Border Hopping: Exploring the Best of Mexico and the USA in One Journey

MexicoUSA
Written By The Private Traveller

A two-country Mexico & USA itinerary following the reopening of the US Border to UK nationals

After a period of more than 600 days when residents of many countries were banned from entering the US, including the UK, this was a momentous week for many as restrictions were lifted for double-vaccinated travellers. From Monday 8 November, this reopening was celebrated by a synchronized departure of rival airlines British Airways and Virgin Atlantic, where both flights to New York’s JFK airport took off from parallel runways at London’s Heathrow Airport.

BA reintroduced its BA001 flight number for this flight, previously used for the London to New York Concorde route until its demise in 2003, then also in the intervening period on the ‘Baby-bus’ A318 service from London’s City Airport to JFK, with a refuelling stop in Ireland en-route where passengers could also complete pre-clearance immigration. Once it was announced that Concorde would cease operations, I was lucky enough to be able to take one of the final flights, which to this day was (literally) a once-in-a-lifetime experience. I was also lucky enough to take the BA001 32-passenger only all business-class service from London City while it was operating (it ceased in 2020), but unfortunately wasn’t lucky enough to have been able to travel on either of these relaunch flights this week.

What I am immensely looking forward to, is to get back to the States in early 2022 - not New York which is a city I love, but as part of a rearranged trip to take in Modernism Week in Palm Springs California. I’ve previously written about this experience before https://mrhudsonexplores.com/mr-hudson-on/palm-springs-modernism-week-art-fashion-architecture-and-much-more/ The Modernism Week event runs next from 17-27 February 2022, where this 11-day festival features more than 350 events in the epi-center of mid century architectural architecture, Palm Springs. We had been booked to visit during the shorter fall preview weekend, which usually takes place in October, but because of the US travel restrictions we were unable to attend.

Building a travel itinerary

I often get asked about how I build an itinerary - these generally just seem to form organically within my head, and come from many ideas about different countries or locations, hotels I particularly want to visit or review, a special experience idea (like Modernism Week), or (another passion of mine) is to try out new and different spa treatments and wellness resorts. Having had to cancel the US now, my mind immediately then turned its attention to when we could next visit and how best to use airline vouchers from British Airways and also Alaska Airlines, as we had been due to fly back from Palm Springs to San Francisco with them, before returning home to the UK with BA. Modernism Week were also great at cancelling all our tickets and converting the value into a gift card for future use. Of course, if itinerary planning isn’t your thing, then you’ve reached the perfect place at Mr Hudson Explores to have them create your perfect itinerary.

Mexico Calling

Getting to the US in time for Modernism Week and the events we most wanted to see was key timing in the planning, but I also wanted to add in some other locations as part of the same trip to extend our vacation time, as I always like to have a mix of relaxation and spa time, as well as sightseeing opportunities. I had to rule out a few other country options for now because of Covid travel restrictions and quarantines, so a great option that came to me was to go back to Mexico, which is well serviced by direct flights from the UK, the most regular services being to Mexico City itself. I also found it very helpful that Alaska Airlines have a direct service from Cancún, the biggest city on the Yucatán Peninsula, to LAX which is only a short drive away to Palm Springs itself.

I’ve visited Mexico a couple of times already and love it, there is such a huge diverse mix from the sprawling, vibrant metropolis that is Mexico City; to the historic Mayan ruins at the likes of Chichén Itzá, Coba or Palenque; the beaches of Tulum, Cabo or Isla Holbox; or the UNESCO world heritage sites like Oaxaca (and Monte Albán), Puebla or San Miguel de Allende.

The Trip Itself

Mexico City: 1 night

Having found flights that worked, date wise and timewise, and making the journey as streamlined as possible (BA London - Mexico City, Alaska Cancún - LAX, BA LAX - London) I then turned my attention on where to stay. As much as I loved staying in Mexico City itself (where you can visit the amazing home of Frida Kahlo) and the icon that was the Four Seasons Hotel Mexico City, centrally located off the Av. Paseo de la Reforma, it made more sense with the flight arriving later in the day to spend our first night at the airport itself, before driving on the following day after a night’s sleep. The airport has a few hotels (check which terminal you will fly into, there are two) both inside the airport, connected to it via walkway or nearby. I’ve opted to stay at the Hilton Mexico City Airport in Terminal 1 itself.

