Transportation between and around Cancun and Playa del Carmen.?

Question

We will be visiting Cancun in Oct 07. We are staying at the Blue Bay Grand Esmeralda resort at Playa del Carmen. We have to arrange own transportation from Cancun airport to the resort. After researching on-line, we found the US$60 per person one-trip "official" shuttle cost is way too much for us. Now, here comes my questions:

1. Is there any shuttle service to the resort with more reasonable rates(approx US$20 a person per way)?

2. ADO bus: what is the schedule and rate from Cancun airport to Playa del Carmen? How to get the tickets? How far is its station in Playa del Carmen to our destination (Blue Bay Grand Esmeralda), and how can we get to our hotel from there?

3. Rental car: We consider to rent a car at the Cancun Airport that its rate includes full auto insurance coverage. What is the most reputable rental car company that you would recommend? Can we buy Mexico auto insurance independently from the rental car company?

Thank you very much in advanced!

Answer 1

hello,

#1): there are mini vans called "collectivos" at the airport.the rate to your hotel is approx.US 20 per person.

#2): the ADO bus is leaving the airport to playa del carmen every 30 minutes and the rate is approx.US 5 a person.they sell the tickets directly at the bus.when you come out of the terminal go to the right and you will find the bus after about 1000 feet.BUT:PLAYA DEL CARMEN ISN'T EVEN CLOSE TO YOUR DESTINATION.your hotel is on the NORTH END of CANCUN....PLAYA DEL CARMEN IS A DIFFERENT CITY approx.50 miles SOUTH of cancun and your hotel.

EDIT:EDIT:EDIT:

****,I WAS WRONG...I SHOULD READ BETTER.I WAS THINKING ABOUT THE TWO BLUE BAY HOTELS IN CANCUN...THE BLUE BAY GRAND ESMERALDA IS INDEED CLOSE TO PLAYA DEL CARMEN...IT'S A BRAND NEW HOTEL.TAKE THE BUS TO PLAYA AND A TAXI FROM THERE.ALL TOGETHER YOU SHOULD END UP PAYING APPROX. U$ 30 FOR TWO PERSONS EACH WAY.

#3)all major car rental companies are located at the airport.i would look for the same that you would thrust back in the states such as budget,hertz,alamo and so on.

if you plan to travel to mexico with your car you can purchase insurance for your car at the border with no trouble what so ever.

please excuse my english...i'm german.

have fun in mexico,

greetings from playa del carmen,

cancundivers

Answer 2

Trust me $60 is not that much considering the distance and look at what you paid just to get to the Cancun airport. Everything I can think of and you listed will cost more. Maybe not rental car - but close once all is said and done with the fees and gas and Insurance. Don't even consider Mexican Insurance - it's outrageous. The ADO bus I think will be darn close to the $60 and you will still need to get a taxi to the resort because I doubt they go right to it. I saw someone answer a question and gave the ADO website but trust me I don't think it will be any cheaper, but try if you must ..........

Answer 3

Here are some websites to help you with bus transportation

http://www.travelyucatan.com/trans-4.htm

http://www.travelyucatan.com/cancun_bus....

Many times when you book a hotel you have an option of purchasing transfers to the resort and back to the airport. I would look into that.

You resort is about 22 miles south from the airport and about 6 miles north of Playa del Carmen.

Here is a transportation site that has very good prices plus very reliable. 1-3 people $95 round trip. 4-10 people $115 roundtrip. It's a little more than your desired rate.

http://entertainment-plus.net/tour_trans...

Get yourself a good map on line of the Cancun/ Riviera Maya area. This will help you navigate.

Good Luck)

Answer 4

The Cancun airport has same car rental places that you would expect to find at any US airport. Avis, Hertz, Dollar etc. You can book the cars online through expedia or any other travel site. They will sell you insurance too. No problem.

We rented through Dollar rent a car last year and didn't have any problem, I made the reservation online. The Dollar rental car location is just across the parking lot when you exit the arrivals area of Cancun airport. It would be about a 150-200 yard walk.

They were great, didn't have the compact car I booked so they gave me an upgrade at no extra charge. I think with everything in it cost me about $220 for 7 days.

I don't know how many are in your party or how much driving you intend to do but this might be a good option for you.

There will also be lots of cab drivers outside the arrival area and I would think that you would be able to get a cab for about the same price as the quoted cost of the shuttle. That is to say a cab would be about $60. Of course the cab doesn't charge per person so if you are traveling with more than just yourself you would save money.