Maui, we have a problem: COVID-19 rapid test availability hampers Hawaii's interisland travel
Vacationers hoping to take advantage of cheap Hawaii travel this summer will likely have to shell out some extra dough for COVID-19 tests and should schedule them well in advance if they plan to visit multiple islands in compliance with the state's ever-changing requirements.
For movement between most islands, if visitors wish to avoid a mandatory 10-day quarantine under Hawaii's Safe Travels initiative, they must show proof of a negative PCR test result returned no more than 72 hours prior to arrival.
We receive a lot of tips here at TPG, but an email from a particular reader caught our eye yesterday, telling us a harrowing tale of test shortages, lack of appointment availability and delayed results that prompted expensive flight changes during his trip from Maui to Kauai.
"Appointments to be PCR tested on Maui are very hard to come by and should be made weeks in advance if possible," said Jared Levy, who ran into trouble finding an appointment. "Nearly all such options ... cost in excess of $100 per person out of pocket, and insurance cannot be used. Some options cost in excess of $200. Walgreens might have a free option, but we couldn't get an appointment, so we can't be sure."
Levy said he and his wife were finally able to schedule PCR tests at a local CVS (at the cost of $129 each), but despite the pharmacy's assurances that the results would take one to two days, they weren't available in time.
"Upon calling them [48 hours later], we were informed that they ship the tests to Oahu and that it could be four days before we got our results," Levy said.
The snag forced him to change his and his wife's direct flights between Maui and Kauai in order to route through Oahu's Honolulu, where PCR tests are available at the airport, some offering a guaranteed six-hour turnaround. (Levy said he got his in about three hours.) In addition to wasted travel time, it cost him nearly $600 in airline change fees and $280 for two airport-administered tests.
"[I] really just want to help other travelers and hopefully encourage Hawaii to make things a bit easier and more transparent," Levy said. "Obviously, I wish I would've researched how hard it is to get a ... test on Maui, but I wrongly assumed that Hawaii had set up some decent testing infrastructure for the Safe Travels program. Not a single person, starting from our Safe Travels pre-clearance in [Newark] to our Safe Travels checkout in Maui, ever warned us or gave us any information on this matter."
Fortunately, it sounds like these incidents are less of a problem on Hawaii's other islands.
"[We had] no problems at all," says traveler Dori Saltzman, who is currently on Kauai. To get there, like Levy, she took a test at the Honolulu airport. "We had to take a test on Oahu to go to Kauai. We did it at the airport two days before switching islands and got our results in maybe 12 hours."
Saltzman said friends in her travel party also were tested on the Big Island and Kauai with no issues. "In Kauai, our friends got their results on the spot," she said, echoing Levy's sentiment that testing can cost a pretty penny. "We were ... surprised by the price -- $140 per person at [the airport]. And that was the cheapest. One place wanted $250 per person!"
That can be a tough pill to swallow for people coming from other states where testing is often free.
"... tests at home [in New Jersey] are free now," Saltzman said. "We had to test before leaving for Hawaii, and it cost nothing."
Hawaii travelers concerned about the availability of tests while on the islands should note that at-home testing kits are not a viable option. Locals tell us that overnight shipping isn't available from the islands, and by the time the specimens arrive at their designated labs, the results are too old to be used for interisland travel. Plus, of the DIY options, Vault Health is currently the only one approved for use in Hawaii.
Last week, Hawaii rolled out its new statewide vaccine passport program. Under that program, anyone who received all doses of a COVID-19 vaccine in Hawaii can use the passport to bypass the interisland testing requirements. Because the system doesn't integrate data for anyone inoculated outside of the state, the passport can't be used by most travelers.
The demand for "revenge travel" -- making up for lost travel time -- has skyrocketed as the CDC relaxes mask mandates and many countries reopen their borders to international visitors. Interest in Hawaii travel is surging right now, thanks to new airline routes, lower prices and the stir-craziness that follows more than a year of pandemic-related isolation.
Need help finding a test before your next trip? Check out our list of places where you can get reliable PCR test results.
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There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
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- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
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- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.
Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
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Intro Offer
You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.Excellent to Good
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.