Breaking up with Canon

Why Canon breaking their CPS Gold Service Terms of Agreement was the final straw.

I have been a loyal Canon customer for 30 years. I got my first Canon Rebel (remember Andre Agassi in the ads) back in 1994. I have only used Canon cameras and will gift them to family members and recommend them when people ask me about my camera. I am a professional photographer who photographs landscapes, portraits, and events. All of the pictures on my website, picturehappyphotos.com, were taken with Canon cameras. Sadly, I will no longer buy Canon products and will gradually make the transition to another camera brand.

I am a Canon Professional Services (CPS) gold member. It is promoted as “an exclusive program designed to support the demands of the imaging professional.” To be able to become a gold member, you have to be self-employed or an employee of a “professional imaging service” and own a certain number of higher end Canon products. You must be approved and then pay a fee for the privilege of being a gold member. On their membership page, they state that their “focus is you” and they offer “personalized support for the imaging professional.”

How Canon describes their CPS Gold Membership.

On December 28, 2023, I dropped off my camera at the Costa Mesa Service Center during a holiday trip through Southern California. I used to frequent the service center in Hawai`i which I travel to several times a year to visit family. Sadly that center closed during the pandemic and Costa Mesa was the closest center to where I live in the San Francisco Bay Area. People in Hawai`i also need to now use the Costa Mesa Service Center.

Sign posted on the door of the former Canon Service Center in Honolulu, Hawai`i on November 17, 2021.

I was assured that being a CPS gold member, my repairs and maintenance should not take longer than 3 business days and they will have it shipped back to me in Northern California at no charge. I got a confirmation by text on December 28 and 29 stating that my camera bodies and gear (R5, 5DMIV, 16-35mm lens) were being worked on. I also called the repair notification line on December 29 to ask if there was anything more that needed to be done by me such as pay more money for the service to be completed on my camera gear. I was assured everything was fine and did not receive any other updates and gave them some grace due to the New Year Holiday which was on a Monday.

Text messages received from Canon on 12/29/2023 indicating that they will text again when repairs are completed.

I called the toll free number for the repair notification line they provide to you on Wednesday, January 3 asking about the status of my service. It goes to a call center in Virginia. They do not let you speak to anyone in Costa Mesa in California. The person at the repair notification line assured me that my repairs were complete and they were just waiting for FedEx to pick it up. I told them that I did not receive any notification that the repair was complete and did not get a tracking number. They told me that once FedEx scans it at pick up, it will generate a tracking number. I told them that I thought tracking numbers were generated when a label is printed but was assured the tracking number will be generated upon scanning by FedEx and I should get all items being serviced delivered to me the next day, Thursday, January 4. I also asked the representative if I could get equipment loaned to me which is a CPS Gold membership benefit as repairs are taking longer than 3 business days. I was then told I could if I did not get the camera on Thursday.

I waited most of the day on Thursday, January 4 and did not get a tracking number or delivery. I called back the repair notification line and was told that my camera was ready to be picked up at the Costa Mesa service center. I told the representative at the repair notification line that I did not get any notification that the repairs were complete and ready for pick up. I also told them that I live 400 miles away and was told at drop off (my husband was standing next to me) and again yesterday when I called that it was being shipped back to me. I asked to speak to a supervisor. The supervisor told me that the service center in Costa Mesa was already closed (I called at 4:02 and the service center closes at 4) and I would receive a call back the next day from the Supervisor that I spoke to. They were going to figure out what was happening with my camera equipment.

I did not get a call back on Friday, January 5 so I called the repair notification line back. The supervisor that was supposed to call me back could not explain why they never returned my call. They told me that they needed to contact Costa Mesa to figure out what was wrong and assured me that I would get a call back. After the call, I got an electronic text notification that my items were shipped. I did not get a call back from the supervisor to confirm that my items were indeed being shipped back to me. She had promised to call me back and I did not get a call.

I got my items on Saturday, January 6 which was a full 6 business days after I dropped off my camera equipment. As a CPS gold member, these are their terms and conditions of membership:

  • I am supposed to get my repairs shipped after 3 business days.
  • If repairs were to take longer than that, I am supposed to get equipment loaned to me so I can have a camera.
  • I was also supposed to be offered a $100 repair voucher if repairs are to take longer than 3 business days.
CPS Gold Membership service turnaround policy.

To add insult to injury, the enclosed invoice with the delivery showed that all repairs were completed on Friday, December 29 which was the day after I dropped off the camera. It apparently sat at the Costa Mesa Service Center for a full week before being shipped to me.

On the left are the invoices received with my delivery on 1/6/2024. The repair completed date was noted to be 12/29/2023. On the right is the text message I received on 1/5/2024 stating my camera equipment has been shipped.

I called back on Monday, January 8 to request some sort of compensation for the extended repair time and loss of business opportunities because I did not have a camera. At this time, I spoke to someone in the Customer Relations Department. I spoke to Customer Relations after asking for my call to be escalated since two previous promises by the same supervisor at the repair notification line to receive a call back did not happen. They asked me what would be an appropriate amount of compensation. I did not offer a number and asked them what they were willing to offer. They offered a refund of the cost of the most expensive repair as compensation. It was fair and I agreed. This person gave me their direct number and promised to call me back later in the week to ensure that I received a refund as it will take a few days.

I did not get a call back or a refund. It was the third time someone promised to call back and did not. Once again, I gave them some grace due to another holiday on Monday, January 15. I called the person at Customer Relations directly on Thursday, January 18. It was 10 days after I was promised a refund and call back. She had no idea who I was and what I was talking about. After some digging she told me that it was “not like her” to not call someone back when promised to do so. She made excuses about her 55 case workload. I told her at this point I was done with Canon and wanted a refund of my CPS Gold membership fees as I did not get any of the benefits promised with the membership. I also wanted an update about the status of my refund. She said that the refund request was not submitted until January 10 despite our conversation about a refund happening on January 8. She could not explain the gap in time. The representative said she would expedite the refund and would need to check about getting my CPS membership fee refunded. I told her that I was an extremely loyal Canon customer for 30 years and disappointed at this entire experience. I recounted how I only used Canon cameras over the last 30 years and would recommend it to anyone who asked me about my cameras which would include family, friends, students I teach, and strangers on the street. She “double promised” to call me back.

She called me back a few hours later. It was the first time someone from Canon called me back since this whole ordeal started. The Customer Relations Representative told me that my refund has been processed but will take an additional 7-10 days. At this point, it was already 10 days since I was promised a refund. In other words, it may not be until January 28 that I get a refund which is a full 20 days after I was initially promised to get a refund.

She also told me that they valued my membership and wanted to keep me as a gold member. To keep my loyalty, she offered a credit for one maintenance service of one of my Canon products at a service center and a free battery as compensation for the $100 membership fee. I told her that a battery on their website was only $79.99. It did not equate to the $100 I paid for the CPS Gold Membership.

