how necessary is a car?

taco · 07-07-2005

we are going to be staying in tulum in a couple of weeks, we've rented a car but now im thinking that it may be more money than its worth. those of you who rent cars...are you so happy you have them or do they just end up sitting in a parking lot? if you didnt have a car ...do you wish you had rented? thanks!!

redhed · 07-07-2005

We have never felt the need for a car. The local transit is so good up and down the corridor and the price is so cheap. We've travelled north, south, over to Merida etc and truly enjoyed it. It depends on where you want to go. If you intend to spend a lot of time off the beaten track, you would probably need a car.

taco · 07-07-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by redhed

We have never felt the need for a car. The local transit is so good up and down the corridor and the price is so cheap. We've travelled north, south, over to Merida etc and truly enjoyed it. It depends on where you want to go. If you intend to spend a lot of time off the beaten track, you would probably need a car.

how did you get to merida? how long did it take? how much? did you spend the day there or did you sleep over? sorry so many questions. we thought we may want to go there but thought it was too far.....thanks

07-07-2005

We only rent when touring inland. Up and down the strip, we bus.

redhed · 07-07-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by taco

how did you get to merida? how long did it take? how much? did you spend the day there or did you sleep over? sorry so many questions. we thought we may want to go there but thought it was too far.....thanks

1st class bus from PDC to Merida is from the Ado Terminal on Ave 20 at Calle 12. Return fare is appr. 380 pesos and is reserved in advance. The ride is 5 hours. The buses are terrific..air conditioned, washroom equipped, movies shown usually in English with Spanish subtitles. We have gone over and back in the same day, leaving PDC early in the morning and returning overnite...however, we know Merida well and quickly did all the things we wanted to do. There are many small inexpensive hotels in the tourist area of Merida and, with so much to see and do there, you would probably want to spend a couple of days. I wouldn't hesitate to go over with no hotel reservations and just wander into one. In fact, I'm planning on that for a week this winter after my stay in Playa.

Rissask · 07-07-2005

We have been to PDC for 2 two-week trips and never felt the need to rent a car.

It is so cheap and easy to catch buses or colectivos to go anywhere up and down the coast- and we took a $35 tour to Chichen Itza and went on a tour to Coba, no problems. And we moved around a LOT.

Bren · 07-07-2005

Could you please tell me were Merida is I think My husband and I would like to go there next year as we are here for a month......

Quote:

Originally Posted by redhed

1st class bus from PDC to Merida is from the Ado Terminal on Ave 20 at Calle 12. Return fare is appr. 380 pesos and is reserved in advance. The ride is 5 hours. The buses are terrific..air conditioned, washroom equipped, movies shown usually in English with Spanish subtitles. We have gone over and back in the same day, leaving PDC early in the morning and returning overnite...however, we know Merida well and quickly did all the things we wanted to do. There are many small inexpensive hotels in the tourist area of Merida and, with so much to see and do there, you would probably want to spend a couple of days. I wouldn't hesitate to go over with no hotel reservations and just wander into one. In fact, I'm planning on that for a week this winter after my stay in Playa.

jimmya22 · 07-07-2005

Collectivo vans are great, and very inexpensive! Just ask your hotel where to get them, and how to recognize which ones go where.

Karon · 07-07-2005

As you said you are staying in Tulum, I would go with the rental car. The town of Tulum and the Tulum beach hotels are not close. I don't know about collectivos between the beach and the town, but if you wanted to go somewhere other than the beach restaraunts, it would probably be more convenient to drive. Now on the other hand if you are staying in PDC, there is no need for a car. It's nice to have one, but not required.

Mikey · 07-07-2005

We always have had a rental car...Nothing worse taking up your day waiting for collectivos, taxis, or busses...You get in your car and go...Plus with a car/jeep you can go on your time schedule not that of the public transportation...Even though the PT in Playa is really great you just need to know the schedule's...Pick up and drop offs...

**Jesus** · 07-07-2005

It depends on how may days are you staying. If it's a long one, why not rent for a couple days and you can then decide what fits you better.
If you want to explore all the beaches, cenotes and ruins then it makes sense to rent a car.
If you only plan on spending your time in the same spot sunbathing or snorqueling, you can pass the car unless you don't want to spend some time waiting for transportation at the end of that.

MikeW · 07-07-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jesus

It depends on how may days are you staying. If it's a long one, why not rent for a couple days and you can then decide what fits you better.
If you want to explore all the beaches, cenotes and ruins then it makes sense to rent a car.
If you only plan on spending your time in the same spot sunbathing or snorqueling, you can pass the car unless you don't want to spend some time waiting for transportation at the end of that.

Exactly.

We stayed for 4 days, and just lazed around on the beach. No need for a car, and walked to different restaurants to eat. Had we wanted to do more exploring a car/Jeep would have made things easier.

JIP · 07-07-2005

I rented a car and visited Tulum, Coba, Chichen Itza, and Ek Balam the best part about the car was that when we visited all the sites we arrived at opening time or 9:00 AM when we arrived at all the places except Ek Balam (I dont think many buses go to Ek Balam at all a shame because it is a beautiful place) we saw only 1-2 buses and it seemed like we had the places to ourselves when we left we saw probably 15-20 (no exageration) mabye more buses in the lot and the best part is, if you stay near Chichen Itza you can go back with your same ticket and see the light show. The few days without a car at the beginning of my trip I felt trapped at my resort I took cabs and I know about buses but a car gives you so much more freedom.

