Land Border Opening?

[Jrb1979]

I'm in no hurry to cross the border. While I miss Cedar Point, it's summer here and there is lots to enjoy in Canada. Til mandatory testing is done it's not worth the hoops you have to jump through to travel.

 

[2Lunds]

Only land border's closed! Travel if you're comfortable

(I'm waiting to drive tho)

It's actually not open to non-essential travel, not really. The entry requirements have been loosened enough to make it a bit more convenient for Canadians returning from abroad, however non-essential travel is still being discouraged. The testing/at-home quarantine are still hindering factors for us.

 

[ellbell]

It's actually not open to non-essential travel, not really. The entry requirements have been loosened enough to make it a bit more convenient for Canadians returning from abroad, however non-essential travel is still being discouraged. The testing/at-home quarantine are still hindering factors for us.

Travel being discouraged and being not allowed are two different things. As of right now only the land border is closed

 

[Marek Zyskowski]

I had to cancel my trip that I planned for August 1st. Looks like the land border is not open and it does not look like it will open soon.

 

[bookbabe626]

It's actually not open to non-essential travel, not really. The entry requirements have been loosened enough to make it a bit more convenient for Canadians returning from abroad, however non-essential travel is still being discouraged. The testing/at-home quarantine are still hindering factors for us.

The US border folks at Pearson knew we were going to Disney and didn’t care. Maybe they figure that‘s essential?

And the quarantine for vaccinated travelers returning by air ends July 5, doesn’t it? So we’re down to just the testing, and maybe that will disappear within the next months or so too.

 

[Madame]

DH was looking at the OHL schedule. No idea if they’re more in the know than the rest of us, but not until Nov are there cross-border games scheduled.

 

[KNovacovschi]

DH was looking at the OHL schedule. No idea if they’re more in the know than the rest of us, but not until Nov are there cross-border games scheduled.

But why would it show earlier seeing as the season doesn’t even begin until October. I wouldn’t use that as a tool to determine when the border will reopen.

 

[Madame]

But why would it show earlier seeing as the season doesn’t even begin until October. I wouldn’t use that as a tool to determine when the border will reopen.

Dunno, but he found it odd that there was zero cross-border play until Nov. Maybe they’re hedging their bets.

 

[HappilyEverAfter80]

We are now booked (WDW) flights and all for mid August, all members of the family going will be fully vaccinated. If land border opens we might drive instead, but I decided we are not waiting even if we have to deal with tests. I have family and friends in Europe and USA who have been travelling (fully vaxxed) safely for a few months now. We first tried to book a few things in Canada this summer. It’s A) very very limited especially in Ontario and B) super expensive. We looked at 2 nights closer to home Blu Mountain, over $1000 for 3 ppl including lodging and some outdoor attractions they have but not including food. Deerhurst resort we love in Muskoka is like $700 a night and it includes just lodging. Niagara Falls has decent deals on lodging in July but all indoor attractions are closed. I love It when people say to explore Canada this summer…unless you camp or own a cottage, options are super limited. I think we are all watching what happens in the next few weeks with the land border and when it opens, there will be those roaring to go right away and those that are ok waiting. I am thinking the land border might open late August or beginning of September. I hope our mid August trip happens and that we’ll be booking another one in the late Fall. If land border border opens sooner I’ll be pleasantly surprised

 

[HappilyEverAfter80]

The US border folks at Pearson knew we were going to Disney and didn’t care. Maybe they figure that‘s essential?

And the quarantine for vaccinated travelers returning by air ends July 5, doesn’t it? So we’re down to just the testing, and maybe that will disappear within the next months or so too.

When did you go if I may ask? How was it?

 

[bookbabe626]

When did you go if I may ask? How was it?