Screenshot of the Canon website showing the price of a battery.

After 30 years of loyalty, my continued loyalty to Canon is only worth a $79.99 battery and a maintenance service after all that has happened? I told her that was insulting and she said that she didn’t mean to offend me. I told her there are bigger problems with Canon that need to be fixed beyond offering me a $79.99 battery.

In summary, here are the things that went wrong with this entire experience:

  • I did not receive status updates about the service to my camera gear as promised in initial text messages on December 29.
  • The service for my camera took longer than the promised 3 business days.
  • I was not given “Repair Coverage Loan (RCL) equipment” to use while my camera gear was being serviced beyond the 3 business days. They had my camera gear for 6 business days.
  • I was not offered a $100 credit for future service when the service took longer than 3 business days.
  • My serviced camera equipment should have been shipped from Costa Mesa to me in the San Francisco Bay Area on Tuesday, January 2. I was then promised delivery on Thursday, January 4 but did not ultimately receive delivery until Saturday, January 6.
  • Upon delivery, it was discovered that my service was actually completed on Friday, December 29 but not shipped from Costa Mesa until Friday, January 5.
  • I have not received a promised refund of the most expensive repair.
  • I was promised and did not receive a return phone call 3 times from 2 different people in 2 different departments.

I asked the customer relations representative why a loyal customer such as myself would want to recommend their brand anymore? I received this level of service as a professional photographer and gold level member. Can you imagine what kind of service one were to receive if they are a beginner photographer with an entry-level camera?

As an active member of the landscape community in the Bay Area and someone who shoots next to real working photographers from organizations like Getty Images, I don’t know of any of their current “influencers” or their “Explorers of Light.” While those photographer’s work are amazing, they don’t influence the more inexperienced photographers to want to pick up a Canon camera. Sony’s Ambassador program have real photographers that you run into in the field and are more inspiring to the beginner photographer. It feels more attainable for someone to achieve their level of skill. It is no mistake that many of the photographers that I know have switched from Canon to brands such as Sony and Fuji. Also, when I run into new photographers out and about, it is extremely rare for me to see a Canon camera in their hands. I see many new photographers with Sony, Fuji, and Nikon cameras.

Canon also does nothing to promote brand loyalty to future generations. It is heartwarming to hear stories of brands such as Nikon donating cameras to schools to promote photography to students. Sony has a page where you can request grants. Canon will apparently only do philanthropic activities only near their headquarters. What about donating refurbished cameras or cameras that are no longer being manufactured or with minor defects to students in under resourced school districts to inspire the next generation of photographers around the country?

Canon USA’s Criteria for Donations

I also told her that the loss of the service center in Hawai`i was a huge loss for the photography community there. The service was amazing. They remembered people by name. I had been going to that center since the 90’s. I could actually speak to someone on the phone at that location if I had any questions or needed updates about my gear. I was not routed to a call center on the other side of the country. I was not a gold member and still able to receive prompt service. My service needs were always finished in a few days before I had to fly back to California. There was a time when I was unexpectedly hospitalized on a trip and didn’t get to pick up my camera before I had to leave. They shipped my camera to me in California at no charge. That level of service helped to keep me a loyal customer for 30 years.

Now I’m left with shipping my gear to the nearest service center in Southern California for something like the free maintenance they’re offering to me to maintain my loyalty and maybe I’ll get it in a week? Why would I do that when I can go to my local camera store and get my Canon products cleaned with no shipping costs and faster service? With the credit they offered to me for an extra maintenance service, the shipping costs to them would be more than my local shop will charge for doing a maintenance cleaning. Also, with their dysfunctional repair system, I would have to plan for over a week for my camera gear to be shipped back and will have to also account for that lost revenue from missed business opportunities. How is that an added benefit? Apparently I am not the only one with these complaints. They are mentioned by others with 1 star reviews on Google and Yelp.

It seems completely lost on people at Costa Mesa and the repair notification line in Virginia that a camera is a means for people to earn a living. Prompt service for a professional photographer is essential so they can continue working.

What is extremely disappointing are the many failures from multiple departments at Canon across the country. From the service center in Costa Mesa not shipping my camera gear when it was finished, to the repair notification line in Virginia not confirming with Costa Mesa if my camera gear was ready and the supervisor not calling me back, and finally customer relations not submitting my refund request and calling back as promised. What could have been done differently? Thinking about this whole situation, all of this could have been avoided if ANY ONE of the following happened:

  • I should have been able to speak to someone in Costa Mesa back on January 3 or should have had prompt text updates about the status of repairs as promised in their initial text messages. Why do I have to speak to someone across the country in Virginia? Why did the representative at the repair notification line that I spoke to not reach out to Costa Mesa to ensure the package was indeed waiting for pickup by FedEx on January 3 instead of assuming it was ready? Why was my camera gear in Costa Mesa not prepared for delivery as soon as or shortly after my servicing was finished on December 29? Why did I not get any text updates between December 29-January 5? With the promised notifications, I would have learned that my repair was finished on December 29. We would have also learned that my camera equipment was just sitting on a shelf somewhere in Costa Mesa since December 29 and not ready for pickup by FedEx on January 3.
  • Why did the supervisor at the repair notification line who promised to call me back on January 5 not call me back? She could have done a simple apology for the service taking a long time, offered the service credit as outlined in the CPS Gold membership terms and conditions and I would not have escalated things further with customer relations. It would have been an acceptable outcome.
  • Why did the customer relations representative not call me back as promised on January 8? I made it clear that two previous promises of a call back did not happen. Why was my promised refund request not submitted on January 8? Why was the request submitted on January 10? Why was the refund only approved on January 18 and only when I called back? Why would it have to take up to 20 days from the initial promise of a refund on January 8 for it to actually be received? If I had received a call back by January 12 as promised, I would not have asked for my CPS membership fee to be reimbursed.
  • If Canon was serious about keeping me as a customer, why not entice me to use the services of the Costa Mesa service center to restore my faith in their service and brand? Instead of crediting me a “free” maintenance which I would have to pay to ship to Costa Mesa, why not encourage me to send in an item with free shipping to them? It would help to restore my faith that service can be done expeditiously and without problems. If they are going to offer a “gift” to cover the cost of my membership, why not offer a product or credit really worth the cost of the membership? Why would they offer something that is 20% less and claim that it is an equivalent cost? Maybe they could upgrade my membership for a year? Offer free shipping to them for repairs or maintenance? Do something to show that I am truly a valued member and customer.

I gave Canon many opportunities to correct their mistakes and tried to remain a loyal customer. Now they are left with a highly disgruntled customer who wants to do no further business with the brand and will never buy another Canon product. I was looking into getting a new camera and flash but no longer from Canon. They will also no longer get glowing recommendations from me about their products. Canon will also have to refund the cost of my most expensive repair and must refund my CPS membership fees. It did not have to come to this.

