To and from airport

[Jethroish]

Can't remember, but is it easy to get a taxi to your hotel once you arrive in Coz or do you have to the "transfer" people? Trying to book and the airport transfer charges are $33 per person (round trip). Seems a little steep to go from the airport to Hotel Cozumel.

[Christi]

Can't remember, but is it easy to get a taxi to your hotel once you arrive in Coz or do you have to the "transfer" people? Trying to book and the airport transfer charges are $33 per person (round trip). Seems a little steep to go from the airport to Hotel Cozumel.

$33 transfer fees are inflated, especially to Hotel Cozumel.

The transfer they will provide is no doubt the airport shuttle. If you buy your shuttle ticket at the airport on your own when you arrive, it will be no more than $8 per person to get to the hotel, and then a taxi back to the airport for your departure will be $6 to $8 total for two of you. That brings the total to $11/$12 RT per person.

The savings is easily a nice dinner around here :)

[Jethroish]

$33 transfer fees are inflated, especially to Hotel Cozumel.

The transfer they will provide is no doubt the airport shuttle. If you buy your shuttle ticket at the airport on your own when you arrive, it will be no more than $8 per person to get to the hotel, and then a taxi back to the airport for your departure will be $6 to $8 total for two of you. That brings the total to $11/$12 RT per person.

The savings is easily a nice dinner around here :)

Thanks Christi. I knew $33 was too much, but could not remember if I could just get the transfer once there.

[DandyDon]

When you exit customs, ignore the time share hawks - don't even ask them where the ticket window is as I have seen them lie about that to get you into their office. Veer right, tickets on the left, then go outside and ask around the vans for your hotel.

Returning is a pleasnt taxi ride. You'll save a lot by just paying there instead of pre-booking.

[94GTStang]

Thanks Don for the tip on my last trip. We wanted to pick up our rental car first so we had that taxi service drop us off at Hotel Barracuda. It was only $10 for two of us!!! Travelocity wanted $42pp roundtrip to Fiesta Americana! Then it was only $6 from FA to the airport.
Thanks again!

[RockyHeap]

We just walked with our bags the 1 block to get out of the airport to the streets to get a taxi for cheap. Taxis can't come right up to the airport due to union rules or something.

Just the two of us in a taxi and a direct ride to the F.A was well worth the walk watching them cram 15 people into a shuttle bus and they must have made 8 stops at different hotels, no thanks.

[DandyDon]

Thanks Don for the tip on my last trip. We wanted to pick up our rental car first so we had that taxi service drop us off at Hotel Barracuda. It was only $10 for two of us!!! Travelocity wanted $42pp roundtrip to Fiesta Americana! Then it was only $6 from FA to the airport.
Thanks again!
YVW. :D

We just walked with our bags the 1 block to get out of the airport to the streets to get a taxi for cheap. Taxis can't come right up to the airport due to union rules or something.

Just the two of us in a taxi and a direct ride to the F.A was well worth the walk watching them cram 15 people into a shuttle bus and they must have made 8 stops at different hotels, no thanks.
Yep, that's been discussed repeatedly here. I've never done it as I pack everything I want to take, I'm still allowed 2-70# checked bags, and my large duffel doesn't have wheels, but I'm taking all wheeled bags next time. I hate those cramped vans, multiple stops, and the risk of your bag being left at the wrong hotel if you don't get out to watch at every stop.

The cabs are not always there, tho; there was a recent police crackdown on them, but frequent visitor Gordon says that never has a big impact.

[Rustydiver]

We just walked with our bags the 1 block to get out of the airport to the streets to get a taxi for cheap. Taxis can't come right up to the airport due to union rules or something.

Just the two of us in a taxi and a direct ride to the F.A was well worth the walk watching them cram 15 people into a shuttle bus and they must have made 8 stops at different hotels, no thanks.


So, is it an easy walk to get outside the airport area. Sidewalks or street? Don't want the wife to bitch about having to carry her roller bag for a block!!!!

[DandyDon]

So, is it an easy walk to get outside the airport area. Sidewalks or street? Don't want the wife to bitch about having to carry her roller bag for a block!!!!
Then take the crowded van. It is over a block [-]cutting across a parking lot I think it is[/-] out to the circle I think, shown in these aerial pics. See the vans lined up in front of the terminal...

