One Way Car Rental Across Border (fly vs driving)

[Frozen2014]

We have a cruise booked end of Dec in NY and struggling with what to do in terms of driving (8.5-10 hrs) vs flying (1.5 hrs) from Ontario. It's not a concern of cost, but of logistics....what if one of us gets covid... we don't want to have to quarantine in NY for 10 days. We are all vaccinated. Seems like a no-brainer to drive, but it is a bit of an issue as I can't sit for a long time...and weather could be bad in Dec with snow or ice or other.

Our options are:

1. Fly both ways (need to be vaccinated if eligible and negative covid test to get on plane but note that since it's porter, we would have to clear customs in US)
2. Drive both ways
3. Fly there....but in the chance one of us tests positive, see if get a one way car rental to drive ourselves home and quarantine at home

Also thought of possibility of driving to Buffalo and then flying from there...but then what if we can't get back to our car if we test positive.

Has anyone done a car rental across the border (i..e rent in US, drop off in Canada)? Is this hard to get on the spot (and without contact as we don't want to risk others)? Or do you need to pre-book just in case it does happen (and pay penalty fees if all is good)? Any thoughts of drive vs fly? Leaning towards 3 (which is same as 1 but our backup plan) but not dismissing 2 at this point.

Our cruise line helps with quarantine or getting you home, but it's vague with what they actually do (probably varies case by case).

Not going in with attitude that it will happen. We assume/hope all will be fine, but just thinking of a backup plan and what travel option makes most sense.

 

[azrivest]

That's just me, but if you had the option I'd fly out of Buffalo and get tested there to get back into Canada.

We're based in Montreal and I'm looking to fly out of Plattsburgh for our March trip exactly for this, but I can't find anywhere in Plattsburgh with semi-rapid PCR testing.

 

[ottawamom]

That's just me, but if you had the option I'd fly out of Buffalo and get tested there to get back into Canada.

We're based in Montreal and I'm looking to fly out of Plattsburgh for our March trip exactly for this, but I can't find anywhere in Plattsburgh with semi-rapid PCR testing.

Walgreens at this location seems to have the test you need.



You would have to drive back to Plattsburgh to spend the night.

 

[Frozen2014]

That's just me, but if you had the option I'd fly out of Buffalo and get tested there to get back into Canada.

We're based in Montreal and I'm looking to fly out of Plattsburgh for our March trip exactly for this, but I can't find anywhere in Plattsburgh with semi-rapid PCR testing.

Thank you. That is an option too.
DH and I just had a long talk....and we're now leaning towards just driving all the way so we don't have to worry about getting a rental in the "what if" scenario. Just have to see if I can physically do the drive. (And if they change the border requirement to an antigen vs PCR then even better. Not sure yet though. Tomorrow we could be back to leaning on option 3.

 

[Minniemoo15]

If the testing remains the same for our March trip I will change our flights to fly out to Bangor. It’s a couple extra hours drive but it’s worth it to know I can get home and not end up stuck in Florida for another 2 weeks.

 

[azrivest]

Walgreens at this location seems to have the test you need.

You would have to drive back to Plattsburgh to spend the night.

Thanks!

One night in Plattsburgh seems better than 14 nights in the two-room suite we rented at the Residence Inn. Rooms in Plattsburgh are always dirt cheap