The customer relations representative was interested in what I had to say and she said many of my complaints were valid and “higher than her pay grade.” I told her that I have done a lot of customer service in my life and one rule that stuck with me was to “under promise and over deliver.” In every aspect of this situation, there was a lot of “over promising and under delivering” of service. As a gold member, they certainly did not have their focus on me or offer “personalized support for the imaging professional.” They fell well short of that. Also from my years of customer service experience, it does not take much to show someone you CARE or are VALUED. Simply following through with promises go a long way…

Canon’s promise of “personalized support.”

I encouraged her to pass on my feedback and that I welcome to speak to anyone higher up who will listen to me about my experiences. She agreed that 30 years is a long time to remain loyal to a brand and that “most marriages don’t last that long.” I told the representative that is why I am so sad and angry. I really liked their product but the horrible experiences outweigh the brand loyalty. It’s indeed like getting a divorce. Canon is not the only game in town anymore and many other brands have come up to the same standards that Canon has. Third party companies have also made it easy to compensate for perceived deficiencies with other brands. She wants to make this “right” but doesn’t know how. A refund of my CPS Gold membership fees is still not a sure thing. She will have someone call me back…

What Island Should I Visit in Hawai`i?

If you’re having trouble deciding which island to visit in Hawai`i, here are some things to consider with the islands that have direct flights to the mainland. They are O`ahu, Kaua`i, Maui, and Hawai`i (aka the Big Island). You can also read my post about the culture in Hawai`i to learn a little about the islands in general.

O`ahu

  • Most populated island. Highest population density.
  • State capital of Hawai`i, Honolulu, is located on this island.
  • Great nightlife and shopping.
  • Contains many of the amenities you would expect from a major metropolitan city.
  • Traffic can be bad due to population density.
  • Lots of historical sights like Pearl Harbor and Iolani Palace.
  • Lots of white sand beaches and some of the world’s best surfing spots.

Kaua`i

  • Smallest and oldest island of the ones listed here.
  • You can take the first flight in and the last flight and still be able to see most of the island.
  • Mt. Waialeale is the wettest spot on Earth and located on Kaua`i.
  • The “Grand Canyon the the Pacific”, Waimea Canyon, is on Kaua`i.
  • The Na Pali Coast is beautiful with weathered cliffs and crystal blue water.
  • Great island to go to if you want to relax on the beach as things are pretty laid back.

Maui

  • Second most populous next to O`ahu.
  • Contains all of the amenities of a big city like Honolulu.
  • Traffic and drought are concerns.
  • Hana Highway is a beautiful drive with waterfalls and black sand beaches on the route but traffic can be bad since most of it is a winding two lane highway.
  • Haleakala National Park is a beautiful place to watch a sunrise.
  • Most of the resorts are located on the south and west shore of the island. Traffic can get bad driving to either part of the island.

Hawai`i (aka the Big Island)

  • Larger than all of the other islands put together.
  • It is the youngest of all of the Hawaiian islands and therefore covered with acres of barren lava fields.
  • Due to its young age, it does not have as many white sand beaches as the other islands.
  • This island has 10 of the world’s 14 climate zones so you can experience all kinds of weather including snow atop Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa in the winter.
  • The tallest mountain in the world (when measured from the sea floor) is Mauna Kea.
  • Volcanoes National Park is the place to see active volcanoes. Even if there are no active lava flows, you can see steam vents and sulfur beds. Hiking through old lava tubes will take you through tropical Hawaiian rainforests filled with endangered native birds.
  • The southern most point in the United States is on this island.
  • This island has green and black sand beaches.
  • Most of the resorts are located along the north western coast.

Things to do on O`ahu

Here are my thoughts about things that are worth doing on O`ahu. This list is in no particular order and is current as of July 2023. Everyday when on O`ahu, remember to apply lots of reef-safe sunscreen, bring along some bug spray as mosquitoes are active during the day, and leave nothing in your car even if just for a few minutes. Like any big city, car break-ins do happen so take appropriate actions to protect your personal property. Also remember to never turn your back to the ocean and be careful entering the water if there is no lifeguard on duty.

Items with an asterisk (*) require a reservation. See my post about Recommended Activities that Require a Reservation on O`ahu for more information about these activities.

  • Visit the Arizona Memorial*
  • Hike Diamond Head *
  • Visit the Polynesian Culture Center or go to a lu`au*
  • Go snorkeling at Hana`uma Bay*
  • Drive around the island of O`ahu in a day.
  • Go to Pali Lookout to get beautiful views of the windward side of O`ahu.
  • Hike the Makapu`u Point Lighthouse trail. It is an easy 2.4 mile round trip hike on a paved road. You’ll get beautiful views of the Makapu`u Lighthouse as well as Rabbit Island and the eastern shoreline of O`ahu.
  • Lounge or swim at the beaches at Ko `Olina. Calm and protected beaches with less tourists than Waikiki. Great for young children. Go early to get parking and avoid weekends when locals go to the beach. If you’re staying at Ko `Olina, traffic can be bad heading east (away from Ko `Olina toward downtown Honolulu) during morning rush hour and heading west (toward Ko `Olina and away from downtown Honolulu) during evening rush hour.
  • Tour the Honolulu Fish Auction*. Tours are only on Saturdays from 6AM-7:30AM. It does require a reservation. I did not include it on my previous post about recommended activities that require a reservation since I have not done the tour before. Prior to the pandemic, as long as you were over the age of 16, you could just walk in on any day at 5:30AM and watch the auction take place. I have been to the Tsukiji Fish Auction in Tokyo, Japan and this auction is smaller but also interesting to see.
  • Take a hike around Ho`omaluhia Botanical Gardens to get beautiful views of the Ko`olau Mountains. There is no admission. Bring the bug spray.
  • Visit a botanic garden to learn about the native plants of Hawai`i. Hawai`i has the highest concentration of endangered species in the world. Due to the extreme isolation of Hawai`i, many plants have evolved so they are found no where else in the world. Some of my favorites are Ho`omaluhia (listed above with no admission), Lyon Arboretum (run by the University of Hawai`i and $10 donation) , Foster Botanical Garden (admission $5), and Koko Crater Botanic Garden which is best for dryland plants (admission FREE).
  • Go for a hike in the mountains. Lots of great reviews and maps can be found on alltrails.com. Just be prepared with lots of water, sunscreen, and bug spray. Trails in the mountains can be muddy and steep. Be cautious on muddy trails with steep climbs and sudden drop offs. Know your limits! Don’t trespass on private property and DO NOT be one of those tourists that require a rescue operation.
  • Bishop Museum contains many ancient Hawaiian artifacts and a great place to learn about what life was like before contact with the western world. There is also a planetarium where you can learn about the constellations that can be found in the skies above Hawai`i. For example, Hawai`i is one of the few places in the U.S. where you can see the southern cross.
  • Take a tour of Iolani Palace which is the only royal residence in the United States. You can learn about the overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy in 1893 and the lasting impacts it has had on the native Hawaiian people.
  • Take a self-guided tour of the state capitol building. The building is located across the street from Iolani Palace and contains unique architecture which is unlike other capitol buildings that you’ll find around the country. For example, did you know that the building has sloping walls to mimic a volcano and surrounded by a reflecting pool to symbolize the Pacific Ocean?
  • If you find yourself in O`ahu close to the holiday season, Honolulu Hale (Honolulu’s City Hall) has beautiful lights and Christmas trees on display on their grounds inside and out.
  • Catch a concert at Blue Note Hawai`i in Waikiki. You can get surprisingly up close to some of your favorite bands in this intimate setting.
  • You can schedule a tour at Kualoa Ranch* to see the sites of movies shot on O`ahu like Jurassic Park. There are also other activities like riding a zip line and horseback riding.
  • Watch the sunrise from Lanikai Beach in Kailua. This is one of my favorite beaches on the island and when you go at sunrise, you’ll be sure to find yourself a parking spot. The Mokolua Islands offshore are a favorite subject for me to photograph.
  • Another favorite sunrise spot is at Kualoa Regional Park. If the gate to the park is closed, you can park along the highway and walk into the park. Mokoli`i Island (aka Chinaman’s Hat) is a photogenic island located just off the coast.
  • Friday night fireworks from the Hilton Hawaiian Village in Waikiki. Every Friday night at 7:45PM in the fall/winter/spring and 8PM in the summer, the Hilton has a fireworks show from the lagoon on the property. It is fun to watch the show from the lagoon, from Magic Island, or even from the upper level of Ala Moana Shopping Center near Olive Garden.

