Getting Home to US

1. I have the blue Navica app on my phone, and that is what I used. Not sure of the difference and didn't know there was a green one. Do watch a couple of youtube videos. I found them helpful on what to expect.
   
2. I think it's up to you if you want to test every few days or not in order to find out when you 1st get covid, if you do get covid. Personally, I didn't test throughout my trip. I just bought travel insurance, had a backup plan in place in case I got stuck in quarantine, and enjoyed my vacation. I did pack extra tests in case needed, but you can probably pick them up once at your destination.
3. I'd be aware of the country's requirements and the US requirements. Are they that different for where you are going?
   

During my recent 8 day trip to London I tested myself on day 3 and 5, then did the official test on day 7 to be able to come home. My plan, if one of my self tests had been positive would have been getting an official test immediately. I would not have alerted my hotel until I had taken the day before departure test—if positive I would have asked about options, if not amenable pricewise then I would have gotten myself to other lodgings.

This is a situation where knowing the requirements of the country you are in matters. Test positive in the UK, Iceland or Spain and you you have an entirely different set of expectations than in France or Italy.

Do your research and respect the requirements of the host country,

I have the blue Navica app, which have have used on two trips, the most recent trip return a week ago.
Good luck!

Thank you All! So appreciate this travel forum. Yep I'm going with the blue Navica app.
I am befuddled between the disconnect between country regs & airline requirements for US return. Other forum posts have adamantly suggested taking a self-test (prior to the official day before proctored test), just to have some warning if I test positive. I'm going with that! Taking the free fed tests with me (they expire in August anyway).
So if I do test positive, of course, will self-isolate for the 7 days as per France, hope that I am asymptomatic by that time, and get a negative test. Then proceed with the airlines test the night before.
But we will be focused on getting ourselves home as per schedule... with less attention on France rules.
And pray that we don't need a certificate of recovery...in case of false positive tests. Hassle factor + $75/each for yet another profiteer.
And if I test positive on that, we will have to find a room. Grrrr. Folks have shared how they had to move around every few days bc rooms weren't available.
This entire process is absurd! US domestic passengers are flying around without any masks. Int'l US-bound passengers wear no masks. Masks are off everywhere-and transmission is off the charts. So the tests are ridiculous bc the variants are winning.
My favorite (sic) line from the US embassy: "...contact family and friends in the country you are visiting for help (ie don't bother us)". Welcome to Amerika.

Once again- it is not an “airline requirement”
It is a CDC-federal government- requirement that all airlines must follow.

So you will not pay attention to the rules in France, the country you are visiting?

Good luck with that.

Wow! Ouch! Judgement judgement!

I hope they end this folly soon. I've seen other people comment about testing throughout your trip (not here) and wondered why they were doing so. I understand the concept now but who wants to lug around extra tests? We took two for each of us last year, reasoning if we tested positive it might be a false positive and we'd repeat it but that was when you had two days to test not the current within one day rule.

Hi Aimee.Craig:
Re. testing along the way:We are in France for 30 days-lots of time/exposures to get covid. So I figure if I self-test 10 days before my departure date to US, and maybe again 5 days before, and I test negative, I feel a bit better about taking the day before "official" proctor test. If I test "positive": well I can start self-isolation then, and have a chance of getting out on my departure ticket.

Plus my "free" tests from the Feds expire in August, so might as well use them. They aren't very big.

Has anyone used a local pharmacy in Paris to get the COVID test prior to coming back home? I am unable to find any available telehealth testing options right now. I am awaiting a response from our hotel for recommendations but I am getting anxious about finding a pharmacy that is open on a Sunday. We leave Paris on a Monday.

there is always one pharmacy per arondissement open; you can always go to a pharmacy now and ask which one is open in your arondissement.

Plus my "free" tests from the Feds expire in August, so might as well use them. They aren't very big.

Many (most?) COVID test expiration dates have been extended (4-6 months typically). Before burning tests needlessly, check the date (just Google the name of your test and "expiration date").

David: re. expiration dates on tests.

Thank you very helpful!