Covid test before returning to the US

Most European airports have test centers. I'd use them unless you have a 6:00 am flight when there's a chance the test center has not yet opened.

When we returned from Germany, the only Covid certificate requested coming or going was at a Berlin sit down restaurant. But had we not got tested, they would have surely checked us. Thankfully the test center was 50 yards from our hotel @ 20 Euros.

I don’t have any direct experience with this but will share my thought process. I would get tested in Zurich the day before. There are 2 main reasons so here goes.

• I’d be concerned about long lines and insufficient capacity at the airport. So for me it would be stressful trying to determine how much lead time to build into the whole check in process.
• If I were to test positive I would want to start the clock ticking on getting a Covid recovery certificate. Testing the day before gets my one day closer to getting home.

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/covid19/getting-documentation-of-recovery-if-you-test-positive-while-overseas

I'd recommend the proctored self-test. That's what i used when i was in Switzerland last year. It was super convenient and easy to use. You can find some info here:

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/covid19/emed-does-a-couple-purchase-one-set-of-six-tests-for-150

August is so far away. I would be surprised if the test to return is still required then. So, if you like the self-test option, don't buy yet.

You are on a RS tour. They have this figured out. Before tying yourself in knots figuring this out call their office and they will tell you what they have arranged.

As someone who is facing the exact same questions right now (albeit on the opposite side of the world), here’s my approach:

I’m currently in Bangkok. My return flight back to Seattle departs 23 hours from now.

I test myself every day now (and I will be tickling my nose literally as soon as I finish posting this), so I’ve been watching carefully leading up to the return flight (and being increasingly careful about masking, distancing, etc.). At the airport here, they have multiple test centers where you can get a quick, cheap, certified test (acceptable for boarding and entry to the US). Costs about US$15 and results in 15 minutes, maybe 20 minutes if they’re super-busy. They’re open 24/7. I’ve seen posts elsewhere from multiple people in the past week confirming all the above details, so I’m confident it’s a viable option for me. I could take time out of my last day here and find a place in the city to get this done (easy, tests are widely available) but that would be one extra excursion that I don’t really need. All I need to do is arrive at the airport 30 minutes earlier, and do the test right there. That’s what I’m planning to do. If your departure airport has an equally convenient option that’s reliable, I’d do the same.

Good luck and don’t let your guard down until you walk in your own front door when you get home.

I did what Carrie did when I was in Switzerland- used the Abbott E-Med proctored self-test. Brought the tests with me, used my I-phone. Was easy, took about 15 min, received QR code with documented results in about ten minutes. Good luck!

I second what Pat said about the Abbott proctored test. I used it coming back from Romania last August. Simple and easy to use, right from my hostel room. I practiced with one before I left so I knew what to expect.