Thailand

Digital nomad in Thailand_visa

Digital nomad in Thailand: understanding visa and tax

Categories Thailand, ,

With a recent trend in remote working and digital nomad lifestyle, we have shared an article on Thailand as a digital nomad destination here. However, the big question remains: is it legal to work in Thailand without a proper work permit? And, what kind of tax implication do you need to look out for?

Table of Contents

Digital nomad in Thailand: understanding visa exemption and special tourist visa

Visiting Thailand is the easiest under visa exemption. Thailand visa exemption supports over 60 nationalities, visitors can stay up to 30 days (currently extended to 45 days). Longer stay up to 90 days is possible through the special tourist visa. 

How to apply for the special tourist visa? The standard application process requires document submission, purchasing of insurance, showing of proof of accommodation, etc. However, this may vary depending on your nationality. Hence, we recommend you to check with the Thai consulate/embassy in your city. Also, keep in mind that both visa exemption arrangement and the special tourist visa are meant for people who are entering for tourism and not work.

Are digital nomads allowed to work remotely in Thailand without a work permit?

Let’s just be upfront – this is still a grey area. While there are specific requirements such as being on a non-immigrant visa and obtaining a work permit to work IN Thailand – there is no specific law against foreigners who are conducting their normal overseas work while being in Thailand. 

For example, if you work for a company (or clients) in your home country, while sitting in Thailand – this is unlikely to cause any issue. You will start to raise concern with the authority once you start working with the Thai customers/clients. Therefore, in general, if you are planning to continue your current job while enjoying a short stay in Thailand, there should not be a problem. Best to keep your short stay under 6 months to minimize any tax implication. However, if you want to have a peace of mind and enjoy a longer stay, try to get your work permit or SMART visa (more in below section).

Digital nomad inThailand_remote working

What’s most important to have is a visa with a validity period that is long enough to sustain the stay duration. Many digital nomads are solving this problem by re-entering the country. This is not that convenient but can sustain their intended stay duration. This is what nomads do since there is no specific digital nomad visa yet.

Various government agencies have recognized the presence of digital nomads and their contribution to the economy. There have been many mentions of digital nomads in government communication and also news but without mentioning legal implications. Given the importance of digital nomads to Thailand’s economy, Thailand has taken the initiative to attract and legalize digital nomads with the introduction of the SMART visa.

Thailand SMART visa and remote workers

The government first introduced the SMART visa in 2018 with the purpose to attract skilled professionals and investors to Thailand. This SMART visa can provide up to 4 years of permission to stay and work in Thailand. 

Under this visa, you do not need to get a work permit before you can work in Thailand. However, the original purpose of the SMART visa was to mainly attract highly skilled professionals or executives. Because of this, the visa comes with a long list of requirements. As a result, less than 1,000 applications have been approved so far.

There is a proposed plan by Thailand’s board of investment to relax the requirements. The only thing pending is the Thai cabinet’s approval. With this proposal, the most exciting change we can expect is the change to the SMART T (Talent) type of the SMART visa. Currently this SMART T visa requires employers to apply on behalf of the employee. With the proposed change, individual remote workers can apply for this visa directly, as long as they have at least 6 months contract in their original country, earn at least THB 100,000 salary per month, and can prove that they have at least THB 600,000 of savings in the bank – according to the Chiang Mai Entrepreneurship Association. 

Digital nomad in Thailand_SMART visa

Income tax for foreigners working remotely in Thailand

A frequently asked question among nomads is: Do digital nomads need to pay tax while working in Thailand?

The Revenue Department categorizes potential tax payers into “resident” and “non-resident”. You are a resident if you have stayed in Thailand for more than 180 days per year. Any less than that you are considered a non-resident.

The law requires non-residents to pay tax for income that they earn from sources in Thailand. Whereas for residents, the law requires them to pay tax for income earned from sources in Thailand AND the portion of income from foreign sources that they bring into Thailand.

