rent car from canun drop off at Playa del carmen

[cast]

I plan to rent a car from cancun airport and drive to PDC. I wonder if it is possible to drop off real close to ferry so I can unload my stuff to take the ferry to Cozumel. Has anyone done this before?

Thanks.

 

[cowboyneal]

The van would be cheaper. However, you can do this, although I don't know how close you can get (not that close, a few blocks walk).

 

[loudives]

your better off on the ADO/Riviera bus (greyhound tour type). It is right at the airport and drops off 1 block from the ferry. Thats as close as anyone can get due to the pedestrian walk. Buy your ticket right in the departure area where the rental car booths are it is $8 and leaves every hour at 15 till. If you have many bags a porter will have a hand truck for $2 per bag and take them to the bus. The bus is at the far east end of terminal 2, you will exit at far west end of 2. At the bus terminal in PDC there are other porters if you need them. the ferry is about as far a walk as the airport terminal was. 2 short blocks all down hill.

Rental cars will be min 40 a day 15 for ins. 25 one way drop off charge. Even a taxi at 60 is cheaper. If you don't want the bus the van shuttles are cheaper than a taxi but they make stops along the way.

 

[cowboyneal]

...last I knew, they don't usually do the drop off charge for CUN and PDC...although maybe things have changed lately...in either case, unless you have a reason to rent the car (staying on that side for a few days, etc.) it's a total loss leader to do it that way...

 

[parrotheaddiver]

If you decide to do the bus thing here is a good link http://home.pcisys.net/~ronlee/Scuba/Cozumel/Aug2001/CancunCozumel.htm

 

[akbpilot]

We always take the bus to Playa when enroute to Cozumel. Things were a bit different this time (feb 23) in that the bus ticket counter in the terminal was closed or had been moved. We got a porter in the terminal, he hauled our 5 bags for five dollars. Bought our tickets from the bus driver. Just load your bags on a cart when you pick them up, go thru customs, push your cart till someone stops you, the porters will be right there. Tell them "Autobus para Playa del Carmen" or "Autobus a Playa del Carmen". Exit terminal, turn right, walk to end of terminal, bus is right there. Ride to Playa, get off bus, drag bags thru bus terminal, turn right, hire "tricycle guy" for $4.00 to haul your gear to ferry terminal, or haul yourself (2 or 3 blocks). Pick up ferry tickets on the way to the terminal, there are no tickets at the terminal.

Total cost for 2: $5.00(porter) + $16.00(2 bus tickets) + $4.00(tricycle guy)= $25.00.

Not having to hassle with renting car, paying for car, having to negotiate the INSANE traffic in the core of Playa (easily twice as insane as last year), dropping gear off, dropping car off, getting taxi back to ferry area = PRICELESS

 

[scubawife]

If you're planning on just getting down to PDC and catching the ferry to Cozumel then the bus, collectivo or even a private pre-booked transfer would be a better (and less stress) idea then a car rental. But if you're spending a couple days on the mainland before Cozumel and want to rent a car, for convenience of location to the ferry, check out Thrifty. Their office and lot is across the street from the parking lot for the ferry. All you would need to do is get your stuff across the street. There are always tricyclos waiting at the parking lot/passenger drop off area if you don't want to haul your own bags down the hill to the dock.