Ferry or Fly from Cancun

[scuba_willy]

I was recently in Coz and I am looking in to going back in a few months. But I am not sure how best to get there. Its a little easier (connection and pricewise) to fly to Cancun and then take local travel to Coz.

I thought I was being clever on the last trip and booked the mayair flight from Cancun to Cozumel online through aeromexico. It was an interesting experience. The flight from Cancun to Cozumel was all set up fine and I thought no more about the return, although i am always worried when I cannot check in online. Anyway, we arrive at cozumel airport for our return flight and are told we dont have a booking ! I show them the aeromexico confirmation. Mayair say aeromexico did not send through the booking !! Now I have to pay for the flight and claim back from Aeromexico !! MAyair tell me they called aeromexico and I will get my money. Ok - I agree to pay. Then I am told the plane only has one seat open (there were two of us). Gulp. Had to sweat it out that one person would not check in. My luck was good and we took the last two seats. I then had about an hour at cancun airport, finding aeromexico office and then persuading them that they owed me money. It took a little time, but I have to say Aeromexico were good and reimbursed me in cash. I do a fair bit of travel, so I am kind of used to these types of events, but I still feel very lucky that I could get the last 2 seats on the plane. If anyone is taking the mayair flight via aeromexico, I would highly recommend checking that the return flight is in their system !

Anyway, that brings me to my dilemma. On my next trip, do I take the flight or the shuttle to Playa and the ferry ? Seems like a number of people do the latter route. Does the shuttle have to be pre-booked ? Perhaps more importantly, how easy it is to get a shuttle from Playa to Cancun airport on the return ? Comments and help would be appreciated.

 

[Indian Valley Scuba]

Man oh man, just fly into Cozumel International and avoid all that hassle - long rides, standing in line at the ferry, spending a day getting to your destination after you have already flown there.

If you want to take the ferry to Playa for a day, it is only $19 each way.

If not, you are surrounded by great diving!

And if your dates are flexible, consider joining us in April - we have a great trip going, lots of serious diving (2-tank trips morning and afternoon) and a day in the cenotes, so you get your ferry ride in! Here's some info for you on the trip!

 

[deborahdelamar]

Flying into CZM from the States isn't always the best option -- there aren't as many flights to Coz as there used to be so connections may not work and fares are sometimes very high. Many people fly to CUN and transit to Coz.

I prefer the bus/ferry connection because it's pretty darn dependable, very comfortable if seas are calm, and it's the least expensive option. Weigh this opinion in light of the fact that I live in Cozumel most of the time rather than vacation here -- the several hours of island time lost to transit don't bother me...

 

[deepstops]

Man oh man, just fly into Cozumel International and avoid all that hassle - long rides, standing in line at the ferry, spending a day getting to your destination after you have already flown there.

If you want to take the ferry to Playa for a day, it is only $19 each way.

Avoiding "all that hassle" by flying to CZM adds an extra $250 to the ticket out of Miami

 

[ggunn]

Anyway, that brings me to my dilemma. On my next trip, do I take the flight or the shuttle to Playa and the ferry ? Seems like a number of people do the latter route. Does the shuttle have to be pre-booked ? Perhaps more importantly, how easy it is to get a shuttle from Playa to Cancun airport on the return ? Comments and help would be appreciated.

As others have said, fly direct to CZM if you can; it's a lot less trouble, and figure that trouble into the difference in price if there is one. But as you have found, there are many more options to be found in overland and ferry transport to CZM from CUN than there are air flights, and they run all the time, so you don't have to try to coordinate your flight into CUN with the very limited number of seats and flight times from there to CZM. No, you don't have to pre-book a shuttle from Cancun to Playa; buses, cabs, and vans make that run constantly. They run both ways, too, so a return connection is pretty easy.

 

[mstevens]

If you want to take the ferry to Playa for a day, it is only $19 each way.

Have they raised the prices that much? It used to be MX$150, didn't it? That'd be under USD$12.

I'd do the bus/ferry thing since if you're trying to save money, flying from CUN to CZM isn't going to help. Personally, I'd have to save a LOT to make it worth making the trek from Cancun, though.

 

[greylion]

If it was me I'd just fly into Cozumel. Coming from Nevada your connection would probably be at DFW or Houston and that's better than screwing around with ferries and the bag drag. JMO

 

[betsyinczm]

Mstevens-------I noticed that ferry rate quote as well.........maybe that's what they are charging the people in their dive group??......hahha.........(kidding!)

yeah......it's 140 pesos each way.

 

[jjwdiver]

CUN vs CZM : When the wife and I are bvooking flights...the deciding factor is $100. Meaning, if the flight direct into Cozumel is more than $100 each over the flight to Cancun, then we do the bus and ferry. Last time I flew into Cancun I had longer lines in Minneapolis then in Mexico. With that said, this will be our 2nd year in a row direct into Coz. I can tell you I dont miss lugging the bags from the bus station to the ferry!

 

[DandyDon]

Have they raised the prices that much? It used to be MX$150, didn't it? That'd be under USD$12.

I'd do the bus/ferry thing since if you're trying to save money, flying from CUN to CZM isn't going to help. Personally, I'd have to save a LOT to make it worth making the trek from Cancun, though.

US prices will vary with conversion rates, but it's close to $12.

I have heard that the new air shuttle service is better than the old one, but I wouldn't do it. Too many things can go wrong with the plan while there are fewer problems with the ferries. And I pack too heavy too; they would not accept my two 60+# bags I don't think.

Did anyone answer his question on arranging the shuttle? I just take the bus. A little slower but so much cheaper.