Cancun, Mexico Master Thread

[ual902]

Stayed in Andaz Mayakoba and Hyatt PdC.  Both places are nice.  PdC better for kids.  Mayakoba better for adults...

would you say is it safe to take an Uber\taxi at night for dinner from Andaz Mayakoba to PDC and back?

[BarryLincoln]

would you say is it safe to take an Uber\taxi at night for dinner from Andaz Mayakoba to PDC and back?

We rented a car... so don't have direct experience with local Uber/taxis.  That said, I wouldn't hesitate to take an uber if I had to... (don't recall if uber operates extensively there though)

[Emgee]

Looks like Andaz Mayakoba is closer to Playa Del Carmen then Cancun?!!

Thanks never knew this property existed even.

Thats correct it’s closer to Playa. It’s gorgeous property, I visited it last year while I was staying next door at the Banyan Tree.

I rented a car last year, at no point did I feel unsafe. If you stay in the playa area your better off renting a car.

[Suave]

would you say is it safe to take an Uber\taxi at night for dinner from Andaz Mayakoba to PDC and back?

Uber is fine locally - used it plenty of times in Cancun. Had my life threatened at CUN airport due to uber... I probably posted the story in this thread somewhere.

[nbnuti]

Uber is fine locally - used it plenty of times in Cancun. Had my life threatened at CUN airport due to uber... I probably posted the story in this thread somewhere.

can you pls share or link?

[sky121]

Anyone here been to multiple places in Mexico?
Safe for 2 females to go to Cancun, rent a car and see the sites?

Also are there 'safer' cities to visit ?

[Dan]

Anyone here been to multiple places in Mexico?
Safe for 2 females to go to Cancun, rent a car and see the sites?

Also are there 'safer' cities to visit ?

No cities in Mexico are going to be very safe because everyone, including the police, are totally corrupt. Just read the USAToday investigations into the people in CUN passing out.
Personally, I'm not running back, though plenty of people love it.

[sky121]

No cities in Mexico are going to be very safe because everyone, including the police, are totally corrupt. Just read the USAToday investigations into the people in CUN passing out.
Personally, I'm not running back, though plenty of people love it.

Hmm.

Everytime I finally convince myself it's 'safe' enough to travel there I get pulled back to the other direction.

   I tend to err on the side of caution but every once in a while the direct flights, distance and weather have me persuaded to book it.


Just out of curiosity did you feel unsafe while being there ? (Not that feeling safe and being safe are the same thing )

[Dan]

I mean, 5 minutes after we landed we were shaken down by the police to pay a bribe or have to go to court.
We had random food taken away that shouldn't have been problematic, likely was looking for bribe.
My ATM card was skimmed.

I did feel a bit violated there. And reading the USAToday stories only backed that up.

Like I said, I'm not running back there. Not that I wouldn't return in the future, but I wouldn't send my wife and her friends there alone.

[Dan]

I wouldn't drink any alcohol in Mexico...
https://www.jsonline.com/topic/41b67c47-15c8-43ee-97f8-600306dc19bc/

[mgarfin]

I mean, 5 minutes after we landed we were shaken down by the police to pay a bribe or have to go to court.
We had random food taken away that shouldn't have been problematic, likely was looking for bribe.
My ATM card was skimmed.

I did feel a bit violated there. And reading the USAToday stories only backed that up.

Like I said, I'm not running back there. Not that I wouldn't return in the future, but I wouldn't send my wife and her friends there alone.

@Dan Does it (feel)  less safe than Rio/Sao Palo?

[Dan]

@Dan Does it (feel)  less safe than Rio/Sao Palo?

I felt like more people are out to get you in Mexico than Brazil.

[ludmila]

I wouldn't drink any alcohol in Mexico...
https://www.jsonline.com/topic/41b67c47-15c8-43ee-97f8-600306dc19bc/

Thanks, did not hear about this before, scary stuff, forwarded the link to family members leaving to Cancun today.

[Emgee]

I’ll do a little trip report from Cancun I’ll update as we go.

Dec 31
Flight - we took a morning 10:30 JetBlue from JFK. Cost 5,800 true blue o/w (which I have accumulated by doing my daily shopping on Amazon - wow that’s a good deal for New Year’s Eve😀) we were delayed by a half hour which was expected due to the New Years rush. Otherwise it was a smooth flight, we arrived around 3:30.

