The French-side Red Cross continues to do testing in Hope Estate. I don't have the hours at my fingertips, and it varies for PCR and for Antigen. Mon-Fri, shorter hours on Sat. Nothing on Sunday. Depending on how long you're staying, watch out for Easter Monday, the Monday after Easter, when many things, including the Red Cross test site, are likely to be closed.
The drive carried by the red cross, accessible at Hope Estate, is reserved for travelers and tourists staying on the French side. It offers PCR tests in the morning, from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m., then antigenic tests from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. and on Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. for PCR and antigen tests.
I believe they are doing antigen testing at least Monday through Saturday from 11-1:30 although they might close early if they aren’t busy. Results in one hour.
Digging deeper around the Easter holiday, the Hope Estate site will be closed for 4 days, from Good Friday on April 2 through Easter Monday on April 5.
I haven’t been on the island since it opened, but third/fourth-hand I’m told that the Red Cross setup is over near the French-side airport, on the inland end. Ask your hotel/villa owner. They will know better than I do.
They are located very near the Super U. On the main road, directly across from the airport runway. If you look on google maps, there is a building labelled "SMEC". It is in the same parking lot.
That is great information Bahston! Thank you. My in-laws own a villa very near there so I know exactly where you are referring to. I have just started researching this Covid testing coming and going so please forgive me if this answer is known by the masses. I am clueless. Husband and I are already vaccinated (i know that that doesn't matter). If we are staying on the French side and leaving to go home on a Friday flight at 2:38pm what is the timeframe for getting the antigen test to come home? Any insight from any TTOLer would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.
For a Friday flight, you must be tested on Tuesday or later. The time frame is 3 calendar days (not 72 hours). Anytime on Tuesday is good for a Friday flight.
As ScottW says, the Red Cross does not charge. We were in the same time frame as you, a Friday departure, and so we took our test on Tuesday. The nice people at the Red Cross were concerned that we were too early, ( i think they thought the US test had to be within 3 days of the flight- meaning Wed, not more than 3 days before - which is Tuesday ) but they agreed to do the test anyway, and it was accepted at the airport no problem - though I did have to point out to the agent where it said the results of the tests and type of test . BTW, we were very impressed with how accommodating they were and we asked if we could donate anything and they said they do not collect money at the site, though you can use the Red Cross website. If you wanted a donation to stay on the island, they suggested soap and toiletries, so we went up the road to the Leader Price and loaded up on some and dropped them off.
Will they? Probably. The Red Cross isn’t in the business of saying No to someone who they can help.
Should you go there? It’s a moral question. Here’s what the Prefect’s office says:
Le drive porté par la croix rouge, accessible à Hope Estate, est réservé aux voyageurs et aux touristes hébergés côté français. Il propose des tests PCR le matin, de 8h à 11h puis des tests antigéniques à partir de 11h30 jusqu’à 14H00 et le samedi de 8h à 12h pour les tests PCR et antigéniques. Cependant, il faut noter que ce drive sera fermé du 2/04 au 5/04 inclus, il proposera des tests antigéniques dès 8h le 6/04 pour répondre aux besoins des voyageurs devant se déplacer ce jour.
In English, that says:
The drive carried by the red cross, accessible at Hope Estate, is reserved for travelers and tourists staying on the French side. It offers PCR tests in the morning, from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m., then antigenic tests from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. and on Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. for PCR and antigen tests. However, it should be noted that this drive will be closed from 2/04 to 5/04 inclusive, it will offer antigenic tests from 8 am on 6/04 to meet the needs of travelers having to travel on that day.
For people who do go to the Red Cross site, keep in mind that the French side’s capacity for PCR tests is only 150 per day. An Antigen test is all that is needed to return to the US, so take the Antigen test unless there is some reason that you really need a PCR test.
They do not ask where people stay. One hundred and fifty a day is probably more than they do in a week!! We drove by there, stopped in one day, went back the next, and the omst we saw were twenty cars waiting. For FREE, we were impressed. If one wants to spend up to 270 bucks per couple, for the same test, do it.
They do not ask where people stay. One hundred and fifty a day is probably more than they do in a week!! We drove by there, stopped in one day, went back the next, and the omst we saw were twenty cars waiting. For FREE, we were impressed. If one wants to spend up to 270 bucks per couple, for the same test, do it.
Ed, do they give you a printed copy of the test results, or did you have to get it printed elsewhere??
They send an email...I had mine printed at the front desk of where we stay. BUT....i know a lot of people have used their phones for proof of test at the airport.
They send an email...I had mine printed at the front desk of where we stay. BUT....i know a lot of people have used their phones for proof of test at the airport. I did see somewhere that if you return after they send out the email, they will then be able to give you a hard copy.
Terry---not sure which pharmacy you are talking about, but if you're staying at Beachside and the pharmacy is on the French side, that will consume half a day. I don't know whether it's worth it, to save $150 or not. I personally am also struggling with the ethical question, that the Red Cross testing is supposed to be for those who are staying on the French side only. As of now, my thought is that we will probably do the Medwork one in Simpson Bay. I would much rather have an appointment and get in and out, if I'm paying for it.
Terry---not sure which pharmacy you are talking about, but if you're staying at Beachside and the pharmacy is on the French side, that will consume half a day. I don't know whether it's worth it, to save $150 or not. I personally am also struggling with the ethical question, that the Red Cross testing is supposed to be for those who are staying on the French side only. As of now, my thought is that we will probably do the Medwork one in Simpson Bay. I would much rather have an appointment and get in and out, if I'm paying for it.
Carol, I was thinking that from the beginning, even looked up Medwork for an appointment. Then we heard the pharmacy, in Marigot, gives a hard copy right away. I had heard that the Red Cross was for the French side and it is far, so I was asking Ed just in case, we happened to be close by. We leave on a Tuesday, so Monday is the only day for us. The whole thing is nerve wracking ---hope we get through our tests here first!!!
We tried to find the form on EHAS for the return, but haven't found it yet. Trying to get it all done.
Thanks Carol, we will probably book that appointment and be done with it!!!
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