Fully vaccinated and ready for a winter getaway? It may cost more than you think

Now that restrictions have eased for fully vaccinated travellers, Canadians are starting to think about travelling abroad over the holidays. 

But that winter getaway may be more costly than you think. Both airfare and car rental prices are on the rise, and the added fee for one or more mandatory COVID-19 tests could make the trip cost-prohibitive. 

Here's what to consider before you start dreaming about your week at the beach. 

Depending on where you're travelling to, you may have to shell out for two COVID-19 tests, which can add hundreds of dollars to your travel costs. 

Some popular sun destinations, such as Mexico and the Dominican Republic have no pre-arrival test requirement for Canadian travellers.

However, many others, including Jamaica, Turks and Caicos and the United States, require that international air passengers show proof of a negative COVID-19 antigen or molecular COVID-19 test. (Land travellers will be exempt from the test requirement when the U.S. land border reopens to fully vaccinated travellers Nov. 8)

Travellers can typically get a rapid antigen test in Canada for under $50.

But Canadians must also show proof of a negative COVID-19 test to return home, and Canada will only accept a molecular test — such as a PCR test — which can range in price from $150 to $300.

The cost of the return test was a deal breaker for Ian Wilson of Peterborough, Ont., who had planned to take his family on a trip to Las Vegas last month.

His family hadn't travelled together in several years, and Wilson and his wife, Becky Paradis, were prepared to foot the bill for their three adult children. 

However, the family decided to nix their plans after Wilson did some research and concluded he'd have to spend at least $1,000 total to pay for five PCR tests to return to Canada. 

"It was very disappointing," he said. "I'm not opposed to getting the test … but it's the cost. It was just adding too much onto the trip for our family to afford."

The federal government said on Friday it's reviewing the pre-arrival test requirement but that it's staying in place for now as a precaution. 

Because Wilson had already booked the time off, he and his wife visited Halifax instead last month — a trip which involved no test requirement.