jlhart

In July my husband and I are staying in Playa del Carmen for a week with our toddler (he'll be ~1.5 years). Our all-inclusive week (courtesy our family) ends the day BEFORE we leave, so we have one extra night. We're flying out of Cancun on a 9:30am flight.

We initially had planned to make the trek to Chichen Itza, but it seems like people suggest it's too far and too hot for traveling with a kid.

We tend to be off-the-beaten-path travelers but given our son and the free hotel room, we're doing the all-inclusive for the bulk of our trip. My husband and I have traveled quite a bit in Latin America (Peru, Guatemala, Honduras, Costa Rica) but this is our first trip to Mexico.

1) Does anyone have suggestions for what we should do with our extra night? Anywhere neat to stay that still means we can get to the airport in the morning (either traveling Playa del Carmen to destination to Cancun in one day OR leaving for Cancun the morning of the flight)?

2) Do people suggest renting a car or taking shuttles (esp with a toddler)? I am hearing mixed advice. I've driven in Costa Rica without any problems but would not have wanted to drive in Guatemala, if that helps at all. We're planning to bring a car seat from home either way.

Thank you!!!

emd3

It is going to be very very hot in July. I would suggest just moving to a hotel in PLaya del Carmen for the last night. You could potentially go to Puerto Morelos, smaller town on the ocean about half way to Cancun, but then you would have to deal with getting from PDC to PM, and then from P. To Cancun airport early the next morning. at hat is too much travel with a young toddler in that intense heat for me. If it was me, I would just move to a nearby hotel in PDC, no contest. And get a taxi to Cancun airport early the next morning- forget the bus that early with luggage and a young toddler in the heat.

Rohelio

PDC is one hour away from the airport and the cost is appr. 140 pesos per adult. You can purchase you tickets at the bus station (ADO buslines) the night before and arrange to be at the airport for 8.00am.You can also arrange for a cab direct to the airport for appr. 7 to 800 pesos. I know that, your AI hotel would gladly sell you an extra night at a reasonable price, after all you are smack dab in the middle of the low season and the weather is very hot and humid. Lets face it, your only staying a week and there are a hundred things to see and do in and around PDC. I know you've been to several coutries in the past but let's not forget that extra small back pack you have to carry around

emd3

I pay $45 usd or equivalent in pesos, which is close to 600 pesos at the exchange rate now, to go from Playa Del Carmen to Cancun airport. usually I have a rent car but I just paid for a Cab last week and that is what I paid, and what I always negotiate with the taxi driver. Just be sure to negotiate with the driver and set the price First before u get in the cab.

I agree that if you can afford to pay for an extra night at your aI resort, that is the way to go. 8 have not found the AIs to be willing to negotiate away from their internet rates, even in summer, and even when u r there and wanting an extra night.

Odin

We had similar dilemma (albeit without the toddler), had 3 nights in PDC and an early flight from CUN. So we stayed in the Cancun hotel zone for the last night which we really enjoyed. It's very close to the airport for early departures and most hotels have an airport shuttle, which you might have to prebook. We had a rental car so it was even easier.