Anyone have problems taking computers to Coz?

[ASA400]

Hi guys!

I'm traveling to Coz for the first time in about 20 years. Last time I went, all my photos were taken with film cameras, both above and below. Today, my camera is digital and I would like to take my Mac Air along to store and view photos as I go. But I'm a little concerned about taking the computer to Coz with me--will there be any problems with the Mexican security on the way home? How are theft problems in rooms when you are not there--we'll be staying at the Casa Del Mar hotel and diving with their dive shop. Would one of those little cable locks be of value or would someone just cut it with a pair of wire cutters? Any other concerns?

Any information would be helpful.

Thanks!

 

[mstevens]

No problems at all.

There will certainly be no problem with Mexican airport security - they don't require removing laptops for screening as TSA does.

I've never personally bothered to lock up my MacBook Air or previous computers when in Cozumel, but if you're concerned either use the room safe or, if there isn't one, have the front desk keep it in their safe. If you're super-paranoid, get a receipt or take a photo of you handing it to the desk clerk.

 

[Mossman]

Even though my laptop is heavy enough that it would make an excellent club, I've never had any problems bringing it on a plane anywhere. A Mac Air couldn't hurt a fly.

Plenty of hotel rooms have safes large enough for small laptops, but I've never bothered. I stick my phone in the safe just in case the maid wants to make calls to Nepal or Uttar Pradesh, but if she just wants to use my laptop to download porn, all the power to her. Of course I password protect it, so she'd have to be a decent hacker. After all, I don't want her looking at my porn

BTW, I travel with camera gear far more expensive than my laptop and I never bother putting any of that in the safe either. Most of the time I can't even get the maid to take the cash tip I've left her.

 

[divingjd]

As long as you only have one computer, you're fine. You're only allowed to bring in one. I used to take a work computer and a personal computer with me, not realizing that there was a restriction. Lucky I always got the green light at customs.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[robint]

We always travel with a laptop for viewing photos and video each night after dinner. Never a problem.
As far as safety of your stuff at CDM, not sure how their staff is but we stay at SCC and leave everything sitting out (other than cash) with no problems.

We stayed at Plaza las Glorias (now Coz Palace) over 10 years ago and they had serious problems at the time with staff stealing stuff out of those safes. The employees were running a scam with the safes, having the lock code not work suddenly. You would have to call the front desk to have someone come up to open it for you. When you did they were taking cash out of it. It happened to us, lock didn't work one day... security guy came up and opened it for us with a key. We stood right next to him watching and he acted very nervous. He didn't take anything, told us the "battery was dead" and he replaced it with a fresh one. Made me very, very nervous putting anything in it again, In fact we never use those things now knowing that the staff can open them with a key. But as I said, that was 10 years ago. I have not heard of room thefts at all since then with any hotels and here on SB would be the place you would hear about it.

robin

 

[Christi]

A large majority of people travel with a laptop wherever they go, it's no different here. Lock it in the room safe or leave it at the front desk if you're paranoid - relax and have fun.

 

[macado]

I always travel with a laptop in Cozumel. Wifi is ubiquitous at most bars/restaurants downtown. I can't speak for all hotels but I leave my laptop out in the open in my hotel room and have never had any problems.

 

[mstevens]

As long as you only have one computer, you're fine. You're only allowed to bring in one.

Eh, I've traveled with multiple laptops several times. I mule computers back and forth for local friends who need repairs, and I've now given all my old Windows laptops to local friends.

Customs in Cozumel don't really care about your personal electronics. They care about people circumventing import duties on merchandise they plan to sell or large amounts of personal stuff (though when we were stocking our house with multiple phones, routers, etc. all they did was ask if we had a house on the island then waved us through).

As long as you don't have multiple new-in-box computers, this is not something I'd worry about at all.

 

[Sue Sue]

Even though my laptop is heavy enough that it would make an excellent club, I've never had any problems bringing it on a plane anywhere. A Mac Air couldn't hurt a fly.

Plenty of hotel rooms have safes large enough for small laptops, but I've never bothered. I stick my phone in the safe just in case the maid wants to make calls to Nepal or Uttar Pradesh, but if she just wants to use my laptop to download porn, all the power to her. Of course I password protect it, so she'd have to be a decent hacker. After all, I don't want her looking at my porn

BTW, I travel with camera gear far more expensive than my laptop and I never bother putting any of that in the safe either. Most of the time I can't even get the maid to take the cash tip I've left her.

Did you see Mossman..."I clicked liked" ! ... Of course the porn part is slightly off...but, you know me... Hey, at least I have met you halfway on this one... Anyway, same here for DH and I.... laptops, phones, camera equipment is for the most part safe in the hotel room. Of course, unfortunately, Stuff happens everywhere and there is NO guarantee.

 

[Mossman]

Did you see Mossman..."I clicked liked" ! ... Of course the porn part is slightly off...but, you know me... Hey, at least I have met you halfway on this one... Anyway, same here for DH and I.... laptops, phones, camera equipment is for the most part safe in the hotel room. Of course, unfortunately, Stuff happens everywhere and there is NO guarantee.

Aw, shucks. I had to "like" you back.

BTW, the porn part was a joke. Occasionally I try to interject a little humor. I stopped traveling with porn ever since noticing the signs on arrival in Indonesia which state that smuggling in porn is punishable by death. Or maybe that was smuggling drugs. Well, I don't travel with those either