Shopping

  • Shop at Ala Moana Shopping Center. The largest shopping center in the state and with sales tax at 4.712%, things can be cheaper than they are compared to states like California where sales tax can be over 10%! Prices at national stores like the Apple store are the same in Hawai`i and other places on the mainland so the savings on sales tax is worth saving some time for shopping for Hawai`i.
  • The other major shopping malls on O`ahu are: Ka Makana Ali`i in Kapolei, Pearl Ridge Center in `Aiea, Kahala Mall in Honolulu, and Windward Mall in Kane`ohe.
  • Shop at the Aloha Stadium Swap Meet (Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday only). There are great deals on souvenirs and trinkets. This is where I stock up on gifts for friends on the mainland. The Honolulu rail line, Skyline, has a station nearby if you want to catch a train to the Swap Meet.
  • Go to a Farmer’s Market to get fresh local produce or eat some excellent prepared meals. My favorites are the Kaka`ako Farmer’s Market on Saturday mornings or the Windward Mall Farmer’s Market on Wednesday evening or Sunday morning.

Places to Eat on the Island of O`ahu

The island of O`ahu has many different places to eat. I will attempt to sort some of my favorite places based on location. The west side of the island is usually referred to the “Ewa” side. I will call the downtown/Ala Moana/Waikiki area Honolulu. The east side is the “Windward” side and the “North Shore” will be the North Shore. These are current as of July 2023 and are listed alphabetically within a region. I am also including asterisks (***) next to places I feel are “can’t miss” if you only have a few days on O`ahu. Before continuing on with this post, please read these other posts about the culture in Hawai`i and a description of the food in Hawai`i .

Food Establishments with Mulitple Locations Around the Island

  • 7-Eleven in Hawai`i is definitely not like the 7-Eleven stores on the mainland. While it is not quite on par with the stores in Japan, it is definitely more than a step above the ones on the mainland. The ready-made food section is extensive with manapua, musubi’s and bentos. They have food in warmers as well as refrigerated food which you can heat with the in-store microwave. My kids swear their spam musubi is the best.
  • Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf is a national company but in Hawai`i they have unique flavors which are fun to try if you run across one on your travels across O`ahu.
  • Foodland Farms (aka Foodland) in Pearl City and Ala Moana have affordable poke bowls and a wide selection of ready to eat bentos and prepared foods. Not all Foodlands have a wide food selection. If a store is just labeled as “Foodland” it is likely just a grocery store with a limited selection of prepared food. Look for the Foodland Farms to find stores with a large selection of prepared food.
  • Leonard’s Malasadas*** is known for their sugar covered Portuguese Malasadas donut. While their bakery on Kapahulu Avenue near Waikiki is always busy, their “malasadasmobile” can be found in the parking lot at Waikele Shopping Center, Pearl Ridge Shopping Center, Windward Mall, and Hawai`i Kai Shopping Center. While these trucks do not have the full bakery offerings like their bakery on Kapahulu Avenue, they do sell their famous malasadas and worth visiting if you don’t want to fight the crowds at the bakery. I remember being sick at home one day back in 2004 when The Rock (aka Dwayne Johnson) was on the Ellen Degeneres show and they both ate Leonard’s Malasadas (even came in the famous pink box) on the show.
  • Zippy’s*** is a “local comfort food” kind of place. They are known for their chili (which must be eaten with rice), fried chicken, macaroni salad, and Apple Napple dessert. They are a favorite destination of such celebrities as Bruno Mars and Jason Momoa.

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Ewa (Near Aulani and Ko ‘Olina Resorts)

  • `Aiea Bowl’s The Alley Restaurant has the best food you would ever find at a Bowling Alley. They were featured on the Food Network’s “Diner’s Drive-Inn’s and Dives.” Their tasty chicken, furikake ahi, and pumpkin crunch are some of my favorites.
  • Forty-Niner Restaurant has yummy breakfast. My personal favorite are the ube waffles. You can order ahead so you don’t have to wait in line.
  • Mamaya has a large assortment of bentos for sale. The food quality is great for the price and the mochiko chicken is one of my favorites. Go early for the best selection. They also give you a bottle of water with every purchase.
  • Shiro’s Saimin is one of the original places to get Hawaiian-style ramen noodles. The broth is lighter than traditional Japanese ramen. Saimin is unique to Hawai`i and can be found at places such as Zippy’s and even McDonald’s (sadly the company that supplied their saimin went out of business when the owners retired in 2022).
  • Tanioka’s Seafoods and Catering*** has some of the best poke on the island (my favorite is the wasabi miso tako) as well as yummy other offerings like mochiko chicken and fish patties.
  • Young’s Kalbee in `Aiea is a “mom and pop” hole in the wall restaurant where you won’t find any tourists but a warm and inviting owner who remembers everyone that visits her restaurant and gives generous portions of some of the best Korean BBQ you will ever have.

