My 3 Week Experience Stuck Living In A Hotel

Have you ever been imprisoned in a hotel for 3 weeks?

Well I have.

Remember when our world was hit with a little thing called Covid? 

Well, in Hong Kong, the city that I was stuck in had turned itself into a fortress due to “Zero Covid Policy” to protect it’s citizens. I’m talking, moats, curtain walls, draw bridges, torture chambers and stuff…metaphorically of course. (I love you, HK government…please don’t take me away!)

The city had/has one of the toughest Covid restrictions in the world.

At the height of it’s restrictions, all inbound travellers would have to be subjected to 3 weeks of mandatory, self-paid hotel quarantine. This includes a whack of other things, like half a dozen PCR tests in the span of 21 days.

In Dec 2021, I flew back to my hometown of Vancouver, Canada due to the untimely passing of someone close to me. And even though it was not the best circumstances to be going home, being back for the first time in 2 years AND without the responsibilities of my kids and husband was pretty friggin’ amazing! (sorry not sorry guys).  Story about the trip is for another post.

But returning meant enduring 3 weeks in a hotel. 

We weren’t allowed to open any windows or take one step out of our front door without being dragged off to some government facility. Meals were delivered to you. Nothing was allowed to leave your hotel room unless it was garbage or dirty laundry.

Did I mention I was also sharing the room with 2 grown adults?!

At first I thought I would make a quick post on a Facebook Group called Hong Kong Quarantine Support Group (now *Hong Kong Support Group) about my experience of my stay. Then as the quarantine got longer, my posts got a bit more outrageous.  Ya…needless to say, there were some unforgettable moments I’ve come to regret openly sharing online.