Britons could soon be allowed to travel to Thailand’s quarantine-free ‘Phuket Sandbox’

The Phuket Sandbox is a special travel zone that has been set up by the Thai government to allow vaccinated tourists from low-risk and medium risk destinations to visit the popular island without the need for quarantine.

It is due to launch on July 1, as long as 70 per cent of the island's population have been vaccinated (as of Monday 7 June, 67 per cent of Phuket residents had received their first dose).

So could a holiday in Thailand really be on the cards this summer? Here are the key questions answered:

Can Britons travel to Phuket under the Sandbox scheme?

Thailand has yet to announce which countries are considered medium-risk and low-risk, but there are a couple of reasons that suggest British travellers will be allowed to visit, including Britain's extremely high vaccination rate and the fact that Thai Airways are relaunching direct flights from London to Phuket on July 2. We found a return fare, departing from Heathrow on July 3 and returning via Bangkok two weeks later for £713.

Are there many hoops to jump through?

Yes, there are a few. Every visitor will need to provide the following:

• Proof of vaccination. It seems likely the NHS App or a printout from the app will be accepted. At least 14 days will need to have passed since your second jab prior to your departure to Thailand.

• A negative PCR test taken no more than 72 hours before departure. A second test will be required on day five of your stay. A test from a local hospital costs between THB2,500-THB4,000 (£57-£90).

• Obtain a Certificate of Entry (COE) before departure. This is issued free of charge by the Royal Thai Embassy, London, and takes between three to five working days to process. Along with your personal details you'll need to upload a copy of your passport, your vaccination certificate, a copy of your medical insurance policy and a confirmed booking for a minimum of 14 nights at an SHA Plus-approved hotel in Phuket.

• Buy a travel insurance policy which expressly covers medical treatment for Covid-19, with a minimum coverage of US$100,000 (£71,000).

• Download the free Thailand Plus tracking app (available in the Apple App Store, Google Play Store and Huawei App Gallery) and upload a photo of yourself, your COE reference number and approval code. You'll need to this before you check in for your flight.

Where can I stay?

Visitors must stay in an Amazing Thailand Safety and Health Administration approved hotel – or a SHA Plus hotel as they're better known – but there are 130 hotels and resorts on the list, including Mandarava Resort and Spa, The Pavilions Phuket, Keemala, The Slate, Anantara Layan, Trisara and Amanpuri.

Every budget and all of the major resort town are covered, from Nai Harn in the south to Mai Khao in the north, but don't expect much in the way of nightlife or wild excitement; around 90 per cent of Phuket's businesses are thought to have closed and stacks of vendors, tuk-tuk drivers and tour guides who returned to their home provinces have yet to return. Beaches, spas, massage studios, golf courses and elephant sanctuaries are open and some boat trips, scuba diving and snorkelling tours are available but if you're are thinking of going to Phuket remember it is going to be a quiet holiday.

I can't think of anything lovelier than visiting a more serene, crowd-free version of the island – and local businesses certainly need the support after 15 months without international tourists – but it won't be for everyone.

Here's our complete guide to the best hotels in Phuket.

Anything else I need to know?

Visitors will need to stay in Phuket for a minimum of 14 nights before they can travel to other parts of Thailand. You can leave earlier if you wish but it will have to be on an international flight. Visitors will also have to follow Thailand's disease control measures, which include social distancing, temperature tests, contract tracing and wearing face masks in all indoor and outdoor public spaces.

It's also worth noting that July, the month the Sandbox commences, is the peak rainy season in Phuket. That might mean stacks of sunshine interspersed with a quick squally shower or non-stop rain and thunderstorms for a fortnight. The monsoons, which last from May until late October, also whip up the sea, making it unsafe to swim at many of the beaches, so you'll want a hotel with a decent pool.

Can I bring the kids?

Yes. Unvaccinated children under the age six who are travelling with vaccinated parents do not need to present a vaccination certificate upon arrival (although they will still need a COE). Unvaccinated children aged six to 18 will need to take a rapid antigen test upon arrival at Phuket airport at a cost of THB500 (£11).

Any bad news?

Thailand is currently gripped by its worst Covid-19 outbreak since the pandemic began, reporting about 2,500 cases a day across the country. However, the Thai government has been syphoning vaccines into Phuket and new daily cases on the islands are in single digits. Despite this, Thailand – and Phuket – remain on the UK's amber list, which means you'll have to isolate at home for 10 days and pay for two PCR tests.