I'm sitting in the lounge at Marriot Marquis in Sukhumvit Soi 22, eleven hours after arriving in Bangkok for the first time in almost 2 years and I wanted to give you all my first hand experience of Thailand's Test & Go Quarantine Program.
So I flew to Thailand with SQ, and the transit requirements were the same in Singapore, as Thailand arrivals, so no problem there. I'd applied successfully for the Thai Pass over a week ago, and that's really all SQ needed after viewing my PCR test and vaccination certificate.
The Thai Pass was easy enough to apply for and I took up their AXA insurance, even though I had a comprehensive coverage already, it was just easier.
So, when I landed in Bangkok, I was stopped mid way to immigration for a document check. I had completed on the plane a health declaration, and had my other paperwork ready. Quick check, a stamp and off to immigration. Bangkok immigration used to be famous for queues, so my APEC card used to be VERY valuable. This time, straight up, no queue and out to baggage.
I'd chosen Marriott Marquis as my SHA+ hotel. So for the 1st night you have to buy a package including the room, PCR test and airport transfer. I found the representative and I was in the car in 2-3 mins. From getting off the plane to being in the car, it would have been no more than 20 mins, and I spent ten minutes waiting for bags.
Marriott Marquis don't test onsite, so I was taken to a drive through test at a Central Bangkok hospital. Just dropped the window, swab taken, and off we went to the hotel.
I've read stories of hotels taking guests to their rooms and not giving them keys and told to come out when they get a negative result to get room keys etc. Not at Marriott Marquis. Check in as normal. Given keys, and sent to my room. No meals were included, so after a short nap, I called room service for lunch, which arrived an hour later (apparently very busy with quarantining guests).
By 3pm, I was on a work zoom call and the phone rung telling me I was negative and hence free to roam. 6 hours after arriving in the hotel, I was clear.
Whilst personally any quarantine is frustrating now, this was simple enough, but I wouldn't want to have to do it for too much longer. Hopefully it's gone by mid this year, let's see.
Another side note...Bangkok is a far cry from the city I loved visiting up until March 2020. I would be in Bangkok 6-8 times a year in the past, so I know it well. Just in the small block I walked today, so many of my preferred restaurants, shops, bars were gone... not just temporarily closed, they were vacant or boarded up. Hopefully tourists return in numbers soon, but it will take so many years to start to recovery.