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Honolulu (Near Downtown and Waikiki)

  • Frost City serves Taiwanese-style shave ice. A nice alternative to the Hawaiian-style shave ice.
  • Gulick’s Delicatessen is great if you’re not sure what you want to eat or with a group of people with different food preferences. The huge selection has a heavy Asian influence and this a place you won’t find any tourists.
  • Highway Inn serves delicious Hawaiian food. They have two locations but the location in Kaka`ako is closer to Waikiki.
  • Kaka`ako Farmers Market is open every Saturday from 8-12. You can get lots of fresh produce (including mangoes, papaya, apple bananas, etc) and prepared foods.
  • Kokoro-Tei is a place where you can get good quality bentos for an affordable price. It is best to call ahead to order to avoid waiting for your food.
  • Liliha Bakery has several locations in Honolulu including one at the International Market Place in Waikiki. Their original location is in Kalihi. Their meals are good but they are known for their coco puffs which are pastries filled with chocolate and topped with chantilly frosting. Their cakes are also good like their dobash and chantilly cake.
  • Off the Hook poke in Manoa. I am honestly not a big fan of raw fish poke but this is one place that I will eat raw fish poke. The cold ginger ahi and wasabi poke is very good.
  • Side Street Inn*** started off as a bar. It was a place that chefs would go to eat after their restaurants closed. This is a place that is definitely worth making a reservation. Their prix fixe menu served family style has all of their classics and something I crave.
  • Tsuru Ton Tan is located in the Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center in Waikiki and serves enormous bowls of noodles and their lunch specials are very affordable.
  • Uncle Clay’s House of Pure Aloha*** Shave Ice has freshly made syrups which taste true to the intended flavor. Shave ice texture is also very nice. Only negative is it can be a bit pricey for shave ice but worth the extra cost in my opinion.
  • Waiola Shave Ice has good flavor and a good texture. It is probably the finest shave ice texture you will find and a personal favorite of former President Barack Obama who grew up in the neighborhood.
  • Island Vintage Shave Ice is the best shave ice that you will find in Waikiki. The texture of the ice is good and the syrups are not too sweet or artificial tasting.

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Windward

  • Adela’s Country Eatery features homemade noodles. Their noodles are made with ingredients such as `ulu (breadfruit), taro, moringa, and Okinawan sweet potatoes. Serving sizes are huge and one plate can easily be shared by 2 people. Their cheesecakes such as mango, guava, etc are also amazing. You can call in your order ahead of time to avoid waiting.
  • Chi-Chan’s Okazu-ya tasty Japanese food served in a Hawaiian-style delicatessen. A “mom and pop” operation so best to go early. Not uncommon to have food sold out by 9AM. The old Chi-Chan’s closed in December 2023. It is believed that this will reopen with only pre-made bentos and will no longer be a delicatessen style location.
  • Cinnamon’s Restaurant has great breakfast. They also have a location in Waikiki at the`Ilikai Hotel. My personal favorites are the crab cake eggs benedict and the red velvet pancakes which are not too sweet.
  • Fresh Catch great poke.
  • K. Bay Bros. great poke.
  • Waiahole Poi Factory serves great Hawaiian food. My favorite is their squid luau and Sweet Lady of Waiahole dessert. It can get crowded as more tourists have discovered this place so best to go early to avoid waiting in line. A new location in Windward Mall recently opened and a good alternative place to visit if you don’t want to stand in line at their location in Waiahole.
  • Windward Mall Farmer’s Market open 2-6PM on Wednesday and 10-2PM on Sunday. Great place to get local produce like warabi (fern shoots), papaya, mangoes, and dried fish. There is a vendor that sells $5.00 mini Hawaiian food plate lunches which is definitely a great price for the quality and amount of food that you get.

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North Shore

  • Aoki’s Shave Ice*** is probably my favorite shave ice place on the island. It is significantly better than their more popular competitor across the street. If you want a place the locals go to, stop by here and not the place across the street. You’ll have a shorter line and a much better shave ice! Follow their instagram to get their hours as it varies throughout the year.
  • Kua `Aina Burger and Sandwich Shop is located in Hale`iwa town on the North Shore. My favorite is their mahi sandwich. My dad loved their pastrami. They once had locations throughout the island but this is the only one on `Oahu.
  • Pa`ala`a Kai Bakery is known for their “snow puffy” which is a flaky chocolate pastry dusted with powdered sugar. Their mini mart next door serves fried chicken, Hawaiian-style maki sushi and other goodies.
  • Ted’s Bakery serves delicious pies which you can buy by the slice if you don’t want to eat a whole pie. They are known for their haupia (coconut) chocolate pie.

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Places Not Worth the Hype

These are based on my personal opinion and you can feel free to disagree.

  • Matsumoto’s Shave Ice in Hale`iwa. There are always long lines and honestly the shave ice isn’t that good. Aoki’s which is located right across the street rarely has lines and the shave ice quality and flavor is significantly better. Uncle Clay’s House of Pure Aloha and Waiola are better choices.
  • Rainbow Drive-In – Other than their slush float, I have yet to find a food choice on the menu that is good.
  • Shimazu Shave Ice – This place is good if you want to have a single massive shave ice that you can share with other people. Other than that, the quality of the ice and flavors are better at the other places noted above.

Brief Description of Food in Hawai`i

I will attempt to explain the different kinds of food found in Hawai`i. Hawai`i is a unique place with literally a melting pot of cultures. You can read a brief lesson about the culture in Hawai`i here. The food has a lot of heavy Asian influences as immigrants from many different Asian countries came to Hawai`i to work in the sugar cane fields in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s. Once you’re finished reading this, continue on to my recommendations for places to eat on O`ahu.

Rice

  • Rice is usually the starch in many meals. The rice that’s served in Hawai`i is typically sticky and medium grain calrose/Japanese varieties. It is not dry or flaky.
  • Rice is so ubiquitous in Hawai`i that it is commonly found in places that you wouldn’t typically expect to find rice like McDonald’s and Kentucky Fried Chicken.
  • White rice is usually served but in recent years, brown rice has become an option at many places.

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Macaroni Salad

Macaroni salad, brown rice, and fried chicken

  • Macaroni salad is served with a lot of meals in Hawai`i. It is not your usual American or European salad.
  • The macaroni is usually overcooked so it is soft but not mushy.
  • It is heavy on the mayonnaise and salt. It doesn’t contain mustard or relish.
  • There are a million variations as some may contain tuna, carrots, potatoes, or onions.

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Plate Lunch

  • A plate lunch is literally a meal on a plate. It is traditionally served on a plate and packed in a cardboard box. Although these days, it can be served in a variety of containers.
  • In Hawai`i, a plate lunch is a main course combined with rice and a scoop of macaroni salad.
  • It can be heavy on the carbohydrates. It is possible to find a plate lunch with spaghetti, rice, and macaroni salad. Many places are making them “healthier” by offering brown rice and/or tossed salad instead of macaroni salad.

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Bento

  • A bento is a boxed meal commonly found with Japanese food.
  • In Hawai`i, it can be in separate compartments or in one big container.
  • Bentos usually do not have macaroni salad but will have rice.

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Saimin

  • Saimin is Hawaiian-style ramen noodles.
  • The broth is lighter and toppings are more simple usually consisting of some green onions (aka scallions), Japanese fish cake, Chinese roast pork (char siu) and simple vegetables like napa cabbage.
  • It is best eaten with soy sauce and spicy Chinese yellow mustard mixed together as a dipping condiment. 
  • Saimin is unique to Hawai`i and can be found at places such as Zippy’s and even McDonald’s (sadly the company that supplied their saimin went out of business when the owners retired in 2022).

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Manapua

  • Hawaiian-style Chinese dim sum. Manapua is usually what the Chinese would call char siu bao (steamed bun filled with roast BBQ pork).
  • The Hawaiian-style manapua can be steamed or baked.
  • It is also stuffed with more choices than BBQ roasted pork. It can have ingredients like chicken or vegetables.
  • The meats may have teriyaki or curry sauces too.

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Hawaiian Food

Rice, lomi salmon, and squid lu`au

  • Native Hawaiian food is heavy on pork, taro, and coconut which were common staples in ancient Hawai`i.
  • Today some common Hawaiian dishes are poi (mashed taro root), laulau (steamed meat wrapped in taro leaves), kalua pig (roast pig), chicken long rice (noodles in a chicken broth), squid luau (taro leaves cooked in coconut milk with pieces of squid), lomi salmon (tomato and onion dish with salted preserved salmon), haupia (coconut dessert)

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Portuguese Sausage

Portuguese sausage, eggs, and fried rice.

  • A common breakfast to find in Hawai`i is Portuguese sausage, eggs, and rice. Even McDonald’s has this on their menu.
  • Portuguese sausage is a pork sausage similar to Spanish chorizo but smokier in flavor with less paprika.

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SPAM

  • People in Hawai`i really love their SPAM. In case you didn’t know, SPAM is a canned, preserved pork meat product.
  • The most popular way to eat it in Hawai`i is as a musubi. A SPAM musubi is like a SPAM sushi. A slice of SPAM is placed on a bed of rice and wrapped in nori (seaweed).
  • Different places have their own variations of SPAM musubi as they cook it in different sauces.

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Poke

How you’ll find poke sold by the fishmonger in Hawai`i.

  • Poke is properly pronounced as po-kay and NOT po-key.
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  • Poke in Hawai`i is not served in bowls with a million add-ons like on the mainland.
  • It is usually bought from a fish monger from a quarter pound minimum to several pounds.
  • Poke in Hawai`i is usually made with either raw fish (ahi) or cooked octopus (tako). It is prepared using soy sauce, sesame seed oil, onions, and sometimes seaweed. Sometimes a spicy mayo-based sauce or other things like garlic are mixed in as well.
  • Most people eat it plain as an appetizer (or pūpū as it is called in Hawai`i).
  • If you do see it as a bowl, most eat it simply over a bowl of rice.

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Pūpūs

  • What people in Hawai`i call hors d’oeuvres.
  • Poke is a common pūpū dish.

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Shave Ice or Ice Shave if You’re From the Big Island

  • Definitely not your mainland “snow cone.” The texture of the ice is shaved finer and the syrups are not overly sweet.
  • You can get shave ice topped with azuki beans, sweetened condensed milk, mochi balls, etc.
  • Shave ice can also be mounded on top of ice cream and can be served in a bowl, cup, or cone.

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Fruit Punch

  • It is not like the very sweet “Hawaiian Punch” you’ll find on the mainland. In fact, it is rare to find the brand “Hawaiian Punch” being served anywhere in Hawai`i.
  • All fast food places like McDonald’s and Burger King serve fruit punch.
  • Worth trying as an alternative to soda.
  • Some of my favorites can be found at McDonald’s and Zippy’s Restaurants.
  • If you’d like to take some home, brands like Malolo and Luau make syrups to make fruit punch at home.

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Hawaiian-Style Delicatessen

  • Not to be confused with a mainland “deli” which serves sandwiches.
  • Delicatessens in Hawai`i serve a variety of dishes which you can choose to fill a plate.
  • A great place to eat if you want a variety of food to eat.
  • The food typically has a heavy Asian influence.

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A Drive-Inn

  • A Drive-Inn in Hawai`i is a casual eating place where you can get take out.
  • There is typically a window where you can order and pickup your food.
  • Plate lunches are what is usually offered at a Drive-Inn.
  • There are a variety of plate lunches that you can choose from.

A Brief Culture Lesson for Hawai`i

Hawai`i is literally a melting pot of cultures from around the world. Many immigrants came to work in the sugar cane fields in the 19th and 20th centuries. There are certain things which you’ll only find in Hawai`i.

Here are some things to know before your visit.

Native Hawaiian or  Kānaka Maoli 

  • Just because someone is from Hawai`i, it is wrong to call them Hawaiian.
  • Someone who is Hawaiian is descended from the Native people who lived in Hawai`i before Captain Cook’s “discovery” in 1778.

Hawaiian Language or `Ōlelo Hawaiʻi

  • There is a Hawaiian language (`Ōlelo Hawaiʻi).
  • The entire alphabet only contains 12 letters. It contains 5 vowels (A, E, I, O, U) and only 7 consonants (H, K, L, M, N, P, W).
  • ‘ (okina) and ¯ (kahako) help you to pronounce words correctly.

Honolulu

  • The capital of Hawai`i is Honolulu. Please learn to pronounce it correctly.
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♬ original sound – Kumu Luana

Pidgin

  • The typical and distinct accent found with most locals in Hawai`i.
  • Pidgin is actually a way of speaking which developed as a way for people from different cultures to communicate when working on the sugar plantations. It borrows words from English, Hawaiian, Japanese, Chinese, Portuguese, etc.

Mainland

  • The continental United States is called the mainland.

Driving Etiquette

  • It is customary to let someone merge or turn into traffic if they have been waiting longer than you at an intersection. They’ll usually wave at you to go first.
  • If someone lets you go before them, please remember to thank them by holding your hand up to acknowledge them.

Directions on O`ahu

  • On O`ahu, if you head west, you are heading “ewa” (pronounced eva).
  • If you head east, you are heading toward “Diamond Head.”
  • If you head toward the mountains, you are heading “mauka.”
  • If you head toward the ocean, you are heading “makai.”

Windward and Mauka

  • You’ll hear this often on newscasts in reference to the weather. For example, “windward and mauka showers.”
  • Due to the prevailing trade winds in the tropics where Hawai`i is located, the east or windward side of all of the Hawaiian islands are the wet or rainy side.
  • The western sides are dry as the rain clouds get hung up on the mountains on the east side of the islands.

Kona Wind

  • Winds that come from the south (think about it coming from Kona on the Big Island).
  • It is an atypical weather pattern and usually means the weather will be hot and cooling trade winds will not materialize.

