atst wrote: ↑Tue Aug 10, 2021 5:48 pm The 2k deposit does it need to be cash at departure or can you show Canada bank account with enough fund's to use at arrival?

They actually didnt ask to see my cash at departure in nyc but they definitely needed it upon arrival. Cash is king i assume. but other's would know better

BklynBoy wrote: ↑Tue Aug 10, 2021 6:35 pm

atst wrote: ↑Tue Aug 10, 2021 5:48 pm The 2k deposit does it need to be cash at departure or can you show Canada bank account with enough fund's to use at arrival?

They actually didnt ask to see my cash at departure in nyc but they definitely needed it upon arrival. Cash is king i assume. but other's would know better

All depends on the airlines list of requirements they are working off and the individual airlines staff checking travellers in, many people have been denied entry on arrival due to not being able to make payment via card or bank transfer, etc., so airlines are being cautious.

Asiana Airlines for example even state on their website that cash for the deposit is mandatory, and they physically count it, each time I have been at the Asiana transfer counter in ICN I have personally witnessed travellers being denied transfer to their flight to PNH for not having cash or for having documents which didn't meet the requirements.

CASH IS KING! It's better to be safe than sorry.

I suggest joining the Cambodia Visa and Work Permit group on farcebook for the most comprehensive, current and accurate information and advice on the current entry requirements and restrictions.

Most websites, including official Government, Embassy and airlines sites are displaying outdated and down right incorrect information.

7 mins ago - BREAKING NEWS
Sofitel Phnom Penh Phokeethra added as accredited Alternative State Quarantine (ASQ) Hotel
Sofitel Phnom Penh Phokeethra offers 'Quarantine style - live the French way'

Sofitel Phnom Penh Phokeethra is the latest hotel to announce that it has been accredited as Alternative State Quarantine (ASQ) Hotel – meaning that incoming travellers to Phnom Penh can now book the hotel for their mandatory 2 week quarantine.

Sofitel Phnom Penh Phokeethra – located on Sothearos Boulevard – joins Sokha Phnom Penh Hotel and Residence, Courtyard by Marriott Phnom Penh and Raffles Hotel Le Royal Phnom Penh as ASQ hotels accredited by the Ministry of Tourism.

Promising ‘Quarantine style – live the French way‘ – Sofitel offers a number of different packages for those wishing to choose their quarantine accommodation – starting at $2980 for 1 person / $4020 for 2 people for a ‘Superior Room’ up to $4660 for 1 person / $6430 for 2 people for the ‘Prestige Suite’.

Alongside the accommodation, the package includes:

DAILY BREAKFAST, LUNCH & DINNER

10% OFF ON FOOD, BEVERAGE & LAUNDRY SERVICES

2 COVID-19 PCR TESTS

GREEN SURROUNDING & PEACEFUL ATMOSPHERE

AIRPORT TRANSFER

NATURAL VENTILATION

MEDICAL ASSISTANCE AT THE HOTEL

To book, email [email protected] or call +855 (0)23 999 200

Full details below:

https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50915993/s ... asq-hotel/

Additional hotel added
Sofitel Phnom Penh Phokeethra

Ministry: ‘ No restrictions on British Nationals on choosing a quarantine hotel prior to their arrival in Cambodia’
Khmer Times

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It appears that incoming British nationals who travel to Cambodia are now able to choose one of the 4 officially accredited Alternative State Quarantine (ASQ) Hotels to spend their quarantine in – rather than being sent to a hotel reserved for British nationals, which had previously been the case.

In an official reply from The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Kingdom of Cambodia to the Embassy of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in Phnom Penh, the Ministry states that

‘with reference to the Embassy’s Note No. GB/MFA 68/21 dated 10 August 2021, has the honor to inform the Embassy that the Inter-Ministerial Committee to Combat COVID-19 has clarified that there have been no restrictions on British Nationals on choosing a quarantine hotel prior to their arrival in Cambodia.

The Ministry has further the honor to inform the Embassy that the launch of quarantine hotel reservation service for travelers entering Cambodia through Phnom Penh International Airport, as stipulated in the Press Release dated 22 July 2021 of the Inter-Ministerial Committee to Combat COVID-19 (as attached herewith), is applicable to all travelers who wish to use this service’

Previously, British nationals had not been able to use the ASQ system – consisting of Sokha Phnom Penh Hotel and Residence, the Courtyard by Marriott Phnom Penh, Raffles Hotel Le Royal Phnom Penh and Sofitel Phnom Penh Phokeethra.

Instead they had been automatically sent to the OK Boutique Hotel on St 174 in Phnom Penh.

It is not immediately clear if British nationals who do no not choose one of the ASQ Hotels will be still sent there.

https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50926464/m ... -cambodia/

PSD-Kiwi wrote: ↑Tue Aug 10, 2021 8:51 pm Most websites, including official Government, Embassy and airlines sites are displaying outdated and down right incorrect information.

Can confirm. I've been in and out (like you it seems) multiple times during the pandemic, and was pretty sure I had the situation sorted. A few weeks ago I followed the same guidance I had seen on all of these sites, only to get turned around halfway there by my connecting airline. It seems the two airlines (the one I boarded with, and the one I needed to connect to) couldn't even agree whether or not my documentation met the criteria. I had checked all of the airline and embassy information, but had been told that while I was en route, the test requirements had changed (the new passport number requirement - I did have all of the other requirements met and verified).

Unfortunately, my transit airport was Narita, and there was no way to get a new same day PCR test issued owing to Japan's strict requirements and their lack of on-site facilities. I had previously been going through Seoul, which is much better equipped to deal with these kinds of situations and knows exactly what Cambodia wants to see.

I came back the other day and decided to take this program up this time, with Courtyard. The $2000 deposit was still very much required in order to board the plane (as @PSD-Kiwi says above, it was physically counted), but not required upon landing once I showed my ASQ paperwork. An inspector will look over your ASQ letter before sending you onward to immigration. I imagine if they don't like your letter then they'll send you the other way to the banks. The private airport transfer was very well organised, and it appeared other hotels had some problems. Overall the experience was much smoother than going to Sokha - both from the airport and upon arrival at the hotel.

Connectivity had been a huge issue for me for work at Sokha (both in terms of wifi and mobile data reception), so Courtyard beats that both in terms of its wifi speed and also its central location meaning that service is much better. This is the justification for me to book the ASQ as I need to work during the quarantine period. Paying a little more money is worth it because you still need to pay a lot of money to end up at Sokha (or someplace worse), only to not have good enough connectivity to do much.

The food wasn't bad at Sokha, but the volume and quality of food does appear to be better at Courtyard, and there's not really much shortage in terms of variety and also things that can be ordered to the room (including a decent mini-bar/snack variety which is included in the package, but not alcohol). No complaints about the food, although I have been told a few dishes to avoid by others who have stayed here. Khmer dishes are much more reliably good.

They are requiring you to report a self-temperature check every day (I guess the original plan was for there to be a nurse coming for daily checks but that was deemed unsafe), and unlike my last experience at Sokha, absolutely no documents or packages at all are allowed in or out. For work purposes, that's quite difficult, but I suppose that's a result of people trying to smuggle in things they shouldn't be smuggling. The rooms themselves are much cleaner and nicer (and obviously newer) than Sokha, but quite a bit smaller. Personally I don't care about not having a balcony or walking around the hallways, but more space in the room would be good for 14 days. I don't know how it would be possible to quarantine here with multiple people unless you had a much larger room, and I know the costs for that go up quite significantly.

what did it cost ya for the 14 days/nights that you pre paid?

Stakeholders laud Cambodia’s ASQ hotel scheme
By Marissa Carruthers
/ Posted on 22 September, 2021 15:56

The launch of Cambodia’s alternative state quarantine (ASQ) hotel scheme is a welcome move following a raft of complaints over varying standards of quarantine options, said tour and hotel operators.

In April 2020, Cambodia introduced a mandatory 14-day quarantine for all arrivals. This was only available at registered hotels randomly allocated upon landing at Phnom Penh International Airport, with standards vastly varying.
Raffles Hotel Le Royal is among four accredited ASQ hotels; Executive Suite at Raffles Hotel Le Royal pictured

Nick Ray, Hanuman Travel product director, said: “For more than a year, it was a lottery and a lot of people don’t like to gamble. It really was a lucky dip, where for some people it went well, and for others, really badly.”

In July, the government introduced an ASQ hotel scheme, with four properties registered to date: Sofitel Phnom Penh Phokeethra, Raffles Hotel Le Royal, Sokha Phnom Penh Hotel & Residence, and Courtyard by Marriott Phnom Penh.

Under the scheme, travellers on a business visa and Cambodians can choose where they stay for the 14-day quarantine period. Prices start from US$1,806 (Sokha) and include a choice of meals from the hotel menu and two PCR tests.

Ray said: “There were a lot of complaints previously about room size and quality, but what was really picked up on and shared across social media was the food standards. With the ASQ scheme, you have guaranteed quality.”

The introduction of the scheme has also proved a welcome boost for hotels that have been left virtually empty since the start of the pandemic.

Garth Simmons, CEO, Accor Southeast Asia, Japan and South Korea, said Raffles and Sofitel have seen a “positive trend” since the hotels signed up to the scheme in August. He noted it is mainly dignitaries and high-level business executives who check in.

Added Simmons: “We are optimistic that business will improve in Q4 and we would expect loosened arrival restrictions early next year with the reopening of the country.”

Marriott also noted a large number of quarantine bookings from existing and new clients.

While the scheme has been a welcome addition, Sinan Thourn, chairman of B2B Cambodia and PATA Cambodia, said there needs to be more choice added to the luxury hotels currently on the scheme.

He remarked: “You can’t limit the choice. The government should open more options, such as three- and four-star properties, and get the private sector involved, especially DMCs and travel companies, who are qualified to provide these services and recommendations.”
https://www.ttgasia.com/2021/09/22/stak ... el-scheme/

CEOCambodiaNews wrote: ↑Wed Sep 22, 2021 3:30 pm Stakeholders laud Cambodia’s ASQ hotel scheme
By Marissa Carruthers
/ Posted on 22 September, 2021 15:56

In April 2020, Cambodia introduced a mandatory 14-day quarantine for all arrivals. This was only available at registered hotels randomly allocated upon landing at Phnom Penh International Airport, with standards vastly varying.

https://www.ttgasia.com/2021/09/22/stak ... el-scheme/

Marissa needs to get her facts straight...14 days mandatory quarantine was first implemented in March 2020, but at that time travellers were only required to stay in the hotel until the on arrival test results were all returned negative from their flight (usually 1 or 2 nights), and then they were required to self quarantine at home for the remainder of the 14 days. 14 days hotel quarantine was only required if any passengers from the flight tested positive.

The mandatory 14 days quarantine in a hotel for all travellers regardless of test results was not implemented until 18th Nov 2020.