Avoiding Scams at the Cancun Airport!

 
We want to help you be aware of SCAMS at the Cancun Airport!
We ALWAYS tell clients not speak to anyone at the Cancun Airport. Once you have left Customs and make your way outside, a barrage of people will approach you with offers and questions: A simple “No gracias” and continuing to walk away is sufficient to the many people who may approach you.

See below for popular scams, and valuable advice on how to avoid them:

Unauthorized taxi drivers & time shares sales people will say anything to get you to go with them. They are very organized teams and the scams are usually the same:

😠 They tell you that even if you have pre-booked transfers, you must go with them prior to exiting to a kiosk to do an additional required check in for “Corona virus/COVID-19”. This is FALSE. They will ask for personal info/tell you your transportation has left and that you should take their taxi/van and pay an exorbitant amount & and CARM will reimburse you later FOR BOTH YOUR MISSED VAN AND THE TAXI. This is untrue. You have been scammed.
😠 They ask if you need help FINDING your transportation company. Or they say that they ARE your transportation company. Or that your company LEFT you. They say: “I’ll call the office myself for you and have you talk to them.” They call on their own phone or your phone, actually dialing the number of a friend who is part of the scam. The person on the phone goes as far as to ask for your name, confirmation #, and tells you that your CARM driver left (or that you must wait 3 additional hours), so you should take this taxi at an outrageous price & CARM will reimburse you “later” FOR BOTH YOUR MISSED VAN AND THE TAXI. They will even write you a very official looking receipt. And you have been scammed.

✍️There are 4 separate terminals at the Cancun Airport. All of our CARM, employees are waiting outside the terminals at the designated reunion point in each terminal as noted on your detailed confirmation vouchers. They are wearing shirts with our CARM name/logo and holding a sign with YOUR RESERVATION NAME on it. It is important to follow these instructions. If you ever need assistance, feel free to call any of the contact numbers (never allow strangers to dial our numbers for you)!

Book your private transfers today!:

Contact us!:

US Phone (rings to Cancun, calls only): 407-284-1673
Cancun Phone (calls only): +52 998-273-2970
Cancun Cell (calls, texts, WhatsApps): +52 998 235 7135
Email: office@cancunandrivieramaya.com

CARM Tours & Transfers COVID-19 Update

 

Hello, everyone! As a small, local, family business, we can’t express how much we appreciate your support during this difficult time. Since the beginning of the Covid-19 crisis, your safety and the safety of our staff has always been and will continue to be our #1 priority. We have used this time to learn, prepare, teach & train for the new travel regulations. Below you can find our new health & sanitary protocols for our private transfers & tours:

  • All of our vehicles will be thoroughly cleaned & sanitized between each service with hospital grade cleaning products. (We have only ever offered private transfers and will continue to do so)
  • All of our employees have taken courses in the prevention of Covid-19, and received official certification from the Mexican government to operate safely.
  • We have received the stamp of approval of the World Tourism and Travel Council (WTTC) for operating safely and following all of the protocol and sanitary guidelines for prevention of Covid-19
  • We will have daily employee health screenings with temperature checks
  • Carbon air filters for AC’s that kill all viruses have been installed in all of our vans
  • Our airport greeters and drivers will be wearing face masks
  • You will be provided with hand sanitizer before entering the vehicle & all vehicles will have on board
  • We have an alcohol based spray for the bottom of your shoes before entering the van
  • Our drivers will spay and air sanitizer in the van before you enter
  • We will ask if you would like us to spray your luggage with an alcohol solution
  • We kindly ask that our clients wear masks when in the vehicle. If you do not wish to wear a mask, we will ask you to please abide by social distancing regulations and ride in the middle or passenger side seats so you are not directly behind the driver
  • You have the option to use AC, windows, or a combination of both

The above steps have been thoughtfully prepared with your safety & comfort in mind. They are subject to modifications as we navigate through the changing regulations of state & national government. More below!…

On another note, what has our CARM family been up to?….

Unlike other transportation & tour companies in our area, we are very proud to be able to say that during this difficult time: We kept our ENTIRE staff employed & taken care of, and did not lay anyone off. Our employees are like our family (and in some cases they are family-we have fathers, daughters and brothers working side by side). 

Our ENTIRE customer service staff also dedicated their full time work hours during this crisis to giving back to our community on Isla Mujeres. CARM supported various families privately with food donations, and headed up Isla Animal’s Pet Food Project. This project was created to provide free pet food & flea/tick medicine delivery to residents so people can use their money for food/bills for their family and avoid abandoning pets on the street (This also included a 2 day free spay/neuter clinic). We also worked with groups delivering food for residents, offered future services as prizes for raffles/auctions to raise funds for unemployed residents and for a local child in need of a kidney transplant. Giving back to our home community is very important to us!

