Covid testing for return to US

The Abbott monitored self-test was easy. Watch some of the U-Tube videos and decide for yourself. Emed offers overnight delivery service.
You don't mention what days of the week you need to test; in Switzerland, many places are closed on Sundays. A few of the kiosks we spoke to in Switzerland were testing for the indoor partiers, and they didn't know anything about travel testing. I'm sure some folks here can report on in-country testing that they used successfully. You are probably better off in Zurich for on the ground the testing options. You can check their Trip Reports here.
We had a wonderful trip, we just returned ten days ago. Have a great time.

You are correct; you do not need a covid test to enter Switzerland. Our final city was Luzern where we spent 3 nights. Since we had plans to go to both Mt. Rigi and Mt. Pilatus, we did not want to break up our day by going to a test center, so we bought the 6-pack monitored test kit. I don't know your reason for not wanting to self test, but it was very convenient, and also cheaper because COVID tests in Switzerland are very expensive.
Before we left for Switzerland, we decided to do the monitored test even though it was not required. We did it for two reasons; to know we did not have COVID before leaving, as well as to be familiar with the procedure so we would be more relaxed when we had to do it to return to the US.
In Luzern, we were in a hotel with very strong wi-fi connection. Our wait time was only 5 minutes. And within minutes we had our results, which were on our phones, but we also had our hotel print out the results. The confirmation on our phones would have been acceptable, but I only had the QR code showing on the Navica app, and did not realize that I could "swipe' for a second page to show what kind of test it was, and the date when I went to check in at the airport. So my husband came to my aid with the paperwork.

Thank you so much for the information. We will need to test on a Thursday for a Sunday flight. For more clarification, do we need PCR tests or antigen? Will either be accepted? What company did you order the multiple test kits from? Are only printed results acceptable at the airport? I am willing to do the self testing if I can figure out how it is done. I do like the idea of testing at home to get the process worked out before we have to do this in Switzerland. I have read differing comments and have lost track of exact details of self testing as I briefly read about this topic in several differing countries and now I’m needing to decide how to do this. Due to work I wasn’t sure I could travel in October but am now able to actually put a plan in place but still figuring out these details. Travel in covid times comes with new challenges, but the chance to see Switzerland again is so worth it!

We are just back as of yesterday and tested at Amavita, a pharmacy chain, in Zermatt 2 days before our flight out of Zurich. It was a rapid Antigen test, free, and we had printed results in 20 minutes that we presented to Swiss air at check in, and that Swiss checked again at the gate before boarding. Appointments required. We booked tests online about a week before the tests. You can Google places to get antigen tests in Switzerland and should find plenty.

Others we met were doing the home tests and some said the airport. Lots of options. Easy. Go have fun! It really is just one more detail, though I do understand the worry. We worried a bit too, though it all worked out fine.

You need an antigen test for US return. Each airline is different regarding having apps that integrate the testing results QR code. It's best to have both paper and whatever you receive online.
The Abbott self-test is ordered thru EMed, comes in a six-pack; extras are good in case you mess up a test. There are videos on line showing how to take the self-test. Your email results and QR code arrive within about 15 minutes of finishing the test.
Safe travels!

We just left Switzerland and we did not have to have a covid test to enter but did have to show vacc. papers everywhere. If you have the QR code, you should be fine all over Europe. We didn't get ours in time but we were literally only turned away at the casino in Interlaken. We traveled through: UK, France, Switzerland, Germany, Italy, Austria.

This link from the CDC describes the types of tests that are acceptable to return to the US:

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/testing-international-air-travelers.html

We opted for the convenience of the Abbott monitored self-test and have no regrets. It is very simple and the person on the video tells you exactly what to do. We had the results about 2 minutes after the test was completed. We had the hotel print out the results for us. I always recommend having a hard copy of your important documents. You don’t want to be in a situation where you are unable to access documents on your phone. We flew Swiss Air and had to show our test results at check in and then at the gate there was a long line to once again show the test results. Then, there was an announcement when we landed in Chicago that there would be random checks of the test results. So, be prepared to show your results multiple times.

Have a great trip!!!

BMills: All of us who have responded to your post have been to Switzerland within the last month; We just returned Friday, and all of us had a wonderful trip and tested negative. We are all happy for you that you too will experience the beauty and grandeur of Switzerland. If you decide to purchase the "monitored 6-test kit, here is the eMad link:
https://www.emed.com
Solo Steve: Congratulations on finding a "free" test site. The reason I originally said the tests are expensive is because we were part of a Tour Group the first part of our trip. Members who were heading home to the US were taken to a PCR test site, where each person paid close to 150 CHF to be tested.
Also, while in Switzerland, we spoke to a couple from Canada who had tested in Switzerland just to have the Swiss QR code. When I mentioned the offer of a "free" test, they replied it was only for residents of Switzerland.