[Rustydiver]

Then take the crowded van. It is over a block [-]cutting across a parking lot I think it is[/-] out to the circle I think, shown in these aerial pics. See the vans lined up in front of the terminal...

Doesn't look to bad. Thanks for the pics, that helps!

[DandyDon]

Doesn't look to bad. Thanks for the pics, that helps!
Yeah I like to include pics when possible with any discussion. Took those off of Google earth. No, it's not bad, depending on whom you ask and what you're carrying but if you compare the length of those vans to the distance to the circle, you're talking more than a block. You said: "Don't want the wife to bitch about having to carry her roller bag for a block!!!!" so I wanted to give you accurate info; don't want the responsibility of an upset wife on the first day. :11:

[driftin' by]

One time in one of those vans, they didn't have room to accommodate our luggage so it got to ride on the roof held on by a piece of bailing twine! :shocked:

However, FWIW, I enjoy the experience... Meeting other people arriving and seeing where they stay. Much less trekking it with the maximum allowable with wife and toddler.... I don't think so. :)

Like Don said, if you do this, it's wise to exit the van at each stop to make sure your stuff makes to full trip.

[mstevens]

My view is that I'm on vacation and it's time for me to be less uptight than usual. I just take the vans. It's less hassle and we don't have to hike off the airport then hope for a taxi. Sure, we're crowded into the van with other people, but we've met some interesting people that way and get to see some of the places other people stay.

[ScubaAruba]

I'm a newbie so go easy on me... :D

Just so I understand- When you arrive you can buy a transfer ticket to your hotel at the airport? I read someplace that if you contact your hotel they have shuttles that you can pay for your transfer through the hotel and then the shuttle/van goes directly to your hotel- in this case Fiesta Americana. Sound right?

Thanks...

[DandyDon]

I'm a newbie so go easy on me... :D

Just so I understand- When you arrive you can buy a transfer ticket to your hotel at the airport? I read someplace that if you contact your hotel they have shuttles that you can pay for your transfer through the hotel and then the shuttle/van goes directly to your hotel- in this case Fiesta Americana. Sound right?

Thanks...
Won't work that way. If you book it thru your hotel, you're just paying more for the ticket. There are three ways you can depart the airport....
> 15 passenger van and it will not leave with 14 usually, one person in middle front seat without seatbelt, whether you pay on arrival or pay more in advance - see cautions above;
> Private car pickup - I think that's allowed, but rare; or
> Walk at least as far as to the circle - see pics above.

[ScubaAruba]

Thanks!

[Christi]

I'm a newbie so go easy on me... :D

Just so I understand- When you arrive you can buy a transfer ticket to your hotel at the airport? I read someplace that if you contact your hotel they have shuttles that you can pay for your transfer through the hotel and then the shuttle/van goes directly to your hotel- in this case Fiesta Americana. Sound right?

Thanks...

Hotels/dive ops, etc. do not have shuttle service due to the taxi union. The airport shuttles are regulated and part of the taxi union and deliver to any hotel. Definitely cheaper to buy them at the airport than as part of your package as the travel agents mark the transfers up 100% or more.

You can do the bag drag to the street for a taxi, but you never know how long you'll have to wait for one to pass. Some people get lucky, and I know others who have ended up walking several blocks to find one and/or who have waited for up to 30 minutes in the sweltering heat for a taxi.

[MMM]

I always walk to the corner and have never waited more than a few minutes. It's a busy street so unless you are arriving at the crack of dawn or the dead of night, there will be cabs coming by. If you are travelling with a rolling bag or two each, it's an easy walk...if your wife complains, then she's a princess and will be bitching about the pea under her mattress before your trip is over.

[DandyDon]

I would never make a judgment on the guys wife. I just answered: "Don't want the wife to bitch about having to carry her roller bag for a block!!!!" :lol2:

[charlesml3]

I always walk to the corner and have never waited more than a few minutes.

Same here. Done that walk a dozen times or so. Just head out of the airport and veer off to the right a little. You'll see the traffic circle. Every time I've made that walk, a taxi spotted my group and was waiting at the circle for us. The whole van plus gear to the Barracuda was $15.

-Charles

[divemoreworklessmms]

Good to know! Thanks!

[BrewingDiver]

Returning is a pleasnt taxi ride. You'll save a lot by just paying there instead of pre-booking.


I don't know about the pleasant ride, Don. It's one of the saddest I ever take.:D