This week we have had some exciting, if not crystal clear, news from Southeast Asia… Thailand just announced plans to reopen November 1 to international travelers! Cambodia is starting to open, but still requires quarantine periods at this point; Vietnam is still saying it won’t reopen until sometime in 2022; and Laos hasn’t announced any plans yet.
If you’re guessing that this news added a little pep to our step this week, you’re right. We can’t wait to get travelers back to the region and support our guides, drivers and teams; but with anything Covid-related, it isn’t quite that cut and dry.
Thailand is reopening to vaccinated travelers on November 1, 2021, with no quarantine period required and travel around the country possible. This is great news for our teams on the ground and for the hotels that want to be back up and running.
But however excited we all are for our teams and partners on the ground, we’re still advocating taking it slow to most of our travel clients. We know that some of our travelers are hungry to be the first ones back to these destinations. Heck, we even put together this First Travelers Back Thailand Itinerary (PDF). But we also know that this is only the right experience for the right person; because when November 1 rolls around, while we might be allowed back in the country, the country might not be ready for us.
As the “Phuket sandbox” experiment proved, a country can be open, but unless the hotels, restaurants and experiences are open, it might not be what you’re looking for.
As travel coaches we’re always trying to match our travelers to the right experience, so based upon what we know now (October 2021), here is who should go to Thailand in November and who should wait...
If you’re the type of traveler that can purchase a flight and head to an amazing destination with a passport, some local knowledge and a basic plan, then returning to Thailand in November will be an incredible experience for you!
Flights out of San Francisco to Bangkok were under $800 roundtrip when we checked recently, and you can book the Anantara Riverside Resort in Bangkok for $50 a night! These are incredible rates and will suit the independent, spontaneous, up-for-anything, aware-it-might-not-all-be-possible traveler. You might not be able to do all the things, but temples, national parks and monuments will be open, and hotels will be treating these first travelers back like royalty.
How our travel coaches can help: If you want a full itinerary check out our First Ones Back or set up a call to put together an itinerary for your time, understanding that there might be last minute changes and things that aren’t open in time so the itinerary will need to be flexible.
Or, go it alone, but with our insider knowledge in your back pocket. Book a one hour Southeast Asia Coaching call and we’ll go over what to expect when you get to the Land of Smiles - everything from our favorite hotels and activities, to how to balance your time, budget and interests.
Book Your Trip for Early 2022 with a Travel Expert
While I think it will be amazing to be in Thailand (and potentially Cambodia) in the next couple of months, it might not be the smooth-sailing trip that some travelers prefer. Restaurants might not be open yet, attractions may not have the staffing levels to run at full capacity, and things you want to do - cooking classes, elephant visits and snorkeling trips - may not yet be functioning.
But in early 2022 we expect all this to be back up and running close to normally, but there will still be significantly fewer crowds. If you like to plan an itinerary, this allows you to take your time working with a travel coach to perfect it, and you’ll have the peace of mind knowing that the hotels and attractions will have had a couple of months under their reopening belt to ensure things are fully operational.
How our travel coaches can help: Our First Travelers Back itinerary is still going to be great in early 2022, even if you’re maybe the second wave back! Or, schedule a call with one of our Southeast Asia travel coaches to discuss your trip and make sure you’re booking the perfect experience for you and your group.
Need help planning your trip? Our travel coaches are here to help you! We have a group of talented coaches that have vast travel expertise in Southeast Asia. Book a consultation today!