We are in Switzerland now and it’s hard to believe we almost cancelled this trip due to Covid. We are so happy we came, and unfortunately have to return home on Friday. I have a question about forms for returning to the US. Is there an entry form for the US, like when entering Switzerland? Or did you just need to show your negative test results at checkin for the return flight? Did customs in the US request to see the results? We are planning to try the self test Wednesday morning, but I see lots of options around for rapid testing (way more than in the US) should there be any issues with the self test.

jb: entering the US was almost “too easy.” All we were asked for in SFO was our Passports…and what we had to declare (nothing-didn’t go into many stores).
We flew from Zurich (Swiss Air) to Heathrow to San Francisco.
All papers were required at Zurich: negative test within 3 days, as well as special forms required by UK. Swiss Air notified us several days before our flight as to what was required.
Since our flight left Zurich at 7:00 am, we chose to stay at the Radisson Blu at the airport. Best decision for us. We checked our bags the night before, so all that was required of us the morning of our flight was to go through security. We still allowed 1 ½ hour in the morning.

Need some sympathy here friends…….went to a Test-and-Go site with an appt here in Zurich this morning made through one doc.ch…….were tested at noon, told that they would email the results to us as they would be available in 30 minutes and we still have no results tonight…..do not want to panic yet but we each paid 70 francs and we wonder why we have not heard anything yet…….we fly out Thursday at noon……its Monday night……….our plan is to return to the clinic in the morning with our receipts in hand and ask where our test results are…….there is a no appt line at the bus station for 145 francs each and the line goes forever…….Amavita pharmacy, mentioned by a prior poster, had no appts available through Friday…….and they quoted as 50 francs each……we have already paid 70! Thought there would be a whole lot more testing available to us, especially 3 days prior………should have brought the self tests! Sorry I did not……

“No sympathy needed…yet.”
You were wise to test early rather than the day before. You still have time to follow-up on your test results…and the good news is, it is not the weekend!
Hopefully, it is a minor detail like incorrect email, etc.
We’re all rooting for you, you have had such a great time in Switzerland, so this little glitch is minor!

Thank you Carol…..just hope this kind nurse comes through for us in the morning and produces the negative test results we need…..there was a line behind us so I know it is a busy clinic….when I read that this group had test centers in Lucerne i wondered why we did not test in the nice, quiet, slow Lucerne…..and then reminded myself that it would not have been within the 3 days……so we have done all that we can do……were even there an hour and a half early for our appts today so we are trying our best to follow the rules…….!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Jane, I hope it all works out. Best wishes. We enjoyed every moment of our trip except the added nerves of waiting for results. Sending positive thoughts for negative results.

Carol, I think we got lucky not to get charged at Amavita in Zermatt. When we booked it said it was something like 40 francs a piece, I think, maybe more. But for some reason we did not get charged when we showed up. Our results included a covid certificate, so maybe it had something to do with all the confusion over those the past couple of weeks, and testing for tourists to get the cert? Anyhow, I wouldn't expect tests to remain free there.

And like others, we also only had covid test docs checked in Switzerland by Swiss Air. US border control for us, also in SFO on return, was a simple passport check. But we were ready with copies of everything just in case. As others have said, don't let covid spoil the trip! For us, Switzerland was friendly, sparkling clean, and always felt safe, even on mountain trains and cable cars. We masked probably more than we needed to to ensure a negative test to fly home. But on our last sunny Friday in Zurich, all the families and young people and business people out enjoying the sun, you'd never know there was a pandemic. People out living their best lives in a beautiful, very safe country.

Jane, i'm sure you did this, but want to make sure you checked your email's junk folder. If it's not there, my guess is the testing place entered your email address incorrectly and you will straighten everything out in the morning. As a last resort, there is quick testing available at the airport, not that you'll need it, but it is a back-up. And if you happen to get stuck in Switzerland, i'll come visit you. :)

Good luck and keep us posted. Everything will work out!!!

Jane, we are rooting for you, and pls keep us posted. I know you'll come home on time!

Thank you to everyone that responded! I think I will order the self testing kit and use at home as advised so we are ready to use in Switzerland. So looking forward to see the mountains and cows again and get away form the stress of work for just a short time. With the testing worries I feel I have not quite escaped the covid world but hopefully it will work out fine.

For those of you that did the self test and you mention you printed the results at the hotel, how did get the hotel to print it?

Hoping all those waiting for results have no more glitches!

BMills, just use the hotel computer to log into your account, and print. At our one hotel that didn't have an office corner, we sent an email to the front desk, and they kindly printed the hardcopy. You are not the only one at the hotel who needs to do so, so the hotels are adapting.
Also- take a screen shot of your results and QR code, in the event you have trouble logging into your account. That didn't happen to us, but another back-up is always helpful.

Thank you Pat for your help and recommendation, I thought that is how it must be done.

Everyone on this travel forum has been such a beacon of light for me during these past months. I so enjoy reading the trip reports, questions, and advice. It brings back memories and rekindles that desire to travel. We have traveled in Europe numerous times and I am the planner, researcher, and navigator. Dear Husband loves to travel as well but I am the planner. But working in healthcare during this pandemic has been such a demanding job, and it has been difficult to plan, to be optimistic. So something like the return covid test, something so unnecessary on our previous trip to Switzerland, stresses me and I just have not been able to research this.

Thanks for the advice, thanks to all that take the time to post and help each other in this forum.

B, after we got our test results, we asked at the front desk if they would print the results for us. We then emailed them our results which they printed immediately. I think they are having a lot of printing requests because of COVID.
Since we were transiting through Heathrow, they also printed forms necessary for the UK.

Bmills, thank you for your your dedication and hard work as a healthcare worker. Fortunately for you, those of us who have just returned from Switzerland probably have answers you need. We have all helped each other, and would be so happy to answer any question you might have so you too can have a wonderful vacation in Switzerland. No need to do research. Just ask.
Just being in the Alps, at eye level with the mountains, is so rewarding and renewing.
We’ll all re-live being in Switzerland through your trip.

Here to add a happy happy reply…….we walked back to the clinic where we were tested yesterday……2 young WONDERFUL women, one was the one that tested us yesterday, told us that the reason we had not received any email is because we were not in the system……they said we had not made appts but we had…….they just took us at noon yesterday instead of making us wait until 1:40 and 1:50…….they pulled out our info sheets, saw our receipts and put us in their system…..printed out our negative results….WE WERE NOT LEAVING WITHOUT THOSE SHEETS!!!!!!!!!………..they were so kind…….they helped us pull up the email tho its all in German and I guess if we had to we could show that….but with the word NEGATIVE on a sheet of paper that has our name and birthdates we feel GREAT!!!!!!! Thank you for all of the encouragement and help!!!!!!!!!!!! I will add this…..if I had to do it over I would have bought and brought the Abbott self tests….that way you are not depending on anyone else’s system to work, esp if you don’t read and speak German.

Glad it worked out Jane - enjoy your last days in Switzerland and safe travels back home! Btw, what happened with the amaryllis bulbs? Did you find a home for them?

BMills, like Pat, we had our hotel print our test results. They suggested we just email the results to the hotel, so they could print. The PDF documents with the test results were password protected—set up automatically by emed—so we did have to enter the passwords on the hotel computer to open the docs so they could print them for us. Not complicated, but wanted to mention so you are aware. You’ll have a great trip. For me, once I landed in Zurich, all the stress and worry from all the covid planning just melted away and we and the perfect trip. The only worry was the couple of hours while we tested and waited for results. And that wasn’t a big deal.

Jane, great news!!! Or is it bad news because now you can leave Switzerland. Have a safe flight back home.

Yea, Jane!!!!! We know the elation and relief you are feeling with that “NEGATIVE” paper in hand; equal to The Golden Ticket.
Now….if I were still in Zurich and it was a sunny day, I would celebrate by heading to Sprüngli on Bahnhofstrasse and have a limoncello spritz and a patisserie himbeer (raspberry tart)…but that’s just me! 😊
Safe travels back!

Thank you dear friends! We spent the morning after our great news walking the streets of Zurich, eating some delish carrot and pumpkin soup for lunch, buying an antique print of Luzern to frame and overloading on the chocolate bars at the COOP grocery on Bahnhofstrasse……the clerk did look at us funny…..no better $3 gift available……gonna enjoy our last day tomorrow training-yes, wearing out the SWISS PASS-to Stein Am Rhein and Rhine Falls for a day outing……and then home on Thursday. We had such fun today ducking down corners and nooks and allies and buying some really fun and cool things to take home……these cute shops were everywhere that we wondered…..Switzerland will be glad we came! I will get my trip reports together when I get home…cannot wait to share them with my new Swiss buddies…..BTW, our goal has been 8 miles of walking each day and have made it almost every day……so we have not ridden any buses but have used the pass out on trains!

