WetInPortland
Contributor
OK, another $.02 USD ...
ADO buses for the Cancun airport to Playa leg are roughly equivalent to US Greyhounds. At every terminal at the airport they have a ticket stand either just inside the exit door or just outside, and they accept both dollars and pesos (I don't know how good their exchange rate is). After buying your ticket they will direct you to a bus platform. Heavy baggage goes underneath the passenger compartment. Tipping the baggage handlers, even five or ten pesos, is appreciated. There's a small shelf over the seats, and a small amount of room under the seat for anything you carry on.
Bus seats recline and have footrests . There is a restroom on board and it's been clean when I've used it. There are window shades, individual lights and A/C vents, although the lights and vents are sometimes broken. There's usually a movie (in Spanish, of course). Seats are usually assigned and printed on your ticket, but the buses are rarely full (so you can move once you're on the open road if your light or vent are broken). The buses run at least every hour, but they stop at all four airport terminals, so don't be surprised. There's not been WiFi on the buses I've taken, but there is good cellphone coverage along the entire route if you have data roaming at a reasonable rate. Figure an hour to 90 minutes, on average, for the bus leg.
It's possible to purchase a combination ticket for the bus and ferry from ADO at the airport, but there's no real benefit to doing so. ADO just gives you a prepaid voucher that you still have to exchange with Ultramar for the ferry ticket, and the savings are minimal, if anything. When my wife and I did this in January 2018, it was about $37 USD for bus and ferry, one-way, for two people.
The bag drag from the bus terminal to the ferry is only three blocks, but it is through the absolute heart of the Playa del Carmen downtown tourist area. There is no vehicular traffic to deal with, but there are some manageable issues. Dragging luggage, you're a slow, easy target for all the touts, which is bad enough, but your hands are probably going to be tied up dealing with the luggage as well, making you a great target for pickpockets. When it's high season and there are lots of people around, you're likely to be jostled a bit anyway, which also helps the pickpockets. And finally, the bag drop/pickup for the ferry is a bit of a jumble of people, so another pickpocket opportunity. These can all be pretty easily managed, but it's something to be aware of and plan for in advance. I use a pickpocket resistant fanny pack, which has saved me on at least one occasion. Aside from that, I've never had any worries about my personal safety.
There is a Starbucks at the ferry pier, a couple other places to get snacks, and numerous places on the walk from the bus terminal if you're hungry. Ferries leave at least hourly, and the crossing is about 35 minutes. Once you disembark the ferry, you can continue the bag drag to your hotel, if it's close enough. The only option for the resorts are taxis, which will be lined up in front of the pier. As of this writing, Uber/Lyft are not available in Quintana Roo (the Mexican state that includes Cozumel).
Taxi fares are fixed (no meter) and preset by the Taxi Syndicate (yes, that's really what it's called), as is the exchange rate for dollars. However, it's a complicated system, so between the two it's easy for the drivers to pretty much invent whatever fare they want. Some are scrupulously honest. Some are not. It's hard to know. There's a good chance you'll get a better rate in pesos than in dollars. Post a note here with your destination and someone will certainly chime in with what the fare should be, but you're kinda stuck taking the taxi at the head of the queue unless you want to make a stink or walk a few blocks to get away from the pier, and hail a cab on the street.
The reverse trip is pretty much the same, but again, ADO buses stop at all four airport terminals. Make certain you get off at the right one! Most USA arrivals/departures are at Terminal 3 or Terminal 4.
All in all, it's not a big deal. I'm sure I've walked further from the plane to immigration at Cancun Terminal 3 than the walk from ADO to the pier in Playa. It will probably save money over flying into Cozumel, and the flights to Cancun may be more convenient. And when comparing, don't forget to factor in transportation from the Cozumel airport, if required. My wife and I did the bag drag having only every been to Cozumel on a cruise ship, and had no problems.
ADO buses for the Cancun airport to Playa leg are roughly equivalent to US Greyhounds. At every terminal at the airport they have a ticket stand either just inside the exit door or just outside, and they accept both dollars and pesos (I don't know how good their exchange rate is). After buying your ticket they will direct you to a bus platform. Heavy baggage goes underneath the passenger compartment. Tipping the baggage handlers, even five or ten pesos, is appreciated. There's a small shelf over the seats, and a small amount of room under the seat for anything you carry on.
Bus seats recline and have footrests . There is a restroom on board and it's been clean when I've used it. There are window shades, individual lights and A/C vents, although the lights and vents are sometimes broken. There's usually a movie (in Spanish, of course). Seats are usually assigned and printed on your ticket, but the buses are rarely full (so you can move once you're on the open road if your light or vent are broken). The buses run at least every hour, but they stop at all four airport terminals, so don't be surprised. There's not been WiFi on the buses I've taken, but there is good cellphone coverage along the entire route if you have data roaming at a reasonable rate. Figure an hour to 90 minutes, on average, for the bus leg.
It's possible to purchase a combination ticket for the bus and ferry from ADO at the airport, but there's no real benefit to doing so. ADO just gives you a prepaid voucher that you still have to exchange with Ultramar for the ferry ticket, and the savings are minimal, if anything. When my wife and I did this in January 2018, it was about $37 USD for bus and ferry, one-way, for two people.
The bag drag from the bus terminal to the ferry is only three blocks, but it is through the absolute heart of the Playa del Carmen downtown tourist area. There is no vehicular traffic to deal with, but there are some manageable issues. Dragging luggage, you're a slow, easy target for all the touts, which is bad enough, but your hands are probably going to be tied up dealing with the luggage as well, making you a great target for pickpockets. When it's high season and there are lots of people around, you're likely to be jostled a bit anyway, which also helps the pickpockets. And finally, the bag drop/pickup for the ferry is a bit of a jumble of people, so another pickpocket opportunity. These can all be pretty easily managed, but it's something to be aware of and plan for in advance. I use a pickpocket resistant fanny pack, which has saved me on at least one occasion. Aside from that, I've never had any worries about my personal safety.
There is a Starbucks at the ferry pier, a couple other places to get snacks, and numerous places on the walk from the bus terminal if you're hungry. Ferries leave at least hourly, and the crossing is about 35 minutes. Once you disembark the ferry, you can continue the bag drag to your hotel, if it's close enough. The only option for the resorts are taxis, which will be lined up in front of the pier. As of this writing, Uber/Lyft are not available in Quintana Roo (the Mexican state that includes Cozumel).
Taxi fares are fixed (no meter) and preset by the Taxi Syndicate (yes, that's really what it's called), as is the exchange rate for dollars. However, it's a complicated system, so between the two it's easy for the drivers to pretty much invent whatever fare they want. Some are scrupulously honest. Some are not. It's hard to know. There's a good chance you'll get a better rate in pesos than in dollars. Post a note here with your destination and someone will certainly chime in with what the fare should be, but you're kinda stuck taking the taxi at the head of the queue unless you want to make a stink or walk a few blocks to get away from the pier, and hail a cab on the street.
The reverse trip is pretty much the same, but again, ADO buses stop at all four airport terminals. Make certain you get off at the right one! Most USA arrivals/departures are at Terminal 3 or Terminal 4.
All in all, it's not a big deal. I'm sure I've walked further from the plane to immigration at Cancun Terminal 3 than the walk from ADO to the pier in Playa. It will probably save money over flying into Cozumel, and the flights to Cancun may be more convenient. And when comparing, don't forget to factor in transportation from the Cozumel airport, if required. My wife and I did the bag drag having only every been to Cozumel on a cruise ship, and had no problems.
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