After our initial overnight stay and breakfast at the hotel, we’ll pick up a self-drive car from Avis (again conveniently located within the terminal) and make our way to the UNESCO world heritage historic centre of Puebla, a drive of about 2 hours (130km or 80 miles) away. Having stayed before at San Miguel de Allende (another historic, UNESCO recognised & protected city) to the north-west of Mexico City (and longer away, more like 3.5 hour drive, 270km or 170 miles) it was a very hard choice as to whether to return there where we’d had an amazing stay at the Rosewood San Miguel de Allende, or try a new location. Another attraction for San Miguel would have been to stay this time at what I’m sure would be the equally fabulous Casa de Sierra Nevada, a Belmond Hotel (in my mind Belmond Hotels, trains, boats or safaris never disappoint). However, having previously spotted that a Rosewood Hotel had opened up in Puebla (albeit it had been taken over as the Azul Talavera Hotel, however I now see it known as Banyan Tree Puebla), I’ve had that city on my wish list for some time.

Puebla City: 4 days

Being a massive spa fan, and loving wellness centers, spotting Cartesiano Urban Wellness Center right in the heart of Puebla’s historic town made the final decision for me, and we’re now booked for three nights. Here we’ll be able to experience their 360 approach to health and wellbeing, as well as also using this as the luxury base to visit the local markets, museums and cathedral of Puebla City. 

Yucatán: Mérida 6 days

After our stay in Peubla, I was looking to end up near to the airport of Cancún for our US flight, so Mérida (the cultural and financial capital of the Yucatán Peninsula, as well as being the capital of the state of Yucatán too) made an obvious choice to fly direct to with Aeromexico from Mexico City. As I said before, I can often spot a specific hotel or identify a hotel chain that I really like the look of, so when thinking of this area I searched out Chablé Hotels and their Chablé Yucatán resort at Chochóla, just 26km (16 miles) from Mérida. Spending five nights here will give us sufficient time to experience their wellness programme, relax but also take in some of the local sites, of which there are many.

Photo Credit: Chablé Hotels

Yucatán: Riviera Maya 5 days

From Mérida, I was looking to find a more beach-based property for another four nights, before we take the flight to LAX and then drive to Palm Springs. We had previously been due to stay on Isla Holbox, a small pedestrian-friendly laid-back island off the north east peninsula, so at first this is where I thought we would stay (and there are lots of interesting options, albeit maybe none with the luxury elsewhere, nearby). Having booked the Chablé Yucatán, I was then led to a very appealing, sustainable wellness-inspired beachfront property (Chablé Maroma) being part of the same hotel group. This contemporary all-villa resort on the coast of Riviera Maya (situated between Cancún and Tulum) looks like a perfect blend of the turquoise Caribbean Sea with the Mexican rainforest.

The lure of the USA

Los Angeles: 1 night

Landing in Los Angeles LAX airport late evening after the five hour Alaska Airlines flight from Cancun International airport, we’ve decided to spend the first night in the US at the airport before driving onto Palm Springs. Although it’s only a two hour drive (albeit very traffic dependent) and about 200km (120 miles), we’ve found from experience that it can take much longer and it's not an ideal drive in the dark. I’ve used the Renaissance Los Angeles Airport Hotel just for a stopover on a prior trip when arriving into LAX late evening, and being located directly opposite the main site for Avis car rental is very well positioned to pick up your rental before driving on.

Photo Credit: Del Marcos Hotel

Palm Springs: 5 days

Palm Springs has to be one of my ultimate favourite destinations and I love visiting time after time. The (midcentury) architecture is a particular draw, as is the climate, the hotels, scenery, things to do, bars/restaurants etc. etc. We’ve stayed in a mix of hotels both downtown and slightly out of town; I’ve loved both, but especially for Modernism Week and all the events that are on, staying downtown is particularly easy. On our last visit for this major event, we stayed at La Serena Villas which, along with two other downtown hotels, and the restaurant (Azúcar), Sugar High Rooftop Lounge and Whispers Spa, all form part of the PS Boutique Hotels group. We had a great stay at La Serena Villas (perfect location, great villas, fantastic (private) outside space as well as shared pool; but this time we wanted to opt for something different and we’ve chosen the Del Marcos Hotel which is situated right next door, but with easy access to the same restaurant, bar and spa. 

