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Unvaccinated Travel: Your Options for Travel to Thailand

AQ stands for Alternative Quarantine and is the option for unvaccinated travelers visiting Thailand.

Currently, you must go through a quarantine period of 5 days when you arrive in Thailand.

You can choose which hotel you stay in from a list of approved SHA+ hotels, which you must pay for.

Being a SHA+ hotel means more than 70 percent of the staff is fully vaccinated and each staff member is prepped with COVID-19 emergency solutions.

In this FAQ, I'll run through all the commonly asked questions about the Alternative Quarantine (AQ), and provide details on how you can avoid quarantine and still travel to Thailand.

unvaccinated-thailand

Image courtesy of Dynamic Wang

1. How Long Do I Have to Quarantine For?

Unvaccinated travelers entering Thailand are subject to a 5-day Alternative Quarantine requirement.

When under the quarantine, you will not be able to leave the hotel during the 5-day period.

You will be tested on day 5 of your stay. If you test negative you can leave and travel around Thailand.

If you test positive for COVID-19 on day 5 then you be transferred to the partner hospital of the hotel.

2. Can I Avoid the Quarantine?

Yes. You can avoid the AQ requirement by taking an RT-PCR test up to 72 hours before traveling and uploading it to the Thailand Pass system.

+ Read the Thailand Pass Guide here

If you still want to do the 5-day AQ, please read on.

2. What Are the AQ Hotel Facilities Like?

Of course a hotel will do its best to make the stay as appealing as possible, but obviously the more expensive the hotel the more frills you can expect.

At a minimum one can expect an extensive TV channel package, three meals a day delivered to your room, and access to an outdoor area for gentle exercise.

3. What Times Are Meals Brought to the Room?

Generally speaking, meal times are as follows:

  • Breakfast: 7:00 AM – 09:00 AM.
  • Lunch: 12:00 PM – 14:00 PM.
  • Dinner: 18:00 PM – 20:00 PM.

4. Are the AQ SHA+ Hotels Only in Bangkok?

No, but under AQ you will need to stay in Bangkok if you arrive there. The other option is to fly direct to Phuket and do your AQ there.

5. How Do I Get to the Hotel From the Airport?

The SHA+ hotel bookings are packaged with a free transfer from the airport to the hotel.

6. How Can I Book an AQ Hotel?

You can book online, as normal. The best hotel deals for Thailand are found here on Agoda and Hotels.com

7. What Are the Rules on Sharing Rooms?

Only married couples and parents with children are eligible to share rooms.

You’ll have to provide a copy of your marriage certificate as proof of your relationship. For children, you must provide a birth certificate or adoption certificate.

Singletons must have separate rooms.

8. Am I Allowed Alcohol in My Room?

No. There is no alcohol allowed. That said, some people have reported being able to get beer in some hotels. Additionally, your bags are not checked :). Duty Free, anyone?

9. Will the Hotel Provide Water?

Yes. Most hotels will provide 2-4 bottles of water per day.

10. Can I Get a Food Delivery Like a Pizza?

No outside food delivery is allowed unless a relative, who delivers it and signs a release form, cooks it at home.

11. Can I Go to 7-11 Or Any Other Local Shop?

No. You must stay in your room, or designated areas of the hotel. Some hotels do a 7-11 run a couple of times a day, but certain items aren't allowed, so you'll have to check the rules at your chosen hotel.

12. Am I Allowed to Use the Hotel Gym or Pool?

Not until day 5, when you hopefully test negative.

14. Will Housekeeping Clean My Room?

Yes. Bear in mind though that the schedule will differ between hotels. Generally speaking housekeeping will be provided twice. You will wait in another room, or a designated area, while your room is cleaned.

A laundry service will also be available (at your expense).

15. What Documents Do I Need to Enter Thailand?

You will need to upload the following in the Thailand Pass system:

  1. Your passport profile page
  2. Confirmed booking of AQ or SHA+ hotel 5-day Alternate Quarantine package
  3. A pre-booked RT-PCR test (may be included in your hotel booking package)
  4. A medical insurance policy covering the $10,000 minimum requirement

How Do I Get the Correct COVID-19 Insurance?

Please read this post for further details on getting your insurance from an approved company.

What Hotels Do You Recommend?

SHA+ hotels in Bangkok range from $70 – $200 a night.

The hotels are mostly 4 and 5 star, because, let's be frank, staying in a 2 star for 5 days without being able to leave would be a lot less pleasant than a top end hotel.

Top Pick: The Mövenpick – Sukhumvit 15

Having stayed here in the past, I can fully vouch for the Mövenpick.

It's 5 star, rooms have balconies, and it's centrally situated, with everything on your doorstep once you've finished quarantine – Asok station is just a five-minute walk.

A huge plus point is that you can rent gym equipment for your room during your stay.

Being able to exercise with weights each day will help you keep a healthy routine during quarantine, which will help with sleep, too.

The good news is that you can get a 10% discount if you book directly through the Mövenpick reservation team and say “TheThailandLife website referred me, so I get 10% discount”.

The package is very reasonable for a 5 star.

Includes:

  • Airport pickup
  • Full board meals
  • 20% discount on food and beverage (non-alcoholic)
  • 3 COVID-19 tests during your stay
  • Face masks, hand gel and infrared thermometer provided
  • Hi-speed WIFI
  • Rooftop area
  • Swimming pool (but sadly you won't be able to use this during ASQ)
  • Registered nurse on standby
  • Free doctor consultation through a telemedicine service

* Smoking rooms are available on request.

unvaccinated travel to thailand

Superior room.

delux-room

Delux room

executive-suite

Suite room.

unvaccinated travel rules thailand

Superior Bathroom

rooftop

Rooftop.

