Complete change of plan (inevitably)
We have had to change plans but minor inconvenience.
Our thoughts are with the millions whose lives have been devastated !
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Updated 30th March
We have been following all the updates from UK Thailand and more. Bad in UK but worse in the rest of Europe. There look to be several good developments in terms of breathing aids to maybe take the pressure off "intensive care", thus ease pressure and allow more to be treated quickly with the aim to return them home
Big shopping today in Tesco..ALL very good and quiet no panic or queues, social distancing in place and sanitiser available to use. We called in a 2nd shop and they had an assistant scanning temperatures , we were both OK.
Utterances from the UK suggest maybe a further lockdown or simply stricter enforcement. I think this will be in place for 3 months.
The health spokesperson also warned that it could be 6 months before return to normal (should I say near normal). I think that is realistic but it could well be longer...
We shall see how things develop but as of now I think it likely or even very likely that we will remain in Thailand until April/May 2021.
Best wishes to all..Keep safe Keep healthy.
We have been following all the updates from UK Thailand and more. Bad in UK but worse in the rest of Europe. There look to be several good developments in terms of breathing aids to maybe take the pressure off "intensive care", thus ease pressure and allow more to be treated quickly with the aim to return them home
Big shopping today in Tesco..ALL very good and quiet no panic or queues, social distancing in place and sanitiser available to use. We called in a 2nd shop and they had an assistant scanning temperatures , we were both OK.
Utterances from the UK suggest maybe a further lockdown or simply stricter enforcement. I think this will be in place for 3 months.
The health spokesperson also warned that it could be 6 months before return to normal (should I say near normal). I think that is realistic but it could well be longer...
We shall see how things develop but as of now I think it likely or even very likely that we will remain in Thailand until April/May 2021.
Best wishes to all..Keep safe Keep healthy.
Updated 28th March.
Thailand is experiencing a surge of cases. We think that we are in a good situtation given our location and changed habits (we are in self-isolation 95%). Partial lockdown here but expecting more. Similar to UK France and Spain all a bit slow !
No Flights to Uk anyway ! ...............We are confident that
Thai airways will provide us with another flight but have to wait and see.
Tony Sheldon (Maidenhead travel agent) will refund our Canada flights and hotel (just awaiting the email).
We have already received an 85% refund or our cancelled "Canada Motorhome insurance".
AXA/Lloyds travel insurance will pay for some other costs (£200 or so).
During Thailand's state of Emergency.....
1 No foreigners allowed in !
2 All arriving by air need a "Virus free document based on a test" !
Thus if we were to fly to UK we could not return. This will surely change but when ?
3 months - I think not, 6 months - possibly, 12 months maybe ! little point in conjecture.
It is likely we will remain here until April/May 2021. Will we try Canada again..? I hope so but not until 2022
If so the plan will be much the same apart from going in early May..Canada still suffering from "temperature lag" in April !
Thailand is experiencing a surge of cases. We think that we are in a good situtation given our location and changed habits (we are in self-isolation 95%). Partial lockdown here but expecting more. Similar to UK France and Spain all a bit slow !
No Flights to Uk anyway ! ...............We are confident that
Thai airways will provide us with another flight but have to wait and see.
Tony Sheldon (Maidenhead travel agent) will refund our Canada flights and hotel (just awaiting the email).
We have already received an 85% refund or our cancelled "Canada Motorhome insurance".
AXA/Lloyds travel insurance will pay for some other costs (£200 or so).
During Thailand's state of Emergency.....
1 No foreigners allowed in !
2 All arriving by air need a "Virus free document based on a test" !
Thus if we were to fly to UK we could not return. This will surely change but when ?
3 months - I think not, 6 months - possibly, 12 months maybe ! little point in conjecture.
It is likely we will remain here until April/May 2021. Will we try Canada again..? I hope so but not until 2022
If so the plan will be much the same apart from going in early May..Canada still suffering from "temperature lag" in April !
17th March "Canada is NoGo Thailand is Stay"
Shame with everything organised. But trivial compared with the devastation caused to millions by all the recent problems.
(Australia Bush-fires, UK floods and the worldwide covid-19 pandemic)
I have been expecting the covid-19 virus to "interfere" and this is now the case !
SO Thailand or UK ? Decision made THAILAND for maybe 3 months
It would be no fun in UK with the difficulties all face and with UK expected to go into at least partial lockdown.
We are now going to stay in Thailand. The rise in cases is very low.
We almost live in self-isolation and will take the obvious care with our occasional "big shop". Most things we get at the local markets !
We live under the house with good air circulation and even the cold water is hand hot for hand washing !
