Rental Car

[tnjcouple]

I wanted to ask if any of you have rented a car for your visits to desire and other locations. After looking at the costs of cab rides from Cancun to Desire. Desire to playa, and Playa to cancun, it would be far less expensive to rent a car and go when I want to go. Let me know what you think. Am I missing anything, high taxes, ect? It sounds like the way to go, but let me know if I'm off.

Thanks,
Justin

[CokeMann]

Hi Justin,

We have rented cars many time over the past 10 or 12 years we have vacationed on the Yucatan.

The roads now are all very good and well signed.

Here are a couple of things to remember when renting a car in Mexico

1. Always take the local insurance - it is very rare for your normal insurance company to cover you while driving in Mexico

2. Pay strict attention to the speed limits and rule of the road - you do not want to get stopped and/or have to pay "roadside" fines.

3. Pay for gas only with cash - if you use a CC to pay for gas the CC number will likely be copied and used for items that you did not purchase.

4. When driving keep only about $25 USD in your wallet - stash extra cash you may have in a camera bag or a another innocuous location - should you get stopped by the police for any reason and they ask you to pay a fine then agree but tell them you only have what is in your wallet - ie $25.00

I've never had to make use of point #4 but other have .

Overall if you intend to do a number of off campus trips a rental car is a good alternative - however if it is just going to sit in the Desire parking area for 80+ % of your visit consider renting for just those couple of days where it make sense

One rental company that is good, reliable and reasonable is Easyway Rentacar - they are located off of the airport property and therefore a bit cheaper than most of the rental companies located right in the airport.
BTW- they offer free pickup and drop off at the airport

Here is their website http://www.easywayrentacar.com/

[tnjcouple]

Thanks for the information. I'll follow it all.

I'll get the liability and let my C.C. cover the others as far as the insurance. after looking at the cab fare from Cancun to Desire to playa to cancun, it would run in the $400 dollar range or so and a car can be had for the week for around a buck fifty with insurance. also, more flexibility for departure times throughout the week.

Thanks again and I'll look up this company and see what they can do for us.

Justin

[Mikdrea]

Justin,

I definitely agree with items 2, 3 and 4 of the above response. I've been to the Yucatan Peninsula three times in the past 6 years and have always rented a car at the airport upon arrival (or upon returning back from a 3-day excursion to Isla Mujeres in the Cancun area).

We had a wonderful experience in Europe in September with EuropeCar and found they also are represented at Cancun International (CUN). We have a reservation for April-May for a total of I believe $135; small (not compact) car with AC. Having a car in the Riviera Maya is very rewarding, less hit and miss and more convenient comfortable than busses, collectivos, etc., especially when there are so many places to visit (we usually base ourselves in Akumal and do our on-the-road/car excursions from there -- we're going this Spring and also don't want to encroach on time spent at the pricier Desires Cancun resort).

Have fun!

[njdesirecpl]

With the prices the resort charges, I don't know why you would want to spend any significant time away from desire. we will be going for our 5th time to Desire in April and have only left the resort once during our first trip for a day trip to Isla Mujeres.

I would also watch out for the Federales looking for a "Tip" when they stop you on the highway. During our last trip in April 08 a couple was stopped and they were not even speeding. the cop stopped them because they did not look Mexican and it cost them $30.00 for the "Tip"

[nekkidcouple1964]

We have been to Desire three times and booked an AVIS car the last two. No problems and it was well worth it.

You only need it a day or two for a special jaunt.

The new resort down the beach has and AVIS desk and you can walk there in about 15 minutes straight down the sand.

Worked out well.

[mexico-mvt]

I definitely agree with items 2, 3 and 4 of the above response. I've been to the Yucatan Peninsula three times in the past 6 years and have always rented a car at the airport upon arrival (or upon returning back from a 3-day excursion to Isla Mujeres in the Cancun area).

I agree. The points stated are definitely good advice for us travellers when we get there. Thank you.

[HedoLuvr]

We have taken a taxi to Playa the last 2 times we have been to Desire. I think we paid only about $50 and the driver took us there and insisted on waiting for us until we came back. He would not take our money until we were delivered back to the resort. Now, we only wanted to spend a few hours shopping/drinking in Playa--not any kind of all day excursion, but this has worked out as a great deal for us.