Top tip: Don't forget to book directly and quote TheThailandLife for your 10% off.

Other Hotels You Might Consider

5 Star:

  • Grande Centre Point Hotel Terminal 21
  • Somerset Rama 9 Bangkok
  • Anantara Siam Bangkok Hotel
  • The Sukosol
  • The Salil Hotel Sukhumvit 57
  • Lancaster Bangkok
  • Maduzi Hotel

4 Star:

  • Eleven Hotel Bangkok
  • Centara Watergate Pavillion Hotel Bangkok
  • Arte Hotel
  • SureStay Plus by Best Western
  • Solitaire Bangkok Sukhumvit 11
  • Radisson Suites Bangkok Sukhumvit
  • Rembrandt Hotel & Suites
  • Solaria Nishitetsu Hotel Bangkok

+ All these hotels can be booked here on Agoda

—–

Whether you choose to do a 5-day quarantine or go down the PCR pre-departure test route, you will need to use the Thailand Pass system (linked below).

The good news is that as an unvaccinated person, you can now visit Thailand.

+ Read the Thailand Pass Guide here

—–

Got a question you'd like to ask? Please leave it in the comments section below.

Comments Sort by : newest | oldest

  1. Ken F says

    Well, it turns out I have more questions after all and I have not been able to reach anyone in the Thai Consulate in either LA or DC. As for the previous problem I wrote about, as long as BKK become blue on November 1st then, worst case scenario, I would have to take my test in BKK and stay there one night which would cause me to miss my flight to Phuket. If for some reason it does not become a blue zone on schedule however it might create a problem flying domestically from BKK to Phuket as the rules might be different for domestic passenger vs. International passengers. I am still trying to contact Thai Airways to see if there is any way I can get to my domestic flight without clearing customs and immigration in BKK first.

    I am also having a problem completing my online visa application because I am getting conflicting information on whether or not I need a RT-ticket for a Non-O visa even though I will be changing to a Non-O-A inside the country and would therefore never use the return ticket. And even if it is not required for the visa or for immigration I have heard that sometimes the airlines will not even allow you to board your flight if you do not have a return ticket – a hassle that I don’t need. Of course because of this very issue there are now apparently ways to quickly get temporary tickets online, which you can then use as proof of ongoing travel before canceling them within 48 hours. Back in the 80’s I would always by RT-tickets regardless because they were all open ended tickets that were good for one year and if you never used the return portion you could actually get a refund on that unused portion in many cases. This is not the case today though so I really don’t want to pay for a RT-ticket if I do not need one.

    As for the COE I think I will just wait until after the November 1st so that I can use the Thailand Pass instead – assuming the system actually works as promised and the website does not become overloaded and crash or something.
    Reply

  3. Ken F says

    I have a question that I hope someone can answer for me. I’m am currently looking to book my ticket for next month to Phuket but for some strange reason all of the flights to Phuket are going east through Europe (I'm in California). There are still plenty of flights to Bangkok taking the pacific route however and I could easily just purchase a ticket to Phuket at the airport in Bangkok upon arrival (which is the way I used to do it in the past anyway). But my question is if I book to a flight BKK now will I be required to have proof of reservations at some quarantine hotel in Bangkok even though I have no intention of leaving the airport there and that my true final destination will be Phuket?
    Reply

  4. som boonprasith says

    my wife is thai, and we own a business in ban chang she is coming to thailand to straighten out a problem in march 2022, she has 2 covid shots and a booster we are both u s citizens also, she only wanted to be there for 2 weeks how long will the quarantine be?
    Reply

  10. Kenneth Rowe says

    My 4star deluxe room has no hot water in the wash basin because its been disconnected and all the rooms are the same and no refund offered how do they retain their rating and how come they are still on the government ASQ list ?
    Reply

  11. John Stagg says

    Hi Peter
    Another exceptional report possibly the best ever,I have had my Covid shots if I produce a letter from my doctor do I still need to quarantine for two weeks ?
    Forty new cases of Covid have broken out in Melbourne it looks like At Least another year before we can leave Australia.
    Reply

  12. Michel KOURLINE says

    Hello Peter,
    I think I was on the wrong subject when posting my comment on the topic of life insurance.
    My Thai wife and I have to go to France for 3 months.
    The return by the ASQ hotel box is probable. The AGODA link on ASQ hotels that you mention does not seem to take into account the registration of couples.
    Do you have any other information concerning this specific case?
    With all the thanks of a Frenchman living in Chiang Mai.
    Reply

  13. Justine says

    Do you happen to know the situation with minors entering Thailand? My 17 year old daughter (british, flying from U.K.) is desperate to visit her boyfriend in bangkok. Do you think she’d be granted a tourist visa and allowed to quarantine in an AQS hotel?
    Reply

  14. DM says

    Do you know which of these hotels will allow my cat to be with me? The Office of Agriculture and the animal import office both said it's possible to quarantine with her, I just need to contact a hotel. Thank you!
    Reply

  15. Bren says

    Would you happen to know if ASQ hotel allow requests for additional RT PCR tests for travel purposes aside from the Mandatory tests included in a booking?
    We need it to fly to another country after completing the 14 days quarantine in Thailand.
    Reply

      • Bren says

        Yeah that’s the plan, I have to be in the UK as soon as possible. My departure to UK is on July 30. There will be a layover in Doha, Qatar prior entering the UK.

        I’m planning to start my quarantine on July 16 so that check out would be on July 30. The last swab test is on July 27 which is more than 72 hours from Doha to UK.

