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Original poster

I stayed in a quarantine hotel for two weeks AMA

163 replies

Cissyandflora · 15/02/2021 21:29

I didn’t know whether to make a thread about this but I’ve been thinking that maybe people would be interested to know something of the experience. I was in Sydney and spent two weeks at the end of last year. If anyone has a question I’ll answer it!

OP posts:
aweegc · 15/02/2021 22:52

I understand that the U.K. version is "softer" than the Aussie version. What do you think about that? Do you think that yours was really tough but at least it was worth it, whereas the U.K. one will be a bit easier but maybe less guaranteed to achieve its objectives? Or do you think something else?

rawalpindithelabrador · 15/02/2021 22:53

I'm sure if you're wealthy you can be in a lovely suite like Rita Ora.

Original poster
Cissyandflora · 15/02/2021 22:53

@lljkk

How much choice did you get in food... I imagine I'd mostly stop eating. The stress of confinement would destroy my appetite plus so hard to get any exercise.

Did you have a vent if the toilet area got smelly? Could you open windows to outside; wondering if showers made room steamy. Did you think to bring enough clothes or could you send your laundry out?

Did you have plenty of material to clean your own loo, did they ever bring you clean sheets & towels, how did they wash your cutlery/plates, or was it all disposable?

How did you dispose of rubbish?

If you needed something like tampons or paper+pen, was it easy to get hold of, could you order food delivered from outside the hotel?

Did you do an in-room daily exercise routine and what was it?

I wasn’t prepared for the stay because I travelled in an emergency. Only booked two days ahead. I had bought an iPad and a couple of books and some colouring pencils. I didn’t use the pencils but leant heavily on the iPad.

They brought clean sheets and towels after week one.
All rubbish had to be put in special plastic bags and left outside the door.

All cutlery etc was disposable and had to be placed in bags outside the room.

No cleaning products for the loo so the room wasn’t cleaned in two weeks.

Yes to tampons etc. There was a local chemist who would take orders and payments over the phone and then deliver to the hotel.

I did not do any exercises. Well barely anything. I meant to but didn’t.

No vent in loo because all vents were closed because of cross contamination between rooms.

OP posts:
Original poster
Cissyandflora · 15/02/2021 22:54

@marriedtothevicar

DH did this last autumn in Sydney. He got a small suite, with a proper kitchen and a washing machine, and could open his window a few inches. He got a supermarket delivery so he could cook but actually found the food was quite good so ended up eating that. It was hard not getting any direct sunlight into the room to help with his jet lag, but his sleeping sorted itself out ok.

DS did it last September, and had a lovely hotel but a smaller room than DH with no kitchen or laundry facilities. He wasn't working but DH kept working for his quarantine period, which kept him quite busy.

That sounds quite nice!
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rawalpindithelabrador · 15/02/2021 22:54

@aweegc

I understand that the U.K. version is "softer" than the Aussie version. What do you think about that? Do you think that yours was really tough but at least it was worth it, whereas the U.K. one will be a bit easier but maybe less guaranteed to achieve its objectives? Or do you think something else?
In what way? You don't get a choice of hotel at all. But a huge bill for it.
Original poster
Cissyandflora · 15/02/2021 22:55

@PicsInRed

By the end, did you believe you were a hummingbird of some kind?
I’m still not quite over it
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DenisetheMenace · 15/02/2021 22:57

Did you agree that it was necessary?

Original poster
Cissyandflora · 15/02/2021 22:57

@Butterymuffin

So what food were you being given if it wasn't room service? From the hotel menu or an outside provider?
The airlines lost lots of business. The catering companies providing the airlines were employed to serve the quarantine hotels. It was mostly abysmal. I have not had that bad on planes. The hotel kitchen was completely closed. The police ate the same food as we did. We could order out from anywhere we wanted but I didn’t have much money spare.
OP posts:
DenisetheMenace · 15/02/2021 22:57

XenoBitch

Was there any mental health support?”

For two weeks?

