Akumal, Playa Del Carmen, Coz Questions

[DandyDon]

Many agencies will gouge you on insurance, but Easyway has a nice package with a wide choice of cars. Some have radios (not important to me), some have air conditioning (now that is important!), some have automatic transmissions (important to some), etc. I might select the NissanTsuru GSII for example for $258 for 8 days, the ALI, CDW, TP, PAI & EPC package for $144, plus tax = $466.32. You might prefer one of their others. Plus they have a long list of ways to get 10% off, i.e. AAA, Gay/Lez, Like them on FB, etc. - up to 15% off really.

I wonder if their GPS option offers English? I would take a compass as I don't think their cars have one built in, plus the usual cautions...

Inspect the car and spare tire closely on receipt with them noting any dings, problems, missing items.

Fill up at the first gas station. An attendant will pump your gas and collect your money, but watch him/her closely, making sure the pump is zeroed out before pumping, correct change - and if he is nice, tip.

Don't have an accident, but if you do - contact the agency ASAP and don't agree to anything until their agent agrees.

Try not to leave anything in the parked car, at least nothing visible.

Request a map and explanations on local driving customs.
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[BRT]

And when you hand them 500 pesos expecting change don't be surprised when they instantly hand you back a 50 and complain that the bill is higher than that.

Expect that the tank will come up full below a major round figure rather than just above because then they are more likely to get the difference for a tip, even if the tank only shows 3/4 when you drive away.

If they start giving you directions somewhere or an old man starts to smear your window with a dirty rag you are being distracted so they can cheat you.

If they check your oil you will need a quart and if they check your tire pressure you will need air. You may well need air anyway because the rental car people never check it.

 

[ColoDale]

We stayed in North Akumal in mid June for 4 days then "moved" to Cozumel for another 8 days. We used USA Transfers from Cancun to Akumal. It was a private and very large van. The driver was very nice and when we arrived in Akumal I made arrangements with the driver to pick us up on our departure date at a specifiied time. I think this was a private deal as his card does not have the USA Transfers on it. My concern about the Akumal to PDC leg was that while there are taxis available, we would get a sedan taxi. We would have all our luggage including dive gear and I am 6'7" - a tight fit and we did not want that. I think we could have had reception at our hotel call a taxi but they do not open really early in the am - small hotel. If your hotel is bigger then it may be staffed earlier. I planned on about $35 taxi charge for Akumal to PDC but we did not use it so I cannot confirm the cost. We noticed many taxis near the main arch in Akumal. Our method was door to door service with no worries.
The driver was so nice when we arrived in PDC (next to the Bus terminal) that when I asked how much, he told me whatever I felt like paying. Note that I speak a bit of Spanish and we talked alot on both trips. I gave him $50 US. If you use this option I would arrange the price in advance and your return time from Coz if you don't use a taxi. That return time locks you in though - return taxi in PDC might be better.

We have not rented a car on the mainland but PDC is huge and congested now. They should have parking lots for a fee around there somewhere. I would think street parking would be a nightmare.

We used Akumal Dive Adventures in North Akumal (different than Akumal Dive shop but that is probably closer to you there). The Sargasso may still be around but maybe you have a pier versus our shore entry. In Coz we use Bottom Time Divers but there are many more and discussed extensively in the Cozumel subforum.

As I recall and we were rushed in PDC, I paid around $12 per person one way using the new company Mexico Waterjet. We made that ferry by about 2 minutes and I paid in USD so the exchange rate probably did not favor me. I just gave them what they said and dashed so I don't exactly remember the charge. Make sure to buy one way tickets so you are not locked in to a certain company on your return. You can buy them in Coz.

If you desire in PDC you can get one of the guys with the three wheeled bikes for gear assuming you have alot. If not, the walk is mostly down hill when you arrive in PDC by the bus station. I normally tip a $1 US per bag assuming you have bags needing this. The ferry company baggage guys will ask you if you have anything fragile in the bags. Our guy kept asking in English and mangling the word fragile (I swear he kept saying fracking) so I had no idea what he was saying. The tricycle guy told me in spanish so I got it. They will tag your luggage and give you claim tickets (assuming bags).

Check the ferry schedules in Coz when you arrive from PDC to you can get back especially on the the late ferries.

I am assuming you have not done this before. If you have then apologies for being redundant.

If you wish more info on the mainland ground transportation option, send me a PM here on SB and I can give you the contact info I have.

 

[AmyLyne]

Thank you all for the excellent information! I didn't realize all the cons to renting a car in Mexico. However, it still seems like the best option for us.

Any recommendations on one vs another car rental company?
Amy

 

[mmmbelows]

And when you hand them 500 pesos expecting change don't be surprised when they instantly hand you back a 50 and complain that the bill is higher than that.

Expect that the tank will come up full below a major round figure rather than just above because then they are more likely to get the difference for a tip, even if the tank only shows 3/4 when you drive away.