Our trip was June 5-13. It was awesome, even staying at CSR rather than our usual fav YC. It felt like having a normal vacation almost. Flew AC from YYZ to MCO, then Frontier MCO to BUF, car service BUF to home. Smooth easy travel all the way. No issues with testing at any point in the journey. Masks were a bit annoying in the heat, but they were in the process of dropping that requirement so we really only needed to wear them indoors. DH works from home and I’m mostly retired, so no issues with doing the 14 day quarantine, although they’re a bit excessive with the multiple times a day app notifications and phone calls.

Glad the quarantine is being dropped, since we currently plan to go back over the August long weekend, and again at Labour Day. That’s our usual style of trip, frequent long weekends rather than less frequent longer trips. DH has elder care issues, so being away for a long period of time is hard for us logistically.

 

[HappilyEverAfter80]

Our trip was June 5-13. It was awesome, even staying at CSR rather than our usual fav YC. It felt like having a normal vacation almost. Flew AC from YYZ to MCO, then Frontier MCO to BUF, car service BUF to home. Smooth easy travel all the way. No issues with testing at any point in the journey. Masks were a bit annoying in the heat, but they were in the process of dropping that requirement so we really only needed to wear them indoors. DH works from home and I’m mostly retired, so no issues with doing the 14 day quarantine, although they’re a bit excessive with the multiple times a day app notifications and phone calls.

Glad the quarantine is being dropped, since we currently plan to go back over the August long weekend, and again at Labour Day. That’s our usual style of trip, frequent long weekends rather than less frequent longer trips. DH has elder care issues, so being away for a long period of time is hard for us logistically.

That’s great to hear! We are definitely waiting until quarantine is dropped (DH runs a business outside the home) and now that it will be for fully vaccinated we are booked Aug 15-22! We are flying YYZ to MCO round trip but if land border opens we might cancel flights and drive as I’m off for 2.5 weeks in August. We stayed in CSR in 2019 and loved it too. This time we are trying CBR because of the Skyliner and well... AKL and POR (our faves) are not open then.
If you take a long weekend trip, just curious, will you have to test as soon as you arrive in Orlando pretty much? The pre-arrival text you need to enter Canada has to be done within 72 hrs I believe?
Also just wondering where you tested near Disney and what the cost was.
Thanks for the info! I’m happy to see that people have been able to take a vacation now. And yes, masks are no longer needed at WDW except transportation I think. Definitely helps when it’s hot and sticky in the summer.

 

[TammyLynn33]

Dunno, but he found it odd that there was zero cross-border play until Nov. Maybe they’re hedging their bets.

My Kid volunteers they have no clue what when how.. he’s not even sure he will be able to volunteer this year . Double vaxxed year 5 volunteering and AT student

 

[flav]

We are now booked (WDW) flights and all for mid August, all members of the family going will be fully vaccinated. If land border opens we might drive instead

Like many on this thread, we are starting to reserve a plan B in case the land border remains closed. I see that some have cancellable flights. Are there some airlines that offer flexible cancellation due to the pandemic or are those just fully refundable tickets? Any airlines better than other for that? TIA

 

[azrivest]

Like many on this thread, we are starting to reserve a plan B in case the land border remains closed. I see that some have cancellable flights. Are there some airlines that offer flexible cancellation due to the pandemic or are those just fully refundable tickets? Any airlines better than other for that? TIA

From YUL, options at this point are pretty much only AC. Air Transat won't start flights to MCO again until September

Look at this page on Air Canada's website:
https://www.aircanada.com/ca/en/aco/home/book/travel-news-and-updates/2020/covid-19.htmlThey've extended their flexible policy until July 31st. It's unlimited changes, and unlimited changes/cancellation IF you book an Aeroplan ticket. But if you cancel a non-refundable rate (Basic/Standard/Flex), you'll get credits, not a refund.

