Venture With Amy

Run. Don’t walk. Go straight past go, do not collect two hundred dollars. Seriously. Get out of the Los Cabos Airport as quickly as humanly possible.

If you’re one of the many heading to Los Cabos, Mexico in the near future you’re gonna wanna read this if you want a hassle free holiday. Now I’m talking specifically about the international arrivals area of the airport. After landing and going through customs and immigration you’ll be faced with a double set of doors. If you pause for a moment before passing through the doors you’ll already likely be able to hear the shouting and pandemonium that awaits you on the other side. The second you cross over you will be faced by a barrage of salespeople insisting that they are your shuttle to wherever you are going next, or that they are the best person to arrange a taxi through. Be careful what you say aloud in front of these unscrupulous characters…

On our recent vacation to Cabo San Lucas these folks tried their hardest to take us for a ride. The second we walked through the doors they were trying to convince us they were “from our hotel”, and pepper us with questions prying for more information. In the overwhelming chaos my husband double checked with me (not with them!) which resort we were heading too. Upon overhearing my reply one of the salesmen doubled down even harder on his pitch, insisting I follow him to one of the sales desks.

Now if you look around and pay attention at this stage you’ll notice none of the desks are marked. There is no official signage indicating any known tour providers, shuttle companies, or resorts. Not a single person in this loud and frantic space is wearing the branded shirts that a shuttle representative would typically be meeting anyone in.

Let’s pretend you give these people anything more than the time of day. What’s the big deal? They are trying to sucker you in to a high pressure sales pitch to invest in a time share property. The process is absolutely going to divert your arrival transfer plans, and the immediate moment you land in a new country is probably not the time to be making such a significant financial decision. Travel days are exhausting. It’s time for a margarita not a mortgage – yes, yes I know it isn’t a mortgage, but still…

So, what do you need to do instead of engaging with these people. Keep walking, don’t talk to them, and head straight outside. It’s outside by the funky outdoor bar area where you’ll find all the legitimate transportation companies waiting for you. One of my best tips to make sure you’re with the right person is to give your last name only. With just that information your shuttle provider should be able to access your reservation and confirm your first name and accommodations with you. The less info you give upfront, the easier it is to tell if they actually have your reservation.

I hope this little post is helpful when you are planning your next trip to Mexico – the airport situation is similar if you are landing in Cancun. Mexico is an amazing country to visit and I would not let the airport vibes deter you from visiting!