6 Reasons NOT to Fly via Cozumel (CZM)

[Sourcerer]

I have been intrigued by lots of posts suggesting Cozumel Airport (CZM) is a breeze compared to the mob scene of Cancun (CUN). Planning our recent trip we found no good flight schedules or prices (from NJ). Given equally high prices and bad connections either way I decided it was time to try CZM and see if it really was better.

The good news - it was not a complete disaster. But it wasn’t the breeze I’d hoped for.

My 6 Reasons NOT to Fly via CZM.

1) Got time? You’ll need more of it for local transit.

CZM Airport to/from Playa will take longer on average than CUN.

It's an island. And you must take the ferry. But there are holes in the hourly ferry service schedule during siesta time. If you just miss the ferry you might wait 2 hours at midday. And Playa.Info transport, cab, car rental or colectivo is not an option.

2) Got money? You’ll spend more of it.

CZM Airport to/from Playa transport is more expensive than CUN. It cost over $200 for the round trip for our party of 6. This includes van between airport and Coz ferry and 2 cabs between Playa ferry and Playacar. By contrast the round trip bus / cab combo for 6 between CUN and Playacar would have cost $112.

3) Like to carry your bags long distances? You’d better. Or hire a Sherpa.

We had lots of luggage – our party of 6 was me plus 5 women. I’m sure we had 2 bags just for electrical hair appliances. Mucho bags is a contra-indication for the CZM to Playa route.

We dragged the wheeled bags aboard the ferry over the narrow gangway with all the bumps and sat them in seats. We got dirty looks because the ferry was pretty full. We later realized you can check your bags dockside and they will load and unload them.

The ferry pier in Playa is nowhere near a cab stand, or even a street. You must carry / drag your bags a block uphill over rough pavers to 5th Ave. Turn right and walk ~ 2 blocks to the bus station. Not terrible for backpackers, but you will regret that steamer trunk. I did!

I did not realize I could have hired 3 tricycle carts. But, of course it’s still more logistical pain and adds to cost (see #2 above). And there are no trikes on 10th Ave & the mall where we were dropped for the return trip.

4) We don’t need no stinkin’ mechanics.

Our Continental plane arrived needing a minor repair. HOWEVER, a “minor repair” for your noon flight in CZM means the only mechanic, based in CUN, jumps in a taxi AND hopefully catches the 1:00 p.m. ferry from Playa. Otherwise he must wait for the 3:00 p.m. ferry (see #1). Sorry, airline personnel do to travel between CUN and CZM airports by plane.

Our helpful check-in staff offered 2:1 odds he would miss the early ferry and it became the topic of nervous speculation for the next few hours. He made the early ferry (hurray) so the easy repair took ONLY 4 hours – it easily could have been 6.

5) Delay got you hungry? Hope you like vegan burgers cause that’s all that’s left.

There is only 1 meager snack shop in the terminal at CZM. With 1 or 2 flights delayed (see #4) demand can exceed supply.

6) Hoping to make a connection? Not so likely if you have a #4.

If you have a mechanical delay chances are you will be 4 to 6 hours late at a US connecting hub. There you must still collect your checked luggage, clear US customs then recheck your luggage and clear security screening again. You obviously won’t make the original connection unless you were “lucky” enough to have a horrible schedule to begin with. IF there ARE any later flights do you think they will have room for your party of 6 plus the scuba diving club sharing your destination?

We were lucky in the good way. There are many flights between Houston and Newark. We missed the connection at 2:40, but managed to get on one at 8:37. We gained back 3 minutes of our 4 hour delay! Many others had to spend the night in Houston and continue the next day (Easter Sunday). Still we left Playacar at 8:30 a.m Saturday didn’t get home until 3:00 a.m. Sunday.


OK, That’s my take on reasons not to fly via Cozumel. I am not saying you should NOT fly via CZM for Playa. Just be mindful of the trade-off & contingencies to prepare for.

So, comments anyone?

I’m sure there are 6 or more reasons NOT to fly via CUN.
There also probably many positive reasons you SHOULD fly via CZM or CUN or Merida, etc.

Who wants to start these lists?

[Kendall54]

So now you tell me! We're arriving 8 strong... well 7 strong and a baby. We originally booked to CUN, but had to change our plans and found the times via CZM to be much more to our liking so we booked that way. I hope that we don't have the same experience as you. All of this, of course, before I found this website with such great tips and ideas and the Playa.info van.... the one we were originally going to hook up with from CUN was going to cost more than your $200 trip from CZM to Playa (Much cheaper with the Playa peeps). Oh well, we'll live and learn and be prepared. I wonder how formula tastes? Perhaps some baby butternut squash?

