Bangkok Trip Experience During Covid-19 Pandemic

Empty toilet at Iconsiam - Bangkok

Covid-19 is something that people are afraid of right now. It affects almost every country and has a lot of 

impacts. Almost every sector got impacts from this virus, including travel. As a person who likes to travel, I have many travel plans that have been canceled because of coronavirus outbreak. It was really frustrating because I need to contact the airlines and every accommodation that I've booked to cancel it and ask for refund. Even though I knew not all of them can give me a refund, but at least I tried to minimize losses. However, there was a trip that I didn't cancel because both flights and hotels were "non refundable" -- a trip to Bangkok.

I planned this Bangkok trip from last year, when coronavirus wasn't exist. Since it's just a short flight from Jakarta (around 3,5 hours), we booked flights with budget airlines. We also have made reservation for hotels from last year, and all "non refundable". FYI, I always choose this option because it's much cheaper than "free cancel". When I heard about this outbreak has reached Thailand, I tried to contact the airlines and hotels to ask for refund. However, as I was thinking, it's rejected. It was really stressed me out. I was thinking whether we keep going or not, because I have kids and the little one is just 3 years old. I can't make him keep quiet and not touch anything around him. It's very dangerous especially at public places such as airplane and airport. At the end, my husband and I decided to keep going, and leave kids at home with their grand parents. I was really sad at that time because it's the first time I left them for traveling. Previously, we always travel together as a family. Besides, actually we planned this trip for kids who were on mid term break.

We departed from Soekarno Hatta Airport - Jakarta and landed at Don Mueang Airport - Bangkok. Both airport were empty, even there's no other peoples when we're checked in. Inside the airplane itself, there were only half of passengers. Many people give up their tickets forfeited rather than continuing to travel abroad. Although the number of cases at that time is not as much as now. As I remember, the case was still under 100 in Thailand. During this trip, suddenly we became OCD persons who cleaned everything. At the airplane, we always sprayed the seats with Naturein spray, before we sat. We also cleaned the table, window, and everything around us with antiseptic wipes. To cleaned our hand, we used hand sanitizer every 15 minutes, and we used mask all the time.

Naturein Spray is a must especially when you're traveling

Arrived at Don Mueang Airport, we're shocked with the situation. It was empty, and there were only 3 flights landed at that time. It was something unusual that I found at the airport. It also happened at the city, Bangkok. This city was empty. It was very different with Bangkok at normal condition, where you can see traffic jam everywhere. We were taking Grab to go to the hotel rather than bus to avoid contacts with other peoples. Before we get in to the car, we spray the seats first -- and we always do that while in Bangkok.

We always use Grab during in Bangkok. No bus and train

This situation made us became more aware with people around us. Even we’re afraid to touch the door or the elevator button. To avoid get infected by coronavirus, we always cover our hand with tissue before press the elevator button or push the door. And the worse, we became paranoia and afraid to go to public places. At the end, we spent more time at hotel room than outside. Once we went out, it only for lunch or dinner. Sometimes when we felt lazy to go out (because of many “preparation”), we just ordered some food and drink from Grab Food. 

Our first dinner was at the hotel room and delivered by Grabfood

(Notes : When you travel to South East Asia, make sure you download Grab application on your phone. Not just for transportation, but you also can order food through this application. It really useful.)

Peoples were waiting in line for mask and some food as a help at Central World, Bangkok

How’s the situation in Bangkok?

Well, even though the last time I visited Bangkok was in 2014, but I know for sure Bangkok is a crowded city. As the capital city of Thailand, Bangkok become a city that never sleep. Traffic jam all the time, crowd in public places, and the night market always full with tourist that craving for Thai street food. But because of Covid-19, the situation was totally different. 

First, about the airport situation. As I was saying before, the airport situation was really creeping me out. But honestly, deep down in my heart I felt safe. Because the fewer people around us, the less likely it is to be infected with Covid-19.

Next, we were surprised with the street situation - where there was no traffic jam at all. Only in 30 minutes, we could reach the hotel which located at Pratunam area. As you know, Pratunam is a crowded area and the traffic jam is a normal “sightseeing” here. I remember the last time I went to Bangkok, I also stayed at Pratunam area and it took almost 1 hour to reach Don Mueang Airport.

About the hotel situation, we stayed at Berkeley Pratunam Hotel. The lobby looked normal and I could see many tourists came and stayed at this hotel. It was at the middle of March where the case was not as much as now. However, when I went into the swimming pool area, it was empty. 

Bar at the swimming pool Berkeley Pratunam Hotel

Beautiful morning view 

At the next day we went to Central World shopping mall for lunch, and another surprise was waiting. The Trimurti Shrine in front of the shopping mall that usually packed of peoples praying, it’s empty. Even when we walked inside the shopping mall at the lunch time, it’s also empty. After lunch, we went to Platinum Fashion Mall at the next building to shop little bit. FYI, Platinum Fashion Mall know as a place that never be quiet. Peoples (especially tourists) like to go to this mall for shopping because they sell everything in affordable prices. However because of Coronavirus, this place was also empty. Even the food court also there’s no visitor. 

Food court situation at Central World

A candid picture of me at the food court of Plartinum Fashion Mall. As you can see behind me, there were no other peoples. Although it's lunch time

(Notes : food court at Platinum Fashion Mall known as one of the best food court in Bangkok. Almost every food stall in here sell delicious meal.)

Empty racks at Tesco Lotus grocery store

At this trip we also visited new shopping mall in Bangkok - Iconsiam. This shopping mall is really huge and beautifully located at the side of Chao Phraya river. The situation at this place was really surprising me. It's really quiet, and even it looks like that we're the only visitor here. 

The situation at Iconsiam shopping mall

This kind of situation made us couldn't enjoy this trip. While usually we wanted our trip to not ended soon, this time we wanna back to our country and just stay at home as soon as possible. In addition to the tense situation, we also wanted to go home quickly because we wanted to be with our children. We couldn’t enjoy this trip anymore. 

How we look during in Bangkok

One day before our flight back supposed to be, I got an email that my flight back got cancelled. At the same time, I also heard news that Indonesia will have travel ban at the next day. It’s like a destiny for us to back home earlier. So we bought flight tickets back for that day immediately. The flight ticket cost 4 times higher than usual, but there’s no other options for us. I didn’t want to stay for another day because I was afraid if suddenly there’s no more flight available and I couldn’t back to our country. 

Leaving Bangkok earlier and changed the flight. We were flying back from Suvarnabhumi Airport

That’s our last trip experiences, that we will never forget in our whole life. Honestly I really miss traveling right now. But what can we do?? We can’t travel until this pandemic has ended. So please, if there’s nothing important things to do, don’t go out. Just stay at home until the virus really gone, and we can back to our routines. I’m so happy to see the situation in European countries that got better right now. I hope other countries also will be better, and we can say “Bye!” to Coronavirus.