Best Place in Cozumel?

[BungyJumper]

Go for the El Presidente. I dive, my wife does not. I'm not too picky, but she sure is and we both had a great time and would go back in a second. We liked the fact the Presidente is NOT all-inclusive because we both like to sample the local fare...and there's a lot of great dining options in Coz. It has a beach. It has a beach bar. It has a good on-site Dive Op in ScubaDu with a boat pier. The food was good. The rooms were clean and comfortable. It's centrally located on the island so town is a short cab ride (5-10 minutes) and it's not far from most of the great dives. I haven't stayed at the others, but from your description of what you need, I'd say go with the Prez. Have a great trip and be sure to post a Trip Report when you get back!

 

[Texas Diver]

I recommend The Occidental Grand and Blue XT Sea Diving. You will be very pleased with both of them.

The Grand: large rooms and bathrooms- good food - immaculate grounds - two pools - nice beach. But far from town - over $30 for round trip cab ride.

Blue XT Sea: Very professional and personalized operation. Fast boat - 6 divers max - high level of personal attention. Can't say enough good stuff about them. Can't go wrong using them.

 

[BlueDolphin]

Thanks everyone.... you all are great here on the forum. I very much appreciate your input. I think I will look into the Occidental and the Presidente.

I don't think it will be too big a deal being away from town.... as we kind of like that sort of thing. And we can always get into town a few days/evenings while we are there via a cab.

This has been very helpful. I will defenitely post a trip report.

 

[c-monkey]

Just a note: Fiesta Americana does have a beach, you just have to cross the street to reach it. They also have a nice restaraunt on the beach and an excellent dive shop "Dive House".

 

[murphdivers286]

Me, mywife and some friends are planning a trip to Cozumel this summer, but we will all be divers. We plan on staying at the Vilablanca hotel, because I heard it has the best shore diving are. I hope my information was correct.

 

[getwet2]

Any place other than Fiesta Americana!

Recycled food and smelly rooms.

 

[ggunn]

Me, mywife and some friends are planning a trip to Cozumel this summer, but we will all be divers. We plan on staying at the Vilablanca hotel, because I heard it has the best shore diving area. I hope my information was correct.

The area between Villablanca and Caribe Blu is pretty good as far as it goes, but you won't be seeing anything there (or anywhere else from shore on Cozumel) that is anywhere near comparable to what you will see on your boat dives. I wouldn't pick a hotel solely on that variable, but Villablanca has a pretty good location. It's south of town (so the dive shops all pick up there), and far enough to be away from the cruseros but close enough for a cheap cab ride to the eateries.

 

[Mawg]

I am looking to find a up scale hotel in Cozumel. If anyone knows of some of the better hotels there that I can research, please post.

I will be bringing my wife and 2 children (6 and 12). I will be the only diver, and hope to get in at least 3 days of diving. I also want to stay at a place that might have a spa for her, and activities for the children.

Never been there, and really want to have a nice time.

Thanks to all who take time to post!

The Intercontinental El Presidente is the only four star hotel on the island. They have what you are looking for. I have made 21 or 22 trips to Cozumel, lost count, and wouldnt stay anywhere else. It is PERFECT for what you want in regard to your wife and children. They will absolutely love it and so will you. I cant recommend the hotel dive operator though, Scuba Du. It's a real cattle boat operation with big crowded boats, I've seen as many as 45 per boat, and short diving times. I can personally recommend Caribbean Divers. Email cdivers@prodigy.net.mx. You wont be disappointed. Go to Trip Advisors and check out comments about El Presidente. I have stayed there at least 17 times and We're going back this May and August. Pura Vida.

 

[sharky60]

El Presidente is the ONLY 5 star hotel on the island, for about the same price, you can go all inclusive at the Occidental Grand, very nice!!!!! We met some friends there in September, it's not our usual place but we were very impressed. they have a spa and a small gym, the grounds and buildings are beautiful and really well planned.
the food was really good at both the buffets and the reservation only restaurants. the buffets were different every day, not the same thing day in and day out.
2 pools, beach volleyball & ping-pong by the ocean side pool. roped off swimming area.
we were there the week of labor day, so there weren't a lot of children there that week.

draw backs are that it is pretty far south of town, a $17+ cab fare one way to town. you can rent a GEO Trekker for about $60 a day at the hotel, one of the best prices i've found.
there is not much to do at night, they did have a Mayan show one night when we were there. nothing to write home about. other than that there is a disco, it was not busy at all when we were there. there is internet service at the bar area in the main lobby. there's not much in the swim area to see, mostly a sea grass bottom, no coral heads and with the boat traffic, by mid-afternoon the visab wasn't that great.

We really liked the OG, but if it were my first time on Cozumel, and I could afford it, i'd do the El Presedente, it's closer to town and you really want to get some local flavor by going to town. let the kids see how the locals live and eat at some of the local restaurants. plus there's not much for shopping down south, just a couple of roadside stands.

rent a car at least one day and drive around the island, on the north side is a Mayan archeological site called San Gervasio, not the most impressive of the Mayan ruins compared to Chichen Itza, Tulum or Coba, but it's a pretty nice late period Mayan cultural center. lots of lizzards!! good jumping off place for the young mayanist.

We usually stay at the El Cid La Ceiba, it is currently going thru some renovations, always been our favorite, great location, nice beach, 2 pools, good food, some of the best snorkeling i've found on the island. usually not a lot of kids there though, it has always been kind of a "divers hotel", quiet and layed back.

 

[Kat]

Just a note: Fiesta Americana does have a beach, you just have to cross the street to reach it. They also have a nice restaraunt on the beach and an excellent dive shop "Dive House".

I would not call what the FA has a beach. They have a small stretch of sand with lounge chairs on it. There is a very small patch of sand, where you can walk into the ocean. I was mislead by a local TA many years ago about this & was very unhappy with the obvious deception of calling this manmade sandbox a beach.
The real beaches are farther south.