Wrangler rental - SAFE LUGGAGE? Theft?

MoxieMarlo · 06-05-2005

Ok the plan is that we will be in Playa del Carmen for 6 nights, and then rent a car to go to the haciendas in the Yucatan, then through Chiapas to Palenque and hopefully to San Cristobal. I am thinking it could be rainy there (early July) and it may be best to have the higher clearance of the Wrangler (plus I drive a Wranger at home here...). First, do you think this is the best choice? Second, I am wondering... if the Wrangler comes with soft top only (assumed) then is my luggage safe in there while I leave the Jeep to walk around ruins or site see any ceynote??

Do I need the Wrangler?
Is it safe to leave the luggage in it?

Mikey · 06-05-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by MoxieMarlo

Ok the plan is that we will be in Playa del Carmen for 6 nights, and then rent a car to go to the haciendas in the Yucatan, then through Chiapas to Palenque and hopefully to San Cristobal. I am thinking it could be rainy there (early July) and it may be best to have the higher clearance of the Wrangler (plus I drive a Wranger at home here...). First, do you think this is the best choice? Second, I am wondering... if the Wrangler comes with soft top only (assumed) then is my luggage safe in there while I leave the Jeep to walk around ruins or site see any ceynote??

Do I need the Wrangler?
Is it safe to leave the luggage in it?

It's not safe to leave anything you dont want to have stolen in the wrangler. We have always gotten the soft top do not know If they have the hard top. We always leave our windows at the hotel...

MoxieMarlo · 06-05-2005

Thanks. So do you think the Wrangler is NECESSARY for the drive to Chiapas?? Or are the roads such that another small car with a truNk might work fine?

**james** · 06-05-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by MoxieMarlo

Thanks. So do you think the Wrangler is NECESSARY for the drive to Chiapas?? Or are the roads such that another small car with a truNk might work fine?

you will find mostly smooth roads (some with potholes). no 4x4 necessary.

MoxieMarlo · 06-05-2005

Great - thanks a lot. If you have any recommendations of rental companies or advance reservations vs. walking in... would love to hear that too. Thanks a lot.

Mikey · 06-05-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by MoxieMarlo

Thanks. So do you think the Wrangler is NECESSARY for the drive to Chiapas?? Or are the roads such that another small car with a truNk might work fine?

Im just a big fan of a jeep anywhere in QR...Have seen people driving small rental cars all the way to Punta Allen so I would think that you could make it to Chiapas...It could just get really slow depending on the roads condition.

Mikey · 06-05-2005

We've always rened from Hertz...Both In Playa and Cancun...We have rented a jeep again for 12 days total was $402 for Sept...I think reserving online os the way to go.

Ginger · 06-05-2005

We drove through a bit of Campeche, Tabasco and Chiapas and to Palenque (but not San Cristobal) and found the roads to be fine with no serious potholes at all. We were in our GMC Safari Minivan.

I seriously doubt you'll find a Jeep with a hard top down there, and I wouldn't want to trust leaving my luggage in a soft top for long periods of time away from the vehicle. At Palenque you can pay guys 50 pesos for a "wash and watch" in the parking lot, where they'll wash your vehicle while you're touring the ruins and they say they'll "watch" it for you too. Don't know how 'tight' that security is, though. You pay them when you return.

For ease of mind, I'd do the car. The roads will be fine for that, I'd say. Below is a photo of the highway at Palenque.

Michael · 06-05-2005

Executive is another rental car company to look at.

Driving a jeep wrangler is like driving a big illuminated flashing sign that says, “I am a tourist from the USA!”

If you really must have a jeep for that journey, a jeep liberty would be a lot less conspicuous. Locals drive them, and they can be locked. My favorite rental vehicle for that journey would be a suburban (no 4x4, but a vehicle that enjoys pot holes).

I have also driven as far as Palenque, including some night driving. We did it in a VW bug. There where more many more pot holes in those days and they were a nuisance.

Mikey · 06-05-2005

[quote=michaelholmes]

Driving a jeep wrangler is like driving a big illuminated flashing sign that says, “I am a tourist from the USA!”

Well all I can say Is Im sure glad we had the jeep wrangler on the way to Punta Allen and the Tulum area. And we are tourists from the USA and dont pretend to be anything else...Of course this year we can add a USA flag on one side of the jeep and a Texas flag on the other...Maybe that would help.

Banzoomba · 06-05-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mikey

Well all I can say Is Im sure glad we had the jeep wrangler on the way to Punta Allen and the Tulum area. And we are tourists from the USA and dont pretend to be anything else...Of course this year we can add a USA flag on one side of the jeep and a Texas flag on the other...Maybe that would help.

You could always wear this t-shirt.

Mikey · 06-05-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by Banzoomba

You could always wear this t-shirt.

Yes along with Im an American Tourist please scam be on a bogus traffic infraction so I can pay you off to let me enjoy my vacation...Because I am in a jeep wrangler...We have never been hassled in anyway in Playa or the surrounding area's ever...I would be more worried about what i was wearing then what i was driving.

Ginger · 06-05-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mikey

Well all I can say Is Im sure glad we had the jeep wrangler on the way to Punta Allen and the Tulum area. And we are tourists from the USA and dont pretend to be anything else...Of course this year we can add a USA flag on one side of the jeep and a Texas flag on the other...Maybe that would help.

Mike, I think what Michael was saying was that if MoxieMarlo had concerns about the vehicle being broken into, then the Jeep Wrangler would probably not be the way to go given that it would be a target as being THE most rented tourist vehicle, sitting at the side of the road and thus more likely to be broken into. I think the idea was not trying to blend yourSELF in, but just the vehicle so that it wasn't broken into when parked.