If they start giving you directions somewhere or an old man starts to smear your window with a dirty rag you are being distracted so they can cheat you.

If they check your oil you will need a quart and if they check your tire pressure you will need air. You may well need air anyway because the rental car people never check it.

LOL, sounds like somebody has done some driving in Mexico....

Have some fun and write your name on your 500 peso note before you get there, when he tries the 50 peso trick ask him to show you the rest of the notes he has, hmmm.. that one has my name on it... how'd you get that one?

 

[nimoh]

Normally what I do for gas is just pull up and just say "doscientos, por favor" then watch them fill it and give them a 200 pesos bill. I find it takes away most of their opportunity for change scams.

However, they will sometimes go over 200 and ask for more money. If I think they did it on purpose to try some scam, I just refuse to pay it and drive away (I have done this exactly twice) otherwise I just pay the extra with coins from my pocket.

 

[mmmbelows]

Normally what I do for gas is just pull up and just say "doscientos, por favor" then watch them fill it and give them a 200 pesos bill. I find it takes away most of their opportunity for change scams.

Asking them for the dollar amount to fill is a good idea, but it doesn't keep them from trying the bill switch that we are talking about. Doesn't matter what you ask them for, when you hand them the right bill, it magically becomes the wrong bill. 500 peso notes magically turn into 50 peso notes, 200 peso notes magically turn into 20 peso notes. It the most amazing thing, who knew David Blaine worked at a gas station? They do the switch light lightening and then they give you a big smile and say "Oh senior, it's 200 pesos, you gave me 20 pesos and hand you the bill back." Many tourists simply chock it up to themselves being less than adept with the foreign currency and figure they did make the mistake and give them another 200 peso bill.

 

[DandyDon]

It's always best to have two tourists in the car. The rider can get out first to check the pump, ensuring that it's cleared, before the driver gets the car close enough to start the pump. When paying, one tourist can hand the money to the second tourist, announcing aloud what it clearly is, the second affirming, then passing the currency over to the attendant - who realizes that he is outnumbered on any games. I do check the oil & air sometimes, myself. And I keep the car locked while outside of it at the pump, as one should always do in the states too.

Keep in mind that there is only one company that owns gas stations so you won't see competition. All the same price, and a long ways to the next station, so if you need gas - stop at the next one. I drove into Chiquila late one evening hoping to find a boat to take us to Holbox as we'd missed the last ferry, so I skipped the town's station thinking I'd fill up when I came back from Holbox - but it was closed Sunday morning! I drove on hope and was so glad to see an open station on the road before too long. The Can-do maps have all the stations marked, but dang they have gone up on those!

It's common to see an attendant in bathrooms at some stations, and it's customary to tip them 10 Pesos or so. Some bathrooms require Mexican coins so keep a collection handy.

I illustrated above why I like Easyway/Cancun car rental, but failed to mention that they don't charge a drop charge if leaving the car in a different city. I don't know what other agencies charge for rental + full insurance, but you can compare if they will quote in advance.

 

[mmmbelows]

Like Don is saying They are like any criminal, they size up their targets, when you create a presence that shows you're on point they typically look for an easier target.

Basically what I do is pull up and get out of the car, tell the attendant what I want, stand there while he pumps, look at the pump to read the amount and hand him the amount required. When handing it to him for instance a 500 peso note, I make eye contact hold the bill up and show it to him, sometimes I snap it, but always say the amount out loud, hesitating for a split second, the attendant typically makes some sort of acknowledgement with a head nod or something during this tiny awkward moment, (he's probably thinking WTF gringo????) then I hand him the note and it's all good. It's one of those silent "I know, that you know, that I know that you know that I know what you're up to."

They generally give up trying to rip you off when you get out of the car, stand there and make eye contact and get acknowledgement. You give them the impression you know what's going on and they pass on you and will wait for an easier rube they can take advantage of. Never had a problem since doing it this way.

 

[BRT]

Thank you all for the excellent information! I didn't realize all the cons to renting a car in Mexico. However, it still seems like the best option for us.

Any recommendations on one vs another car rental company?
Amy

I firmly believe in choosing one that covers everything in the price. They still will have exceptions for theft of radio, spare tire etc. but you do know what you are going to pay going in.

---------- Post added July 8th, 2015 at 10:42 PM ----------

I forgot to mention that if they hand you back a 20 when you gave them 200 pesos and you react showing you were sure it was 200 they will instantly ask if you don't have the change to make up the difference between the 187 pesos you owe in gas and the 20 they just gave you back. These guys are good. The problem has been less in the last few years. I think they are getting cracked down on.

I have been told by people living in Mexico that the attendants get paid little or nothing and if they don't get tips they can't make it. Some claim that some of the attendants work only for tips and what they can steal. A few times I have simply told the attendant starting out that if they don't cheat me I'll give them a tip. They have given me a real funny look and played square.