If so, then what?

Mrs. Sigmund and I want to resume our retirement travel before we need walkers. Some countries allow tourists, but we’d need a covid test leaving the states and/or arriving overseas. We’re both getting shot #2 next week, I’m concerned about bogus test results.

I’m also concerned about losing airline ticket money, hotel deposits, tour group fees, etc. I’m not confident about getting a refund after canceling with zero notice. Being stuck in quarantine in a foreign country is another challenge.

Has anyone failed a covid test overseas?

You could probably find the exam answers online. Maybe a small fee...

I went to Cozumel, Mexico late Aug 2020 and Playa del Carmen, Mexico Feb 4 - 15, 2021. No test required to enter Mexico, but we had to take a COVID test within 72 prior to returning to the US. My family of 4 passed. These were tourist areas and they are super careful about COVID. We had a great time. My 10 YO son is now a certified open-water SCUBA diver! (Class work here in the U.S., open water in MX)

quote:

Originally posted by Sigmund:
We’re both getting shot #2 next week, I’m concerned about bogus test results.

From the vaccine specifically? If so, don't be. Unlike traditional vaccines that involve injecting you with an inert form of the virus, neither of the "2 shot" vaccines - Pfizer or Moderna - use actual coronavirus. Instead, they're training your body to detect and attack a specific protein found on the outside of the virus. No actual coronavirus is entering your body.

quote:

Originally posted by RogueJSK:

quote:

Originally posted by Sigmund:
We’re both getting shot #2 next week, I’m concerned about bogus test results.

From the vaccine specifically? If so, don't be. Unlike traditional vaccines that involve injecting you with an inert form of the virus, neither of the "2 shot" vaccines - Pfizer or Moderna - use actual coronavirus. Instead, they're training your body to detect and attack a specific protein found on the outside of the virus. No actual coronavirus is entering your body.

Sorry, that was poorly written. I wasn't assocating our shots with a future test. My concern is landing somewhere, "failing" a test even though we do not have covid, and then losing $$ on the trip as well as a 14 day quarantine.

Yeah, my wife failed her first rapid test while my kids passed. They reran her test 3 more times and was negative each time. Freaked us out as it would have been a major PITA otherwise.

quote:

Originally posted by Sigmund:

quote:

Originally posted by RogueJSK:

quote:

Originally posted by Sigmund:
We’re both getting shot #2 next week, I’m concerned about bogus test results.

From the vaccine specifically? If so, don't be. Unlike traditional vaccines that involve injecting you with an inert form of the virus, neither of the "2 shot" vaccines - Pfizer or Moderna - use actual coronavirus. Instead, they're training your body to detect and attack a specific protein found on the outside of the virus. No actual coronavirus is entering your body.

Sorry, that was poorly written. I wasn't assocating our shots with a future test. My concern is landing somewhere, "failing" a test even though we do not have covid, and then losing $$ on the trip as well as a 14 day quarantine.

Sounds like you're a candidate for trip insurance

quote:

Originally posted by Sigmund:

Sorry, that was poorly written. I wasn't assocating our shots with a future test. My concern is landing somewhere, "failing" a test even though we do not have covid, and then losing $$ on the trip as well as a 14 day quarantine.

Your concern is valid.

I travel much of the time, and am abroad at the moment. I received communication earlier reminding us that while we've been largely exempt from many of the entry and testing requirements, as well as some quarrantines, that's changing. The government is sending personnel to do spot checks. They're removing and either quarantining or deporting violators.

I received a note today from someone in Hawaii. He commented that while airline personnel fit in the Hawaii classification of essential workers, they cannot eat out or sight see and are confined to their room except for exercise or picking up meals to take to the room. A Delta Airlines crew was caught by police, who are extremely active just lately, and was immediately removed from the state, and banned. It's not just abroad.

Recently in Italy, I was confined to quarters, could not leave the room, let alone the base, and could not go get food on base. Very strict.

Much of Europe is that way right now. In fact, much of the world is that way. I do know travelers who have been quarantined, and in many countries, if anyone in your party tests, your party gets quarantined. In many countries, you're also responsible for the costs of quarantine. You'll be required to identify your contact information in the country, and if you test positive, or fall under the quarantine laws, you may be required to remain in the hotel at your expense for 14+ days.

Traveling can be problematic, because regulations, laws, orders, and policies often change with little or no notice. If you'e entered a country and the policy changes, you're not grandfathered in: you're subject to the change, which can restrict you there. This happened in China and Hong Kong. I'll be in China in a few hours, and they're fanatical about it. We can't even leave the airplane to go do a walk-around inspection, without a hazmat type suit on, and it's immediate quarantine if we lay over. Escorted by people spraying disinfectant, in biohazard suits, unable to leave the room...which smells and feels of disinfectant. Everywhere.

I know people working abroad who have been unable to go home to their country, and others who end up in a hotel at home, instead of actually at home, due to quarantine restrictions. It's possible to get somewhere and not get back. It's also possible in some locations to get sent to a "covid concentration camp," where you may not have it when you go, but you may have it when you leave, because you're put in quarters with others who are infected. You don't want that. You also don't want to find yourself treated for a condition outside the US, whether it's Covid or something else, due to medical standards, facilities, payment and insurance or other issues, depending on where you go.

