March 2nd 2021
Flights booked.
Suitcase packed.
Documents checked.
Mentally prepared.
Covid test results……..
POSITIVE!!!!!
And just like that my trip to the US from India gets cancelled. The time I was supposed to be on the flight, I was dealing with fevers and nasty headaches. However, I clearly had no idea what was in store for me.
April 5th 2021
After recovering from COVID-19, I booked a flight for April through United Airlines. I was excited to go back to the US for my last quarter of college. I repeated the whole checklist again.
And then one night before my flight, I get an email from United Airlines saying……….
Your flight has been cancelled due to an operational issue. And man was I pissed. However, that was not the end of it.
April 30th 2021
The Biden administration implements a ban on most travel from India to the U.S. and I am sure you know how the rest of the story goes. I know a lot of you have been in a similar situation before or are in this condition now. If yes, do not fret as I do have an authentic way for you to get back to the U.S. from banned countries.
Disclaimer: you must assess the health risks and the monetary costs associated with this route yourself. I will only cover my experience in this article and I assure you that the method was successful. I do not intend to promote unnecessary travel through this article. This is only to help people who are in a critical situation which requires them to be in the United States.
So now that you have made up your mind to travel using this route, let’s get started.
Step #1: Book your flights
I travelled through an Air France flight starting from New Delhi, India. I took a 9 hour flight to Paris, France and had a layover of 5 hours at Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) Airport. I was able to take a shower and rest at the airport lounge for $25. I would recommend you to do this as well if the journey fatigue starts catching up to you. Additionally, do check out the stores at the airport and try a Macaroon which is a small cake usually made from ground almonds, coconut, or other nuts and has numerous different kinds of flavorings. I promise you after taking a bite of this delicacy, you will have forgotten the pain of your earlier flight cancellations. But please do not miss your next flight when you’re busy savoring those delicious macaroons.
Furthermore, I also booked my flight to the U.S. from Mexico when I made my Air France reservations. I recommend you to do so as well because the confirmations will be required at CDG before boarding your flight to Mexico city, Mexico. And after 12 long hours and numerous nerve-wrecking document checks, I had finally reached Mexico city.
P.S. if you have a valid U.S. visa you do not need to get a transit visa for Paris or a tourist visa for Mexico. Your valid U.S. visa is acceptable for both these cases.
Step #2: Book your accommodations in Mexico for 14 days
This is a very important part of your trip because this sets the tone of your entire stay. You should do this before you get on your flight to Paris as you will be required to show the confirmation at CDG. You must have an accommodation for all 14-days in Mexico before boarding your flight to Mexico city. There are multiple options ranging from hostels, Airbnb’s, homestays, luxury resorts, and hotels which you can choose from for your trip.
If you are like me and try to find the silver lining in every situation, try to let the stresses go and enjoy your Mexican vacation. I visited 3 different cities when I was travelling through this route because I did not want to miss the opportunity of exploring this beautiful country. Domestic flights are one of the easiest ways to visit these places and if you book your trip in advance you could get some great deals. I have linked the cities and the hotels I stayed at below if you are interested in going with tested properties.
Mexico city: Fiesta Inn Ciudad de Mexico Forum Buenavista
Guadalajara: Hostel Hospedarte Chapultepec
Cabo San Lucas: Quinta del Sol by Solmar
Step #3: Get your documents ready
This is probably the most important part of the article as if you do this right you will have a very smooth overall experience. However, if you forget to bring an important document with you, you could have face some difficulties during the trip. I have included a list of all the travel and immigration documents I was required at the airport.
- Passport
- All necessary visa documents for the United States
- Flight tickets
- Hotel confirmation documents
- Negative COVID-19 test report
I was personally only asked for the above-mentioned documents at the airport. But please double check the latest travel guidelines before travelling to ensure you have the updated information.
Step #4: Enjoy your holiday
Once you are in Mexico, live your best life. Treat yourself with delicious Mexican food and definitely try those refreshing Margaritas! Lastly, here are some pictures from my trip to inspire your vacation.
I hope you have a great experience. If you have any more questions regarding the trip, feel free to ask them in the comments section of this article. I would be more than happy to help you.
Shades and Polaroid 