        Hence I would like to know if additional swab tests can be done in an ASQ hotel.
        Reply

        • Simon Jones says

          Hi bren, swab test is 72 hours from departure time, not arrival in UK. Although you can pay for them to come to you to do test, but hotels don't like it. Check with Qatar Airways, they were on red list, and I am not sure if they are flying, they cancelled my flight on 20th April. If flying through Qatar when you land uk, you have to do 14 nights hotel!£1750.00p . Better and cheaper to rebook flight direct with thai Airways, or through amber list country, as if you have home in UK you can quarantine for 10 days there and pay for two tests which was 210.00p. Hope that helps
          Reply

  17. Simon Jones says

    I'm back home in UK now, more hassle getting home, than get to thailand. I ll brief it. You need to book 2 tests if you home isolating 210.00p for 2. You have to register them on government site. You get a unique code by email to register them. ONLY PROBLEM YOU CAN ONLY USE CODE ONCE, ITS A JOKE. So on second test you can't register it, if you don't register it, you won't get results. Then when they call you day 10, they tell you too isolate for 4 more days. So my advice after your first test, apply to government website for free test kit, which will include a new registration code to get your 2nd results. Or may be contact the company contracted to supply the 2 for another code, but as I did not know this till day 8, I did not get replies to emails from them. And the caller from government, said oh yes that has been a problem. Its a joke and a waste of my money. Anyway hope that helps someone. Hugs Simon xx
    Reply

  18. JamesE says

    Aaaannnddd... There goes the tourism industry in Thailand... "The CCSA said the 14-day mandatory quarantine will also apply to all those who hold a certificate of entry (COE) issued on or after May 1. Travellers who hold a COE that was issued before May 1 and who arrive before May 6 will be quarantined for seven to 10 days depending on their inoculation status. People arriving after May 6 will be quarantined for 14 days. Travellers checking into alternative state quarantine venues will be required to stay inside their rooms at all times. They will not be allowed to use any facilities the hotel may offer and are required to undergo three Covid tests during the quarantine period." https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40000374
    Reply

  20. Dalit says

    I've heard from different sources that if you arrive at your ASQ hotel before a certain time it counts as day 1 of your quarantine. Unfortunately I have not been able to corroborate that information with any official documentation. Having just had a socially distanced conversation with a Thai couple as we shared our 45 minute R&R in the relaxation area, it transpires they flew in and arrived at the hotel at approximately the same day and time as I [09:00], but are being released 24 hours earlier!
    Reply

      • JamesE says

        Quarantine Day Zero starts on the date you were scheduled to arrive. If their flight was delayed a few hours that could explain the discrepancy. I was scheduled to arrive on my last trip at 23:40 and I got to my hotel at about 01:30 already on Day One. I think it's simply easier to keep track of everybody by setting it all up in advance and the few who get through the cracks are covered by Thai Math where 14-days = 15-nights in quarantine.
        Reply

  21. JamesE says

    Finally. The embassies have published the updated requirements for visas, COE, and ASQ. This is the link to the US Royal Thai Embassy's page: https://thaiembdc.org/visas/ Notable is that lockdown isn't as severe: "exercising in the fitness room, outdoor exercising, swimming, bicycling within a controlled area, and ordering goods and food from outside." The 45-day visa exemption scheme is still in place until 30-Sept. Notable is that the quarantine is (based on the infographic) for "no less" than 7 or 10 days (with the caveat that they really mean 8 or 11 nights...). Also noteworthy is that they no longer have a top-end to the vaccine period. It's just at least 14 days prior to travel. And no more Fit-To-Fly is needed, just a negative test (sorry, Dr. Donna...).
    Reply

  22. makoshark says

    Today, I finished quarantine at an ASQ Hotel and I got a COVID-19 negative result. But they cannot let me out from the room cause they didn't get the documents yet, even though I received a negative result photo from the hospital. Since yesterday, I could not relax because there are positive guests at the hotel. They never update me on progress, it's just shut up and wait...
    Reply

      • JamesE says

        Typically quarantine ends a couple of days after you get the negative test. If you just got the negative result it's not a same-day kind of thing. How many nights have you been at the hotel? If you're on the "10-day" plan it should be a total of 11 nights (don't ask me why, that's just how they do it...). A lot can also depend on what time of day your plane was scheduled to land as that determines when your quarantine clock starts. If you're scheduled in at 23:59 you get one fewer days in quarantine than if you were supposed to land at 00:01. TTL's right. You're almost done.
        Reply

  23. Juergen says

    Hi all,We are staying in an ASQ hotel at the moment. We asked for cleaning equipment to clean our room after 2 days. The hotel said yes and provided a mop but no chemical cleaner or disinfectant liquid to clean the floor or the toilet! Hygiene should be the highest priority for an ASQ hotel!When I said that the toilet and shower must be cleaned with a disinfectant cleaner so the risk for other infection is lower, the answer from the hotel was "Sorry is too dangerous"!?How can guarantee good hygiene standards for an ASQ hotel if they don't clean it properly?My wife is pregnant and they don't want to take responsibility for cleaning the toilet of bacteria.Does anyone here know the rules or law regarding this issue, so I can show them?Surely there is a standard that hotels must clean rooms regularly?
    Reply

    • TheThailandLife says

      Hi Juergen, which hotel is this? As noted in the post: Housekeeping will be provided twice a week, or once every two days after your first negative COVID-19 test. You will wait in another room, or a designated area, while your room is cleaned.So your room should be due for a clean today.
      Reply

      • Juergen says

        Today after we asked we got new bed sheets, but we must change ourselves. The first test is after 5 days, and then we have to wait one more day for the results. So the first clean will be on day 6. Sorry I'm sure this isn't allowed! He have the service for 7eleven also here we ask for Coca Cola.(we will pay for it) They answered when we checked in and got two cans, but no more answers. We don't want to drink only water 10 days long!From all I have made extra screen shots! Hygiene, service, delivery,...Hotel name is Cinnamon Residence
        Reply

