Category: Mexico

Mexico

Acapulco

North America > Mexico > Acapulco

See: Why hire a car in Acapulco ? | Why not? | Ratings | Summary | Comments

Whether or not you want to actually go loco down in Acapulco, this is not a part of the world that is served by trains in any shape or form. Acapulco has little to offer in terms of cycling facilities or walking trails, so to get around, you are going to need to use motorised road transport of some form.

Please note that Carornocar.com is currently being revised and updated in preparation for the Summer 2021 (northern hemisphere) tourist season. It is expected that some social distancing rules will still apply. For additional Acapulco car hire advice, please use the comments form below.

Quick Ratings

Price band:

Acapulco is in car rental price band: 5/10 (1 = cheapest car rental location)

General comment - based on price alone, is it worth renting a car in Acapulco?

Sometimes. Economy rental prices are average by global standards.

Volatility:

Can you expect big swings in car rental prices in Acapulco between the peak and the off peak season?

5/10 (0 = stable prices)

Driving score: 3/10

Non car score:3/10

Balance: 3

(0 = car hire not advised / 10 = rental car essential)

General comment -

Acapulco is a relatively densely packed city, constrained by hillsides to the east and the coast to the west, and all of the major resorts are actually relatively close to each other. There’s a perfectly adequate bus service serving Acapulco, and taxis are plentiful and relatively cheap. There are also plenty of activities based around the beach and waterfront environment, so driving isn’t really necessary.

Why? Visiting Acapulco using a hire car

Why do you need a car in Acapulco ?

Why do you need to rent a car in Acapulco?

Public transport is poor outside of the city.
No trains or trams of any kind – not within the city, and not to other cities.

Venturing inland from Acapulco

Acapulco is a good starting point for Mexican West Coast road trip.
For visitors who want to start exploring further afield and who want to take a road trip inland, then a hire car becomes a lot more useful.
Scheduled coach services are available, but they are primarily aimed at providing intercity service between major urban areas, rather than for touring.

Why not? Visiting Acapulco without a car

Why don't you need a car in Acapulco ?

For all the beach and resort stuff, a hire car is never really going to come into the equation – it’s much better just to stick to buses, walking and taxis.
Plenty to do within the city, especially around the beaches.
No real need for a hire car if doing planned excursions.

Ratings: How does Acapulco compare?

Is it worth hiring a car in Acapulco? TBC

This is based on a rough consideration of the costs of renting a car in Acapulco, and how this compares with the costs of using public transport. The answer to this varies hugely from one destination to the next, based on a wide range of factors. It's based on renting a car at the airport (TBC), and driving for an average of 2-3 hours on open roads on most days.

How does this compare if:

You are travelling:

Solo / As couple / small family / larger family / senior couple etc

Does car rental make sense on different budgets?

Do you need to hire a car in Acapulco? TBC

This is based strictly on whether or no we think it's possible to visit Acapulco (and the surrounding area) without using a car. Of the three key questions, this one is the most likely to be a "no".

Should you rent a car in Acapulco? TBC

This is a balance of all factors. Remember this is an answer to the question for people who are already asking it. That's why the answer might still be a "yes", even when public transport is good.

See global comparisons

Hiring | Driving | Parking

Trains | Buses | Local travel

Car hire basics:

Public transportation basics:

Regular bus services: YES

Coach (inter-city): YES

Tram: NO

Metro: NO

Commuter Rail:

High Speed Rail:

Rail type (end stub / through / junction / hub):

As you start ....

Does Acapulco airport have a direct rail link?

(Yes - within terminal / adjacent / short walk) (Yes - bus transfer / other) No

Changelog

Has our advice for Acapulco car rental changed over time, or has it been pretty constant?

2017 - 2

2019 - 4

2021 - 3

Average score - 3

Notes:

Do you need a car in Acapulco? On balance, our Acapulco car hire advice is that there isn’t really any need to get a rental car here. Acapulco is the type of destination where there’s a lot more going on within the city than there is around it. If you do choose to hire a car in Acapulco, you might prefer to focus on a single day rental. You should pick up and return your car in resort, rather than at the airport. Acapulco car hire tends to be reasonably comparable in value to other coastal resort destinations in Mexico.

Summary

Do you or don't you need a car in Acapulco ?

