Jesus. Pays to shop around I guess. Hope it's not filled with caveats in the fine print.
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Define nice? Last thing I want to do on vacation is spend half my day prepping and cooking meals, and cleaning up. Especially if I have to fly an extra 5 hours with a 1 year old to get there. It's pretty nice to walk into an all inclusive and just enjoy my time, instead of pretending I'm still at home but with warmer weather. To each their own though.
Jamaica certainly had nicer views, but not enough to warrant flying all the way to Toronto and screwing around there before even getting on the actual flight to our destination.
who said anything about cooking your own meals
I like Mexico. But that may not be the greatest vote of confidence given my track record.
So it seems like i got my wish. Got really sick with runny nose, headache, etc last night. And rapid test this morning showed a hint of positive. So great, I'll get a PCR and have a free pass for travel. But fuck me if i can find somewhere to get a test. AHS self assessment tool doesnt qualify me for a test. Cant seem to find anything in Fort Mcmurray where I can just pay privately that isnt specifically catered to business.
I called Drivercheck and they got me an appointment in half an hour. Drove down, they came out and did the test in my car through the window. Test result took 3 days, but it was positive. Super easy to just modify the info on the lab paperwork they sent me, so I guess I should start a blackmarket business just selling positive test results to travellers up here.
If you're talking about the process for the CBSA to certify you to come home. It sounded simple from what I read somewhere. When ArriveCan asks for your sample results, you can just select that you're using a positive result from Canada. Then it clears you to fly when you put the info in.
Shitty thing is I literally just purchased those self tests from WestJet /Azona like the day before I got sick. $230/USD for both of them with the video call included. I don't know if there is a market to sell these on Kijiji or something? They're no good to me now.
I'm still confused why having a positive prior test result excludes from having to provide a negative test result to re-enter Canada. Is that because there is a residual covid that will show positive even after you are recovered?
Also, do the airlines use the same criteria or do they require a negative test still even if you show them positive prior testr.
This the Azova/Lucira test kit?
From my understanding it is transferrable but kinda grey area reselling. If kit and voucher code are unused why not. Unfortunately I already bought our kits otherwise I would be interested.
Maybe if our kit doesnt arrive before Feb 10 lol. How long did the kit take to arrive?
Did you have to use your insurance in Mexico? Was the $18.32 per day or total? Their call center is a 2 hr wait :banghead:
The Allianz 10 Day Annual Medical Plan states "You will not be paid for expenses that arise from or relate to the following:
• Mental and emotional disorders including acts
of self-harm.
• Illegal acts.
• Abuse of alcohol or drugs including misuse of
medication.
• High risk activities.
• Travelling against the advice of a physician.
• Travel to regions for which the Canadian
government has issued a travel advisory"
The GoC Canada website https://travel.gc.ca/travelling/advisories has Mexico as well as the U.SA. listed as "Avoid non-essential travel". Would this waive the coverage for either area?
EDIT:
I see they offer an additional insurance plan (COVID-19 Insurance and Assistance Plan) that does cover level 3 advisory (Avoid Non-Essential Travel).
Blue cross sent a update saying they still cover travel even against the Canadian advisory's. Though I'm not sure how stingy they are about covering things if you catch covid before trying to return.
DISNEYLAND or DISNEYWORLD?
I don't think this is worth a new thread, but moderators can certainly decide it is and move it out of this Mexico one if they want.
Has anyone been to either Disney USA location within Omicron or Delta times? We have been itching to go since just before the pandemic started (you know... 23 months ago) and I'm wondering what it's like there and if they've sucked any of the value out of it.
Check state rules in Cali vs Fla. Could have a big impact on your enjoyment.
I have wonder if Covid would have fixed the main issues with Disney parks.
Namely overcrowding and lines.
MaxPass essentially fixed that in Anaheim when I was there in 2019. Orlando never really was intolerable because (being a much newer park) it was designed to better accommodate the crippling volume of guests.
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I know there's a huge difference, but I'm looking for first hand experience.
What I really want is the option to pay 2X as much and stand in literally no lines.
I think Universal had that, looked awesome. They even fed you in a backlot.
I've been to both as a kid, go to Florida. Do the Disney thing, see a space launch if you time your trip right, wrassle a gator, kiss your sister. Way more fun.
There's pluses to both and I've been a pile of times as well. In this instance, it's a mandatory completely immersive Disney experience. We're going to be staying in an on-site hotel and really spending a shit pile of money on silly extras like concierge lounge access or whatever else Mickey will whore someone out to do for us.
I will not go to Universal Studios under any circumstances and I don't think I'd go anywhere else in Florida either (on this particular trip).
