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Car rental services are generally not available in Xalapa, Mexico. It is recommended to use local taxis for transportation within the city, as they are inexpensive. For car rentals, consider looking in Veracruz. International driving permits may be required. Be aware that purchasing airline tickets at airline offices in person may incur an additional service fee.

In Mexico City, for car rental without a credit card, a common strategy is to seek out local, informal rental options. One specific recommendation mentioned a person named 'Boris' associated with a 'Russian shop near the embassy' who rents cars and accepts debit or cash payments. This method bypasses the typical credit card requirement of major rental agencies.

Flights to Cancun often involve a layover in Mexico City, where passengers for the Cancun route are transferred to the same aircraft. This typically results in a total flight time of around 18 hours for the outbound journey and 12 hours for the return.

When transiting through Istanbul with Turkish Airlines on the way to Mexico, passengers may face issues if their onward or return ticket is not with Turkish Airlines. While Mexican authorities are typically indifferent to the carrier for the return journey, Turkish Airlines may insist on using their own flights for return journeys from Mexico. This is because if entry to Mexico is denied, the airline is responsible for returning the passenger at their own expense. Purchasing a return ticket with Turkish Airlines itself (e.g., back to Istanbul) is advisable to mitigate potential issues during transit, as passengers without such a ticket may be denied boarding.

When renting a car in Mexico, tourists can generally use their valid national driver's license for the duration of their stay. However, for individuals with a Mexican residency permit (V.N.Zh.), using their national license might be problematic with insurance companies if the residency is indicated in the rental agreement. In such cases, it's advisable to rent the car as a tourist and use only the national license to ensure insurance coverage. Some rental agencies, like Avis, may offer local licenses even to non-residents, but this is not a universal rule.

To rent a car in Mexico City, a good starting point is the area around the airport, where many rental agencies are located and often accessible by foot. If you need to rent without a credit card, search for options using 'sin tarjeta de credito'. While more challenging, it is possible with companies like Europcar and Alamo.

For inter-city transportation in Mexico, consider rental cars as a practical and often cheaper option compared to hotels, though credit card requirements can be a barrier for some. Ride-sharing apps like inDrive are functional and generally affordable in cities like Tulum and Mexico City. Check availability and pricing for services like Get transfer as well. While private transfers booked through hotels can be extremely expensive, alternative solutions exist, but costs may still be significant for longer distances or specific routes.

In Mexico, gasoline is widely available at service stations, and queues for fuel are generally not observed. This contrasts with a situation in Russia where fuel availability and queues can be a source of concern.

Visiting Coba ruins from Valladolid via shared taxi costs ~250 MXN (5 pax per vehicle), though it leaves a 10-minute walk to the entrance. Total admission is 330 MXN. Return transport is unreliable; catching a return taxi often requires hailing private drivers in the village, with typical fares to Valladolid around 200 MXN.

Public transportation in Mexico City (metro, metrobus, regular buses) is generally considered safe and convenient outside of peak hours. Women-only zones are available in the metro and some buses. For airport transfers from Mexico City International Airport (MEX), travelers can use the metro from Terminal 2 (requires walking about 1 km left from the exit to the station) or use ride-hailing apps like Didi, which accepts cash payments and allows registration with Russian phone numbers. Uber requires an international payment card. General safety precautions include being vigilant, securing belongings, and keeping phones out of sight.

At Guadalajara Airport (GDL), Uber pickups are not directly from the arrivals area. Passengers must take a free shuttle bus from the airport to a designated Uber pickup point. The shuttle stop is located to the left after exiting the international arrivals zone, identifiable as a green bus stop where a queue often forms. The shuttle transports passengers to the Uber pickup location.

To travel from Moscow to Mexico (Mexico City or Cancun) and back without a Schengen visa, consider flights with layovers in countries that do not require a transit visa, such as Turkey (Istanbul) or China. Direct flights are also an option. If your layover is in the USA or Europe, a visa for those regions will be required. Flights with direct or visa-free layovers might be more expensive but avoid the need for additional visas.