**Jesus** · 07-07-2005

That is a very important point. If you plan on visiting the ruins, having a car gives you that big advantage of avoiding the crowds!!!

Murrsay185 · 07-07-2005

If you have lots of Holiday cash and don't want to be bothered with figuring out how to get around on the public trans. then a car is great.
We walk or use the great public transportation and find it to work well for us.
Depending on were you will be staying in Tulum a car might be a good thing.
Try the car for a few days and if you find it just sits there turn it in. You might want to do a search on Pemex (sp?) and the tricks at the gas station. Also there has been considerable discussion on gringos and rental cars.
As Jesus mentions there are some places you can only get to by car/Jeep. I quess you need to decide what you really want to do and then decide on the car or not.

07-07-2005	#1 (permalink)
taco very sparkly Join Date: May 2005 Location: DC Posts: 29	how necessary is a car? we are going to be staying in tulum in a couple of weeks, we've rented a car but now im thinking that it may be more money than its worth. those of you who rent cars...are you so happy you have them or do they just end up sitting in a parking lot? if you didnt have a car ...do you wish you had rented? thanks!!

07-07-2005	#10 (permalink)
Mikey he likes it! Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 15,661	We always have had a rental car...Nothing worse taking up your day waiting for collectivos, taxis, or busses...You get in your car and go...Plus with a car/jeep you can go on your time schedule not that of the public transportation...Even though the PT in Playa is really great you just need to know the schedule's...Pick up and drop offs... Last edited by Mikey : 07-07-2005 at 02:49 PM.

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07-07-2005	#2 (permalink)
redhed beachaholic Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Northern Ontario Posts: 393	We have never felt the need for a car. The local transit is so good up and down the corridor and the price is so cheap. We've travelled north, south, over to Merida etc and truly enjoyed it. It depends on where you want to go. If you intend to spend a lot of time off the beaten track, you would probably need a car.

07-07-2005	#4 (permalink)
MikenJulie Posts: n/a	We only rent when touring inland. Up and down the strip, we bus.

07-07-2005	#6 (permalink)
Rissask Brit basher Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada Posts: 18,416	We have been to PDC for 2 two-week trips and never felt the need to rent a car. It is so cheap and easy to catch buses or colectivos to go anywhere up and down the coast- and we took a $35 tour to Chichen Itza and went on a tour to Coba, no problems. And we moved around a LOT.

07-07-2005	#8 (permalink)
jimmya22 into ruins Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: East Bay Area, CA Posts: 79	Collectivo vans are great, and very inexpensive! Just ask your hotel where to get them, and how to recognize which ones go where.

07-07-2005	#9 (permalink)
Karon way into it Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Victoria, BC Posts: 115	As you said you are staying in Tulum, I would go with the rental car. The town of Tulum and the Tulum beach hotels are not close. I don't know about collectivos between the beach and the town, but if you wanted to go somewhere other than the beach restaraunts, it would probably be more convenient to drive. Now on the other hand if you are staying in PDC, there is no need for a car. It's nice to have one, but not required.

07-07-2005	#11 (permalink)
Jesus Nutty Peep Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Mexico City, Mexico Posts: 4,625	It depends on how may days are you staying. If it's a long one, why not rent for a couple days and you can then decide what fits you better. If you want to explore all the beaches, cenotes and ruins then it makes sense to rent a car. If you only plan on spending your time in the same spot sunbathing or snorqueling, you can pass the car unless you don't want to spend some time waiting for transportation at the end of that.

07-07-2005	#13 (permalink)
JIP way into it Join Date: May 2005 Location: Pittsburgh PA Posts: 117	I rented a car and visited Tulum, Coba, Chichen Itza, and Ek Balam the best part about the car was that when we visited all the sites we arrived at opening time or 9:00 AM when we arrived at all the places except Ek Balam (I dont think many buses go to Ek Balam at all a shame because it is a beautiful place) we saw only 1-2 buses and it seemed like we had the places to ourselves when we left we saw probably 15-20 (no exageration) mabye more buses in the lot and the best part is, if you stay near Chichen Itza you can go back with your same ticket and see the light show. The few days without a car at the beginning of my trip I felt trapped at my resort I took cabs and I know about buses but a car gives you so much more freedom.

07-07-2005	#14 (permalink)
Jesus Nutty Peep Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Mexico City, Mexico Posts: 4,625	That is a very important point. If you plan on visiting the ruins, having a car gives you that big advantage of avoiding the crowds!!!

07-07-2005	#15 (permalink)
Murrsay185 beachaholic Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Brandon, Manitoba, Canada Posts: 387	If you have lots of Holiday cash and don't want to be bothered with figuring out how to get around on the public trans. then a car is great. We walk or use the great public transportation and find it to work well for us. Depending on were you will be staying in Tulum a car might be a good thing. Try the car for a few days and if you find it just sits there turn it in. You might want to do a search on Pemex (sp?) and the tricks at the gas station. Also there has been considerable discussion on gringos and rental cars. As Jesus mentions there are some places you can only get to by car/Jeep. I quess you need to decide what you really want to do and then decide on the car or not.

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