Referring to the above, if a digital nomad is working with an employer from their home country and has spent less than 6 months in Thailand, he/she does not need to pay taxes. On another note, once a digital nomad obtains a work or a SMART visa, he/she needs to file and pay tax in Thailand.

So do digital nomads in Thailand need visa and pay for tax?

Thailand is a great destination for digital nomads, and there are already a lot of digital nomads in Thailand. However, visa restriction remains as one of the main concerns. 

The country is not yet fully ready to allow digital nomads and remote workers to work in the country legally, however there has been a good development on this in recent years.  

Thailand has recognized the importance of remote working and is pushing initiatives around SMART visa to make it applicable for remote workers to apply as well. Hopefully, by the time coronavirus is over, remote working will become a new norm and Thailand would be ready to accommodate remote workers.

Other useful resources about Thailand

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
best time to travel to Thailand lantern festival

The best time to travel to Thailand

Categories Thailand,

When is the best time to travel to Thailand? A run down on weather, festival, seasonal food

Thailand is a great destination all year round. However, visiting Thailand at a different time of the year will definitely give you a different experience. Learn more about different factors that can help you determine the best time to travel to Thailand.

Table of Contents

Best time to travel to Thailand for the best weather

Thailand is hot all year round with the temperature ranging from 20 to almost 40 degree Celsius. In Thailand, there are 3 seasons: summer, rainy and “winter”.

The summer season is from February till April, with April being the hottest. Temperature of a Thai summer ranges from 25 to 37 degrees.

Coming next is the rainy season that starts from May to mid-October. While the temperature tends to be cooler (24 to 33 degrees), there is also 2-3x more rainfall relative to other seasons. We would recommend you to not travel in August or September. These two months usually have the heaviest rainfall. You can check this site before your Thailand travel/trip for the rainfall trend in Thailand 

The “winter” in Thailand is from mid October to January. Temperature during this season ranges from 21 to 30 degrees Celsius.

The best time to visit Thailand from the weather standpoint would be from November through to January. This period is usually the highest season for tourism as well with December being the peak.  

Best time to travel to Thailand_Bangkok temperature

Northern Thailand is slightly cooler

Northern Thailand enjoys slightly cooler temperatures than the rest of the country (about 1-2 degree lower). The effect is greater in Winter which is about 3 degree cooler than other parts. Normal temperature can get as low as 17 degree during winter in Northern Thailand. You can visit famous cities like Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai to enjoy some chilly, mountain weather.

Go visit the official Amazing Thailand travel website to check the temperatures of different places in the country ahead of your travel.

Best time to travel to Thailand_rainy market

Visitors should plan their trip ahead to optimize their experience in Thailand.

Best time to travel to Thailand for the unique experience

Thailand has many cities and unique local cultural festivals to enjoy. However, there are some more well-known ones that both locals and tourists enjoy which we will highlight here.

Songkran (April)

Songkran or Thai New Year is Thailand’s biggest festival. It is usually celebrated by everyone in Thailand from 3 days up until a week. Traditionally, Songkran is a cultural event where families gather and visit temples together. In the temple, they will follow a ritual of pouring water on Buddha figures. Nowadays, while family gatherings still take place, Songkran has turned into a big water festival. Crowds will close down the streets to enjoy splashing water onto each other. For many foreigners travelling to Thailand, this can be a very unique experience. 

Loy Krathong (November)

Loy Krathong is another festival that is celebrated throughout Thailand. Thai people have depended on water for their livelihood since the ancient time. Loy Krathong is a tradition where Thai people pay respect to the river and ask for forgiveness. In most parts of Thailand, people would float “krathong” onto the river. Krathong is (and should be) a biodegradable object made out of banana trunk/leaf, flower and candles. In northern Thailand, people light up lanterns instead of krathong. This was the start of the lantern festival where thousands of lanterns would lit up the sky on this night.