Mexico

Cancun

Post author By admin
Post date December 13, 2020
No Comments on Cancun

North America > Mexico > Cancun

See: Why hire a car in Cancun ? | Why not? | Ratings | Summary | Comments

Although many cities in Mexico have a substantially longer history, since the 1970s, Cancun has grown extensively around the tourism industry. This a destination which was largely developed around the car. Needless to say, airport transfers here are easy enough to come by. There are plenty resort shuttles travelling around and between the main hotel areas. However, no visit to Cancun can ever really do the area justice without also visiting some of the other coastal areas which are nearby and also venturing inland within the Yucatan Peninsula. In particular to visit the world heritage sites at Chichén Itzá.

Please note that Carornocar.com is currently being revised and updated in preparation for the Summer 2021 (northern hemisphere) tourist season. It is expected that some social distancing rules will still apply. For additional Cancun car hire advice, please use the comments form below.

Quick Ratings

Price band:

Cancun is in car rental price band: 4/10 (1 = cheapest car rental location)

General comment - based on price alone, is it worth renting a car in Cancun?

Sometimes. Car rental is slightly cheaper than global averages.

Volatility:

Can you expect big swings in car rental prices in Cancun between the peak and the off peak season?

5/10 (0 = stable prices)

Driving score: 4/10

Non car score:3/10

Balance: 6

(0 = car hire not advised / 10 = rental car essential)

General comment -

Why? Visiting Cancun using a hire car

Why do you need a car in Cancun ?

Felxibility to explore the Yucatan on your own terms.
No rail service in or around Cancun.

Why not? Visiting Cancun without a car

Why don't you need a car in Cancun ?

It’s also worth pointing out that many of these historic sites can also be done as part of a packaged day trip, but they are much harder to do by scheduled bus. Although there are various different scheduled bus services to and from Cancun, there is no rail service in this part of Mexico.

Most places can still be visited using taxis, local buses, coaches or organised tours.
No car needed for any beach activities.
Daily first class buses to Chichén Itzá will take you there in around 3 hours. You can also take cheaper, slower and less comfortable standard bus services or collectivos (large minibuses).

Ratings: How does Cancun compare?

Is it worth hiring a car in Cancun? TBC

This is based on a rough consideration of the costs of renting a car in Cancun, and how this compares with the costs of using public transport. The answer to this varies hugely from one destination to the next, based on a wide range of factors. It's based on renting a car at the airport (TBC), and driving for an average of 2-3 hours on open roads on most days.

How does this compare if:

You are travelling:

Solo / As couple / small family / larger family / senior couple etc

Does car rental make sense on different budgets?

Do you need to hire a car in Cancun? TBC

This is based strictly on whether or no we think it's possible to visit Cancun (and the surrounding area) without using a car. Of the three key questions, this one is the most likely to be a "no".

Should you rent a car in Cancun? TBC

This is a balance of all factors. Remember this is an answer to the question for people who are already asking it. That's why the answer might still be a "yes", even when public transport is good.

See global comparisons

Hiring | Driving | Parking

Trains | Buses | Local travel

Car hire basics:

Public transportation basics:

Regular bus services: YES

Coach (inter-city): YES

Tram: NO

Metro: NO

Commuter Rail:

High Speed Rail:

Rail type (end stub / through / junction / hub):

As you start ....

Does Cancun airport have a direct rail link?

(Yes - within terminal / adjacent / short walk) (Yes - bus transfer / other) No

Changelog

Has our advice for Cancun car rental changed over time, or has it been pretty constant?

2017 - 6

2019 - 8

2021 - 6

Average score - 7

Notes:

Should you rent a car in Cancun? On balance, Cancun is the sort of destination where our advice leans towards getting a hire car, but it’s certainly far from essential – verdict yes.

Summary

Do you or don't you need a car in Cancun ?

Mexico

Mexico City

North America > Mexico > Mexico City

See: Why hire a car in Mexico City ? | Why not? | Ratings | Summary | Comments

The vast and sprawling Mexico City used to be the largest city in the world, and although it has now been surpassed by several cities in Asia, this is still one of the largest cities in the Americas at least. Although it’s better than it was, Mexico City also still has a reputation for bad air quality. The city has invested heavily in public transport in an attempt to reduce the chronic congestion that blighted it for many decades.

Please note that Carornocar.com is currently being revised and updated in preparation for the Summer 2021 (northern hemisphere) tourist season. It is expected that some social distancing rules will still apply. For additional Mexico City car hire advice, please use the comments form below.

