londons Posted February 3, 2012 #1 Share Posted February 3, 2012 We were approached by a very friendly uniformed man at the airport who wanted to help with our transfers. He took us to a counter which we thought was an official tourist information counter. It wasn't! The person at the booth was a time share/vacation club (difference?) salesperson, which we discovered the next day. We were offered discount tickets to Xcaret for 90 minutes of our time to see a hotel. We went to see the hotel (Krystal in Cancun) and sat through 3 hours of bullying, aggressive sales pitches and insults when they decided we were not buying. Please know that these salespeople buy licenses to work at the airport. There is nothing official about them. It was an awful experience-please beware! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BSQ Posted February 8, 2012 #2 Share Posted February 8, 2012 We were approached by a very friendly uniformed man at the airport who wanted to help with our transfers. He took us to a counter which we thought was an official tourist information counter. It wasn't! The person at the booth was a time share/vacation club (difference?) salesperson, which we discovered the next day. We were offered discount tickets to Xcaret for 90 minutes of our time to see a hotel. We went to see the hotel (Krystal in Cancun) and sat through 3 hours of bullying, aggressive sales pitches and insults when they decided we were not buying. Please know that these salespeople buy licenses to work at the airport. There is nothing official about them. It was an awful experience-please beware! Yup, we always warn the sharks you need to be concerned about aren't in the ocean, it's the Timeshare Sharks at the airport. Our advice is usually to collect your luggage after you get through customs and walk with purpose and lots of "No Thank yous" straight out the door to the real transportation companies. So sorry they nabbed you. Hope the rest of your vacation was amazing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kickballpro Posted March 22, 2012 #3 Share Posted March 22, 2012 Lol, after suffering and almost biting a couple of times, I can sit through a timeshare presentation and take my free stuff and walk out. In fact, I can give a timeshare presentation. They are all exactly the same sales pitch. "Do you realize that right now you are merely renting a vacation?" "How would you like to own your vacation?" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrsfuzzmo Posted March 26, 2012 #4 Share Posted March 26, 2012 As an agent, it's one of the things I ALWAYS remind by customers of....Time Share Sharks. It's too bad your TA didn't tell you about them. If you don't know, it can be a really bad experience and sour you to the destination. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wahlflower Posted March 27, 2012 #5 Share Posted March 27, 2012 It amazes me how many people let go of their travel documents to someone asking. I warn everyone I know about the timeshare sharks in Cancun, but people easily get caught up in the ones at the airport pretending to take you to your hotel. I warned a friend on a trip our families took together, and she fell for it anyway. I literally had to back track and grab the documents out of the persons hand she would not let them go, it got a little ugly for a minute, but we had been there enough to know better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Gail & Marty sailing away Posted July 1, 2012 #6 Share Posted July 1, 2012 It has been that way for years ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Travelcat2 Posted July 11, 2012 #7 Share Posted July 11, 2012 The "sharks" in Cancun are not only in the airport -- they are in hotels, on sidewalks -- almost everywhere you go. Usually a simple "no, gracias" gets rid of them. If that doesn't work, tell them you are your way to the airport. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Gail & Marty sailing away Posted October 4, 2012 #8 Share Posted October 4, 2012 It has been that way for years ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dioxide45 Posted October 13, 2013 #9 Share Posted October 13, 2013 The key to getting through the Cancun airport unscathed is to pre-book airport transfers. Then when you come out of customs, keep your eye on the target and talk to no one until you get outside to where you meet your transfer service. You will be approached, accosted and asked 100 or more times if you need a ride. Politely say no and continue on your way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jasm8449 Posted October 19, 2013 #10 Share Posted October 19, 2013 Been going to Cancun for 10 years. I always pre-book our private transfer - $55 USD ROUND TRIP. They are waiting outside the arrivals for me with my name on a sign every time without fail. But I still get accosted all the way out from baggage claim to the door. I simply say "I have a ride", as I keep walking. Works very well. They will often look "official", call out your airline name, etc. Just say "I have a ride" and keep walking. No 'free' gift is worth 3-5 hours of my vacation time. Another tip - you can't take the luggage carts past the inner door of baggage claim. There are porters waiting there if you want assistance - don't be afraid to use them. They work solely for tips. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blue_water Posted October 19, 2013 #11 Share Posted October 19, 2013 Anyone who does even a wee bit of research knows to walk out of the timeshare shark tank and stop for no one. They prey on the more ignorant souls arriving there. Same in Puerto Vallarta, but it's not limited to Mexico. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VidaNaPraia Posted October 21, 2013 #12 Share Posted October 21, 2013 Been going to Cancun for 10 years. I always pre-book our private transfer - $55 USD ROUND TRIP. They are waiting outside the arrivals for me with my name on a sign every time without fail. But I still get accosted all the way out from baggage claim to the door. I simply say "I have a ride", as I keep walking. Works very well. They will often look "official", call out your airline name, etc. Just say "I have a ride" and keep walking. No 'free' gift is worth 3-5 hours of my vacation time. Same for us with a rental car from Easyway. They wait at a designated place (explained in their confirmation email) outside with my name on a sign, and they wear a shirt embroidered with the company name/logo. (Otherwise I would also pre-book a transfer.) I just keep walking past anyone else. I don't bother to even respond. Or do as I have in other places, where you can turn it into a joke/game, and respond in some language they aren't likely to understand; it doesn't really take much to fluster them and shut them up, as they're used to English as the only second language. (Namaste. Ohio gozaimas.) IMO, the vague-er you look, the better. :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blue_water Posted October 21, 2013 #13 Share Posted October 21, 2013 We too pre-book the transfer company and all transfer companies will tell you to walk outdoors and look for their color shirt. getting outdoors through the sliding doors is the key. Once you're at the bar on the right you're safe! :p Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dioxide45 Posted October 21, 2013 #14 Share Posted October 21, 2013 We too pre-book the transfer company and all transfer companies will tell you to walk outdoors and look for their color shirt. getting outdoors through the sliding doors is the key. Once you're at the bar on the right you're safe! :p Also, when you do get outside the doors, it can be overwhelming. Not only is your transfer company waiting out there, so is everyone else's. And there are literally dozens of them. Signs everywhere. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blue_water Posted October 21, 2013 #15 Share Posted October 21, 2013 Also, when you do get outside the doors, it can be overwhelming. Not only is your transfer company waiting out there, so is everyone else's. And there are literally dozens of them. Signs everywhere. That's why they stress their shirt color, and the coordinators will welcome you as they see you coming toward them :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VidaNaPraia Posted October 22, 2013 #16 Share Posted October 22, 2013 Also, when you do get outside the doors, it can be overwhelming. Not only is your transfer company waiting out there, so is everyone else's. And there are literally dozens of them. Signs everywhere. But logically you can count on their wanting to follow through with the booking (after all this is their living) to find you in the crowd eventually. No need to panic and/or get flustered by the crowd. I have found that if you hit up the ATM for some cash in pesos, by the time you get out the door, the crowd (both tourists and touts) has thinned to be more manageable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vacation fool Posted December 15, 2013 #17 Share Posted December 15, 2013 Been going to Cancun for 10 years. I always pre-book our private transfer - $55 USD ROUND TRIP. They are waiting outside the arrivals for me with my name on a sign every time without fail. But I still get accosted all the way out from baggage claim to the door. I simply say "I have a ride", as I keep walking. Works very well. They will often look "official", call out your airline name, etc. Just say "I have a ride" and keep walking. No 'free' gift is worth 3-5 hours of my vacation time. Another tip - you can't take the luggage carts past the inner door of baggage claim. There are porters waiting there if you want assistance - don't be afraid to use them. They work solely for tips. Can you please share the contact info for the transport company that you used? Thanx Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blue_water Posted December 16, 2013 #18 Share Posted December 16, 2013 Lomas and Olympus are both great. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vacation fool Posted December 16, 2013 #19 Share Posted December 16, 2013 Lomas and Olympus are both great. Thanks:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dioxide45 Posted December 17, 2013 #20 Share Posted December 17, 2013 Thanks:) USA Transfers is who we always use in Cancun. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blue_water Posted December 17, 2013 #21 Share Posted December 17, 2013 Can you please share the contact info for the transport company that you used? Thanx For a nicer experience the private transfer in a newer Yukon is a great way to arrive or leave. We often get that when leaving the resorts, just lucky sometimes. But worth the extra $ too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nanofrog Posted January 30, 2014 #22 Share Posted January 30, 2014 Do not rent a car in Cancun unless you are aware of the total cost involved. I rented a car on line for our weeks stay in Cancun last week for the nice low price of $70/week. When we arrived at the ticket counter we were told that we were obligated to purchase mandatory insurance at $45 per day, on top of the weekly rate. If we declined to do so we had the "option" of having a $16,000 hold on our credit card. What a rook. We returned to the airport and took a taxi to our hotel instead. Not a very nice start to a vacation! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chileancruiser Posted April 8, 2014 #23 Share Posted April 8, 2014 Can you please share the contact info for the transport company that you used? Thanx We've used Canada Transfer and the were slightly cheaper than USA and were punctual and courteous. Sent using the Cruise Critic forums app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wayfairers Posted May 25, 2014 #24 Share Posted May 25, 2014 We've also found timeshare sharks at Mazatlan airport. They aren't allowed at Acapulco. Don't know about other airports and we typically drive now. Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blue_water Posted June 2, 2014 #25 Share Posted June 2, 2014 We've also found timeshare sharks at Mazatlan airport. They aren't allowed at Acapulco. Acapulco just has the bandits... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Please sign in to comment
You will be able to leave a comment after signing in
Sign In Now