International and Chinese New Year (December / February)

International New Year (Dec 31/Jan 1) and Chinese New Year are not specific to Thai culture but Thai people also celebrate them. For the New Year, you can expect similar celebratory events like in any other part of the world (with fireworks and all that!). Chinese New Year is not as big of a holiday when compared to how it is celebrated in Mainland China. You will find the biggest buzz during Chinese New Year in the Chinatown area. In Bangkok’s Chinatown, you will be able to watch the dragon dance performance and also see firecrackers everywhere. But the highlight is definitely the street full of food vendors.

Most foreigners love the cultural exposure from taking part in these festivals. Experiencing these festivals first hand can easily be the highlight of their Thailand travel. So, you might factor in the timing of these festivals to determine the best time to travel to Thailand!

The best time to travel to Thailand if you love tropical fruits

Thai people love their tropical fruits. The country is bountiful of fruits, many of which visitors may have never seen and would find “exotic”.

  • Banana, oranges and coconuts are mostly available all year round.
  • Mangoes and papayas can be found all year round as well but they are more available from November to April.
  • Rambutan, durian, longan and mangosteen are often considered exotic and they are only available from May to September.

Fun facts: durian is also often called “king of fruits” and mangosteen “queen of fruits”, and both can be found easily in Thailand with good quality!

You can always find these fruits in supermarkets or local markets, however one more place that you can explore is the export-quality fruit market. This place is not widely known by tourists but you can find a lot of very good quality fruits and also local food there. One example is Or Tor Kor Market which you can easily visit after you are done with Chatuchak – they are near to each other!

Thailand trip cost

A trip to Thailand is relatively inexpensive for most tourists especially if you come from countries with stronger currencies (US, Europe and some major economic powerhouses in Asia). However, during high season like December or during large festivals like Songkran, accommodation prices tend to go up fast. So, if you plan to travel during those periods, book early to keep your Thailand trip costs reasonable.

So, when is the best time to travel to Thailand?

Well, you can do your Thailand travel all year round. However, in some months you may get to enjoy cooler tropical weather, and in some other months you may have a higher chance of being stuck in the rain when going outdoors. So depending on what kind of travel you are doing, you decide when is the best time!

Moreover, by planning ahead, you can coincide your travel with some exotic fruit seasons and local festivals. Remember that Thailand trip costs always increase nearing the popular festivals like Songkran and Loy Krathong. If you plan ahead you can still enjoy better pricing.

Having said all this, unfortunately Thailand is facing the third coronavirus wave at the time of writing. You might want to postpone your Thailand trip until the coronavirus situation gets better. You can check out our other articles about the current Thailand travel restriction and also Thailand coronavirus situation.

Check out our other articles on Thailand!

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Thai language Thai letters

Thai language overview and useful tips to navigate Thailand

Categories Thailand, ,

Thai language overview: learn more about Thai language and get useful tips for your visit/stay in Thailand.

Thailand is one of the top travel destination globally, but Thai language is not nearly as wide spread as English, Spanish, French or Mandarin. What language do Thai people speak? how should you prepare before making a visit? find out more below.

Table of Contents

What language do Thai people speak?

People in Thailand speak, read and write Thai – an official & national language of Thailand. Thai language is said to have been derived from older languages like Pali and Sanskrit.

The characters and vocabularies also share some similarities to languages used by our neighboring countries like Laos and Cambodia (Although I could barely make sense of characters while traveling in Cambodia).

Language similarities also extend to English where many of commonly spoken Thai vocabularies are borrowed from English. Some potentially useful borrowed vocabularies will be shared below in the tips section below.

Thai language_language comparison

English language proficiency in Thailand

While Thai language is dominant, Thais learn English as part of the school curriculum from primary school until college. Having said that, locals still have low English language proficiency relative to other Southeast Asian countries like Singapore, Malaysia and the Philippines.

Thai language English proficiency

English Proficiency Index ranking from Education First.

