Traveling to Thailand is about to get easier again
Good news for travelers looking to visit Thailand in 2022: The country has announced plans to restart its Test & Go program from Feb. 1, following a month of mandatory quarantine rules for travelers.
Under the reinstated guidelines, from Feb. 1, visitors will have to take a PCR test on arrival and then test again five days later. Travelers will have to isolate in an approved hotel for at least one day following the first test while awaiting the results, and then once again for the fifth test.
According to The Thaiger, you will be able to travel freely between the two test days provided you download a tracking app that gives Thai authorities permission to trace your movements while in the country. You are also able to stay at different hotel locations for the first and fifth-day tests.
This will be a slight revision to the previous Test & Go rules where travelers in the program only had to take one PCR test on arrival. Additionally, visitors to Thailand will also require proof of their hotel bookings for the first and fifth days when testing is required.
What are the requirements for Test & Go?
Visitors to Thailand will need the following, according to reporting by Thaiger:
- Proof of hotel booking for Day 1 and Day 5 in Thailand.
- Confirmed payment or proof of booking for a SHA+ approved hotel.
- Prepayment for the two RT-PCR tests.
- Certificate of vaccination or vaccine passport.
- Proof of a negative result from an RT-PCR test issued no more than 72 hours before departure.
- Thailand Pass QR code. (Click here for the official website run by the Department of Consular Affairs. The Thailand Pass is free. Watch out for other sites seeking payment.)
The update will be welcomed by travelers after seeing an earlier glimpse of travel hope back in early November of 2021. During this period, Thailand permitted vaccinated travelers from 61 countries to enter its borders without quarantining, only to suspend the scheme on Dec. 20, following the first confirmed omicron infection.
The new version of Test & Go is reported to be open to all visitors, and not restricted to specific countries. Until the rule changes on Feb. 1, travelers have been required to quarantine for a minimum of seven days whether they're vaccinated or not.
Related: 10 gorgeous Thai islands that aren’t Phuket
The mandatory quarantine, which came in the same month British Airways canceled all flights to Bangkok until fall of 2022, was another hammer blow for the Thai tourism sector.
Before the pandemic, in 2019, leisure and hospitality contributed 21.9% to the country's economy, with a record 40 million visitors flocking to its golden beaches and historic cities. Since then, however, visitor numbers have since dropped by a staggering 99.5%.
Plans are also now afoot to expand the other type of Thai quarantine waiver, the Sandbox, whereby vaccinated tourists agree to stay in one location for a week. Currently operating on the western coastline in Koh Samui and Phuket, it may be extended up the eastern reaches as well, including popular beach destinations Pattaya and Koh Chang.
Related: How to get approved for Thailand's digital travel pass
Before you get too excited about the prospect of full moon parties, it's worth noting that it is still not quite business as usual in the country. While the government has just extended the hours to which restaurants are allowed to serve alcohol (11 p.m.), bars and nightclubs will still remain closed for the foreseeable. And not without good reason.
There have been 2,344,933 infections in Thailand since the start of the pandemic with 21,968 deaths. Although as the government prepares to loosen its travel restrictions in February it's clear that Thai authorities, at least, believe the tide is starting to turn.
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- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
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Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
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You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.Excellent to Good
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.