travel
- Thailand News
Songkran travellers can enjoy FREE parking at Suvarnabhumi airport from April 11-17
There’s good news for those flying out of Bangkok during the Thai New Year. You can now park your car at Suvarnabhumi Airport Zone C for FREE during the entire Songkran period, as the parking fees are being scrapped from April 11 to April 17. Zone C is zoned for long term parking and has 700 parking spaces. Airport authorities…
- World News
Businesses blame high ‘entry fees’ for deterring travellers at Thai-Malaysia border
The reopening of the Thai-Malaysian border this month raised the hopes of local business owners around the border areas, who thought it would boost the economy in southern Thailand, and the northern states of Malaysia as well. However, things seem to be moving more slowly than expected, with merchants blaming the 5,000-7,000 baht “entry fees” as being too expensive for…
- Covid-19 News
Thailand’s Ministry of Interior urges tight Covid enforcement during Songkran
The Permanent Secretary of Thailand’s Ministry of Interior is calling on provincial governors to “rigidly enforce Covid-19 restrictions” during the looming Songkran annual break. The Permanent Secretary, Suthipong Julcharoe, also suggested 10 “Universal Prevention” methods. These include frequent handwashing and not touching your face, as well as vulnerable groups staying at home. Suthipong also suggested “double masking” (wearing 2 face…
- World News
Airlines launching direct flights from Phuket to northeast Thailand, and Singapore
Slowly, gradually, but palpably, airlines are starting to increase their frequency and routes again. Not Air is launching direct flights to Phuket from Northeastern Thailand (and visa versa), and Air Asia is adding flight from Phuket to Singapore, starting next Tuesday. Yesterday morning, a Nok Air flight landed in Phuket, marking the new plan for one direct flight per week…
- Covid-19 News
CCSA delays easing entry restrictions to Thailand… until after Songkran festival
The CCSA has announced today that they will hold off on adjusting the current entry restrictions for foreign travellers to Thailand until after next week’s Songkran festival, as they continue monitoring the spread of Covid-19 in the country. After today’s meeting, CCSA officials said they plan to adjust their measures in May, depending on the Covid situation after Thai New…
- Thailand video news
Thailand News Update | Breakthrough in southern Thailand insurgency violence
The Thai government, along with the most influential rebel group in Southern Thailand, have agreed to stop violence for 40 days, for the period April 3 to May 14, which includes the holy month of Ramadan and the Songkran holidays. For the first time in the brutal decades-long conflict, unarmed rebels will be allowed to visit their families during Ramadan.…
- World News
Thailand promotes tourism packages to attract 1 million Southeast Asian tourists
As countries throughout the Asia-Pacific region ease their pandemic-era travel restrictions and reopen their borders, Thailand aims to take advantage of the resumed international flights. By the end of the year, Thailand hopes to attract some 1.75 million international tourists via short-haul flights, with more than a million coming from Southeast Asian counties alone. To reach their international tourism target,…
- Travel
City Guide: Rejuvenate yourself at EGEIRO Coffee in Ekamai, Bangkok
Delicious and affordable hand-crafted coffee drinks made by a friendly barista and served with a smile — that’s EGEIRO Coffee in Ekamai. The cafe is located at 2-70 Soi Sukhumvit 42, Khwaeng Phra Khanong, Khet Khlong Toei, Bangkok. It’s about a 2 minute walk from BTS Ekamai station, across the street from Gateway Ekamai shopping mall and beside the YMCA.…
- World News
UPDATE: Malaysia-Singapore border reopens for vaccinated travellers
For the first time in two years, the land border between Singapore and Malaysia reopened yesterday, April 1, for travellers by private transportation, without the pandemic-era requirements of Covid-19 testing and quarantine. Now fully-vaccinated travellers can freely cross the land boarder on the southern end of the Malay peninsula with only a valid passport and proof of vaccination. Children up…
- World News
UPDATE: Malaysian drivers bewildered by Thailand Pass, as southern border reopens
THOU SHALL NOT PASS. That’s the message some northern-bound Malaysian travelers received when they attempted to drive their cars into Thailand on yesterday morning, only to find they’d forgotten the most important thing: you STILL need to register for Thailand Pass. In advance. Thailand finally reopened its land border with Malaysia on April 1 for travelers by private transportation. But…