Thailand has a “very low” proficiency rating according to Education First – in fact among the lowest in Southeast Asia. You would naturally have no problem in countries with high to very high proficiency ratings like Malaysia or Singapore. Personally, I have had little troubles navigating countries with lower ratings like Vietnam and Indonesia as well.

This information looks at countries as a whole, but you will find a more English proficient population in big or touristy cities like Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket and many more. Do not let the number deter you just yet because we will further examine Thailand as a travel destination in more detail.

Thailand is a top tier travel destination

Many Thais only speak basic English, just enough to help visitors to get by on day-to-day activities. You may find some activities inaccessible without speaking Thai, however there are still plenty to enjoy.

Thailand is among the top tourist destinations despite its low English proficiency. 2019 data from World Tourism Organization put Thailand as the 7th most popular destination globally with 40 million arrivals. The country has been serving more than 10 million visitors annually since the 2000s, and this makes tourism the key industry for Thailand.

Thai language_Thailand tourism ranking

You will face some language barriers without speaking Thai language, but Thai people are very much used to interacting with visitors. Shops and businesses in big, touristy cities have English websites, menus and signs. Most hotels, restaurants and leisure facilities would have English (or translated) information prepared – ask if you do not see one.

Adding to the above, Thai people are friendly like every Southeast Asians. So if you are patient enough to communicate, you can eventually get the information you are looking for. 

Thai language barrier: what to look out for?

You can anticipate a certain degree of communication challenges but most tourism related activities in big or tourist-friendly cities are likely to be prepared for non-Thai speakers. Large operators (of places like shopping malls, hospitals or apartments) also offer communications in English which make extended stay in Thailand possible.

Thai language apartment mobile app

English options are available in some restaurant menus and mobile applications.

So where can you expect to face the Thai language barrier?

Rural Thailand

You can expect a lower level of English proficiency in the more rural parts of the country. Getting by with English will be less of an issue in cities like Bangkok and other touristy cities like Chiang Mai.

Small mom-and-pop and street side shops

Street side vendors or “hole in the wall”-style mom and pop shops are generally less prepared to serve non-Thai speakers. Some shops may be equipped just enough to tell you that you are purchasing chicken, but you may not get the remaining details like it is a “grilled chicken marinated with cumin served with sticky rice”.

Local markets

Thailand is famous for street food and night markets. Chatuchak market and Train night market are both famous and the vendors are used to serving non-Thai speaking customers. However, other local markets in Thailand are not as ready to serve non-Thai speaking customers. 

Thai language local market

Public buses

We recommend avoiding public buses in general (a combination of Thai language constraint and safety concerns). BTS and MRT trains are a lot more well equipped to serve foreign visitors. Taxi is also a valid alternative, some drivers are used to serving non-Thai customers even when their English proficiency might be very basic. It would still be a good idea for you to know how to pronounce your destination in Thai or have a map (or Google Map!) opened when getting on a taxi. 

Tips and tools to help with the Thai language barrier

Get a local tour guide

Getting yourself a local tour guide is probably the most effective way to overcome the language barrier in Thailand. Some guides also come with a private car and this would be the most convenient way to get around.

Thai locals are friendly so you should not be reserved about asking for communication assistant. For example, if you are having difficulty talking to a shop keeper, trying asking local youth for help.

Make use of Google Map and Facebook

Google map and Facebook pages contain a lot of information on shops and restaurants. You can look at their menu along with review & rating by checking Google or Facebook ahead of your visit. This popular noodle spot for example, has their whole menu in Thai, English and Chinese which is clearly posted on their Google map page.

Install Google translate

While using Google translate sounds like a no brainer, you would be surprised by the accuracy of the Thai language pronunciation produced by Google translate.

