sytech
Contributor
Was wondering if anyone had any experience with the El Cid (La Ceiba) Hotel in Cozumel.
Any comments will be appreciated.
Thanks,
Sy
Any comments will be appreciated.
Thanks,
Sy
El Cid Hotel In Cozumel
- Thread starter sytech
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94GTStang
Contributor
CozSally does some massages over there. She might be able to help you out.
Though we drove past the hotel everyday and it looked really nice.
Though we drove past the hotel everyday and it looked really nice.
Actually... I'm not there any longer. The owner of the hotel, who owns another in Mazatlan and one in Puerto Morelos, wanted the same "Spa Company" working in all three places, despite the wishes of the hotel manager. I am in the midst of negotiating with another hotel.
The renovation of the hotel resulted in a much nicer place. However, I have heard reports of some lingering problems. I would check:
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Re...ba_Beach_Hotel-Cozumel_Yucatan_Peninsula.html
for a few recent reviews. I have to say the staff is great and it should be very clean since it is practically brand new.
Enjoy!
Sally
Barefoot in Cozumel
The renovation of the hotel resulted in a much nicer place. However, I have heard reports of some lingering problems. I would check:
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Re...ba_Beach_Hotel-Cozumel_Yucatan_Peninsula.html
for a few recent reviews. I have to say the staff is great and it should be very clean since it is practically brand new.
Enjoy!
Sally
Barefoot in Cozumel
It used to be one of the best places on the Island.
It's gone thru a few years of decay and rennovation.
Read the reviews on the link Coz Sally listed in her post.
Some people have had a good experience there, others have been in a "motel hell "scenario.
I used to stay there all the time. I just barely "ducked the bullet" the last time & won't stay there again, FWIW.
It's gone thru a few years of decay and rennovation.
Read the reviews on the link Coz Sally listed in her post.
Some people have had a good experience there, others have been in a "motel hell "scenario.
I used to stay there all the time. I just barely "ducked the bullet" the last time & won't stay there again, FWIW.
sharky60
Contributor
La Ceiba was our regular hotel for almost 10 years. We loved staying there, but prices have forced us to move on.
Now they are turning the hotel into a time share property and a few things have changed. After Wilma, of course, they had to do a full renovation which had already been in the works for the TS thing.
We stopped in this past May, the hotel lobby, restaruant & beach areas are beautiful, they did a very nice job. making the restaurant much larger and cutting the pools from 2 to 1.
The same folks are working there that have worked there forever and they are all just wonderful.
Island Photo is located on the property in the same space they have been at for as long as I've known them. Regardless of where you stay, Holly and Armando are the people to see for your photographic needs in Cozumel. (shameless plug)
Ok, now the bad news, El Cid, so far, has made the hotel less "diver friendly". they have not rebuilt the pier and have no plans at this time to do so. Divers staying there have to walk 2 blocks up the street to be picked up at another pier, while almost everyone else on the island is being picked up right at their hotel. They also do not have a dive shop on site.
This is really sad as La Ceiba used to be a diver's hotel, nothing fancy, clean, roomy rooms, quiet atmosphere, good food, great service, located right on the water and good shore diving for Coz.
We did the time share "dog and pony" show last year and the "salesman" John, made it very clear that divers were not the target buyers they were looking for, exsqueeeze me this is Cozumel!! Dive center of the World! (Ok, maybe a little over the top, but you know what I mean)
He actually said, to a prospective 2 customers that he knew were a divers, "I don't give a damn about diving...". He was very unprofessional and insulted us on several occations. It was clear that they were looking for retirees (sp?) and families by the presentation being presented and the way the rooms were being reconfigured in the renovation.
I really don't want to put the place down, because it was our Cozumel home for many, many years. the staff is great, the location is one of the best and the property is all shiny and new, but it has just turned into the type of hotel that does not cater to my needs and we have moved Casa Sharky up the street a ways.
Now they are turning the hotel into a time share property and a few things have changed. After Wilma, of course, they had to do a full renovation which had already been in the works for the TS thing.
We stopped in this past May, the hotel lobby, restaruant & beach areas are beautiful, they did a very nice job. making the restaurant much larger and cutting the pools from 2 to 1.
The same folks are working there that have worked there forever and they are all just wonderful.
Island Photo is located on the property in the same space they have been at for as long as I've known them. Regardless of where you stay, Holly and Armando are the people to see for your photographic needs in Cozumel. (shameless plug)
Ok, now the bad news, El Cid, so far, has made the hotel less "diver friendly". they have not rebuilt the pier and have no plans at this time to do so. Divers staying there have to walk 2 blocks up the street to be picked up at another pier, while almost everyone else on the island is being picked up right at their hotel. They also do not have a dive shop on site.
