cornblaster

We used "Hire a Driver in Cozumel" owned by Eduardo ________. He has several drivers (we had Alberto). I think you will find that all of Eduardo's drivers speak pretty good English. They are a licensed service.

The drivers were easy to find. Instructions were very clear. We simply walked up the dock, through the tourist rip-off strip mall shops to the taxi stand. All of Eduardo's drivers wore yellow hats and were standing in a group just off to the right - just as the instructions stated. When I approached the group, Alberto was quick to recognize us by name.

This is the confirmation message to us:

You are confirmed for a tour of Cozumel by taxi (station wagon) on Monday January 7th, 2013 starting at 10:30 AM ship eastern time / 9:30 AM local Cozumel central time

You are (MOST LIKELY!) docking at Carnival’s PUERTA MAYA PIER, Alex is not allowed a sign there, so look for a man with a yellow cap , He’ll be at the head of the taxi line as you leave the pier shopping area.

You are 99% for sure docking at the aforementioned PUERTA MAYA PIER, but stuff happens So…

If you dock at PUNTA LANGOSTA PIER (downtown), Alex will be waiting for you at the head of the taxi line in front of the Carlos ‘N Charlies bar/restaurant, which is directly across the street from the pier.

As you leave the pier, you will be obliged to take an escalator up to the 2nd floor of the mall (so the store owners get foot traffic). You have to make your way back to the ground floor again, but it’s a small mall, you won’t get lost. There is another taxi line at the back of the mall, but just ignore it. Alex’s waiting for you in front of Carlos ‘n Charlies!

If your ships docks at Royal Caribbean´s INTERNATIONAL PIER or tenders to any other pier, there is only one taxi line and finding it is easy and straightforward.

Payment is due in cash at the end of your tour, Alex accepts cash only as he has no way of verifying a credit card

REMINDER: There is a usd$95.00, 3 hour minimum charge for the tour + usd$25.00 per each additional hour for the Tour……….on December/11/12 we received by paypal the amount of usd$50.00 as an advance deposit and will be deducted from the balance at the end of the tour

Thanks…Alex and Eduardo / my cel in Cozumel 987-103-5504

IMPORTANT

For our tour services, we request a permit for your pick up at the pier from the Taxi union authority, so we cannot allow any more people in the vehicle than the ones the tour was reserved for (even if there's room in the vehicle for more). We cannot add more people in the vehicle without previous 48 hrs approval, as it is very possible that taxi union delegate at the pier will not allow them to board the vehicle for the tour.

We can refund the deposit in full with a written request by email, with at least two week notice. Within two weeks - 48 hours, a 50% refund will be given. No refunds will be given if you cancel within 48 hours or for no-shows. Full refunds will be given in the event that your cruise ship does not make port.

Hiring a native driver was the best value of our entire cruise. Our driver, Alberto, showed us his home like no ship excursion could ever do. In addition to the "tourist sites" we asked to see, he suggested several sites that would have been to "small" for a group excursion, but were fascinating to see. Alberto's explanation of these lesser publicized sites made these sites all the more special.

Alberto definitely had our best interests at heart...he took us to a small, out of the way convenience store to buy snacks and water at $1 per bottle instead of the $4 per bottle rip-off in the tourist traps; he took us to the north side of the island (no electricity there, except by generator) to eat at a true local restaurant where the prices were extremely reasonable and where we sat and ate 10 yards/meters from the surf splashing on the rocks; he negotiated prices for us from vendors...

The one shore excursion we were considering through the ship would have cost my wife and I $140 for the three hour round-trip excursion to and from a single site on the south end of the island. Alberto and Hiring a Driver for a Day provided 7 hours of personal service for FOUR people for just slightly less than TWO of us would have paid for a far inferior experience.

The reservation process was seamless. Communication via e-mail was quick and thorough. The meeting up arrangements were easy. I can offer nothing but compliments for Hiring a Driver for a Day, the owner, Eduardo, and our driver, Alberto. Quality service all the way.

If you want to see Cozumel from the point of view of a native, book Hiring a Driver for a Day. You won't be disappointed.