Common Cancun & Riviera Maya Mistakes Tourists Make
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Cancún and the Riviera Maya are about as stress-free as holidays get.
Sunshine, all-inclusive resorts, and cocktails that appear faster than you can drink them.
And don’t forget the random shots.
Yet somehow… every trip we still see the exact same Cancun travel mistakes happening.
Some of them are harmless.
A few can cost you a lot of money.
And a couple can genuinely cause a few arguments if you’re not prepared.
Whether you’re staying in Cancún itself, Playa del Carmen, Akumal, or anywhere along the Riviera Maya, here are 12 mistakes tourists make — and how to avoid them.
1. Not Bringing the Right Plug Adapter or Charging Gear
Most UK travellers know they’ll need a plug adapter for Mexico.
But what catches people out at resorts is how few plug sockets there can be in hotel rooms.
Once you start charging things like:
- phones & tablets
- watches
- cameras
- headphones
you quickly run out of places to plug things in.
Many resorts also don’t have built-in USB ports, so if you’re relying on those, you might be in for a surprise.
A simple fix is to bring:
- Plug adapter with USB ports
- Multi-USB charging block
- Power bank
- Extension Lead – You’ll only need one adapter
Power banks are especially handy on excursion days, long airport waits, or transfers when your phone battery gets hammered by photos, maps and videos.
You’ll also be using your brightness to the max and still barely see anything.
If you’re unsure which adapter you need for Mexico, we explain everything here: WATT Plug Type Mexico: Everything You Need to Know
It’s a small thing, but having enough charging options makes life much easier — especially when two people are trying to charge everything overnight before an early trip.
A small extension lead can also be handy because you’ll only need one adapter.
And if you’ve stayed in Mexican resorts before, you’ll know the sockets don’t always love anything heavy plugged into them. Chargers have a habit of slowly sliding out of the wall like they’ve given up on life.
2. Ignoring Resort Dress Codes
This one surprises a lot of people on their first all-inclusive holiday.
During the day, you can pretty much wander around in shorts, flip-flops, and whatever you threw on after the pool.
But in the evenings, many resorts have dress codes for certain restaurants — especially steakhouses or à la carte spots.
That usually means:
- Long trousers or chinos
- Smart shoes or all-black trainers
- No vests or beachwear
If you turn up in ‘smart open sandals’, swim shorts, and a vest, there’s a good chance you’ll be politely turned away at the door.
It happens more often than you’d think… and it normally ends with someone standing outside the restaurant arguing that their holiday is now “ruined”.
That said, we’ve never had an issue wearing smart shorts and trainers. Most resorts are fairly relaxed.
Still, dress codes vary from place to place, so it’s not worth the gamble.
Pack one pair of chinos and some all-black trainers if you hate shoes, and you’ll avoid the drama completely.
3. Not Understanding How Airport Transport & Taxis Work
Cancún Airport can be a bit of a circus when you first walk out.
You’ll see people shouting, waving clipboards, trying to sell you transfers, taxis, excursions… pretty much everything.
One thing that surprises people is that Uber doesn’t operate from Cancún Airport. It’s a long-running dispute with the local taxi unions, and if a driver tries to pick you up there it can cause problems for both of you.
In short — don’t rely on Uber when you land.
The easiest option is usually to book a private transfer in advance, which is what we normally do. It’s simple, fixed-price, and you just walk out and find your driver holding a sign with your name on it.
Even though we technically get a free transfer with TUI, we still book a private one instead.
Why?
Because you won’t be waiting around for ten-fag Phil, and you won’t be wondering whether your resort is the first stop… or the very last one after an hour of drop-offs.
If you want a full breakdown, we explain everything in our guide to Cancún airport transfers.
Outside the airport, it’s probably best to use Uber or Didi. You can see the fair and pay through the app, so no dodgy surprises or “card payment didn’t go through, try again”.
They’ve only got themselves to blame for nobody trusting them anymore.
Confirm The Price
If you do take taxis during your trip, there’s one simple rule that will save you headaches:
Agree on the price before you get in.
Hotels are actually very helpful for this. If you ask reception to call a taxi, they’ll usually confirm the price when booking it.
For example, they might tell you:
“Taxi to Playa del Carmen is 700 pesos.”
When the driver arrives, just confirm the price again before you get in.
It sounds obvious, but a quick confirmation avoids the awkward situation where the price mysteriously changes once you arrive.
If you’re landing at Terminal 2, we’ve also written about how long it actually takes to get through Cancún Airport.
4. Underestimating the Sun
Also worth mentioning — suncream in resort shops can be ridiculously expensive, so it’s much better to bring what you need from home.
If your skin is sensitive and you want minimal disruption to your pool time and cocktails, using a rash guard might be one of those purchases where you end up saying:
“That was one of the best things I packed.”
For what it’s worth, I never really considered buying one either — but I’ll 100% be bringing one on our next trip. If you do get one, make sure it’s rated UPF 50 or higher for proper sun protection.
They’re also particularly useful for excursions, as many places like cenotes, water parks, and biosphere reserves don’t allow any kind of sunscreen to protect the water and wildlife.…so a rash guard can save you from getting roasted while you’re floating around a cenote.
