Should I use a Handler at Los Cabos?

[pilotviolin]

Everyone is telling me it is so easy to fly into Cabos, and I am wondering if I need a handler? Is there an FBO that will arrange for cars? Pilot express says there is a Signature on the field, but where is the phone number for the place? Is it worth paying $900 bucks for a mexican handler?

 

[GVJeff]

No Signature on the field, but no need for a handler either. The Amigos will guide you through the process. You'll probably hand out $100 of tips both on arrival, and on arrival. Still WAY cheaper than the $900 handler, and it's the same guys who will help you, either way.

 

[Makesheepnervus]

I take it you are talking about San Jose Del Cabo (MMSD) Last time I was there was January 2nd, and I dont remember seeing any Signature then.

There is at least one car rental counter in the GA terminal building, but there is no specific FBO. If you have not been there before I would recomend getting the handler the first time. Manny's usually does a good job.

It is relatively easy to go it alone, everybody speaks good english and are willing to help, but they expect to get something, so be prepared to bring plenty of cash, besides the fuel, airport and airspace fees you will need around $50 to $100 just for tips (about $20 a piece for the head guys and $5 a piece for the ramp rats). For some reason Cabo has gotten notoriously bad for folks expecting tips, much worse than anywhere else in Mexico. You can expect to tip, just to a lesser amount, even if you have a handler

Don't forget the airport charges a huge surcharge for operations after sunset, so avoid this at all costs.

 

[suen1843]

We never use a handler at MMSD. Just show up. No problem. Caution: watch out for exchange rates. Make sure you have your fuel purchases billed to your credit card in pesos. Then, the CC company will do the proper exchange. If you use multi service they will make their own conversion from pesos to dollars and it will cost you up to several hundred dollars. Using Visa or Amex corrects this problem. UVAir card works ok...at least the last time I was there about a year ago.

We always stay in downtown Cabo at the Plaza Las Glorias. So so rate (about 130 to 140 US) but convenient to everything. Rental cars are cheap.

 

[English]

I also say bypass the handler, EXCEPT if you are going down there over a holiday weekend. Then I think a handler is imperative. It might mean the difference between waiting an hour to be staged and fueled, or six hours. The last time I was down there I used a handler, just getting back into the swing of things. I spoke with several guys (including one Netjets crew) that couldn't get any prist, because they didn't bring their own cans, and they'd been waiting three hours for fuel. Another crew had been waiting all morning. So, if you are in a hurry, have your own prist or don't feel like showing up six hours before the pax, a handler isn't needed.

 

[moonlight]

Give Adrian, Victor, or Edgar a call at FBO Los Cabos ( number is in the Accu-Kwik). They are the handlers for Universal, and you can just call them directly to avoid the extra charges. I make it a point to call ahead of time, usually a week or so, and fax down all the pax info you can. Adrian has some good connections with hotels, on our last trip he put us up in the Crown Plaza at an all inclusive rate of $90.00 US, even during spring break! We talked to some other pilots that were staying there, and they were paying around $200 US. Try to get into the Finistera in Cabo if you can, they have the nicest pool of all the hotels we've used. One of the above gentlemen will meet you at your aircraft. We always take no less than $500 cash with us, for tips, taxes, etc. The Commandante gets $40 and a bottle of wine, fuelers $10 and/or some...ahem...magazines, and the handlers usually get $20-30. You will need some cash upon leaving, as there are passenger taxes that must be paid ONLY in cash. We paid around $145 for six pax on our last trip.
Another good reason to call one of these guys ahead of time is to make sure that there will be a parking spot for your jet. We had a GIV go down there and they almost ended up repositioning to LAP.

 

[HMR]

I agree w/the above advice. I don't like to stay in San Jose Del Cabo (next to the airport). Get a car and drive to Cabo San Lucas. It's cheaper to rent a car than take a shuttle. Hop on travelocity and you'll get all the car rental places at the airport. Find the one w/the lowest price then call them yourself. You can get a great little car for $15-20/day. For lodging, I recommend the Melia San Lucas. We started staying there a year ago and won't go anywhere else.

Have Fun!!!

 

[slowto250]

Don't wish to be the lone dissenter, but......if you are not savvy or familiar with ops. at a foreign destination, spend the boss's money. Try Pacific Coast Handlers, going into Cabo. If they can afford the fuel to fly there and the hotel to stay there.....nuff said.