I’m not sure if this applies elsewhere but I just found out that our local county library system (Cleveland, Ohio) is giving out the Abbott self tests for free. I just picked up two today.

sboh, these may not be the antigen tests required for travel- just make note of that. Also, the ones we bought for Switzerland return do not have a long period of validity; ours expire Oct 15, and we purchased in mid-August.

Thank you everyone for your words of encouragement and advice! I think once we are actually in Switzerland all this worry will subside. Normally I am never this stressed traveling, usually quite enthusiastic, but it is a whole new world……

Jane, great news on resolving the testing results. And your final day in Zurich sounds wonderful, just the type of vacation day we so enjoy. Safe travels home.

thank you everyone, I'm traveling to Switzerland on Wed and I'm very stressed by the covid test situation on the way back. They are all so expensive and the only ones I can find online that for sure are ok for travel you have to buy a 6 pack is that right?

I will need to take the test in Luzern because I'll be there a few nights before I leave Zurich (7 a.m) flight. Waiting till the last minute to do it at the airport freaks me out. Plus so expensive!

Thank you for your help!

The cost of the Abbott six-pack is comparable to what you pay to get two people tested in Switzerland- plus you need to get appointments ahead of time. Many options are closed in Switzerland on Sundays, also.
The Emed Abbott monitored self-test kits are shipped overnight. We used them and were quite happy with the convenience.
Safe travels!

I totally agree with Pat and secondninemonths…….if I had to do it all over again I would certainly get the Abbott self covid tests with the Zoom-monitored call and do it myself…it is TOO nerve-racking to make an appt online to a clinic you have never heard of, find the clinic in a strange European town, find a nurse that speaks English and then trust when they send you the email with your results that it will safely get through to you……I KNOW THIS……it just happened to us in Zurich 5 days ago…..everyone told us that finding a test site would not be difficult at all but then they don’t tell you that ALL CLINICS want you to make an appt, regardless……and then you have to trust your international email to make the appt. The clinic is Zurich said we “were not in their system” and that is why they could not email us our results……over int’l email and setting up an account with them something fell apart…..very scary until we had to go back to the clinic the next day and get the results for ourselves that were to be emailed.

Second, if you are a solo traveler, there is a 2-pack monitored test you can purchase. Someone on the forum posted about purchasing the 2-pack. You still have time to order the kit because it is shipped overnight.
Also, if you are flying out of Zurich at 7:00 am (our flight a week ago), I would strongly suggest staying at the Radisson Blu your last night. We did, and we even checked our bags that night. If you join the Radisson rewards program, you will receive a discount.
When we walked to security the morning of our flight, there was a long line of people waiting to check-in.

We returned to the US yesterday. We used the Azova Ellume video monitored self test before I saw all the Abbott recommendations on this forum. It went fine but I was happy to have a third test with us as a backup - my husbands kit was missing an important component! (For packing space we had transferred them from the boxes into separate ziploc bags). In hindsight, I probably would have done a test run at home before traveling. While we were on the video call, the first technician dropped the line! I called back and apparently she had power issues at her house. Another rep helped us and all was fine (thankfully we hadn’t started the testing yet) and we were done quickly and had the test results in our app and emailed to us. We flew out of Frankfurt on Lufthansa and the test results were checked when we checked in, and again at a checkpoint before we entered the terminal our flight was leaving from. Never requested by customs in SFO, and the customs process in sfo was fast and easy. My personal opinion - drop the hassle of testing for the vaccinated citizens. I would love to know statistics on how many vaccinated travelers are contracting Covid while traveling.

Great point jbmckinney12……have noticed here in Tennessee that more and more stores are dropping the mask indoors requirement if you are vaccinated……time to move on……….

Thanks to all for the helpful information on covid testing for returning home. On the advice in this forum, we did buy the Abbott self testing kits. We did a test run at home and figured out the process. Then did the tests in our hotel room and emailed the final result to the hotel to print. The only issue was my husband’s test kit had an empty bottle of the testing solution but we had already done my test and the testing monitor guy said to go ahead and use the left over solution from my kit. It was a relief to have that process work out so well. At the airport check-in our results were reviewed and boarding passes printed and no one asked for the results again. Actually was one of our easiest flights ever.

Overall we had a great trip! Such a joy to go ride the trains, see the mountains, watch the cows, hike the trails, and eat alpine cheese. A very welcome break from the stressors of the past 18 months. Thanks again to everyone on this forum, sharing advice, trip reports, and bringing excitement back to travel.

Yeah! I am still pinching myself that we pulled off a FABULOUS 2 week trip to Switzerland just a month ago……so glad to travel again and what a perfect country to start the process all over again!

