CANCUN TRAVEL TIPS

It's official, we finally joined the traveling gang and went on our first International vacation, to Cancun Mexico, since Covid took over in 2020 (technically it was 2019.. but who's counting the years 🤷‍♀️). IT WAS AWESOME!! And we are in the middle of planning our next vacation! The fear of traveling is no longer a fear for us, and we think you might feel the same when you take your next Mexico vacation! (Quick side note... we can help you book your next vacation too... click HERE!)

Ok, lets start off by telling you our 'pre' Mexico departure and how easy it was to get a covid test (to be cleared to travel Internationally), and then the story on how big of a dunce we both felt too...

Getting a quick Covid test... this is a VERY seamless and easy piece of the puzzle when it comes down to it, AND I will also be the first to admit... it felt like the LONGEST day and a half in our lives, to get the test results back! If you're curious, we got our test done at our local CVS Drug Store for free, and it was processed in about a day and a half. Be sure to make an appointment online at least 2 days prior (if you live in a busy city.... like Orlando, FL). You can also check Walgreens to see if they have any available testing sites too (also free).

Obviously we were good and passed our Covid test, but here's why we feel like dunces...

Don't laugh... while checking in for our flight at the airport, we learned that we didn't even need to take the Covid test to enter Mexico 🤷‍♀️🤦‍♀️ 

Currently (as of August 2021, check Covid travel guidelines HERE), you do not need to be fully vaccinated with the Covid shot, nor do you need to have a negative Covid test to enter Mexico via air (coming from the US).. BUT it is a requirement to have completed a negative Covid test within 3 days of traveling BACK to the US. The best part about this... 99% of the resorts in Cancun offer the testing onsite, and don't worry, there are multiple clinics all over the place in Cancun, that can do the testing, if your resort doesn't offer this. 

** this info can change, please verify the travel guidelines in the above link **

MOST IMPORTANT - Get a hard copy of your negative Covid test, the airlines will want to see it before you depart back home. Now lets jump down to our Cancun Travel Tips ⬇⬇

4. Book your airport transport prior to arriving in Cancun Mexico if your resort doesn't offer it. Trust me when I say, this is worth doing BEFORE you leave home. I can help you set it up HERE or make sure you book it online (you can book separately on Orbitz or Expedia too).

• When you walk out of the baggage claim area (in the Cancun International Airport) & thru the double sliding glass doors, prepare for chaos and to be bombarded with multiple offers for taxi rides, excursions & resort viewings... POLITELY SAY 'NO THANKS, I'M ALREADY BOOKED' & KEEP WALKING OUTSIDE!! You will have plenty of time to book these excursions once you get to your resort, or I can help you book them HERE.
• Once you are outside... EYES PEELED! Whoever you booked your airport transport with, should have your LAST NAME printed out on a piece of paper and they will be waiting for you.
• DO NOT BOOK A SHUTTLE BUS!!! We made this mistake and it took 2.5 hours to get to our resort in Playa Del Carmen (which was only 35 minutes from the Cancun International Airport). Pay the extra couple bucks and get your own taxi/car. It took this long because we stopped about 20 million times at MULTIPLE resorts letting other passengers off... N.E.V.E.R  A.G.A.I.N!!!

5. Grab a taxi and make a friend- there is no shortage of taxi's in the area, especially if you are in the hotel zone! We only used a taxi a couple of times (yes, they can be spendy but very convenient), and on our last visit, we met a great taxi driver and we suggest using him when you need to get around... here's his info: Hector the Connector at +52 9988 450 968  .... he speaks EXCELLENT English and he was very transparent and honest with us and we officially have a friend in Mexico! 

6. Hop on the local bus if you are not wanting to pay a little extra for a taxi, there are MULTIPLE local buses that run up and down the hotel zone and all over Cancun, and it's like 10 pesos aka SUPER CHEAP (thats about .50 cents US). 

7. Walk! It's safe to walk in Cancun! Ok, I say this with caution too. Obviously, you are in a foreign country and there are still sketchy areas in Cancun, so just use your best judgment. I wouldn't suggest walking too far at night, but during the day, no biggie! Nate and I walked all over the place while staying in the hotel zone! 

9. When your walking around downtown or any shopping area (yes, it's safe to leave your resort on foot, especially in the hotel zone), don't fall for the FREE Excursion tickets in return for attending a time share presentation.... just trust us.... the free excursion tickets are NOT worth it 🥴🤦‍♀️  (ya.. we fell for it and lost a full day... but in hindsight we did get to experience Hotel Xcaret, & got some video footage for our upcoming YouTube video) 

10. If you are wanting to buy your own hard liqour (now I'm about to sound like a lush 🤷‍♀️)

• DO NOT BUY FROM THE DUTY FREE store inside the airport... MASSIVE ripoff
• DO NOT BUY FROM YOUR RESORT.... another MASSIVE ripoff
• Our FIRST suggestion to buy liquor is at the grocery store at the end of the Hotel Zone in Cancun, close to the roundabout. It's called  Súper Chedraui Selecto and its MASSIVE... 2 stories worth of food, alcohol, clothing. I would compare it to a like a Kroger or Fred Meyer, and the grocery side to like a Safeway or Publix. In fact, if you are not staying at an All-Inclusive Resort, I would HIGHLY recommend you go here and get all your groceries... VERY COST AFFECTIVE!
• Our SECOND suggestion to buy liquor is at a decent sized liquor store called La Europea, it's close to the massive shopping Mall. I feel like they had a little different selection than the grocery store and the prices were identical and 'normal' ... not inflated lol.