This will entail an upgrade to our travel insurance...but not too bad.
We would then look to fly to UK at the end of June...but who knows ?
The latest "plan" to isolate the oldies is intolerable. Whilst it would not directly affect us (just) the ongoing uncertainty in UK and potentially cold spring weather and the ease of simply staying put all combine.
I have been prepared for this and also realise the travel to mainland Europe is also prevented.
I have noted the developing problems in several countries and the actions of respective governments.
Not easy. There are many posts on my Motorhome forums both discussing and informing !
The Canada Government has advised against all unnecessary travel. This is mainly for Canadians thinking about travel but the last sentence appears to limit non-Canadians entering Canada unnecessarily. (Quite rightly so !)
Travel health notices include a warning to avoid non-essential travel in order to protect the health of Canadian travellers and the Canadian public. The notice outlines specific precautions to take when visiting the region and what to do if you become ill during or after travel. A notice at this level would be issued during a large-scale outbreak in a large geographic area, or if there is increased risk to the traveller and an increased risk of spreading disease to other groups including the Canadian public.
The USA is even more rigorous in its prevention of entry which now includes UK citizens.
Just before we were due to go to Bangkok the FCO (UK) directed UK citizens....
Do not leave UK and Do not return. And confirmed not to travel to Canada !
COSTS Canada
We have paid £1800 for Flights and Hotel
I expect that the Travel agent will arrange a full refund..If not why not? but holiday/travel insurance as a reserve !
£750 road Insurance for Canada/USA . Two-thirds will be re-imbursed thus £250 out of pocket.
I am expecting to claim this from holiday/travel insurance !
Finally the rail tickets from Liverpool to Maidenhead (£75) again holiday/travel insurance.
Other
We chose not to fly so will look to get one-way tickets circa £550 maybe using Emirates. or £800 with Thai or BA
Should not really concern us as being advised not to fly insurance will/should cough up !
We then have to re-book Hotel in BKK, Travelodge @ LHR and coach to Gloucester. Total £100
Shame with everything organised. But trivial compared with the devastation caused to millions by all the recent problems.
(Australia Bush-fires, UK floods and the worldwide covid-19 pandemic)
I have been expecting the covid-19 virus to "interfere" and this is now the case !
SO Thailand or UK ? Decision made THAILAND for maybe 3 months
It would be no fun in UK with the difficulties all face and with UK expected to go into at least partial lockdown.
We are now going to stay in Thailand. The rise in cases is very low.
We almost live in self-isolation and will take the obvious care with our occasional "big shop". Most things we get at the local markets !
We live under the house with good air circulation and even the cold water is hand hot for hand washing !
This will entail an upgrade to our travel insurance...but not too bad.
We would then look to fly to UK at the end of June...but who knows ?
The latest "plan" to isolate the oldies is intolerable. Whilst it would not directly affect us (just) the ongoing uncertainty in UK and potentially cold spring weather and the ease of simply staying put all combine.
I have been prepared for this and also realise the travel to mainland Europe is also prevented.
I have noted the developing problems in several countries and the actions of respective governments.
Not easy. There are many posts on my Motorhome forums both discussing and informing !
The Canada Government has advised against all unnecessary travel. This is mainly for Canadians thinking about travel but the last sentence appears to limit non-Canadians entering Canada unnecessarily. (Quite rightly so !)
Travel health notices include a warning to avoid non-essential travel in order to protect the health of Canadian travellers and the Canadian public. The notice outlines specific precautions to take when visiting the region and what to do if you become ill during or after travel. A notice at this level would be issued during a large-scale outbreak in a large geographic area, or if there is increased risk to the traveller and an increased risk of spreading disease to other groups including the Canadian public.
The USA is even more rigorous in its prevention of entry which now includes UK citizens.
Just before we were due to go to Bangkok the FCO (UK) directed UK citizens....
Do not leave UK and Do not return. And confirmed not to travel to Canada !
COSTS Canada
We have paid £1800 for Flights and Hotel
I expect that the Travel agent will arrange a full refund..If not why not? but holiday/travel insurance as a reserve !
£750 road Insurance for Canada/USA . Two-thirds will be re-imbursed thus £250 out of pocket.
I am expecting to claim this from holiday/travel insurance !
Finally the rail tickets from Liverpool to Maidenhead (£75) again holiday/travel insurance.
Other
We chose not to fly so will look to get one-way tickets circa £550 maybe using Emirates. or £800 with Thai or BA
Should not really concern us as being advised not to fly insurance will/should cough up !
We then have to re-book Hotel in BKK, Travelodge @ LHR and coach to Gloucester. Total £100