      • JamesE says

        There are - for the most part - two cleanings in a full quarantine: one on Day 6 or seven and one on day 11 or 12 depending on when you're tested. I've not seen anything about every two days (but that may be because my budget doesn't allow me to look at *those* kind of hotels...). To Juergen's issue I would suggest ordering from Tops or 7-11 that way he can get the cleaners he wants without the headache of dealing with the hotel.
        Reply

          • JamesE says

            It's always after the tests come back negative. I know that some hotels test 3x for the full stay so that may add an extra cleaning but for me (one quarantine) and my partner (two quarantines, different hotels) there were only two cleanings in the 15 days. Besides one cleaning on a Monday followed by a cleaning the next Sunday is technically twice a week... ;)
            Reply

        • Juergen says

          Dear James, This is the point: 66,000 thb for 10 days, and then have to buy cleaning equipment ourselves!? In the contract it is clear about inclusive cleaning! This is the game, they save money. I must check where a ranking list is for ASQ hotels. People must know not to book and come here.
          Reply

          • JamesE says

            If it's any consolation, the cleaning rules are set by the government and the ones you are suffering under are the same that all the other tens of thousands of quarantinians lived under as well. My only other advice is to keep that 10-day end-point in view. You'll be out soon.
            Reply

            • TheThailandLife says

              I know it's not ideal but if I were you I'd request a few packets of anti-bacterial wipes from 7-Eleven. It won't take long to clean the toilet a bit and also give the floor a once over. You can also clean any sideboards or whatever. It might actually pass a bit of time. As James said, not long to go now and you will be out.
              Reply

    • Ian says

      It's not about keeping your room clean - it's about isolating you and testing to be sure you are free of Covid-19 before you are let out.

      Keeping your room clean while you are there is nice for you, but nothing to do with why you are there.
      Reply

      • Juergen says

        He are responsible for isolation me but also we don't got any virus from others here!
        And this start with hygen!

        No bacteria out also no bacteria in!
        And when my white socks after 2h are black One the first day from the room floor.
        I don't think is cleaning up to the ASQ hygen law. If all 10 days new people in the room.(new gust must be clean and desinfection from the gust before!)
        For three days when I have take out the garbage in front of our door, was tripping some liquid out from a soup!
        Today is the floor corridor not clean up and the spots from the soup is now not more yellow now is brown and black!
        So if he don't cleaning the corridors, lifts,..Daly to make sure new people he check in ore people he are already iunder quarantine and must go down stairs to the test!
        Walk all on the same floor what is now 7 days not desinfection!??
        But new people coming all days!??
        Sure this is hygen for a ASQ hotel???
        To rooms left from me is blocket with red white tapping!
        There was a covid positive patient!!!
        Cleaning corridor, lift, ...? Still not today!!!


        I have order coca cola !
        On top of the can was full with other liquid ! Sure is clean and how long is it on top and what is it!?
        Then I don't want know if he real desinfection all the drinking bodels, food delivery, laundry back,...
        So no virus coming in!??

        I have all documentation with time lapse picture!

        Ah my test was for two days! Negative!!
        Today day 7, but no cleaning !
        Reply

  24. Shayne D says

    Firstly thank you all on the coal face for providing info on your experience, it’s incredibly helpful. It would seem Thailand will soon be accessible/affordable in one form or another in near future. I just hope that regulations here in Australia reflect the same and allow us to leave without current justification and return without quarantine which should happen post vaccine.
    Reply

  25. JamesE says

    The ASQ policy is becoming clearer but in fits and starts. First, the 7-day quarantine for vaccinated individuals is a thing nationwide, not only in Phuket. Bangkok hotels are starting to roll out the 7-day (and 10-day) pricing. It was confusing for them as well, apparently. First, there was a big update to pricing for the 10-day requirement and then over the weekend the 7-day prices started to appear. Second, the policies (testing, relaxation area access, etc) for the 7-day plans is the best kept secret in Thailand. I have seen *no* info from either the hotels nor embassies. If anybody finds anything it'd be nice to see. This still seems to be in a state of flux - no surprise there.
    Reply

    • Leonard Levine says

      According to your link from the Philippine Embassy on April 1st, for travelers from the U.S., as long as your vaccine record card shows you got it 14 or more days prior to entering Thailand, it entitles you a 7-day quarantine. Do you agree?
      As the Thaiand Life and its contributors have pointed to ASQ hotels which they have found wanting in one way or another(e.g. food,cleaning,etc.) why not share the name of these hotels?
      Reply

      • JamesE says

        Here's why: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-54335789... As far as the vaccine card thing goes, yes, that is the policy but not all Thai Embassy websites reflect that (the US site still shows 10 and 14 days as the only option). Also I've not found out where the quarantine time is set. I think it happens in the COE process but if so that results in a Catch-22: You have to have your ASQ paid for to get the COE but if you don't know what length your quarantine will be then you can't get the COE. I've heard rumblings from the Facebook ASQ groups (not directly as I don't use FB) that travelers are being required to pay for the full 10-day program and then applying for a refund if the approved time is seven days. I've made some inquiries in Bangkok so I'll report back if I hear anything.
        Reply

    • Leonard Levine says

      If you contact ASQ hotels you may get a 10 and 14 day quarantine box with no box for 7-day quarantine. But don't let that discourage you. Click on the contact address or link to the hotel and you may be surprised to find they DO accept 7-day requests. It's just a delay i getting their system into the ASQ websites. And it costs nothing to try.
      Reply

