Cancun Walmart and Costco trip

[cubigbird]

What is the cheapest, easiest and safest way to get from the Westin Lagunamar in the hotel zone in Cancun to Walmart or Costco in town for groceries for the timeshare???

 

[Tfish]

You can take the local transit bus-$.85

 

[cubigbird]

I am aware of the bus but having a larger family with younger kids and carrying groceries may make the bus more difficult....

 

[pjrose]

I am aware of the bus but having a larger family with younger kids and carrying groceries may make the bus more difficult....

You can take the bus there, and taxi back with the groceries. Taxis will be available outside of Walmart; turn left as you leave the store, then they're on the street outside. Agree on the price before you get into the taxi.

Tip the baggers, I've heard that's their only pay (others, chime in if I'm wrong on this)

 

[Former Cruiser]

The first year we went we had USA Transfers stop at Walmart on the way from the airport. It costs a little extra, but I think it was better than taking a bus and trying to bring it all back. However, because there are only 2 of us we decided after the first year to just buy the stuff at the Sands market.

 

[Phydeaux]

Bus there, cab back. We choose to support the local economy and shop for groceries at Comercial Mexicana and Mercado 23.

 

[Ron98GT]

So, what is the typical cost for a cab to/from Walmart/Costco? What about the tip?

I assume that you can catch a cab easily at the Westin, but is it easier to catch a return cab at the Walmart or Costco?

Unfortunately, I haven't read about any grocery stores across the street at the mall?

 

[Phydeaux]

So, what is the typical cost for a cab to/from Walmart/Costco? What about the tip?

I assume that you can catch a cab easily at the Westin, but is it easier to catch a return cab at the Walmart or Costco?

Unfortunately, I haven't read about any grocery stores across the street at the mall?

No idea what cab fare is to Westin from downtown, but the concierge can tell you. Don't sweat the small stuff, and tipping is not customary in this region unless an above and beyond service was provided. Such as waiting for you while you do your liquor shopping at La Europea on your way back from downtown.

 

[dioxide45]

Westin Lagunamar has a service where they will arrange a cab to take you to Costco or Walmart, wait for you and return. I think the people told us it was $40. We didn't use it but were talking to someone in the lobby that was using the service. Talk to the concierge. We will be using this service when we return to the Lagumanar in May.

We have used the Walmart stop with USA Transfers airport transfer. It is $30 to add on to your airport transportation. It was okay, but they took us to the small Walmart and we were not overly impressed. That is why we will go to Costco the next time.

 

[Rascalsmom]

I took the bus there, sat in the front seat and asked the driver & his helper to tell me when to get off. They got involved in a conversation and forgot, leaving me with a five-block walk at 2pm in late June. HOT!!!

Once I got to WalMart, everything was fine. They even had employees stationed in the different departments to help you find what you needed. Now that it's over, it was an "interesting cultural experience." As it was occurring, I would have called it something else.

Cabbed it back to the hotel with my packages.

 

[maciec]

Can you request which Walmart you want to go to when USA transfers picks you up or is based on where you are staying? I want to go to the one with SAMs next to it


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[Phydeaux]

Can you request which Walmart you want to go to when USA transfers picks you up or is based on where you are staying? I want to go to the one with SAMs next to it


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Are you sure you really want to deal with arriving with your party, their baggage, and bags of groceries? Looks like you're really trying to avoid a trip downtown to do some grocery shopping. If so, relax. It's a fun getaway. We enjoy it, look forward to it, and welcome the opportunity to get away from the resort and have a delicious, authentic and very inexpensive lunch at Mercado 23 before doing our shopping. It's fun!

 

[maciec]

Our problem is that we are a party of five including a baby in a car seat. It's not like we can take a cab to go to Walmart so were kind of stuck going on the day we check in


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[SMHarman]

Our problem is that we are a party of five including a baby in a car seat. It's not like we can take a cab to go to Walmart so were kind of stuck going on the day we check in


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Why do all of you have to go to WalMart? Hardly a Mexican Vacation experience. Can't Mom stay home with the Kids and send Dad on a mission with a shopping list? Or some similar arrangement depending on the family unit that is heading on this trip.

