Planning a trip to Puerto Vallart via sunwing. Is it worth it to purchase the airport transfers from sunwing for $80 per person round trip or are we better off to get a taxi? FYI - my first trip to Mexico. We are staying at the Riu Vallarta, not sure of distance from airport to resort.

Take Taxi

$80 per person is crazy....id take a taxi

I believe a cab to that resort is about $350 peso - been about a year so I can’t remember the exact amount. Maybe cheaper to take a cab depending on how many people.

P.s. Riu Vallarta is a great resort
. Safe travels!

Read your package most sunwing packages include transfers.$80 is likely private transfer upgrade

Larry oh, it does say private transfer. Thanks for the tip!

Rita I prefer the private transfer. You will beat everyone to the hotel and you don’t have to wait while they offload people at various hotels on way there and back. Plus on way back they pick you up way earlier than needed as you have to stop at all the hotels again. I would book my own transfer. Usually $60-80 for the vehicle regardless of how many people you have. I was just in Cancun in Feb and that was the cost.

Becky
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Taxi - for sure TAXI! Or, check with the resort itself to see if they have a service that is cheaper than what is available with your 'package'.

That's pretty spendy.l Take a cab, and if you're lucky you will be poolside with a margarita, when the shuttle arrives at the front desk¡!

Riu has a free airport shuttle ask about that
If it’s not included taxi drivers 100%

Group transfers in the buses to hotels with other passengers (with multiple hotel stops) are USUALLY included in your package with sunwing.
Are you looking at personal transfer?
If so, sometimes the convenience is worth it.
They’re waiting there for you when you get there and off you go.
No multiple stops.
Not sure what the price is like compared to a taxi though

If you haven't already booked with sunwing I would recommend booking yourself instead. If you book directly through riu website the rates are cheaper and they give you free airport transfer. Then you can look at various airlines and find the cheapest flight. Should have no problem round trip from calgary to pv. westjet, sunwing, swoop maybe... but it's likely you will save hundreds. I just did it this way going to cabo and it was a game changer.

Kristy swoop flys to PV

Elizabet swoop flies to PV but not from Calgary. Yes it is way cheaper. I will go second time in November-December this time I won't use westjet I will use other airlines

Kristy agreed! Next time we’ll do it this way. Way smarter!

uber was really reasonable.

Take a taxi from the airport to the hotel and on the way back to the airport take an uber. Much cheaper.

viator offers cheaper private airport transfers if you don't want to deal with the craziness of the taxis.

I just returned from Puerto Vallarta. Take uber it will be way cheaper. Around $15-20 CAD

Taxis are so much cheaper than that rate! As you leave the airport, walk past all those people offering rides, turn left and follow the others who are crossing the road to the cheap taxis. 300 pesos is roughly 22 Canadian dollars.

It’s quite close to the airport and a taxi should be less than 100 Pesos.
We just came back from there.

Aengus it is far end of Nuevo Nayarit. Taxi leaving the airport is closer to 350/400

Donna agreed.

Cathy Well we just paid 80 Pesos from that resort which is about 6 mins from the airport.

Aengus that’s awesome.

Aengus back to the airport is a LOT cheaper

Do the sunwing transfers. So easy and stress free.

Cassandr and Included

RIU provides free airport shuttle just arrange ahead of time

Tapz I think there are couple Riu resorts there

Kanan yes there are 3 and they all provide the free transport as far as i am aware. The info is on the website. I was recently at the RIU Vallarta and it was great! Have fun!

Tapz I actually returned 1 week ago from Krystal Grand. Riu was next door

We got a cab from krystal Vallarta to airport for $25
. Just negotiate the cost b4 u get in

It cost me 400 in September to go to Villa la Estancia. Which is two resorts over. I recommend a taxi. It will get you there faster than the sunwing bus. $80 seems crazy expensive. I don’t recommend walking over the bridge if you have large suitcases. Or never been. After getting up early, the flight and the heat - it’s not so easy

We were at the Rui Jalisco in Aug. 2022, down the beach from Rui Vallarta. We booked with sunwing and their prices include transfers to and from the hotel and luggage. If it's your first time, save yourself the hassle of finding ubers and taxis. Walk out of the airport and DO NOT stop to talk to anyone about rides, it's a Timeshare group wasting your time. There will be someone in a Bright orange sunwing shirt outside the airport doors. They will direct you to the bus to take you to the hotel. They will give you the scoop about the place, prices for taxis, everything you need to know. Hopefully, this helps. PM me if you need anymore help.

