Airfare Cozumel vs Cancun

[Dave Dillehay]

The recent thread about AA fare sale got me to thinking that it would be good to remind others that flying into Cancun is often a MUCH cheaper way to get to Cozumel. (There is a detailed description of the issue of getting to Coz from the Cancun airport on our web page...but, suffice it to say it is not much of a problem.)

Costs will of course vary from departure city, but I just now looked up the Orbitz prices from Los Angeles to Cancun September 9-16. The lowest price was $337 and both legs were non-stops. For the same dates to Cozumel the lowest was $599 and required 2 plane changes! The rest of the Cozumel prices were near $1000.

For me, if Cancun is more than $100 cheaper than going into Cozumel, that is the way I go. If the price is the same (almost never is) and Cancun is a non stop flight with Cozumel requiring a plane change I still go thru Cancun.

The bottom line is that we all should be aware that Cancun Airport CAN be a much better option for getting to Cozumel.


Dave Dillehay
Aldora Divers

 

[Cacia]

Costs will of course vary from departure city, but I just now looked up the Orbitz prices from Los Angeles to Cancun September 9-16. The lowest price was $337 and both legs were non-stops.

wow--maybe we want to go. So, do you ferry over? How much is that?
Are fares cheaper during Hurricane season? (September)
Sometimes it is cheaper to get to Palau from LAX than from Honolulu, based on volume I guess.

I think it was easier for us to get mileage seats on the flight into Coz though. (reduced volume)

 

[Dave Dillehay]

Many on this board have done and can comment as well but I'll summarize. When leaving Customs and Immigration in Cancun's all new facility. There is a 1 hour bus ($8 each) or 45 minute taxi ride ($60-70 total) to get to Playa Del Carmen. Because of ferry schedules the difference in total trip time can be as much as one hour more if you take the bus.

In Playa Del Carmen taxis and the bus will drop you off very near the ferry pier where help is always at hand with luggage.

The ferry to Cozumel leaves every hour and takes about 35-45 minutes to Cozumel where you are let off right downtown with lots of taxis available. These ferries are VERY nice, much like an aircraft interior, and the seas are usually not bad.

Dave Dillehay
Aldora Divers


P.S.There is a detailed description of the trip through Cancun at Aldora Divers of Cozumel.

 

[georoc01]

Just watch the times. For example, for a trip in October from Denver, I can get a price of $333 vs $476 RT flying to Cancun vs Cozumel. But when you look at the details, the cheaper flight lands at 12:05 am in Cancun (I believe the first ferry is around 5:00am) and the return flight is an overnight layover in Mexico City.

If you compare apples to apples, the difference for me flying to Cancun vs Cozumel is $25. Not nearly worth it. The plus of Cancun is that there are more airlines with more direct flights from more cities to Cancun. But when I have to change planes anyway, I am better off with the Cozy flight from here.

 

[AJ Al]

Just had to add my 2 cents.
We left from PHX at 7am changed planes in Houston (40 min layover, just enough time to get to the other plane) then straight to CZM. Landed around 3 local time. It was cheaper to fly to the island than it was to Cancun.
The time of year maybe, this was in April. And also through Orbitz.

 

[sbaggs]

And for my 2 cents...I like dealing with the smaller Cozumel airport much better than dealing with Cancun's. Flying into Coz was a much better experience overall for us versus the time we flew into Cancun. I think it depends on what type of traveler you are...I fly with my husband who is a bit type A and just wants to get to where we are going the easiest way possible and for us that means flying into Coz.

 

[DandyDon]

Yep, the first time I got my home bud to join me on a Coz trip, by the time he agreed - LBB-CZM had gone up quit a bit, but CUN was still pretty reasonable. We flew to Houston together, he left there earlier for CUN than I did for CZM as the schedules worked out, and we got to the hotel within 5 minutes of each other.

But there has to be at least a $100 difference for me with the CUN-PDC bus, then ferry, then cab and the way I pack all I can - three porters instead of just one: CUN, PDC, CZM.

Do not try to connect in CUN for a shuttle flight to CZM even if your FF-miles cover it. I have never heard of anyone making that work without canceled flights, lost bags, etc.

Just watch the times. For example, for a trip in October from Denver, I can get a price of $333 vs $476 RT flying to Cancun vs Cozumel. But when you look at the details, the cheaper flight lands at 12:05 am in Cancun (I believe the first ferry is around 5:00am) and the return flight is an overnight layover in Mexico City.

If you compare apples to apples, the difference for me flying to Cancun vs Cozumel is $25. Not nearly worth it. The plus of Cancun is that there are more airlines with more direct flights from more cities to Cancun. But when I have to change planes anyway, I am better off with the Cozy flight from here.

I use Sidestep.com and Continental.com both for my shopping, asking both to check nearby airports, but since Cont is not flying there on Tuesdays, checked for Wednesdays.

• Sidestep is giving AA @ $598 RT inclusive for the 9/10-17 dates or Cont @ $622 - not enough to appeal to me.
• Continental is giving same $622 fare to either, altho it is $$30 cheaper out of Midland - no where close to me.
• For the original Tuesday days used in post #1 example, Sidestep gets really creative to CZM @ $674 with multiple airlines and overnight layovers each way. :11: Gotta be careful!

Edit...

In addition to some construction currently under on the hiway from CUN-PDC, the ferry rides can be an extra treat or challenge at times depending on how you view rock & roll feelings. I fall asleep before planes or ferries leave their gates or docks usually so this would not bother me, but if they offer you a little bag - keep it handy just in case.

Next week could possibly be a little bumpy. I-94 is looking at Cozumel and the Yucatan with 20-50% probability of tropical cyclone formation within 48 hours. Hope the diving is good for y'all there then...

 

[driftwood]

Hi Dave,

For people around Austin Tx, vivaaerobus.com - Vuela a los mejores precios is a great low cost carrier to Cancun. Just don't try to fly into AUS and transfer to VA, it is a real pain.

 

[Ravzie]

In addition to money, I always figure my valuable time and the "hassle factor". Cancun to me would be a high hassle factor. I had only one connection in Houston from DC. Much better. JMHO.

 

[pidgiepoo]

If anyone is going from Ohio..check out the Apple Vacation site. I got an all inclusive at Iberostar Cozumel for one week last Dec(the week of 11-18) for $720.00...this year it went up to $890. That's for air with Continental stopping in Huston and arriving at 11:38 in Coz...plus air port transfers,food, drinks, and hotel for the week. You can get the same fares from Cincinnati, but I have no idea from Cleveland. The week of xmas and week after the price goes way up.
Also for August 14-21 I got the 890 fare. It's gone up some now, but still worth checking. Keep an eye on the fall prices because they are often cheap,too.