Day 8: Ritz Carlton Cancun

Since getting home, several people have reached out to me who are currently in quarantine in Cancun. 

Travis, a young guy from California, has been put into quarantine at the Ritz Carlton in Cancun. They charge 50% room rate and he has to pay for his food during quarantine. 

He taught me something new: the Moon Palace doctor implied that if you were from California then you had to have a negative swab to leave. Travis learned that it’s a matter of a water crossing versus a land crossing. If he flies to Tijuana from Cancun he can then drive home (4+ hours). And he will only need to do the five days quarantine, he will not be required to submit a negative test. This is an important loophole for those of you who require a water crossing to get home, because an infected person can test positive for up to six weeks: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/16/travel/testing-positive-for-covid-overseas.html

This article is a little dated however, because it also says that it is unlikely to become infected if you’re vaccinated. We had 15 in our group and 4 of us became infected (two before traveling and two upon returning home). We were all vaccinated. Omicron is a different situation.

Exerpted from his emails:

"I can go downstairs and take my test each day. Nobody has said anything to me otherwise.. 

Typically there are a couple other people in the room at the same time that I test. Today I took a walk down the beach away from others. Went for about an hour walk or so. I know I’m probably not supposed to but I can’t stay in this room all day. Today is Tuesday and was the fourth consecutive day I’ve tested positive. I think tomorrow Wednesday is my first real shot at getting a negative result as it will be the 5th day and almost a full week since I first noticed symptoms. Keep your fingers crossed for me please. 

That flight to Tijuana was a joke but if by late week I’m still testing positive that may end up becoming a reality. Lol

The flight to Tijuana is on the table for sure. A few flights leave daily from Cancun to Tijuana. From there is a short taxi to the border. And from the border it’s a short walk to a taxi or a rental car as I could drive home. Fresno is about a 5 to 6 hour drive from San Diego depending on the traffic. I don’t get the sense that I’m being held against my will here. I don’t think the positive results are conveyed to the front desk at all. If I informed them that I was leaving with a negative test I received off site I doubt anything would be done. They would simply hail me a taxi to the airport. Anyway hoping to get a negative by weeks end but if not that plan may be put into action. I’m bleeding about $400 a day here just wasting away."

Interesting difference from Moon Palace, that he thinks he could just leave. With two levels of security at Moon Palace enforcing their Quarantine protocols (at the room and again at the gate when leaving property) you would not be able to checkout or leave. For those guests who start quaratine without having their bracelets deactivated, leaving the room might be possible. I would not have been able to get back into my room had I left.

Anyway... send positive vibes to Travis; he is going to keep me posted. 🙏💕

Before booking any international travel, you need to ask:

1) Will you quarantine for free? Lodging and food?

2) Does your destination offer Quarantine Insurance? What does that cost and what does that include? Are private travel insurance options available to you, and if so what exactly do they cover?  

I am fascinated by MedJet's plans in particular: https://medjetassist.com/medjet-blog/blog/2020/01/24/medjet-services-alert-coronavirus

3) If neither of the above, does your resort offer a discounted daily rate for quarantine, and what is that? What is included?

Also be sure to nail down if the resort has its own COVID protocols that you will have to abide by, apart from those of your country or airline. If so, you may want to manage your own testing and quarantine. Please read the Comments on this Post — A woman who has been through it before has some great tips for handling quarantine on your own terms. Bringing your own test, and booking your own lodging. Not allowing the resort to place you in THEIR quarantine. That’s an option that never even entered my mind but it’s important to consider.