Thai language google map

Learn useful words in Thai language that are borrowed from English

Learning Thai is the most effective way to overcome the Thai language barrier. However, this may be too time consuming if you are not planning to stay in Thailand for an extended period. Having said that, you will have a much easier time by learning some Thai vocabularies. Thai people understand “Thai” vocabularies that are borrowed from English!

  • Beer
  • Computer
  • Charger
  • Chocolate
  • Card
  • Golf
  • Kilogram
  • Kilometer

Should Thai language deter you from visiting Thailand?

No! do not let the language barrier deter you as there is still plenty to enjoy in Thailand. You can have a much better experience by doing some preparation ahead of time. You should also note that traveling has since changed due to coronavirus so be sure to check out Thailand’s latest travel restrictions as part of your preparation.

Planning your first trip to Southeast Asia but have language barrier concern? You can consider other countries like Singapore, Indonesia or the Philippines as your first destination (But do not forget Thailand!).

Other materials for Thailand travel preparation:

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Thailand travel restriction Featured

Thailand travel restriction during Coronavirus pandemic

Categories Thailand, ,

Understand the latest of Thailand travel restriction measures during Coronavirus pandemic

Despite the Coronavirus situation, Thailand still welcomes visitors who want to enter the country. But obviously, travelling there will not be as easy as before. You will need to prepare a checklist for entry approval, Coronavirus swab test, yada yada.. before you travel. And upon arrival, you certainly will need to undergo quarantine instead of heading straight to your destination, unlike how it was in the pre-Coronavirus era. Here you will find summary of Thailand travel restriction, tips for travelers entering Thailand and the latest update on travel arrangement for vaccinated travelers.
Updated review using Thailand Pass as of December 2021 can be found here.

Table of Contents

Thailand travel restriction during Coronavirus pandemic for foreign visitors

Thailand allows foreign visitors to come both for leisure and business purposes during the Coronavirus period as long as you have the relevant visa and satisfied all of the country’s restrictions. 

There are certainly restrictions in place when you come to visit Thailand. The best place to check what travel restrictions you need to adhere to is the Thai embassy website from your place of departure. The website will include the most updated information about restrictions for travelers from that country. For instance, if you are in London, you can check the website of Thai Embassy in London for official travel information.

Before you travel to Thailand, there are several things in your checklist that you need to prepare:

  1. Passport and the right visa for your stay
  2. Medical certificate with a lab test result showing that Covid-19 is not detected, using RT-PCR test, issued 72 hours or less before departure
  3. Certificate of Entry (COE)
  4. Medical insurance 
  5. Booking of alternative state quarantine (ASQ) on arrival date

What to expect at the airport? travel document check, health declaration, and transportation from the hotel waiting for you. Thailand country reopening initiative reduced quarantine period to 7 to 10 days depending on whether you are vaccinated. However, the quarantine period is now back to 14 days due to the latest Coronavirus wave.

Preparing for visa, certificate of entry, quarantine in Thailand and what-not

Visa and starting your COE application

Thailand has just extended tourist visa for some countries that are eligible for visa exemption from 30 to 45 days. Once you confirm that you have the right visa for your travel into Thailand, start your COE process. The process should take less than 30 minutes, but it may take 2-3 days for you get preliminary approval. Pro tip: DO NOT book and upload any supporting documents such as flight or hotel booking until you receive this preliminary approval. You can start your COE process here.

Official video for the COE registration process.

Book flight, Alternative State Quarantine hotel, and medical insurance

After getting the COE approval email, you can proceed to book a flight, ASQ, and medical insurance. You can check the Thai embassy website for your country/city for available flights. For ASQ, you can book your quarantine hotel in Thailand via travel aggregator like Agoda or directly via the hotel website. Agoda is a great place to compare prices if you do not have any place in mind yet, or you can also use this sheet that has info compiled by a government agency. You will also need to purchase medical insurance with a minimum coverage of US$100,000 covering Covid-19 treatment in Thailand. You can check out and purchase medical insurance online via the Thai General Insurance Association here. 