Considerably more infectious and virulent strains are widespread outside the US, in numerous locations. While present domestically, not nearly to the extent that it is abroad.

I have to travel for a living. For damn sure, I wouldn't do it for entertainment. Then again, Covid or not, I wouldn't travel if it weren't for work. In fact, I wouldn't leave the US at all. There's more than enough to see stateside, in a lifetime.

I was just down in Punta Cana. The resort was set up to do the Covid test on site, 3 hours or so for results.

I think they should let those vaccinated skip any Covid testing. That ‘vaccination passport’ should be as good as a negative Covid test.

Things are changing weekly, hopefully things continue to open up.

quote:

Originally posted by tatortodd:
Sounds like you're a candidate for trip insurance

At the very least get a quote and specifically ask about your scenario.

Does trip or travel insurance really cover you when you've made the journey, but then get hung up in quarantine upon arrival? Seems to me there'd be some fine print exclusions on that.

Not yet. In Cozumel in Feb, they offered a deal for rooms when we checked in at our hotel (in case we tested positive prior to departure and needed to quarantine we could stay on site in a separate quarantine block of rooms). We took the deal, ended up testing negative, and flew home. I didn’t really have a problem donating that money - their tourism industry has been trashed and they really need the cash flow. If we had tested positive, it would’ve been a tenth of the cost with the “hotel insurance” and we’d still be able to get room service from any of their 3 restaurants. Soo...

Just an FYI, I feel as though they’ve done a good job managing their island with the protocols in place at all entrances and still staying open for business (it’s definitely opened up more since last summer and even fall). Most airlines and reputable hotels have been very reasonable about cancellations d/t Covid issues (prior to travel..hotels will let you cancel with 24-48 hours notice, airlines have let people rebook without a big ding, or cancel within 24 hrs of booking. No idea about tourist groups).

quote:

Originally posted by Krazeehorse:

quote:

Originally posted by tatortodd:
Sounds like you're a candidate for trip insurance

At the very least get a quote and specifically ask about your scenario.

When I asked about this last year, I was told 'Covid 19 is a known event or risk' therefore it's not covered under normal trip insurance which is designed to protect you from unforeseeable issues like accident, death by accident or unknown illness (at the time of travel) or loss of vacation/flight due to carrier or provider failure.'

As you probably know, insurance is all about the exclusions, which is why, the older you get or the more pre-existing conditions you have, the less that is covered and the more it costs you.

Just got home from a week stay at a Dreams Resort in Cancun. We booked this trip well in advance of the January 26th date requiring a negative test to enter the U.S. (Only required if you're a legal citizen...lol).

We were concerned about getting stuck in Mexico and thought about cancelling, but the resort sent emails saying they were covering the cost of the tests (on site) and would pay to put you and a guest up for up to 14 days if you happened to test positive. They were very proactive in Covid protocols, but not to the point it was annoying. We had eight in our group and had absolutely no problems. Their cancellation policy was also very generous just in case you needed to cancel.

The concierge at the resort said they had one positive test in the previous 10 days and it was an employee. My guess is, unless you're visibly sick and running a sky high fever, you're going to test negative.

I'm more than tired of all things Covid and we've decided we're going to live our lives as "normal" as possible.

Well, you CAN come to UK, but then you have either 10 or 14 days compulsory quarantine at your own cost in an airport hotel.

Could be pricey...

quote:

Originally posted by Pyker:

quote:

Originally posted by Krazeehorse:

quote:

Originally posted by tatortodd:
Sounds like you're a candidate for trip insurance

At the very least get a quote and specifically ask about your scenario.

When I asked about this last year, I was told 'Covid 19 is a known event or risk' therefore it's not covered under normal trip insurance which is designed to protect you from unforeseeable issues like accident, death by accident or unknown illness (at the time of travel) or loss of vacation/flight due to carrier or provider failure.'

As you probably know, insurance is all about the exclusions, which is why, the older you get or the more pre-existing conditions you have, the less that is covered and the more it costs you.

Did you check out more than one? Was it early on in COVID (ie before the market responded with options)? Dozens and dozens of lists and articles for COVID travel insurance. For example, Article found 40 policies for COVID travel insurance.

I didn't say you couldn't get it, I said that 'normal' trip insurance is unlikely to cover it.

I have no doubt that the insurance industry saw the opening and moved quickly to take advantage of it.

quote:

Originally posted by tacfoley:
Well, you CAN come to UK, but then you have either 10 or 14 days compulsory quarantine at your own cost in an airport hotel.

Could be pricey...

Our younger son was married in December of 2019 and we had booked a week for them at the London Conrad Saint James the following May... then Covid hit and of course that got postponed but it looks like recreational travel will not be happening this spring/summer either as I saw that the hotel is currently closed until things at least partially return to normal...maybe 2022...