The Airport in Cozumel - arrival insanity

[MMM]

So then they jump twice as hard on the next person to come out wearing red? That seems nice of you. Why not just keep walking?

Oh come on. That was funny in a twisted sort of way.

 

[teknitroxdiver]

Oh come on. That was funny in a twisted sort of way.

Sure, it's funny to talk about, but actually doing it would not be funny at all for the red clothes person.

 

[DandyDon]

I had a car reserved with Easy-way (Cancun car rentals) last month and specifically asked him to explain where their office was. He assured me that someone would meet my ferry holding a sign with my name. Didn't happen of course, but I knew about where it was as I went thru the same promise & switch last year and ended up at their office anyway. We hiked over there, found it - and they'd never heard of me. Of all the details I printed out to carry, I failed to take that one - so asked what they could do for a full-sized automatic? I can shift gears in anything but those Mexican cars are weird.

He quoted me a better rate, then I flipped my AAA card for 10% more off. It was a one-day rental and I would have preferred to have the higher rate and the car waiting, but - got it done.

I've never seen a rental car company pick up at the airport and find it difficult to believe that he was warned only that morning not to do that. Maybe true, but sounds like typical "tell the tourist whatever."

Taxi's have been prohibited from picking up at the airport for a LONG time. This is nothing new. If you want a taxi just walk out to the roundabout and wait for one, it won't take long.

Haha easy for some. Not for some of us, but on the last trip - the van filled up with luggage before it packed people like sardines so we left early and not cramped. Loved it.

It been over a year since I've been there, but I doubt much has changed. $8 for a shuttle is not much, even if they don't go far. That is my biggest complaint... transportation costs are absurd. Ohh well, in the scheme of things paying $5 to go 1 mile is not going to break the bank... but IMO that is a pricey mile run.

Yeah, it's still $5 minimum. Some will walk the mile, but other have other uses for their time and energy. The union that runs the vans and taxis won't ever allow bicycle rentals I bet.

When I run the gauntlet. I tell the time share gents that my wife has all of the money, is wearing a red blouse, is right behind me, and she was talking about buying some property on the way down...
My wife does not even own any red clothing.

Cute. I just tell them to move or else. I wonder if they remember me now, as they seem to move out of my way faster.

 

[vdoman]

The shuttle van costs $8. Yes, you could get a taxi for $5 if not going further south than say...Hotel Coz maybe...but that $3 isn't going to cause me any real grief. Sure, you are in a van full of people instead of a taxi by yourself, but I have met some of the coolest people in those vans...and the ride is a few minutes so I don't really mind it. When you walk through the doors after the red light/green light turn right and go 30 feet to the last booth on the left. Says shuttle or van or some such thing on it. Typically two friendly girls behind the counter and they sell the van tickets. Ignore the time share guys. Coz is a foreign land and things are different here than in the states. Celebrate the differences, even if they are cheezy...there are plenty of tourism ripoffs in the states, especially in my home town...Orlando, where you are. You know this to be true. If you travel in a family pack of five, the math certainly works differently but then you could just walk out to the circle and wait for a cab, in the sun....

Now...off to find some chicken tacos!

Hey Bill... I'd love some chicken tacos!

I was just burned that the guy who promised me several times that he would be there holding a sign... was not. From what I perceived, that was an empty promise. Walking out to the circle, four people with all our luggage (including dive gear) would have been... difficult. Also, purchasing four van rides gets to go to the Budget office kind of defeats the purpose of my renting the car in the first place. If I were traveling alone or even with just my son, I would agree with most respondents on this topic and just suck it up.

But as you have probably noticed, I fight for the principle of things. We stayed at Villa Alegria way down next to San Francisco Beach. I'm not a cheapskate... in fact there was somebody in the Budget office that needed $11 for taxes or something. He was in a big hurry and started to panic that he needed to get to an ATM and come back. I just gave him the $11 since I had it in my pocket and told him to enjoy his trip. He gave me his card and he is a travel agent. So maybe I'll call in the favor one day! I enjoy helping people out.

 

[Pelagicsal]

When I run the gauntlet. I tell the time share gents that my wife has all of the money, is wearing a red blouse, is right behind me, and she was talking about buying some property on the way down...
My wife does not even own any red clothing.

Ah, Joe... Didn't realize you were such a devious dude!

 

[deepstops]

Sure, it's funny to talk about, but actually doing it would not be funny at all for the red clothes person.

 

[firstdive2005]

Ya-I see a couple jokers here now that I would like to tell the time share boys that you where talking about buying some shares on the plane and give them your description. Then watch your faces as you take your chill pill so you wont choke the poor little salesmen hanging off your dive bag.
It would be rude to do what he suggests to get them off your back. Simply walk on by. I have NEVER had one touch me or stop me from advancing out the door. Dont look at them, pretend they are Medusa and if you look at them you own something.

 

[teknitroxdiver]

I wouldn't care one bit if he had said "I'd like to say...." or "Wouldn't it be funny to say....". But he's actually doing it, which, IMO, is rude to the people behind him, and an unnecessary interaction with them. Not to mention he'd be out of there faster if he just kept walking instead of stopping to tell some story.

 

[5615mike]

The Cozumel airport shuttles have been an institution for many years, and I don't have a problem with them. The infrastructure at the airport would not handle the load well if all those people had to be ferried away in cabs; the mob scene would be much worse than it is now. The shuttle is a bit more expensive than a cab would be if you are traveling with a group (if you are alone it's about the same), but the difference isn't that much, comparatively speaking.

If you knew about the timeshare folks, how come you didn't know about the shuttles? Just about any thread about coming into CZM by air mentions them both.

could not have said it better gordon.

 

[jjwdiver]

Running the gauntlet is easy - just throw on your ear phone, head phones, or whatever and they think you cant hear them. I do it in town and have yet to carry the iPod. Works most of the time.