 

[MyGirlLovesTink]

Our trip was June 5-13. It was awesome, even staying at CSR rather than our usual fav YC. It felt like having a normal vacation almost. Flew AC from YYZ to MCO, then Frontier MCO to BUF, car service BUF to home. Smooth easy travel all the way. No issues with testing at any point in the journey. Masks were a bit annoying in the heat, but they were in the process of dropping that requirement so we really only needed to wear them indoors. DH works from home and I’m mostly retired, so no issues with doing the 14 day quarantine, although they’re a bit excessive with the multiple times a day app notifications and phone calls.

Glad the quarantine is being dropped, since we currently plan to go back over the August long weekend, and again at Labour Day. That’s our usual style of trip, frequent long weekends rather than less frequent longer trips. DH has elder care issues, so being away for a long period of time is hard for us logistically.

I am also curious to know where you tested prior to coming back to Canada. I heard that Walgreen's offers free testing, but it is drive thru and not sure if you can do it with Uber? We are going August 22-28, so trying to get all the info I need for the testing requirements.

 

[HappilyEverAfter80]

Like many on this thread, we are starting to reserve a plan B in case the land border remains closed. I see that some have cancellable flights. Are there some airlines that offer flexible cancellation due to the pandemic or are those just fully refundable tickets? Any airlines better than other for that? TIA

From YUL, options at this point are pretty much only AC. Air Transat won't start flights to MCO again until September

Look at this page on Air Canada's website:
https://www.aircanada.com/ca/en/aco/home/book/travel-news-and-updates/2020/covid-19.htmlThey've extended their flexible policy until July 31st. It's unlimited changes, and unlimited changes/cancellation IF you book an Aeroplan ticket. But if you cancel a non-refundable rate (Basic/Standard/Flex), you'll get credits, not a refund.

Yes - we booked our flights using Aeroplan miles for the sole reason that it’s fully refundable even if YOU cancel up to 2 hrs before departure.
Otherwise Air Canada bookings not using Aeroplan rewards are only refundable IF Air Canada cancels your flight. If you cancel you will get future travel credits.
The link above explains everything

 

[KNovacovschi]

Yes - we booked our flights using Aeroplan miles for the sole reason that it’s fully refundable even if YOU cancel up to 2 hrs before departure.
Otherwise Air Canada bookings not using Aeroplan rewards are only refundable IF Air Canada cancels your flight. If you cancel you will get future travel credits.
The link above explains everything

Depending on the level of your flight. We are booked comfort with AC and it includes 1 free checked bag, free preferred seat selection, unlimited changes and fully refundable right up until the day of and that’s me cancelling not AC. I purposely booked it like that and glad I did with the changes they’ve made to our flights in September, I have them perfect now and hoping they stay that way since they are adding more and more flights.

 

[HappilyEverAfter80]

Depending on the level of your flight. We are booked comfort with AC and it includes 1 free checked bag, free preferred seat selection, unlimited changes and fully refundable right up until the day of and that’s me cancelling not AC. I purposely booked it like that and glad I did with the changes they’ve made to our flights in September, I have them perfect now and hoping they stay that way since they are adding more and more flights.

Yes sorry, depends on the fare you booked, I was talking about the regular “non-refundable” fare. You can book fully refundable but obviously that fare is a lot more $. At least it was for us.
I agree with you, it’s the only way to go right now (booking fully refundable) unless you don’t mind ending up with travel credits.

 

[KNovacovschi]

Yes sorry, depends on the fare you booked, I was talking about the regular “non-refundable” fare. You can book fully refundable but obviously that fare is a lot more $. At least it was for us.
I agree with you, it’s the only way to go right now (booking fully refundable) unless you don’t mind ending up with travel credits.

Gotcha. We used our travel voucher from our Paris trip last year so we booked comfort. When we booked comfort months ago it was definitely a lot cheaper then it is now, if we weren’t using the travel voucher we wouldn’t have been paying for it. We also mostly booked it because at the time we weren’t 100% sure if my DH would be able to go due to the hotel stay and 14 day quarantine, which I could do no problem but he can’t, now that we are both fully vaccinated we don’t have to worry about that and he can come.