Incidentally, we drove the Boca Paila road in late November (so just following rainy season) in our Safari without trouble. Although there WERE quite a few nasty large potholes full of water, we DID see some smaller cars navigating thre road as well!

MoxieMarlo · 06-05-2005

Banzoomba,
You'd do Bo and Luke proud...

Anyway, the rest of the information here has been very helpful and specific, and we appreciate it. We'll go for the economical and "fits in" cheap car with a trunk!!! I get enough Wrangler time here in Michigan.

Won't be like renting the BMW on the Autobahn.... but then again the food will probably we a lot better too!!!

Michael · 06-05-2005

Jeeps are a lot of fun, but I’m not sure driving through Chiapas looking like an obvious tourist is going to work well for everyone. Rural Chiapas is world away from Punta Allen, if you know what I mean.

I would certainly recommend a high clearance vehicle for a drive to Punta Allen. A Tsuru can usually make it, but the Jeep would be more fun.

We’ll be looking out for that Texas flag. And while I am proud of any association with Texas that has been bestowed upon me on past occasions; I hope you will pardon us for not putting a Texas flag on the Tahoe, we would hide the California plates if that was legal in Mexico.

06-05-2005	#1 (permalink)
MoxieMarlo way into it Join Date: May 2005 Location: Denver CO Posts: 143	Wrangler rental - SAFE LUGGAGE? Theft? Ok the plan is that we will be in Playa del Carmen for 6 nights, and then rent a car to go to the haciendas in the Yucatan, then through Chiapas to Palenque and hopefully to San Cristobal. I am thinking it could be rainy there (early July) and it may be best to have the higher clearance of the Wrangler (plus I drive a Wranger at home here...). First, do you think this is the best choice? Second, I am wondering... if the Wrangler comes with soft top only (assumed) then is my luggage safe in there while I leave the Jeep to walk around ruins or site see any ceynote?? Do I need the Wrangler? Is it safe to leave the luggage in it?

06-05-2005	#8 (permalink)
Ginger añejo Join Date: Apr 2001 Posts: 11,230	We drove through a bit of Campeche, Tabasco and Chiapas and to Palenque (but not San Cristobal) and found the roads to be fine with no serious potholes at all. We were in our GMC Safari Minivan. I seriously doubt you'll find a Jeep with a hard top down there, and I wouldn't want to trust leaving my luggage in a soft top for long periods of time away from the vehicle. At Palenque you can pay guys 50 pesos for a "wash and watch" in the parking lot, where they'll wash your vehicle while you're touring the ruins and they say they'll "watch" it for you too. Don't know how 'tight' that security is, though. You pay them when you return. For ease of mind, I'd do the car. The roads will be fine for that, I'd say. Below is a photo of the highway at Palenque. Last edited by Ginger; 06-05-2005 at 01:23 PM..

06-05-2005	#10 (permalink)
Mikey he likes it! Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 27,429	[quote=michaelholmes] Driving a jeep wrangler is like driving a big illuminated flashing sign that says, “I am a tourist from the USA!” Well all I can say Is Im sure glad we had the jeep wrangler on the way to Punta Allen and the Tulum area. And we are tourists from the USA and dont pretend to be anything else...Of course this year we can add a USA flag on one side of the jeep and a Texas flag on the other...Maybe that would help. Last edited by Mikey; 06-05-2005 at 02:07 PM..

06-05-2005	#3 (permalink)
MoxieMarlo way into it Join Date: May 2005 Location: Denver CO Posts: 143	Thanks. So do you think the Wrangler is NECESSARY for the drive to Chiapas?? Or are the roads such that another small car with a truNk might work fine?

06-05-2005	#5 (permalink)
MoxieMarlo way into it Join Date: May 2005 Location: Denver CO Posts: 143	Great - thanks a lot. If you have any recommendations of rental companies or advance reservations vs. walking in... would love to hear that too. Thanks a lot.

06-05-2005	#7 (permalink)
Mikey he likes it! Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 27,429	We've always rened from Hertz...Both In Playa and Cancun...We have rented a jeep again for 12 days total was $402 for Sept...I think reserving online os the way to go.

06-05-2005	#9 (permalink)
Michael añejo Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Silicon Valley, California Posts: 5,312	Executive is another rental car company to look at. Driving a jeep wrangler is like driving a big illuminated flashing sign that says, “I am a tourist from the USA!” If you really must have a jeep for that journey, a jeep liberty would be a lot less conspicuous. Locals drive them, and they can be locked. My favorite rental vehicle for that journey would be a suburban (no 4x4, but a vehicle that enjoys pot holes). I have also driven as far as Palenque, including some night driving. We did it in a VW bug. There where more many more pot holes in those days and they were a nuisance.

06-05-2005	#14 (permalink)
MoxieMarlo way into it Join Date: May 2005 Location: Denver CO Posts: 143	Banzoomba, You'd do Bo and Luke proud... Anyway, the rest of the information here has been very helpful and specific, and we appreciate it. We'll go for the economical and "fits in" cheap car with a trunk!!! I get enough Wrangler time here in Michigan. Won't be like renting the BMW on the Autobahn.... but then again the food will probably we a lot better too!!!

06-05-2005	#15 (permalink)
Michael añejo Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Silicon Valley, California Posts: 5,312	Jeeps are a lot of fun, but I’m not sure driving through Chiapas looking like an obvious tourist is going to work well for everyone. Rural Chiapas is world away from Punta Allen, if you know what I mean. I would certainly recommend a high clearance vehicle for a drive to Punta Allen. A Tsuru can usually make it, but the Jeep would be more fun. We’ll be looking out for that Texas flag. And while I am proud of any association with Texas that has been bestowed upon me on past occasions; I hope you will pardon us for not putting a Texas flag on the Tahoe, we would hide the California plates if that was legal in Mexico.

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