Travel Notes from Our June 2022 Trip to El Salto

Travel

Jun 30

Sliding door in the Mazatlan airport welcoming visitors to Sinaloa

We’ve fished in Mexico approximately 20 times, and while it may be the same basic trip, the travel details always change just enough to keep us on our toes. We try to anticipate any challenges and then stay flexible and in good spirits when hiccups occur. These travel notes may not be our sexiest or most compelling material, but our hope is that by reporting these little details we can save you some aggravation and improve your overall experience in the future.

Here are the notes from our June 2022 trip to Lake El Salto, which started on the evening of the 17th and saw us traveling home on Saturday the 25th:

As we almost always do, we flew American Airlines, a carrier that has been plagued by cancellations and delays in recent months. Fortunately, none of our four flights suffered any scheduling issues or delays of more than a few minutes, although our DC to Dallas leg saw us sitting at the gate for 20 minutes as we waited for someone to operate the jet bridge.
Group member Pat McGrath was not as lucky – her flight out of Chicago was canceled and she ended up arriving a day late.
We recently acquired the American Express Platinum Card, which provides a lot of benefits for a not-insubstantial price ($695 for the primary cardholder, plus more for additional cards). The first benefit we used was the monthly $15 Uber credit, which was applied to our ride to the airport.
The next day in Dallas, the Platinum card allowed us to visit the AmEx Centurion Lounge at DFW, along with our guests Jennifer Combs and Aaron Rygas. They had a solid breakfast bar, coffee options, and even an open (alcoholic) bar at 9am. I figured we otherwise would have collectively spent $40-60 on breakfast.
Hanna and I spent Friday night at the Hyatt Regency within DFW. We landed at Terminal C and took a shuttle to Terminal D, where the hotel is located. With waiting and the ride, that probably took about 20 minutes, but the great thing was that the next morning we simply went downstairs and checked in, with no shuttle or wait required.
Once again, upon arrival in Mazatlán we avoided the “red light” that requires enhanced inspection of your luggage. We haven’t suffered that fate in several trips. Somehow I think we’re due.
As usual, I’d emailed Anglers Inn ahead of time and our rod tube and tackle bags were waiting at our room. For some reason I always expect a hiccup, and it never happens. Their service is flawless.
Two of our travel companions had a very tight layover in Dallas after traveling from Georgia. One of their bags was temporarily lost – it was located and delivered to Mazatlán the next day, and then brought to the lodge. Fortunately, their tackle was divided among several bags. Lesson reinforced: If you’re traveling with a partner or partners, don’t put all of your gear in a single suitcase.
Hanna and I both contracted and recovered from COVID several weeks before the trip. We obtained doctor’s notes excusing us from the COVID test to return to the US. Two days later the Federal government lifted the testing requirement. It was nice not to need the brain swab. Special kudos goes out to Anglers Inn – when testing was required, they were the only lodge we visited that did not apply a surcharge for the service.
The Mazatlán airport still requires masks. Either bring one or prepare to buy one or bargain for one from airport staff.
In the Mazatlán airport, the AmEx card gave us access to the tiny Premium Oma lounge. It saved us a few bucks on drinks we otherwise would have purchased and Hanna liked the popcorn.
Thanks to her American Airlines business card, Hanna was upgraded to First Class on the MZT-DFW flight.
As I’ve noted before, Anglers Inn will pack you sandwiches for the airport if you don’t want to spend on the other in-terminal options. If you ask for them, get the BLTs, which are otherworldly, not the ham and cheese, which are at best ordinary. Breakfast burritos are another option, but they don’t necessarily travel well. The two cafes in the airport remain open, but the Carl’s Jr. is temporarily closed (note the “cooming soon” sign). There is also a new Subway franchise downstairs.
In Dallas, Hanna and I flew home out of Terminal D, so we once again visited the Centurion Lounge. This time there was a 15 minute wait to get in, which was disappointing. I was also surprised to find out that they close at 7:30 pm. That didn’t affect us as our flight was at 7:18, so we had time for a nice dinner. I figure that saved us $40-50.