Guatemala 2022 – Notes About Our Travel Experience
Our first trip to Guatemala, in February of 2020, was our last international vacation before COVID effectively changed the world. In that respect, it was a “normal” experience, although in every other way (fishing, service, togetherness) it was exceptional. What we assumed would be a once-in-a-lifetime experience has blossomed into a once-a-year ritual. A trip to Casa Vieja Lodge is one that anyone can love, whether you’ve never fished before or you’re a seasoned billfish tournament angler. It’s also a remarkably easy trip from most places in the US. Nevertheless, international fishing travel is an ever-changing game, so here are a few notes from our most recent experience that might help you out in the future":
We took our first required COVID-19 test for long distance travel when we went to Alaska in July 2020. We’re hoping this will be our last one, but nothing’s certain at this point. In any event, the ease of getting same day results from a facility close to home is getting much easier. Hanna took her test on Tuesday afternoon and I took mine Wednesday morning and we both had results back the same day.
The United App made being “travel ready” surprisingly easy.
Last year we went a day early because United Airlines offered a direct evening flight from IAD to GUA. This year we booked that same flight but it was canceled a few months prior. We would have done the whole route in one day, but to save wear and tear on our psyches and bodies, we flew to Houston after work on Thursday and caught a morning flight to Guatemala on Friday.
Although we were each entitled to a checked bag under the terms of our tickets, we packed all of our stuff in a single Snowbee rolling duffel, largely because it’s the only one we have long enough to handle the rolled 3’x4’ Half Past First Banner without crumpling it.
We are normally big fans of CLEAR at airports that offer this expedited security experience, but for the first time in our memory there was actually a line for the service. Not sure why, but it wasn’t much faster than precheck.
In Houston, we stayed in the airport Marriott, which as the name suggests does not require you to go outside or board a shuttle to get to your lodging. That’s a huge hassle saver, and at $142 for the night it wasn’t much more than a hotel that would’ve required a shuttle to and from the airport. That gave us more flexibility in the morning, too, although we’re compulsively early.
Our morning flight to Guatemala was delayed by about 40 minutes – not a big deal when you’re not fishing on arrival day.
United told us that we’d only have to fill out one customs form for each family when we got to immigration, but when we were actually in the terminal that advice changed – we needed to fill out one for each person. Other than that, the document process was remarkably straightforward.
Hanna was pulled aside for extra security screening. Not sure if it was the red hair or the Pelican camera case, but they went through the latter carefully.
When we got through the exit door, a Casa Vieja representative was waiting for us, with the van parked just a short distance away. The Mercedes Sprinter vans are the nicest rides I’ve experienced at any fishing lodge. Our four Wisconsin traveling partners who were supposed to arrive 10 minutes after us, had arrived 30 minutes earlier and were put on a van of their own, so it was just me, Hanna and the driver. Traffic in Guatemala City was not as bad as we’d seen in previously and it took 1 hour 45 minutes door to door – and we were greeted by cold drinks of the day.
The COVID test required to get back into the United States was administered during Happy Hour the night before our departure in a small room not far from the pool. Last year, the test was free, assumedly as an incentive to get people to travel. This year, there was a $45 per person charge. We had the results that evening.
On the way home, we had a 9:30 am direct flight. We assumed that in order to get there 2 hours in advance, we’d leave around 5:30, but they asked us to be ready at 4:30. We were surprised, but that proved valuable as it took us 2 hours and 45 minutes to get to the airport in weekday rush hour traffic.
Of our six van rides between the airport and CVL, four of them have taken 1 hour 40 minutes to 2 hours. At the opposite ends of the spectrum were the 2 hour 45 minute ride with rush hour traffic, and the 1 hour 15 minute ride when we arrived at 10pm. Note to self: try to depart or arrive at off hours.
With United flights headed to Los Angeles, Houston and DC at around the same time, the line to check bags was fairly long, but otherwise uneventful – except for the fact that they never asked for our COVID test results.
Our direct flight home was approximately 4 hours, and between US customs, getting our vehicle and picking up the dog we were home by 4pm.
If you don’t already have Global Entry, I highly recommend it. We were through the US customs entry line in less than 3 minutes.
For an “exotic” fishing trip, the journey to and from Casa Vieja Lodge is remarkably easy from most places in America. We’ll be back, hopefully sooner rather than later. If you’d like to join us or go on your own, shoot us a message — we will try to make it as easy as possible for you.
