First Trip to Playa - Inexperienced Traveler

janikay · 05-26-2012

Hello All!

Excited to be traveling to Playa the end of June for a family wedding. I will be traveling alone and am not an experienced international traveler. I've already arranged for car service to and from the airport. Any other tips you can share about what I should expect in dealing with customs, the airport in Cancun, etc., would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks, JaniKay

Babaloo · 05-26-2012

Immigration may or may not have long lines.
After immigration, you pick up your bags (if you have checked luggage)
Proceed to customs. They will scan you bags.
Pick up your bags then push a button.
If the light is green - proceed.
If the light is red - they will possibly search your bags.
Don't bring weapons, drugs or fruit

Proceed out of the terminal and look for your ride.
There will be a lot of people trying to convince you to ride with them.
Ignore them and find your ride.

Easy.

janikay · 05-26-2012

Thanks! Exactly the type of information I was looking for!

robinandmark · 05-26-2012

[quote=Babaloo;1898771
Proceed out of the terminal and look for your ride.
There will be a lot of people trying to convince you to ride with them.
Ignore them and find your ride.

Easy.[/QUOTE]

The people trying to "help" you with getting a ride, or to "help" you to the right area can look very official, and are very pleasant. Mostly they are trying to sell timeshares. Ask the company you made transfer arrangements with what their uniforms look like and exactly where they will be. Quite often they will hold a sign up with your name or the name of the transfer company. If it's not a private transfer, they will look for your name on a list. You will be amazed at how well they speak English- I'm embarrassed at how little Spanish I know.

Maddison1002 · 05-27-2012

Babaloo can always be counted on with the info. Where will the wedding be held/where are you staying?

janikay · 05-29-2012

The wedding will be at El Taj and we'll be staying there as well for 8 days.

Seakony · 05-29-2012

Yep..it's that easy at the airport..unless you are the first one off the plane..then you gotta figure which way to go..they don't always have somebody to point the way.

Don't panic if you don't see your driver at first. They can't park where you come out and they try to estimate the time you will be exiting. They never know if there is a long line at immigration and customs.
Also don't panic when you find them and they tell you to wait a few minutes and walks off. They are just going to get the car or van and will take a few minutes. The airport is a real stickler about parking and waiting..it's a no no.

BillyBuff · 05-30-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by robinandmark

The people trying to "help" you with getting a ride, or to "help" you to the right area can look very official, and are very pleasant. Mostly they are trying to sell timeshares.

I totally agree with this! They'll have airport IDs and uniforms making them look official. They're pretty friendly and will strike up a conversation with you asking questions like "Where will you be staying at?", "Do you have transportation?", etc. once you acknowledge them then you've been baited and they will try anything to get you to use their services or attend their presentation. Believe I've recently experienced that.

janikay · 05-30-2012

Thanks for all the GREAT advice - y'all are wonderful!!! I've been reading all the boards and am getting really excited for the trip.

05-26-2012	#1 (permalink)
janikay sandflea Join Date: May 2012 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 5	First Trip to Playa - Inexperienced Traveler Hello All! Excited to be traveling to Playa the end of June for a family wedding. I will be traveling alone and am not an experienced international traveler. I've already arranged for car service to and from the airport. Any other tips you can share about what I should expect in dealing with customs, the airport in Cancun, etc., would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, JaniKay

05-26-2012	#2 (permalink)
Babaloo añejo Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Playa del Carmen Posts: 22,548	Immigration may or may not have long lines. After immigration, you pick up your bags (if you have checked luggage) Proceed to customs. They will scan you bags. Pick up your bags then push a button. If the light is green - proceed. If the light is red - they will possibly search your bags. Don't bring weapons, drugs or fruit Proceed out of the terminal and look for your ride. There will be a lot of people trying to convince you to ride with them. Ignore them and find your ride. Easy.

05-26-2012	#3 (permalink)
janikay sandflea Join Date: May 2012 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 5	Thanks! Exactly the type of information I was looking for!

05-26-2012	#4 (permalink)
robinandmark way into it Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Cincinnati Posts: 243	[quote=Babaloo;1898771 Proceed out of the terminal and look for your ride. There will be a lot of people trying to convince you to ride with them. Ignore them and find your ride. Easy.[/QUOTE] The people trying to "help" you with getting a ride, or to "help" you to the right area can look very official, and are very pleasant. Mostly they are trying to sell timeshares. Ask the company you made transfer arrangements with what their uniforms look like and exactly where they will be. Quite often they will hold a sign up with your name or the name of the transfer company. If it's not a private transfer, they will look for your name on a list. You will be amazed at how well they speak English- I'm embarrassed at how little Spanish I know.

05-27-2012	#5 (permalink)
Maddison1002 life=playa Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Erie PA Posts: 675	Babaloo can always be counted on with the info. Where will the wedding be held/where are you staying?

05-29-2012	#6 (permalink)
janikay sandflea Join Date: May 2012 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 5	The wedding will be at El Taj and we'll be staying there as well for 8 days.

05-29-2012	#7 (permalink)
Seakony añejo Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 16,153	Yep..it's that easy at the airport..unless you are the first one off the plane..then you gotta figure which way to go..they don't always have somebody to point the way. Don't panic if you don't see your driver at first. They can't park where you come out and they try to estimate the time you will be exiting. They never know if there is a long line at immigration and customs. Also don't panic when you find them and they tell you to wait a few minutes and walks off. They are just going to get the car or van and will take a few minutes. The airport is a real stickler about parking and waiting..it's a no no.

05-30-2012	#9 (permalink)
janikay sandflea Join Date: May 2012 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 5	Thanks for all the GREAT advice - y'all are wonderful!!! I've been reading all the boards and am getting really excited for the trip.

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