I thought I would share my daughter's in progress trip to a resort on the coast of Mexico, which encompasses the need to get a covid test for return to the US since January 26th.
She flew out on January 20 and is due to return tomorrow, January 31.
She rented a car before she left but on airport arrival they tried to 'up' the price. After a lengthy haggle, she told them to stuff it and found another rental elsewhere, but ended up with less car, which didn't please her.
Flew into Guadalajara, and spent the night there. I should take this opportunity to say daughter is very fluent in the Spanish language and has lived in Mexico city while doing language study abroad many years ago, and works in her linguistics field in the US. She is very familiar with visiting and driving around in Mexico, and many other countries, to my everlasting worry in general, but I have to grudgingly concede that she is very capable of navigating and has done so on 5 continents. Some of you may remember she was in Shanghai and Cambodia back in January of 2020. And she flew internationally after that as well.
The Marriott 7 day certificate, one of several she had acquired during the SPG/Marriott merger, was one of the reasons she was traveling. The other was probably boredom and a need to fly away to a warm place.
Anyway, I've been on the trip with her via WhatsApp and the weather was outstanding. The 7 night hotel was decent and actually very nice for a Cat 4 Sheraton, and she got lots of free food due to status. The ocean was right outside her window. She made a few visits to some cultural bits plus some shopping. The only thing I saw that I wanted was a very colorful chimenea but she complained it would not fit in her suitcase. Oh well.
So fast forward to covid testing. The hotel would arrange for a PCR test with results in time for a flight back for $200.
Daughter sniffed at that and took a ride to find her own test. She got a PCR done (for $48) and then found out it would be Monday before results would be returned. I don't know all the details of why this didn't sync up properly so I'll move forward.
After navigating several options in the $200 and $175 range (mostly private options) she figured out how to get an antigen test at Salud Digna (public clinic common in many local cities) for $13. The appointment had to be made online and it's a pretty popular option, so it took a bit to get the appointment. Good thing she had a car.
Anyway, the results are due in a couple of hours and hopefully it is negative.
She is now on hotel number 4 for tonight, hopefully the last before flying out on American tomorrow. All free on Marriott points and free flights of course, but last night and tonight were booked due to the test search. Meanwhile she is off on another quest to try on and buy some cowboy boots - talk about midlife crisis! (She's just over 40.) I told her try them on and take a picture and leave - she will rarely if ever wear them here.
The point here is that each hotel she was in, was able to help her get a test for a price that would get you back on a flight provided you test negative.
Tourism is suffering and the hotels were empty. She stayed at a Design hotel after the Sheraton and was one of 2 customers that night.
Everywhere she went, there was mask compliance. She always wears a mask. Everywhere was clean with sanitizing being done. She did not feel any more in danger of exposure there than here. I, on the other hand, being a senior would not get on a plane to anywhere right now. I feel safest at home.