Thailand Reopens to Vaccinated Americans, 45 Other Countries

Thailand Will Reopen to Vaccinated Americans and Visitors from 45 Other Countries from November 1, 2021, with no quarantine, apart from needing to remain in the hotel room until negative results from the arrival COVID-19 are received, typically overnight.

Previously, Thailand planned to admit vaccinated visitors from only 10 low risk countries, which did not include the U.S. With the update, fully vaccinated visitors from the following countries and destinations will be permitted to enter Thailand: Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Bhutan, Brunei, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Canada, Chile, China, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Malaysia, Malta, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UAE, United Kingdom, United States, Hong Kong.

Here are Thailand's Entry Requirements:

Eligible Visitors: Must come from the U.S. or one of the other 45 countries above and have been in that country for at least 21 consecutive days before flying to Thailand

Vaccination: Must be fully vaccinated at least 14 days prior to the flight to Thailand

Accommodation Requirement: Must have prepaid for at least the first night at an SHA+ or Alternative Quarantine (AQ) Hotel. In Bangkok, these include the Conrad Bangkok, the Anantara Siam Bangkok and the Shangri-La Bangkok, which we can reserve for TravelSort Clients with special perks.

Insurance Requirement: Must have medical insurance coverage of at least $50,000 for COVID-19 related costs. We also recommend purchasing Covac Global coverage for air ambulance back to the U.S. in the event of testing positive for COVID-19 when traveling internationally, so as to be able to avoid being stuck abroad.

COVID-19 Testing: Visitors must have negative results from a COVID-19 PCR test administered within the 72 hours prior to departing for Thailand, and must also take a COVID-19 PCR test on arriving at the airport in Thailand. Following the arrival test, travelers proceed directly to their pre-booked AQ hotel and remain there until receiving negative results, typically received overnight or within 24 hours of the test.

See more at the Thai Embassy site.

Where to Stay in Thailand

Our recommendation for where to go in Thailand depends on the time of year. We recommend visiting the Chiang Rai Golden Triangle and Chiang Mai area of Northern Thailand during the dry season of November-early March, but not after then because air quality can be an issue, due to fires, and then monsoon weather June-October. We particularly like the Four Seasons Tented Camp Golden Triangle, Anantara Golden Triangle, and Four Seasons Chiang Mai.

For Thailand's West Coast, which includes Phuket, Krabi and Koh Phi Phi, the best time to visit is the dry season of November to May, particularly November to March, when it's less hot. We recommend Trisara in Phuket, Phulay Bay, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve in Krabi, and Six Senses Yao Noi.

For the Gulf of Thailand, which include Koh Samui, we recommend visiting during the dry season of December-May, particularly during the December-February, when it's less hot. We recommend the Four Seasons Koh Samui over the Banyan Tree and Six Senses, which, while good, aren't as exceptional as the Four Seasons.

In Bangkok, we recommend The Siam for those looking for a very private, boutique stay, and the new Four Seasons Bangkok at Chao Phraya for those seeking a larger resort experience in Bangkok.

We can assist in reserving all the above hotels and resorts with Virtuoso or Four Seasons Preferred Partner perks and upgrades.