First trip in January - can you help with a few questions?

[seasweetie]

Hi, all -

You've been very helpful so far and I can't wait for my first (solo) trip in January - staying at Hamaca Loca (for 5 days) and renting a car through Caribbean Rent-A-Car. A couple of questions I'm hoping you can help with:

Where's the best place to change money upon arrival? I'm getting in very early in the morning. I can bring enough for gas and for Day 1, but I'd like to just get it done when I get there and not have to deal with it again.

Where's the best place to get gas upon leaving Cancun? I've read the tips about 'best practices', but is there a particular spot that's more trustworthy than others?

Can someone provide a brief summary of how going through C&I works at the airport?

Is it easy enough to find where I'm staying? I'm teaching myself some VERY basic Spanish before I go, but I'm hoping that the signage is passable.

Sorry if these are TOO basic and thanks in advance for any help!
Amy

[mayaflya]

Are you looking for cambios (money exchange) or ATM's? We usually use a debit card at an ATM for the best exchange rate....and don't have to carry much cash at all. There are ATM's in the airport (not familiar with the new terminal, sorry) and in Tulum there is an ATM near the San Francisco market (can't miss the San Francisco.....it's at the stoplight just before you enter town). There is another ATM in town, next to the HSBC bank. Just be sure to tell your bank or credit card company that you will be in Mexico. We usually used an ATM run as excuse to go into town to try the Pueblo restaurants and buy beer and ice.

Gasoline sales are a Pemex monopoly, all you will find are Pemex stations..there are three or four between Cancun and Tulum, the first one is on the right, soon after you get on the 307 highway to Tulum. The last one is just before you get to Tulum. I'd just check the tank and buy gas when you need it, or buy more often and pay with small bills.

Customs is usually no hassle other than waiting in line. You get off the plane, get herded into the queue to have your documents checked (you will get the forms to fill out during the flight) and stamped. There are separate lines for foreign vs Mexican nationals, but it's pretty clear..follow the gringos! You'll collect your checked luggage, if any, and then get in another line for the red light/green light station. When you get to the light, you press a button, and that triggers the light. Green...you walk on through with your bags...red...they pull you aside for inspection...no drama, just takes a little longer to get through. The vast majority of pushes get the green, it keeps the line moving. Once you are past the light, you are ready to find your rental car representative.

It's pretty easy to find your way to Tulum...the 307 is well marked with interstate type signs pointing towards Tulum. Distances and speed limts, are in kilometers. Basic spanish, or none at all, will get you to Tulum. You might learn a little "road sign" spanish, so that you can understand the warning and advisory signs.

When you get to Tulum, (don't be confused by the turn off for the Tulum ruins..the pueblo is still a few kilometers further south) you'll encounter the traffic light I mentioned earlier. Here is where you turn left towards Boca Paila and or Punta Allen. About 7km east on this road, and you get to the "beach" road. There is a "forest" of signs for various beach front hotels and restaurants. They'll indicate which way and how far your destination is. If you know the names of some of the other properties before and after Hamaca Loca, you can watch for their signs, and tell if you have gone too far, if you miss the turn off for HL.

[AdGuy]

Mayaflya offered great information. As for cambios for money exchange, the better rates tend to be in PDC rather than Tulum. They offer about a half peso better per dollar. You mentioned you were "getting in very early in the morning"...almost any cambio I've run into usually didn't open till 9:00am (at the earliest). Something to consider depending on your timing. :)

[beachreader]

I think you're OK going to modern gas stations. They have the machines that automatically zero out before pumping gas, and that's at least some comfort. Have exact change if you can manage it, or at least small bills. I've never been ripped off that I know of.

I'd use ATMs as well, but definitely call your card (your credit card, too, if you're going to use it for the rental car--though I'm going to pay in cash this trip since Continental said I'd save some money) and let them know you'll be in Mexico so they don't block it.

Once you get to the big sign at the end of the Coba road (heading out to the beach), you'll turn right to get to Hamaca Loca. You'll first go through a little busy area, then you'll go another five or six kilometers before you'll get to Hamaca Loca. The sign is pretty good if you're there in the daytime, and it's pretty far down the road. If you miss it and hit the arch, just turn around and it'll be a short distance back.

Have a great trip!!!

[PhyllisB]

The best advice I ever got re. gasoline was to pay in 100 peso notes all the time, to avoid the 200/20 peso scam. It worked like a charm for us. The Pemex on the right side of the highway as you're heading south into Tulum is one that is NOTORIOUS for the scam. We started getting our gas at the one on the northbound side this past trip -- either it was a better place or just our 100 peso thing did the trick.