Vog

  • Vog is volcanic haze. It can cause hazy conditions on all of the islands.
  • It can blow up from the active volcanoes on the Big Island when Kona winds are the prevalent weather pattern.

High Surf Advisory

  • High Surf Advisories are issued when surf is up.
  • High surf can be expected on north and west shores on all islands in the winter. This would include such famous surfing spots along the north shore like Waimea Bay, Pipeline, Sunset, etc. In the west along the Wai`anae coast are Yokohama, Makaha, etc.
  • In the summer, high surf can be found along the south and east shores in places like Sandy Beach and Waikiki.
  • If you are not a strong swimmer, it is best to avoid swimming in the water in the north and west in the winter and the south and east in the summer.

Footwear

  • Please remove your shoes when entering someone’s home. Everyone takes their shoes off when inside a private residence.

Aloha Shirt

  • Those collared shirts which may contain flowers or other designs are called Aloha shirts in Hawai`i and NOT Hawaiian shirts.

Slippers

  • These footwear are called slippers and not flip flops, sandals, or thongs.

Shave Ice or Ice Shave (if you’re from the Big Island)

  • It is not a snow cone. It is shave ice. It is also called ice shave if you’re from the Big Island.

Canned Meats

  • People in Hawai`i really love their canned or preserved meats. They love SPAM, Vienna Sausage, Corned Beef, Beef/Fish Jerky, and Portuguese Sausage.
  • If you don’t like it, it is best to keep your opinion to yourself.
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Now that you have read a bit about the culture of Hawai`i, you can read about things to do on O`ahu and the food in Hawai`i.

Recommended Activities that Require Reservations on O`ahu

These are some of the activities that are recommended by me to do on the island of O`ahu. The information and links are current as of July 2023. For a more extensive list of things to do on O`ahu, read this post.

Hiking to the top of Diamond Head

Enjoy 360 degree panoramic views from the top of one of the most iconic mountains on the island of O`ahu. The hike starts at the base of the crater floor and is only 0.8 miles one way to the top but has a climb of 560 feet to the summit.

View looking east from atop Diamond Head
View looking west from atop Diamond Head

  • Requires a reservation for non-Hawai`i residents. Cost is $5 per person.
  • Parking is $10 and does shorten the length of the hike. If you don’t want to pay for parking, you can park outside the crater but will have to cross into the crater via a narrow tunnel with cars driving through it.
  • Crater opens at 6AM and is another activity I recommend starting early to avoid the crowds and most importantly the heat as there are sections of the trail which are exposed with no shade.
  • Bring a hat, sunscreen, and plenty of water on the hike.
  • An alternative hike which does not require an entrance fee or reservation is hiking the Koko Crater stairs. There is NO SHADE and best done early in the morning. It is also significantly steeper (885 feet elevation gain) and a longer hike (1.6 miles) so best kept for those who are able to physically handle it.

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Swimming/Snorkeling at Hana`uma Bay

Fun and easy place to snorkel with lots of fish to see. Water is calm and protected year round within the bay of this nature preserve. Lifeguards are on duty at this beach.

Snorkeling at Hana`uma Bay
  • Requires a reservation for non-Hawai`i residents.
  • Entry fee is $25 per person (over the age of 12) and parking is $3.
  • The Bay is closed all day on Monday and Tuesday.
  • Bring only reef-safe sunscreen. Sunscreen which contain ingredients that are not safe for coral reefs are no longer sold in Hawai`i but still sold on the mainland. Please read the ingredients on your sunscreen bottle before packing your sunscreen. The offending ingredients that I see most often are oxybenzone and octinoxate.
  • The park is open at 6:45 and I would highly recommend getting there as close to opening as possible. Parking is limited and this is a good way to secure a parking spot and to have less people swimming at the beach. This is a good activity to plan toward the beginning of your trip to take advantage of any mainland jet lag.
  • Shark’s Cove on the North Shore is an alternative to Hana`uma Bay for snorkeling. However, there is no lifeguard and would only snorkel there during the summer when waves are smaller. Waves on the North Shore can be dangerous in the winter. Going earlier in the day will also ensure that you get a parking spot.

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Visit Pearl Harbor and the Arizona Memorial.

This is the site of the Japanese attack on December 7, 1941 which brought the United States into World War II.

The Arizona Memorial
  • Admission is free to visit Pearl Harbor but large bags are not allowed and parking costs $7. They will turn you away at the gate if your bag is too big.
  • If you want to take a boat ride to the Arizona Memorial (which is built over the remains of the sunken battle ship and the men interred there when the ship went down), a reservation is required and costs $1. Reservations are released daily at 3PM HST 8 weeks before and 24 hours before (a limited number of tickets are reserved for release 24 hours before). Tickets are required for everyone including infants and children.
  • If you have time and want to make a day of it, a visit to Ford Island and the USS Missouri (where the treaty to end WWII was signed) or the Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum can be done via a free shuttle bus departing from the Pearl Harbor visitor center. Ford Island is an active military base and you can’t drive on the island without Department of Defense identification.
  • There is a separate Ford Island bus tour that you can take which does require a reservation and will take you by the memorials to the USS Oklahoma and Utah which were also sunk on December 7, 1941.

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Visiting the Polynesian Cultural Center

The Polynesian Cultural Center is a place where you can learn about the different cultures of the islands in Polynesia. The Polynesian triangle encompasses Hawai`i to the north, Easter Island to the south east, and New Zealand to the south west. All of the islands within this triangle are considered Polynesia. At this center, you can learn about Hawai`i, Samoa, Tonga, Tahiti, Fiji, and Aotearoa (aka New Zealand). You will also learn the differences in culture between these islands. For example, what you may have previously thought was hula dancing may actually be Tahitian dancing.

  • Tickets can run over $100 per person (depending on package).
  • Opens at 12:30
  • “Ha: Breath of Life” Show starts at 7:30 and ends at 8:45PM. Fire dancing at the show is especially exciting to watch and worth staying to see.
  • An alternative to the Polynesian Cultural Center is booking a reservation to one of the many lūʻau on the island. You may not get as in-depth about the cultures, but you’ll learn a thing or two about Polynesian cultures and enjoy some Hawaiian food. Some lūʻau dinners are: Paradise Cove, Germaine’s Lūʻau, Waikiki Starlight Lūʻau (at the Hilton Hawaiian Village).

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In closing, to take advantage of any mainland jet lag where you’ll likely be waking up early and going to bed early, I would recommend the following itinerary:

Day 1: Hike to the top of Diamond Head (opens at 6AM) or Koko Crater (if you think you can handle it)

Day 2: Snorkeling at Hana`uma Bay (opens at 6:45) or as an alternative in the summer, Shark’s Cove

Day 3: Visiting Pearl Harbor (first boat to the Arizona Memorial runs at 8AM)

Day 4: Visit the Polynesian Cultural Center (opens at 12:30PM). Stay for show (starts at 7:30). Hopefully you’ll be more adjusted to Hawaiian time by the 4th day to stay awake for the show. An alternative to visiting the Polynesian Cultural Center is to book a reservation for a different lūʻau dinner.

Denver Colorado Recommendations

Having lived in Denver for five years, these are some of my recommendations for things to do, places to see, and things to eat while visiting the Mile High City. This is not a sponsored post.

Early morning light over Denver, Colorado

Places to see

  • Colorado State Capitol Building
    • There is a marker on one of the steps leading up to the building indicating an elevation of a mile high. Looking across Civic Center Park from the steps of the Capitol you can see Denver’s City Hall.
  • Denver City Hall
  • Street art around downtown Denver.
  • LoDo
    • LoDo or Lower Downtown is the area around Coors Field where the Colorado Rockies play. There are lots of restaurants and bars in the area.
  • Larimer Square
    • Another area near downtown with restaurants and bars. The area is especially pretty at night when strings of light turn on above the street.
  • City Park
    • Great views of the city.
  • Washington Park
    • Fun park to go for a run.
  • Triceratops Trail in Golden
    • See fossilized dinosaur tracks.
  • Red Rocks Amphitheater
    • Walk around and explore the area where many iconic bands have played a concert.

Things to do

Places to eat

  • Carmine’s On Penn
    • Enjoy family-style Italian dining located near Washington Park.
  • Ted’s Montana Grill
    • Great place if you want to try eating bison/buffalo meat.
  • Roaming Buffalo BBQ
    • Another place to try bison/buffalo.
  • The Fort Restaurant
    • If you’re adventurous and want to try Rocky Mountain Oysters or rattle snake or Elk, this is the place for you.
  • Saigon Bowl
    • Great Vietnamese food. The Khai Vị Saigon Bowl Appetizer (it is listed under rice paper wraps on the menu) is amazing and enough to feed several people.
  • Good Times
    • A Colorado-based fast food company. Their frozen custard is an especially nice treat. They also have seasonal flavors.
  • Beau Jo’s Pizza
    • The only way to eat this pizza is to put honey on the crust. A bottle of honey is provided on every table.
  • D Bar
    • Great desserts. Head chef is Keegan Gerhard who has made many appearances on the Food Network.
    • Cinzetti’s
    • A huge family friendly Italian buffet.
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Trip to Canada

What you need to do to be prepared to cross the border into and out of Canada from the United States.

Toronto, Canada on April 10, 2022

CROSSING INTO CANADA

We recently traveled to Canada in April 2022. As of April 1, Canada no longer requires COVID testing to enter the country if fully vaccinated. If you are fully vaccinated, you just need to create an account on the ArriveCAN app. The app can be downloaded to your phone from the iTunes or Google Play stores. You can also sign into the website from a computer. The app will be updated after April 25 so if you are planning to travel after April 25, make sure you download or update to the latest version (version 2.28) at that time.

Notification from ArriveCAN that the latest version of the app must be installed if traveling after 4/25/2022.

The app will have you take pictures of your passport and vaccination documentation. You will also have to complete a brief health questionnaire. ArriveCAN will also have you type in a hotel name and address or a place to quarantine should you test positive for the coronavirus. Even if you are fully vaccinated, they can still select you for random testing at the airport. If this happens and you test positive, you will need to have a place to quarantine. When the information is completed with ArriveCAN with 72 hours of your trip, you will be given a QR code that you can present to border security when you land at an airport or cross into Canada by car.

We crossed into Canada at both an airport and a land border crossing. We had to present our QR code and passports at each crossing. Since our land crossing was 72 hours after our crossing at an airport, we had to get another QR code by logging onto the app and answering the health questionnaire again. We did not have to take pictures of our passports or proof of vaccination again. We did, however, once again have to include a name and address of a quarantine location.

CROSSING INTO THE UNITED STATES

If you’re an American citizen and are fully vaccinated, you will need a negative COVID test result within 24 hours of FLYING back to the United States or have proof of a positive test with “documentation of recovery.” A “documentation of recovery” is a signed letter from a licensed healthcare provider or a public health official that states you have been cleared for travel according to CDC’s travel guidance.

You don’t need a PCR test. You may get one if you wish but an antigen test is sufficient and can be done by an individual if that individual is administering the test under supervision. “The testing procedure must include a telehealth service affiliated with the manufacturer of the test that provides real-time supervision remotely through an audio and video connection. Some FDA-authorized self-tests that include a telehealth service may require a prescription.”

We used the eMed BinaxNOW test. I ordered it online prior to traveling to Canada and carried it with us in our carry-on bag into Canada. I did some research online and it was one of the cheaper options. The test itself was quite easy and fast. We did it in our hotel room the night before our flight home. They have someone who can observe you test yourself 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Just make sure you DO NOT open the box the test comes in until you are connected with someone who will observe you taking the test and are instructed to open the box. I downloaded the NAVICA app and was able to get the result sent directly to the app.

Once I got the result, I was able to check-in online for my flight back into the United States. We flew American Airlines back into the United States and they use the VeriFLY app to document the negative COVID test and proof of vaccination before they will allow you to complete the check-in process online. We had to take pictures of ourselves and had to have our passport information, vaccination information, and testing information handy when inputting information into the app. Our test information was documented in UTC time so in order for me to upload it onto the app, I had to change the time on my phone to UTC since I kept getting an error message stating the test time cannot be a time in the “future.” It was a simple workaround but can be frustrating if you do not think to do it. Once the VeriFLY process was complete, they automatically notified the airline and we were able to check-in online.

I highly recommend checking with whatever airline you’re flying back to determine their process for verifying your testing information. VeriFLY is used by some airlines and not all of them flying into the United States. While we were at the airport, there were several people who could not get checked in because they didn’t know they had to get tested before leaving or their check-in process got extended because they didn’t use the VeriFLY app. It was quick and easy to show the agent at the airport our VeriFLY pass before we handed them our check-in luggage.

The need for a negative test to return to the United States is NOT NECESSARY if crossing the border via LAND or SEA. We drove across the border near Niagara Falls and only had to show our American passports to get back into the United States. We did not have to show proof of a negative test or even our vaccination cards.

You do not need a negative COVID test to come back to the US by land or sea.

Traveling to and from Canada as an American citizen can be an easier experience if you plan ahead and research what is needed to enter both the United States and Canada.

As of April 23, 2022, if you’re an American citizen, you’ll need the following to make entering Canada easier:

  • Passport
  • Proof of vaccination
  • ArriveCAN app

To make it easier to enter the United States by air if an American citizen, you’ll need the following:

  • Passport
  • Proof of vaccination
  • Antigen COVID test, negative test result, any app required by the testing company.
  • VeriFly app or any app required by the airline to expedite processing of negative test result.
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