Summer is almost here- Have you thought about your summer travel plans?

With summer finally around the corner, Canadians from coast-to-coast are making plans to get away and enjoy some sun this summer. While many Canadians delayed travel plans during the pandemic, recent reports have seen a resurgence in Canadians deciding to travel both domestically and abroad.These numbers have only been bolstered by the reduction in case numbers and the removal of some of the more stringent travel restrictions and requirements. However, the constantly changing travel environment has left many Canadians confused about the current travel requirements and rules.What do I need to know before going away? With the erratic nature of the pandemic, Canadians planning to travel domestically or abroad have faced confusing rule changes and booking nightmares. Questions about testing, proof of vaccination, travel requirements and worries about the changing atmosphere have left many Canadian travelers frustrated.So, what do you need to know about before going away? All in all, there are 5 main takeaways that every Canadian planning to travel should know this summer.

• Vaccination rules have not changed. If you are travelling by plane, cruise ship or train, you will need to be fully vaccinated to travel in Canada. If you are driving, you must determine if you are a fully vaccinated traveler (i.e. 2 doses of most vaccines and 1 of Johnson & Johnson). If you are unvaccinated and a foreign national, you will not be able to enter the country. If you are an unvaccinated Canadian, you will be required to undergo a Covid screening and molecular Covid tests. You may also be required to quarantine upon your return.
• You will still need to use the ArriveCAN App to enter the country. While the Covid testing requirement for vaccinated travelers ended on April 1^st, travelers are still required to use the ArriveCAN app to provide your contact information, trip details, quarantine plan and vaccination status.
• Cruises have different rules. While the testing requirements for returning to Canada have loosened, cruises continue to require a negative antigen test within 24 hours of the ship's boarding.
• As of April 25^th, unvaccinated or partially vaccinated children 5 to 11 years old, who are accompanied by a vaccinated adult, will no longer need to complete pre-entry Covid tests. However, the pre-entry test requirement remains in place for unvaccinated or partially vaccinated children who are 12 to 18 years old.
• As part of the same April changes, fully vaccinated travelers entering Canada are no longer subject to requirements to wear masks in public for 14 days upon entry or quarantine if another member of your party tests positive or has Covid symptoms.

While summer is a great time to get away, it is also important to be protected from unexpected costs because of unexpected injury or illness. Purchasing Travel Insurance before you get away is a great way to ensure that your trip doesn’t end up costing you more than expected. If you are worried about Covid, with the removal of most travel restrictions any medical costs are now covered by most insurance plans. Plus, you can always purchase a simple Covid add on which covers the costs of housing, food, testing, and other quarantine related expenses.Summer is also a great time to consider purchasing simple, flexible, and affordable group benefits for you and your team. With BeniPlus, you will have complete flexibility to determine which employees you offer benefits to and how much benefits you would like to offer.For more information on the BeniPlus Wallet system, visit our website and get a quote today!Sincerely,Stephen DeKuyperCo-founder and President[gravityform id="16" title="true" description="true"]