Travel companions for South India, Sri Lanka, or Mexico – fall 2026 (page 2 of 2)

Hi Jean-Pierre,

I think it might be possible to travel more or less together using different modes of transport. It seems difficult to have identical stops, but we should be able to meet up occasionally at certain stages and for sightseeing.

Bike travel is a slow way to get around, and waits will probably be long for someone traveling by bus or another faster mode of transport. This could be acceptable if the meet-up points are in cities where there are interesting things to see.

I haven’t planned my trip yet, but with the current situation—security issues in the Near and Middle East, risks of fuel tensions in Asia, closed land borders between Thailand and Cambodia, Thailand’s return to a 30-day visa exemption, and uncertainty about getting an e-visa under my travel conditions, etc.—I’m leaning toward Mexico or maybe another country in Central or South America.

I have a rough itinerary for Mexico, but I need to spend some time adjusting it to avoid routes that are too mountainous while still passing through interesting sites. I’d like to avoid having to take a bus for mountainous stages as much as possible.

There are Air France flights (an airline that still offers affordable bike transport, which is becoming rare) from Lyon to Cancun and from Mexico City to Lyon.

I’m not yet certain about traveling this winter, but it’s still very likely. I’m considering leaving Lyon for Cancun around January 5, 2027, and leaving Mexico City for Lyon around April 5, 2027. I’ll keep you updated on the trip planning progress.

Best regards,

Jean Marie

Hi Jean Marie, I’ve been to Guatemala twice, so starting from Mexico might be a good route for you? I have great memories (of Guatemala), especially of Lake Atitlán (paradise). Check flights from Basel-Mulhouse and Geneva—they’re often cheaper than from Lyon or Paris. Have you been to Mexico before? Best, JPBRIERE

Hi Jean-Pierre,

I did a 3-month bike trip in Mexico in 2016, and in 2020, I cycled from Panama to Mexico, crossing Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Mexico. https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1-s0_ktgHIrxw2ALMCwU83tytmHtrmUJE&usp=sharing Crossing Guatemala only took 7 days, but I also found the country interesting. Unfortunately, it’s very mountainous with extremely steep slopes. In 2027, I’ll be 7 years older, and I’m now trying to avoid routes with extreme inclines, which are common in Guatemala (up to 20%).

When it comes to flights, I look at the price but also the journey between home and the airport, which adds extra cost, time, and fatigue. I also check the schedules and bike transport conditions.

Some airlines that had reasonable bike transport fees a few years ago now charge a lot. That’s the case with Lufthansa and Turkish Airlines, among others.

Airlines like Emirates and Qatar Airways accept bikes without extra fees, but the 30 kg of checked baggage they offer in economy is a bit tight. Extra weight for checked bags is charged per kilogram and is expensive. Their hubs are well-placed for trips to Asia but aren’t ideal for travel to the Americas. Even for a trip to Asia, there are currently risks of flight closures and cancellations due to the war in the region.

Air France hasn’t changed its policy yet, and the bike fee is still 100 € or 100 USD outside the EU per trip for a maximum of 23 kg. If you book a ticket with 23 kg of checked baggage plus the bike fee, you end up with 46 kg of checked baggage (2 x 23 kg max), which is comfortable. In 2020, for my Panama–Mexico trip, I somewhat randomly chose Air France because it was one of the cheapest options. That choice of airline and Mexico as the end point turned out to be lucky because, with COVID, many countries closed their borders and airports, and many airlines stopped their routes. Mexico didn’t close its borders during COVID, and Air France maintained three flights per week between Paris and Mexico City. The return trip from Mexico City to Lyon went smoothly, with just a free date change. The only issue I had was with the Paris–Lyon route—there were no flights between Paris and Lyon, but I was lucky to catch a train from Paris to Mâcon-Loché less than an hour after arriving at Gare de Lyon. Air France refunded my canceled Paris–Lyon ticket.

British Airways is also a good airline for traveling with a bike. They include the bike in the baggage allowance, and buying an extra 23 kg bag costs 90 €. This airline is a bit cheaper than Air France for Mexico, but for Lyon–Cancún, the Lyon–London flight lands at Heathrow, while the London–Cancún flight departs from Gatwick. So, you have to collect your bags at Heathrow and transport them to Gatwick. That’s a solution to avoid because it’s more complicated and ultimately more expensive with the transport costs between the two airports, especially with bulky luggage.

I’m slowly planning a route for Mexico. I haven’t completely ruled out Southeast Asia yet, but with the current situation (war in the Gulf, Thailand’s e-visa conditions, etc.), it doesn’t seem like the best choice for this winter.

Best regards,

Jean Marie