Best way to Playa?

I'm coming down to Playa del Carmen for spring break. :mnm:

What is the best way to get there? I'm leaving from Chicago. Should I fly into Cancun, and take a bus, or fly into Cozumel, and take the ferry?

 

You'll most likely want to fly into Cancun as Steve suggested. ADO runs an airport shuttle to downtown Playa from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. The buses are located just outside of the terminal and cost 100 pesos one way. The buses are air conditioned with TV and luggage space and the ride takes about an hour. This is typically how we go to and fro.

You can also hire a taxi or sign up for private transportation, but you'll find this to be a lot more costly. One way in a taxi is about $60 USD.

Ferry prices are 270 pesos round trip, and the trip takes less time, but the cost of flying into Cozumel is almost always much, much higher than flying into Cancun.

 

There are always non-stops from O'hare to Cancun....check out Funjet and Apple Vacations, as they do charters, and want to fill their planes......have a great trip, catch the ADO bus down to Playa, too!

 

Agree with this post. You will have many more options with flying into Cancun and getting transportation down to Playa. The best and fastest way is to get a cab. Look for someone on the plane or at the airport to split a cab and negotiate with the driver for a good price. I do it all the time. No time to be waiting for a ride, it can take hours, a cab ride will take 40 minutes and you don't have to wait. The Ferry's leave at certain times and you really don't want to be lugging around your luggage.

 

Thanks for the replies. It looks like I'll be flying into Cancun.

Still like to go to Cozumel. Maybe we'll do a daytrip.

 

I am sure some would agree that unless you are staying in Cozumel or diving, there is really not to much to see. It is really just allot of bars and lots of shopping. I myself would love to stay at a resort in Cozumel, but do to the traveling to get there it has really deterred me. I don't think that I could get a flight in from NJ. I really do not feel like flying into Cancun, driving down to the ferry and lugging all my stuff on to the boat and then another hour ride there. The water is beautiful though, crystal clear and great snorkeling!!

 

I'm from Chicago also....an have been going to Playa for years now. The cheapest non-stop flights that I've ever found were booking direct with USA3000 airlines. Excellent airline all the way around. Their round trip rates, depending on your dates can go as low as $250, which is what I paid for this past thanksgiving trip an for this march as well.

From what I've seen, if you fly from a Tuesday or Wednesday to a Tuesday or Wednesday, you can normally get this cheap fair. Other days are more expensive.

Then I would suggest you catch the ADO bus to Playa, it's only about $8us one way and takes you to the main bus station in Playa. From there, you can either walk to your hotel or catch a Taxi at the Taxi stand right outside the bus station.

Be CAREFUL tho....as you exit the airport, all sorts of timeshare hawks will be getting in your way and trying to stop you an offer you something "free." Avoid anyone that walks up to you and solicits you......those are ALL timeshare folks. ADO has a stand inside the terminal where you buy your bus ticket, they are dressed in RED & WHITE and their shirts say ADO....go to that stand.

Once you pay for your ticket, they will hand you a ticket and give you a number to let you know which lane outside your bus is going to pull up into. Head on outside and the buses pull up on your right, just past the outdoor bar.

It's pretty simple once you know who to avoid......

 

Oh...forgot to mention.....since your going for Spring Break, most of the clubs in Playa are on 12th Ave. but you won't find a shortage of live music up & down 5th Ave.

Also, be careful of places that post 2x1 happy hours, yet fail to mention that one beer costs $7us....always ask them before you sit down how much one beer is during happy hour. Some places are legit and it's like between $1.50 - maybe $2.50 a beer.