Cancun Transportation: Pros and Cons of Rental Cars

Once you've decided that you're going to enjoy a Cancun vacation, you'll want to carefully consider your options as to how to get around the Caribbean city. There are many options available to the tourist, family vacationer, or beach bum who are looking for mobility while in town: Taxis, shuttle services, bicycles, scooters, walking and one of the most popular options, car rental. It's easy to fall into thinking that a personal vehicle is a necessity while on vacation, due to our daily reliance on cars or reliable public transportation. Yet before you decide to spend money on renting a car while in Cancun, consider a few pros and cons to help you make the best decision.

The Benefits of Renting a Car in Cancun

Your trip itinerary will be the best lead on whether or not you want to rent a car while visiting Cancun, Mexico. If you have booked a tour to see some of the nearby, ancient Mayan ruins, then your transportation needs are taken care of in regards to getting to and from such places. However, if you haven't yet laid out your trip with activities during the day, it's always nice to have the freedom of hopping into a vehicle and making the trek on your own.

If you do decide that you need some automotive mobility while in Cancun, you'll find that it is in fact affordable. And if you use the car daily for any number of reasons, the car rental will be worth every penny. If you're staying in a resort style apartment/hotel, you might very well use a car for some grocery shopping that allows you to stock up on snacks, cold drinks and quick eats that can be prepared in your kitchenette. And if you do happen to have several in your traveling party, a car rental is great idea, rather than having to take multiple cabs to destinations.

The Drawbacks of Renting a Car in Cancun

Yes, there are more negatives to consider than there are positives in regards to your Cancun Mexico car rentals. For starters, you're in a foreign country. Although the signs are well marked, you're driving on the right side of the road and maps are readily available, that doesn't mean you'll have any better understanding of what you're looking at! And as many individuals who rent cars in Cancun quickly find out, they hardly ever drive them after leaving the airport and parking at the hotel. If your goal is to spend as much time on the beach, what's the point of renting a car, right? And if you plan on enjoying the Cancun nightlife, who's going to volunteer to be the designated driver? (Make no mistake, the Cancun economy is supplemented nicely by bail that's offered by American vacationers who check their common sense at sunset.)

Here's a simple rule of thumb: If you're on your Cancun, Mexico vacation as a "tourist," rent a car. If you're in Cancun to "party," take a cab - just a few things for you to consider, as you probably have additional pros and cons to add to the lists.