Canada Quarantine Hotels Off to a Tough Start for Booking: Here are Some Costs

February 19, 2021 ctn_admin

The Canadian government has issued the rules for hotel quarantines that begin next week, as well as a list of approved airport hotels that travellers can use. Canadian Travel News can also report that the costs are a great deal less than Ottawa suggested; only about half the price in some cases.

The rules issued by the Trudeau government state that passengers must book rooms on the phone by calling American Express Business Travel at 1-800-294-8253. Travel agents are not allowed to book for their customers.

Canadian Travel News has received two Twitter messages from frustrated people who can’t get through to Amex.

“Have spent 3 hours trying to get through on the new phone line for booking Canada’s new 3 day mandatory hotel stay. What a fiasco,” one person wrote. They later told me they finally got through to someone but that it took them 15 tries, and that they were on hold for two hours and 45 minutes.

Another Twitter user said the system “is a mess.”

“I’ve been trying to call them for the last hour and I can’t even get put on hold to wait in queue,” they said.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau today defended the booking process.

“There are always challenges, but we will do everything we can” to help, Trudeau said.

Asked if the rules will still come into place on Monday, Trudeau said officials are “working very hard” to make sure everything is in place and that the government will be communicating with Canadians about the rules and requirements.

Ottawa has revealed that taxpayers will pay for the hotels of any refugees that come into this country. And it appears that “regular” guests can book rooms in the same hotel where quarantined passengers will be staying.

There are a choice of airports for folks flying into Toronto, Montreal and Calgary, but only option in Vancouver on the preliminary list, which could be expanded. The government website lists the Westin Wall Centre Vancouver Airport as the only option for passengers flying into YYZ. For Calgary, the only options are the Acclaim Hotel and the Marriott Calgary Airport. For Toronto, the choices are the Alt Hotel Pearson Airport, the Four Points by Sheraton and Element Toronto Airport, the Holiday Inn Toronto International Airport and the Sheraton Gateway Hotel in Toronto International Airport. For Montreal, the options are the Aloft Montreal Airport, the Crowne Plaza Montreal Airport, the Holiday Inn Express and Suites Montreal Airport and the Montreal Airport Marriott In-Terminal hotel.

One Twitter user said she was told that all passengers must prepay the hotel room and it is non-refundable even if the test results come back earlier than three nights. Here’s what she told me about Toronto airport hotel quarantine prices. I can’t confirm these but I see no reason she’d make them up:

Sheraton Gateway at Pearson Airport $319 single, $444 double NO PETS

Four Points Sheraton $309 single, $509 double PETS ALLOWED

ALT Hotel Pearson $399 single, $439 double PETS ALLOWED

Holiday Inn $329 single, $539 double PETS ALLOWED

With three night minimums, that would be anywhere from $957 (plus taxes) for single occupancy at the Sheraton Gateway (which is connected to the airport) to $1,617 for two people at the Holiday Inn, plus taxes. My source told me that includes food, transportation and security costs.

At the Calgary Airport Marriott In-Terminal Hotel, the three-day quarantine stay for one person costs $1,272 plus tax, an employee who answered the phone told Canadian Press.

That’s not cheap, but it’s nowhere near as high as the estimated (okay, threatened) $2,000 per person that some politicians have suggested.

The government website says hotel guests under quarantine are not supposed to use hotel common areas, such as the pool, gym, lobby or restaurants. But hotels are allowing other guests to stay at their properties while official quarantine rooms are occupied.

Starting on Monday, all passengers who arrive in Canada by air must be tested for COVID-19 upon arrival (this is in addition to rules brought in last month that require passengers to present a negative test before they board a plane bound for Canada). Arriving Canadians and visitors also must stay in a government-approved hotel for up to three days while they wait for the results of the test taken upon their arrival.

If a passenger has a negative test, they can quarantine at home for the remainder of the government’s mandatory 14-day quarantine (a policy that has been extended until April 21, 2021). If they test positive for the virus, they’ll be sent to a government-approved facility for the rest of their 14-day quarantine.

Trudeau has said the hotels will cost up to $2,000, but published reports today say one Toronto hotel is charging $1,100 for the mandatory stay.

Canadian Press reports that Ottawa will pay the cost of the hotel stay for refugees coming into Canada, as well as the cost of airport tests for COVID-19.

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