For sure there is a lot of information being circulated now via Thai embassies and online forums to digest about the reopening of Phuket under the highly anticipated ‘Sandbox’ scheme.
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11 min read
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Published: June 15, 2021

Some of the flights confirmed at the time of us drafting this article are Thai Airways from Frankfurt, London, Copenhagen, Paris, Seoul, Singapore, and New Delhi (or Tokyo). Emirates, Dubai to Phuket direct daily. Singapore Airlines is planning a daily flight from Singapore to Phuket. Qatar will fly from Stockholm, Oslo, Paris, Doha, Warsaw, and Vienna into Phuket. El Al Israel Airlines will fly in daily from Tel Aviv. British Airways will codeshare with Qatar and there will be 3 flights per day from London.

It is perfectly acceptable to come and experience Phuket for 14 days with the freedom to dine, visit beaches and enjoy your hotel than being couped up in a hotel room with no access to the outdoors at all. There is still a restriction on movement though, you do have to stay within Phuket province for 14 days, but this is way better than quarantine, we are sure you agree.

Just before the start of the pandemic, we launched a sumptuously designed steakhouse ‘Wagyu Steakhouse’. This is in our Surin Beach hotel, with its own entrance on the main road too. The menu really is as good as the interiors, a touch of Manhattan class in Phuket! We have also opened a laid-back beach club next to Catch Beach Club on Bang Tao Beach, ‘The Lazy Coconut’. This really is a wonderful place to simply relax and enjoy the pool, graze on tasty cuisine, and enjoy the Phuket sunset in chilled-out style. ‘Palm Seaside’, our stunning restaurant on the southern tip of Bang Tao Beach has reemerged as a dining destination serving quintessential Southern Thai cuisine, do not worry, you can still find some of your seafood favorites on the menu, but now we focus on celebrating the authenticity of the region’s fresh produce and flavors.

In July through to November, the waves are roaringly intense, so swimmers need to divert their attention to the hotel pools, but surfers can spend their days with nothing but rolling waves as company. There are still plenty of small ‘mom and pop’ beach restaurants and bars that you can enjoy and more importantly support, as well as the more established hotel venues and beautiful beach clubs, such as Catch Beach Club and The Lazy Coconut where you can forget that there is even a pandemic going on in the world!

Island destinations include Ko Maprao, Ko Naka Yai, Ko Racha Noi, Ko Racha Yai, and Ko Sire, Andaman Cruises awaits you. All these small islands are fantastic snorkeling spots and incredibly beautiful. Scuba companies can also take you diving to some good dive sites around Phuket. You can spend time cruising sipping on cold beverages and enjoying an on-board barbecue with some of the swankier yacht charters or keep it real and enjoy local Thai food on the island and a spot of kayaking. There really is enough choice to enjoy either way.

You can take a walk around Phuket Old Town, buy some cool trinkets, have lunch in so many places, whether you want middle eastern fare or authentic Phuketian dishes, there is a whole array of cuisine available to you in Phuket Old Town. You can also imbibe some culture within the Chinese temples and the Peranakan Museum.

Hotels must have at least 70% of their staff fully vaccinated, mask usage is mandatory in Thailand in public places and closed areas, as well as ongoing hand hygiene, is encouraged consistently.
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