Cancún

If you are looking to avoid holiday crowds and high prices, visit Cancún anytime from May to November, particularly in September and October. However, these two are also the rainiest months. If you prefer escaping the cold winter to relax in the sun, book your trip in December or January, the high season in Cancún.

Nearly every commercial airline flying into Mexico now includes the Tourism Tax (known as DNI – Derecho No Inmigrante) in the price of each flight ticket. Request an itemised receipt from your tour agent or airline, where the DNI charge is normally listed, and present it at check-in and/or immigration in order to avoid double payment. If, however, your airfare does not include this tax, or if you’ve been travelling by land, the tax will need to be paid separately. If you’re leaving Mexico by air, the easiest way to pay this tax will be at the check-in counter for your departing flight/the airport immigration office. Note that the tax can only be paid in cash, in USD, Mexican pesos or Sterling. The exact fee is subject to change; at the time of writing, it amounts to just under $30 per person. If you are departing by land, you are still required to pay this tax, which can also be done at a bank. Note that those arriving by land and departing from Mexico within 7 days are exempt from paying the fee. The DNI tax is not to be confused with the Mexican Airport Departure Tax, which will be automatically included with any flight ticket purchase, and will also appear on the itemised receipt. Make sure to hold on to any receipts, slips or documents issued to you by Mexican immigration authorities throughout the entire trip.

Visa exemption applies to citizens of all EU countries, most countries in the Americas, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, and more. Both tourists and business visitors from these countries may stay in Mexico for up to 180 days. For Russian, Turkish and Ukrainian passport holders, electronic authorisation (SAE) is required, which then grants travellers from these countries the right of a single entry followed by a stay of up to 30 days. Please consult an official source/consulate in your home country for the latest information on visa requirements. When travelling to Mexico, you will need to fill out a Forma Migratoria Múltiple (FMM), which is essentially a visitor’s permit for Mexico. All travellers are encouraged to do so online prior to travel, and present the printed out document upon entering the country.

Cancún Airport International (CUN) is Latin America's 4th busiest airport. Located outside the city of Cancún at KM 22 of the Cancún-Chetumal highway, the approximate transfer times to Cancún’s City or Hotel Zone is 20-30 mins. Buses, shuttles, private transfers, VIP vehicles, and Limousines are available for pickup and every terminal has a designated taxi service available. A public modern air-conditioned bus service to Cancún’s central bus station is available outside Terminal 2.

Cancún’s central bus station is located at the corner of Avenidas Tulum and Uxmal, offering excellent and regular connections to most touristic destinations. A regular shuttle transfer to Playa del Carmen leaves every 15-30 minutes. The frequent local bus service between the Hotel Zone and downtown (R-1 or R-2 buses) is quite efficient and runs 24 hours. Buses stop on hand signal and would often leave before everyone is seated ; bus stops are marked with a blue and black sign with a picture of a bus. You can buy tickets on board but don't forget to check your change before taking your seat.

Taxis are a common mode of transport in Cancún and Mexico. Despite warnings to agree on a price before getting in, one should know that all taxi drivers belong to a syndicate and there is an official fixed price list split into various zones that all taxi drivers must carry (also available in all hotels). Taxis in the Hotel Zone are more expensive than downtown and a standing taxi always costs slightly more than one flagged down from the curb. One alternative is the Cancun Cab that serves all over Cancún.

The postal service in Mexico is very slow and often not very reliable. Sending anything of importance or value is usually safer by courier service. Cancún’s main post office is located in the city center where stamps or postcards can be found; mail boxes are red and easy to recognize.

There are two types of pharmacies in Mexico, the regular Farmacia and the Farmacia Similares. The former sells well-known brand medications whilst the latter sells cheaper, not-branded medicines. Prescriptions are generally not required for anything and most medicines are widely available. You can find a Farmacia on almost every corner within Cancún's downtown, with several located in the Hotel Zone. Many Farmacias are open 24 hours and have also a delivery service for a small surcharge.