We are a vaccinated couple travelling to Las Vegas later this week. It’s our first time travelling in 4+ years. We have tried to do some research but would welcome guidance regarding the following:
- I realize we need a negative test result taken within one day of travel. Any suggestions for where we can get one in Edmonton (other than price, any other considerations we should be aware of?)
- We are double vaccinated but it has been more than 9 months since we last got jabbed. Will this matter?
- What’s our best option for transport to and from airport? Park n fly?
- It seems like we don’t need a negative test to return to Canada, thankfully, so I guess no tips required on that front.
Thank you!

Chris
Hi Ken, Walmart and Costco are the 2 cheapest places for obtaining an antigen test, and they are fine for U.S. entry. Anywhere with a supervised antigen test (pharmacy, etc) is fine.
The U.S. does not have any limitations on how long ago you were vaccinated (unlike say, many countries in Europe, where it is something to consider).
Coming back to Canada, filling out ArriveCAN before you arrive is about the only difference now from pre-pandemic days.

Chris don't forget the online option, that is $20 for the first person and $5 each for up to 3 more people. It's cheaper than Walmart/Costco as long as you have the free govt rapid tests, and you don't have to leave your house. https://lifecenters.ca/
LIFECENTERS.CA
WM Life Centers | Health Care Your Way

Kerry with this option you still need to purchase a test kit correct?

Jennie you need to supply the test but they accept the free ones the govt gives out at pharmacies.

Kerry thank you!

Kerry what kind of documentation do you get? Do you print it off yourself?

Janice yes they send you a form with your info (you show your ID during the call) date and test results. I just showed it on my phone at the airport.

Kerry just confirming that the US accepts that form?

Janice yes - we used it to fly to St. Louis in March.

Kerry do you know if all countries accept this test? We are travelling to the Bahamas in july

Janice sorry I’m not sure.

Chris what countries in Europe require you to be vaccinated more recently??

France and Italy are two of the more popular ones that want your second dose to have been within the last 9 months. But if you have your third dose, it doesn't matter how long ago it was, and you're considered fully vaccinated no matter what.
If the country is not on the list below, I would assume that they are following the '270 day' / '9 month expiration for your second dose' rule...
Albania, Armenia, Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, England, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Kosovo, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland

Chris in addition to the 3rd dose vaccination, there is also a tracking form they require you to fill out. You can either do it online before you leave or they give you a paper form on the plane. The lady that checked us in at the airport informed us, provided the link and we filled it out online at the airport.

Ken I second this comment! I went to Las Vegas May 6 to 9. I’m not local to Edmonton, but got my COVID test in my city at a pharmacy. Many people recommended Walmart to me if I was going to be in Edmonton the day before.
In Las Vegas, make sure you print your boarding pass at the airport, don’t just do the electronic. When we were there, they checked our vaccinated record then put a red check mark stamp on our boarding passes. With that checkmark, we didn’t have to show proof of vaccination again.

We've been going to Walmart to get our tests done within 24 hours of our flight. You need to book online and pick which store you would like to get tested. It takes 15 minutes to get the results and a print out which you will need at check in. Have proof of your vaccinations for check in at the airport, the Alberta vaccination cards are fine. Dates of vaccinations do not seem to be an issue. We usually use jetset parking and if you go to EIA sometimes there are codes for discounted prices for parking as well. Have a great time in LV!

We used WM life centers to get back to Canada before April 1st when we only needed a rapid tests. Was $25 for two and you could do it in the comfort of home online with them. Same would apply to go down?

Lois yes, we used the same one for our test before we left.

Kerry they were awesome!

Lois agreed. It is an excellent service.

Shoppers Drug Mart also does the testing and gives you the results while you wait. Be sure to check on line for coupons for the parking - most of them are still offering discounts. Jet Set for example does so does value park. When you get to Vegas try to take an uber to your hotel - much cheaper.

We got our tests done at shoppers drug mart. I travelled earlier this month, the airport was packed and so were all our flights. When I was checking in on the way back, I was told I should have had the arrivecan info filled out before check in, they let me go through.

We just got back from the US (Florida) - we paid $5 for the antigen test at Duggan pharmacy. You just have to provide your own tests, but when you arrive the pharmacy does the rest. Bring your passport & picture ID. $5 & took about 15minutes while we waited.
Then you upload all the documents for your airline when you check in to your flight.
On the return trip, no tests but ensure your Arrivcan app is downloaded & filled out. Makes for an easy return to Canada.

Tiffany Rice
Looks like you got most of your info but I just wanted to add that if you aren’t from Edmonton and by chance are booking a hotel for the night before, the new Fairfield inn by Marriott (near Costco and the airport) is usually pretty cheap and offers free shuttle to the airport and $5/night parking while you are away. The Hilton garden inn also has basically the same deal. We got our antigen tests at shoppers because it was convenient but there are cheaper places ($40 vs $20 other places)

Just got back from Vegas a week ago. Went to rexall for a negative test for the way down. 30$. There were only 3 US departures that day so security and customs was very easy. Coming back I arrived two and a half hours before my flight and was at the gate with almost two hours to spare.

Just got back from Vegas. You can do the test anytime the day before( although we never once got asked for them throughout the whole process
) 2 vaccines is enough regardless of when you received them. Fill out your arrive can with flight and vaccine info before you return. The whole thing was fairly easy…

Sounds like flying out of Great Falls Montana would be worth it to avoid the Canadian airport drama

Keep in mind the media sensationalizes absolutely everything to the nth degree. There's no doubt that Toronto and Vancouver have had issues. Even then, real life reports from YYZ and YVR vary quite a bit from 'fine' to 'terrible' depending on the time of day. It's luck of the draw right now for those 2 airports. All other airports in Canada haven't been that bad. The media can make it look like it's chaos across the country, at every airport, for every flight. Haven't heard of any significant issues at YEG (or YYC).