I’m pretty good at reapplying suncream and used to work outdoors, so I’m used to being in the sun.
But when you’re:
- in and out of the pool
- sitting in the sun for hours
- forgetting to reapply after a swim
it’s very easy to get caught out.
A rash guard takes a lot of the stress out of it — and saves you from that day-two lobster situation that ruins the rest of the holiday. It’s mainly the shoulders.
You’ll notice the sizzle if you’re not careful.
Grilled shoulder.
5. Assuming You Can Just Buy Things at the Resort
A lot of people travel light or just pack clothes and assume they’ll just pick up anything they need once they arrive.
Technically, you can… but it’s going to cost you.
Resort shops are convenient, but they’re also known for charging eye-watering prices for basic things like suncream, aftersun, painkillers, or mosquito spray.
£30 for a small bottle of suncream that lasts a few days isn’t unusual. In fact, that was roughly the going rate when we stayed at El Dorado.
And £8 for a pack of Lays.
£8.
And depending on where you’re staying, the nearest proper shop might not be a quick stroll away either. Many resorts along the Riviera Maya are fairly isolated, which means leaving the resort often involves a taxi or jumping on a collectivo.
So while it’s tempting to pack light, it’s worth bringing enough of the essentials with you.
Things like:
- Suncream
- Mosquito repellent
- Painkillers
- Basic toiletries
It saves you spending half your holiday hunting for a pharmacy — or paying resort prices for things you could have packed at home.
This is why we always recommend bringing the essentials with you, especially things like suncream and repellent. We cover this properly in our Mexico resort packing essentials guide.
If being able to grab snacks, cigarettes, or random bits and pieces easily matters to you, it’s also worth choosing a resort with shops nearby rather than one that’s completely isolated.
That’s one of the reasons we like staying at the Bahia Principe resorts, where you’ve got an Oxxo in the Hacienda and a petrol station just outside the resort if you need them. It’s not your normal petrol station. You can grab lots of snacks, drinks and hot food to go.
There’s also sometimes a random and very basic stand outside, selling tacos, etc. Looks a bit dodgy, though.
6. Not Bringing Mexican Pesos
If you ever ask what currency to bring to Mexico in a hotel Facebook group, you’ll almost always see people recommending US dollars. Usually within about six seconds.
The reason is simple — a lot of those replies are coming from Americans, and for them, it makes no difference.
For everyone else, it usually isn’t the best option.
If you’re travelling from the UK, Europe or Canada, using US dollars often means your money gets converted twice — once into dollars, and then again into pesos when you actually spend it.
That can work out more expensive, especially with the Mexican peso being fairly strong in recent years.
Mexican pesos are also much easier for things like taxis, shops, tips, and smaller purchases outside resorts.
That being said, we actually pay for most things using our card, which works perfectly fine across resorts, restaurants, and many shops.
The only thing we really use cash for is tips, which we usually withdraw from a cash machine once we arrive.
Using a fee-free travel card makes this a lot easier. We personally use Monzo & Virgin, which lets us spend abroad and withdraw enough pesos without the usual bank fees.
If you want a full breakdown of what currency to use in Mexico, we explain it properly in our guide here: USD vs Pesos in Mexico
We’ve also written about the debit, credit and prepaid travel cards we use abroad if you want to avoid unnecessary foreign transaction fees.
7. Paying Tourist Taxes on the Wrong Website (Or Waiting)
IIf you’re travelling to Cancún or the Riviera Maya, you’ll probably come across something called the Visitax tourist tax.
It’s a small tax for visitors to the state of Quintana Roo.
The problem is that there are a lot of unofficial websites online charging extra fees to process it for you. Some of them look very convincing.
You might also receive emails or text messages asking you to pay the tax before you travel.
Always double-check the source before paying anything.
The safest option is to go through the official link provided by your airline or holiday company.
For example, when we travel with TUI we always use the link on the TUI website, which takes you to the correct page.
If you want a full explanation of how the tax works and where to pay it safely, we’ve put together a guide here: Mexico Tourist Tax, Departure Tax & Visitax: Everything You Need to Know
Thinking about skipping it?
You’ll often see staff wearing VISITAX uniforms checking people at the airport, and it seems to be happening more often in recent years.
The last thing you want is to be scrambling for WiFi at the airport trying to pay it while everyone else is boarding their flight.
Trust us… It’s easier to just sort it beforehand.
8. Not Booking À La Carte Restaurants Early (Or Waiting Too Long)
At many all-inclusive resorts, the nicer restaurants require reservations.
People assume they can just walk in later in the week… and suddenly everything is booked.
It’s especially common with places like:
• Steakhouses
• Japanese / teppanyaki
• Seafood restaurants
The best move is to book them as soon as you can.
Most resorts now have apps, and once you’re able to check in online (usually 10–14 days before arrival) you can often:
• book restaurants
• choose your room
• add extras or excursions
Good to Know
Many resorts don’t release all reservations at once.
When you first log in it might look a little bleak, and you’ll probably be muttering to your other half:
“Are we really paying all this money to eat at a buffet every night?”
Don’t panic.
Slots get released randomly, and people cancel reservations all the time.
If it’s towards the end of your trip and you still can’t get a booking, it’s also worth speaking to reception or the concierge. They can often find something that doesn’t show in the app.
Worst-case scenario? Turn up early and ask if they have space.
You’d be surprised how often that works. Things can look a bit bleak, like Bahia hotels. Keep randomly checking, and you’ll find options open up, and you’ll have no problems filling your holiday before you even arrive.
9. Overpacking Clothes
A lot of people pack far more clothes than they actually need for an all-inclusive holiday.
In reality, most of your time is spent in shorts, a bikini, flip-flops, and a t-shirt.
Evenings are usually a little smarter depending on the restaurant, but it’s still pretty relaxed.
Because of the heat, most of the clothes you bring should be lightweight anyway — and almost every resort supplies pool and beach towels, so there’s no need to bring your own.
We normally travel with around 12–14kg of luggage, even though most airlines allow more.
Packing light just makes the whole trip easier.
And more importantly… it leaves plenty of room in your suitcase for the snacks you inevitably bring back home.
10. Not Knowing About the Sargassum Season
One thing that catches some tourists off guard in the Riviera Maya is sargassum.
It’s seaweed that washes up on beaches along parts of the Caribbean coast, usually during the warmer months.
Most resorts work hard to clear it each morning, but depending on the time of year and weather conditions, you might still see some on the beach.
It doesn’t ruin a holiday by any means — the pools, bars, and everything else at the resort are still exactly the same — but it’s something worth being aware of before you travel.
The heaviest sargassum season generally runs between spring and late summer, although it can vary from year to year.
If having a completely clear beach is important to you, it’s worth checking recent photos or updates from your resort before travelling.
If you’re wondering when the best time to visit the Riviera Maya actually is, we’ve broken down the seasons properly in our guide here: Best Time to Visit Riviera Maya.
11. Thinking You Can Just Walk to Shops or Towns
A lot of resorts along the Riviera Maya are quite isolated.
They look close to towns on the map, but once you’re actually there you’ll realise many of them sit along the main highway with not much around within walking distance.
That means if you want to visit places like Playa del Carmen, Tulum, or even just a proper supermarket, you’ll usually need a taxi or organised transport.
That’s not a bad thing — it’s part of what makes many of the resorts feel quiet and private — but it can catch people out if they’re expecting to pop out for a quick wander.
If exploring outside the resort is important to you, it’s worth checking how far the nearest town actually is before you travel.
It’s also worth keeping in mind the heat. What looks like a ten-minute walk on maps can turn into an hour.
12. Trying to Do Too Much
Cancún and the Riviera Maya have loads of amazing things to see.
Cenotes, Mayan ruins, jungle excursions, boat trips, beach clubs… the list goes on.
It can be tempting to try and squeeze everything into one trip.
But if you’re staying at an all-inclusive resort, remember that relaxing is part of the holiday too.
You don’t need to book an excursion every single day to have a great time.
Sometimes the best days are the simplest ones — a lazy breakfast, a few hours by the pool, a swim in the sea, and a couple of margaritas before dinner.
After all, you’re on holiday.
The heat can exhaust you more than you expect, and getting from A to B isn’t always quick or easy. What looks simple when you’re planning at home can feel very different once you’re actually there.
There’s no need to turn it into a full-time job.
If you do fancy one adventure while you’re there, excursions like Sian Ka’an Biosphere are a great way to see a different side of the area. It’s a real pinch yourself moment because it doesn’t feel real.
Cancun & Riviera Maya Travel FAQs
Is Cancun safe for tourists?
Cancún and the Riviera Maya are generally very safe in tourist areas and resorts. Like anywhere, use common sense, stick to well-known areas, and avoid wandering late at night outside resort zones.
Do you need pesos in Cancun?
Yes. Mexican pesos are the official currency and are usually the easiest option for taxis, shops, and tips. US dollars are accepted in many places, but often give worse exchange rates.
Do you have to pay the Cancun tourist tax?
Yes. Visitors to the state of Quintana Roo are expected to pay the Visitax tourist tax. Make sure you use the official website or a trusted link from your airline or holiday company.
Do all-inclusive resorts require restaurant reservations?
Often, yes. Many resorts require reservations for à la carte restaurants like steakhouses or teppanyaki.
Final Thoughts
Avoid these, and you’ll spend less time dealing with problems and more time doing what you came for — enjoying the sunshine, the food, and a few margaritas by the pool..
Cancún and the Riviera Maya are incredibly easy places to travel, especially if you’re staying at an all-inclusive resort.
But a few small mistakes can make things more expensive, stressful, or awkward than they need to be.
More Mexico. More Travel Guides & Tips
- Tipping at All-Inclusive Resorts in Mexico
- Is an All-Inclusive Holiday Worth It & Right For Me?
- Zipline In Tulum, ATVs & Cenote
- Bahia Sian Ka’an Hotel Review
If this post saved you or helped you book smarter, that’s a massive win for us.
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¡Adiós amigos!
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