ADO Bus Playa

MNBeaver · 02-04-2008

Few question -
If I am flying in with NWA - Terminal 3 - Is the ADO bus station located near cocunuts? Meaning that if I find cocunuts I am close?
Bags on the ADO bus - carry them on the bus or store?
Is the ADO site easy to find? I have only flown into Cancun once and it seemed very crazy - we had ground transportation pre-arranged with NWA vacations.
The playa map that I have shows two bus stations - One on or near 5th and one up on 20th - Which one does the bus go to.
Great site - I have printed out at least 5 "things to do" reports -
Any pointers on getting from the plane to sitting on the bus are appriciated.

Minnesota2PDC · 02-04-2008

Terminal 3 is a breeze. Just before you get out of the terminal, the ADO ticket counter is on your left. Coconuts is just out the door to your right and then just to your right is where the bus picks you up. Store your luggage under and get on the bus. Bus drops you off at 5th and Ave Juarez. Very slick.

mexigirl · 02-04-2008

After you clear immigration and customs at terminal three, you will walk down a long hallway to the exit. On the left hand side near the end (by the tables that look like bongo drums) there is an ADO booth. you buy tickets there and then proceed outside to your right where all the big buses are. There will be someone to answer your questions.
You say your transportation is pre-arranged with NWA vacations, why are you asking about the bus?
I've ridden the bus many times, and we always go to the bus station on fifth in PDC.

Quote:

Originally Posted by MNBeaver

Few question -
If I am flying in with NWA - Terminal 3 - Is the ADO bus station located near cocunuts? Meaning that if I find cocunuts I am close?
Bags on the ADO bus - carry them on the bus or store?
Is the ADO site easy to find? I have only flown into Cancun once and it seemed very crazy - we had ground transportation pre-arranged with NWA vacations.
The playa map that I have shows two bus stations - One on or near 5th and one up on 20th - Which one does the bus go to.
Great site - I have printed out at least 5 "things to do" reports -
Any pointers on getting from the plane to sitting on the bus are appriciated.

Jimontheriver · 02-04-2008

Yep, you can't miss them. They have a counter just out the doors on the left side of the exit way. You can get your tickets here or at the bus. The bags go in the bottom of the bus, loaded from outside. This bus goes to the 5th ave station.

mexigirl · 02-04-2008

Mnbeaver,
Sorry to be so rude! I just now noticed that you are from MN and this is your first post. Welcome to the board!
I also forgot to mention that they will not allow you to carry on anything other than a small backpack. Everything else goes underneath. I was more than a little nervous last time when my carry-on (with my laptop) was vaulted into the bus!

**Shammy** · 02-04-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by mexigirl

You say your transportation is pre-arranged with NWA vacations, why are you asking about the bus?
.

He said that on a previous trip, the transportation was arranged by NWA Vacations.

January Guy · 02-04-2008

A couple random thoughts on the ADO bus...
Every January my wife and I arrive for a 5 day trip to Playa and I wrestle with whether to take the bus or a taxi. Since we only have 5 days, I hate to waste too much time waiting for a bus, but at the same time I am an accountant and enjoy the cost (and adventure) of the bus. Anyway, I always ask how long it will be until the bus leaves before buying a ticket. The 2 times I have done that, they tell me a time that is about 1/2 hour before the bus actually leaves (presumably to get me to take the bus). I end up buying several beers at nearly $5 a pop for my wife and I while waiting for the bus, eating into the cash we saved by not cabbing it.

But, I always love meeting people on the bus, this year we met Doug and Phyllis (not sure if they are regulars on this board but they are regulars in Playa) and visitied at length with them, then were delighted to run into them at Bad Boyz during our final evening at Playa. Due to many buckets consumed at Bad Boyz before seeing them, it was a boisterous reunion.

My advice is thus to take the bus for the adventure, but don't count on it being a big cost savings as you may get buy a lot of beers waiting for it!

Jacko · 02-04-2008

I now find myself wondering how many beers I'd have to drink to break even?
These are the big questions in life!

January Guy · 02-04-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jacko

I now find myself wondering how many beers I'd have to drink to break even?
These are the big questions in life!

When I initially was thinking about bus vs. taxi, I simply thought, $60 for a taxi vs. $16 for 2 bus tickets and figured my savings was $44.

But, it is more complex. Taxi option - $60 taxi fare plus $6 for a 6 pack of beer at the closest gas station = $66. Bus option - $16 for 2 tickets, $25 for 5 beers waiting for bus at the airport, $3 cab (always tip a buck) fare in Playa as my hotel is off 26th. Total for bus option = $44. Benefit of bus is thus $22 of savings plus the ability to meet some cool people, but it took probably an extra hour. Given that I'm only there for 5 days, the $22 savings probably wouldn't have been worth the hour lost if I hadn't met some cool people.

January Guy · 02-04-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jacko

I now find myself wondering how many beers I'd have to drink to break even?
These are the big questions in life!

