Any info on Reef Club Isla Cozumel?

[spyder]

I'm a little biased, just bought in to the timeshare last trip. We started going to the Reef Club 3 years ago and have been 3 times with the most recent being 12/15-22 2004. I have 2 kids, daughter 8 and son now 13 (diver). My wife and I started going to Coz in the mid 80's and got married there in '89. We always stayed in town at Casa del Mar and used Del Mar Aquatics back then. Kids came and vacations went by the wayside. As soon as my son was old enough to get certified (10) we decided to head back and our LDS had a trip to the Reef Club. The kids loved it and so did we. Clean, friendly (as everywhere in Coz), great beach, decent food, and TONS of activities for the kids. No worrying about getting the kids fed since food is always available. The Jr. Suites are nice and the hot tub on the balcony is a real plus. Some people on the board don't like it due to the food but we have not had a meal where we didn't find something we liked. They do have a formal restaurant if you want to order off a menu. Better food elsewhere, sure as is always the case. Worse food elsewhere, sure always the case. Personally I don't like going to town anymore due to the cruise ships, too many people. Cozumel is for diving and relaxing, not listening to hundreds (if not thousands at times) of people and fighting crowds. It's also nice taking a slow but short boat ride instead of the very fast but short boat ride. One caveat I found when booking the last trip online (part of hotels.com, actually called and spoke to someone to book), there is another hotel that has the same general address and called Reef something (can't remember exactly) but is not the all inclusive Reef Club. The pictures on the website were the Reef Club rooms which was very deceiving. After booking the hotel I called down there to request a specific suite and they didn't have my reservation. After quite a few phone calls to the travel company they admitted it wasn't the Reef Club "I was thinking of" so I cancelled the reservation. Make sure it's the AI Reef Club! If you're interested I have extra points and would be interested in selling some. PM me if you're interested or have other questions.

 

[HammerNoMore]

just bought in to the timeshare last trip. Better food elsewhere, sure as is always the case. If you're interested I have extra points and would be interested in selling some. PM me if you're interested or have other questions.

I couldn't have said it better myself...

 

[Divedoggie]

There's a nice little "shack" that sells a chicken sandwich (Hot) and a coke for $2.00,and it's just ouside the Reef club grounds. They don'r speak english, but you can point and say a lot of "pollo" and "coka's"

There's a "closed for health violation" sticker on the front, but I didn't get sick I even went back the next day!

True Story!!! Great sandwich!

That is a great story. It takes some guts, maybe iron guts to risk the vacation on a $2.00 sandwich in spite of the health sticker. I may try it anyway....

 

[Scuba_Steve]

Hehheehe, Iron guts, never been sick...always up for a little dare

Really though, my Intro T.C. Instructor (a local) assured me that the place was decent, and that he had only gotten sick once, on a very hot, hot day, when he ate there. He said the "sticker" was because they had a dirt floor (Oh yeah, it gets better..), so they slammed some concrete on the floor (It did look pretty new) and I guess it was OK with the powers that be....

My wife still can't believe I did it either, as I'm the pickiest guy going! Sometimes you just gotta let loose I guess, and I seem to do it every time I visit Coz

 

[ggunn]

Our travel agent said that Reef Club is a great way to go in Coz. She says:
...
Away from the big crowds in San Miguel.
...

Yes, but the "big crowds in San Miguel" (and even at its most crowded it's not New Orleans at Mardi Gras or anything) are pretty much localized to within a block or two of the main drag and from Puta Langosta to Cinco Soles. Caribe Blu, for example, is much closer to town and is just as separated from those crowds as is the Reef.

 

[redacted]

Our travel agent said that Reef Club is a great way to go in Coz. She says:
Great Beach.
Away from the big crowds in San Miguel.
Close to reefs.
Inexpensive.
I have heard some mixed reviews. Has anyone been there lately?

I have stayed there. It is the least expensive (and cheapest IMHO) of the southern AI resorts.

Beach is not a pretty as the more southerly resorts. More sharp sheel marerial and less fine white coral sand. On the plus side though, snorkeling is a bit better than more southerly resorts. Not as good as the northern Iron shore resorts. Shore dive is non-existent and the local dive op (Sand Dollar) will not rent tanks. You will see a lot of criticism of that dive op.

San Miguel GOOD. Crowds BAD. Avoid town when the ships are in and town is great. But it is about a $15 taxi ride each way from the southern resorts.

Close to reefs (southern which are generaly better than the more northern reefs) and inexpensive - absolutely true. When I stayed there the special was a little over $600 per person for 7 nights out of Dallas including air and taxes. Usually the better specials don't show up until June/July.

Food is OK but not part of the vacation you will go home and brag about. Surprisingly, drinking water was occasionaly difficult to get. Save your bottles and refill them when there dispensers are not empty. Don't wait till morning as they will not have been replenished yet.

 

[Divedoggie]

Thanks awap,
Which resort has the best beach in your opinion? Iberostar?
I don't get much vacation time in a year, so the "little things" matter, like good dive op, good and accessible drinking water, food, etc. I don't expect to eat dinner at the hotel too often. I like the AI for breakfast, lunch, snacks, and pool drinks.
I have travelled quite a bit, and I don't expect American food, or easy money exchange, but I do want the air conditioning to work, and the room to be clean.

 

[ggunn]

Thanks awap,
Which resort has the best beach in your opinion? Iberostar?
I don't get much vacation time in a year, so the "little things" matter, like good dive op, good and accessible drinking water, food, etc. I don't expect to eat dinner at the hotel too often. I like the AI for breakfast, lunch, snacks, and pool drinks.
I have travelled quite a bit, and I don't expect American food, or easy money exchange, but I do want the air conditioning to work, and the room to be clean.

Well, the southern resorts have all been criticized for their food and for their on-site dive ops. If you don't want to eat at the hotel much, you are looking at a high transportation bill, like $30-40 for a round trip to town. There are plenty of nice places closer in which are (a lot) less expensive than the southern resorts and from which town is much more accessible.

Many folks swear by the southern resorts, but they are not my cuppa.

 

[Divedoggie]

Thanks Gordon,
I am leaning away from the southern AI's now. It looks like we will be there at the same time, although we will be in Akumal first. Where are you staying?

 

[ggunn]

Thanks Gordon,
I am leaning away from the southern AI's now. It looks like we will be there at the same time, although we will be in Akumal first. Where are you staying?

I will be at Caribe Blu May 8-22.