 

[Phydeaux]

Why do all of you have to go to WalMart? Hardly a Mexican Vacation experience. Can't Mom stay home with the Kids and send Dad on a mission with a shopping list? Or some similar arrangement depending on the family unit that is heading on this trip.

Exactly what I was thinking. I'm pretty sure most people don't load up the entire family when they shop at home. I dont see what the difference is here.

 

[Passepartout]

Why do all of you have to go to WalMart? Hardly a Mexican Vacation experience. Can't Mom stay home with the Kids and send Dad on a mission with a shopping list?

Or Dad watch the kiddos and get settled while Mom & maybe one of the oldest kids make a grocery run. Not familiar with the grocery store availability around Cancun, but a Soriana or Mega or Gigante; ANY would be a better (though less familiar) shopping experience than WalMart.

It would be a purely American shopping experience hereabouts. Mom, Dad and 7.4 kids of one Mexican family running roughshod through Wally-World. At least at WalMart here. To be avoided like the plague for the first week of every month.

Jim

 

[SMHarman]

Or Dad watch the kiddos and get settled while Mom & maybe one of the oldest kids make a grocery run. Not familiar with the grocery store availability around Cancun, but a Soriana or Mega or Gigante; ANY would be a better (though less familiar) shopping experience than WalMart.

It would be a purely American shopping experience hereabouts. Mom, Dad and 7.4 kids of one Mexican family running roughshod through Wally-World. At least at WalMart here. To be avoided like the plague for the first week of every month.

Jim

I didn't want to be accused of being sexist or something Men and Women are capable of food shopping! Though Women like to browse and Men treat it more like a military operation, checklist, complete list, checkout.

http://pueblo.net/content/pueblo-plaza-las-americas

Is a great supermarket. Sadly most of the supermarkets in Cancun have been taken over by Walmart. Remember Walmart operates in Mexico under the names Walmart, Superama, Suburbia, VIPS, Sam's Club and Bodega Aurrerá.

To truly support the Mexican economy you should try to shop at Soriana, Comercial Mexicana, Chedraui, H-E-B, Casa Ley, and S-Mart.

I think it is Chedraui in the Plaza Las Americas. Great store. Enormous.

 

[Phydeaux]

I didn't want to be accused of being sexist or something Men and Women are capable of food shopping! Though Women like to browse and Men treat it more like a military operation, checklist, complete list, checkout.

http://pueblo.net/content/pueblo-plaza-las-americas

Is a great supermarket. Sadly most of the supermarkets in Cancun have been taken over by Walmart. Remember Walmart operates in Mexico under the names Walmart, Superama, Suburbia, VIPS, Sam's Club and Bodega Aurrerá.

To truly support the Mexican economy you should try to shop at Soriana, Comercial Mexicana, Chedraui, H-E-B, Casa Ley, and S-Mart.

I think it is Chedraui in the Plaza Las Americas. Great store. Enormous.

Don't forget the mercados. IMHO, best produce, fresh fish and meats, and best prices of any stores in this region. Not to mention, the most interesting and fun grocery shopping experience you'll have. Where else can you buy fresh squeezed, and I mean FRESH, orange juice tied in a bag?

 

[dioxide45]

Can you request which Walmart you want to go to when USA transfers picks you up or is based on where you are staying? I want to go to the one with SAMs next to it


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You may be able to, though it may cost a bit more for the trip downtown since it is more out of the way. If it were me, I would just take the trip down there after you get to the resort.

 

[Janann]

Our problem is that we are a party of five including a baby in a car seat.

