Two weeks traveling in Mexico led to two interactions with the police. The first occurred in Mexico City when driving onto the highway; we were stopped by the police, who claimed our license plate was not allowed to travel that day. They attempted to fine us $200 and threatened to hold the car for two days. Communication was difficult, but after much gesturing, they agreed to let us leave for $100 without a receipt. I paid and got away. The second encounter happened in Cancun. After driving three hours to Pink Beach, we were returning late when we saw police inspecting cars on the roadside. We were stopped, and the officer, speaking limited English, accused us of speeding. I explained we were driving with the flow of traffic and didn’t notice other cars being stopped, but it didn’t matter. After asking us to pull over, another armed officer stood facing us at the car. The police began negotiating the fine and consequences for the infraction. Realizing it was another shakedown, I handed them 500 pesos. They gestured it wasn’t enough, so I handed over another 500. The officer smiled, assured us there would be no record of violations or need to go to the police station, and wished us a good night. At Cancun airport when picking up the rental car, I was told there were no cars available and my reservation was canceled. I approached the manager, who first claimed they hadn’t received my reservation and later said the reserved car wasn’t available. I was forced to book a new reservation at twice the original price. I’ve traveled extensively through Europe and North America, usually opting for self-driving trips, but I’ve never faced situations like this. Despite the unpleasantness, we avoided serious consequences, and it became an informative experience for my kids as they witnessed the reality of the world firsthand. It was an unexpected lesson in understanding disparities between cultures and levels of development firsthand. On a positive note, our stay at The Westin Resort in Cancun was excellent, with great location and facilities. The new year vacation ended happily!
Service was quick, but one of the staff said I could return the car with an empty tank after taking it full. I wasn't sure if there was a catch, so I refueled before returning it.
The car rental process at Cancun Airport is quite efficient, and the service is very enthusiastic. There were no unnecessary upsells or difficulties. I think the main reason is the high traffic here, they neither have time nor need to make money by being difficult. Additionally, all the rental companies are lined up together, so the competition is fierce. If they have a bad attitude, they'll lose.
“MEX will try to force you into upselling additional car insurance even if you have already purchased”
About MEX:8.7/10
They tried to make me sign a paper that I would be have to pay for the $29,000 cost of the vehicle if anything happened to it that they saw no insurance purchased for this rental. When I refused they charged me $137 insurance fees. This $137 was more than 2x the cost of the insured rental. They did not have WiFi available so it was hard to debate the counter rep to see the fine print so they bullied me into getting the additional coverage. This started my vacation off poorly.
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