This historic hotel, a 17-room modernist building designed by the famed architect William F. Cody in 1947, has been somewhere of interest to us on each visit, not only because of its overall design and architectural interest, but again because of the perfect downtown location. This is only minutes away from the Palm Springs Art Museum and the equally amazing Architecture and Design Center, as well as right next door to some of the best restaurants, bars and shops that Palm Springs has to offer. As you’ll see from my previous post, there is so much to do and see in the Palm Springs area like the Sunnylands Center and Gardens (the former Annenberg Estate and family home built in 1966) which is steeped in history, the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway, and not least the incredible buildings that you see at every turn.

Photo Credit: The Pioneertown Motel

Pioneertown: 2 Days

The original plan was to have left from Palm Springs to drive straight back to LAX airport for our return British Airways flight home, but I do always like to keep plans flexible to take account of any adjustments that I might want to make. Back to my original commentary around how an itinerary can take shape or develop, this can also come from seeing something on TV (either finding out where a film shoot location is or a travel programme) or spotting a hotel featured on social media. I’m a big fan of the Netflix series ‘The World’s Most Amazing Vacation Rentals’ and currently watching the second series. In the last episode entitled ‘So Cal Style’ Pioneertown was featured and within minutes I was researching where this was exactly and whether it could be a stop on our way back from Palm Springs to Los Angeles. Located only about 50km (or 30 miles) almost directly north of Palm Springs (less than an hour’s drive), we’ll travel through the Morongo Valley and into the Yucca Valley of San Bernardino’s High Desert. This historic town was incorporated in 1946 and was often used as a movie set. We’re going to spend just one night at the Pioneertown Motel, but it should provide another interesting stopover on what should hopefully be a well-blended and interesting trip. Adding in Pioneertown only adds about ten minutes overall to the return airport drive, but should give me great photography opportunities. We loved on a previous drive back to LAX stopping at the ghost town and former mining town (Calico) in the Calico Mountains of the Mojave Desert region of Southern California. This was originally a silver mining town, founded in 1881, but was later converted into a country park named Calico Ghost Town.

Actual Detailed Itinerary:

  • Day 1 Fly from London Heathrow with British Airways to Mexico City

    • Overnight airport hotel - Hilton Mexico City Airport (Terminal 1)

  • Day 2 Pick up car from Avis Car Rental and drive to Puebla

    • Overnight Cartesiano Urban Wellness Center, Puebla

  • Day 3-5 Puebla

    • Stay 4 nights in total at Cartesiano 360

  • Day 6 Drive back from Puebla to Mexico City Airport

    • Internal flight with Aeromexico

    • Stay overnight at Chablé Yucatan, for 5 nights in total

  • Day 7-10 Chablé Yucatan, near Mérida

    • Chablé Yucatan near Chochola

  • Day 11-14 Chablé Maroma, Riviera Maya

    • Stay overnight at Chablé Maroma, for 4 nights in total

  • Day 15 Fly from Cancun Airport to LAX

    • International flight with Alaska Air, overnight LAX airport hotel

  • Day 16 Drive from LAX to Palm Springs

    • Pick up hire car from Avis and drive to Palm Springs

    • Overnight Del Marcos Marcos

  • Day 17-19 Palm Springs for Modernism Week

    • Del Marcos Hotel, 4 nights in total

  • Day 20 Drive from Palm Springs to Pioneertown

    • Overnight The Pioneertown Motel

  • Day 21 Drive from Pioneertown back to LAX

    • Overnight flight with British Airways to London Heathrow

  • Day 22 Arrive back in the UK

    • Domestic flight with British Airways home

Stuck on planning?

Having a hard time planning your trip? Get the experts at Mr Hudson to help design the vacation of a lifetime. Their Trip Design service aims to do exactly that by providing a day-by-day itinerary covering the most unique attractions, things to do and see, alongside insider information on nightlife, where to stay and everything else you need to feel like a local in a foreign land.

Useful website links:

 
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