Taxi pimps? Wtf?

[Justin Bove]

That's hyperbole, IMO. There are lots of places in the world where hawkers are more aggressive than they are in Cozumel.

True, Jamaica, Nassau Bahamas, Puerto Rico, San Fransisco, Buford Wyoming, etc.

 

[wgw04024]

Been once to Coz, never had any problems. Just keep walking...

 

[DandyDon]

Been once to Coz, never had any problems. Just keep walking...

That's generally true, but I've never seen anything like this on the island in all of my years of visits...

Many very pushy time share people, others pushing island tours others beach trips and many did not accept no gracias! They kept after us finally we had enough and ask a cab how much to take us back to the Blue Angel a local dressed in whites jumped in and told us we had to go thru him to get a taxi ( 95 pesos which was absurd) . He continued to chase us and tell us we had to use him.

So, how does one flag down a tourist cop, one of those whose job it is to keep peace between locals and us cash cows?

 

[ggunn]

We usually walk north into town. This trip most cruise ships stopped south of town, only two stopped north. We decided to walk south just to see the area. Many very pushy time share people, others pushing island tours others beach trips and many did not accept no gracias! They kept after us finally we had enough and ask a cab how much to take us back to the Blue Angel a local dressed in whites jumped in and told us we had to go thru him to get a taxi ( 95 pesos which was absurd) . He continued to chase us and tell us we had to use him. We walked away, caught a cab 300 yards down for 60 pesos. So what is the taxi pump scam by the cruise pier? Bill

I'd Have to check the card, but 95 pesos to BA from the ferry pier might be about right. 300 yards south you may have crossed into another zone. There also may be a surcharge from the ferry pier. You walked 300 yards and saved, what, two dollars? Is that a big deal?

 

[Brules]

At least they weren't the real pimps trying to sell you ladies..........they are down there as well. My son and his buddies got propositioned over there last week lol.

 

[MMM]

Mountain...meet mole-hill. If this is the worst thing you encounter in Cozumel, consider it a holiday well-spent.

 

[okvij]

The repellent for such horseflies is talking to them in a language they don't understand. I've done it a few times - they simply go blank.

 

[DandyDon]

The repellent for such horseflies is talking to them in a language they don't understand. I've done it a few times - they simply go blank.

I was walking by a stand in St.Maarten once, and tried saying "Non merci" even tho I don't speak French at all, just picked that up somewhere. Her pitch switched to French without missing a beat. I had to admit that she had me, but I still got away without a problem.

The only times I ever got harassed were in the Cancun market district. One was a store keeper who just wouldn't leave me alone until I left the area, then some taxi driver who was hell bent to taking me for a tour. Maybe I was wearing a stupid sign that day. The driver even followed me along a one-way street harassing me until I turned around and walked against the flow of cars.

 

[WetInPortland]

The repellent for such horseflies is talking to them in a language they don't understand. I've done it a few times - they simply go blank.

You mean like, "Ich bin ein Berliner"? I might have to try that one!

 

[ggunn]

Seriously, those guys (street hawkers) do not bother me at all, and if their tactics never yielded any returns, they wouldn't do it. I have heard these stories about "aggressive" hawkers who "won't take no for an answer" but in all my trips to Cozumel over the last 40 years, I have never encountered one. It makes me wonder why anyone would do that if it was made clear to them that it would be a waste of their time. I never display irritation to them; maybe there is something in that sort of response that shows them a glimmer of hope of a monetary return, I dunno.

Cozumel is a vacation destination frequented by tourists with money to spend; any time you have that dynamic you will have merchants and entrepreneurs trying to get some of it. It comes with the territory; no one should be surprised by it. You're not in Kansas anymore, Toto.