CDC Accepted for US Reentry - Rapid Test Kit for Travel

In this article, we will introduce two products (see [2] for more options) that can be used as proof of a negative COVID-19 test for travel:

1. iHealth Verified COVID Test Service
2. eMed™ Enabled COVID-19 At-Home Test Service

Learn more about CDC's COVID-19 testing requirement for international travel to the United States here.

Both verified tests meet the CDC's requirements for international travel to the United States. For other conditions such as a cruise, entry to a foreign country, private events, etc., it will depend on the specific organization’s requirements if a verified test can be accepted as proof of a negative test.

Video 1.  Easy Way How to COVID Test Back to U.S. - iHealth Self-Test (YouTube link)

iHealth Verified COVID Test Service

iHealth verified COVID Test Service is available for purchase. The verified tests meet the CDC's requirements for international travel to the United States.[1]

The iHealth verified COVID Test Service is a scheduled virtual meeting that lasts around 25 minutes. It is overseen by an iHealth proctor who will instruct you to collect the sample and perform the test to guarantee COVID-19 testing authenticity. iHealth will issue a report to your email after the COVID test is completed.  Note that iHealth verified COVID Test Service is available by appointment only. (Check the availability here.)

How it works

Here is how it works using iHealth verified COVID Test Service:

1. Order the Verified COVID Test Service ($24.99 per service)
• iHealth test kits are sold separately
2. Make appointment
3. Check your email for a ticket number to book an appointment
4. Take iHealth test kits with you in your travel bag
5. At the time of your appointment, an iHealth proctor will guide you through the testing
6. A verified test report will be emailed to you within 5 minutes after the test is complete
7. Show your negative result report to the airline, board and have a nice flight home

eMed™ Enabled COVID-19 At-Home Test Service

Figure 1.  BinaxNOW COVID-19 Ag Card (approved for travel)

How it works

For roundtrip flights originating in the U.S., here is how it works using eMed At-Home Test Service:

1. Book your roundtrip flight
2. Order COVID-19 Antigen rapid tests on eMed.com
• Choose the right kind (see Figure 1)
3. Tests are shipped to your U.S. address (or local pick-up location)
4. Create a digital health pass account, download the app, and pack two (2) tests per person in your carry-on bag before leaving the U.S.
5. 1 Day before returning to the U.S., start your test session
6. Receive an eMed Lab Report with your test result
• Optional test result available in the NAVICA™ app
7. If negative, share your eMed Lab Report test result to board the return flight
8. Return to U.S.

Minimum Technical Requirements

Your device must meet the below requirements for a successful guided session.

1. Access to an internet connection with a minimum bandwidth of 650 kbps.
2. An internet-enabled device with a microphone, speakers, front-facing camera or webcam, and a supported browser as indicated below:
• Chrome / Firefox / Safari / Edge

Video 2.  How to do the home COVID test with a smartphone using eMed Test Service (YouTube link)

References

1. iHealth—Verified COVID Test Service for Travel
2. We Reviewed the CDC-Approved COVID Home Tests for International Travel—Here’s What to Know

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Hungary Travel—How Safe is Budapest for Tourists

District VII, or Erzsébetváros

Józsefváros (District 8)

Ferencváros (District 9)

Unsafe Areas

In order to have a safe visit, it’s important to know the areas in Budapest that aren’t super safe. Keep in mind that Budapest is a popular tourist city, so wherever you are, you will have to watch out for pickpocketing and petty theft.  [3] also warned that:

Luckily, there are no real no-go areas in Budapest. The only part we’d recommend taking a bit of caution is the 8th district – especially at night. Also, the 7th and 9th can be sketchy, too, so make sure to keep your eyes open.

And as always, any dark side streets or areas that literally LOOK sketchy should be avoided. It’s kind of a no-brainer though. Use your common sense, stay in the busy streets with loads of people and you won’t face any problems in Budapest.

Things to Avoid

As [3] warned, you should avoid the below 12 things:

1. Thinking that everything is pricey
2. Relying on tourist buses
3. Not validating your public transport ticket
4. Missing out on ruin bars
5. Not drinking Hungarian pálinka
6. Not eating traditional Hungarian food
7. Not checking the bill before paying
8. Forgetting to learn a few Hungarian expressions
• Lots of younger people do speak English though – so don’t worry too much.
9. Presuming that everyone speaks English
10. Travelling by taxi and not checking the meter
• From the airport, you can take Budapest public transport service 
11. Avoid exchanging money at the airport currency-exchange booths or at western union
• But, do use ATMs at Terminal 2
• Keep an eye on who is around you at ATMs – it’s best to take money out during daylight hours.
12. Not paying attention to your belongings
• Careful of your bags at the hotel – when you’re distracted checking in, or out, these could easily go missing…

Video 1.  Don't Do This in Budapest (YouTube link)

References

1. 12 MISTAKES TO AVOID WHEN VISITING BUDAPEST, HUNGARY
2. Budapest public transport service at airport (BUD)
3. Is Budapest safe for travel in 2022?
4. Cafe Brunch Budapest - Bazilika
5. The most dangerous places of Budapest
6. Buda Gourmet Bistro (buffet restaurant)

Czech Travel—How Safe is Prague for Tourists

Based on a World Happiness Report, Czech Republic is one of the happiest countries in Europe.  But, is it safe to travel in one of her most visited city—Prague?

