Airport transfer complication

[KeithK]

I'm coming to PDC with my family in July, and purchased a complete package at the Iberostar Tucan, including airport transfers from Olympus tours to and from the Tucan. Unfortunately, our vacation doesn't start at the Tucan - were spending the first half in PDC at the Playa Maya (it's an off-season traveler thing).

How should I handle this? Will Olympus accept a transfer to Iberostar for transportation to PDC? Should I just take the trip to the Tucan and take a cab back into town? Should I try to get the travel agent or the tour company to change the transfer?

Any suggestions welcomed.

[francesca mac]

I went through this before with worryfree vacations and was told the transfers are airport to hotel only. Don't know if the same thing applies to you.

[Shammy]

I guess it depends on who you booked the trip through but I don't know of any vacation company that will drop you off at any hotel other than the one you booked.

The best idea might be to take the transfer to the Tucan and then hop a cab into town and then one back to the Tucan. Then let the transfer company pick you up and take you back to the airport.

That's my 2 pesos.

[Nerak936]

Originally Posted by Shammy

The best idea might be to take the transfer to the Tucan and then hop a cab into town and then one back to the Tucan. Then let the transfer company pick you up and take you back to the airport.

Shammy's suggestion sounds ideal (she's sooooo smart!).

FYI... a cab from Ibero/Tucan (very easy to get) to PDC is 40 pesos (plus tip), so about $5 USD, although depending on the size of your family/luggage, you might need two cabs. Also... don't know if destination of Playa Maya might be a bit farther than the basic drop-off at PDC that we took, so maybe a dollar or two more. Don't know for sure.

BTW... we love the IB Tucan/Quetzal. Great resort. Have fun!

[KeithK]

I thought the cab to PDC was probably the way to go, but I also thought it might seem odd when I show up at the front entrance of the resort with my family and my luggage, and I tell the person offering to take my bags that I'm not staying there.

I guess slipping the driver a couple hundred pesos and asking him to stop in town is not an option?

[Nerak936]

Originally Posted by KeithK

I thought the cab to PDC was probably the way to go, but I also thought it might seem odd when I show up at the front entrance of the resort with my family and my luggage, and I tell the person offering to take my bags that I'm not staying there.

I guess slipping the driver a couple hundred pesos and asking him to stop in town is not an option?

Keith:

Taking the transfer to the Iberostar and then getting a cab might seem "strange", but when you get down to it, who cares?? Just tell whoever that you are indeed staying at the Iberostar but not for a few days and that your vacation package included transfer only to the resort. If it helps you feel better, give the guy a few bucks (especially if he helps you load the luggage into the cabs), and he won't give it a second thought.

I've read here at the Forum that there are busses you can get at the airport which go to PDC, so that's an option you might want to research (where they are at the airport, their schedule). If I recall correctly, they really aren't very expensive, and for most of the folk who stay at a non-AI in downtown Playa, that's how they get there.

As for trying to tip the transfer driver into stopping in Playa for you, I look at it this way. You could give it a shot (you have nothing to lose, I guess), but keep in mind that there will be other vacationers on that transfer bus too, going to different resorts. And when they land in Cancun, they want to get to their resort ASAP, just like you do. They could possibly be a bit irked at someone else getting special treatment which delays their arrival at their destination. That would bother me more than doing the cab from Iberostar deal.

Also.... unless your Spanish is very good, you might encounter a language barrier with the transfer driver. Then it might be a case of you making your "offer" in front of the entire busload of people (thereby making the "slipping the driver pesos" impossible). If you do want to try this approach, you should discuss it with the travel rep who will be "checking you in" at the airport. He/she will then discuss it with the driver (have enough for two tips in that case!)

Good luck!