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TRAVEL HINTS AND TIPS
Airlines - Rental Cars - Arrival in Cancun - Buying Fuel - Restrooms - Auto Insurance - Driving - Road Signs
For your airline tickets, we recommend comparing prices by going thru travel booking sites such as Orbitz, Expedia, Travelocity, Cheaptickets, Hotwire and others. Before booking always check the best priced airlines on their corporate sites. It is often possible to obtain better prices and additional frequent flyer miles by making reservations with the airlines directly. When you compare prices, always make sure the prices you are comparing are the bottom line costs and that they include all fees and taxes, as those can be substantial on international flights.
When visiting Akumal we highly recommend
renting a car. There is so much to see and do and the
use of other transportation and/or bus tours etc. can
quickly become costly.
If possible, we recommend that
you reserve your rental car, at least two weeks to a
month or so in advance of your arrival, since last minute
rates seem to go up very rapidly as the arrival time
nears. There is little risk involved with booking early,
as payment is not charged to you, until you arrive to
pickup the car. As a result, it is quite easy to cancel
or change a reservation later, if your plans change. Do
not wait until
you get to Cancun to rent a car. The rental rate could
easily be double the cost of reserving
ahead of time.
Most of the major car rental
companies are represented in Mexico, including Avis,
Budget, Hertz, Dollar, National, Thrifty and Alamo.
Be aware a majority of rental agencies in
Mexico do not honor U.S. bonus mile programs or promotional
coupons issued by the parent companies.
We have found it
easiest to compare prices and make reservations, by going
thru travel booking sites such as Orbitz, Expedia,
Travelocity, Cheaptickets and Hotwire.
because they show the rental prices for each of the rental
companies all together for comparison. I recommend checking
out prices on multiple sites as I have seen a substantial
rate difference, for the same company, on different sites.
It has been my experience that international bookings
can be somewhat difficult, when going directly to the
rental car web sites, as they are geared more for domestic
rentals. It also saves going from site to site to get
the best price.
The Cancun airport is
in the process of a major upgrade and terminal expansion.
Once you arrive at the Cancun International Airport,
you will likely arrive at a modern covered "plane-to-terminal" exit
ramp, however it is still possible that you may be
required to disembark from your plane outside, within
a very short walk, or a short shuttle bus trip to the
main terminal. Follow the signs to
the immigrations arrival lines.
The lines are often long, but generally move quickly.
In order to speed the process, make sure that the customs
forms (Hacienda), which you were given on the plane
before arrival, are filled out completely (front and
back). Also have your passport and other travel
documents in hand.
At the immigrations counter, they will stamp your passport,
and you will be given a tear-off portion of the immigrations
form, which you will need to present along with your
passport and other documents when you depart. Keep
this with your passport.
Once you pass through immigrations, your next stop will be the baggage claim
area to pick your luggage from the designated luggage carousel.
Once you have your luggage, follow the signs to customs. You will
hand the customs form to the customs agent and press a button on what looks like
a traffic light. A green light means "go ahead and exit" and red light means "inspection" in
which case, officials perform a quick inspection of your luggage.
After you pass through customs, remember to properly stow your tourist card,
passport and any other documentation. During your travels in Mexico we suggest
that you leave your documents in our Room Safe or other safe place, once you
arrive at the condo.
The last step is to find the appropriate rental car counter in the terminal,
just outside of customs area, to pick up your car. Most of the rental car agencies
have an office and car lot a few blocks away from the terminal. The rental agency
will provide a shuttle to get you and your luggage to the rental car office.
PEMEX is the national chain of fuel providers
and the only official outlet. The PEMEX stations are
easily recognized by their bright green color scheme.
Unleaded gasoline is referred to as "Magna Sin". Some
stations also offer "Magna
Premium" which has a higher-octane level.
It is best to
pay for your fuel with Mexican Currency. Many PEMEX stations do accept US Currency but the exchange rate is often very poor.
Be aware that during busy travel times gas shortages
can often occur. It's always a good idea to top off your
fuel tank when near a station. That way you can afford
to be choosy about gas stations.
The unit of measure
for gasoline in Mexico is the liter, 1 gallon = 3.3785
liters.
GAS STATION SCAMS
Always be alert to possible scams at gas
stations. The most common is the failure of the attendant
to clear the pump before pumping your gas. It is not
considered impolite to jump out of the car, make sure
the pump was cleared, and eyeball the proceedings. It is a good idea to know how much fuel the tank will take and about how much it will cost, so you
can avoid any wild overcharging.
Pay careful attention
to how much change you should receive in return when
paying for your fuel. Gas station attendants have been
known to intentionally give tourists the incorrect amount
of change.
Another possible rip-off is for someone to
examine the underside of your car and come up with an
oily hand as evidence that you are in need of immediate
repairs (which of course will be anxious to facilitate
for you). It might be wise to do a little "Self investigation" or
get a second opinion.
One possible indicator of trouble
is a station that harbors a small crowd of youths eager
to wash your windshield, etc. They are sometimes used
to distract you, while scams are perpetrated. It's probably
best just to roll on through if in doubt.
