Phuket Sandbox: Where the Restaurants and Shops are open and which Malls are closed

See the locations on Phuket Hotels SHA Plus, Restaurants and Shopping Google Map.

Visitors of the Phuket Sandbox program give some controversial informations in Social Media about restaurants and shops in different areas of Phuket. Some find themselves in "dead" areas, where many restaurants and shops are closed. For the moment, we can distill out this:

Ban Tao and Laguna are lively areas

Thalang road in Phuket old town is recommended

In Rawai you find good seafood restaurants

In Patong it's more difficult to find restaurants and the entertainment shops are closed due to the pandemic restrictions. Nanai road is the livelier part of Patong.

Restaurants are allowed to sell alcohol until 9pm only. Also dining in closes at 9pm.

Due to on a low level rising Covid-19 infections in Phuket Provincial Communicable Disease Committee has decided to close down the island’s Central Festival and Central Floresta malls, the provincial sports stadium, soccer fields and futsal courts until August 2nd, as a precautionary step. All schools and other educational institutes are now closed until August 16th, while social distancing is being enforced in night and fresh markets, with the number of visitors limited to four square metres per person, until further notice.
According to the provincial health chief, new infections are expected to stabilize at about 20 cases a day for the next two weeks, because there remain many high-risk cases in quarantine pending test results. He attributed the increased infections to the arrival of more people on the resort island to seek jobs and more tourists, adding that the infection surge will not pose an obstacle to the continuation of the Phuket “sandbox” scheme, reports Thai PBS.

Be aware, that this time of the year is Monsoon time. Therefore the sea on the West coast is more moved that at beaches on the East coast.

Read about Bus routes in Phuket

Phuket Sandbox: Soon more Destinations might be open for Phuket Visitors

Thailand is preparing to open up more destinations for visitors under the Phuket Sandbox model. The plans are:

The Phuket Sandbox Plan, which is still guilty, requires tourists to stay in Phuket for 14 nights before they can move to other provinces. Now there is a plan called Phuket Sandbox Extension. Starting 1st Aug 2021 tourists may be allowed to visit destinations in Phang Nga, Krabi and Surat Thani provinces after completing just 7 nights of stay in Phuket. If Thailands government decides for this plan, it will be published in the Royal Gazette and from then on be guilty. So we will see, what the next days will bring.

The proposed destinations that would open up under this plan from 1st August 2021 are:
Krabi: Ko Phi Phi, Ko Ngai and Railay Beach
Phang Nga: Khao Lak and Ko Yao
Surat Thani: Ko Samui, Ko Pha-ngan and Ko Tao

Read more:
The Phuket Sandbox: How to Travel to Phuket from Juli 1st
The Phuket Sandbox: Where in Thailand can You travel to after 14 Days?
Samui Plus: The Rules for International Travellers visiting Ko Samui, Ko Phangan and Ko Tao


Prepare yourself with these guides:
Ko Tao เกาะเต่า - a Hotspot for Diving
Ko Phangan เกาะพะงัน - beaches, resorts and your reviews
Koh Yao Noi เกาะยาวใหญ่ and Koh Yao Yai เกาะยาวใหญ่: For the Lovers of unspoilt Islands
Koh Phi Phi หมู่เกาะพีพี Beaches and Resorts