I would like to hear about any recent experiences with travelers renting a car in Cancun. I am worried about a few items: 1. Potential harrasment from the local police. I would not enjoy bribing the police for no reason whatsoever, but I understand it's a local custom. How much does the police "charge" for a nonsense traffic stop? (I'm discounting drinking and driving and excessive speeding). I don't speak a word of Spanish, nor do I look Mexican. 2. I understand that getting a rental car in Cancun involves a time-honored "overcharge" scam by the rental agency, and I am ready for that. I would plan to pay in peso's. Is it possible to rent a car without providing a credit card to them? My credit company charges a 3% fee on any international charges (Mexico counts as international). 3. Can I tell the car rental agency that I want all the rental stickers removed? 4. If I drive around the hotel strip, is there parking available? Is the parking "paid" or free? Can I just pull over on the side of the road and leave the car there? I'm not sure of the local driving customs. 5. Should I be worried about getting car jacked around the hotel district in Cancun or if I travel 50 miles away to explore some of the local roads? I would appreciate any feedback or pointers from people who have traveled recently. Thank you very much!
I'll just comment on those things I think I have some experience with, here. Haven't heard of any such thing happening during the four years I've been in Cancun. Is this truly your preferred way of handling these things? Would you consider not doing it- in which case they will simply let you go, if you haven't committed one of the offenses you mentioned.... If you are not demonstrably DUI, or involved in an accident, they will not seize the car, though they may mention that as a possibility, hoping to shake some change from the tree. As for unintended traffic violations, one to watch for in the hotel zone is not yielding to pedestrians who are at or near the crosswalk, and may be preparing to cross. There are any number of crosswalks so you have to be alert for these.
Unless you are going out of town like to the ruins or somewhere on excursions in the Rivera Maya, I would stick to public transportation, so easy, so cheap, no worries.
for me.. I prefer to just go with Bus /taxi. Way less expensives.. I heard people that been pulled off for no reason and got find of 200 $. And you can't leave as long as you didn't pay. Keep the chance on your side. To go to tulum is about 1hrs 1h15, depend where your hotel is, playa del carmen from Temptation is about 45 minutes from there !
