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Alternative State Quarantine (ASQ) – Your Questions Answered

ASQ stands for Alternative State Quarantine. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, you must currently go through a 14-day quarantine period when you arrive in Thailand. There is a list of approved ASQ hotels to choose from, which you must pay for.

Being cooped up in a hotel for 2 weeks doesn't sound much like a holiday, but for those desperate to get back to their life in Thailand, this is the only way (as of the time of writing).

It's not all bad, though. Yes, it's an expense you can do without, but consider that many countries around the world are either in lockdown or have local restrictions in movement.

So what's the alternative? Stay indoors at home for weeks, maybe months, or get yourself to Thailand, do your 14 days in a nice hotel and then have the freedom to travel to the beach for some sun and sea?

In this FAQ, I'll run through all the commonly asked questions about the Alternative State Quarantine (ASQ) in Thailand.

Please note that some of the information provided may differ between hotels.

bangkok-ASQ

Image courtesy of Dynamic Wang

1. How Long Do I Have to Quarantine For?

All travellers entering Thailand are currently subject to a 14-day state quarantine. This means you cannot leave the hotel during this period.

If you test positive for COVID-19 at any of the test intervals then you be transferred to the partner hospital of the hotel.

2. What Are the Hotel Facilities Like?

A 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, access to an outdoor area for gentle exercise, and a few COVID tests along the way.

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 ASQ Hotels Only in Bangkok?

Initially ASQ was only available in Bangkok, but a list of Alternative Local State Quarantine (ALSQ) hotels have been announced in Phuket, Koh Samui, Chonburi, Burirum and Prachiburi.

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

All ASQ bookings are packaged with a free transfer from the airport to the hotel.

6. How Can I Book an ASQ Hotel?

Previously you had to book directly with the hotel, but now all hotels are available through Agoda.

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 ASQ 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?

Generally speaking, after your first negative COVID test you will be allowed access to a designated walking area. The size and quality of that designated area depends on your choice of hotel.

After the second negative test you will be able to use the gym.

13. On What Days Do I Get a COVID-19 Test?

Tests are carried out by the hospital partnered with the hotel you are staying in. You will test on your arrival day, then day 9 or 10 and also day 13 or 14.

14. Will Housekeeping Clean My Room?

Yes. While the schedule may differ at some hotels, 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.

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

15. What Documents Do I Need to Enter Thailand?

You will need to present the following at the airline check-in counter and upon arrival in Thailand:

  1. Certificate of Entry
  2. A completed and signed declaration form
  3. Fit to Fly health certificate, issued within 72 hours of departure – this is a statement by a doctor that you are free from symptoms and fit to fly (must be separate from COVID test)
  4. COVID-19 test result, with a laboratory output indicating that COVID -19 is not detected (COVID test must be by RT-PCR method), issued within 72 hours of departure
  5. A copy of your health insurance policy with coverage including COVID-19 related treatment in Thailand in the amount no less than 100,000 USD.
  6. Copy of your confirmed booking at an ASQ hotel
  7. T.8 form

* Information courtesy of the London Thai Embassy

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?

ASQ hotels have fallen in price since the program first started. Now that more hotels have come on board the higher competition has driven prices down.

Prices range from $80 – $200 a night. The hotels are mostly 4 and 5 star, because, let's be frank, staying in a 2 star for 14 days (15 nights) without being able to leave would be a lot less pleasant than a top end hotel.

Here's a rough guide of what you can expect to pay.

  • Low price: 38,000 THB ($1271.26 / £9,33.43
  • Mid price: 80,000 THB ($2676.35 / £1,965.12
  • Highest price: 200,000 THB ($6690.87 / £4,912.80

And here's my recommendations, based on ratings and reader feedback.

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

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Got a question you'd like to ask? Currently staying in ASQ and want to share your experience? Please leave it in the comments section below.

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  1. 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

  2. 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

  3. 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

  4. 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

  5. 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

  7. 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

  9. 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

  10. 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

  12. 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

  14. 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

  15. 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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