  27. Leonard Levine says

    As of April 5th, many ASQ hotels have only listed their prices for 10 and 14 day stays. So you may wish to wait a few days to check the list again. If you extrapolate from their 14 and 10 day prices, you can probaby come close to getting a 7-day price. The amenities for 14 and 10 day stays are the same, so I' making the leap to guessing they will be the same. Here is the amenities list for a typical hotel(the only difference in many cases is that some say there is a private bathroom and shower,frequency of cleaning):
    Professional nursing service on duty 24 hours a day
    Nurse room visit service
    Medical check-up service, along with issuing a medical certificate on the quarantine
    Surgical masks, 1 bottle of hand rubbing alcohol, digital personal thermometer
    COVID-19 detection service by throat & nasopharyngeal swab
    Room with private balcony
    Non-smoking room available
    Full Board meals including Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
    Room cleaning will be done every 3 days after the first SWAB test
    Unlimited Wi-Fi internet
    LCD TV with over 30 channels of Thai and international cable channels
    Coffee, Tea and kettle, Amenities
    2 bottles of drinking water per day
    Free laundry 2 pieces per day and laundry collect every 3 days - 10% discount laundry service
    Airport pick up
    HDMI cord to connect TV with your laptop for online streaming movies / television series on Netflix or Prime and live content on YouTube
    Reply

  28. Andrew says

    What about reduction of quaeantine to 10 days starting from 01.04.21 and people who came before 01.04.21 to asq hotel? Must they undergo 15 days of quarantine even if they come 30 or 31.03.21? What is the difference between them and those who came one day later? It is unfair.
    Reply

    • TheThailandLife says

      It is unfair, but the line is drawn, as far as I know. This is similar to a friend of mine who bought a house in the UK and paid thousands in stamp duty just 2 days before the chancellor announced that stamp duty would be stopped for a number of months.If I was you I'd try it on and act like your time is up when 10 days has expired. You never know your luck. The staff might get confused and just let you go because the reasoning makes sense :)
      Reply

      • Leonard Levine says

        I just founf the updated list of ASQ hotels(all so far) in Bangkok. I long suspected that the outrageous prices from the original list of price-gouging hotels would sooner or later succumb to competition and now it has! The source is ThaiVisaCentre. 187 ASQ hotels with 7,10 and 15 day packages; room sizes from 20m2 - 35m2 and prices from 20,000 - 35,000baht! That's as low as $95 U.S./night, including 3 meals/day! I can't opine about location(some are on Khaosan Rd, some on various parts of Sukhumvit Road) but unless you know the security of the neighborhood of a particular hotel is bad, it looks like a great opportunity to reserve a room ASAP.
        Reply

          • JamesE says

            ASQ is strictly BYOBADGC. But your point is valid. A few months ago I stayed at a cheaper ASQ hotel and, while the room was serviceable, the food did the place in. It's not that it was *bad* but it just wasn't good. Next time - if there is a next time - I'm going to spring for the extra ฿8 - 10K and pick the best food I can find. I've started collecting menus.
            Reply

  29. JamesE says

    Well... *This* certainly doesn't clear anything up. https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/2090307/phuket-to-rekindle-tourism Does this mean that the quarantine requirement will continue for Bangkok as before? Will it be reduced to seven days for vaccinated individuals? I can understand the interest in kick-starting the tourism dependent provinces but it's a big country and there's no mention of what happens elsewhere. Maybe after this week's meeting. Maybe not. This is all supposed to start on this Thursday, better get a move on...
    Reply

        • JamesE says

          I really feel for the CCISA (or whatever their acronym is). On one hand they're tasked with getting the tourism sector fired up again. On the other they're tasked with not letting stuff get worse. If they suddenly stopped quarantine the ASQ facilities would just roll over. There would be no significant business for months, if not years, until travel volume returned to normal. By using the new Phuket Sandbox model they drive tourism to the areas that most need it but, at the same time run the risk that travelers who planned on waiting it out in BKK will head south instead. Again causing the ASQ hotels in BKK new grief. It's a tricky balancing act.
          Reply

          • TheThailandLife says

            I agree. But if the quarantine stops then move people would travel. Perhaps not in huge numbers at the moment because some countries like the UK have travel restrictions, but tourist numbers would increase from some countries.
            Reply

    • Leonard Levine says

      I'm curious about how many of the 115 ASQ-approved hotels are getting customers, since the quarantine is still 14 days and the number of tourists are still at a trickle. Is business so good that they aren't competing with each other to make their outrageous rates come down significantly?
      Reply

      • JamesE says

        I read a while ago that some hotels were pulling out of the program because of this exact issue. However, there are still a number of people, maybe 1,000, arriving every day so there is some demand. At the place I quarantined in January it was probably 25-30% occupied. The pricing may be harder to change because they are approved prices. The hotel proposes the pricing and the gov't approves it. It may be more of a hassle to change prices than it would generate in new business. About ฿12K or so is the medical service cost so the hotels may already be at minimum pricing to provide meals and the room and still cover costs.
        Reply

    • JamesE says

      The details have finally been implemented on the embassy website. 1) Quarantine, 11 nights, 2) COE still required, 3) Increased access to recreational activities and the ability to order in food and supplies, 4) No more Fit-to-Fly needed, 5) Non-Thai nationals still required to get a negative RT-PCR test within 72 hours of travel, 6) Still two COVID tests during quarantine - Day 3/4 and Day 9/10, 7) 45-day visa exemption stamp remains in effect until 30 September, 8) Travelers from countries with active SARS-CoV-2 variants will still require 15-night quarantine. The list I saw the other day had all those countries in Africa. The list is supposed to be updated every 15 days. Interestingly, there is no mention of either reduced quarantine for vaccinated travelers or the Phuket Sandbox scheme. Except... when you start the COE process you are presented with an info box which states: "For travellers with vaccine certificate and travelling from countries with no cases of COVID-19 variant strains may be eligible to no less than 7-day quarantine. This condition will only apply to those who have been vaccinated against COVID-19 with a vaccine approved by World Health Organization (WHO) or Ministry of Public Health of Thailand no less than 14 days before the travelling date." So they still don't have everything agreeing with each other (or the announcements) but they're getting closer. IMHO, I don't think a 10-day quarantine is going to flood the country with tourists but it's a step in the right direction.
      Reply

      • JamesE says

        My thought exactly. I saw a couple of diagrams, on from The Post and one from The Nation. Neither agreed on the plan with the announcement and neither agreed with the other. Somebody needs to put out the official published version. The confusion is not helping build any confidence that Thailand is the place to go. This may explain why Phuket and Surat Thani are coming up with their own plans.
        Reply

  31. JamesE says

    I think Thailand may have shot itself in the foot. First, they announce that quarantine will be cut from two weeks to one for vaccinated individuals beginning April 1. Then they announce that quarantine, for vaccinated people, is going away after September 30. The first announcement is going to take what little international travel is currently arriving and move it out *at least* four - six weeks until the announcement gets changed to policy, is published, and ASQ facilities decide what to do. Currently, other than news stories no official information is available so no new travel is being planned and everybody else is scrambling to get out of the plans they made. The second notice means everybody with the ability to be flexible with their travel is going to wait the six months to get vaccinated and come in ready to roll. The Tourism Ministry didn't stop to consider that the vast majority of travelers won't be vaccinated anytime soon and that, if all it takes is waiting to save 45K-Baht and two weeks per person, those travelers are either going someplace else or will just wait until they get the shots. This is going to be interesting to watch.
    Reply

    • TheThailandLife says

      The report I read implied it will be cut from 2 weeks to 10 days for all, not just the vaccinated. And a decision was deferred to offer any special travel mobility for the vaccinated. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-03-19/thailand-to-shorten-quarantine-for-visitors-to-revive-tourism.I think you're probably right. Your average holiday maker will wait it out. Those with a special interest in Thailand, be that retirement, business, property, family, relationships, will take the quarantine option and get over as and when they need to.
      Reply

      • JamesE says

        That's what I mean, nothing has been turned into policy yet. The story in the Bangkok Post (also from 19 Mar) says: "On the issue of quarantine duration, Dr Taweesilp said, from April 1 to Sept 30, arrivals without a vaccination certificate (VC) and Covid-19 free certificate (CFC) would be quarantined for 10 days, and be tested for the disease twice. Arrivals with VCs and CFCs would be quarantined for seven days and tested once. Those with VCs but without CFCs would be tested twice. The 14-day quarantine period would remain for arrivals from areas where the Covid-19 virus has mutated, which is of global concern, Dr Taweesilp said." I won't believe any of it until I see it on the embassy's website! (That being said I'm moving my next trip to after 1 Oct just to be safe...)
        Reply

  33. JamesE says

    There is one additional consideration to factor into your decision to come to Thailand and suffer through ASQ: The COVID test you'll need on the way home. Most destinations - including the US now - and basically all transit countries require an inside 72-hour test before you can board your homeward flight. It's a slight pain time-wise but the fast PCR tests cost anywhere from ฿2,600 - ฿6,000. Make sure you budget the time.
    Reply

  34. Simon Jones says

    Hi I am in a alq in North pattaya on day 2. I've been to thailand many times and always look forward to the food. So far its been disgusting, trying to cook thai food for a farlang style ie no chilli ; and mass cooked it is mai aloi mck.mck. git thai wife to call and explain i want thai style, I am hoping that this will improve things. They have put a microwave in rooms to warm the cold food. I don't understand the reasons as hotels are not full so why can't they cook it fresh. With no alcohol the food is the only joy we have, or not as the case may be. Also learnt a lesson I agree with statement buy duty free, my mistake, not enough time as plane late, buy it at departure airport and put in hand luggage they did not check mine. Also check hotel rules, mine say stay in room to day 12 that won't be happening, after first test day 5, I will request then demand exercise in hotel grounds for 45minutes. I will try to keep you posted . If I have the time lol.
    Reply

    • TheThailandLife says

      Hi Simon, here's what to do:Ask the hotel for some chili powder, a bowl or sugar and a bottle of MSG (or order these in from 7-Eleven). Add 7 spoons of each to every meal and voila! Thai cuisine at its finest :)Jokes aside...As I understand it, a family member is allowed to bring in a cooked meal, if it is cooked at home and in a sealed container. Is your wife local enough to arrange this?Keep us posted.
      Reply

    • James E says

      Yeah, the 12-day lockdown for Brits is nuts. The variants are pretty much everywhere by now. As far as the food goes, many hotels will customize your menu, particularly if you claim a dietary restriction. It still won’t be the best but might be a step up from the standard fare. The microwave in my ASQ hotel was a life saver. I mean, really, who’s ready to eat at 5? I’m just heading into cocktail hour at that time. (I smuggled a supply in...) Hope things improve for you.
      Reply

  35. Lola says

    Hi! I live in Europe and I am wondering if I can go "vacation" in an ASQ facility. For example, if a friend and I were to go to a resort, could we enjoy the pool, golf, etc.? Also, could we go into each other's rooms or work together in common areas? Finally, I was wondering if it is possible to just go for 10 days. I know the quarentine is supposed to be 14 days in order to move in Thailand freely, but I was wondering if after staying in the resort for 10 days I could just go back to the airport and go home.
    Thank you so much in advance!
    Reply

    • TheThailandLife says

      There is talk of having a more fun "resort style" quarantine with golf and pool, etc. But currently the quarantine is strict and people are largely confined to their rooms, except for an hour outside in a designated area after a negative COVID test - which is taken after the first few days. You wouldn't be able to mix with your friend. The rules differ slightly between hotels but it's mostly the same. See James' experience below.You could go back home after the quarantine but at present it wouldn't be a very fun holiday.
      Reply

