Question Favorite resorts in Cozumel.

[Kimela]

Very late response.

• Presidente - I think the nicest resort we’ve stayed at is Presidente, but the price of food makes it a bit much. We’d rather travel often than travel that well.
• Park Royal (too busy for me, and if you’re diving you won’t be there in the morning to stand in line to get your dinner reservation),
• Casa del Mar - we really like it and it was our go-to for a few years, but we had to bring air mattresses because their mattresses are rock-hard. Your dining options are limited, but you can get the all-inclusive or pay as you go. Be aware of upcharges for certain drinks.
• Fiesta Americana - stayed there twice and loved it, then their beach was closed so we went elsewhere - but now it’s open again! Lots of cabanas on the beach so you don’t have to play the towel game ever - great food on the beach - lots of options.
• Cozumel Palace - great food, great staff, great turndown service - the hallways are large and very echo-y so the rooms are noisy, especially as families and then partiers come back to their rooms at the end of the night. Also, it was frustrating that the nice loungers were reserved for the star guests and rarely got used. We stayed her a bunch, and the last stay was very crowded as they had begun to let groups in to use the facilities and they trashed the place. I hope they have stopped that nonsense.
• ScubaClubCozumel - stayed there once but now they are sadly closed
• Wyndham - used to be Hotel Cozumel or Hot Coz - stayed there twice and were underwhelmed. Second time was during covid and they may have been bought by Wyndham by then. Not a great experience, but everyone was trying to figure out how to operate covid-style at that time.
• Casa Mexicana (not really a resort, but they do have a pool) - love it - their breakfast is fantastic (and included) - close to great restaurants - clean, and great staff
• Sunscape Sabor - went for a ‘girls week’ - it was my first Cozumel trip. Not a great room, but the beach is nice. Everything was ‘ok’.
• We are booked for the Explorean (hidden behind the Fiesta Americana) for May. If you stay at Explorean you have access to all the restaurants at FA and you also have daily excursions to go on. There are things we’ve never done because we haven’t rented a car - and I’m excited to do them. We’ve never gone to the east side of the island; El Cielo; the local ruins; and then we’ll be diving.

 

[Shawn C]

Very late response.

• Presidente - I think the nicest resort we’ve stayed at is Presidente, but the price of food makes it a bit much. We’d rather travel often than travel that well.
• Park Royal (too busy for me, and if you’re diving you won’t be there in the morning to stand in line to get your dinner reservation),
• Casa del Mar - we really like it and it was our go-to for a few years, but we had to bring air mattresses because their mattresses are rock-hard. Your dining options are limited, but you can get the all-inclusive or pay as you go. Be aware of upcharges for certain drinks.
• Fiesta Americana - stayed there twice and loved it, then their beach was closed so we went elsewhere - but now it’s open again! Lots of cabanas on the beach so you don’t have to play the towel game ever - great food on the beach - lots of options.
• Cozumel Palace - great food, great staff, great turndown service - the hallways are large and very echo-y so the rooms are noisy, especially as families and then partiers come back to their rooms at the end of the night. Also, it was frustrating that the nice loungers were reserved for the star guests and rarely got used. We stayed her a bunch, and the last stay was very crowded as they had begun to let groups in to use the facilities and they trashed the place. I hope they have stopped that nonsense.
• ScubaClubCozumel - stayed there once but now they are sadly closed
• Wyndham - used to be Hotel Cozumel or Hot Coz - stayed there twice and were underwhelmed. Second time was during covid and they may have been bought by Wyndham by then. Not a great experience, but everyone was trying to figure out how to operate covid-style at that time.
• Casa Mexicana (not really a resort, but they do have a pool) - love it - their breakfast is fantastic (and included) - close to great restaurants - clean, and great staff
• Sunscape Sabor - went for a ‘girls week’ - it was my first Cozumel trip. Not a great room, but the beach is nice. Everything was ‘ok’.
• We are booked for the Explorean (hidden behind the Fiesta Americana) for May. If you stay at Explorean you have access to all the restaurants at FA and you also have daily excursions to go on. There are things we’ve never done because we haven’t rented a car - and I’m excited to do them. We’ve never gone to the east side of the island; El Cielo; the local ruins; and then we’ll be diving.

Nice reviews. From the same places that we've stayed at that you reviewed (FA, Palace, Sunscape & Explorean) I'd agree with everything you wrote. Just a quick note about Explorean, in case this is your first time staying there, there's no TVs in the rooms (didn't bother us a bit but if you have kids it might be an issue), nor is there any room service available (they will bring you a breakfast basket in the morning). The breakfast buffet should be open early enough over at FA for you to grab a bite to eat before diving. I brought ziplocks with me and would throw a bunch of fruit and ice in them and have them on the boat for the SI. Our dive op would always have fruit available but I really enjoy pineapple post dive and they wouldn't have that often enough for my liking. The Punta Sur excursion is also worth doing if you haven't already done it.