We look forward to seeing you again soon in paradise. If you have any questions, feel free to contact us!

Book your private airport transfers here: https://www.cancunandrivieramaya.com/transfers/

Email: office@cancunandrivieramaya.com

US Phone: 407-284-1673

Cancun Phone: 998-273-2970

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CARMToursTransfers/

Instagram: @carmtransfers

Terminal 4 at Cancun Airport – BEWARE OF TRANSPORTATION SCAMS!

 

Transportation SCAMS at Terminal 4 Cancun Airport

The new terminal 4 at Cancun Airport is having a HUGE problem with the unauthorized taxi drivers scamming people as they arrive. This is the problem:

The design of the building leads people to think they should exit at “Friends & Family” exit (this goes into the DEPARTURES AREA ) instead of the correct exit at “Ground Transportation” (ARRIVALS AREA).

Antonio, your friendly CARM representative. Always look for the CARM logo when you exit!

The unauthorized taxi drivers (called ‘pirate taxis’) cannot enter the Ground Transportation where all of the authorized transportation companies are waiting for their pre-booked arrivals. They must wait for people to take the WRONG exit and then try to get you to go with them. Their spiel is usually the same. They ask if you need help finding your transportation company. Or they say they ARE your transportation company or even say,“I’ll call the office for you and have you talk to them. (they make a call on their own phone, actually dialing the number of  a friend who is part of the scam). The person on the phone goes as far as to ask for your confirmation number, and tells you that your CARM driver left, and it will be 2 hours before they can come back for you. But, you should take this taxi and CARM will reimburse you later FOR BOTH YOUR MISSED VAN AND THE TAXI”. They then charge you an exorbitant rate.  And you have been scammed.

It is important for you to know:

Liquids and Gels Not Allowed in Boarding Areas of Cancun Airport

 

My friend took this photo today at the Cancun airport. I just love it.
airport-liquids
My Spanish is not great, but basically it says “Remember that it is not permitted to bring in Liquids and Gels to Boarding Areas”

Shared vs. Private Airport Transfers: Which option is right for you?

 

If you are traveling to Cancun or the Mayan Riviera, you’ll need to get yourself from the Cancun International Airport to your Resort, Hotel, villa, or rental casa. There are several modes of transportation to choose from and I’ll outline the pros and cons of each one here.

Transportation included in your vacation package. Check with your Travel Agent or, if you booked it yourself, check your travel documents. Many vacation packages are sold with shared transportation to the hotel included. This is handy, but be prepared for possibly longer wait times at the airport. Also, you’ll have no say-so in the pickup time at the resort so you may end up at the airport 3+ hours before flight time.

ADO busBuses. The bus company is called ADO. Plan on extended wait times for the bus to arrive and then to fill to maximum capacity. This option is better suited for more seasoned travelers. The bus will take you to the Downtown Bus depot. From there, you’ll need a taxi to your hotel. As of the date of this post, the Bus costs about $4 to the depot, then a taxi will cost you about $10 to the Cancun Hotel Zone for $3 to Downtown Cancun hotels. This is a great option if you are staying in a downtown Cancun hotel.

Shared Transportation. This is a great option if you are traveling by yourself or if you are looking to save some money. The vehicles are 10 passenger vans with luggage space. Keep in mind the total cost for your airport transfers and make sure to compare the total cost for shared vs. private transportation, especially if you have more than 2 people in your group.

Taxis at the Cancun Airport.  There are taxis at the Cancun Airport available for you, but this is our least recommended transportation. First, the cost is usually the same for ONE WAY as private transfer is for ROUND TRIP. Plan on spending $80-$120 USD for one way to Cancun hotels. Second, these drivers are not as secure and trustworthy as private drivers. For instance, you forget your cell phone, purse, backpack or other item in the taxi (happens ALL THE TIME), well, you are just out of luck.

Renting a car. This can be handy if you are staying in the Riviera Maya and you are a good driver. Be prepared for extremely aggressive driving in Cancun. This is not an option I recommend at all. Traffic is a mess, police purposely pull over rental cars for bribes, parking (especially in Cancun and Playa del Carmen) is a real bugger, and if you are in an accident the process here is MUCH DIFFERENT than back home and will surely eat up a lot of your vacation time.

If you do decide to rent a car, be sure to get the full-coverage insurance.  There are many car rental agencies at the airport. It’s best to book online in advance and go with an internationally known company. You can read more about car rentals here.

Private Airport Transfers.  I have saved the best for last. Of course, this is the transportation that I recommend not just because it’s what I do, but also because it is the best and I firmly believe that. CARM Tours & Transfers offers safe and reliable transportation from the airport to all hotels, villas, and rental properties in Cancun and the Riviera Maya.  Our door-to-door service is fast and hassle-free. I love selling a service I can stand behind 100%.

