Cozumel hotel advice, fiesta/hotel coz, but quiet?

[parrotheaddiver]

Wow, the 7 day package through Blue XT diving staying at caribe blu looks great! Quirky little hotel, I like the small size.

Great choice on both hotel and dive op... you are gonna love it

 

[divingjd]

Just a couple of notes on the FA, where I have stayed several times. It's definitely noisier than it used to be, they actually have guests there now who DON'T DIVE! A few years ago, just about everybody was a diver. That being said, it's not that noisy, and the noise is basically confined to the main pool and pool bar area. If you hang at the beach area, it's a lot quieter. If you can pop a few extra bucks for the "tropical casita" rooms, they are a lot quieter than the rooms in the main tower. But you give up the view of the water. Not a big deal to me, we see enough of the water from the dive boat. The AI is not mandatory, but is sooo cheap that it's worthwhile just for beers, bottled water, and breakfast.

In the interest of fair disclosure, the only other hotel in Cozumel I have tried is El Presidente. It was very nice and we got a good deal through the dive shop. I haven't tried the others. If you can get a good deal at the FA, there are ways to deal with the drawbacks, which are really pretty minor.

 

[Jarrett]

Debating about heading down next spring for the first time, and was hoping for an inexpensive place such as the Fiesta or hotel Coz that I've been reading about that isn't AI. Would like to be close to town so that we can try out the restaurants being that it would be the first time either of us get to mexico, I'd hate to hole up a resort the entire time.

Anyway, my concerns are that it sounds like these two hotels can be quite the partying places. Any tips on spots that aren't AI, are affordable like these two hotels, quiet, near town, and have a decent beach? A lot to ask, but the selection is completely overwhelming in Cozumel.

How big a deal is the beach? Because what you are descrinbing sounds like Casa Mexicana. It's quiet, low key, no wild resort atmosphere. You get an awesome breakfast included with the room and its easy walking distance to the majority of the good places to eat in town.

Also, you are a very short walk from Blue XT Sea dive shop and Aldora pier where they start their dives from. For going to the beach, you can catch a cab down to Playa Villa Blanca or Sunset Beach and do it that way. Cab to the beach, walk everywhere else. We did this two weekends back and it was great. That's my plan from now on when doing the non-kiddo trip.

FYI - On this recent trip I heard quite a few complaints about Caribe Blu.

 

[Moodiejeff]

<snip>Hotel Cozumel....I don't really consider it a party place but the loud music by the pool can get old after awhile :shakehead but...we usually go AI mainly so we can eat breakfast and lunch w/o getting out of our swimsuits and of course the all you can drink water/sodas/alcohol is a definite plus...it is cheap enough to still go to town at night and eat at all the wonderful restuarants

One thing to add about Hotel Coz... you can get an Ocean View Room for I believe an extra $10. It makes for a world of difference cutting down on the incessant noise near the pool! I suppose I would consider staying there (Hotel Coz) again. It is within walking distance to town and really close to the Chedraui (grocery store). On second thought... once was enough! I don't have anything bad to say about it and am glad I tried it, I just would rather try something new if i can't get in for my first choices.

In my Coz - 05/06 trip report below I address some of the "problems" with Hotel Coz. Eh, pretty much what's already been said... too much pool noise.

Caribe Blu is more my speed. Looking to head down next month (fingers crossed) and that is where I want to stay if I can get a room.

Casa Mexicana is really nice too. That is where I like to stay in the winter months when I know I don't need a pool or a beach... and if i don't get to go next month i will end up staying there in Jan. or Feb.

 

[dakster]

Well, after looking into it I think the choice comes down to either Caribe Blu, or Casa Mexicana. CM looks nicer, and is a bit more expensive, although I'm still looking around for diving/hotel packages for CM. Any tips on a good place to find a Casa Mexicana/Dive package?

I think we'd have a fantastic time at either place. I've decided to get a rental car while we're there, so distance to beaches and such will be a nonissue. The choice of hotels will probably boil down to the money situation. If my girlfriends PhD defense date gets pushed back into the summer that's more time for me to save up and would make Casa Mexicana easier (this will be a surprise trip for her "graduation").

 

[parrotheaddiver]

If you are still plan on using Christi's op she can fix you up

http://www.bluextseadiving.com/hotelpackages.php

 

[5615mike]

been going to Coz for 6 years, twice a year. 80% of the time we stay at Fiesta Americana b/c we prefer the southern dive sites and enjoy the hotel. We never do the AI but since we always stay in the Casita Suites on the back side of the hotel a continental breakfast is included. We eat almost all our meals in town and its a 60 peso ride to town for two and as others have said, is about a 10 minute ride. Have a great time.

 

[ggunn]

FYI - On this recent trip I heard quite a few complaints about Caribe Blu.

Oh, yes, Caribe Blu is a horrible place! Don't even consider staying there, especially in, let me see, when is it that I want to go there.... ;^)

Kidding aside, Caribe Blu is not for everyone. It's a bit rustic, and there's no bar, no full service restaurant, no satellite TV sports channels, no room service, and no organized activities around the pool. Yes, the hot water can be intermittent, and the power has gone out a couple of times when I was there. If the Presidente in its heyday is your cup of tea, then you might be disappointed in the lack of amenities at Caribe Blu.

 

[Jarrett]

There's no bar, no full service restaurant, no satellite TV sports channels, no room service, and no organized activities around the pool. Yes, the hot water can be intermittent, and the power has gone out a couple of times when I was there.

I don't need the Ritz, but hot water and AC (electricity) is nice to have on a dive vacation.

 

[ggunn]

I don't need the Ritz, but hot water and AC (electricity) is nice to have on a dive vacation.

The power has gone off twice that I can remember in over 20 years of going there, and the hot water issues were no worse than living in a house with two women. ;^)