Need advice on cozumel drift dive op and a cheap pkg !

[miserkris]

Any advise? Hah! At the risk of repeating previous suggestions...

This is your first trip to Coz isn't it? It may have been mentioned before, but ask Christi about hiring a private DM for your first two dive boat trip. Money well spent.

The shared van is the simplest, and the exchange rate they use is ok. I think they allow 16.5 MXN to USD, which is about 18% less than the bank rate (which is not available to us), so you might pay $5 USD and maybe get a little coin back. I don't fault merchants for such exchange rates when I don't have Pesos handy as it's more work for them to take those USD to their bank to exchange for Pesos, etc.

I do get out at every stop before mine to watch the bags unloaded, ensuring that mine doesn't get handed to a hotel employee early. I'm the passenger who tries to grab the shotgun seat if I can, or if not - stands outside of the van until the last minute and then grabs a seat close to the door. Sorry. Suites Colonial is on a pedestrians & push carts only section of 5th Ave about 20-30 yards off of Dr Adolfo Rosado Salas street, so the van will park partly on the sidewalk to let you out. Those drivers are generally nice, load & unload all of the bags, and have no say in rates, so I usually tip them a buck.

I think I remember this hotel having comfortable beds and plenty of hot water, a lobby restroom which is handy for us old coots (I seem to have conditioned myself to need one immediately after arriving places?), and an elevator that I am lazy enough to use - and my bum knee appreciates. I remember my last room there had a door with a full one inch gap at the bottom, but they spray so much downtown that I never noticed a mosquito in my room. It's a good idea to take 40% DEET spray and use it early & often as there are some unwelcome diseases carried by those tiny vampires. I like to tip the maid a buck or two a day.

Be sure to let your bank know that you'll be using your cards in Mexico or they will probably get blocked. At the other end of the block close to the main plaza, there is a HCSB ATM where you can use your debit card to obtain Pesos. My bank (Wells Fargo) offers free foreign currency deliveries before trips, but the rates are poor. On the other hand, I can withdraw 5,000 Pesos a day with my card and the rate after all bank charges combined last month was 19.26 Pesos to the Dollar which was not bad. If I used my charge card on meals there, I'd get a poor exchange rate before the charge, then get charged 3% by the bank, so I certainly try to keep Pesos handy. Do read this thread: More photos of the bank ATM scam

I really need to take two money clips when I go as I spend Pesos and tip Dollars. I take lots of $1, $2, $5, and $10 bills for such. You'll probably want to tip your boat crew $10 to $20 a trip.

Always ask the driver how much before getting into a cab. I have had more arguments with taxi drivers, but they do have home field advantage. My last day of my last trip I forgot to carry Pesos to the boat, they let me out with my gear at the Safari dock, and when I asked a driver how much to the same corner you'll be using - as I pack more gear than anyone else and did not want to hump it all that far, he said 40 Pesos or $4 USD. I just gritted my teeth mad at myself for not carrying Pesos, and did not see any need to tip.

There are many good places to eat downtown and you see more walking. I assume that you have DAN dive insurance and your own SMB & dive light?

Thx Don.

No SMB for me. Tank banger, whistle, dive lights, computer and a paralenz dive camera i got from here!

Wait, i thought using Visa or Mastercard credit card was the best way to get best exchange rates ? That's how it was in Costa Rica when we went there recently....... if CC are not suitable for meals lmk I'd rather withdraw once with fee once from that HSBC bank in cozumel...i have wells Fargo too! Btw how much should I withdraw once I'm only going to be there for five nights

I've been to Cozumel once but I wasn't diving at the time this was back in 2007 also yes I'm hiring a private DM the 1st day.

Also any good massage in the area? My legs ache after 4 dives lol

 

[DandyDon]

No SMB for me.

I'm still using the one I got for my first dive trip in 2001. It amazes me that anyone would dive in the ocean without one, even tho many do. It's come in handy a few times. I also carry a PLB inside a dive canister clipped to a D ring, but I'd be embarrassed if I had to use it.

Wait, i thought using Visa or Mastercard credit card was the best way to get best exchange rates ? That's how it was in Costa Rica when we went there recently....... if CC are not suitable for meals lmk I'd rather withdraw once with fee once from that HSBC bank in cozumel...i have wells Fargo too! Btw how much should I withdraw once I'm only going to be there for five nights

Nope. It's always best to pay in Pesos, and for most - ATM withdrawals from a debit card are best (assuming you told your bank that you'll be using the cards in Mexico before. I've forgotten twice I think, and the machine ate the cards). I'm skeptical about you CC use in Costa Rica as Wells Fargo charges 3% exchange rate on international charges, and you might even incur poor exchange rates at the restaurant before the charge.

