We were a little intimidated to vacation in Mexico for the first time so we were thankful for a friend who gave us a “heads up” about what to expect. If you find yourself in the same situation, hopefully this will help you be prepared and confident on your venture.
No matter where you are flying from, on your last leg into Cancun you will be given an immigration form to complete on the airplane. I suggest bringing a pen on the plane with you so you don’t have to wait for someone else to finish using one. The form has questions for you such as your passport number, where you will be staying, your flight details, and the dates of your stay.
It is best if you can get this completed while still on the airplane so you don’t get held up going through the line at the airport. Be sure to include all of the required information or you will be sent back to add details and have to wait for another turn in line. TIP: You can complete this form online before you leave for the airport. The card is called the Tourist Card, and you can fill it online here.
Once off the plane you will go straight to immigration where you will wait in long lines to show the completed form and your passport. The officer who checks your paperwork will tear off half of the paper and hand the other part back to you. It is very important that you keep this half with your passport because you will need it when you return to the airport to depart.
Next you will pick up your luggage and walk directly through to the exit of the airport. There are two sliding doors that open into the rental car area which you will have to walk through to get to the exit. There will be many people there hoping you do not already have arrangements and trying to get you to stop and hire them for transportation or to rent a car. I highly recommend that you already have arrangements made for transportation from the airport before you arrive. You can set this up when you book your vacation. My suggestion to you for the easiest passage through this area is to keep walking and don’t engage with any of the people trying to get your attention.
Once you are outside of the airport, you will see many people dressed in shirts with the name of the transportation company on them. Find someone with the name the shirt that matches the company with which you have made reservations. If you can’t find them, ask one of the people from another company where that company is stationed. When you do find the right people, they will lead you to a person who has a clipboard with your name on it. That person will tell you where to stand to wait for your bus, car, or van.
When you make your reservations, you will have the option to do private transportation or group transportation. If you reserve private transportation, the people from the company will help connect you with the right car and you will be taken to the resort directly. If you use group transportation, you will be told what van or bus to get on and the vehicle will deliver the passengers in the order of the resort locations. This can sometimes take a little longer but can also be interesting to see a glimpse of other resorts.
Once you arrive at your resort, the driver will stop at the gate and tell the guard your name. They will make sure you are on the list and the gate will be opened for the vehicle to pass through. You will be delivered to the main entrance where you will be greeted by someone who will help unload your luggage and make sure it is placed together. Many resorts will greet you with a glass of champagne as you get out of the vehicle. From here, you check-in and they will direct you how to have your luggage delivered to your room.
It is a good idea to have some money for tips on your trip. Even small bills can mean a lot to the workers who may otherwise be making very little a day in wages. While many resorts say it is not necessary to tip, you will find that you get a lot of preferred treatment if you do.
I remember one particular trip, I believe it was the Excellence Riviera Maya, where we found a particular pool we liked to hang out at. The bartender was the same every day and we tipped him a little bit every day. On our last day there he brought out a coconut drink to thank us for staying at the resort. What a nice memory to have!
Check out our picks for the Top Resorts with the Best Lazy Rivers, and Why we Like All-Inclusive Resorts.
This is who we go through to find the best deals on resort transportation from the airport:
