Frequently Asked Questions

What travel documents do I need to get into Mexico?
The best place to go for this information is the United States State Dept. web page: http://travel.state.gov/mexico.html. For citizens of the United States the best document is a passport. However a certified copy of a U.S. birth certificate, a naturalization certificate, a Consular Report of Birth Abroad, or a Certification of Citizenship accompanied by a picture ID such as a driver's license will should also suffice. More stringent requirements may apply if you are traveling with minors. It's best to go to the web page above to get all the details. Remember these requirement are apply to US citizens. Different rules may be in effect for citizens of other nations.

Does Playa del Carmen have an airport?
It does but only for local flights. The Cancun airport best international airport to use to get to Playa del Carmen. You could also use the Cozumel international airport but then you would have to take the ferry over to Playa del Carmen. Using the Cancun airport is a lot simpler.

How do I get from Cancun airport to Playa del Carmen?
There are 3 ways of doing this:
Cab - Cabs are waiting at the airport terminal and you can take one to Playa del Carmen.
Shuttle - This we have to arrange in advance. A vehicle of the size appropriate for you group will pick you up at the airport and on the day you leave your home, will return you to the airport.
Rental Car - You can pick up a vehicle at the airport and drive it to Playa del Carmen. Getting to Playa del Carmen is easy. But once you are there it can be a bit tricky to navigate your way to the home or the management offices.

What are the costs of these transportation options?
Again, the rates vary. It's best to call the office to get the latest update.

How easy is it to get from Playa del Carmen to other destinations?
One of the best things about Playa del Carmen is its central location. It's about equidistant from Cancun and Tulum and about an hour's drive to either. Cozumel is only a 40 minute ferry ride away. Buses to Cancun and Tulum and points in between run very frequently and the fare is currently about $2.00 to Cancun and $3.00 to Tulum. Of course you can also rent a car. Cozumel is just a 40 minute ferry ride away. Currently the ferry costs about $7.00. This is a passenger ferry only and does not accept automotive vehicles.

How far is the town of Playa del Carmen from the homes?
That varies according to the home. The residences nearest to town are the Xaman Ha Condominiums and the Villa Arqueologicas. They are on the outskirts of town. All of the homes are less than 1 mile from town. For more detailed information see the map.

How much is a cab from the homes to town?
About $1.

How much is a cab from town to home?
About $1.00. The same as from the homes to town.

Are there tennis courts available?
The homes in Playacar 2 have access to community tennis courts. Because most of the people who live in Playacar 2 are people who live and work in Playa del Carmen, the courts are generally open during the day. In Playacar 1 there is also a community tennis court but the maintenance is undependable. So if tennis it important to you it's best to look to Playacar 2 for a home.

How far are the residences from the beach?
There Again it varies according to the residence. Some places are right on the beach. All the homes in Playacar 1 are no further than 200 yards from the beach. The homes in Playacar 2 are anywhere from 400 yards to 800 yards from the beach.

Where are the supermarkets?
The main supermarket is Super San Franciso which is located on the south side of Playa del Carmen and is 1 mile away from the homes closest to it. So you would most likely want to take a cab or drive there. But there are also lots of mini-supermarkets, grocery stores, and bakeries in town.

Is baby-sitting available?
Yes, we can arrange for baby-sitters. However, English speaking baby-sitters are hard to come by.

Where's the best place to change money?
ATMs. So bring your ATM card(s) Not only do they offer the best rates, but don't have to wait in line to change your traveler's checks as you would at a bank. ATMs are all over the Playa del Carmen . You might want to bring a few travelers checks in case there is a problem with ATMs. Last time I was down there one ATM on Cozumel didn't work with my ATM card. But all the rest, both on Cozumel and on the mainland, worked fine.

Can I get Internet connections from the home? Or from anywhere in town?
There are lots of Internet cafes in town and more are popping up all the time.

Where can I make long distance calls?
The cheapest way to make a long distance call is by buying a phone card. It's called a Tarjeta Ladatel. They work with almost any payphone. They are sold at stores all over town. Denominations run from about $2.00 up to $10.00. It costs about $1.00 per minute to call the USA There are also storefronts that offer long distance service and phones that work with credit cards. But the credit card phones are very expensive to use.

Can I have things mailed to me? Can I mail from there?
If you want something sent to you, it's best to do it by DHL. But even DHL can take 3-4 days. Likewise you can send mail from Mexico. But if you are sending anything of value, we suggest you either wait till you get to the states to send it or use DHL. The Mexican Postal Service is not very dependable in its delivery of packages.

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