BMills, Doing "happy dance: for you. So good to hear that your trip was wonderful...and that you purchased the Abbot test kits. So convenient. Tell us a little about the places you visited.
I was just looking through some of my Switzerland photos this afternoon; brought back such happy memories.

BMills, glad to hear the self-tests worked out for you. They were so convenient. And I'm especially happy to hear you had a great trip and got to see the cows. 😊

Ditto. Still have Swiss chocolate left. No one is getting this for gifts. Let them eat American chocolate!!!

Thank you everyone! We had a wonderful trip. We flew into Zurich and took the train to Chur. We wandered around the old town area and it was humorous to watch hubby look in every single store window. As he is retired and home a lot more since Covid began, he was delighted just to window shop and stroll the cobblestones. The next day we rode the Bernina Express almost to Italy. We had done this trip five years ago and loved it, so with our Swiss train pass we decided to ride it again. We then rode regular trains back to Chur, spent the night and next day took the Glacier Express to Zermatt, both train ride and town new territory for us.

Really enjoyed our time in Zermatt and it was fully sunny the two days we were there!! The Matterhorn did not disappoint. Rode the cogwheel trains but all gondolas were closed due to high winds. Did short hikes as altitude was a bit tough on me those first days. Maybe next time we can go to Matterhorn Glacier Paradise. Always planning for the next trip.

Then on to our favorite area, the Berber Oberland! Several great days there just wandering, buying cheese out of the self serve fridges of Gimmelwald and watching the cows. Slept in Murren and were surprised how busy it was for October. But far from crowded and it was a great to see everyone just having fun.

Next we rode the Golden Pass from Interlaken to Lausanne. Glad we did it but not as interesting as Bernina or Glacier train rides. Went to Gruyeres for a day then on to Luzern. Did not visit Chateau de Chillon this trip, but again, planning for next time!

At Luzern we went to both Mt Rigi and Mt Pilatus and enjoyed both. Overall, it was such a joy to be back in Europe. It was great to put the stress and demands of the past year aside for a just a bit and celebrate our health and mobility and opportunity to stroll the cobblestones of the cities and wander among the cows in the mountains enjoying alpine cheese and those addictive paprika chips!!

BMills: Thanks for your trip report. We were just curious to know where you chose to spend your precious days in Switzerland. And...you also went to the Berner Overland. I think being in that area is the perfect antidote for COVID!
I was glad to read about Chur. On our "tour"part of our trip, we had an overnight stop there, but I only had ½ hour before breakfast to wander the streets. We then had a guided tour of the city in the morning before boarding the train. But all I wanted to do was what your husband did, that is, walk the streets and window shop.
You must have done something good to be granted 2 sunny days in Zermatt!

Pat: Is your Swiss chocolate really that good? I just bought 3 bars of dark chocolate from my local grocery store. The bars are from Boulder, Co. made with Belgian chocolate; one has almonds, another cherries, and the last with candied ginger. All with sugar, not corn syrup.

Pat, since you still have some of your Swiss chocolate left, should I give you my address? Seems like you might need some help getting rid of it. 😊

I am hoarding my bag of Switzerland chocolate……it is SO DELICIOUS that I don’t want it wasted on anyone that cannot appreciate it…..hubby and I are back to our daily walking but I do miss the ringing of the cowbells as we walk our neighborhood……and there were about 8 little goats every morning in Lauterbrunnen that began our day with their bell ringing right outside our hotel window😄

Carol, I will look for that brand when I'm out.
Carrie, I just forgot my address....
An OP reported that Trader Joe's has some great Belgium chocolate- that might go in the xmas stockings.

I really think I eat less of the Swiss chocolate, because it's more satisfying. I like all the brands I found in the Coop store. I have 6.5 bars left. My husband understands that it's all MINE- I carried it back.

I dumped [pre-planned] two pairs of walking shoes to have the room in the carry-on.

Let's all enjoy our memories and photos as we dream of the 2022 trip!

Oh yes the chocolate! We loved it and bought it everywhere we went. We packed very carefully with plenty of room in our carry on suitcases to bring back chocolate and I worried that once it was full it would be over the weight limit to still carry on the plane!!

Then we had a very surprising chocolate treat. One the way home the flight attendant accidentally spilled a small amount of tea on DH coat and later brought him a huge Swiss milk chocolate bar as an apology! Gotta love Swiss Air!!

There are a few family members that will get some chocolate but we are savoring it and enjoying a little every day. I agree that I eat less because it is so satisfying. And I think it is tastier than many other chocolate varieties.

Had a Swiss-loving couple over last night for a Swiss raclette dinner…..wanted to play Swiss music but could not find a track of cowbells to enjoy!!!