Thailand, then Bali — now Thailand again?

Well, it remains exciting where our journey will go.
After our flight to Bangkok was canceled by the airline, we followed the plan to travel to Bali (Indonesia) with the B211A (Business Visa). With this visa we could have stayed there for 6 months.

About a week ago, we hired a visa agency to apply for the B211A visa for Bali. After we had transferred half of the fees (about 230€) we immediately received a feedback that our documents had arrived.

Much later than we actually thought…

Since the Immigration Office in Indonesia had a lockdown again and was therefore closed, the processing of applications currently takes longer. We were told that probably 500 applications are processed on the day and we are already on the waiting list. So far so good. So we just waited.

Unfortunately, the cases of newly infected people with Covid-19 in Indonesia continue to rise. To contain the pandemic the government decided to impose a 20-day lockdown. The lockdown started on 01.07 and is expected to last until 20.07. If the number of cases continues to rise, the lockdown will be extended accordingly. If the numbers continue to rise, the lockdown will be extended accordingly.

Changes in the entry regulations for Bali

Who would have guessed it — the lockdown and the increasing numbers have an impact on our travel plans. How should it be different :-D

Today we were informed by the visa agency that there are new rules regarding entry. Previously, entry was possible for anyone with a 5 day quarantine at select ASQ hotels. Vaccination was not previously required for entry.

Current status

Only fully vaccinated persons are allowed to enter Indonesia. The vaccination must be registered in the vaccination certificate, digital vaccination certificates are not recognized.

Upon entry, a subsequent 8-day quarantine in selected ASQ hotels must take place.

Since Marc is currently not yet vaccinated — and indeed is not considered fully vaccinated until 14 days after vaccination — this complicates our plans to travel to Bali.

Where should we go now?

Due to the rising corona numbers in Indonesia, along with the lockdown there and the restrictions that come with it, and then the new entry requirements, we have decided to cancel the visa for now. The visa agency has already confirmed that we will of course get our deposit back. So Bali is not our destination for the time being.

In the last few days we have often read about the Phuket sandbox. Thailand has opened a new possibility to enter without a 14-day quarantine in Bangkok. If you land directly in Phuket, you are in the so-called sandbox. Here no quarantine is needed. At least not quite.

The Phuket Sandbox

Fully vaccinated people can re-enter Phuket. They have to stay there for 14 days (but in a SHA+ hotel — no ASQ quarantine hotel) and after that traveling within Thailand is probably possible. The way it looks so far you can move freely around Phuket during the 14 days. You only have to book the stay in one of the SHA+ hotels.

The only disadvantage is that you have to be fully vaccinated. Therefore Marc needs another vaccination. Best with Johnson&Johnson, because with this vaccine only one vaccination is needed.

The new problem: Thailand does not recognize a cross vaccination of AstraZeneca and BionTech. Therefore I also need one more vaccination. Also preferably with Johnson&Johnson.

Our plan, as far as we really have a plan , is now the following:
On Thursday both Marc and I have an appointment for a vaccination with Johnson&Johnson. If we get this, we will be considered fully vaccinated 14 days later.

If we get the vaccination on Thursday we also want to book the flight and the SHA+ hotel for Phuket directly. These bookings we need againrum, in order to be able to apply then for a visa for Thailand. We will apply for the visa through a visa agency.

Well, this is our current plan. But since that changes almost daily at the moment, you never know if it will stay that way.

So it is again: wait and see.