Following alcohol related lab tests done by COFEPRIS (Federal Commission for Protection Against Sanitary Risk), it has been determined that the Iberostar Paraiso del Mar is NOT serving any tainted alcohol to its guests. This comes after allegations made by a Wisconsin family earlier this year that the resort had given their 22 yr. old daughter adulterated alcohol which resulted in her subsequent death.
There is a pilot project beginning in Mexico City’s airport Terminals 1 and 2 which signals a significant change to the current Customs and Immigration procedure currently in place at Cancun and other Mexican airports. Mexico wants to do away with the Declaration Form and instead have everyone’s bags X-rayed between connecting flights or prior to unloading baggage onto carousels; also, the dreaded red/green light at Customs entry points is also going to be a thing of the past. No more will travelers need to stand in line wondering whether they will get the red light and have their bags randomly searched–I’m all for that! Traveling can be stressful enough without adding a procedure which purposefully induces more stress.
There is a new visitor attraction in Cancun’s Hotel Zone which will be opening sometime next week–it is called Gran Rueda Cancun and it is located at km. 9 in the Hotel Zone. Grand Rueda Cancun is a 200 ft. high ferris wheel with 42 climate-controlled gondolas; the entire ride lasts approximately 20 min. and will give visitors a panoramic look at the Hotel Zone and Nichupté Lagoon. Admission prices have not yet been listed.
Cancun’s Union of Taxi Drivers has started their own private transportation service called VIP Fleet. It is meant to compete with Uber which recently began services in the Cancun area. VIP Fleet will be using digitally metered vehicles and will be charging by time and distance rather than mileage or artificially inflated rates. A “user fee” of 15 pesos will automatically be added to every fare. All vehicles used are 5 yrs. old or less, have A/C, and are supposedly in excellent condition.
Uber began offering their private car service in Cancun Sept. 14, 2016 under a temporary operating license. While it is now up and running, the Mexican government is trying to find a way to temporarily halt the service until it can be regulated just like the taxi service. Understandably, taxi drivers are also upset and trying to highlight current government traffic laws which supposedly outlaw outside companies, such as Uber, from operating in Quintana Roo.
If you’re not too familiar with Cancun or the Riviera Maya, now there’s an app which can help. The Cancun Convention and Tourism center has launched an interactive map which allows visitors to gain access to various information about public beaches, shopping malls, entertainment venues, distances between destinations, as well as host to weather widgets and live webcam feeds. Check out this link for more information concerning what this app covers and where to go to access this great travel “friend”.
Sorry families, the Beloved Playa Mujeres is scheduled to become an adults-only resort come Sept. 1, 2016. The resort is planning on adding more features and amenities geared towards an adults-only group of vacationers, but this info. is yet to come.