Slightly off-topic question I’d like to throw out there to people more informed than I (I’ve been following this thread for the last several thousand posts, but this is my first post here).
I need to make a visa run next week. I’m currently here on a 90-day visa exemption and have been in the process of applying for an Employment Gold Card since December, but just found out a couple of days ago that due to some unexpected delay with the processing of my application it’s very unlikely it’ll be completed before my current permission to stay expires. I therefore need to leave Taiwan before approximately February 15 (need to check the exact date since I’m not sure how they count the 90 days in Taiwan, but that’s another story), despite my lack of enthusiasm about flying around Asia at the moment.
Given the current situation, where would people suggest as the best (/least bad) place to go for a couple of days? My thinking is that the main criteria would be (i) relatively few coronavirus cases, (ii) a single direct flight, ideally short, (iii) a warmer climate (I’m guessing that reduces the transmission rate, although I don’t know whether that’s been confirmed yet; anyway, I wouldn’t object to seeing some sun and a blue sky), (iv) a low probability of having my flights cancelled and/or being refused entry to the destination country and/or Taiwan, and (v) decent healthcare and general cleanliness/control measures. Cost is also an issue, but not crucial.
Needless to say, I’ve already ruled out China, HK, and Macau, for obvious reasons. I’ve also tentatively ruled out the Philippines on the basis of points (iv) and (v) (I know that Taiwan isn’t currently included in the Philippines’ travel ban, but I’m not sure if/when that could change, and the healthcare system isn’t great). I’ve considered South Korea but somehow don’t particularly fancy that option much (I’ve never been there before, and this isn’t really a time I want to start exploring a completely unfamiliar place). I’m not sure about Japan (e.g., Okinawa).
At the moment, my #1 option is KL or possibly somewhere else in Malaysia like Kota Kinabalu (warm climate, not so many cases yet AFAIK, and I’m familiar with the city). My #2 option would be Chiang Mai in Thailand (similar reasons, and I used to live there). Do those seem like reasonable options, or would people suggest somewhere else? (I’m British, by the way, in case that’s relevant.)