Prices per VEHICLE in US Dollars (one way / round trip)

Transfer Location 1-2 ppl 3-5 ppl 6-10 ppl Click to Book
Cancun Hotel Zone or Downtown $45 / $79 $49 / $89  $54 / $99 Book Here
Gran Puerto Juarez Ferry Dock $45 / $79 $49 / $89  $54 / $99  Book Here
Playa Mujeres $45 / $79 $49 / $89  $55 / $99  Book Here
Bahia Petempich $45 / $79 $49 / $89  $55 / $99 Book Here
Puerto Morelos $49 / $89 $55 / $99  $59 / $109 Book Here
Playa Paraiso $59 / $109 $65 / $119  $69 / $129 Book Here
Playa del Carmen & Playacar $69 / $129 $75 / $139  $79 / $149 Book Here
Puerto Aventuras & Xpu Ha $75 / $139 $79 / $149  $85 / $159 Book Here
Akumal $85 / $159 $89 / $169  $95 / $179 Book Here
Bahia Principe, Soliman Bay, Tankah $80 / $140 $90 / $165  $95 / $170 Book Here
Tulum $119 / $199 $119 / $209  $149 / $229 Book Here

Not sure which location your hotel is in? Just start typing in your hotel name here, click the hotel name and it will take you to the right  location to book your airport transfers.

arrival-terminal-2

CARM Tours & Transfers also offers transportation to areas further out. We can take you to MeridaChichen Itza or Valladolid, Chiquila ferry dock (the ferry that takes you to Isla Holbox), Mahahual or Bacalar, Sian Ka’an Biosphere or Punta Allen.

We will track your flight and we’ll be waiting outside the airport terminal with your name on the sign. Here I am after arriving to terminal 2 from JFK last year.

You can watch the video of getting through the Cancun Airport, however I have to apologize for the screaming child in the background. Life Happens ♥.

If you have any questions about which option is right for you, just give me a call, shoot me an email or hop on live chat. I’m happy to answer all of your questions.

Pet-Friendly Transportation in Cancun

 
My dog Bailey at the beach

My dog Bailey at the beach

 

Here at CARM Tours & Transfers, we offer a pet-friendly transportation service. It is recommended that you keep your pet in it’s carrier or crate while in the vehicle for everyone’s safety.

We can handle any size or number of pets in our private transportation vehicles. Book your Cancun Airport Transfers with pets here.

 

Mexico Dept. of Agriculture Requirements

  • If the pet is under 3 months of age, it requires a Health Certificate
  • If the pet is older than 3 months of age, it requires a Health Certificate and Vaccination card, specifying the application of rabies vaccine with a validity no longer than 1 year. These documents must be presented in original and copy.
  • It is very important to assure that the documents match with your pet data (age, breed, color, sec., etc.) and in this way avoid problems in the procedure of entering Mexico.
  • The HEALTH CERTIFICATE must be showed in headed paper with the printed Professional License or Photocopy of the medical Veterinary License who issues the certificate. WITH THE DATE no older than 5 DAYS, including the health status of the pet and that it HAS BEEN TREATED AGAINST ENDOPARASITES and ECTOPARASITES within 6 months prior to your trip and that it is free from any internal and external parasite.
  • Your pet will be physically reviewed by Official Personnal from Agriculture and Livestock Production Health from SAGARPA, and if coming from a country with presence of foot and mouth disease or from zones in risk, a prophylactic treatment will be given to your pet, free of charge.
  • The import of one or two pets is free. No animal bedding or similar products is allowed.

Note from former traveler to Cancun:

Now, we had had my dog’s health and vaccination records with us which stated that the vet had supplied external parasite medication. The Health certificate, however, did not specifically state that she was “free from parasites”. And, the inspector wanted not only that on the certificate, but also the specific medication given – eg, Frontline. It was a real hangup and we spent an hour in customs before we were able to move on, with a finger wagging from them and a warning for ‘next time’.

Information courtesy of www.DogFriendly.com

Tips for bringing your pet to the hotel

  • In the Lobby: Make sure to ask if pets are allowed in the lobby as even some pet-friendly hotels still do now allow them to be in the lobby.
  • In the Room: Never leave your dog alone in the hotel room. The #1 reason that a hotel chooses to not allow dogs is because people leave them alone in the room. Even well-trained dogs can cause damage inside the room or they bark or scare the housekeepers.
  • Use the Do Not Disturb sign on the door and use the deadbolt to guard against frightening the housekeeping staff.
  • Take your dog as far away as possible from the hotel and landscaped areas around the hotel. Some hotels even have a designated pet walk area.

Book your Cancun Airport Transfers with pets here.

Immigration and Customs forms Mexico and United States

 

When you leave the US or Canada for your vacation in Mexico, be prepared to fill out Customs and Immigration forms. It is helpful to know what these forms look like and what questions you will be asked.