 

[Kimela]

Nice reviews. From the same places that we've stayed at that you reviewed (FA, Palace, Sunscape & Explorean) I'd agree with everything you wrote. Just a quick note about Explorean, in case this is your first time staying there, there's no TVs in the rooms (didn't bother us a bit but if you have kids it might be an issue), nor is there any room service available (they will bring you a breakfast basket in the morning). The breakfast buffet should be open early enough over at FA for you to grab a bite to eat before diving. I brought ziplocks with me and would throw a bunch of fruit and ice in them and have them on the boat for the SI. Our dive op would always have fruit available but I really enjoy pineapple post dive and they wouldn't have that often enough for my liking. The Punta Sur excursion is also worth doing if you haven't already done it.

I wasn’t sure if Punta Sur was the same as El Cielo! Thank you! We’re old farts so no kiddoes and no tv is a-ok. Also fine without room service. Looking forward to a more relaxed atmosphere. How were the beds at Explorean? I remember FA having good beds. Hoping there’s no need for my air mattress.

Hadn’t thought about snagging something for the SI. That’s a great idea. The boats we’re on usually have lunch, but sometimes I’d like a cookie. Or two.

 

[morecowbells]

We always rent a condo instead of staying at a resort. A couple of years ago, we were planning on visiting Curacao. They finally allowed Americans to visit, but you had to get a Covid test 24 hours before, midweek and prior to departure. We decided to change our destination to Cozumel. With only 2 weeks to get everything rearranged, most condos were already booked. The El Presidente and Palace were out of our price range. We ended up booking at the El Cid. The hotel website definitely does not offer the best price, better to go through Orbitz, Expedia etc. We booked a one bedroom suite without the AI option.

The unit was large and very comfortable and quiet. We ate a couple of lunches at their restaurants. Pizzas were good. Mexican food decent. Since the resort is just north of the marina, we used a different dive op which could pick us up at the El Cid pier. They were good, but in retrospect, I would have taken the short cab ride to the marina to use my familiar dive op.

The pluses: Cheap cab ride into town. Ample beach chairs with plenty of shaded areas. Snorkeling was good. Rooms were quiet, never heard noise from neighbors. The best feature was the amazing bed! It was so plush and comfortable! Despite some of the negatives, this would be my main reason to return.

The negatives: Ridiculously small elevators. Literally, could only fit 2 people at a time, although there were 2 elevators, only one was in working condition. The WIFI is painfully slow. When booking, make sure the wifi is included, otherwise they charge an absurd fee for access.

I will continue to book condos, but if needing a resort, I would stay at the El Cid again since it is a good value for the price.

 

[Kimela]

We always rent a condo instead of staying at a resort. A couple of years ago, we were planning on visiting Curacao. They finally allowed Americans to visit, but you had to get a Covid test 24 hours before, midweek and prior to departure. We decided to change our destination to Cozumel. With only 2 weeks to get everything rearranged, most condos were already booked. The El Presidente and Palace were out of our price range. We ended up booking at the El Cid. The hotel website definitely does not offer the best price, better to go through Orbitz, Expedia etc. We booked a one bedroom suite without the AI option.

The unit was large and very comfortable and quiet. We ate a couple of lunches at their restaurants. Pizzas were good. Mexican food decent. Since the resort is just north of the marina, we used a different dive op which could pick us up at the El Cid pier. They were good, but in retrospect, I would have taken the short cab ride to the marina to use my familiar dive op.

The pluses: Cheap cab ride into town. Ample beach chairs with plenty of shaded areas. Snorkeling was good. Rooms were quiet, never heard noise from neighbors. The best feature was the amazing bed! It was so plush and comfortable! Despite some of the negatives, this would be my main reason to return.

The negatives: Ridiculously small elevators. Literally, could only fit 2 people at a time, although there were 2 elevators, only one was in working condition. The WIFI is painfully slow. When booking, make sure the wifi is included, otherwise they charge an absurd fee for access.

I will continue to book condos, but if needing a resort, I would stay at the El Cid again since it is a good value for the price.

That’s good info about El Cid. We have RCI points that can be used at several resorts, and El Cid is one. We’ve thought about it but just didn’t know. Love a good bed!!

 

[cicopo]

Just a quick note about Wyndham Hotel Cozumel. They joined the franchise but the hotel is privately owned by the Toledo family which has owned it for quite a long time. Covid changed a lot of things there (protocalls) but the owners are always performing improvements to it & have been for many years. I'll be there again at the end of the month to verify this but as far as I know all rooms have a decent sized fridge & new furniture