What to know about travel in 2022
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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 16/03/2022 (440 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
Travelling these days is not for the faint of heart. However if you’re determined and want to visit globally, it’s wise to be aware. Each country has its own rules and regulations and they can change overnight.
In mid-December my family travelled to Florida. We each presented proof of our three vaccinations and the negative antigen tests which were required within 24 hours of entry into the United States. After landing in Toronto we headed for Fort Lauderdale Airport, wearing our masks again.
In January we received an invitation from my younger son to visit him on the Dutch island of Bonaire, where he had recently relocated. We reviewed the Bonaire public health website for their travel restrictions and were directed to fill out online forms for each traveller, 12 to 14 hours before departure.
We uploaded copies of our negative PCR tests and Canadian government proof-of-vaccination, including type and date. A special PDF and code was sent back to us by their immigration officials, along with the actual test results and vaccination records. We got their “OK” only eight hours prior to leaving.
Arriving in Bonaire with a slew of paperwork, passengers presented their documentation at the entry gate. Everyone was handed a free home antigen test, to be used within 24 hours.Only positive results were to be reported.
The plane was filled with fit young people looking forward to a good time. Most of them had signed up for various tours. Bonaire is a well-known mecca for water sports such as surfing, kite and sail boarding, snorkelling and especially scuba diving. There are dive sites all over the island.
During the trip there was a visible feeling of camaraderie. Even waiting three hours on the Miami airport tarmac for a new co-pilot to arrive didn’t dampen the good humour. When the new man finally arrived, everyone clapped and cheered, thankful that the flight wasn’t cancelled.
We spent a wonderful week exploring the island, eating at oceanside restaurants, enjoying the 31 C weather and the cooling trade winds. We swam, enjoyed a sunset sailboat cruise and shopped for souvenirs. We noted that cruise ships often stopped here so tourists can visit the downtown shops.
I must confess that, although travel these days is stressful, I found it too tantalizing that only a three-hour flight separated our family. I found my son well-settled and happy on this extraordinary piece of coral rock. Although brief, this visit set a mother’s heart at ease.
Freda Glow
North End community correspondent
Freda Glow is a community correspondent for the North End.