I wouldn't want to draw Pesos with a credit card as they'll charge extra for that too. I have no idea how much you'll spend in five days. Ask WF what your limit is on debit card withdrawals per day, multiply by 19, and that's the maximum Pesos you can draw a day - well, you might round down some to allow for fees. I pay my hotel in Pesos to avoid extra charges, so while I stay at a cheaper hotel, I'll take 5,000 at a time over two or maybe three days. Whatever I have left over I save for the next trip with my passport. You may not want to take much home with you, but the above is the best general approach. Did you read the other thread warnings? BTW, the biggest ATM warning is only use those at banks, never the ones you see on the street.

Also any good massage in the area?

Many, but I wouldn't know who or how to contact. I think I'd ask on one of the Facebook Cozumel groups.

paralenz dive camera i got from here!

From here? Someone posted about losing one last month. Make sure it's well attached to your wrist. I like float straps and Personal Articles Policy - State Farm®

Oh yes, complete an immigration form at this site and print it out to carry: Instituto Nacional de Migración - Forma Migratoria Múltiple
The planes often don't have the forms, and you'll lose your place in line looking for one on arrival. The agent will tear it in half and give you a piece that you will have to have to leave. I put it and a passport in a ziplock together to keep them safe. You'll still need a pen for the Customs form.

 

[ggunn]

Also any good massage in the area? My legs ache after 4 dives lol

Yes, and easily available. Most hotels can hook you up; just ask at the front desk. There are many freelance masseuses on Cozumel who have arrangements with hotels.

 

[ReefHound]

It's not "always" best to pay in pesos. If the product/service is priced in dollars, pay in dollars. If priced in pesos, pay in pesos. I'm not talking about a restaurant where they have a menu in both. That is usually peso-based with a dollar conversion.

Any time I've ever used my credit card in Mexico, the charge has been processed in pesos even if the price had been in dollars. It might even be the law. And the dollars conversion always comes out less than the dollars they asked. Great exchange rate. None of my cards have an international transaction fee. I'm finding more and more places cheerfully accepting cc without imposing any customer fee.

In addition to the FMM you can also fill out the Customs form online. I used it a feww weeks ago, printed in black n white on standard size paper.

 

[divingjd]

Credit card use depends on the term of your card. Like ReefHound, I find they work well. Mine don’t have international transaction fees and the exchange rate is better. But Aldora gives a cash discount, so I pay cash there. Many restaurants only take cash and pesos are best at those places. Hard to say how much to get, depends too much on what you are going to do.

 

[miserkris]

Credit card use depends on the term of your card. Like ReefHound, I find they work well. Mine don’t have international transaction fees and the exchange rate is better. But Aldora gives a cash discount, so I pay cash there. Many restaurants only take cash and pesos are best at those places. Hard to say how much to get, depends too much on what you are going to do.

Only intending pesos for local eateries where locals eat. Maybe rent scooter one day. Ferry to playa a day. So thinking 2000 pesos? For 5 nights?

Btw, if i have extra pesos can i exchange it here in wells Fargo?

 

[ReefHound]

If you have extra pesos, save them for the next trip. It helps to have pesos when you arrive for bus/ferry/shuttle/beer until you can get to an ATM.

 

[DandyDon]

Maybe rent scooter one day.

That's got to be the most dangerous activity on the island. Please don't. Rent a VW for the day from Isis Rent a Car | Playa del Carmen and Cozumel Ask her if she offers a SB discount.

Btw, if i have extra pesos can i exchange it here in wells Fargo?

I'm sure they will take them for deposit. I wouldn't expect a great rate.

If you have extra pesos, save them for the next trip. It helps to have pesos when you arrive for bus/ferry/shuttle/beer until you can get to an ATM.

Yep. If you go home with a few hundred pesos, that's only about $5 USD per 100 Mxn so not a lot of dead money to save with your passport.

 

[divingjd]

I’ve never changed pesos for dollars. I visit often enough to keep them for the next trip. It helps that I rarely have more than a few hundred pesos left. I know you can change at the airports, but you’ll get hit for a fee and not get a good rate. I think 2000 pesos is probably on the light side. If it were me, I would get more and try to avoid another ATM fee. I have a Schwab debit card and don’t pay ATM fees, but when I did, I preferred to take out more and try to avoid fees. It’s a personal choice.

 

[miserkris]

I'll be eating in local hole in wall places where locals eat that's what i enjoy. I don't drink....

I'll eat breakfast at hotel for free (casa)...
How much do meals cost for dinner etc?
Around $10 at most?