As I write this, the Canadian government advises that non-essential international travel is not recommended. At the same time, it has launched a national vaccine passport program with one of the aims stated as making international travel easier. Around the world, counties have unique entry requirements making the prospect of booking a trip challenging. Should you even think about booking a trip? We did and went to Italy last month. Here’s how we made our decision and navigated international travel considering COVID-19.
Should you travel?
The Canadian government says it’s not recommended, but international travel is allowed. So, it comes down to your risk tolerance. People have a lot of reasons for wanting to travel–from visiting loved ones they haven’t seen for a couple of years due to the pandemic to work-related reasons, and yes, for the mental health boost that travel brings.
In our case, we had booked a self-guided cycling trip to Sicily that we were supposed to take just after the pandemic hit travel shut down. The company was holding our deposit, and we wanted to book the trip as soon as it was reasonably responsible.
See Canada’s travel advisories for updated information.
Research the COVID stats for the country you’re visiting
Some regions have much higher case counts than others, even within countries. I would not feel comfortable travelling anywhere with high case counts and an overwhelmed health care system. Even if you have insurance that covers a hospital stay (and you should), if beds are full, you’ll be out of luck. Sure, if you’re twenty-something, you might feel the risk is low of needing medical care, but if you do need it, you’ll be in a world of hurt.
Italy was one of the hardest-hit countries when the pandemic started. It was in total lockdown for months and had tragically high numbers of deaths. Its cycles and waves were months ahead of North America. When we decided to travel, Sicily’s case counts were reasonably low and similar to our hometown of Winnipeg. They had stringent regulations restricting indoor activities to those fully vaccinated (their Green Pass) and masked. That felt ok to us.
Check and double-check your destination’s entry requirements and your home country’s re-entry requirements
Visit the government website of your travel destination to understand what you’ll need to do to enter the country. This might not be straightforward — especially if English is not the functional language. Consulting a travel agent might be your best bet. We had to consult multiple sites and news coverage to figure out that we would have to be double vaccinated to enter Italy (no problem), but it was unclear whether we had to have a negative COVID test. At the time we booked our flights, we did not. To get into the country, we had to submit an EU Traveller Locator form, which you can find along with other requirements on the Italy Tourism site.
Canada required a negative PCR test within 72 hours of re-entering the country, which meant we had to research and plan where and when we’d get the test in Italy. You also need to submit your passport, vaccination status, and self-isolation plans should you test positive via the federal ArriveCan mobile app within 72 hours of your arrival back into the country.
If you need a primer on the types of COVID tests available, North Dakota Tourism provides a clear summary.
Conditions change. Don’t book too far in advance.
New variants, surging case counts, new waves of the virus–you can’t count on conditions staying the same over months. The unpredictability of it all means that booking far in advance is risky, in my opinion.
Requirements can also change. Five days before our departure to Italy, I was researching the ins and outs of the country’s Green Pass when I stumbled upon information about a change in Italy’s entry requirements. It instituted a mandatory negative antigen test 72 hours before entry regardless of vaccination status.
This changed requirement was a curveball, and we had to scramble to find a private testing facility that could produce results quickly. It turned out to be costly ($169 each), which I ranted about for a good long time when I discovered the same test cost $20 in Rome!
Once in Italy, we learned that we needed a negative antigen test to travel within the country via plane or train if we did not hold a Green Pass or equivalent. We were taking a plane from Rome to Sicily. It was unclear when we arrived whether Italian airport officials would accept our Canadian record of vaccination. So, we had to arrange for another test once on the ground as we were not flying straight through. Thankfully, Rome has numerous COVID testing sites in tents adjacent to pharmacies. The test was quick, easy, and, as mentioned above, inexpensive. Note, in Sicily (Palermo), testing was not as accessible. We had to find a private lab for our PCR test before returning to Canada. It was remarkably efficient and easy, though. We just showed up when it opened and got the test within minutes. We had the electronic results in a few hours (they guarantee results within 24 hours).
Plan your travel activities carefully
Depending on your destination, your activities might be restricted. You might need special vaccination documentation to gain access to restaurants. Museums and concert halls might not be open. Figure out what you want out of your trip and plan accordingly. Beach and active outdoor travel seem the least risky.
Again, everyone has a different comfort level with risk.
In our case, half of our trip was on a bike outdoors, travelling from town to town. We resolved that we would eat all meals on restaurant patios or in our Airbnb, unless impossible, and that we would not enter crowded indoor spaces. We confirmed that we would be allowed inside venues with our Canadian vaccine documentation.
Invest in some N-95 masks
I know that it’s rare for COVID outbreaks to originate on planes. Still, psychologically, it felt better to have the most protective mask on my face from the time I left my home to the moment I arrived in my hotel room upon arrival at my destination. Airports, in particular, can be crowded, and there are unvaccinated kids and adults around.
If you plan to go to a museum or a more crowded event, I think an N-95 is the way to go.
Don’t let your guard down when in that vacation vibe
Once you’re at your destination, you’re going to relax. You’ll be having fun; maybe indulge in a few alcoholic beverages, and suddenly things you thought were beyond your risk comfort zone will seem less of a hazard. Know this and prepare in advance.
There were a few times on our month-long trip when we headed indoors. We ate inside four times and toured an opera house in Palermo. The restaurants weren’t crowded, and the opera house was so big it was easy to remain physically distant from others. Everyone in all of the venues had to show proof of vaccination. All in all, we did not face considerable risk, but I wasn’t sure I’d feel comfortable engaging in these activities before I travelled. Once we were on the ground and feeling relaxed, we did let our guard down a bit. I think that’s natural.
It was all worth it! We had a fabulous time, and the pandemic did not put a damper on any of it. It felt amazing to travel internationally again. I’m sure within weeks of publishing this post, travel will become even easier. Governments are getting their acts together, and new testing options are on the horizon.
Have you travelled internationally recently? I would love to know where you went and hear about your experience.
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As always, enjoyed your travel details. Thanks Deborah.
Thanks for reading, Marieta!