Sorry, I forgot to answer your break even question. Basically, the difference in fare for us was $41 ($60 taxi vs. $16 bus+$3 cab far in Playa). The incremental cost of a beer at the airport vs. gas station is $4. So, if we had drank 10 beers, I'd still come out $1 ahead taking the bus. Now, if you were a single person and wouldn't take a cab when reaching Playa, the difference in fare could be as high as $52, meaning that your break even point would be 13 beers. Hell of a lot for an hour long trip.

Yes, I am an accounting prof...

**ryberg** · 02-05-2008

OK, I'll bite: what the hell is coconuts?

(Or what the hell are coconuts, as the case may be?)

Steve

Jimontheriver · 02-05-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by ryberg

OK, I'll bite: what the hell is coconuts?

(Or what the hell are coconuts, as the case may be?)

Steve

Check this thread and see JimmyMN's photos of Coconuts
http://www.playa.info/playa-del-carm...n-airport.html

P.MorelosFrank · 02-05-2008

Scheduled ADO departure times from the airport to Playa.
12:45
13:30
14:00
14:45
15:45
16:45
17:45
18:45
19:45
20:45
21:45

Silvertip · 02-05-2008

Is there a ATM located in terminal 3? If not where is the nearest ATM?

Thanks

P.MorelosFrank · 02-05-2008

Yes, there is an ATM there

02-04-2008	#1 (permalink)
MNBeaver sandflea Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Minnesota Posts: 6	ADO Bus Playa Few question - If I am flying in with NWA - Terminal 3 - Is the ADO bus station located near cocunuts? Meaning that if I find cocunuts I am close? Bags on the ADO bus - carry them on the bus or store? Is the ADO site easy to find? I have only flown into Cancun once and it seemed very crazy - we had ground transportation pre-arranged with NWA vacations. The playa map that I have shows two bus stations - One on or near 5th and one up on 20th - Which one does the bus go to. Great site - I have printed out at least 5 "things to do" reports - Any pointers on getting from the plane to sitting on the bus are appriciated. Last edited by MNBeaver; 02-04-2008 at 11:59 AM..

02-04-2008	#2 (permalink)
Minnesota2PDC way into it Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Blaine, MN USA Posts: 127	Terminal 3 is a breeze. Just before you get out of the terminal, the ADO ticket counter is on your left. Coconuts is just out the door to your right and then just to your right is where the bus picks you up. Store your luggage under and get on the bus. Bus drops you off at 5th and Ave Juarez. Very slick.

02-04-2008	#4 (permalink)
Jimontheriver añejo Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Illinois on the Mississippi Posts: 2,121	Yep, you can't miss them. They have a counter just out the doors on the left side of the exit way. You can get your tickets here or at the bus. The bags go in the bottom of the bus, loaded from outside. This bus goes to the 5th ave station.

02-04-2008	#5 (permalink)
mexigirl beachaholic Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: minneapolis, mn Posts: 274	Mnbeaver, Sorry to be so rude! I just now noticed that you are from MN and this is your first post. Welcome to the board! I also forgot to mention that they will not allow you to carry on anything other than a small backpack. Everything else goes underneath. I was more than a little nervous last time when my carry-on (with my laptop) was vaulted into the bus!

02-04-2008	#7 (permalink)
January Guy añejo Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Twin Cities Posts: 5,900	A couple random thoughts on the ADO bus... Every January my wife and I arrive for a 5 day trip to Playa and I wrestle with whether to take the bus or a taxi. Since we only have 5 days, I hate to waste too much time waiting for a bus, but at the same time I am an accountant and enjoy the cost (and adventure) of the bus. Anyway, I always ask how long it will be until the bus leaves before buying a ticket. The 2 times I have done that, they tell me a time that is about 1/2 hour before the bus actually leaves (presumably to get me to take the bus). I end up buying several beers at nearly $5 a pop for my wife and I while waiting for the bus, eating into the cash we saved by not cabbing it. But, I always love meeting people on the bus, this year we met Doug and Phyllis (not sure if they are regulars on this board but they are regulars in Playa) and visitied at length with them, then were delighted to run into them at Bad Boyz during our final evening at Playa. Due to many buckets consumed at Bad Boyz before seeing them, it was a boisterous reunion. My advice is thus to take the bus for the adventure, but don't count on it being a big cost savings as you may get buy a lot of beers waiting for it!

02-04-2008	#8 (permalink)
Jacko añejo Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 30,887	I now find myself wondering how many beers I'd have to drink to break even? These are the big questions in life!

02-05-2008	#11 (permalink)
ryberg playa maya guy Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: real America (reality-based community) Posts: 27,949	OK, I'll bite: what the hell is coconuts? (Or what the hell are coconuts, as the case may be?) Steve

02-05-2008	#13 (permalink)
P.MorelosFrank toe in water Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Puerto Morelos, Mexico Posts: 45	Scheduled ADO departure times from the airport to Playa. 12:45 13:30 14:00 14:45 15:45 16:45 17:45 18:45 19:45 20:45 21:45

02-05-2008	#14 (permalink)
Silvertip sandflea Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: S.E. Minnesota Posts: 9	Is there a ATM located in terminal 3? If not where is the nearest ATM? Thanks

02-05-2008	#15 (permalink)
P.MorelosFrank toe in water Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Puerto Morelos, Mexico Posts: 45	Yes, there is an ATM there

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