I traveled to Tulum's brand-new airport. It's bright and beautiful, but I was shocked by the hidden transportation fee.

Tulum is a gorgeous vacation destination, but it's never been the easiest trip from California.

On my first trip for a bachelorette party, we decided to save money by flying into Cozumel and taking a ferry to Playa del Carmen, followed by a 40-minute shuttle to our Airbnb in Tulum. The trip, which included a layover in Miami, was exhausting — and not one I'd recommend to anyone.

When I went to Tulum the second time, I knew I wanted to fly nonstop to Cancún. My friends and I rented a car to drive two hours from there to Tulum. We took the ADO bus on the way back, which took two-and-a-half hours. It's not the quickest journey before and after a five-hour flight!

The new Tulum airport — which began accepting international flights in April — is 20 miles from the city's hub. It's a quicker trip than Cancún, located about 80 miles away. However, you should still expect at least a 45-minute ride to and from your destination (depending on where you're staying).

Round-trip ticket prices to Tulum and Cancún from LA were generally the same when I traveled there in May.

Alas, there were no direct flights from Los Angeles to Tulum when I took my trip, so I made my way on an American Airlines flight with a connection in Dallas. Four of the 10 airlines that fly into Tulum are from the US — Delta, JetBlue, American, and United.

There are also two Canadian Airlines (WestJet and Air Canada), two Mexican Airlines (Aeroméxico and Viva Aerobus), and one each from Panama (Copa Airlines) and Germany (Discover Airlines).

I touched down in Tulum just after 3 p.m. and walked into an airport that was almost dead silent. It appeared only one other flight, from Miami, was among the arrivals.

There was no line at immigration just around the corner, so my passport got stamped within seconds. It couldn't have been more seamless.

An art piece resembling a rock, with branches and green plants snaking all around it, was hanging from the ceiling.

It was a striking showpiece and one of the many decorations in the airport that paid tribute to the jungle in Tulum.

The tunnel's arch appeared made of branches, lit in bright blues and greens that gave it a club-like vibe.

A video screen on the ceiling played galaxy-like visuals, with stars dancing across.

Bright-red lights illuminated the back wall of the baggage claim area, highlighting the palm fronds and tree branches that decorated it.

Both of the arriving flights were placed on the same bag carousel, which snaked across half of the room. There was plenty of space for everyone to stand and wait for their bags.

A Duty-Free store, which was not yet open during my trip, sat at the back of the room. I admired the jade-green color that danced across much of the floor as I waited for my luggage.

I made my way out to the spacious arrivals area on the ground floor, where a Starbucks and Domino's Pizza instantly greeted me.

There was also a large convenience stand selling snacks, candy, and sodas.

I was definitely getting into the vacation spirit as I strolled by the bright and beautiful plants — only later realizing that many were artificial.

I counted seven different taxi, rental car, and shuttle booths, as well as a stand for the ADO Bus. The 40-minute bus ride to Tulum Centro is the cheapest option. ADO's website shows the current rate is 220 pesos, or about $12. It's about $10 cheaper than the ADO bus from Cancún's airport.

I got sticker shock when I inquired about the cost of a private shuttle pickup with my resort, which was $230 one way. The concierge explained that Tulum has a government-imposed airport pickup fee, which is meant to cover the costs for security, staffing, and arrangements not needed during drop-off. It's a fixed cost, although the government hasn't disclosed the specific numerical value or percentage added to each fee.

Opting for a shuttle via the airport might be a little cheaper than your resort. According to rates on the airport's website, a one-way shuttle to Tulum Centro ranges from $176 to $199, depending on your group size. Shuttles to Tulum's Hotel Zone, where most resorts are located, can cost between $199 and $221.

By comparison, shuttles from Tulum Centro to the airport range from $106 to $128, while shuttles from the Hotel Zone to the airport range from $128 to $151.

The difference in transportation costs is pretty staggering compared to Cancún. According to the Cancún airport website, a shuttle to or from the airport to Tulum's Hotel Zone would cost around $110 to $125. That means a round-trip shuttle to Cancún could cost the same price as just a pickup from the Tulum airport.

If you're looking for a cheaper alternative but don't want to take a bus, taxi rates from the airport to Tulum Centro or the Hotel Zone tend to range between $70 and $110.

As someone who regularly deals with LAX, being able to walk right up to my private shuttle — which I ended up booking through my resort — truly felt like a gift from the heavens.

The 45-minute trip to my resort went by fast, especially with an ice-cold Corona in my hand.

What I love most about the Tulum airport is how bright and airy it is. Light pours into the space thanks to the translucent roof and floor-to-ceiling windows.

And much of the airport was designed with light wood fixtures mixed with green furniture and accents, giving it a warm and serene vibe — two words I never thought I'd say about an airport.

A roof of branches hanging over the desks continued the jungle theme. I also loved the Mayan meander art, which was a recurring motif throughout the airport. I spotted it along the floors, the stairs, and the walls.

My Greek mom, who came along with me, was especially delighted by the design — it reminded her of art from Ancient Greece.

Storefronts were covered in signs advertising restaurants that would soon open their doors, including Applebee's, Burger King, and Carl's Jr. — selections clearly catered to American tastes.

A Starbucks was also open, so I grabbed a Retro Pink Frappuccino — available in the chain's Latin America and Caribbean locations — to tide me over while waiting for my flight.

The souvenir shop featured your classic tourist gifts — shot glasses, magnets, hats, etc. — as well as travel pillows, stuffed animals, and apparel. I grabbed my boyfriend a few packages of Mexican cookies.

The Duty-Free was well-stocked with a variety of alcohol, as well as perfumes and cosmetics. Also open at the time of my trip was a specialized tequila shop, a jewelry store, and a clothing shop.

My flight got delayed almost two hours due to a storm in Dallas, so I became extremely familiar with the small departures area. I found that the WiFi didn't really work near the gates, and the air conditioning didn't seem to be fully running.

Large black fans — each emblazoned with the label of the "Big Ass Fan" brand — helped cool down the seats by the gates. I also noticed columns throughout the area offering plenty of power outlets to charge phones and laptops.

Each light fixture was surrounded by wood panels and looked almost sun-like in its design. It was a nice touch that added more warmth and modernity to the airport.

I loved the rows of green chairs, their shades cascading like a sample sheet of paint from Sherwin-Williams.

The bathrooms at the Tulum airport were also pristine, and there were signs for a VIP lounge coming soon. I also appreciated that there were numerous screens with departure information — all in green to match the overall aesthetic.

The transportation costs from the airport are hard to swallow, but my resort's concierge said they've heard the fee could be removed by the end of the year. Plus, there are cheaper options you could use if you don't want to go the private shuttle route.

And flying in and out of Tulum is still easier than Cancún. Not only does it cut down the travel time to your lodging by over an hour each way, but there were almost no lines to deal with in the airport.

Now that there's a direct flight from LA to Tulum — thanks United! — the trip has become even easier for me, and the ticket cost is the same as it would be from Cancún.

Tulum has become a huge vacation destination over the past few years, and its popularity will only soar now that it's easier than ever to get there.