A few days after the Canada-US border opened, I hopped in my car and drove across from Vancouver to Blaine, WA.
The trip was short and sweet but took a lot of prep work given the restrictions in place at the time.
When I went, I had to have a negative PCR test, that was taken within 72 hours of crossing back into Canada. It was the most expensive part of the trip, costing a total of $295, and pretty uncomfortable to do.
I also had to bring my proof of vaccination record with me, and well as register on the ArriveCAN app to get back into Canada.
Overall it was worth it just to have the chance to travel again after two years of not leaving the country, but it was also a headache to go through all of the necessary processes.
Canada just announced though that they are changing the border crossing restrictions.
They now are dropping the requirement for a molecular test if you are only leaving for 72 hours, which is great news for the wallet, and for the nose.
The change is coming into effect on November 30, 2021.
Although it makes me low-key annoyed that this wasn't the case from the beginning, I'm happy to be able to travel a bit easier now.
When travelling you still need to be fully vaccinated and have proof of your vaccination status to show when crossing on both sides. The government did announce that one of the changes being made is that more vaccines will be accepted, including Sinopharm, Sinovac and COVAXIN.
You also still need to download and register on the ArriveCAN app, for travel.
When I drove across the border, the lineups were basically non-existent, making my trip quick and easy. Now that restrictions have eased though, you might want to back some extra snacks, because wait times may be longer.
Although you can only go for 72 hours without needing the molecular test, for me it was definitely worth a trip across if you live close. Even though I was only an hour away from my house, being in a different country again made me feel a semblance of normalcy again.
If you live in Vancouver, Blaine was a great town to visit that is close by, with friendly people, cute restaurants, and ocean views.