Original poster
Cissyandflora · 15/02/2021 22:59

@ShagMeRiggins

And who pays for the food you’re given?
The meals are included in the cost. The whole price is for the stay and the meals, Covid tests etc. It was 3k Australian.
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Original poster
Cissyandflora · 15/02/2021 23:01

@DenisetheMenace

XenoBitch

Was there any mental health support?”

For two weeks?

Yes they have a nurses station downstairs and a nurse would call the room daily and do a welfare check. It was normally very brief but I suppose if I was in trouble they would have helped. Before release you have to be checked by mental health nurse as fit to go.
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Kokeshi123 · 15/02/2021 23:02

It doesn't sound very well organized. I'm pretty sure countries like Korea and Taiwan have arrangements for laundry and cleaning, and apparently the food is very good.

Original poster
Cissyandflora · 15/02/2021 23:03

@DenisetheMenace

Did you agree that it was necessary?
Yes actually! I was embarrassed by the U.K. and the terrible management of the crisis. The Australians and Singaporeans have got it right. (I’ve done quarantine there too)
OP posts:
saffire · 15/02/2021 23:03

Two weeks in a hotel room by myself, with food brought to me sounds like heaven at the moment!

Original poster
Cissyandflora · 15/02/2021 23:03

@Kokeshi123

It doesn't sound very well organized. I'm pretty sure countries like Korea and Taiwan have arrangements for laundry and cleaning, and apparently the food is very good.
Yes there’s lots that could be improved that’s for sure. I think most people would pay more for better food for example.
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Kokeshi123 · 15/02/2021 23:03

And it sounds like that room would stink pretty soon. No windows open, no arrangements for cleaning the toilet? I have no issues with hotel quarantine but it has to be done properly.

Cloudsurfing · 15/02/2021 23:04

What food did you get for breakfast, lunch and dinner? Did you get snacks too? Was there any meal choice?

RaininSummer · 15/02/2021 23:04

The food and lack of opening window sound particularly grim. Did you feel really unhealthy at the end of it?

DenisetheMenace · 15/02/2021 23:05

Cissyandflora

DenisetheMenace
Did you agree that it was necessary?
Yes actually! I was embarrassed by the U.K. and the terrible management of the crisis. The Australians and Singaporeans have got it right. (I’ve done quarantine there too)“

Really interesting. I’ve heard several frequent international travellers saying similar.

Original poster
Cissyandflora · 15/02/2021 23:05

@Kokeshi123

And it sounds like that room would stink pretty soon. No windows open, no arrangements for cleaning the toilet? I have no issues with hotel quarantine but it has to be done properly.
The room didn’t smell. It was quite a large space. And I could keep opening the door. No one could enter the room which is why no cleaning. They are very strict. The police and nurses come to the door but do not step inside ever.
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Original poster
Cissyandflora · 15/02/2021 23:07

@RaininSummer

The food and lack of opening window sound particularly grim. Did you feel really unhealthy at the end of it?
Not too much really. It was nice in a way! But I should have exercised. Still not doing that though!
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manicinsomniac · 15/02/2021 23:09

Sounds horrific!

Original poster
Cissyandflora · 15/02/2021 23:10

@Cloudsurfing

What food did you get for breakfast, lunch and dinner? Did you get snacks too? Was there any meal choice?
Breakfast was the same everyday. A sachet of cereal. Small box of milk. Sachet fruit juice mango and orange. A bar type snack. A orange and poppy seed muffin in plastic. Lunch sometimes rice. Once a tofu grilled something. Often a salad. The bread roll as per airplane meal. A small bottle of water with each meal. Evening meal varied. Just airplane type food. A couple of slices of melon in a box etc.
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Original poster
Cissyandflora · 15/02/2021 23:11

@saffire

Two weeks in a hotel room by myself, with food brought to me sounds like heaven at the moment!
Exactly. It was a lovely big bed too.
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Original poster
Cissyandflora · 15/02/2021 23:12

@Kokeshi123

It doesn't sound very well organized. I'm pretty sure countries like Korea and Taiwan have arrangements for laundry and cleaning, and apparently the food is very good.
We could have sent laundry out but it would be expensive. I just washed everything in the tub.
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