We took advantage of the holiday weekend (ay 2021) and took a quick trip to Merida to see how things were progressing with our house renovations. We flew in Friday night and out Wednesday morning so we had a few days to explore some new things.
First before you go make use of the on-line resources to complete travel documentation. This will save time and frustration of finding a pen and filling out paper forms in the airport.
Immigration form https://www.inm.gob.mx/fmme/publico/en/solicitud.html?fbclid=IwAR0_5nGTj9n2aK0_DE0dG9jTUl9hIQsl_d9L-BOkW8w_t6aoE6b2boNoUd0 . This a form that completes your entry and exit immigration forms. Print them out and cut them to separate the entry and exit forms. You will need these at the airport.
Mexico health screening https://www.vuelaseguro.com/login . Although I can’t remember being asked for these there were a lot of signs at the airport stating that these were required. You have to complete them within 12 hours of your flight. This was a standard covid health screen questionnaire that returns a QR code.
Airline travel ready center https://www.united.com/en/us/travelreadycenter/ This is the link for United Airlines. It shows what travel documents are required and speeds check in.
Although there are ATMs in the airport and around town you may find it both more convenient and cheaper to get your pesos before you leave the USA. Our bank, Wells Fargo, offers a nice service where money is delivered to your house. https://www.wellsfargo.com/foreign-exchange/ If you do use an ATM try and use a card that reimburses for bank and foreign fees. I used a Betterment checking account for this purpose.
Upon arrival at Merida Airport you will go through the typically immigration line but you will be able to stroll by the people scrambling to fill out their forms. Past immigration you walk past luggage collection with your carry-on and get quickly into line for inspection. This lines can get long once the other passengers get their luggage. The inspection process involves telling an airport officer that you are not transporting any illegal items and then pressing a button on the desk that either responds red or green. Green means you are done and can leave. Red means you have to put your bags through an x-ray and, possibly, have them opened and inspected. During this visit a couple was escorted to the front of the line by a (hopefully well tipped) porter, cutting in front of many people. There were many smiles when they got the red light.
Once out in the general area, we walk to the right and find the taxi desk. We would take Uber but they are no longer allowed to pick up at the airport but I do recommend using them for the return to save money. The taxi to centro/Plaza Grande cost us $200 pesos. Pay at the desk and they will give you a ticket and instructions where to find the car.
The ride is about 15 - 20 minutes. Enjoy and welcome to Merida.
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