Destinations › Mexico › Playa del Carmen › Scams
Playa del Carmen, Mexico
9 reported scam patterns travellers run into in Playa del Carmen, what they look like, and how to sidestep them.
Taxis are unmetered and priced by zone, with fares to arrivals several times the going rate; the local taxi union also restricts ride-hailing pickups at some points.
Officers stopping visitors for invented infractions and demanding an immediate cash payment to avoid a station visit.
ATM skimming and card cloning on Quinta Avenida, and standalone machines offering a poor 'dynamic currency conversion' rate as the default.
Timeshare and vacation-club representatives posing as tourist information or transport desks, offering free tours and transfers in exchange for a presentation that runs for hours under pressure.
Short-let bookings cancelled close to arrival in high season and relisted at a higher rate.
Machine-embroidered imports sold as hand-embroidered Yucatán huipiles, and imitation silver stamped as .925.
Guides at Akumal implying that a paid tour is compulsory when free public beach access exists.
Beach clubs charging for sunbeds advertised as free with a drink, and adding undisclosed service to the bill.
Cancún airport arrivals hall, where transport desks are frequently timeshare sales and pre-booked transfers are diverted.
