Is it easy to get a covid test to return to the US? How much and do you have to reserve a time days ahead normally? I'm staying in an airbnb so I can't get one that way. I have read that I can reserve a spot before I leave home near the Louve for $38. I'm thinking that pharmacies etc. might be cheaper but perhaps too much hassle. Does anyone have experience with it recently?
Posted by
Gettysburg PA
7167 posts
Did you search the forum? This question has come up many times.
Here is just one thread
https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/france/covid-rapid-test-in-paris
Posted by
Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, USA
14738 posts
I would use google street view to walk the streets around the Air BnB location you chose to see if there are some pharmacies in the area. Look for the green cross sign to designate a pharmacy.
I paid 26E for a return Covid test in October from a pharmacy right near my hotel. I went in the afternoon before to ask if an appointment was needed and was told no...she said "We do them all day long. Just come in". I did and the wait to do it was minimal (waited while she finished with another customer) and then 15 minutes for the results. It might be different if you are trying to test on a Sunday or public holiday.
Posted by
Savannah, GA
1382 posts
I just did this yesterday and paid $20. It ate maybe 15 minutes at the most of my day. Don't worry.
Posted by
73 posts
Was in France very recently, our flight left to return to US a week ago on March 19. We waited until the day of our flight to get our Covid test and we did it at a pharmacy in the airport . We walked in and had it done right away, no wait at all. We were there around 10:00am. When we arrived at CDG, we followed the signs to Covid testing pre-flight , had no issues locating the pharmacy.
Hope this helps.
Suzette
Posted by
Ohio
2161 posts
It’s just the rapid antigen test to return to the US, correct?
Posted by
Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, USA
14738 posts
@Donna, yes, the rapid antigen test is all you need at this point. The timing is within 1 day so does not need to be "24 hours" before your flight but can be a little longer.
Posted by
Ohio
2161 posts
Pam, thank you!
Posted by
OP
Denver, CO
303 posts
Thank you. There is a pharmacy near my airbnb. It sounds like it should be pretty easy. I don't know why the US won't accept the tests they sent us in the mail. That would be super easy.
Posted by
Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, USA
14738 posts
Because the tests they sent in the mail are not proctored. You do them at home and no one observes you so a person intent on mischief could easily have someone else swab their nose if they thought they might be positive. With the proctored tests, you connect online to a person who watches you open the package, checks ID, watches you do the process etc.
Posted by
26 posts
Hi,
We just returned from a trip to France last night. We ordered Qured tests (online proctored test) before leaving for our trip and used that with the Verifly app (where you can upload the result). It was basically $31 or $32 per person. The way this works is that you order the kit prior to travel and once you get it, make an online appointment for the time you want your proctoring (one calendar day before return). We did it this way. However, we also saw a testing station right by Arc de Triomphe on Champs-Élysées. It was 20 Euros and you get your result in 15 minutes and it would be emailed to you. We almost did it right there (even though we have the kit) to save ourselves the trouble of having to return to Airbnb to do it (an investment of 1.5 hours if you factor in time to set up and read instructions and then do the harrowing "must upload result in 10 minutes" deal).