    • JamesE says

      Sadly, the answers to your questions is currently "no" with the exception of the Golf Quarantine where you get to play golf all day after your first negative test. There is absolutely none to very limited, and distanced, socializing (depending on the hotel). As far as your "vacation" idea goes, the very best you could expect is a 5-7 day full lock down followed by some golf. You can't leave the hotel prior to day 15. You're committed to at least a 16-day stay in Thailand as you will also need a negative COVID test taken within 3 days of departure by all of the airlines. The Day-12 quarantine test probably wouldn't work. The in-resort quarantine - The Phuket Model - never got off the ground. The locals weren't keen for a bunch of potentially contagious tourists to be wandering around the island.
      Reply

  36. buff says

    Im in samut prakarn not the best asq but its ok..im not sure what happens after this sentence is over, am i allowed to go out in bkk im dying for a shop to get some things or relax with a beer, Am i free to stay in bkk for a night before i go up to my gf house in yaso??
    Reply

    • JamesE says

      I got out yesterday and once you're out, you're out. I took a drive just to see whether I remembered the concept of distance. You'll be free to go wherever you want. I think they lifted the ban on alcohol so that beer is waiting for you. When you get out you'll get a certificate with a QR code on it. The QR code is a link to your official quarantine report. Just says that you went through quarantine process and tested negative on both tests. I just took a picture of the certificate and the QR code in case anybody asks. Enjoy your freedom.
      Reply

  37. Brad says

    Howdy @TheThailandLife - we arrive Monday week for our ASQ. Wondering if you or any of your readers know what happens when we need to leave?

    Currently Bangkok is in the Red Zone - we want to head to Koh Samui afterwards, but according to the government that requires a quarantine.

    So, is there away that we can leave ASQ and get straight to our destination and not need to be locked down again?

    Thanks!
    Reply

    • JamesE says

      The whole "Red Zone" thing was never fully implemented with respect to Bangkok. As long as you've got a green QR code on the MorChana or ThailandPlus app you should be good. There have been several BKK to Koh Samui videos posted in the past few weeks on YouTube none of which mentioned any quarantine requirement.
      Reply

  38. JamesE says

    It's ASQ Day 10 and I've been doing this long enough to know what I'd do differently the next time. First - The Rules. Before you book find out what the hotel's rules actually are. There are a set of over-arching rules provided by the gov't but each hotel implements them differently. Many have exactly nothing to do with disease prevention - like the ban on bringing canned fizzy drinks into the hotel but fruit juice is okay, oh yeah, and if you want a fizzy drink you can *buy one from the hotel*... Dairy was also on the forbidden list and I only brought one can of evaporated milk figuring it's canned so I'd be able to get some in. Wrong. Some hotels will not allow you out on the balcony until your first test, others are unconcerned. That kind of thing. Get a copy of the hotel's rules and ask questions. Pro Tip - nobody's going to check your bags here so anything that is not illegal in your home country can be brought in even if it's against the rules. (You didn't hear that from me...) Second - get pictures of the facilities. Particularly the outside area. The marketing may imply one thing - like the lovely garden shown by my hotel - but reality may be different. I'm stuck with a 2m-wide gravel strip adjacent to the car park to pace in. (And I've got to wear plastic shoe covers - even outside - large enough to double as trash bags. Third - make sure you have things to do. I've been taking Thai lessons by Skype which chews up an amazing amount of time. There are others staying here that just sit on their balconies all day and and wait. I'd go nuts. So download your books, subscribe to streaming services, bring your knitting; whatever it takes to keep your sanity. Fourth - Get the actual menu you'll be selecting from; particularly if you're going to be eating western food or have a special diet. The Thai food here has been good but the few western selections I've tried have been kind of meh. In hindsight the mistake I made was assuming that the process was more standardized than it is - what you see on YouTube about one hotel may not apply to others. The ASQ booking is non-refundable so make sure your questions get answered before you pay.
    Reply

    • TheThailandLife says

      Hi Alan, there is talk of having different rules for those immunized but nothing has been set in stone yet. I think they will most likely wait to see the effectiveness of the vaccine before passing any regulation regarding this.
      Reply

  40. Todd says

    The article didn't mention the new option of the Golf Quarantine. Apparently there are 6 different golf resorts to choose from and you can play golf everyday. This is my plan if the quarantine is still in place in a month or two.
    Reply

      • Todd says

        Wow, thanks a lot James. I had only watched a YouTube video about it and just assumed being from the U.S. that I would be able to qualify. I scanned the list 3 times and don't see the U.S. Will continue to monitor the list as I'm sure it will fluctuate. Also great that there is a FB group I can join to chat with other like minded individuals. You're the man James, thank you!!!
        Reply

    • TheThailandLife says

      Hey JJ, when the ASQ kicked off there were only a handful of hotels on board and the prices were sky high. With more hotels on board now the deals are much better. Take James in the comments section for example. He is currently in ASQ and paid around 34k I believe.
      Reply

      • JamesE says

        35K for a suite with a balcony. Not downtown but good food (the Thai options, anyway). A lot of the rates are locked in by the gov't when they approve the facility. Look at some of the newer ones and I think you can do okay. Biggest thing is to find one with your most important needs - be it good western food options, English speaking staff, balcony, etc. - and then go from there.
        Reply

  42. Shayne says

    Thanks again for your info Peter it’s always helpful.
    I’m somewhat baffled why unmarried couples cannot stay together in ASQ after staying in many hotels for years in Thailand with my Thai defacto. This must be a Thai gov decision not one from individual hotels, it inhibits us from returning due to the financial burden. Does anyone out there know of hotel bending this ridiculous rule ?
    Reply

