With family and friends traveling to celebrate with us, we would like you to spend your holiday at the world’s top beach destination and a gem of Thailand. You can easily spend a week here chilling on the beach, island-hopping, diving, surfing and many more! It’s also just a few hours from Keaw’s hometown (Trang) and Keaw has fond memories of coming here often as a kid with her family.
Furthermore and thankfully, Phuket is part of Thai government’s Sandbox program where it should still remain open for oversea travelers even if the quarantine-free Test & Go scheme is suspended for other parts of Thailand.
Important: For overseas guests, we recommend arriving in Phuket by Thu 21 Apr evening or Fri 22 Apr morning so you can get PCR test results (typically 6-12 hours after arrival) in time to join our welcome drinks on Fri afternoon (3-5pm). Otherwise, arriving by Fri early evening should also be in time for wedding festivities on Sat. Note that if your flight arrives during 18.01-00.00, the day after is counted as Day 1. Please also see important info under "Flight".
You can enter Thailand via Test & Go program and we encourage you to apply ASAP.
Starting 1 Apr, one PCR test is required upon arrival in Thailand (at Phuket airport or a hospital in Bangkok). Pre-departure PCR test is no longer needed (unless indicated by your airline). You will book a night at certified SHA Extra+ or AQ hotel to wait for the test result. Once the test is negative, you are free to go anywhere in Thailand. On Day 5 you need just Antigen Rapid Test (ART) self-test which you can buy the kit from any pharmacy or convenience store. If you plan to stay in Thailand less than 5 days (incl. departing on Day 5), you can skip this step by providing flight document indicating departure date.
Conditions for Test & Go:
- Fully vaccinated against COVID-19 no less than 14 days before traveling
- Approved Thailand Pass obtained through tp.consular.go.th. You need to apply at least 7 days before traveling. However, we recommend 14 days to avoid any issues.
Documents required to apply:
1. Copy of passport
2. Copy of certificate of vaccination
3. Paid Reservation Confirmation from SHA Extra+ / AQ Hotel for 1 night and booking for airport transfer
4. Paid RT-PCR test for arrival
– Book at www.thailandpsas.com (Phuket) or through hotel (Bangkok)
5. Copy of insurance that shows a minimum of 20,000 USD coverage and explicitly covers COVID-19 (exempted for Thais). You may contact your existing insurer to provide a supporting letter with the exact wording, i.e., "COVID-19 treatments (exceeds 20,000 USD) are covered under the plan". Otherwise, other providers such as AXA provide insurance for 2,250 THB. If you are traveling with children, they will also need to be covered by insurance.
6. Thai visa, only if you usually cannot travel visa-free to Thailand (all Europeans and Americans can travel without a visa to Thailand
Traveling with children (accompanied by parents)
- Age 0-6: Requirements for vaccination is waived. All other conditions are the same as for adults, however on arrival RT-PCR test may be done in the form of a saliva test
- Age 6-17: If accompanied by parents, requirements for vaccination is waived. All other conditions are the same as for adults.
More details at
Update for 1 Apr: www.tatnews.org/2022/03/thailand-to-lift-pretravel-testing-requirement-for-international-arrivals-from-1-april-2022/
How to apply (please ignore the pre-departure PCR which is now removed): www.tatnews.org/2022/02/thailand-reopening-exemption-from-quarantine-test-go/
We strongly recommend you book flexible ticket!
From Bangkok
All full-service and low-cost airlines have multiple daily flights between Bangkok (BKK or DMK) and Phuket (HKT)
Tip: Lion Air and Thai Smile give you free luggage!
From Abroad
There are multiple airlines with international flights to Phuket and we recommend you book that.
Otherwise, if you are transiting in Bangkok on connecting flights to Phuket, this must be done on selected “sealed flights” under the same booking with codeshare airlines. These flights are WE8750, PG5275, PG5279. If your flights don’t meet these criteria, you have to do arrival PCR test and stay at hotel in Bangkok on Day 1.
For outbound flight, Test & Go travelers can fly out of any airport any day.
Recommend airlines that are affordable and offer flexible tickets: Emirates, Qatar, Etihad, Singapore Airlines (only if rebooked until 31 March 22). Travel conditions may change, so please check the details at the time of booking.
Hotel pick-up
For guests arriving in Phuket from oversea, please book airport pick-up directly with the hotel as required by Test & Go program. Renaissance hotel provides airport pick-up at 1,550 THB for a 7-pax van.
Shuttle service
We will arrange shuttle to transfer our guests between airport and Renaissance hotel for flight arrivals on 22-23 Apr and departures on 24-26 Apr. The ride is ~20 minutes.(Note that if you arrive in Phuket with Test & Go program, you need to book private arrival transfer from the hotel per "Hotel pick-up" option above).
Please fill in this form by 1 Apr if you'd like to have airport transfer by our shuttle.
Taxi or Grab
If you arrive/ depart on other dates or if preferred, you can take taxi or Grab (similar to Uber but more awesome, coz Keaw works here ;)). It costs around 500-600 THB each way.
Rental car
If you plan to travel around Phuket, we suggest renting a car as a taxi or Grab in Phuket are very expensive (sorry! Keaw can’t help with this). Advanced booking is recommended. Phuket has most of the international rental companies as well as local ones. You can see options on www.kayak.com. Note that you cannot pick up your car directly at the airport upon entry to Thailand with Test & Go or Phuket Sandbox because you have to wait till the PCR test result comes out. Some rental companies e.g. Thrifty, Thai Rent A Car can deliver cars to your hotel at an additional cost (usually 500 - 1,000 THB).
Phi Phi island is one of the most beautiful destinations in Thailand. For anyone who wishes to explore Phuket after the wedding, we are renting a speedboat to Phi Phi island on Monday 25 Apr (8am-5pm). We'd like to show you this breathtaking spot and also spend time together!
Estimated cost is ~$65 per person. Here is example itinerary: cutt.ly/WSzICIA If you'd like to fly out of Phuket that evening, please book flight after 8pm.
Please fill in this form: cutt.ly/VSzI2fl by 20 Apr if you'd like to join so we can plan it out. It should be really fun! :D
You need to definitely enjoy the beaches and just relax! If have more time, do islands hopping tour (come join us for Phi Phi trip on Monday 25 Apr), snorkelling or scuba diving.
Phuket Old Town is also very charming with its Chino-Portuguese buildings and nice cafes.
There’s everything for everyone on this island. Check out the link here for more ideas :)