So family holiday to Thailand in April looks like it won’t happen. Any idea where I can look to go instead. Please give me some ideas.

[ihatethecold]

I’m so gutted. This was re booked from July 2020.
There are 5 of us and Thailand was ideal in terms of family friendly accommodation.
We had 3 bed villas by the beach in different locations.
We need space from the adult kids but also to be close by due to my DD’s health.

Where can I consider?
Love mexico but it would mean sharing rooms or paying for 3 rooms 🤪not ideal.
Considered Florida but I fear that will be cancelled also.

Just have no clue where to look.

Bali has said NO to any uk tourists.

Please don’t say I can’t go anywhere. I need to at least pretend that I may get away. 🥺

Are you absolutely sure Thailand will be cancelled? The Thai govt is looking again at the data on jan 4th I think; they’ll want to do what they can to open up again. Is the sandbox programme still running?

Sorry! Never answered your actual question. Sri Lanka?

I wouldn’t rule it out yet

I have to pay the remainder of the money by the 7th jan.
Sandbox is in place but I’m not quarantining for 7+ days in a hotel.

With the Phuket sand box you are not confined to the hotel. Just the island.

Really. I thought we were confined to the resort.
That’s what was originally happening when sandbox first happened.

I am on lots of Thailand fb travel pages that being updated regularly.
I just know Thailand has been very strict opening up and even the test and go system feels like a complicated system. It’s quite stressful getting the Thailand pass sorted in time.

Going on holiday has become so stressful now and I think I’d prefer somewhere a bit easier to get in.

We are all vaccinated to the hilt and obviously happy to do the required testing at airports etc.

No idea on resorts, but places people seem to be holidaying:
Cyprus
Maldives
Malta
Middle East - UAE or Oman, maybe.
(And also one friend is in Thailand, but nit coming from the UK, dont know what difference it makes).

Why cant you rent a villa in Mexico?

Why cant you rent a villa in Mexico?

I cant find any on the resorts. I have looked. I would want All inclusive. There are 5 adults we are mostly funding.

I know there are villas on Airbnb but ive stayed at the all inc in Mexico twice and the food was amazing.

No. It is just the island, not the resort. Trust me I was supposed to be there right now. So now they have stopped all the sand box schemes except Phuket. Now you need to take a PCR on arrival and day 5/6. After 7 days free to leave Phuket to other places within Thailand.

Cambodia! They are taking advantage of the fact that their population is mostly vaccinated and also that people are more hesitant to go to Thailand.

Ooh Cambodia. Now that sounds amazing.
I think I have to wait until the 4th jan when Thailand will review what it’s entry plans are.
I really don’t want to stay in Phuket for 7 days.

There are plenty of lovely places in Phuket. I’d go there in a heartbeat

Yup, Phuket has the most beautiful beaches in Thailand imo. And I have seen Samui, Lanta, Chang, Railey, Phi Phi, Samet, Phang Na, Tao, Mak. I bloody love it and am gutted have had to cancel Christmas there for second year in a row. Next year Rodney!

I have tickets booked to Thailand for late January and am planning to change to Phuket. As other PPs say, the Sandbox blue zone just means you must sleep at the hotel for the first 7 days. You do a PCR test on arrival and do have to stay in your room until that comes back, which is under 24 hours. But after that you're free to travel around Phuket, and after the 7 days are up, anywhere in Thailand. A very good source is Richard Barrow or the Siam Legal site.
Anyway by April it may well be more relaxed. Do you have a particular deadline which means you need to rebook soon? I'm waiting until the next Thai government update before I decide, but that'll only be 3 weeks before departure.

I'm in Thailand now it's amazing. Please wait til Jan 4th xx

Yes I will wait until the 4th. I’m going to speak to Travelbag in the new year about delaying the second payment.
They did this last year when everything went pear shaped.

Madeira?

I’ve just read that TUI have canx all flights to Thailand until the autumn. 🥺
We are not flying with them but that’s not a good sign.

Also reading that if you test positive on arrival (even with a Covid recovery note) you will be quarantined for 2 weeks in a hospital.
That’s such a risk if one of us tests positive between now and March and the PCR still shows a positive result.

@ihatethecold

I’ve just read that TUI have canx all flights to Thailand until the autumn. 🥺 We are not flying with them but that’s not a good sign.

Also reading that if you test positive on arrival (even with a Covid recovery note) you will be quarantined for 2 weeks in a hospital.
That’s such a risk if one of us tests positive between now and March and the PCR still shows a positive result.

Thailand accepts a Covid recovery certificate within 3 months of a positive test. However, I've heard from a couple of people who say their hotel staff don't understand this and have insisted on a PCR test. One person who I'm messaging with said after this, their PCR results and recovery certificate were sent for review to a doctor, who released them on the basis of the recovery certificate.

Yeah but what a stressy hassle. 🥺

US likely to keep receiving us I think? So Florida?

Yes Florida is in my thoughts.
We’ve been a couple of times and loved the seaside (Clearwater) and the Keys.
Orlando not so much. We aren’t really theme park people.

I’ve only been to Miami and Fort Lauderdale & enjoyed both, fab weather and stuff to do that isn’t theme parks!