Get printable version of your approved COE

Now, you can upload confirmation documents for flight, ASQ and insurance to the COE portal to obtain a printable version of the final COE which you will need during your travel. It would be a good idea to ensure that any details on your COE are aligned to your actual travel date, flight/ASQ booking. If you change your travel date or time, re-visit COE portal again – however when our flight was canceled, we had to go to the Thai embassy to do the info update (which took less than 30 minutes).

Thailand travel restriction COE sample

Book Coronavirus test

After you are done preparing for the COE, you should book the Coronavirus RT-PCR test. You will need to take this test no longer than 72 hours before departure.

Other useful tips: 

  • Get all the documents ready before your travel to Thailand. Also, print this T8 form so that you can fill it in and present it to the officer upon arrival
  • Download AOT Airport application, Thailand Plus application before flying
  • Some airlines may have their own special document requirement at check-in, be sure to check with your airline beforehand

Travel restriction and quarantine in Thailand

Officers at the airport will check the above-mentioned documents upon your arrival. The ASQ hotel will arrange transportation for you so keep an eye out after collecting your luggage and come out at the arrival hall. You will be restricted from making a stop or detour and will be escorted directly to your booked ASQ venue. You will need to take a Coronavirus test upon arrival and during your quarantine period. The regulation will not allow you to leave your room during the quarantine, however some hotel may set aside an on-premise relaxation area for you so do check with your hotel. After completing the quarantine, you will get an official quarantine/coronavirus test certificate and you will be good to go!

If you are curious about what’s Thailand quarantine experience is like, feel free to check our Thailand quarantine review.

Arrangement for vaccinated traveler / vaccinated passport

Vaccine passport has been a hot topic among travelers, however we may need to wait for some time before we can travel using this. Right now vaccination will only help to reduce your quarantine period when traveling to Thailand. There is a road map to removing quarantine requirement for vaccinated travelers in October 2021, however this is subject to change. 

Our verdict on Thailand travel restriction

Thailand travel restriction during coronavirus time may be confusing to many people. So many documents and approval to prepare for, and such requirement can change anytime depending on the decision by the government. Based on our own experience, this gets easier with a guide or a checklist hence we hope you find this piece of content useful. Lastly, with quarantine requirement in Thailand (and potentially in your own country on the way back), a longer trip to Thailand would be more worthwhile.

If you are planning on staying in Thailand for an extended period, check out other resources below:

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Thailand quarantine ASQ room

Thailand quarantine experience during Coronavirus

Categories Thailand, ,

Thailand quarantine: a review of my travel during Coronavirus in 2021

As Coronavirus situation improved earlier this year, I decided to fly back home from Hong Kong. It has been more than 12 months since I last flew. Many things have changed including fewer flights, travel restrictions and quarantine requirement. I will be sharing my Thailand quarantine experience for anyone who is looking to fly to Thailand during Coronavirus pandemic.

Updated review using Thailand Pass as of December 2021 can be found here.

Table of Contents

Traveling to Thailand during Coronavirus pandemic

I am a Thai national, but Thailand is still welcoming foreign travelers so flying there is possible. However, be sure to check Thailand travel restrictions and special requirements before you make any decision.

Foreign travelers will need to obtain an approval, take Coronavirus test, purchase medical insurance, and undergo quarantine in Thailand.

The Hong Kong International Airport was barely recognizable as the airport was really empty. This was a rare sight even during very early morning or late at night before Coronavirus outbreak.

Upon arrival at the Suvarnabhumi airport, all travelers will need to go through a document checking and health declaration process. The whole airport was divided into sections where officers would come, process and tag travelers. For example, I was tagged as a Thai national who had opted for Alternative State Quarantine or ASQ in short. ASQ is a self-booked hotel quarantine and is the only option available for foreign visitors. The whole process was controlled and done in small groups to ensure social distancing. Immigration and luggage collection process was mostly normal, and it took about 60 minutes from landing for me to finally get out to the arrival hall. I was later approached and escorted directly to the quarantine site by hotel staffs.