[bemarshall]

Thanks for the 411 ... we are flying into CZM for our trip next month. And our flight arrives (hopefully) at 11:32 and I think I read there is a ferry crossing at noon, but then not another one until 2:00. Can't see making the one at noon, so will definitely encounter reason #1.

Do they have a bar in the CZM airport?

Seriously, thanks for the heads up ... it will help to know what to anticipate.

Beth

[TEX]

sorry you had such a terrible experience flying into coz. our last trip, we tried this approach, as it saved us $200 in airfare, and i can relate to what you're saying(toting luggage, ferry schedule, etc). luckily for us, these minor inconveniences didn't really come into play. we stayed in playa at la hacienda del caribe, so transpo costs were not an issue for us either. there were only 4 of us traveling together(2 couples) which i'm sure makes a big difference.


oh well, different strokes........

[TEX]

Originally Posted by bemarshall

Thanks for the 411 ... we are flying into CZM for our trip next month. And our flight arrives (hopefully) at 11:32 and I think I read there is a ferry crossing at noon, but then not another one until 2:00. Can't see making the one at noon, so will definitely encounter reason #1.

Do they have a bar in the CZM airport?

Seriously, thanks for the heads up ... it will help to know what to anticipate.

Beth

there are "bars o plenty" at the ferry dock and surrounding areas... i wouldn't spend any more time at the airport than necessary, bemarshall.... get to the dock and have a look-see.....

[Sourcerer]

Originally Posted by TEX

sorry you had such a terrible experience flying into coz. . . . .

The experience wasn't really terrible. We just got many of the "Cozumel cons" in a single concentrated experience.

When they first announced the delay I dragged the 4 picky-eater teenagers to the snack bar and bought something they'd like for lunch. 3 minutes later the line was 100 feet long.

[Sourcerer]

Originally Posted by TEX

there are "bars o plenty" at the ferry dock and surrounding areas... i wouldn't spend any more time at the airport than necessary, bemarshall.... get to the dock and have a look-see.....

Yes, there are lots of bars & restaurants on the main drag opposite the pier. But we were toting so much baggage, I couldn't see strolling with it to check the local watering holes. But even the worst case siesta delay is 2 hours at most and you can find the time of the next ferry. Tolerable.

Delays in the airport on the homeward bound leg are of potentially longer and uncertain duration. And they leave you far fewer choices. You can't easily leave the terminal.

[Wundrnurse]

MAN I wish I woulda looked at this about 30 minutes ago, just bid on some tickets flying into CZM on skyauction dot com. Saving alot of money going that way, but not sure if its sounding worth it...lol
And about those delays....I made a trip to Newark 2 yrs ago, layover in Houston, got diverted to a small airport in eastern tx, the name fails me. Was there for hours waiting on weather to pass. Was due in Newark about 4pm, made it there finally at about 4am...I feel your pain

[jay n dani]

Thanks for the info on flying into Cozumel. At least I know not to fly into Coz for future trips

[mlsbkp]

We've found that the $$$$'s saved by flying with 2 stops or into other airports not car directed into Cancun are ususally used up be drinking or eating and drinking trying to make the other connections. From now on we are flying non stop into Cancun and the trip starts thers....

[Babaloo]

Originally Posted by mlsbkp

We've found that the $$$$'s saved by flying with 2 stops or into other airports not car directed into Cancun are ususally used up be drinking or eating and drinking trying to make the other connections. From now on we are flying non stop into Cancun and the trip starts thers....

you found what?
sorry
i need a virginian interpreter

[cuffedlinks]

Originally Posted by Babaloo

you found what?
sorry
i need a virginian interpreter

A Virginian wrote, "We the people of the United States, in order to form a MORE perfect Union..." Pretty good stuff. I have one question though...."More perfect" than already perfect...?

[DavidB]

7) If the ports are closed due to bad weather the ferries don't go and your stuck in Playa.

[Doggiemom]

I don't know, I prefer to fly into/out of CZM. I have never had the above mentioned problems (yet ). The airport is sooo not crowded and it's much easier/faster to go through customs/immigration. I travel with 1 bag so dragging a lot of luggage on and off the ferry is not an issue. Although the flights are VERY limited with the number of arrivals and departures as compared to CUN.

[Sourcerer]

Originally Posted by Doggiemom

I don't know, I prefer to fly into/out of CZM. I have never had the above mentioned problems (yet ). The airport is sooo not crowded and it's much easier/faster to go through customs/immigration. I travel with 1 bag so dragging a lot of luggage on and off the ferry is not an issue. Although the flights are VERY limited with the number of arrivals and departures as compared to CUN.

You appear to have 2 big advantages over us:

1) You can fly direct without connections
2) You pack light - what a talent that is!