For millions of Americans, Cancun is synonymous with luxury hotels, glistening-white sands hugged by teal-colored seas, and stress-free vacations, in general… or at least you’d expect it to be this way. That is, until you touch down in the gong show that is Cancun International Airport.
From border control to luggage collection to passing the infamous ‘shark tank’, all the way through to the hotel transfer, there are a bunch of hoops to go through, and whether you’re a newcomer or a frequent visitor, making it to the end of the journey can be overwhelming.
And listen, you really don’t have to feel drained right before your vacation even begins, and thanks to our friends over at the Cancun Sun, the leading English-language news source for all things Mexican Caribbean, we now have the perfect recipe for navigating the airport like a pro.
Here are 5 Cancun Airport survival tips to avoid all the most common pitfalls affecting Americans landing in CUN, and start your trip off on the right foot:
Making It Through The Shark Tank
We’ve touched on this ourselves a number of times before, but something most first-time visitors to Cancun are completely unaware of is the existence of the so-called ‘Shark Tank’.
@traveloffpath Don’t fall for this airport scam! . #travel #mexico #mexico🇲🇽 #traveloffpath #fyp #foryoupage #cancun #airport #scam Primal Fear – Drama Effect – Dave James
As soon as you pass immigration and customs, there’s this long corridor lined with friendly-looking, smiling people in uniform-like attire stood by kiosks and counters. They may look like official tourist information and transportation providers, yet they are anything but.
As the Cancun Sun advises, avoid engaging with them, even if they seem friendly or try to block your path. Just keep walking, as they’re essentially salespeople who can be very persistent and may try to get you to spend money before you even reach your hotel.
Getting To Your Hotel
One of the biggest mistakes ‘newbies’ make when landing in CUN is grabbing a taxi or shuttle on the spot. That can be as cripplingly-expensive as falling for the Shark Tank scammers—we’re talking in the hundreds of dollars—particularly if they’re unauthorized drivers operating on highly-inflated fares.
Do not wait to sort out your ride to the hotel once you arrive. Pre-book your transfer at home.
The Cancun Sun notes this is the ‘only wya’ to ensure a safe, ‘fairly-priced’, and hassle-free journey from airport to city, as you’ll be able to check for online reviews attesting to the reliability of the service, and agree on a fixed rate beforehand.
Landing at Cancun International Airport, your only job will be to find your driver outside the terminal, past the annoying salespeople, we must reiterate, holding a sign with your name.
The Issue With Checking Luggage
We know not bringing checked luggage can be unimaginable to some, especially if you’re going on a week-long vacation abroad and you’ll need day and night outfits, a wide selection of shoes, and let’s not forget the liquids.
It’s a beach destination, after all, and you’ll want to bring your favorite sunscreen and beach products from back home.
The only problem is, once you land in Cancun, you could be waiting at the airport for nearly an hour untiul the carousel at baggage claim starts moving. That’s precious time in the sun you won’t get back, but it turns out you don’t need a huge bag to fit all of your must-have items in.
Here at Travel Off Path we’ve traveled to over 50 countries with carry-on only, and in this accompanying article, we teach you exactly how to do it.
Getting Connected Upon Arrival
If you’ve never traveled abroad, you’re probably concerned regarding mobile data at your destination.
In-resort Wi-Fi across Cancun may be reliable, but Cancun International Airport is notoriously lackluster as far as internet connectivity goes, and more likely than not, you will need your own data package to get back online immediately upon arrival.
Trust us, the last thing you want to happen is to not be able to contact your shuttle provider to confirm your pickup spot, especially amid all the Shark Tank hundrum.
Before you fly, make sure you purchase a data package in advance. Many U.S. carriers like AT&T and Verizon have ‘automatic’ day passes to the tune of $10 a day, but if you’re keen on keeping costs down (that 5-star resort cost you enough already), pre-download an eSIM.
Two of the best in the market are Airalo and Holafly, and they offer week-long data packages for a fraction of the AT&T price.
You Don’t Need Pesos At The Airport!
We know it can be tempting to exchange your dollars for pesos the minute you see a currency exchange kiosk inside the terminal building. You don’t want to leave the airport without having some cash, just in case, as it’s Mexico and you never know.
According to the Cancun Sun, that’s the equivalent to flushing money down the train, as the exchange rates at the airport are ‘the worst’ in the entire Mexican Caribbean.
Trust us, you won’t need those pesos during your ride from CUN to the Hotel Zone, and if you’re thinking about tipping the driver, they’ll be more than glad to take U.S. dollars and change it later themselves at a better rate in town.
Once you’re in the Hotel Zone, you can withdraw pesos from any official ATM, or in the vicinity of major grocery stores like Chedraui Selecto, or visit a currency exchange with normal rates.
Vinicius Costa
Vini, our senior lead writer at Travel Off Path, has over 60+ countries under his belt (and currently weaving tales from Paris!), and a knack for turning off-the-beaten-path experiences into informative stories that will have you packing your bags.
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