On a future trip, absolutely. I'm just wondering how the Disney Parks are dealing with these uNpReCeDeNtEd TiMeS
We just booked the same trip for November. Disneyworld with all the extras. From what I've read the restrictions are much the same as here at the moment. Masks indoors, no masks outdoors. What is different this time around is that you have to book the park you want to go to in advance, apparently they are limiting capacity. I already have the parks booked for specific days. If you have a park hopper pass you have to book the park you want to go to that day, after 2pm you can jump to any of the other parks.
Has anyone travelled abroad with a spouse who has their maiden name on their passport and married name on their vax record?
I mean, it's easy enough to prove she's the same person, especially since our marriage certificate is available and she has both her old maiden name healthcare card and married name healthcare card with the exact same number on them, but I know how border control guards and airline staff like a little feeling of authority
No one looks at your vax record other then uploading them when you check in and then arrivecan on the way back. I would make sure the passport and test results have the same name but honestly it seems like no one gives a shit at this point. Came back from Vegas on Sunday and at check in they didn't ask for the PCR results. I asked them after they were done if they needed to see them and at that point she said 'oh right' and took a quick look.
Supposed to be going to Mexico mid next month. Fuckin sick of being cooped up for 2 yrs plus at this point and just don't care anymore. Obviously the guidelines could change by then, but I believe if you're fully vaccinated they do not require you to take PCR tests before and after right now, correct?
https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/en...ate-vip-tours/
It’s more than 2x but it’s great split with 2 or 3 middle class families.
Last time we were at Disneyworld, my kids wanted to leave just after lunch. It's just not that great.
NAT, NAATs and RT-LAMPs are also accepted for re-entry to Canada.
Also for those with additional health spending account at work, see if you can claim your test.
Mine approved my PCR test in Europe last year and they approved the travel LAMP kit that I bought 2 weeks ago.
Beyond meetup in Mexico? haha. We're going to Mayan Riviera the second week of March. So fucking happy to get out of here and dgaf what it takes for tasting but also really hoping they scrap PCR testing. Even anti-gen is so much easier to get at the resorts and often free.
The current rules are no testing to go to Mexico. You'll need a PCR test in Mexico up to 72 hours before your flight to get home. Then at Calgary they "randomly" choose to test people though apparently they've been randomly selecting nearly everyone. The second test is free but you have to isolate until you get the results. It's dumb as fuck.
Another "Mexico in March" family here, I would REALLY like it if they dump the stupid PCR test to get back into Canada.
Heading to PV on March 19th with the family.. cant wait.
We were just looking at that place, unfortunately for November as we had kids that had covid and could possibly fail the test coming back. We do not have pcr test proof.
We are looking for a place for 2 families of 5 and the bill is roughly 16-18k. Was thinking about switching to a house with a private pool I havnt found anything cheap enough yet so might have to stay with the resort.
We are negotiating through Sunwing for 8 adults and 2 children. Initially we were going to be 13 adults and 2 kids and pricing was quite sweet. With 8 adults and 2 kids, it's approx. $2300 per person for the suite (with double occupancy).
PS: Isn't there some sort of an exception of people that have tested positive for COVID in the past but are no longer symptomatic? A lot of our group has had covid before so I would imagine they would continue to test positive even if they don't actually have it anymore.
Sunwing. Jesus why do you hate yourself? You know real airlines fly there right?
I am not organizing this one as another family is, but at this point, IDGAF if I gotta fucking walk there as long as I get there somehow. I am just hanging tight and letting them do the planning whatever they end up doing - as long as I get there.
I’m going through westjet, sunwing is terrible I’d avoid it if possible if you can’t at least book your own shuttle to the hotel. The worst thing is sitting on a bus for a couple hours as sunwing likes to do that.
I’m not sure what the costs are for us but I know they are charging much more for kids these days then they use to.
Other than broken aircraft due to extreme cold, never had an issue with multiple Sunwing flights.
Had a return PCR tests today....jokingly asked for a negative result....swab barely entered/ touched my nose......moral of the story, just be nice and ask :dunno::dunno::dunno:
There are clinics/ tents set up everywhere, they could care less about an honest result with the amount of bank they are bringing in.
It was like 2 or 3 days expedited with UPS.
Think I'm going to bring these kits with me anyway, just in case there is some issue with using our Positive PCR tests from Canada.
I would shake my head in disgust at you guys leaving Canada when it's already getting warm here again. But I leave for Mexico on Tuesday and it appears to be plus temperatures in Edmonton almost the entire week I'm gone.
One thing about Sunwing, is you won't beat the flight times with anyone else.
That's literally every package provider. There's always some asshole who gets lost on the way to the bus and decides to sit at the shanty bar there buying drinks while everyone waits on them. Just pony up the 100$ to book your own private transfer with any of the umpteen companies that provide such a service. But it's nice to let the bus know you're doing that so the reason it's waiting isn't because it's waiting for you.
