere abroad. Too much uncertainty.

Yes it is stupid

Yes. They’re currently not letting British people in and it’s unlikely to change unless our numbers go drastically down. Which is unlikely the beginning of winter.

I hadn’t realised other countries had stopped the sale of alcohol, that’s very interesting.

I'm pretty sure South Africa has stopped the sale of alcohol as well.

Disagree with the comments regarding medical treatment. I lived in a less developed country for 12 years and Bumrungrad in Bangkok offers state of the art care and is one of the places we would be evacuated to for operations and treatment.

We already have two Thai holidays booked - regular visitors - one moved already from May 2020 to mid April 2021, the second one is for this November booked in January.

I think there is virtually no chance of the November one happening. 😢
Fingers crossed for April! Personally, as much as I too am desperate for a break, I wouldn't be booking either at the moment but both were arranged pre covid. The May one that was cancelled, we only rearranged that as we were only offered a refund credit note which at the time was not guaranteed to be financially protected so better to rearrange the holiday and have full ATOL cover. The credit notes are now guaranteed by the Government to be fully protected. Wish they had decided this earlier! 😡

Id rather be in thailand than uk covidwise

0 cases in 2 months. 58 total deaths. Government took it seriously and put measures in place.

But if everyone flocks over there from the UK and other countries then they would have higher cases which is why they made sure to close the borders.