New Rules At Cancun Airport: 3 Things Travelers Need To Know Upon Arrival

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Last Updated 4 weeks ago

Summer may be winding down, but Cancun is still full steam ahead.

As such, travelers can expect a rush of tourists whizzing through the airport at all operating hours.

Typically, airports are a forgetful memory on vacation, and that's no different for the most popular international vacation spot for Americans.

Cancun International Airport is implementing some new changes designed to alleviate traveler frustrations but it sounds like it could backfire.

No one likes being herded like cattle boarding a flight, so certainly no one will like it on the back end.

However, local officials believe that all the following changes are in the best interest of travelers.

Here are 3 things travelers need to know upon arrival in Cancun:

1) Follow The One And Only Exit Sign

Ever been to an escape room? Well, that may be how you feel after deplaning in Cancun.

No, you won't have to solve a secret riddle to exit the airport, but the heightened anxiety is all the same.

Cancun sees an insane amount of tourists each year through every season. We're talking millions upon millions.

When you arrive for your dreamy beach getaway, there's no such thing as avoiding the crowds before leaving the airport.

Making matters worse potentially, the airport has decided to close all but one exit, funneling out vacationers through just one section.

Why? An ongoing fiasco of various issues with transportation dividers. You know, private shuttles, Ubers, and taxis – the same-ole same-ole that's been going on for years.

Can't we all just get along?

2) Road Closures: Prepare For Pick-Up Hiccups

Remember the famous line in Back to the Future, “Where we're going, we don't need roads!”?

Well, when you're visiting one of the busiest airports in Latin America, you kinda do, right?

Officials have shut down the main road leading up to the passenger pickup area, leaving both travelers and transportation providers (both legal and fraudulent) in a pickle.

The point of going to such an iconic paradise like Cancun is to leave your stresses back home.

But in this case, it sounds like those stresses may tag along for the ride, at least until you reach your hotel.

First, a single exit where hordes of tourists file out at once, followed by who knows when you'll be picked up – that doesn't sound like the best start to any vacation, really.

And it's gotta be frustrating for both sides. In the world of drivers, time is money, And in the world of vacationers, time is precious.

Every minute taken away is a stolen moment of relaxation on some of the world's most pristine beaches.

But hey, at least when you're checked in to your all-inclusive resort, the rest is taken care of.

3) New Warning: Only Use Authorized Transportation Providers

This may sound like one of those “duh” moments, like who in their right mind would fly into another country and ride with an unverified stranger?

It does indeed happen. Sometimes a moment of bad judgement or sometimes simply being too trustworthy.

Warning signs have been posted across the airport premises to remind travelers to only ride with authorized transportation providers.

This is not limited to any single method of transit – it's across the board for shuttles, taxis, and yes, Ubers too. The ADO bus service is also a safe bet.

And that's where it gets even trickier since Uber is one of Americans' favorite ways to get around. They typically feel more safe being tracked on an app than old-fashioned taxis.

What's The Deal With Uber?

There are many horror stories out there regarding taxi-Uber conflicts, especially in Mexico, where tourists have been caught in the middle when they're simply trying to enjoy a nice getaway.

This has actually happened to me, albeit many years ago…

The first time I traveled to Guanajuato, it just so happened to be the initial launch of Uber in Leon, the most common gateway to where I was visiting.

I ordered an Uber; nothing was unusual until I closed the door. That's when a man knocked on the window and had a rapidly-escalating chat with my driver, and next thing I know, I have hot coffee all over me.

Thankfully, that was the gist of it. Years later, taxis and Ubers are still at odds, even in mega-popular destinations like Cancun.

It seems finding common ground between taxi commissions, government regulators and Uber's headquarters is like pulling teeth.

Technically, the National Guard says Uber is not allowed for airport pickups in Cancun, so keep that in mind.

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