I am organizing a trip to Cancun with my family (Wife + 2 kids) to spend the Christmas vacations there, however, I am interested in acquiring a safe option to transport us, we will be staying 3 days in the Cancun Hotel Zone and other 2 days at the Riu Yucatan Hotel in Playa del Carmen.
I would like to know if private transportation is a viable option or if it is better to rent a car with a local agency, given that we're staying at two different hotels?
I'm a frequent traveler to Cancun and the Yucatan area. Private transportation is a very viable option - stick to pre-arranged rides or those arranged by your hotel/resort for the highest level of safety.
If you intend on exploring the area a bit, it may be worth it to rent a car. I personally always rent my own vehicle - I've had generally good experiences renting from Avis at CUN. Be sure to know basic phrases as gas stations are full-service and most attendants do not speak English. The drivers of the region are only slightly more aggressive than you'd find in a major American city, and traffic laws are generally observed by all.