This is really sad as La Ceiba used to be a diver's hotel, nothing fancy, clean, roomy rooms, quiet atmosphere, good food, great service, located right on the water and good shore diving for Coz.
We did the time share "dog and pony" show last year and the "salesman" John, made it very clear that divers were not the target buyers they were looking for, exsqueeeze me this is Cozumel!! Dive center of the World! (Ok, maybe a little over the top, but you know what I mean)
He actually said, to a prospective 2 customers that he knew were a divers, "I don't give a damn about diving...". He was very unprofessional and insulted us on several occations. It was clear that they were looking for retirees (sp?) and families by the presentation being presented and the way the rooms were being reconfigured in the renovation.
I really don't want to put the place down, because it was our Cozumel home for many, many years. the staff is great, the location is one of the best and the property is all shiny and new, but it has just turned into the type of hotel that does not cater to my needs and we have moved Casa Sharky up the street a ways.
I've got a shared experience Sharky
I stayed at La Ceiba many times. It started as a paradise. Great restaurant/bar. The "faux" beach was great. Best pier and a great little shore dive/nite right on premises. Del Mar Aquatics with Paul Padilla was a top flight dive op. Great breakfast with yer dive package.
I can recall musing that I'd probably never stay anywhere else. I always used to get a first floor room on the "low side". It was like having my own little beach house next to a dive site!
But things change over time, & so did La Ceiba. Del Mar turned arrogant and surly (no sweat, I met Humberto Cruz, so Blue Bubbles was now my dive op). The rest & bar declined. (no problem, what better place than Coz to find a place to eat and another to catch a drink?)
But then there were problems with the hotel. A/C, water, floods, all kinds of stuff.
I missed the troubles, but they were there.
Then came my last trip there. Troubles started right away. A mean faced, nasty desk clerk informed me there was a problem with my reservation. it seems the place was now AI and I had to "upgrade" my reservation accordingly. I told him I didn't want AI & kindly let me have my room. He was ticked. I smelled a rat & asked to see the room. It was unfit to be a chicken coop. I got another key, but the second room was about the same.
I was freaked when I went back to the desk. This guy had it in for me and things were going downhill fast. All troubles disappeared when I hit the desk. The friendly, motherly female desk clerk was there. She was almost in tears. The nasty desk clerk had embarrassed her. She and her cohorts were hiding out in the little office. I had come back when the evil guy was on break & she came to my rescue. Armed with a key to a great room and some coupons for breakfasts, I once more had a good time at La Ceiba.
But that was it, my last stay at "the tree". It was now El Cid & I was movin' on.
I stayed at La Ceiba many times. It started as a paradise. Great restaurant/bar. The "faux" beach was great. Best pier and a great little shore dive/nite right on premises. Del Mar Aquatics with Paul Padilla was a top flight dive op. Great breakfast with yer dive package.
I can recall musing that I'd probably never stay anywhere else. I always used to get a first floor room on the "low side". It was like having my own little beach house next to a dive site!
But things change over time, & so did La Ceiba. Del Mar turned arrogant and surly (no sweat, I met Humberto Cruz, so Blue Bubbles was now my dive op). The rest & bar declined. (no problem, what better place than Coz to find a place to eat and another to catch a drink?)
But then there were problems with the hotel. A/C, water, floods, all kinds of stuff.
I missed the troubles, but they were there.
Then came my last trip there. Troubles started right away. A mean faced, nasty desk clerk informed me there was a problem with my reservation. it seems the place was now AI and I had to "upgrade" my reservation accordingly. I told him I didn't want AI & kindly let me have my room. He was ticked. I smelled a rat & asked to see the room. It was unfit to be a chicken coop. I got another key, but the second room was about the same.
I was freaked when I went back to the desk. This guy had it in for me and things were going downhill fast. All troubles disappeared when I hit the desk. The friendly, motherly female desk clerk was there. She was almost in tears. The nasty desk clerk had embarrassed her. She and her cohorts were hiding out in the little office. I had come back when the evil guy was on break & she came to my rescue. Armed with a key to a great room and some coupons for breakfasts, I once more had a good time at La Ceiba.
But that was it, my last stay at "the tree". It was now El Cid & I was movin' on.
That was my favorite hotel too. Nothing like being able to jump off that pier to do as many dives as you wanted in the afternoon & at night. Now El Cid charges $10.50 a head for the "privilege" of diving off of their beach. Oh well, we now stay at Casa del Mar, which is a good proxy.
OP
sytech
Contributor
Thanks to all for your feedback. Turns out El Cid is booked over Labor Day so I will be staying at the Villablanca which looks pretty good and is very reasonably priced.
Anyone been there?
Sy
Anyone been there?
Sy
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