    • TheThailandLife says

      I can't see what difference it makes if you are arriving together, but they most likely presume unmarried couples aren't going to be living abroad together but either A. living in Thailand and therefore ASQ doesn't apply. Or B. Living in separate countries and meeting up when the foreign national arrives in Thailand. For B they would want to prevent mixing and therefore require you to quarantine for 14 days before seeing your partner.
      Reply

      • Shayne says

        Yes I understand those considerations but maybe proof of living together abroad could be sufficient which in turn will be affordable and increase visitor numbers. Don’t get me wrong, I think Thailand has and will continue to do a great job but by cleaning up a little red tape will not increase risk for them. I live with my Thai defacto permanently in Australia and like so many other couples around the globe are itching to return to see family.
        Reply

          • JamesE says

            This is the can of worms issue. If you are a Thai citizen you can take advantage of repatriation flights, SQ facilities, and state hospitals. If you are a foreigner you take semi-commercial flights, ASQ facilities, and private hospitals. You are also not required to take a COVID test pre-departure (why there are so many cases coming out of quarantine). If you are a mixed *married* couple traveling together you have to take the semi-comm/ASQ/private route with a test. I think the mix of the two - Thai/foreigner - is more than the bureaucracy wants to deal with at present. Also, it's not just Thai/foreign unmarried couples - it's all unmarried couples.
            Reply

            • TheThailandLife says

              I guess their thinking is that there's hardly any unmarried Thai couples returning from abroad, and hardly any mixed couples either. So for they couldn't be bothered to make a provision for the few cases there would be.
              Reply

            • Brad says

              My wife and I are Australian citizens, have the same surname etc - the first document that we had to submit to the ASQ hotel was our marriage certificate.

              We also had to sign a disclaimer that says we are ok with sharing a room with another person!?
              Reply

    • JamesE says

      I'm in the same boat, relationshipwise. It's a bureaucratic decision. You not only have to be married but your marriage has to be recorded in Thailand. I think part of it has to do with the different approval tracks for foreigners vs. Thais and the additional administrative housekeeping required to manage a mixed couple.
      Reply

  43. Timothy Arnold says

    Stay at FuramaXclusive not bad at all. Food has been good and Customer service excellent. Quiet place, very good. Pricing good looking at your cost guidelines wife and I are between LOW to mid range $1700 for us two.
    Reply

  45. JamesE says

    Day One at the Amber Hotel Sukhumvit 85. Nice suite for 35K. Food - two meals so far - has been good. Both meals have been better than resort buffet food but not as good as cooked to order. Amber is a stickler for the rules and while bagged snacks (Calbee grilled squid and seaweed, thank you lord) are fine, canned and bottled drinks are not. But fruit juice and fresh fruit are allowed in after I pass my first COVID test. Don't ask me why. WiFi's insanely fast going through Vypr's Los Angeles server - 80Mbps - and serviceable through the Thai server at about 24. Clearing in was straightforward with the caveat that your documents will be checked and checked and checked and checked. Only hitch I saw was if you didn't get a pdf with your COVID test results and print it out you had to get another test at the airport. As far as the Fit-to-Fly Health Certificate I will say only one thing: Doctor Donna.
    Reply

    • TheThailandLife says

      Glad to hear you arrived in one piece. Thanks for the report, keep us updated! Who is Dr Donna? Nice to hear VYPR is on good form. I guess the way to get through this is to treat it like like an adventure, which you seem to be!
      Reply

  47. Leonard Levine says

    As an 85-year old American, who owns my condo in Jomtien and will have a vaccine no later than March, it's clear that getting a COVID-19 policy with $100,000 coverage at my age(my U.S. insurance policy only covers me for a maximum of $50,000) is impossible. Not to mention the 14-day quarantine at a minimum cost of $1,250(there are no participating hotels in Pattaya), and those in Bangkok charge from 38,000 baht - 57,000 baht. Since I only spend 3 months in Thailand each year, it's clear that I will spend my 3 months elsewhere this summer. I can only hope that beginning in 2022 I will not have to face these obstacles
    Reply

  48. JamesE says

    Having just gone through the booking process let me offer some observations. First - you will get much better accommodations if you're willing to be further out of downtown. I'm booked in a balcony suite at the Hotel Amber Sukhumvit 85 in On Nut for 35K. The balcony was the clincher for me; 5 days without fresh air would have had me breaking windows. Second - Get the Tops or 7-11 app. You can order in packaged food/drinks/supplies. Tops has an English version where 7-11 is only in Thai and uses a particularly hard-to-read font. Third - Your first day is Day 0. You will be there for 15 nights. Fourth - I've seen some reports that the first day COVID test is not fully implemented at all locations. Fifth - You need a smartphone with a local SIM. This is not part of the entry requirements but you (and everybody else) will be tracked during your entire stay. The app you'll need is MorChana available in the usual places. There's also an online way to fill out you T.8 in the AOT Airports of Thailand app. Sixth - Give yourself plenty of time. Buried beneath things like "Certificate of Entry" are many further chances to interact with the Thai Bureaucracy. That being said The Thai Consulate sent me a notification that they were informed that my flight was cancelled and that I needed a new COE. Once you get through the initial paperwork it's pretty smooth. Lastly - There are two critical resources: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1ijBJOTgFJPAuWUfkPIA60iniXB9j9Ba2XHafXzA6JCw/edit#gid=1449667376 is a regularly updated list of approved semi-comm flights into Thailand. If your flight is not on the list you can't get a COE. The full list of ASQ/ASLQ hotels is at: https://thaiembdc.org/asq/. Most hotels will have quarantine YouTube vloggers talking about them. Have fun.
    Reply

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