splicer
Contributor
What is the Cab Fare from COZ airport to SCC. Plus are there any tips for which cab company to use. Are there any sharks out there or are they all pretty fair.
Cab Fare from Airport to SCC
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H20Bubbles
Contributor
You can't really pick up a taxi at the airport. The easiest way from the airport to the hotels is via the vans that are operated. Once you clear customs, you can go down all the way to the right (I believe) to the desk for the vans. I forget the cost.
WOODMAN
Contributor
I agree, transport from the airport is restricted to the fleet of vans which the taxi company (there really is only one, and locals refer to it as the taxi mafia..) operates and keeps lined up outside the doors of the airport. You have to buy a ticket for this at the window inside the airport (be sure that you get the right window!!! There are a couple of other windows next to it which are occupied by bozos trying to sell time shares or such.:shocked2: If the window occupant seems eager to talk to you, you probably have got the wrong one.
) I think the fare was about 10 bucks a head, although I could be wrong about this, and I am sure someone here will correct me if so. Then they pack you and all of your bags into one of these vans, and sail off to your hotel. They usually make you wait until they have squeezed as many people into the van as possible before they take off, but it is the only game in town, so to speak. Regular taxis can drop off customers at the airport doors but are forbidden to pick up a fare there.:mooner: Nice little racket, hey? There is a way to defeat this, but it is too much hassle for most people. There is a roundabout way out on the road by the entrance to the airport, and that marks the limit of where taxis can pick up fares. If you really want to, you can schlep all your baggage out there and flag down one of the empty taxis returning from the airport, and thereby circumvent the situation. You save a few bucks (maybe 6 bucks into town by taxi, versus 10 bucks APIECE with those infernal vans, and everytime I go there I see some young turk dragging his or her gear out there to the roundabout to get a normal taxi. Have I ever done this? Once, but its a PITA. I usually just line up with the rest of the sheep for the approved fleecing. Welcome to Cozumel! Woody
) I think the fare was about 10 bucks a head, although I could be wrong about this, and I am sure someone here will correct me if so. Then they pack you and all of your bags into one of these vans, and sail off to your hotel. They usually make you wait until they have squeezed as many people into the van as possible before they take off, but it is the only game in town, so to speak. Regular taxis can drop off customers at the airport doors but are forbidden to pick up a fare there.:mooner: Nice little racket, hey? There is a way to defeat this, but it is too much hassle for most people. There is a roundabout way out on the road by the entrance to the airport, and that marks the limit of where taxis can pick up fares. If you really want to, you can schlep all your baggage out there and flag down one of the empty taxis returning from the airport, and thereby circumvent the situation. You save a few bucks (maybe 6 bucks into town by taxi, versus 10 bucks APIECE with those infernal vans, and everytime I go there I see some young turk dragging his or her gear out there to the roundabout to get a normal taxi. Have I ever done this? Once, but its a PITA. I usually just line up with the rest of the sheep for the approved fleecing. Welcome to Cozumel! Woody
I agree, transport from the airport is restricted to the fleet of vans which the taxi company (there really is only one, and locals refer to it as the taxi mafia..) operates and keeps lined up outside the doors of the airport. You have to buy a ticket for this at the window inside the airport (be sure that you get the right window!!! There are a couple of other windows next to it which are occupied by bozos trying to sell time shares or such.:shocked2: If the window occupant seems eager to talk to you, you probably have got the wrong one.
Some folks get upset at the "no taxis from the airport" rule, but it's not for the fleecing of tourists, or at least that's not the only reason for it. The infrastructure at the airport is not designed to handle the gazillion cabs at once that it would take to handle enough cabs to transport all those folks in lots of two, and with the variability of airline schedules, cabs would have to be spending a lot of time sitting and waiting for planes to arrive instead of being out on the streets serving the huge demand for taxis. For a party of two, the cost is really not much more than a cab, anyway, and if you travel with a lot of luggage, you'd have trouble getting it all into the size car that a great many of Cozumel cabs are. Vacations are too short; don't sweat the small stuff.
Sue Sue
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Ah..Woodman gives a good description of transportation out of the airport...and to answer your question the cost from the Airport to SCC is around $8.00 not more than $10.00. However, since you asked about SHARKS, I just want to stress the importance of getting to the correct window to get your ticket, which is the most difficult part of your trip. So here's the story....
Your flight touches down in beautiful Cozumel. You walk down the steps from your airplane and are escorted by several airport staff across the tarmac and into the terminal. You queue up in a switchback line en route to present your Passport and Entry papers. After getting stamped into Mexico, you then take 10 Giant steps forward to pick up your baggage from the luggage carousels. Once this is accomplished turn around and take 6 Giant steps to the X-ray Security machine and you put all of your luggage into it and retrieve it from the other side. This needs to be done quickly as there is not much room work with. Then, without haste, and with all of your luggage in tow, take 1 more Giant step forward to play Red Light-Green Light. Press the button...Green Light -you win and you pass Go, Red Light- means you get your luggage searched. After this point is when the real magic happens. After playing Red Light-Green Light you get to pass through the Magical Sliding doors to TimeShare World. You at this time will be approached by very aggressive TimeShare representatives who offer to arrange your transportation. Unless you are interested in a TimeShare presentation, DO NOT acknowledge the offer. Ignore the offers with very firm No's, No Gracias, Shaking your head NO, Hand UP in the face NO or any other indications you feel are appropriate. Move in a quick and determined manner directly to the TICKET BOOTH. Ah....the TICKET BOOTH...With your back to the Magical sliding doors that you just walked through, make a BEELINE in a Right Diagonal Direction. At the Far Right Corner, facing you is a booth that says TICKETS. There you will find a very pleasant young woman who you tell where you are going. She then tells you how much, you pay, get your tickets then head out to the transport vans. Beware, you will need to run the gauntlet of TimeShare people again. Just remember, move in a quick and determined manner. Once you clear the lobby area, you will be greeted by the Van transport people. You tell them where you are headed and you will be directed to a van. Your Luggage is put into the van and you take a seat inside. In no time at all, hopefully, you are on your way with 6-8 other folks to your hotel, condo or house. One other tip, just keep an eye on your luggage as it is unloaded at your destination. It has been known to happen that the luggage gets mixed up and unloaded to the wrong people. Once you get past this part of your vacation, you will be home free. Now you may say, I am just going to walk off site and hail a cab, it's much eaiser. Well yes and no...If you have a lot of luggage, or it is hot and humid, or raining...walking out to get a taxi may not be worth the hassle. Also, there is the chance that you will have to wait for a taxi to come along. Some taxi's people will hang out in the area in front of the airport, but not always as this practice in frowned upon, but, yes some do. By the way, your return trip to the airport is much easier. Hail a taxi from wherever you are, go to the airport, curbside dropoff, your finished, it's that easy.
OP
splicer
Contributor
Outstanding! It's our 4th time coming to the Yucatan but have always stayed in PDC, this will be our first time in Cozumel. Thanks for the info.
CaptSaaz
Contributor
It was $14 for the two of us actually... me thinks kennedy's blood sugar was a little low.. 
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