No

You can get uber there easily and cheaper than $80 per person

Take uber so much cheaper, usually 20-30 bucks we use them all the time

Taxi

Its lie season the airport is not busy just take a taxi.
With trabsfers at 80.00 dollars...yiu have to wait for other people .
By taking a taxi you dont have to.wait fur other people .

uber. Less than $20. Or taxi. $80 p/p is way too much for a ride.

Per person!! Yikes

In PV....proceed over Hwy 200 pedestrian overpass. Taxis are always cheaper (no airporto tax) on the other side by the marlin taco place.

If it's a sunwing package, transfers are included. You have to walk the gauntlet though. Do not stop and talk to anyone on the way out of the airport. They will lie to you and say they are your transfer. Once outside, look for your sunwing rep in an orange shirt by the bus and they will get you to your hotel.

Thank you everyone for all the tips! I did not purchase the private transfer.

sunwing charges a lot I think. Is it 7 days you bought?

Kanan yes

Rita ok for 2 adults?

I paid $22 for a taxi .

We are at Puerto Vallart now. Just get a taxi at the airport it is cheaper.

viator had a luxury suv pickup with champagne and an hour shopping trip for less than that

I would pay $80 a person NOT to take the sunwing bus...especially if your resort is end of the line. It will add hours onto you getting from the airport to your hotel.

Are you doing a vacation package with sunwing? Usually the transfers are included if so. I took the sunwing transfer to Riu Jalisco next door in January was great! Quick,it only had to make 3 stops.

Candace yes that's what we booked.

Rita we enjoyed taking the free transfers by sunwing. The bus host was funny and got us in the vacation mood.

Rita - You should look at the whole package again, like Candace said usually the resort includes the airport pick and to…. Ours was all inclusive and it was included

sunwing transfer. Just came back from Mexico. I highly recommend it

Taxi is super easy to and from the airports in PV! Just give yourself lots of time when heading to the airport.

We just got home yesterday from sunwing vacation. Our tablet got stolen out of our bag via the sunwing transport. Was there when we got on the bus...was not there when we got to the hotel. Absolutely no help what so ever.
I do not recommend sunwing at all.

Dana driver stole the tablet?

Kanan well he had the bag when we got on the bus, when we got off at the hotel it was not in the bag. He would not let us take our carryon onto the bus.

Dana weird. In my case I had VIP services took us to resort in the private car

Kanan that is what I would do going forward.

Dana yes. Also I advise you to book separate all inclusive hotel and then flights

Kanan unfortunately it was a group booking for a wedding, the bride booked for all of us (34 people)

Dana I saw wedding at our resort not sure maybe it was you guys. Grand Krystal

Kanan no it wasn't.

Dana ok then different people

Riu offers free shuttle to and from the airport. Just contact the riu though there website and give them your booking number, arrival time and whitch airline you are arriving on. There will be one or more orange shifted people in the arrivals lobby. They will tell you which shuttle to get on and guide you to the shuttle. Avoid all the time share people that will offer you a ride. They are vultures, and you will end up at the wrong hotel and pressured into attending a time share presentation. Only talk to the people in the orange shirts!!!!.

Id take a taxi or uber. Its not to far, get a direct!

uber
Walk across the bridge to meet

Usually the transfer with sunwing is included?! We were just there at the Riu as well! A taxi was only $20 USD.

Taxis are super reasonable in PV! Go outside to find one, don’t pay any attention to the ppl trying to sell rides inside. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can go over the overpass for a cheaper taxi. Totally safe, we’ve done it with our kids several times.

We just got back using sunwing to PV. The airport transfer was included

You will love the RIU....so much fun

Just do transfer. Easy peasy!

Rita we always book a private transfer. If you book it thru sunwing, you have to stop at every. single. resort. where people are staying and it can take FOREVER. When I land in Mexico, I want to get my bags and get to my hotel. Just google Puerto Vallarta transfers

They are usually included

That is probably for a private transfer

Buy a private transfer from expedia, will do this from now on it was amazing