Walmart does the testing for $20
Jetset for parking … was is vegas 3 weeks ago everything is expensive tables start at $50 a hand on the strip
The airline asked for the original antigen papers make sure u have them with you
When coming home took us 2 1/2 hrs to get checked in and through security give yourself enough time.
We arrived with swoop took 1 3/4 hrs to get our luggage not impressed

Lana New York New York 15$ a hand I found.

Lana the average is $25 for back jack basically everywhere, the Cromwell, flamingo, the linq have $15 tables.
Source: I was there yesterday

Lana are you saying when you arrived at the airport in Vegas it took 1 hr and 45 min to get your checked bag? I am traveling with swoop in July and may need to swap my checked bag for carry on, that a brutal wait.

Jennifer it’s got to be here in YEG. Vegas is very efficient and you wouldn’t go through customs there.

Jennifer yes it was crazy we moved to 3 different carousels was so frustrating every other airline including flair took presidence over swoop also our boarding time was 5:25 pm at 5:15 they called for last call just about missed the flight 8 ppl did not make it there baggage was checked but did not make boarding we had to wait for them to take their luggage off international rules

Jennifer I have flown into Vegas twice this year with swoop and no baggage delays. You go through US customs in Edmonton and it’s always been smooth and quick.

Lana, we just came back from the US via Toronto and it was a complete mess, 2.5 hrs to get through customs to get to the US and then got stuck on the tarmac waiting for the congestion in customs before we could get to our gate, there was only 2 customs officers working in Toronto on a Saturday evening
. There was so many delays for flights and people missing flights, it was a mess

We just did an Arizona trip a week ago. You need a negative COVID test done a day before you leave in order to enter the US. They will give you paper documents with your test results - take those with you. We found Costco and Rexall to be the cheapest. You will also need to show your vaccine documents. We printed copies and also had the QR coded loaded on our phones. Paper copies were completely fine.
We always use park and fly - valet. If you go on the eia website to book you can sometimes find deals. There is a shuttle that will take you directly to the doors at the departure level. To come home you go to the middle median , find the sign and the shuttle comes to get you. Easy peasy
Don't forget to download the ArriveCan app. This needs to be completed 72 hours before you come home. If you upload your passport and vaccine records to the ArriveCan app then entry into Canada is much much easier. The upload of your vaccine info and passport info can be done prior to your trip. The remainder cannot be completed until 72 hours before you return home.

I just travelled to the US, I ordered a test from switch health via aeroplan, we took the test at home it was easy, had the results with in 15 min. Just make sure that you check the kit to make sure all the items are there, we had some things missing.
I also heard that you can try shoppers

I have a question, has anyone used the shuttle bus in Vegas? Just wondering if it’s back in use…we were there early April and couldn’t find it…

Book you covid antigen test at shoppers or rexal pharmacy. Shoppers is 40 and rexal is 30. It didn't matter about your vaccinations but upload the qr code from AHS , screen shot it and save to your phone. Download the arrive can app. You will need to complete this and upload your vaccination record before you enter Canada. They will ask for rof this has been done before you enter Canada customs.
Bring a mask to the airport. You will not be able to be on a plane without.

Shoppers Drug Mart $40 for test. Was easy and quick. No test to return. Masks on flight. Double vaxxed timeframe is no issue. We got dropped off at airport and took a taxi home.

Do you have to do the antigen test 24hrs before departure?

Carol for the US you can do it anytime the day before departure, not restricted to 24 hours.

Carol it is technically 1 day prior….. if you leave on a Friday anytime Thursday is fine

Shoppers drugs was about 26 each I think..you just wait 15 minutes in the pharmacy for your result.

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Chris and everyone else, thank you so much for all of the info and tips. This is such a great group. Really looking forward to our trip, especially given all of these little money saver bonuses.
Have a great summer everyone!

Jet Set discount code = HELLO2022

Walmart for $20 and 20 min

Life centres is a company we used last time which is virtual using your own home kits. 20$ for 1st person and 5 for the second. Book online and do it at home. Super easy
http://lifecenters.ca/
LIFECENTERS.CA
WM Life Centers | Health Care Your Way

This is the answer. By far the best option out there.

Sheryl did you have to use a specific test?

Jackie It can be any antigen test approved by Health Canada. Such as those free ones in the green boxes.

Chris thank you. I wish I had known this earlier, we need to test on Thursday and they are booked up. Makes a big difference in price…$40 for a family of 5 instead of $200 at shoppers (we live in a small town and shoppers is our only option)

Jackie they have a list on their website but the Rapid Response the government was sending is what we used

Jackie There are some other options for online antigen testing. Although Life Centers is the only one I know of with a significant discount for multiple people testing at the same time. Azova is $20 USD per person and generally very easy to get an appointment with (large U.S. company). List of 8 companies: https://ydeals.com/where-can-i-find-the-cheapest-pcr...
YDEALS.COM
Where Can I Find The Cheapest Antigen or PCR Tests In... ? :: Ydeals.com

Chris thank you, I will take a look. Appreciate the help!

I used Azova last month before flying to the US, there were tons of available times to book the test and the process was very easy!

We did our tests online. It's only $20 for the first one and $5 for up to three more people, so for more than 1 person it's the cheapest and the most convenient. They accept the free govt rapid tests. You book an appointment, click the link for a video call, a nurse watches you take the test and then watches for 15 minutes for the results. A little while later they email you the proof of negative test document you need for travel. https://lifecenters.ca/
LIFECENTERS.CA
WM Life Centers | Health Care Your Way

That’s a good deal! We used a similar company last month, but but it was $25 each. Definitely using this one in June!