The first two scans are your FMM, or Tourist Visa. You will be given this form to fill out while on the plane before you arrive to Mexico. This is a simple form that just requires the info directly off your passport.

When you arrive to Cancun International Airport, the first stop after getting off the plane will be at Immigration. Here the immigration officer will take the FMM form you filled out, keep the blue side and give you back the green side. The blue side is your Entry into Mexico and the green side is your departure visa when you leave Mexico. It is VERY IMPORTANT to keep the green part (with your passport) as you MUST have this to leave Mexico. What happens if you lose your FMM Tourist Visa while in Mexico. Every person must fill this out.

Also during your flight to Mexico you will be given a Customs Declaration form. Each head of household needs to fill this out. Again it asks for your basic passport info, how long you will be in Mexico, and how much luggage you have. Most importantly it asks if you are carrying 10,000 US Dollars or more, any meat, food, plants, chemicals, weapons, or merchandise for which you need to pay duty.

After you land and clear immigration, your next stop will be to pickup your luggage and go to customs. Your luggage will go through x-ray and you will hand the customs agent the form. There is a button that each person must push. If the button light turns green then you proceed to pickup your scanned luggage. If the button light turns red, your luggage will be searched.

When you leave Mexico you will surrender your FMM Tourist Visa and you will fill out the US Customs Declaration form. The US wants to know about your travel, where you’ve been and where you are going. The form asks again if you are bringing cash, meat, plants, merchandise, etc. You will give this form to the Customs agent when you land in the US.

For more information about traveling to Mexico and the paperwork you need to fill out, please visit http://www.tsa.gov/traveler-information.

Lost Tourist Visa Card – What happens if you lose your tourist visa while in Mexico?

 

When you arrive to Cancun International Airport you are issued an FMM form (Forma Migratoria Multiple). This form is your Tourist Visa. The Immigration agent at the Cancun Airport will stamp it and give you half of it to keep until you leave Mexico. Most visas are valid for 30, 60 or 90 days. You MUST keep up with this important document. Put it with your passport and your [Read more…]

Duty-free shopping at the Cancun Airport

 

When you leave Cancun Airport to head home after your vacation in Mexico, you may want to take a few things back with you. Almost everyone has a list of friends, co-workers, nieces and nephews for which to buy souvenirs. There are some good markets in Cancun, like Market 28, however it is handy to grab these items on your way out of Cancun at the Duty-Free shops at the Cancun Airport.

[youtube_sc url=QCjalmyCeek width=530]

The shops are located in all the departure terminals. It is not possible to access these stores upon arrival. Duty-Free Shops are accessible on departures only. Some of the most popular shops are Sr. Frogs, Sunglass Island, Hard Rock Cafe, Oprendi & Ocean Blue. You can buy liquor, cigarettes, t-shirts, and souvenirs of all kinds.

Map of the Cancun Airport Stores: http://www.asur.com.mx/asur/ingles/aeropuertos/cancun/map.asp

Cancun Airport Departures Area

Cancun Airport Departures Area

There are also food court areas at both terminals, including a Bubba Gump Shrimp Co., California Pizza Kitchen, Johnny Rockets, Starbucks (of course), Margaritaville, Domino’s Pizza, Peking Xpress, Guacamole Grill (fast food), Burger King, Baskin Robbins, TGI Friday’s, drug store and convenience store.

Now, there are limits to what you can take back with you when you leave Cancun. Each person can bring back $800 USD worth of items purchased in Mexico, duty-free, including:

  • One liter (33.8 ounces) of alcohol (provided the resident is 21 years or over)
  • 200 cigarettes or 100 cigars that are not of Cuban origin (1 carton)

Items brought from the duty-free shop may [Read more…]

Arriving to the Cancun Airport – What to expect

 

When I arrived to Cancun Airport I took this video so you can see exactly what it looks like. I could only start filming after customs and immigration. The video starts right after customs. Please excuse the loud background noise.

This is at Terminal 2. Cancun International Airport (CUN) has 3 terminals. Terminal 1 is the FBO / charter terminal. Here are the airlines that use Terminal 2 and Terminal 3:

Terminal 2 Terminal 3
Air Canada AA
Air Transat Delta
AirTran Frontier
CanJet Spirit
Condor Sun Country
Copa Thomson
Cubana United
First Choice US Air
Jet Blue Virgin America
SunWing USA 3000
Viva AeroBus
WestJet
Interjet

 

For a more complete list of the Airlines arriving and departing from the Cancun Airport including contact info, check out CARM Airline Directory.

Here I am with my best friend TJ after we exited the airport and found our sign. Our driver, Augustine, was waiting for us.

CARM airport Sign

Trina & TJ at the Cancun Airport with CARM greeter

Then it was a swift and safe ride to Cancun! You can book the same private airport transfer service to any resort in Cancun or the Riviera Maya here.