Answered6 years ago
What is the current experience like for expats arriving in Thailand amidst COVID-19 regulations?
Just arrived in Bangkok on Emirates. Only about 50 on the flight. Going through airport was smooth friendly and quick. Next stop two weeks sitting in a hotel room. But at least I got here at last.
Answer summary
An expat shares their recent experience arriving in Bangkok, highlighting a smooth airport process despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. They detail the challenges faced while arranging their travel, including booking flights and securing a government-approved quarantine hotel (ASQ) upon arrival. The conversation features various comments discussing the type of visa held, previously arranged insurance, and expressions of support from the community, acknowledging the difficulties of travel and the experience of quarantine.
84 repliesnewest first
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Andrew ********
OPyes and it's good food
N ***************
Is the meal included in the hotel price?
KaRim *******
May I ask what kind of insurance is that?
Andrew ********
OPBest ask them as it depends on your group.
Andrew ********
OP35,000 Bt You pick your hotel from a government approved list.
Ferran **********
Hi Andrew, can you tell me what the hotel costs for two weeks? Another question, is the hotel chosen by you or the government?
Alan **********
Well done , Andrew .
Andrew ********
OPCheck to embassy list of approved hotels. Range from 25,000bt way up to over 300,000bt
James *******
Follow
Smart *********
How did you get into hotel ? Was there someone to pick you up at airport and bring you there ? What if i want to travel directly to Pattaya and do my quarantine days there ? Can i use taxi for myself ?
Wayne **********
@Smart ********
seriously, that can’t be a real question? No, is the answer, government defined Hôtels only buddy. Check the websites Smart *********
@Wayne *********
Gov.Institutions gives you the choice to contract a room with licensed hotel.Does NOT assign you anything when arrival with LTV released by Thai embassy abroad. My question was, if someone controls MY WAY from airport to Hotel, or is it free. Smart *********
@Wayne *********
And what then ?.Somebody from the police brings me to hotel ? You didnt get the point buddy.Wayne **********
@Smart ********
how would a taxi to Pattaya be a safe and regulated form of transport, come on? 
Thomas ********************
Good for you, Andrew! That first beer after ASQ will be beyond heaven 😅
Andrew ********
OP1 year package yes.
Nikk ******
That insurance....did you have to get the insurance package they offered? Is that price for one year insurance?!
Fares *************
How long did it take from applying to repatriate until getting your COE?
Andrew ********
OP@Fares ************
next day. Very fast.
Steven **************
How much for the 2 weeks in the ASQ hotel?
Andrew ********
OP@Steven *************
35,500bt
Valérie ************
👍👏👏👏😀
Andrew ********
OPlack of rooms at a reasonable price i'd say.
เอ็ดเวิร์ด *******
Wonder if the low number of passengers was because of safety concerns on the part of the airlines or because of lack of ASQ rooms or lack of processing by the embassies? Anybody’s guess. We’ll never know.
Alan *********
Got out of Quarantine 1 week ago now, 2 weeks in a 4 star Hotel Hotel might sound good but when you have to stay in your room you feel like a prisoner.
เอ็ดเวิร์ด *******
@Alan ********
dude I’ve done two quarantines in Korea. First one was in a poor excuse for a dormitory room. Quit complaining. Alan *********
@Edward *******
Just for your information I wasn't complaining, expressing my view , but may I ask if you paid around 80,000 thb for your dormitory! เอ็ดเวิร์ด *******
@Alan ********
i’m very conservative, so I’m really going to wait until I have good documented proof that I’ll be able to get in under one of the new plans, because I don’t fall under any of the waivered individuals on the list. By then, maybe they’ll be 1000 hotels.Alan *********
@Edward *******
good luck...because cheap not easy to get...at the time of my booking 80,000 was the cheapest that had availability. เอ็ดเวิร์ด *******
@Alan ********
No, Dormitory was actually less than half in that. Meals were always cold, pretty much repetitive. No choice. But I would definitely take the lower price accommodation. Second quarantine was about 60% of 80,000, food still the same, but at least it was a nice hotel room. I saw ASQs in Bangkok for going around 30 to 35,000. If I make it that far, I’ll hopefully be able to choose one of thoseAlan *********
@Edward *******
wow your are now my Hero.....Not ! 😂😂😂Alan *********
@Edward *******
I'm just about to send you a gold star...no I think 2 gold stars...wow such a hero. เอ็ดเวิร์ด *******
@Alan ********
you’ll find sarcasm is really not part of the Asian culture. Or maybe you won’t. Then you’ll have something else to complain about.Andrew ********
OPI have a Thai wife. Flight was about £450, insurance $1680, Hotel 35,000 Baht, covid test in London £165. Australian passport and was stuck in London.
Georgi *****
@Andrew *******
oh that Hotel’s weird. My friend’s room looked more like a makeshift office space with glass sliding doorAndrew ********
OP@Georgi ****
thats the one. 