We did fine with the gas scams until Kevin got a little toooooo comfortable, and on our way up to the airport to head home, we stopped at one in Playa. He said to "fill the tank" rather than just getting 100. I don't believe this pump automatically zeroed out, as the total shown was near 450 pesos. Uh, we started with a half tank of gas already.... and we're in a little VW Polo..... I don't think so. When we protested, they tried to give us a lower (but still too high) price. We ended up paying it just because we wanted to get to the airport but I could have killed Kevin for straying from our plan!

[seasweetie]

Due to a youthful indiscretion in Las Vegas, I don't have an ATM card and haven't set up my credit cards so that they can be used as such, so looks like I'll be relying on the cambios. But then I just checked my flight info, and they've changed it so I arrrive 9 hours later than planned (loses me a whole day!!!):mad: Are there any cambios in Tulum Pueblo?

Thanks, all for the excellent information!

[PhyllisB]

WOW, 9 hours later!?!?!?! That's a HUGE change! That totally sucks, I'm sorry! :( :(

We usually go to the bank to exchange money, usually the HSBC Bank on the east side of 307. I'm sure there is a money exchange on the main drag, too.

[mayaflya]

Nine hours lost....ouch! That takes a BIG chunk out of a five night trip...There are cambios in Tulum, but you'll need to allow about three hours after your plane touches down to make it there. It'll be dark by six pm, and you won't want to spend much time wandering around the Pueblo. (not to imply that it's unsafe, just that you'll want to find Hamaca Loca and get settled) The beach road can be very DARK at night...particularly if you are unfamiliar with the area. Since you have a car, I'd just bop back into the Pueblo the next day....maybe for lunch!

[PhyllisB]

Yep, that's what I'd do.... get settled at HL, then go into town the next day for lunch & a trip to the bank. You might also want to stop at the grocery store for a few muffins or snacks, since HL doesn't have a restaurant on site!

[beachreader]

You can get pesos at your bank at home. Sucky exchange rate, but you'll have something in your pocket when you get there.

The cambio at the airport actually gives a good rate (last I checked), so you'll be fine just changing your money there--it'll have longer hours too, I'm sure.

That's terrible about your flight, though. Isn't there any way to get out on an earlier flight, even the day before? Big bummer, sorry.

[pepper]

I don't know if this has been mentioned yet...but your US Dollars spend just fine at a rate of 10 to 1.

[preeya]

You might want to reconsider talking to the ailines about compensating you in some way for the lost 9 hours or get you a better flight. I feel that because anyways any days are less in Tulum, losing 9 hours is huge. I believe everyone here would agree to that!:D
Good Luck!

[PhyllisB]

Oh, if you have trip insurance you might be able to get something through that, too.

[AdGuy]

Are there any cambios in Tulum Pueblo?


There's two money exchanges in Tulum...both downtown on the east side of the main drag (Highway 307). One is across the street from the bakery (between Calle Beta and Calle Osiris) and the other is further south, across from Charlie's Restaurant (near the corner of Calle Jupiter).

[Gale in KY]

There are also two banks in Tulum where you can exchange money.

Bancomer - Location: Hwy 307 So. westside in the San Francisco Shopping Center Open 8:30am to 4:00pm , Monday - Friday, closed Saturday and Sunday


HSBC Bank
Location: Next to the police station, Tulum Av. (Hwy 307) eastside. Open 8 am - 7 pm (money exchange 10 am to 5 pm), Monday - Friday / Saturday 8:00 am - 2:00 PM

Have not used Bancomer, but HSBC has specific hours for money exchange and there is usually a line..even Banking is on Mexico time. LOL! I think it was 11am to 1pm..but it's been awhile..it may be more convenient to just use a cambio.

[PhyllisB]

I think the hours at HSBC are longer than that now (I want to say 10 to 5!) but Gale is absolutely right about the lines!!!!

[seasweetie]

Thanks again, everyone - I did talk to the airlines yesterday, and all they offered was a refund, but she strongly suggested I wait to see if they switch back to a better flight time, so I'm going to hold tight, as my fare was so good.

No trip insurance - the gambler in me still lurks, apparently...:D

And I guess if I can have a cold one in line waiting to change money, I'll be okay waiting in line - this will ensure that I fight sand gravity enough to check out the Pueblo!

[beachreader]

Hang in there, maybe they'll change the flight back, that would be nice. Is it one of those charter flight tickets? I know they change radically from time to time. They're cheap tickets, but the schedule changes can be harsh.

A lot of people grab a cold one at the airport while they're waiting for their luggage and hitting the cambio. Not to discourage you from visiting the pueblo (not at all!), but you might as well change your money at the airport (not at all the ripoff rates people used to think) and spend more of your limited time at the beach.

[minniemex]

this will ensure that I fight sand gravity enough to check out the Pueblo!


I love that line!! Sand gravity - I think I have a new catch phrase!!