What international travel is like right now
International travel! It’s a thing again, most easily accomplished, and in my opinion, something that should only be accomplished, by those who are fully vaccinated. And, Canada has “quietly” lifted its advice against international travel if you’re fully vaccinated.
I just got back from my first international trip since February 2020 and have some intel on how best to navigate the new protocols for travelling.
To find out the requirements of your destination, this is an incredibly helpful tool. Enter in the country of the passport you’re travelling on, whether you’re vaccinated or not, and where you want to go, and the map will indicate if it’s allowing international visitors, what testing is needed to enter, if any, and any quarantine restrictions. Bookmark that!
Every country has its own regulations, and sometimes in places like Mexico, where I was last week, every hotel has its own regulations. Mexico has no requirements for negative tests or proof of vaccination upon entry. Some hotels do. I was required to show proof of vaccination and proof of a negative antigen test. And frankly, even if I hadn’t been, I think I still would have taken a test because it would (and this is putting it lightly) SUCK to arrive in a different country only to find out you’re COVID positive and then have to be quarantined there for 14 days.
So. Proof of vaccination. That’s easy enough. For Canadians and Americans, most provincial/state governments are issuing “vaccine passports” – and if not, you should have received a receipt of sorts when you got your shots.
Negative tests. In Canada, this ain’t exactly cheap. An antigen test, in Ontario for instance, costs $40 (though I saw a post saying Costco is only charging $17 and Walmart $20 – big box pharmacy for the win this time). A PCR test? $150-200 (!). A family of four travelling, and that’s an extra $1,000 on top of the cost of flights and hotel.
Wherever you go, I highly recommend asking the hotel/resort for intel on where to get your COVID test for your return home. Any place worthy of your money will have this information at the ready.
You’ve also got to factor in the requirements for returning home. In the US, it’s a negative antigen test, in Canada, a negative PCR test.
As far as the airport process, it’s relatively unchanged. Everyone was masked, airline staff kept the line moving, once I got my boarding pass I was through security quickly (thankful again for the best travel investment I’ve ever made: a Nexus card). (Note, I've heard the opposite about early morning flights to the US at Pearson because of US border control starting at 6am instead of the previous 4:30am.) Plane was packed, but quiet and calm. And getting through immigration in Mexico was a non issue.
Coming home, I had to arrange for a PCR test within 72 hours before my arrival in Canada. The hotel had a testing clinic on site. Wherever you go, I HIGHLY recommend asking the hotel/resort for intel on where to get your test, what the hours are etc. Any place worthy of your money will have this information at the ready. Do it before you head out on vacation so you don’t have to spend any of your holiday stressing about it.
It was my very first PCR test, and the nurse gave me a tip, telling me to hold my breath as he swabbed. It worked! A slight tickle in my nose but that was it (thank goodness). Results were emailed and texted to me.
Canadian travellers also have to upload the test results to the ArriveCan app, which has to be filled out maximum 72 hours before arrival in Canada. You’ll get a code through the app that has to be shown an immigration when you land.
Again, the flight home was smooth. Immigration asked if I had proof of a negative COVID test, but didn’t want to see it. And that was it. I was home!
Mexico was … fine. The weather was great, the resort, I wouldn’t return to (though its spa was incredible). It was a reminder to choose trips wisely. With all the added work and expense to get away, you’ll definitely want to make sure it’s worth it. :)