With a few kids in tow, its completely understandable why you need and/or want to go to Walmart. It would probably be easiest to check into the resort and then have an adult and maybe one of the kids go out for groceries. One of my worst fears with stopping for groceries on the way to resort is what would happen to the refrigerated or frozen groceries if your condo isn't ready.

 

[SMHarman]

With a few kids in tow, its completely understandable why you need and/or want to go to Walmart. It would probably be easiest to check into the resort and then have an adult and maybe one of the kids go out for groceries. One of my worst fears with stopping for groceries on the way to resort is what would happen to the refrigerated or frozen groceries if your condo isn't ready.

WLR has refrigerated storage on arrival and departure.

You could drop the kids at the kid Club.

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[levatino]

Chedraui is even closer to the hotel zone, and as very reasonable prices.

 

[maciec]

We have our reasons for wanting to go on the way. Yes, it will be a lot more to deal with once we have all of our luggage and grocery bags, but we arrive after the check in time so I'm not worried. I don't care if its Walmart or another grocery store. I want my children to go to the store because of the educational value. It's something that they can include in their work assignments for school that they are missing. I'm not sure why I have to justify my decision for taking my whole family to the grocery store on vacation.

All I asked was "Can you request which Walmart you want to go to when USA transfers picks you up or is based on where you are staying? I want to go to the one with SAMs next to it" and only 2 people were kind enough to answer my question instead of questioning our decision. Thank you dioxide45 and levatino

 

[SMHarman]

We have our reasons for wanting to go on the way. Yes, it will be a lot more to deal with once we have all of our luggage and grocery bags, but we arrive after the check in time so I'm not worried. I don't care if its Walmart or another grocery store. I want my children to go to the store because of the educational value. It's something that they can include in their work assignments for school that they are missing. I'm not sure why I have to justify my decision for taking my whole family to the grocery store on vacation.

All I asked was "Can you request which Walmart you want to go to when USA transfers picks you up or is based on where you are staying? I want to go to the one with SAMs next to it" and only 2 people were kind enough to answer my question instead of questioning our decision. Thank you dioxide45 and levatino

Sheesh, thanks for the explanation as to why you wanted to do it that way. I guess others of use were thinking why you would want the stress of getting off an airplane, shopping while carrying your luggage with you etc. Just seemed to be adding layer upon layer of stress to an already hectic day of travel. I certainly would avoid your plan at all costs. Including another $30-40 for cabs to do it later in the day or another day.
FYI. Last time I went to WLR my room was ready to check in at 7pm so don't expect that because you show up at 4pm your room will be ready.
Have fun getting to the airport at early oclock and then flying and then taking the whole fam damily to WalMart. Not my idea of a start to a vacation but hey, whatever floats your boat. I'm sure it will be an educational day.

Just as an FYI, you know you can get to the resort early, drop the bags, go to Westin Workout and shower and freshen up and spend a day at the resort relaxing and enjoying your day. You don't have to work out ways to avoid getting there before 4pm. They are very welcoming prior to the 4pm arrival (many East Coast flights and most West Coast flights get there in the AM) and set up to handle it graciously. You won't be turned away and told to come back at 4, just to check back in at 4pm to find your room number.

 

[maciec]

Sheesh, thanks for the explanation as to why you wanted to do it that way. I guess others of use were thinking why you would want the stress of getting off an airplane, shopping while carrying your luggage with you etc. Just seemed to be adding layer upon layer of stress to an already hectic day of travel.
FYI. Last time I went to WLR my room was ready to check in at 7pm so don't expect that because you show up at 4pm your room will be ready.
Have fun getting to the airport at early oclock and then flying and then taking the whole fam damily to WalMart. Not my idea of a start to a vacation but hey, whatever floats your boat. I'm sure it will be an educational day.

Never thought I would have to explain myself for such a simple question. We aren't staying at the WLR. That is the original poster. I didn't think I would need to start another thread about such a similar question and explain that we are staying at the Royal Sands. And before you or someone else asks, we need much more that the Royal Market has to offer.