I like to use the smaller airlines when I have a choice, thinking that it will keep more airlines in the game, creating competitive prices. I chose Airtran from Atlanta, and they were not prepared. First, they didn't have proper documents (that's what they said) at boarding time, so we were delayed about an hour for that. Then we're sitting on the plane and the pilot announces that they are required to have a certain spare part, another thirty minutes wasted. So we land in Cancun an hour and a half late, and the ground crew is not ready because nobody called ahead to let them know we were running late! Another 20 or so minutes wasted. Finally we got through customs and into the parking lot and our names were not on the Orbitz bus list! We got ripped for $100 taxi fare for eight of us to ride to the resort in a mini-van. (we're trying to get Orbitz to refund us) Once we got to the Oasis Viva Beach, it was great. They recently added a new wing to the hotel, another pool, and two new dining rooms. The resort was a pleasant surprise (stayed there once before). I was shocked to see how devastated the beach was at the sister resort (Oasis Cancun), not much sand left after Hurricane Wilma, mostly rocks. I guess the beach reclaimation project hasn't made much progress yet. Overall, it was worth the hassle getting there, our hotel was 90% booked according to the front desk, but other hotels are running at about 40%.
