{"id":6106,"date":"2020-09-07T22:07:50","date_gmt":"2020-09-07T15:07:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.littlewanderingwren.com\/staging\/8794\/?p=6106"},"modified":"2020-09-07T22:07:50","modified_gmt":"2020-09-07T15:07:50","slug":"amazing-expat-travel-in-thailand","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.littlewanderingwren.com\/staging\/8794\/2020\/09\/07\/amazing-expat-travel-in-thailand\/","title":{"rendered":"Amazing Expat Travel in Thailand"},"content":{"rendered":"

I know many of my friends and family across the globe are gobsmacked at the amount of travel we are doing in Thailand at the moment. The reality was our lives as Expats have always meant we travel ALL THE TIME!<\/p>\n

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Bophut Beach Koh Samui<\/p><\/div>\n

Introducing the Thailand Expat traveller<\/strong><\/p>\n

All we have really done is switched our International travel to support Thailand domestic travel and yes it has become my thing to staycation here in Thailand.<\/p>\n

We are going to have completed our 40th staycation<\/a> this week. Throughout this time we have supported Thai tourism in all aspects. From the highest of top-end travel (at bargain prices so why not?) to smaller boutique two and three-star hotels. With some of our best highlights, being some small independent family-run Thai hotels.<\/p>\n

Thailand needs us all to travel and to spend. It is a win-win. We came out of our Thailand COVID lockdown, and somehow, despite doing nothing for 10 weeks, we all needed a holiday!<\/p>\n

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Anantara Bophut Koh Samui Resort<\/p><\/div>\n

I am an Expat, a blogger and world wanderer who became \u201cstranded\u201d in Thailand due to the outbreak of the Coronavirus. Was it by choice? Yes!!!<\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Why the Expats have remained in Thailand?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Those of us remaining in Thailand have now been here for many months. When COVID-19 came around and borders started to close, we did not flee back to our country of origin. We stayed at personal and family expense, knowing also that if our ageing relatives in far off lands needed us, there would be little we could do except rely on the generosity of others. <\/span><\/p>\n

Why did we stay? Many of us stayed because of jobs, to provide support and leadership to those who brought us here. Most of us bunkered down for the unknown, trusting Thailand, not knowing what would happen at the time of this deadly pandemic. Although it had lasted longer than many of us had expected, we are oh so fortunate to be able to go about our lives.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Bophut Beach Koh Samui<\/p><\/div>\n

Amazing Thailand<\/em> has done us well<\/strong><\/p>\n

Our \u201cnew normal\u201d is weird. We can do almost all of the things we used to do, except we cannot easily return to see family and friends in our countries of origin. Or if we do, we risk many weeks of quarantine, huge expense and the stress of trying to return to Thailand.<\/span><\/p>\n

I recognise I have a very, very privileged Bangkok lifestyle. This is compared with many in the country and compared with my of my friends across the globe. In particular, I am thinking of those in Melbourne still in tight lockdown, I have lost count of the number of people around the world who have said they want my life!<\/span><\/p>\n

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Sunset on Bophut Beach Koh Samui<\/p><\/div>\n

A fortunate life<\/strong><\/p>\n

I can not say it loud enough, or strong enough, I am so fortunate to be here in Thailand. I am coming to you this week from the Anantara, Bophut on the stunning holiday island of Koh Samui. Yesterday we stayed in a local Thai run hotel on Chaweng Beach. All these photos are from our travels across the island in the past few days.<\/span><\/p>\n

Accessing the support of Expats in the Thai domestic travel revival<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

Embrace us, love us and let\u2019s work out together on the domestic tourism front and more, <\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

to help our chosen homeland at its time of need.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

We are excited to note that the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has announced an Expo:\u00a0 ‘Expat Travel Deal 2020\u2019<\/strong> <\/a>aimed at Expat travel. I am pleased that as Thai residents we are being recognised for our potential at this time.<\/p>\n

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The Thai Government is offering financial incentives to Thais to travel, under the Thailand Together<\/strong> program which have not been currently extended to Expats. We hope Thailand tourism can compensate for this at the expo.<\/p>\n

We<\/span>\u00a0are here to contribute and<\/span> are looking to travel for many reasons<\/p>\n