Cozumel for X-mas

[Jsh]

My wife have changed our plans and are now planning a 10 day trip to Cozumel. Dec 25-Jan 4'ish. We will be making all our own arrangements. I am looking for some recommendations for a dive shop with rooms for rent that will give us a good deal on a package, we are not looking of anything fancy, and the quieter, the further away from the crowds, the better. Hopefully a place with a beach, or a really close beach.

The only place I've got a recommendation for so far is Papa Hogs, I hear they are run by Canadians (which I am) and have small boats and are very flexible on where you go.

Also, we can save a bunch of money if we fly into Cancun and make our own way to Cozumel, anyone done that before? is it worth the extra $300 to fly direct?

Thanks

Jsh

 

[MMM]

Try Caribe Blu Hotel (small, beachfront hotel) and the onsite Blue Angel Dive Op.

I've been in Coz for the period you are describing and service etc. will be very, very light on Dec 25. Most businesses are closed at least until early afternoon. I don't know if the ferry service will be running a normal schedule and same with the bus service from Cancun airport to Playa de Carmen but you can probably expect everything to be a bit lighter/slower. Although I usually fly into Cancun, in this case, I'd be inclined to spend the extra $300 to fly direct.

 

[Jsh]

Caribe Blu looks great at first glance, I contacted them for a price. and Tripadvisor had them with 31 good posts.. Seems out of the way enough that it will be quiet and close enough to walk to town... Food ok there too? Thanks MMM

 

[ggunn]

Caribe Blu looks great at first glance, I contacted them for a price. and Tripadvisor had them with 31 good posts.. Seems out of the way enough that it will be quiet and close enough to walk to town... Food ok there too? Thanks MMM

There is a small restaurant there (Rendez Blu) over the dive shop that is open for breakfast and lunch. The menu is basic but good.

 

[renpirate]

My wife have changed our plans and are now planning a 10 day trip to Cozumel. Dec 25-Jan 4'ish. We will be making all our own arrangements. I am looking for some recommendations for a dive shop with rooms for rent that will give us a good deal on a package, we are not looking of anything fancy, and the quieter, the further away from the crowds, the better. Hopefully a place with a beach, or a really close beach.

The only place I've got a recommendation for so far is Papa Hogs, I hear they are run by Canadians (which I am) and have small boats and are very flexible on where you go.

Also, we can save a bunch of money if we fly into Cancun and make our own way to Cozumel, anyone done that before? is it worth the extra $300 to fly direct?

Thanks

Jsh

Over the past two years my wife and I have also done the same time frame. It really is worth it to fly into Cozumel. If you fly into Cancun, you will have to make it through the taxi crowd and find a deal on a taxi to the ferry at Playa Del Carmen. I have heard it is possible to get for $30, but you have to haggle. The ferry is $9 per person one way. Then you will need to get a taxi to your hotel. As you leave, you have to do the whole process in reverse. So, the basic question you want to ask yourself is how much hassle you want to put up with in getting to your hotel.

As for ops, there are a whole bunch of great ones out there. One of the problems in recommending one op over the other is that people have different experiences. I would say that there are really no bad ops on Cozumel.

However, we dove with Papa Hogs and had an excellent time. They have small boats and a great staff. Mike was a bit of a pain to deal with, but his wife is wonderful. They used to have accommodations to rent, but that was pre-Wilma. I am not sure what they have now.

Other dive ops that come highly recommended are Blue XT Sea, Deep Blue (we usally go with them), and Dive with Martin. Do a search and you will find great things about all of them.

Caribe Blue is an excellent choice for hotels and they have a great dive shop on the premises. They are a bit of a walk from downtown, if that is an issue. Another good choice is Casa Mexicana, they are centraly located and provide a nice big breakfast every morning, which is nice on December 25th, when everything else is closed.

You will have a great time regardless.

 

[ggunn]

Also, we can save a bunch of money if we fly into Cancun and make our own way to Cozumel, anyone done that before? is it worth the extra $300 to fly direct?

Whether or not it's worth it is a personal call. What it involves is getting yourself overland to Playa del Carmen and taking the ferry across. How long that takes depends on a few things - how many planes are coming into Cancun at about the same time (the lines in Immigration and Customs), how your arrival time meshes with the ferry schedule, etc. I'd count on about three hours each way.

You can get to Playa from Cancun in several ways. You can take a cab (the simplest and most expensive), or the bus, or by way of a hired van.

 

[MMM]

Caribe Blu looks great at first glance, I contacted them for a price. and Tripadvisor had them with 31 good posts.. Seems out of the way enough that it will be quiet and close enough to walk to town... Food ok there too? Thanks MMM

Caribe Blu is a shade closer into town than Papa Hogs (which is just down the road). It's about a 15 or 20 minute walk or a few bucks by cab. Food is good (I'm addicted to their beef fahitas), but they don't serve supper. Lots of other restaurants in the vicinity if you don't want to go into town. I prefer going into town. In fact, I prefer staying in town.

 

[namabiru]

Then again, I know that when my mom booked our trip to Cozumel, she did something where our transfers and such are included. We had to pick up our own ferry, as they didn't know how long we'd be at Immigration in Cancun, but the transfer for 3 of us was a decent price.

Maybe contact a travel agent (or your agent, if you booked that way) and see what can be done.

 

[Jsh]

Of all the suggestions so far, Caribe seems to be where I want to stay, unfortunately, they are booked until the 31st of Dec. I asked them to put me on a waiting list. I am trying to find a good flight to Cozumel, I think I will fly straight there.. Thanks, keep it coming..

Jsh

 

[loudives]

Ask the Caribe if Villa Las Anclas is available for the first few days. It is owned by the same family and they will pick you up for the morning dives. It is not on the beach it's in town on 5th ave. between calle 3 sur and calle 5 sur. They have 8 townhouse type rooms, very quiet and just 2 blocks from the Plaza. No beach or pool and around 80 per night.

Barracuda Hotel might be an option. It is 6 blocks south of the Plaza has a pool and a small man made lagoon for entry into the big blue. They just redecorated after Wilma and is very nice. About 100 per night for 2, walking distance to grocery store and many fine restaurants. Mostly a diver hotel so not much noise after 9pm. It is like a ghost town during the day with everyone out diving.

chech out www.travelnotes.cc they have a cozumel section and good prices.