- Thailand Travel
Thailand’s Public Health Ministry plans to request new entry rules
If the CCSA approves it, Thailand could have new entry rules starting on May 1. The new rules the Public Health Ministry plans to request are intended to revive the country’s crippled tourism economy,. The country’s Tourism and Sports Minister has also stated that his ministry will ask the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration to consider further easing entry rules,…
- World News
30,000 travellers entered Indonesia between January to February
With the relaxation of Covid-19 travel requirements, Indonesia saw an increase in foreign travellers arriving through their airports and seaports since the beginning of 2022, according to government data released on Friday. Figures from the statistics department revealed 33,600 travellers entered Indonesia through its main channels from January to February. Compared to the same time last year, the country saw…
- Thailand News
Thailand takes number one spot as most searched destination on Agoda
Thailand is the most searched destination in the world for trips in the next six months, according to the travel search engine giant Agoda. Thailand has seen a 500% increase in searches on Agoda from January to March 2022. The top three incoming travellers to Thailand are from Japan (#1), the US (#2) and Singapore (#3). Travelling into Thailand can…
- Travel
Travelling in Thailand with a disability? A word of caution
Thailand is not an easy place to visit if you have health issues or other physical disadvantages. While major hotels and tourist hotspots have services for people with disabilities, public transportation in rural areas is scarce and frequently difficult for wheelchair users. Accommodations and accessibility in Thailand for travellers with mobility inconveniences continue to fall well behind countries such as…
- Travel
Travel Guide: Where to go with family in Thailand 2022
Thailand is open for international travellers, with the Thai New Year of Songkran just around the corner. Thailand provides all you need for an excellent family vacation, including beautiful beaches, a variety of scenery, interesting activities for the kiddos, friendly locals and reasonably priced food. Travelling with your family can take a lot of planning, especially if you don’t know…
- South Thailand News
Foreign affairs ministry reminds tourists Thailand’s land borders mostly still closed
After the CCSA announced yesterday that Thailand will scrap requirements for pre-travel PCR tests for foreign flyers, the foreign affairs ministry reminds wannabe international travellers that most land border crossing points remain closed to them. The CCSA also says that only four land border posts are open to tourists and expats: Nongkhai and Udon Thani (near the Laos border) and…
- World News
Satun border between Thailand and Malaysia to reopen in April
The Satun border between Thailand and Malaysia will reopen on April 1 to all cross-border traffic. Thailand’s CCSA announced yesterday that more entry points will also be opened under the Test & Go and Sandbox schemes. These entry points include the sea port in Surat Thani for registered Thai vessels and Thai crews, as well as the airports in Hat…
- Thailand News
Singapore and Thailand to discuss cruise trips to Phuket
Cruise trips from Singapore to Phuket are in the works, with plans to offer the trip to fully vaccinated tourists starting in the third quarter of 2022. Thailand’s Department of Disease Control will hold talks with Singapore authorities to negotiate requirements for travellers, which may include proof of a rapid antigen test, or ATK, taken within 24 hours before departure as…
- World News
Cambodia stops requiring Covid-19 tests for international visitors
Today, Cambodia stopped requiring international travellers to test for Covid-19 upon entering the country. Visitors still must be fully vaccinated, with proof of vaccination, to avoid two weeks of quarantine. Cambodian authorities also plan to issue visas on arrival again, which were suspended before due to Covid-19. The country’s Ministry of Health didn’t confirm when this would start, though. Cambodia…
- World News
Vietnam reopens borders to international tourism TODAY (a day late)
The Ides of March came and went without so much as a word on Vietnam’s much anticipated border reopening on March 15. But the news comes today, with the Ministry of Health officially announcing that foreign nationals entering Vietnam now only need to provide a negative Covid-19 test certificate to enter the country and will no longer be required to…
