US day trip!

[Sue M]

Yay! Last week we did our first cross border shopping trip in 2 yrs! Went with my oldest dd. We both have Nexus but wasn’t needed. We breezed thru the border. No lines. We’re in BC. It was so fun to go back! Went to our fav Mexican place for lunch then Target, Costco, Trader Joes!
I can’t remember if I posted about our day trip or not on this board so if I did, sorry!
Just be sure you complete the ArrivCan app.

 

[grantclaire]

Sounds like a fun day! Crossing Friday, going to Buffalo for 2 days!

 

[bcwife76]

I've done it twice now, too!! Last Wednesday I went across with a friend to TJ's and Target and also down to Fairhaven (just 2 exits past TJ's) to visit her mom's new place. My friend has Nexus, I do not so we crossed at a regular line at Truck crossing, breezed right through NO line at 10am. Coming home around 2:30pm we had about a 10 minute wait. Easy peasy!
This past Wednesday DH and I went down, about a 10 minute wait in regular line at truck again and coming back, 3 cars in front of us, less than 5 minute wait. This time we hit Fred Meyer and Sonic ;-)

 

[Susan2771]

How was the shopping ladies? We are going this Sunday for the day to Buffalo. Lots of good sales happening?

 

[lilsonicfan]

We just went down for the long weekend. Nexus was DEFINITELY needed. Lines were 2+ hours otherwise! (both Peace Arch and Truck Crossing) - AND - even worse - when we came back on Sunday night, the sign on the highway said that Nexus was closed - so did the CBSA website - it was not in fact closed, but we didn't realize it until too late

 

[CanucksRock]

Eek, so I will have to give plenty of time to cross in June. I’m driving to Van, then to Seattle for a concert. Looking forward to some cross border shopping too without having to worry about liquids or luggage limit. I have Nexus, but I don’t think the person I’m going with does.

 

[bcwife76]

The lines to go down this past long weekend were INSANE. Last week when I went down it was 10 minutes on a Wednesday around 11am, the Wednesday before we had ZERO wait at 10am (I don't have Nexus). I just don't think they had enough staff on this weekend.

 

[pigletto]

We waited about 30 minutes coming back over around 6pm on Monday. This was crossing at Buffalo/Fort Erie. It didn’t look any worse than it ever did coming home after a holiday weekend. It’s just a bad time to cross so we mentally prepare ourselves. Half an hour wasn’t too bad for Easter weekend.

And just as an aside.. we stopped a few places for beer/groceries in upstate New York and the prices were worse than ours on most things. I follow my grocery prices pretty closely and inflation is hitting them harder on a lot of grocery items. It’s got to be hard for everyone.

 

[Mjmdiva]

Same! We went to Bellingham on Easter weekend for the day! No lines either way and Nexus was open on the way home.

 

[starvenger]

I'm planning a trip in August when the wife and kids are in the UK.

It's still in the embryonic stages, but if everything goes to plan I'll be watching baseball games in Detroit, Cleveland and Buffalo. So if it works out, I'll be able to give a report in about 4 months.

 

[mkmommy]

I have not really been paying attention to anything travel theses days but thinking of driving to Buffalo for the day in May

As of now All I will need is the Arrivcan App , passport and copies of vaccine.

Will not have data on my phone will the Arrivcan. App work without wifi?

 

[bcwife76]

I have not really been paying attention to anything travel theses days but thinking of driving to Buffalo for the day in May

As of now All I will need is the Arrivcan App , passport and copies of vaccine.

Will not have data on my phone will the Arrivcan. App work without wifi?

Take a screenshot of the QR code when you have completed the app and that is all they need to see, supposedly. I say supposedly because I've done two day trips this month and they haven't asked to see my app/QR code yet

 

[lilsonicfan]

Take a screenshot of the QR code when you have completed the app and that is all they need to see, supposedly. I say supposedly because I've done two day trips this month and they haven't asked to see my app/QR code yet

Me neither re: being asked to see QR code, but I think it's because if done properly, they can see that you've completed it when you are at the border - as it's linked to your ID.

 

[pigletto]

I have not really been paying attention to anything travel theses days but thinking of driving to Buffalo for the day in May

As of now All I will need is the Arrivcan App , passport and copies of vaccine.

Will not have data on my phone will the Arrivcan. App work without wifi?

I can confirm the app won’t work properly without wifi. We just crossed at Buffalo last Monday. Make sure to screenshot the QR code just in case.

 

[Sue M]

I've done it twice now, too!! Last Wednesday I went across with a friend to TJ's and Target and also down to Fairhaven (just 2 exits past TJ's) to visit her mom's new place. My friend has Nexus, I do not so we crossed at a regular line at Truck crossing, breezed right through NO line at 10am. Coming home around 2:30pm we had about a 10 minute wait. Easy peasy!
This past Wednesday DH and I went down, about a 10 minute wait in regular line at truck again and coming back, 3 cars in front of us, less than 5 minute wait. This time we hit Fred Meyer and Sonic ;-)

I always use the Truck Crossing. I was going to hit Fred Meyer across the street from Costco but forgot! Next time.

How was the shopping ladies? We are going this Sunday for the day to Buffalo. Lots of good sales happening?

Not so much sales, I go to pick up different things we don’t get here.

The lines to go down this past long weekend were INSANE. Last week when I went down it was 10 minutes on a Wednesday around 11am, the Wednesday before we had ZERO wait at 10am (I don't have Nexus). I just don't think they had enough staff on this weekend.

I never go on long weekends, anywhere lol! Years ago I used to go with a girlfriend for Black Friday but now we have the sales here.

 

[bcwife76]

Oh heck no, we don't go down on long weekends any more either. I kept watching the lines from their webcam and it was backed up ALL day on Good Friday. No thanks

 

[Susan2771]

We hit the Fashion Outlet Mall in Niagara yesterday, and there were lots of sales to be had. Was a very successful shopping trip and stores well stocked, but not well staffed. The mall was dead. We crossed at the Whirlpool Bridge with our Nexus and zero wait. Came back by the Peace Bridge and the longest line was the Nexus. Should have gone in the regular lines which were very short. We hit the Target near Walden Galleria. It wasn't bad, but a total mess. Things were all over the floor, thrown over racks Very long lines to pay and at the fitting room.

 

[cari12]

Oh heck no, we don't go down on long weekends any more either. I kept watching the lines from their webcam and it was backed up ALL day on Good Friday. No thanks

We went on Good Friday through Peace Arch. Took about a half hour to get to the Nexus lane (due to traffic backed up) then only about 10 minutes in line once we got there. Every time we drive by all the people in the regular lanes I think, best $50 we ever spent.