Customs - I can’t say enough that despite all the negative experiences people have had, ours couldn’t be any better.
We didn’t  really have anything not allowed, although we did have some meat sandwiches prepared for the first day. We went through immigration no biggie, they stamped the passport and let us go. Our baggage was already waiting for us when we got to the baggage claim. Then at customs they took our paper that was given out on the plane, they asked if we have any alcohol cigarettes or anything of that nature I said no. They asked my wife to push the button she got a green, I was about to push the button myself just to be told that wife’s covered for both of us ( trust me I look Jewish). On the way out of the airport you have some people hurdling you for taxis and other stuff, didn’t bother me much as most of them are friendly.

Car rental - we had a reservation at a rental called Mex, I knew I’m taking a risk due to the fact this is not a very known agency and I did read some negative reviews online about them but the price was too tempting at 35/day including liability insurance for New Years, where’s any other rental was more than double - it was to good to pass up. Unfortunately when we got there they told us that since we are more than two hours after the reservation time they will not honor the reservation because they don’t have any cars anymore. I had no choice I went next-door to hertz they hooked me up with a small size car at $100 for two days, all in all it wasn’t that bad the only strange thing was that he had included collision insurance in the rate and when I ask if we can remove he said the price would increase since I would get a rate as a more risky driver. I wasn’t going to argue with him I was more than happy to get out of there after spending over an hour and a half.

Hotel - we made reservations for the first two days at the Andaz Mayakoba. And the rest at Hyatt Ziva/Zilara. Even though we did want to stay in the Cancun area rather, nothing was available for New Years so we settled on the Andaz. The speed limit along the way is at most 100, and drops at times to 40. I went 120 most of the way along with the trafic flow and didn’t get stopped. There was one check point somewhere around halfway, they did stop a few cars in front of us but they let us go with just a greet.

We arrived at Mayakoba was already 6:00, security at the entrance asked us our name and where we had reservations and let us go in. A nice touch, when we arrived at the hotel they greeted us by our name without having to tell it to them. A nice gentleman showed us the way in, he had all of our paperwork already prepared we set down in the lobby went through it. He asked us if we do kosher and explained that they have a lot of kosher guests and they try to accommodate with the chef as much as possible. He even mentioned they bought candles for people staying for Shabbat (talk about going above and beyond). The room is very spacious and very fresh with a nice balcony overlooking the lagoon. The property is just breathtaking and beautiful. The Andaz DNA is integrated all over the place.

Shopping - Unfortunately Costco closed early due to New Year’s so we headed over to Walmart Playa del Carmen. They didn’t have a designated Kosher aisle but we did find plenty of kosher items throughout the store such as cans of tuna, cereals, yogurts, milk, mayo, pickles and veggies.
We than headed over to Mas Pan for some delicious baked goods and  baguettes. We then walk down to fifth ave just to find down the block a new kosher place called Yummy Kosher. It has the supervision of Rabbi Brod. They sell shwarma, steaks, hummus etc..

We headed back to the hotel, they were more than happy to take our shopped goods to our room, we headed over to the party they had going on for New Years, we had some drinks enjoyed the fireworks and called it a night.

I will update as we go, I don’t know how to post pictures. Perhaps if someone can help out I’ll be happy to post.

[Emgee]

I wouldn't drink any alcohol in Mexico...
https://www.jsonline.com/topic/41b67c47-15c8-43ee-97f8-600306dc19bc/

Dan, with all due respect. I think it’s a bit naive to say it like that. First of all, people come here drink a lot of alcohol and mix it with other stuf and than complain they passed out. Second, there’s no report on any of the popular, well known resorts where the people here tend to go to. In my opinion there is nothing to be worried when staying at resorts with good reputation of service and quality, and stay away from lesser known/unknown places.

[Dan]

Look at the numbers of fake alcohol that Mexico itself is reporting.
All it takes is a bad distributor or bartender.

And there's no police or doctor that will have your back.

Better to be safe than sorry.

[davidmal]

Buy a few bottles in duty free on your way in.
You’ll know it’s real and you’ll save a bundle.

Bring it down to the pool in water bottles.

And just keep asking for cups of ice.

[Dan]

Buy a few bottles in duty free on your way in.
You’ll know it’s real and you’ll save a bundle.

Bring it down to the pool in water bottles.

And just keep asking for cups of ice.

Lol, good plan, but I wouldn't drink their water/ice either unless they filter it

[shiframeir]

Look at the numbers of fake alcohol that Mexico itself is reporting.
Better to be safe than sorry.

best to just drink beer (regular modelos are great and cheap...)

[Suave]

And there's no police or doctor that will have your back.

But they'll have your kidney.