What To Do If You Test Positive While On Vacation In Mexico Kashlee Kucheran - Travel Off Path
go to original January 10, 2022

Mexico has been one of the most popular destinations in the world throughout the pandemic and has most recently been smashing arrival records, especially in Cancun, where demand is higher than ever before.

With millions of Americans flying into Cancun and other parts of Mexico for an easy vacation, what happens when it’s time to test to return home and the COVID-19 test results come back positive? With cases soaring across all the U.S., and also on the rise in Mexico, the possibility of receiving a positive test, especially if asymptomatic, is not that far-fetched. Here is the complete guide on what to do if you test positive for COVID-19 on vacation in Mexico.

Testing Is Not Required to Enter Mexico but Is Required to Return Home

Since every passenger returning to the U.S. or Canada must test in Mexico before departing on their flight home, a rise in positive Omicron test results has been trending in Mexico’s most popular vacation destinations.

Americans are required to take a rapid antigen test within 24-hours of their flight home, of which a positive result can lead to a lot of last-minute scrambling.

However, travelers shouldn’t be too worried. If anything, Mexico is one of the easiest places in the world right now to isolate if you should test positive, as all the big hotel and resort chains have policies and protocols in place, some of which include a free hotel room until you test negative again.

Coordinate Isolation Accommodation With Your Hotel

Almost every hotel in popular destinations like Cancun, Puerto Vallarta, Cabo, etc, has updated procedures for this very circumstance. They handle cases just like yours every day.

The hotel will either:

• Give you the option to isolate in your room for a period of time, usually the lesser of 5-10 days or until you test negative again, at a reduced rate, or completely free and at their cost.

• Give you the option to transfer to a different hotel that specializes in isolation, or to a private accommodation of your choice.

90% of hotels in popular tourist spots are offering A or B options, with only a few we’ve seen asking guests to find other accommodation.

For example, the Hard Rock Riviera Maya will cover any guests who have booked at least 3-nights, allowing guests to isolate at the hotel for free if they test positive. This takes a lot of the stress out of testing positive when tourists know they are not paying out of pocket to isolate. Sandos Resorts, Palace Resorts, and AM Resorts are also offering up to 14-day free stays for guests that test positive in their properties located across Mexico.

Other hotels are offering deeply discounted rates for positive cases, like the many <a target="_blank" href="https://whattoexpect.marriott.com/cunjw>Marriott properties, Tafer Resorts and the GrupoPresidente chain, which is offering a $5 per night rate for those needing to isolate.

Don’t worry, the hotel staff will bring you meals, water, and make sure you have everything you need while you isolate.

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