Reply To: Trip Report – Dublin, Mexico City, Puerto Vallarta

[NorthernLass]

ARRIVING INTO MEX

This could be helpful for other first-timers.

Immigration (e-gates for U.K. nationals) and baggage collection were very quick. A sniffer dog was walked past us at the luggage carousel and one of our suitcases was selected for a not very thorough search by customs officials. I was intrigued that anyone would smuggle drugs INTO Mexico, but they seemed more bothered that we might be bringing meat and cheese in (although I am aware that these products are in fact available for purchase in Mexico and therefore there is no need to pack them).

I’m sure @JDB has some sort of limousine service collect him and Mrs JDB but I baulk at the inflated prices of these things. I had read that taxis can be had by purchasing a ticket from an “authorised” vendor at MEX, and that the journey to downtown would be about 300 pesos. The “autorizado” booth had half the neon letters missing and a woman issuing hand-written tickets which apparently could be swapped for a taxi ride. I asked how much and she quoted me 1115 pesos. This seemed like a lot, even taking inflation into account, so we decided to get an Uber.

At this point OH failed utterly in his one job, which was to hook us up to the internet in Mexico. I managed to log into the very patchy airport WiFi and summoned an Uber. Ismael was 200 yards away in a white VW and charged the princely sum of 239 pesos (plus maximum tip of 20 pesos!)

Top tip – when you confirm the pick-up, you can select which exit door in the terminal you want the driver to come to, e.g. Puerta 7. This is so much more convenient than having to tramp to some car park like they make you do at other airports!