Corey + Kelly

We've been able to visit the resort and Cancun a few times and have a few suggestions to make your travel easier. 

Entering Mexico
There is no requirement for vaccination or negative COVID testing prior to leaving the US or to enter Mexico.

Returning to the US
A negative COVID test 1 day prior to your return is required to enter back into the US regardless of your vaccination status. TRS Coral has testing at the resort that is very easy. You will schedule a test upon arrival for 1 day before your departure. Results will be sent to your e-mail within a few hours. Present the emailed results at the Cancun Airport along with your vaccination card (if you have one).

Masks
Most airlines and airports require masks at all times. The resort requires masks when in enclosed areas (restaurants or lobby) masks can be removed once you're seated.

WHAT HAPPENS IF I TEST POSITIVE AT THE RESORT?

The resort has an isolation block of rooms offered to guests if they test positive during their stay. This is at no cost to you and you will be allowed to stay up to 5 days or until you test negative, whichever is shorter. Food and beverage will be brought to you and the hotel staff will check on you. There is a doctors office on site if any case should escalate.

What to expect
Expect a temperature check at the hotel and a walk-through temp check at security. I suggest avoiding cabs and the collectivos, because the drivers have relatively high infection rates.

After a dozen or so trips to Cancun, we've got the all-inclusive packing down!  It turns out you don't need much daytime wear - you're usually in a swimsuit and coverup. You can't be wet for lunch (so you might want to pack a change if you're going to be fresh out of the pool), but a coverup and flip flops is fine.

You do need resort clothes for dinner and a night out. For gentlemen, shirts or T-shirts with sleeves and long pants or formal bermuda are required in all a la carte restaurants.
 Here's my suggestions for packing and an exhaustive packing list. 

You can also check out some suggested items like jellyfish sting treatment, sandproof toy bags, turtle safe flashlights and more from Amazon here. 

THE FORMS

During your flight into Cancun, the flight attendant *might* distribute customs or immigration forms. In the time of covid, they often don't have enough forms on the plane and many don't have pens.  


The forms aren’t quite as straightforward as they seem. They seem pretty self-explanatory, but Americans often get two things wrong on the form - the month, day, and birthday format we use is different from theirs. Look closely, because they’ll want the day before the month. Second, and you will get sent back to the line if you make this mistake, the bottom portion of the form is filled out by you. 

The other (newer and better option) is to complete the forms and print them before you leave home. 

 You can pre-complete your tourist immigration form online if you have a valid passport and are traveling to Mexico within 30 days. Find it here: www.mexicotouristcard.com/. 

Whether you complete it at home or at the airport, remember to keep the part they return to you with your passport after it's been stamped. YOU WILL NEED IT TO GET OUT OF THE COUNTRY. DON’T LOSE IT. If you lose it, it can be replaced, but it is an ordeal that might mean you miss your flight. 

THE LINES

Pro Tip: If you are lucky enough to be seated at the front of the plane, go directly to the immigration area and do not stop to use the bathroom in immigration if you can at all help it. Getting to the immigration line first is super helpful, especially at night when they often only have a handful of agents working. There’s a bathroom after immigration and you’ve likely got time to use it before bags arrive.

Depending on your arrival day, the airport may be very crowded. Don't go in the immigration line to the far left if you are looking at the booths. If they direct you there, try to bob and weave towards the bathroom. That's the line reserved for Mexican citizens usually but they fill the space if necessary with Americans. But they waive the Mexican citizens forward, so it’s longer than the others. Avoid it if you can.

Once you arrive at immigration, don’t necessarily follow the crowd. Everyone does that, and nearly all of the queues open (except the ones on the far, far left) service foreign visitors. So, head all the way to the right or slightly left once you enter the area and find a shorter line. The shortest lines are typically the furthest from the entry point. If you have a disability ASK for the disabled line. You can only take one person with you but it helps a lot for my WG.

Once you’ve cleared immigration, look for the carousel with your luggage. There are signs above each carousel letting you know which flight's luggage is unloaded there. By the time we arrive at customs, our luggage has usually arrived and you’ll find it

clustered near the carousel. Collect it and proceed to the customs exit line. In years past, they had you walk through for random searches but they aren't doing that right now. You should be able to just walk right out. 


Grand Palladium Costa Mujeres is about 45 minutes from the Cancun airport. Make sure that you upload your flight information with Destify, as they are arranging complimentary ground transportation for us. If you prefer to arrange private transportation, I recommend USA Transfers at www.entertainment-plus.net/.

