A private infinity pool, gourmet meals -- and two temperature checks a day. Welcome to five-star quarantine in Phuket, where wealthy tourists can live in luxury while obeying some of the world's strictest anti-coronavirus measures.

After banning visitors for six months, Thailand is reopening to a small number of holidaymakers, with the first arriving on the southern resort island in the coming weeks.

But before enjoying the beaches, the 300 tourists from China and Scandinavia will have to complete 14 days of quarantine, including two coronavirus tests.

"It will be comfortable but I am afraid I might be anxious because of the confinement," said Jean-François, a French retiree living in Sweden who hopes to escape the winter in the kingdom.

"I do wonder if Thailand is doing a bit too much," he said.

At The Senses Resort overlooking Phuket's Patong Bay, 16 villas have been specially prepared for quarantine guests. Employees have also received training at a hospital in how to spot infections, and given personal protective equipment to deliver room-service meals.


The resort is one of nine properties in Phuket -- mostly luxury hotels -- with government approval for quarantining guests.

Upmarket quarantine does not come cheap: confinement at The Senses runs to about 170,000 baht, or 590,000 for a family of four. If the Phuket model proves successful, the government will attempt to replicate it in the rest of the country.

Once visitors finish quarantine, they can stay and travel freely for three to nine months on a special visa created to revive tourism.


Before the pandemic, tourism generated 93% of Phuket's income. Today, nearly all hotels and more than 70% of the island's businesses are shuttered, officials say.


At The Senses resort, visitors will wake up to a view of the island's mountains and can swim in each villa's infinity pool. But attempting to leave the room could bring police to a guest's door within 15 minutes, while an infected guest can be taken to hospital within half an hour.

Completing quarantine does not ensure total freedom – premier Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha has said visitors' whereabouts will continue to be tracked via mobile phone apps.

But the strict rules have not deterred interest. About 20 people from India and Europe have already contacted the hotel since it got approval for the programme.

"It is effectively a gilded cage," says a 50-year-old Danish visitor planning a stay at The Senses, who declined to be named.

"But it's worth it. After the quarantine we will be able to enjoy beautiful sunsets in one of the safest places in the world for Covid."