- Koh Samui News
Thailand marine officials look into building cruise ship terminal on Koh Samui
Marine officials in Thailand are looking into building a cruise ship terminal on Koh Samui, a popular Gulf of Thailand island off the Surat Thani coast. A terminal is considered to be more convenient and safe for travellers as, at the moment, cruise ships must anchor by the island and smaller boats transfer travellers to the island and back to…
- Thailand Travel
Chiang Mai seeks CCSA approval to fully open province to foreign arrivals
Only a few districts in Chiang Mai are open to foreign arrivals, and now the northern province is seeking approval to open all 25 districts to travellers entering Thailand from overseas. There are 20 districts in Chiang Mai still closed off to international arrivals and the deputy governor says he wants them all open by Songkran, the Thai New Year…
- Thailand Travel
Tourism officials plan Saudi visit to attract Middle Easter travellers to Thailand
In the wake of both the Chinese and Russian tourist taps being turned off, Thai tourism officials are planning to travel to Saudi Arabia with a goal of attracting 200,000-500,000 Middle Eastern tourists to Thailand this year. The Thai tourism ministry and Tourism Authority frequently run travel roadshows around the world as part of an ongoing marketing program to push…
- World News
Foreigners wanting to study in Japan likely can by end of May
After about 150,000 foreign students have been kept from studying in Japan, they will likely be allowed to finally enter the country by the end of May. A Japanese government spokesman said yesterday that in March, a new priority entry program will start before the new school year. The spokesman said it’s unclear how many of the 150,000 students who…
- Property
Centara plans to build 100 new hotels by 2026, launch 20 per year
Centara Hotels and Resorts plans to open 100 new hotels in Thailand, the Middle East, China and neighbouring countries over the next 5 years, with the intention of managing them through agreements with partner companies, according to the Bangkok Post. Centara’s 5 year goal from 2022 aims to add 20 hotels each year, bringing the total number to more than…
- Transport News
Commercial flights at Thailand’s newest airport in Yala to take off on March 14
Commercial flights at Thailand’s newest airport in the southern province Yala are set to take off on March 14. PM Prayut Chan-o-cha announced that the first flight to Yala’s Betong Airport will depart from Bangkok’s Don Mueang Airport this month. The new airport is a part of the government’s strategy to strengthen the economy and stability in the three southern provinces,…
- World News
Malaysian minister announces vaccinated travel lane with Thailand, Cambodia
Malaysia’s Transport Minister announced today that the country’s government is preparing to start a Vaccinated Travel Lane with Thailand and Cambodia as early as the middle of this month. The minister said the VTL will follow the same model as the VTL between Singapore’s Changi International Airport and Kuala Lumpur International Airport. In the VTL, travellers who enter Malaysia take…
- Thailand video news
Asia News Today | China asks Russia to ‘wait’ until finish of winter games, US advises against travel to Vietnam
South Korean schools are being reopened at the same time the country is facing its worst surge of Covid infections with daily numbers surpassing 200,000 for the first time. Whilst schools were offered the option of still teaching online, most opened their gates yesterday for the new academic year. Schools were allowed to opt for online learning, but many opened…
- World News
Bali to trial a quarantine-free entry scheme this month
On a trial basis, Indonesia’s resort island Bali will start allowing foreign travellers to enter without undergoing a quarantine. A senior minister says the new travel policy will start March 14, or sooner, depending on the Covid-19 situation in Bali. The Indonesian government will extend the travel scheme across the country if the trial is successful. To enter Bali from…
- Thailand News
Hoteliers asked to issue refunds to Test & Go travellers for Day 5 packages
With the government scrapping the Day 5 requirements for Test & Go travellers, more than 2,000 hotels and their partner hospitals or test centres are being asked to refund the costs of a night stay with Covid-19 RT-PCR testing. Under the revised entry requirements, travellers can take a self-administered antigen test instead of a PCR test on the fifth day…