Tip #1: Use the porters.

The airport has a limited number of very short term parking spots that they use to unload passengers. As you get out of the car, you’ll likely see a porter offering to help you. They are extremely professional, helpful and overall worth it. They will collect your bags, take you to the right check in/bag drop off position, navigate any difficulties in Spanish on your behalf and are experts at scanning tricky passports. A $5 tip and you’re on your way. They can almost always make change as well.

Tip #2: Don’t take that sticker off of your passport.


At some point as you check in, you’ll talk with a security agent that we don’t often see in the US. They will ask about your trip and if you’ve been in control of your luggage the entire time. They will place a sticker on the back of your passport. They will look for it again at security and again as you board the plane. Don’t take it off. Trust me.

Tip #3: Eat and shop after security. 


There are a couple of small cafes - one Mexican, a Wolfgang Puck express and a Starbucks - before security, but there is MUCH better shopping and eating g on the other side of security.

Tip #4: Triple check for sunscreen and water bottles.


The security screen at the Cancun airport is fairly typical. They want laptops out, shoes off, liquids in a plastic bag and 3.4oz or smaller. In our dozen trips, we’ve had a long line only one time. The others have been relatively quick.

Tip #5: Enjoy the Duty-Free Shop


I almost never go to the Duty-Free shops in foreign airports. Cancun is a great big exception. We often buy our “oops we forget to pick up tequila for employees there” but there are also tequila tastings, coffee tastings and sometimes traditional candy tastings inside. Though you can get it cheaper somewhere in Cancun, there’s the packing calculus on the increased weight of the bags and also the risk of breakage. For us, worth the few extra dollars to now have all of the luggage and our clothes smell like tequila (believe me - it takes four washes to get it out). On another note, the makeup sections there often have things that we can’t get in the states. Prices aren’t that much better, but the availability can be fun. 

Tip #6: Eating in the airport is expensive and lackluster, but if you have to…..


Once inside the main terminal, there are shopping, fast food options, bars and some limited spa services. As of our visit in September of 2019, the fast-food options were Johnny Rockets, Wolfgang Puck’s Marketplace, Starbucks, Sushi and Tequila, Guacamole Andele and Famous Famiglia pizza. None of them are amazing. All are expensive. If you have the time, I suggest picking up sandwiches/burgers and fries at Johnny Rockets and larger, sharable drinks from the central convenience store. If you have an hour or so, we typically eat at Jimmy Buffet’s Margaritaville. The other options are Guy Fieri’s Kitchen and Bubba Gumps Shrimp Company. We’ve had subpar meals at both and it’s enough to keep us coming back to Margaritaville. It’s not going to win any awards, but the table side guac is good, they make reliable chicken fingers and a good of a cuban sandwich. Plus, they keep the tunes going and the atmosphere is still beach-y as you say goodbye to Cancun.

Tip #7: There’s Good Shopping at the Airport

Usually, if you haven’t picked up a souvenir before you reach the airport, you are relegated to stuffed animals and T-shirts as options. But that’s not so in Cancun. There’s a huge souvenir shop offering everything from onyx windchimes and Mexican themed neck pillows, to nichos (day of the dead shadowboxes) and silver jewelry. It’s not inexpensive, but the prices are reasonable. In addition, there are some great high end shops. My current favorite is the Korean kawaii shop - Momouso KR. They offer fun Kawaii style makeup, neck pillows, travel chargers, bags and more. A great place to pick up a souvenir for a kiddo or teen. If you’re in the market for leather goods, you can’t go wrong at Rogers Boots, which offers truly beautiful handmade cowboy boots, loafers and belts. It’s also worth checking out Pineda Covalin, a Mexican designer who produces high-end silk scarves and ties featuring prints inspired by Mexican history. There’s also a new high-end soap kiosk by the store Bloomish worth checking out.

Tip #8: Enjoy Shopping, Eating and Drinking, but Keep Your Eyes on the Monitor

Like many European airports, gates are not designed to hold hundreds of passengers for hours and seating is somewhat limited. So, we typically go to the gate just before boarding time. But that means it’s important to keep our eyes on the overhead monitors. There are no airport-wide departure announcements, so put someone in charge of watching the time.

Tip#9: Be Prepared for Multiple Security Checks as You Board.


Unlike travel in the US, you will encounter one or two more security checks as you board the plane. So, don’t put those passports away just yet. They are quick and relatively painless (unless you are randomly selected for a hand search which SUCKS!), but keep your party together and keep passports in hand until you reach the plane door.