Process at the Suvarnabhumi international airport and hotel arranged private transportation to the quarantine site.

Thailand quarantine experience at an alternative state quarantine hotel

Alternative state quarantine hotels are hotels that, in partnership with local hospitals officially operate as quarantine sites. These hotels can be found via websites like Agoda and Locanation. I have personally used Locanation to do research as it offered extra details such as deposit amount and hospital partnership.

Locanation screenshot Apr21

Locanation offers detailed information as well as many useful filters.

I chose Courtyard by Marriot Bangkok as my ASQ hotel mostly because I had stayed with Marriot before.

The 14-day Thailand quarantine experience started off with a swab test for Coronavirus. The quarantine duration has since been reduced to 7 to 10days!

The check-in process came after the test and it followed a strict social distancing measure. No visitor of any kind was allowed through the quarantine.

The quarantine room

I was provided with a 35 sqm. room, which I considered spacious having just flown in from Hong Kong.

Some other spacious alternatives include ASQ service apartments. You can find rooms as large as 60 sqm. (some with balcony) at a similar price tag.  Staying at a hotel however, gave some peace of mind on service quality since I will be stuck there for 14 days.

My quarantine room came with hand gel, face masks, a thermometer and dish washing detergent/sponge outside of standard equipment. Yoga mat and weight equipment were also offered as add-ons for anyone who are looking to do exercise.

Thailand quarantine ASQ room

Food and beverage during quarantine in Thailand

Thailand quarantine experience was special due to (delicious) food and beverage selection. Daily meal included breakfast, lunch and dinner. Every meal was made up of an appetizer/salad, a main dish,
a desert and a cup/can of juice and soda. You have about 3-4 Thai/international options to choose from in each meal, one of which would be vegetarian.

Food quantity was generous, not quite comparable to the U.S. portion size but would still be filling for most guests. You can also make special requests to the hotel during order submission. Some of my personal requests were:

  • Soda replacement with a cup of coffee
  • Food to be served hot
  • Meal replacement with a bowl of salad
  • Extra seasoning

Courtyard staffs were kind enough to accommodate all of my requests.

The food was great and the room had ample supply of water bottles, tea bags and instant coffee. You can also choose to pay extra to have a Nespresso machine. You are, however not allowed to order food from outside so no GrabEat (UberEat equivalent).

What to do if anything is missing? you can order food from the dinning menu or ask the hotel to make a run to convenient stores.

Thailand quarantine food

Meals were served with plastic utensils until the result of the first swab test came out.

Daily quarantine routine

Every day fell roughly into a similar routine during my stay at Thailand ASQ. I kept myself busy with work, but outside of work hour the room came equipped with a smart TV (with Netflix available. The hotel can also lend a HDMI cable for laptop connection (for free), Playstation 4 was also available but at a fee.

I had to submit meal order (once per day) via Google form and measure /submit temperature reading (twice per day) via a mobile app.

Guests were not allowed outside of the room in general. However, I got to step out of the room briefly during the 2nd and 3rd Coronavirus tests. Guests were invited to take turn at relaxation area after their 2nd test came back negative (their rooms will be cleaned in the meantime).

 

The verdict on ASQ quarantine in Thailand

Thailand quarantine using ASQ was extremely comfortable, but it also came at a monetary cost. Thailand has shortened the quarantine period from 14 days to 7-10 days, however this is not being implemented right now due to an on-going third wave of Coronavirus.

If you are looking to travel to Thailand during Coronavirus pandemic, make sure to do your research about your quarantine site and prepare yourself accordingly (for example bring your caffeine fix, your favorite books, sauce/seasoning from your home country, laundry powder etc.). Apart from Coronavirus quarantine measure, feel free to check our other posts about Thailand safety tips.

Other useful posts about Thailand:

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn