Finally Home!

I didn't intend to write another blog; however, I wanted to share some of the challenges we had both during the trip and on our return journey.  Travelling isn't for the faint of heart these days, especially for older people.

We left Heidelberg Thursday morning, drove up the autobahn to Frankfurt airport where we dropped the car and checked in for our flights home.  I thought it might be useful to share a few learnings from this trip.

I consider myself pretty tech-savvy having started my career 51 years ago as a computer programmer.  I haven't been in that field for a very long time but I am not afraid of technology and use Microsoft- and Apple-based devices.  This time, even for me, there were some challenges.  

First off, unless you have a smart phone these day, forget about travelling.  Paper-based systems are on the way out.  More and more when I travel, it is expected that tickets, passes, and information will be on my phone.  Last fall, France had its "pass sanitaire" which everyone was expected to have on their mobile phones.  That has gone the way of the dodo bird.  However, now in order to enter Canada, you have to have ArriveCan plus e-Declare on your phone.  That means you need to understand scanning your passport, entering tons of data, knowing how to store the approval you receive.  In addition, you need to know how to retrieve your Canadian proof of vaccination and enter it into the app.  Now, the ArriveCan app is linked to your passport so, unlike when I returned to Canada last November when I had to show the QR Code in response to the data I had entered between 72 to 8 hours prior to my return, you don't actually have to show it, at least in Vancouver, to a Customs officer.  I asked and was told it was because the app is now linked to your passport so once you scan your passport and the QR code on your e-Declare app, you are validated.  

So, be sure you have at least a basic knowledge on how to work your smart phone - or bring along a teenager as your tech support!

The even bigger challenge for me on this trip, however, was that my TD Aeroplan VISA card was cancelled while I was away.  Apparently, some merchant I had dealt with - and of course they won't tell you which one - had its system compromised so, in the interest of caution, my card was cancelled.  However, in spite of letting TD know that I would be in Europe and giving them the dates I would be away, I was not notified of this until two attempts to use my card were declined.  Thankfully, I had enough cash to cover both those purchases.  In spite of two calls to TD from France when I was assured cancellation of my card had been over-ridden, the next time I tried to use my card it was declined.  This time, it was when I was checking out of my hotel in Paris.  I do carry a second credit card but I keep a very low limit on it because I only use it for online purchases.  So, when I attempted to pay my not insignificant hotel bill using it, of course it was declined as it exceeded my limit by $1000!  What to do?  Well, that is when travelling with someone comes in handy so my sister stepped up and covered the cost for me.  Needless to say, I immediately contacted the company of my other VISA card and had the limit raised so I now I have back-up.

I had used my Aeroplan VISA card for my car rental as it platinum status covers the car insurance.  I have no idea, given the card had been cancelled, what would have happened if we had had a problem with the car!  Thankfully, it went smoothly.

We had heard horror stories about returning to Canada because of huge line-ups at the airports.  I have to say we were off the plane and through Customs within 20 minutes.  That may have been because we arrived in YVR at a time when it wasn't that busy - the Customs Hall was practically empty - so that part went smoothly.

So, those are my final reflections on this trip.  I need to figure out a way to make my luggage lighter as getting on and off trains can be a challenge.  Also, being tech savvy is important and thirdly, having a credit card back-up is essential, especially if you are a solo traveller!

Thanks to everyone for following my travels on this blog.  Look for a new blog to start in early October as that is my next planned trip although there are lots of details to work out yet!

Wishing everyone a wonderful and safe summer!

Cheers,

Maureen