What is quarantine really like?

[HokitikaGold]

Hi there all.

I am seeking members knowledge as I am confused by government websites. I want to understand exactly what "quarantine" is like if returning to Australia.
My situation is that I usually work internationally. I have some work in Central America that is available but I am hesitant to do it due to the "return'.

My understanding is that anyone coming back has to undergo a 2 week quarantine. I both agree and am happy with that. I understand that it would be at my cost. But what is the reality of said quarantine? I am led to believe that you are put up at any certain hotel, and that you remain there for the duration. But what about the finer points - for example internet. Could I reliably keep working from there ? If I want to drink wine can I get it delivered to my room? If I want a pizza can I order one? These things are not clear to me.

Can i smoke in my room? Or "vape'?

 

[dajop]

I want to understand exactly what "quarantine" is like if returning to Australia.

This thread has some good information:

Hotel quarantine experience when returning to Australia

Just wondering if anyone has returned to Australia from overseas since mandatory 14-day hotel quarantine was introduced in late March. If so, what was the experience like? I'd be interested to know things like... What was the procedure when you arrived at the airport? What hotel did you end up...

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

 

[debgow]

Depends on hotel as how good a time you have. We are on our last day of quarantine in a hotel in Cairns after flying in from PNG. Internet is fine. Husband has continued to work 13-14 hr days. We have a balcony but we do not get to go for a walk. A friend in Brisbane hotel gets to go for a walk at least but usually twice a day with a “guard” but she does not have a balcony. We get cereal and fruit for breakfast, friend has a full on cooked breakfast. One thing I am sick of is we get meat and salad sandwiches for lunch everyday single day. You are allowed one bottle of wine or 6 beer per day. You can order groceries and uber eats etc.. or can get someone to drop off for you. Also I needed stuff from pharmac_ so ordered online and they delivered within a couple of hours. This hotel allows you to send washing twice for free. My friend can not get for free.

 

[AIRwin]

My friend can not get for free.

DIY washing in the bathroom with all that time?

 

[Seat0B]

Certainly now people have been made to pay for the quarantine themselves, at a fixed $ rate, there really should be some standardisation of services, quality of meals, size of rooms etc. When the govt is paying, you take what you are given, but if you are paying the same price to be in the Surrey Hills Travelodge as someone else is paying for Novotel or Pullman hotels, then that is not right.

 

[dajop]

Certainly now people have been made to pay for the quarantine themselves, at a fixed $ rate, there really should be some standardisation of services, quality of meals, size of rooms etc. When the govt is paying, you take what you are given, but if you are paying the same price to be in the Surrey Hills Travelodge as someone else is paying for Novotel or Pullman hotels, then that is not right.

The other thing the meals thing, it's $1k extra ($71/night) for an extra person in the same room. Does that mean it's $143/night for 2 persons for catering? They could have a no catering option, I'm sure people could use deliveries and click n collect for a whole heap less than $143/night (eg for breakfast all we would need is a couple of boxes of breakfast cereal, some bread, a few litres of milk, some OJ and some fresh fruit, that's breakfast done for what $80, leaving $137/day for other meals.

 

[debgow]

DIY washing in the bathroom with all that time?

No, only had to wash 2 mugs and glasses, used hand wash.

 

[HokitikaGold]

Depends on hotel as how good a time you have. We are on our last day of quarantine in a hotel in Cairns after flying in from PNG. Internet is fine. Husband has continued to work 13-14 hr days. We have a balcony but we do not get to go for a walk. A friend in Brisbane hotel gets to go for a walk at least but usually twice a day with a “guard” but she does not have a balcony. We get cereal and fruit for breakfast, friend has a full on cooked breakfast. One thing I am sick of is we get meat and salad sandwiches for lunch everyday single day. You are allowed one bottle of wine or 6 beer per day. You can order groceries and uber eats etc.. or can get someone to drop off for you. Also I needed stuff from pharmac_ so ordered online and they delivered within a couple of hours. This hotel allows you to send washing twice for free. My friend can not get for free.

Thanks for the post debgow! Very informative.

Regarding the meals, do you get ANY choice at all? Or do they have a sort of set menu with a couple of options?

In any case, congratulations on your last night in confinement - I expect tomorrow will be a very happy day for you both

 

[debgow]

Thanks for the post debgow! Very informative.

Regarding the meals, do you get ANY choice at all? Or do they have a sort of set menu with a couple of options?

In any case, congratulations on your last night in confinement - I expect tomorrow will be a very happy day for you both

No choice at all, and no menu to know what’s coming either. If you have dietary requirements ie vegan etc... you tell them upon arrival. But I must say the meals have been very good, just the sandwiches everyday get boring. We did order pizza one night as a change as where we live in PNG there are no takeaways shops. We are lucky enough that we have friends in Cairns who did some shopping for us and we got bread, ham and cheese and biscuits, nuts etc...(or you can shop online) and 2 other friends dropped off care packages as a surprise with lots of goodies in, so we always had snacks. Hotel owns the pub next door so can you get alcohol and usual bottle shop fare too. Also a lady from the hotel here will go out and about and get other stuff you require too for a reasonable fee. Re getting out, I haven’t suffered at all. Will go the shops once then keep self isolating I think.

 

[Major]

I assume you will have no trouble with approval to leave Australia first

 

[debgow]

I assume you will have no trouble with approval to leave Australia first

No, only had to wash 2 mugs and glasses, used hand wash.

Sorry just

I assume you will have no trouble with approval to leave Australia first

No problem for me to leave Aus. I left Aus in early June with special permission to return to PNG- I have residency there. Hubby will have 2-3 weeks break and he will go back. I’ll stay here due to grandchild due in Nov, then I will go back.

 

[Toula92122]

I'm currently in quarantine in Sydney. I feel fortunate as I'm in the Sydney Sofitel. Great room and feels spacious enough. My husband and I chose to quarantine separately as felt 2 weeks in a room together would be too much togetherness. We are not allowed to leave the room. I do not have a balcony nor do I have a window that opens. That said I do have a view of the city streets and sunlight so I am sure I will be able to make it through. I'm quite impressed by the meals being served. There is a choice of 2 options for the 3 meals a day. Meals are arriving as scheduled. Servings are generous, I have not be able to eat all provided. The food is tasty, varied and well prepared. I believe there is a chance I may even lose weight whilst I am in quarantine as the food is healthy. To stay busy I make an effort to walk around the room and have a variety of rubber bands I can use for leg and arm exercises. For example lunch yesterday was a chicken stew with steamed rice. Dinner was steamed salmon with a miso sauce over steamed rice with fresh fruit for desert. Breakfast this morning was scrambled eggs, hash browns, bacon and a couple of pastries. The food has been tasty enough that I would pay to eat it. I have had a care package delivered and it was delivered to my room within an hour of drop off. It is possible to order room service as well at cost to yourself. Coffee can be ordered from the coffee shop downstairs for delivery.

They are limiting amount of alcohol which can be delivered to a room daily and I would imagine they might be doing so to ensure people don't get themselves into a state if they get loaded. I'm not much of a drinker so doesn't effect me at all. Washing is possible, we were given a schedule on arrival telling us how these things work. Believe it's $40 for 10 items which seems reasonable.

 

[debgow]

I’ve done quarantine once by myself and once with hubby. My hubby worked at least 14 hours a day, so might as well have been by myself