Prague is a generally safe city, but the prevalence of car theft and vandalism pushes up the crime statistics of Prague. Due to the low risk of violent crime, the threat of pickpockets is a great issue. Begging is also a serious problem in this city and you can even see beggars in this city's top tourist attractions.^[1]

Unsafe Areas

Prague is a generally safe city.  However, as [2] warned that there are some unsafe areas to avoid:

Be careful on Wenceslas Square (Václavské nám). It is usually packed with tourists and the crowds make things easy for pickpockets. There have also been cases of trusting "love-seekers" being robbed of all their money at night.

The park around the main train station (referred to by the locals as "Sherwood") is not a place to be at night. It is a popular hangout of the homeless and drug addicts who beg for money and can be pushy about it. If you need to get to or from the train station at night, take the metro (the station is inside the building) rather than the tram (you have to walk through the park to get to/from the tram stop).

Video 1.  Money Exchange Scam in Prague (YouTube link)

5 Things NOT to Do in Prague

As [3] warned, you should avoid the below 5 things:

1. Do not exchange money on the street
• If you're arriving at Prague Airport, skip the currency-exchange booths in the arrivals hall and instead use the ATMs that are lined up just as you enter the main airport hall from customs clearance.
2. Avoid a "Wikipedia-Tour"
3. Avoid the City Center
• Like in many other popular European destinations, the heart of the old town is such a beautiful pearl to visit and take photos.
• However, locals do not drink or eat in the city center.
4. Make sure you know the name of the country you are visiting
• Czech Republic is not the same as Chechnya or Czechoslovakia.
5. Plan less, enjoy more
• Slow-Travel is the key for Prague.

References

1. How Safe Is Prague for Travel?
2. Tips on Staying Safe in Prague
3. 5 Things NOT to Do in Prague
4. From Prague Airport to the City Center: 3 Best Ways to Get There
5. Transport to and from the Airport Airport Express (AE)
• Václav Havel Airport Prague is directly connected to Prague Main Railway Station (Praha hlavní nádraží)
6. Luggage safety on the bus
7. czechcrime.org

European Happiness Levels in 2022

The below map pulls data from the World Happiness Report to uncover the average happiness scores of 44 European countries. It shows average scores from 2019 to 2021, and highlights which countries are the happiest—or unhappiest—and why.

Figure 1.  European Happiness Levels in 2022 (Source: [1])

References

1. Mapped: Global Happiness Levels in 2022 (visualcapitalist.com)

Hungary Travel—Visiting Budapest

Consisting of the two historic cities of Buda and Pest that lie across the Danube from each other, Hungary’s capital is undoubtedly one of Europe’s most beautiful cities.

As it was the home of the Hungarian kings of old and the capital of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, lots of majestic buildings and impressive monuments dot its streets. Of these, the Parliament Building is one of its main attractions for its gorgeous Gothic style architecture and colossal size. As the ‘spa capital of Europe,’ the city also has loads of lovely thermal bathhouses for you to relax in with Szechenyi Baths being the most popular of the lot.

In addition to this, Budapest is known for its unique ruin bars which make for some great nightlife. With so much for you to see and do, it’s easy to see why it is such a population destination.

Video 1.  TOP 10 Things to do in BUDAPEST  (YouTube link)

Things to Do

Here’s a list of some of the best experiences you can’t miss on a trip to Hungary’s vibrant capital:^[1]

1. Explore the Castle District
2. Soak at a thermal spa
3. Take a panoramic ride on Tram 2
4. Visit Parliament
5. See the Basilica
6. Stroll along Andrássy Avenue and City Park 
7. Have a coffee at a historical coffeehouse
8. Admire a birds-eye view at Gellert Hill
9. Spend a day on Margaret Island
10. Ruin pubs and garden clubs
11. Great Synagogue
12. Memento Park
13. Take a break in Buda Hills

Figure 1.  Top 10 Places to Visit (see Video 1)

To 10 Places to Visit

In Video 1, it shows the Top 10 places to visit in Budapest:

1. City Park with Heroes’ Square, Vajdahunyad Castle, etc. 
• Metro M1
2. Central Market Hall
• Tram stop
3. House of Terror Museum
4. Citadella & Liberty Statue
5. Ruin Pubs like Szimpla Kert
6. Buda Castle 
7. Fisherman's Bastion
8. Széchenyi Chain Bridge
9. Thermal baths like Széchenyi Thermal Bath
10. Hungarian Parliament Building
• Need to book ticket in advance

Figure 2.  M4 Metro connects Budapest-Keleti (right top) and Budapest-Kelenföld (left bottom)

Getting Around Budapest

Moving around Budapest is very easy thanks to the BKV public transports available around the city, including buses, trams, and metro.^[12]

Public transports in Budapest work very well and at affordable rates. Its metro system is the oldest in Europe after London, and its four lines cover all the main touristic attractions of the city. Trams, buses, and taxis work very well; they are always on time, allowing you to reach any corner of the city. In addiction, you can use Mol Bubi, a public bike-sharing system that allows you to move around Budapest in an ecological and fun way.