Martin *********
@Andrew *******
which hotel are you in mate...?
Ann *******
@Andrew *******
Woah! PCR test is free in the US
Todd *********
@Ann ******
wish they had started that 6 months ago
Baz **********
@Ann ******
you can get a test in the UK for free however its not guaranteed to give you results within a time frame which is critical for the 72hr rule. So sometimes you have to pay private if you don't wish to risk it. Ann *******
@Baz *********
I had to get a PCR for an upcoming procedure, as anesthesiologists can refuse service without one now in certain states. Once I started looking, there were tons of places to get a test, and very easy to get an appt within the next 2-3 days. I was quoted that it usually took 2-3 days for results, but could be up to 5 days. I got my results in 3 days. I think lab turnaround time is dependent on where you live, as I feel all tests are being processed by designated labs, so it's dependent on number of tests and capacity. I have heard of people getting the rapid test, and turnaround time was 20 mins.Andrew ********
OP@Ann ******
Qui.Martin *********
@Andrew *******
blimey insurance is a bit funky...
Chi ******
Or you went in with tourist visa?
Chi ******
Visa?? Which one???
Edd ********
Congratulations 🍾
Gordon *********
How much did it cost and from were
Troy *******
I offer a service where I pretend to be Grab but actually deliver vodka in water bottles. Let me know 555
Baz **********
@Troy ******
2 bottles of water daily to cinnamon residence from today onwards please......room number TBC. No ladyboys required, already have a sore arse from the flight. Troy *******
@Baz *********
easy. I also supply lube disguised as 5ltr bottles of water.Troy *******
@Baz *********
I think 2.5 litres of vodka and 5litres of lube is exactly the amount needed to make your quarantine ladyboy dreams come true.Baz **********
@Troy ******
that's alot of lube 😳Troy *******
The tears are guaranteed. Especially when they take your money and DON'T come back!
Andrew *********
@Troy ******
Can you smuggle in a bit of female companionship.Troy *******
@Andrew ********
ladyboy schlong is certainly used to being GRABbed but it ain't cheap (however the nastiness is guaranteed).Andrew *********
@Troy ******
A man after my own heart, I like nastiness no puny ladyboys mind they have to bring tears to one's eyes or I want my money back.
Bim *******
Well done congratulations
Janin ******
Welcome
Andrew ********
OPCommercial with Emirates considerably cheaper than the repatriation flight. About 50 people on the Bangkok leg. 777 was almost empty from Dubai and A380 from London only had a couple of hundred at most, Plenty empty rows even with just one person per row.
Norman ******
my friend had balcony, but doors and windows nailed
Norman ******
Quarantine hotel good?
Andrew ********
OP@Norman *****
It's nice enough for it's purpose. Down side is my room has no windows, it would be nice to see outside.
Bob *******
@Andrew *******
Hi Andrew. Can you tell us about your experience at check in at London, service on the fligh ( Food and booze) and also the transit in Dubai. Any issues with Covid test certificates or other documents ?? Would like to share your comments on two FB pages dedicated to UK expats returning to families in Thailand. Thanks . Andrew ********
OP@Bob ******
check in at Heathrow was pretty standard except for the amount of paperwork that they check carefully. Food on flight was basically nasty airline food normal drinks available beer wine etc. Very short time in Dubai, landed wandered to gate 10 and it was open more paper checks, lounge, boarded and gone in 1 ***
hr all up. Bangkok was easy, more paperwork checks but routine by the time you get there. Shepherded through passport and customs to bus waiting to deliver to hotel all over in no time flat. Bob *******
@Andrew *******
Thank you very much Andrew.
Anthony *******
Dava ********
And how long did it take to sort visa and paper work out m8
Andrew ********
OP@Sophie ********
multi O visa already had it. No paperwork for the visa the rest After I found out about the Emirates flights takes about 10 days to arrange everything
Sophie *********
What visa do you have?
Dava ********
@Sophie ********
yes what visa ?
Robert ******************
Congrats Andrew. Was that a commercial flight or strictly a repatriation flight?
แมทธิว **************
I have a visa and tried to book the Thai airways this month from the UK but all flights where gone in seconds. I will look at this as a option to get back to work and home I was watching you to see how it went feel more confident now to have a go as i believed you may have been held in Dubai which seems not to be the case. Good luck on your hotel please do updates on how it goes I think you have quite a few looking at the same route
Charles *********
nightmsre
Chi ******
How did you go back? Elite visa?
Jennifer ********
Congratulations!🎉
Samira *********
Happy for you!!
Evan ********
Congrats. Where are you from?
Alexander **********
Congratulations
ニーナ *****
Good evening are you on elite visa or other visa?
Steve **********
Congrats!
Cabbie ******
Welcome back to Thailand 🇹🇭💕
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