The Clyson family trip to Antigua last March was a redo of sorts. They’d already cancelled one trip to Mexico due to covid-19 concerns and restrictions. With two teenagers in tow, Rob and Kathleen Anne Clyson of Kitchener, Ont., knew it might be the last time they’d be able to get the whole clan on a plane at the same time. Kathleen Anne says the family’s first trip in three years was exactly what they’d hoped.
“The resort was beautiful. The beach was beautiful. It was a nice, relaxing, family time,” she told Go Public. That is, until five days in when they, along with all other air passengers, had to take a rapid covid test to be allowed to fly home. They all passed, except Rob. He had only mild symptoms, but the family vacation ground to a halt. While the rest of the family had to stay at the resort, distanced from other guests, Rob was required to isolate in his room, and would miss their return flight.
It cost $1,050 US to keep him in an Antigua hotel room for three nights and $627.60 Cdn for a separate flight home. Luckily, Kathleen Anne thought, they had plenty of travel insurance. In addition to covid emergency insurance — included in their Sunwing vacation package — she also paid for trip cancellation and interruption coverage. All policies were with Manulife. “It was just peace of mind booking it. I mean, as far as I was aware, there was no other insurance I could have bought that would have protected us,” she said.