 

[G100driver]

I guess I am just a spend thrift ... I always use a handler. I am flying a multi-million dollar airplane with a boss who has a very low tolerance for BS and an extreme tolerance for spending money. When you have a handler very little goes wrong.

1. Airplane lands.
2. Greeted by handlers
3. Boss goes away.
4. Crew puts airplane to bed.
5. Crew gets drunk
6. Crew forgets previous night
7. Spend next day nursing hangover and go to bed early.
8. Handler files flight plan
9. Boss shows up
10. Go home ... with overflight permit.

 

[HMR]

Now... how about Puerto Vallarta? We'll be there in a few weeks. I've only flown in there once and can't remember if we used a handler or not. Any tips?

Should we stay in Vallarta or head up to Punta Mita (where the boss will be staying)?

 

[Rick1128]

Forget about sunset at Cabo. Normal operating hours are 0800 to 1800 LT. After 1800 is overtime. Sunset to 2200 is OVERTIME!. After 2200 is !@#$%^&*()_!@#$%^&*()_ OVERTIME!!!!! And the higher the level of overtime, the high the cost. You only ned one real handler in Cabo, the God Amighty Green Dollar.

For Puerto Vallarta, I use a handler for the simple reason that paying the fees is a major pain in the butt. You have to go to the bank (which is thankfully in the terminal), stand in line and then pay the fees at the "official" exchange rate. If you park at the small operator just off the main ramp which posses as an FBO, they will handle all the fees and other issues.

 

[AA717driver]

Are pro-sports team hats good for tips? It works in the D.R.

I've got to talk to my friends who went down there last weekend. They dropped off in a GIV and repo'd to TUS.TC

 

[El Bucho]

Just did Puerto Vallarta too this week. Used Colt as well. Good luck going in there with no handler. Was definitely worth the money. All we had to do was sign our outbound flight plan and one other registration form and the handler took care of the rest. The whole town was full so the only hotel he could get us was a resort about 45 minutes south. Was an all-inclusive for like 300 bucks a night. Drinks were good, but the food we had sucked. Non-inclusive price was like 285. Still the dinner we had wasn't worth 15 bucks, but the breakfast, pool, and scenery were nice.

 

[Capt1124]

If your boss can afford a private jet he can afford a handler.

I hate Cabo San Lucas- it's an overpriced dump with terrible service. Next time I go we're staying in San Jose del Cabo.

 

[Nightowl]

You don't need a handler while in MMSD just tip money as previously posted. Also a good idea to have one of the pilots monitor the fueling. We've gotten screwed a few times being charged for more fuel than we were given.

 

[G100driver]

If your boss can afford a private jet he can afford a handler.

You speaketh the truth.

 

[pilotviolin]

Thanks for the good advice. One other thing. AOPA said we did not need a permit to fly into mexico. Is this true? I don't want to be arrested by the federales?

 

[GVJeff]

If your boss can afford a private jet he can afford a handler.

I hate Cabo San Lucas- it's an overpriced dump with terrible service. Next time I go we're staying in San Jose del Cabo.

True, but let's not forget if your boss spends $1000 on a handler, that's potentially $1000 extra that you won't be seeing on your raise this year. I mean the $1000 he is spending has to go somewhere, so why not let it go towards your raise? Mexico without a handler is a breeze. The passengers don't see the difference, it's purely the crew spends an extra 45 minutes on each end of the trip, big deal.

Me? I'd rather see the raise.

 

[HMR]

If your boss can afford a private jet he can afford a handler.

"Affording" the handler isn't an issue. When we go to Mexico the boss hands each of us a couple thousand dollars and says "call me if you need more". We have a local guy we use in Cabo and he does a great job. Since one of us speaks fluent spanish and the other speaks enough to get by, we've been thinking about doing Mexico without a handler. I'm not sure who we'll use in Puerto Vallarta. Colt sounds good. Any others that you guys (and English) recommend?

 

[English]

Juan Sanchez in Cabo. $250. He also is an ICCS handler, I believe.

He's awesome. He's gotten really good catering for me, hotel rooms on busy weekends, and VFR charts when the boss wanted to go to Bahia de los Suenos.

Phone number is at home. I'll post it if anyone wants it?

Sorry HMR, never done Puerto Vallarta.