In a quest for a vacation that offers an unforgettable good time, it becomes obvious what the choice should be. So, it’s of no surprise that your chosen spot is Cancun, Mexico. As you probably already know, Cancun is very adventurous, fun, and foreign. If you are not familiar with Spanish or anything foreign in general, then you will definitely need to start planning and preparing for your vacation to paradise.
First of all, how do you plan on getting there? Depending on how far away you live, the obvious choice would be the airlines. Cancun’s International Airport (or as I like to call it the CIA) happens to be the second largest terminal in Mexico and it’s serviced by all major airlines. There are even separate terminals for charters, commercial flights, and private jets. The CIA, as I like to call it, comes fully equipped with duty free shopping, restaurants, waiting lounges, telephones, and ATM’s. If there are any delays, you will feel right at home. However, if flying really isn’t your thing, there are plenty of other options available including: bus, train, and car rentals.
Let’s say you decided to challenge your fear of flying and you purchased your airline ticket. When you arrive in Cancun, note that there are no buses allowed in the airport, so your available options for travel in the big city are taxis or vans (collectivos). You can buy the tickets for the vans at the counter near the baggage claims area, but you’ll be looking at about $15 to $40 per ticket depending on your destination.
By taxi, believe it or not, going to the airport is actually cheaper than leaving. Taxis will run you about $40 to $70 leaving the airport and about $10 to $22 arriving. The same applies from your hotel. It is cheaper to hail a cab from outside on the curb then to call for one from your room. Although flagging down taxis seems like its fairly easy in Cancun, depending on when you vacation, it can be a pain in the you know what.
The travel industry designates several business seasons during the year: High, Swing, or Low. Those coming from the Northern Climates find Cancun more enjoyable in the winter. However, those coming from other areas of North America and Europe find the other seasons equally enjoyable. Take advantage of these somewhat arbitrary dates; they may help save you as little as one day hailing a cab or as much as several hundred dollars.
If you prefer not to be chauffeured around, rest assured that finding a rental in Cancun will be fairly easy as all the major car companies have locations in the airport. Or if you prefer to wait to rent a car, you will find plenty of choices downtown and in the Hotel Zone including motorcycle, moped, and bicycle rentals. Your typical economy car with air-conditioning, manual transmission, and unlimited mileage begins at about $50 a day or about $300 a week, not including tax. Then of course, there is always the optional ferry ride accompanied by lots of walking, the cheapest means of travel.
Now, hitting the byways in a foreign land may seem simple enough, but it can offer quite the challenge to some. The highway systems between major cities is modern and fairly similar to the freeways seen further north. What makes them so unique, however, is their dependence on toll funding rather than taxation costs, so be prepared to ‘pay as you go’. Auto insurance is a MUST, whether your driving your own car or a rental. Don’t expect your home tome policy to be valid in Mexico. Don’t worry, you can easily find insurance companies on both sides of the border crossing. But a better idea is to do that before you go. If you have driven all the way clear to Mexico, make sure you have a valid passport or birth certificate and photo ID. If not, then your headed back the way you came.