As long as you know on the front end that their baggage weight allowance is well below every other airline on the face of the planet, and that you can't get a proper first/business class ticket, it's fine. But yeah, I've had same experience as you it sounds like. I'd much prefer Westjet, but only Sunwing does Royalton resort packages, so my hands are kind of tied. Although this year I booked Westjet flights on my Avion points, and then just booked direct with the resort, so we got the best of both worlds this time.
Only if you privately charter one of their planes.
Westjet is my preference as well, however they don't do direct flights from Regina and I'm too cheap to fly or drive to Calgary. I could care less about the in-flight experience as it's all about the destination for me. Suffer 6-8 hours for 10 days of relaxation.
Being on a bus for west jet is new for me, I see the option to get a private transfer now wasn’t like that 3 years ago or maybe I always got lucky getting a van or suburban. Either way private transfers are a must for me.
Private transfers are an option with every airline. Just say yes to the dudes at the airport.
I couldn't even get direct from Edmonton this year. I have to transfer through Calgary as well. But it was premium seating on a Dreamliner, so I went for it. Then they changed all the flights and no more Dreamliner now. I was very close to just cancelling the whole thing and rebooking through Sunwing once all the prices cratered for travel.
Is this some special phrasing of “cab” in Mexican?
Booked everything for Disneyland. Suite, passes, Genie+ etc etc.
For years I've been saying that the Grand Californian Hotel is a stupid expenditure of bad value. I don't know what the fuck came over us, but if I booked it yesterday, we would've finally fell into that place. Instead, we gave it 24hr and decided that the additional $645/night (USD) was quite simply, retarded. I mean, seriously. It's a slightly bigger room with an added balcony, but that 5th person will still have to sleep on a hide-a-bed?...? No.
Back to the Disneyland Hotel, it is. I have enough trouble justifying that even it is triple the cost of the Best Western an entire city block away (but off the property). I'm not setting fire to another $800+/day when most waking minutes will be at the parks, anyway.
Now I can buy the entire food cart worth of turkey legs and a set of Lego bigger than my kids can carry - every fucking day - and still come out well ahead.
What a stupid hotel.
What's the story in Cancun airport lately for anyone who has been? Can we tear masks off as soon as we exit the fuselage of the plane? Or is it still expected to wear them all the way through immigration and shit?
And how about the immigration form that's online now? I went to fill it out, but there's no place for the wifes info. Does she have to do a whole separate one?
Mexico is the same as here for masking, and lots of locals wearing them outside.
Keep in mind the re-entry testing....our entire plane was selected, and now have to quarantine until we receive results. Another couple that left early are still awaiting results and are on day 4.
So you have to quarantine upon entry into Canada? At a hotel of their choosing? How long? And it's random?
I don’t think quarantine hotels are a thing anymore. You just get sent home and sternly told not to go anywhere until you get your results.
My will to travel is hovering around zero.
If you are coming from any country, other than the US, and get selected for the re-entry test you have to quarantine until you receive a negative result, which they say is within 3-5 days. The selection is supposed to be random, but everyone on our flight, aside from those with the past infection golden ticket, had been selected.
Your place of quarantine is wherever you provide when filling out the ArriveCan info, so home is fine.
As Killbot said, it's a not so stern mention from the nurse, and a pamphlet that doesn't make it passed the first garbage can.
It definitely fuckin takes the fun out of traveling and instead of being relaxed, you come back more stressed. Haha. IN another month, I am sure the requirements will change again.
For me it's a bit cathartic and just a but of a change than the usual carnage that my professional life is. Pre-COVID, we would go at least 3-4 times a year and a take a couple of longer (Italy, Spain etc.) vacations and that was perfect. Since COVID it has fucking sucked big time in that regards. Even though I still come back stressed from most traveling trips due to seeing what work/court has lined up, but at least the little bit of change helps in refreshing the mindset for a week or so. lol.
Just got back from Cancun on the 4th. Immigration landing was the biggest cluster fuck I’d ever seen there but I think just due to the volume of flights arriving at once. Masks required in the airport, everyone is wearing them but there is no mask enforcement anywhere. Once at you hotel, masks were “recommended”. I’d say less than 50% of guests wearing them indoors. Overall it’s just a different mentality about masking.
Followed by emails and some from our flight have been phoned to follow up on your quarantine.
My sisters family is going Mexico for a week in April. Im thinking about it. But I am also considering two weeks in Thailand instead.
Currently in Thailand and went to Mexico in December. Way easier to enter Mexico than Thailand. We had hours of prep work with visa, Thailand Pass, testing etc to enter but once we got here it has been great!