I don’t usually take time to write a review about a bus. After all, how good can travel by bus be, whether it’s in Mexico or any other country around the world? But recently, after speaking at the LGBT Confex travel convention in the city of Merida, Yucatan, I needed to travel to Cancun for an overnight layover to catch a flight to Panama. I found three classes of buses for the four-hour trip, and decided to splurge on the top-of-the-line option. I wasn’t disappointed; so I made lots of notes about my experience. This type of long-distance bus service simply doesn’t exist in the United States, and I wish it did.
THE ROUTE: Merida, Yucatan (Altabrisa office) to Cancun, Quintana Roo (ADO Platino; approximately 4 hours; one class of service). The cost was 576 Mexican pesos (about $34), one way.
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THE DEPARTURE: There are at least two departure points in Merida for ADO; I chose the one closest to the new Hampton Inn by Hilton Merida, where I was staying. For some reason the ADO website did not allow me to buy a ticket online, so I arrived early, at 6am for the 7am departure and quickly bought a ticket in the small office, which has seating and free coffee and WiFi. When the announced boarding, the ticket agent stood outside the bus, handing out plastic bags with the onboard magazine as well as plastic-wrapped earphones and eye masks.
THE BUS: The Volvo bus used for ADO Platino service is outfitted with just 25 seats (by comparison, the next level down, ADO GL, has 40 seats, while standard ADO service has 44 seats). The seats are like plush blue armchairs; a pillow and blanket rested on each of them. The curtains, which were closed throughout the passenger cabin (which is separated from the driver by a glass wall with a door) were so effective at blocking out light that it is extremely inviting for early-morning and late-night travel when you might want to nap. Each seat is furnished with a seatbelt and its own overhead reading lamp.
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After all passengers had boarded, a crisply uniformed driver stood at the front of the cabin and informed us of the travel time, and requested that we use seat belts. There are electrical outlets between the seats, and seat-back video screens controlled by a remote attached to the large central armrest; the screen offers a wide choice of music, movies and TV programs (more than 50 channels, according to promotional material), in both English and Spanish, on demand. In the back of the bus is a coffee and water dispenser, and there are separate lavatories for men and women; the men’s room smelled powdery fresh like my Aunt Helen when she was getting ready for church.
I reclined my seat and flipped down the foot/leg rest, making it almost as good as a lie-flat seat. I wanted to watch some of the on-demand entertainment, but it was just too comfortable and I slept almost the entire way.
Just about the only thing that ADO Platino doesn’t offer is WiFi on board. But with seats that are this comfortable and tons of on-board entertainment, who needs it?
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THE ARRIVAL: While the announced final stop was the main bus station in Cancun, I was able to get out at an ADO office stop in the newer part of town, much closer to the hotel where I was going to stay.
BEST FOR: Business and leisure travelers who don’t want to rent a car and want the most comfort possible while traveling between Merida and Cancun.