Thailand holidays have always been a hit with those in search of winter sun, with November to April providing the best weather to explore those beautiful beaches or explore the iconic sights.
The good news for Brits is that a holiday could actually be on the cards, as Thailand is one of 47 countries removed from the red list as of today (October 11). Alongside that, the Foreign Office has said it will be lifting its advice against non-essential travel, meaning you could visit for a holiday without risking factors such as invalidating your insurance.
Of course just because the UK government says you can visit a country doesn't mean it's automatically open to UK travellers.
In the case of Thailand, the country is currently operating with a partial reopening to tourists. However, it has since revealed plans to scrap quarantine rules for vaccinated Brits from November.
Currently, only Phuket and Koh Samui are open to Brits for holidays - and you'll need to be fully vaccinated against Covid if you want to go.
Thailand is reopening its borders in phases, with schemes dubbed the Phuket Sandboz and Samui Plus allowing for UK tourists to visit without needing to quarantine while in the holiday hotspots.
There are of course other entry requirements in place too such as needing your travel to be pre-approved, having heath insurance which includes Covid cover, and confirmation of a hotel booking. The rules differ slightly depending on which of the two holiday destinations you want to visit, but you can find out more on the Royal Thai London Embassy website.
As for all other parts of Thailand, if you're arriving from the UK you'll need a pre-approved reason for travel, and you'll be required to quarantine for 14 days at a state facility, regardless of your vaccination status.
This quarantine is set to be lifted for double jabbed UK travellers from November 1.
You may also be subject to further Covid tests on arrival, and other general entry rules such as a requiring a valid visa are still in place.
When heading back to the UK, because Thailand is on the 'rest of the world' list, the rules will differ depending on your vaccination status under the UK's new travel rules.
For those who are fully vaccinated, you'll only need to take one test, a PCR test on day two after landing. (It's expected that this will be changed to a lateral flow test later this month although no exact date has been confirmed yet).
For those who are unvaccinated/partially vaccinated arrivals, you'll need to take a pre-departure test, and PCR tests on days two and eight. You'll also need to self-isolate for 10 days. You can also pay for a fourth 'test to release' to leave early.
- Travel rules are up to date at the time of writing but these can change quickly during the pandemic - always check the latest Foreign Office advice before booking or going on a trip.
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