Quick Ratings

Price band:

Mexico City is in car rental price band: 4/10 (1 = cheapest car rental location)

General comment - based on price alone, is it worth renting a car in Mexico City?

Sometimes. Car rental is slightly cheaper than global averages.

Volatility:

Can you expect big swings in car rental prices in Mexico City between the peak and the off peak season?

5/10 (0 = stable prices)

Driving score: 1/10

Non car score:6/10

Balance: 2

(0 = car hire not advised / 10 = rental car essential)

General comment -

Mexico City now has a reasonably comprehensive metro system, and buses often tend to run reasonably quick when they are in their own dedicated bus lanes. There are certainly more than enough cultural attractions in the centre of Mexico City.

Many visitors will also want to get out and about and explore a bit, possibly on to relatively nearby cities like Toluca or Guadalajara. Outside the urban area of Mexico City itself, there really is next to nothing in terms of rail service, but express buses are ubiquitous.

Why? Visiting Mexico City using a hire car

Why do you need a car in Mexico City ?

A rental car might be useful to explore some of the former mining ghost towns or to visit the Iztaccíhuatl – Popocatépetl National park, but this is also easy enough to do in an organised bus tour from Mexico City.
If you’re planning on renting a car in Mexico City, it might be something to consider for a day or two at most, but it’s certainly not worthwhile for the whole trip.

Why not? Visiting Mexico City without a car

Why don't you need a car in Mexico City ?

If your plan is to look at Mexico City car hire options as the starting point of a greater Mexican road trip, then we would still advise looking at driving in certain areas of the country, such as the Yucatan peninsula or Baja California in the north.
For this sort of trip, it might make more sense to rent a car in Cancun (Mexican Riviera) or on the western coast instead.

Does Mexico City need you to rent a car?

Ratings: How does Mexico City compare?

Is it worth hiring a car in Mexico City? TBC

This is based on a rough consideration of the costs of renting a car in Mexico City, and how this compares with the costs of using public transport. The answer to this varies hugely from one destination to the next, based on a wide range of factors. It's based on renting a car at the airport (TBC), and driving for an average of 2-3 hours on open roads on most days.

How does this compare if:

You are travelling:

Solo / As couple / small family / larger family / senior couple etc

Does car rental make sense on different budgets?

Do you need to hire a car in Mexico City? TBC

This is based strictly on whether or no we think it's possible to visit Mexico City (and the surrounding area) without using a car. Of the three key questions, this one is the most likely to be a "no".

Should you rent a car in Mexico City? TBC

This is a balance of all factors. Remember this is an answer to the question for people who are already asking it. That's why the answer might still be a "yes", even when public transport is good.

See global comparisons

Hiring | Driving | Parking

Trains | Buses | Local travel

Car hire basics:

Public transportation basics:

Regular bus services: YES

Coach (inter-city): YES

Tram: NO

Metro: NO

Commuter Rail:

High Speed Rail:

Rail type (end stub / through / junction / hub):

As you start ....

Does Mexico City airport have a direct rail link?

(Yes - within terminal / adjacent / short walk) (Yes - bus transfer / other) No

Changelog

Has our advice for Mexico City car rental changed over time, or has it been pretty constant?

2017 - 3

2019 - 4

2021 - 2

Average score - 3

Notes:

Ratings: How does Mexico City compare?

Is it worth hiring a car in Mexico City? TBC

How does this compare if:

You are travelling:

Solo / As couple / small family / larger family / senior couple etc

Does car rental make sense on different budgets?

Do you need to hire a car in Mexico City? TBC

Should you rent a car in Mexico City? TBC

This is a balance of all factors. Remember this is an answer to the question for people who are already asking it. That's why the answer might still be a "yes", even when public transport is good.

See global comparisons

Hiring | Driving | Parking

Trains | Buses | Local travel

Car hire basics:

Public transportation basics:

Regular bus services: YES

Coach (inter-city): YES

Tram: NO

Metro: NO

Commuter Rail:

High Speed Rail:

Rail type (end stub / through / junction / hub):

As you start ....

Does Mexico City airport have a direct rail link?

(Yes - within terminal / adjacent / short walk) (Yes - bus transfer / other) No

Changelog

Has our advice for Mexico City car rental changed over time, or has it been pretty constant?

2017 - 3

2019 - 4

2021 - 2

Average score - 3

Notes: