What Should I Pack For Quarantine in China?

In case you missed it, I’ve been stuck on the island of Koh Samui in Thailand waiting to return home to China. After 8 long months of waiting, I’ve finally received the paperwork I need to book my flight home. Because of local laws, I have to pay for a 2-week quarantine stay in a hotel when I land. I’m grateful that my company will pay for my stay, but I know not everyone is as fortunate.

What exactly does quarantine mean?

Quarantine is when you’re confined to a particular space and not allowed to leave. In my case, it’s to stop the spread of the latest coronavirus. My hotel will have security guards and cameras throughout to make sure I don’t leave. A sensor might even be placed on my hotel room door to alert staff if I open it.

My current home base is Shenzhen, China. But unfortunately, I can’t fly directly into the airport there. Instead, I’ll be flying into another airport where I’ll complete my 2-week quarantine before flying home to Shenzhen.

 I seriously cannot wait to sleep in my bed. Anybody else miss their bed and pillow when they travel? I do every single time!

During my hotel stay, I’m hoping for a strong internet connection so I can work remotely and can connect with friends and family without any issues. There are no guarantees, so cross your fingers for me!

 You probably already know that I love planning. So I thought it would be fun and helpful to share with you what I’m preparing to pack to survive my 2 weeks in quarantine.

Essentials to Pack for Quarantine

Before jumping on my flight to China, I stayed in Bangkok to sort out my visa paperwork. The city has so many amazing shopping options that I could easily find all the items on my quarantine shopping list. Here’s what I recommend you pack with you if you have to quarantine to make your stay as comfortable as possible.

1.     Fitness – Moving my body every day is essential for my mental health. Even if you don’t realize it yet, it’s probably essential for yours, too. With limited equipment and no gym available, I’ll be relying on using my own body weight, resistance bands, a jump rope, and I ordered a TRX.

If you have enough space in your luggage, you may also want to think about packing a yoga mat to expand the types of exercises you’ll be able to do.

 2.     Books – There’s literally nothing I love more than a real physical book. I have downloaded a couple audiobooks from Audible, but nothing compares to turning the pages of a real book. It brings me so much joy!

I’m packing White Fragility & Small Great Things. I love reading a book purely for enjoyment and often balance that out by reading a self-improvement book, too. It’s really fulfilling and helps you grow.

 3.     Tech – My recent MacBook Air purchase included a free year’s subscription to Apple TV. Since I’m not sure what the internet connection at my hotel will be like, I’ll be downloading documentaries, movies, and TV shows from Apple TV. They’ll be great for when the work day is over and I want to unwind.

New to China? You’ll need a VPN to access Netflix, Facebook, and Instagram. I recommend ExpressVPN.

I’ve been told you need to show various in-app documents to be allowed to enter China upon arrival, so you definitely need to make sure your phone is fully charged. To guarantee it, I suggest packing a battery pack for your phone and keeping it in your hand luggage. You don’t want to be denied entry at the last minute just because your phone’s dead.

 4.     Snacks – I love snacks and eating in general. Depending on your hotel, you may or may not be able to get food delivered to your room. But don’t worry, you won’t starve! Your hotel will leave 3 meals a day outside your door, but they’re unlikely to be to everyone’s taste.

I’m not 100% sure I’ll want to eat the food provided, so I’m bringing my own snacks to keep me going. These include:

○      Protein bars
○      Almond butter
○      Trail mix
○      Beef Jerky
○      Crackers
○      Dried fruit
○      Granola
○      Almond milk
○      Oatmeal
○      Tuna
○      Dark chocolate
○      Peppermint tea

I’ve also packed some Ziploc bags to save snacks and keep them fresh. Your hotel room may or may not have a refrigerator, so keep that in mind. Snacks you can store at room temperature are always best when in doubt.

5.     Toiletries – My toiletries bag will include all the basics, such as:

○      Toothbrush
○      Toothpaste
○      Dental Floss
○      Face wash
○      Shampoo
○      Conditioner
○      Lotion
○      Eye drops
○      Deodorant
○      Tissues
○      Ibuprofen
○      Vitamin c
○      Tampons
○      Towels

 Considering current circumstances, I’ll also be bringing a thermometer, face mask, and hand sanitizer. Since I’ll have lots of time to spend quietly alone in my room, I picked up some beauty face masks from Sephora so I can have quarantine spa nights.

6.     Cleaning Supplies – If you’re planning on prepping food inside your hotel room, you’ll probably be reusing dishes and cutlery. In this case, it’s a great idea to pack some utensils, dish soap and a sponge for washing dishes. You might not have anywhere to let them dry, so a small kitchen towel is a smart thing to pack, too.

If you don’t have 2 weeks’ worth of clothes and don’t want to wear the same things over and over, you’ll also need to do some laundry in your hotel room. To make this easy, pack some laundry soap.  

7.     Clothes – I plan on being comfortable throughout my quarantine stay, so I’ll be spending it in comfy sweats and leggings. I also want to be cozy, so I’m going to pack a sweatshirt and some socks. You’ll spend a lot of time lounging around, so make sure you have comfortable clothes to do it in. There’s not much point in looking stylish with no one to see you.

Fortunately, I can work remotely, so I’ll be on video calls with clients and teaching virtual classes during quarantine. To take care of this, I’ve also packed some more professional pieces. If you’ll have to take any professional video calls, make sure you’ve got appropriate clothes to suit.

Look on the Bright Side

Staying in a single room in an unfamiliar place for 14 days is no one’s idea of a great time. But it doesn’t have to be all that bad. By thinking ahead and packing the right things, you can turn it into a relaxing, rejuvenating break that’s perfect for reflection.

The above recommendations are things I found really helpful to pack. But you can easily customize my list to suit you. Pack your favorite healthy snacks, books you’ve been aching to read, downloads of your favorite movies, and clothes you feel great in and the time will fly by. After it’s over, you’ll actually miss your quarantine break!

What About You?

Have you had to quarantine recently after traveling? How did it go? Did you pack any items that made your stay so much better? If so, share them in the comments! Your suggestions might really help someone who’s in the same situation you were in.

If you haven’t had to quarantine, what would be the top 3 things on your must-pack quarantine list? You never know when you might have to pack last-minute for such an eventuality, so it’s a good idea to have some things in mind.