See a good Google map for the Budapest Metro map here.

Video 2.  How to buy a Budapest public transportation ticket ? (And a scam to avoid)—YouTube link

Weather and Climate

Read [13] for the current weather condition. The below chart shows the average temperature in Budapest.

Figure 3.  Average High and Low Temperature in Budapest (Source:© WeatherSpark.com)

Supermarket Open Hours

For example, the below shows the open hours (Nyitvatartás) of ALDI at Rákóczi út 65. 1081 Budapest:

még 01:53h nyitva (remaining open hours—1:53h ) 

Szo (Saturday)    06:30 - 21:00  

V (Sunday)          07:00 - 19:00

H - P (Mon - Fri) 06:30 - 21:00

Figure 4.  The days of week in Hungarian

References

1. 13 great things to do in Budapest
2. How Many Days in Budapest is Enough? – 3 Day Itinerary
3. Hilton Garden Inn Budapest City Centre
4. Is the Eurail Pass Worth It? The Ultimate Guide
5. railjets.com
   
6. regiojet.com
7. le.cz
8. ÖBB App & We
• Ticket Offer
9. A 3 day-itinerary around Budapest
10. Budapest Card
11. Budapest Funicular
• Budapest Funicular was built in 1870. It connects the Chain Bridge to the Castle hill, not far from the Royal Palace.
12. Getting around Budapest
13. 2022 Weather History in Budapest
14. Budapest Card: Is It Worth It? Pros, Cons and How to Use it
• 100E bus (Airport Shuttle Bus)—Terminal 2 to City Center (Deák Ferenc tér metro station)
• 220E bus 
15. Official BKK Information — Public Transportation
• BudapestGO (Google Play)—Mobile app that you can buy digital single tickets, daily and weekly travelcards or passes in the application and you can also be informed immediately about the current transport service changes.  However, some users complained about its UI interface.
16. The 15 Best Places with a Buffet in Budapest
17. HOTEL BRISTOL BUDAPEST
18. The 7 Best Thermal Baths In Budapest
19. Safety Boxes at Szechenyi Baths
• The size of the locker is 120x30x65 cm (47.2 x 11.8 x 25.6 in). 
20. Euro to Hungarian Forints currency exchange rate (xe.com)
21. Tipping etiquette for Budapest, Hungary
• When you talk about sit-down eateries in Budapest, the standard tip rate for a good service is 10% of the bill and 15% for an exceptional service. However, many restaurants in Budapest charge a 12.5% service charge (szervízdíj in Hungarian) on the total bill. So, you don't need leave anything extra.

Daylight Saving Time Around the World 2022

Daylight Saving Time (DST) is often referred to as “daylight savings” or “summer time.” When DST is not observed, it is called standard time or winter time.

DST by Country

Nearly 80 countries currently observe some form of Daylight Saving Time, and many are moving their clocks backward or forward at this time of year. For example

• Australia Daylight Saving Time ends in most locations on April 3, 2022 (clocks move back one hour).
• Europe Daylight Saving Time begins in many countries on March 27, 2022 (clocks move forward one hour).
• Mexico Daylight Saving Time begins in most locations on April 3, 2022 (clocks move forward one hour).
• US and Canada Daylight Saving Time begins in most locations on March 13, 2022 (clocks move forward one hour).

Brazil, China, India, Japan, Russia, South Africa, and UAE are examples of many countries that are not observing any form of Daylight Saving Time in 2022. For more details, view global participation status.

Most Naturally Beautiful Countries In The World

Venice, Italy

A new study from the website money.co.uk aims to rank the 50 most beautiful countries on earth by analyzing the amount of natural wonders in each place, from coral reefs and tropical rain forests to volcanoes, glaciers and more.  Here are the list:

1. Indonesia
2. New Zealand
3. Colombia
4. Tanzania
5. Mexico
6. Kenya
7. India
8. France
9. Papua New Guinea
10. Comoros
11. Ecuador
12. United States
13. Vanuatu
14. Japan
15. Solomon Islands
16. Italy
17. Philippines
18. Peru
19. Australia
20. Costa Rica
21. Norway
22. Argentina
23. Grenada
24. Malaysia
25. Tonga
26. Iran
27. Saint Vincent & the Grenadines
28. Saint Kitts & Nevis
29. Chile
30. China
31. Samoa
32. Bolivia
33. Nicaragua
34. Eritrea
35. Jamaica
36. Cape Verde
37. Greece
38. Thailand
39. Venezuela
40. El Salvador
41. Myanmar
42. Uganda
43. Iceland
44. Russia
45. Dominican Republic
46. Switzerland
47. Northern Mariana Islands
48. Haiti
49. Panama
50. Sweden