BEWARE OF SLIGHT OF HAND WHEN PAYING
Be aware of the denomination
of the bill you are using to pay for your gas. I'm embarrassed
to admit it, but it took two occasions for me to catch
on to this scam. While paying for the gas, the attendant
switched the bill I gave to him with a lower denomination
bill with a similar color. While he was pocketing the
bill I gave him, he showed me a lower denomination bill,
indicating I hadn't given him enough to cover the payment.
It is a good idea to announce the denomination of the
bill you are giving the attendant as you hand him/her
the money, so they know you are aware of what you are
giving them.
Note: We advise extra caution if filling up
at the stations in Tulum.
Gas stations rarely have clean restrooms
and basics like toilet paper, soap, and paper towels
are often absent. You would do well to carry a small
supply of these items with you. You will find better
facilities at restaurants.
You should also be aware that
you may need to pay a small fee for the use of many restrooms.
It's usually only a few pesos, however for that reason,
always carry an ample amount of small change for such
occasions ( Because they don't/won't make change ). If
you don't have the necessary change and you're really
desperate, you could end up paying dearly.
Top
INSURANCE
We strongly advise that you purchase Mexican auto insurance. In the event of an accident, Mexican authorities will not accept foreign auto insurance policies and most US companies exclude and do not cover damages in Mexico . In the event of an accident you may not be allowed to move your vehicle and could be detained by police until fault can be established. This is especially true in cases where someone is injured. Mexican insurance companies are professionals at dealing with these situations. A claims adjuster and an attorney may meet you at the scene or police station. In most cases once you have presented your proof of Mexican insurance you will be free to go. Rental car agencies will often send a client representative to translate if needed and generally walk you through the process.
Driving
in the Yucatan is not significantly different than
driving in the US or Canada and is very safe. As with
anywhere, drive slowly and respect traffic laws. This
is your vacation, so please take your time and enjoy
the scenery.
Yucatan Highways
The
major highways in the Yucatan , (Which we have traveled)
are all excellent, well maintained, roadways. Highway
307, which you travel on to get from Cancun to Akumal,
is an excellent 4-lane highway for about 40 miles, of
the approximate 60 miles, to Akumal. The remaining 20
miles is a 2-lane highway with wide drivable shoulders.
The smaller highways you might travel, to places like
"Coba" or "Chichen
Itza", are much narrower often with little or no shoulders
but still very well maintained roads.
USE OF THE
LEFT TURN SIGNAL
Important Note: The
left turn signal has multiple
meanings in Mexico. This is the most significant and " most
important " difference, which we have encountered,
between the Mexican rules-of-the-road and US rules. This
is also reported to be one of the most frequent causes
of vehicle accidents by tourists in the area.
While driving on the highway in Mexico, a left
turn signal is an invitation for the car behind you to
pass. Trucks and busses frequently use their left turn
signal as a way of communicating an opportunity to pass.
The turn signal is also often used to communicate your
intention to pass, when overtaking another vehicle. In
this case it means "Please move over - I'm in the process
of passing".
If you do need to turn left, off of the highway,
and a special left-hand turn lane or exit round-a-bout/traffic
circle is not available ; Turn on your left blinker,
pull over and stop (if necessary) on the right shoulder,
wait for all traffic to pass in both directions and
then proceed to make your left turn.
In any case DO
NOT STOP in a highway
traffic lane with your left turn signal on. The person
traveling behind you may interpret this as an "ALL CLEAR" signal
and attempt to pass.
It is my unconfirmed understanding,
that traffic approaching from the rear has the right-away,
thus if you are turning left onto a side road as someone
decides to pass you, resulting in an accident, you could
be at fault. Again that is unconfirmed , but it may be
wise to be on the safe side and observe the left turn
rule above.
Of course the left turn signal can also mean,
as U.S. drivers would expect; "I'm going to turn left".
The
Riviera Maya is home to people from all over the world,
thus there are some who use their left turn signal for
nothing more than a simple left turn.
So be Alert,
Please Pay Attention, and be Safe.
Hints
Shoulder Driving
It seems to
be acceptable to drive on the shoulder to allow room
for traffic approaching from the rear to pass or to allow
approaching traffic ahead of you to overtake another
vehicle. They will sometimes encroach on your traffic
lane with little or no warning. Just be aware of pedestrians,
bicycles or motor bikes that may also be using the shoulder.
Keep an eye to your rear
If a car is
approaching rapidly from the rear, it is a good idea
to pull over and drive on the shoulder and allow the
overtaking vehicle to pass. If it appears safe for the
approaching vehicle to pass, turn on your left turn signal
to indicate that you are aware of his approach and it
is ok for them to pass.
Watch traffic traveling
in the opposite direction:
Be aware of vehicles
flashing headlights in the oncoming lanes. It doesn't
mean your lights are too bright or that your lights should
be on or off. A vehicle traveling in the opposite direction
will often flash their headlights along with their left
blinker to signal that they are about to overtake or
are overtaking another vehicle. It is your "heads-up" that
it is best to move over and provide some extra passing
room.
Busses and taxis:
Busses are generally
considered King-of-the-Road. Taxis seem to think they
are very close runner-ups. Just beware of overtaking
busses and taxis and give them some extra passing room
to avoid risky situations.
It
has been my experience that these differences are not
explained to you when you pick up your rental car. We
hope this document and our travel tips help make your
trip a "Great Trip" and one to remember.
Below are some common roadside signs to become familiar with:
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