You should always follow official recommendations and guidelines for travel, I am just sharing what my personal experience was like on my recent travels.
Some destinations have taken the first steps toward reopening their cities to travelers, including countries across Europe and several islands in the Caribbean. I took a chance and left Montreal to go sailing in The Bahamas with friends.
Booking a Flight
I booked my flight with Air Canada with a layover in Toronto since there weren’t any direct flights from Montreal. At the time, I could modify my flight once with no penalty but could only get a voucher if I cancelled. I didn’t have any insurance that covered COVID this summer because of the travel advisories in place. However, Air Canada now offers a COVID-19 Insurance provided and administered by Manulife in an effort to help Canadians travel internationally safely and securely, effective September 17, 2020, new bookings with Air Canada originating in Canada include complimentary Manulife COVID-19 emergency medical and quarantine insurance underwritten by The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company (“Manulife”).
This Manulife COVID-19 insurance covers eligible Canadian residents when travelling internationally on a booking made with Air Canada, for travel until April 12, 2021. Manulife coverage will be automatically included if eligible when you purchase your booking.
COVID Test
Prior to filling out my travel health visa to enter The Bahamas, I had to have negative PCR test results. For my first trip in July, the government of The Bahamas website said the test had to be taken no more than 10 days before the date of arrival. Unfortunately it changed a few days after my first results came in and the test had to be taken no more than 7 days prior to the date of arrival and I had to get tested again.
I went to Montreal’s CDD Hôtel-Dieu and the process was quick and simple. It’s not very pleasant but the clinic was well organized and I received the results the following day in an email saying I had tested negative. When I arrived at customs in The Bahamas, I later found out that they require more than just an email and want to see lab results printed out, if you don’t have all the documents in hand they will make you call your doctor or clinic to confirm.
Knowing all this, I decided to go to Biron to get tested for my second trip. Biron is a private lab and they provide a medical certificate and/or a negative test result attestation for COVID-19 as a travel requirement. It costs 250$ to get the test done and you can later claim the expense to your insurance. The test had to be taken no more than 5 days prior to the date of arrival and I also wanted to make sure I had all my documents in time to travel.
Traveling Restrictions
Before making any plans, see if you're eligible to travel and follow the government requirements for your destination, which may include completing mandatory entry forms prior to departure.
To enter the Bahamas you need negative PCR test results and are required to fill out a health visa. The requirements are updated often so best to double check what are the latest prerequisites here and make sure you have all your documents printed when you arrive at customs.
Upon entering to Canada and returning from international travel, I had to place myself under a mandatory 14-day quarantine at home. All guidelines and latest recommendations are on travel.gc.ca
Airports & Planes
Face coverings are mandatory throughout the entire journey and there are multiple temperature checkpoints at the airport.
There is some physical distancing implemented at the airport, however my flights were full and we were three people per row. Air Canada has implemented CleanCare+ and gave a complimentary Customer Care Kits that includes a 30 ml hand sanitizer, 2 antiseptic wipes, a mask, gloves, a headset, a water bottle, and a snack, all in a bag that doubles as a disposable waste bag. I also had my own disinfecting wipes and wiped down my area (table, window, arm rests, belt) upon boarding, I also were a mask and safety glasses.
The total journey was about 8 hours and everything went smoothly.
