Paralyzed by choice

[nodakdive]

I'm trying to decide between one of the B&Bs mentioned and Suites Bahia. We are still thinking about going back to Sabor though, because I know the food there is easy, and I get picked up on the dock.
We are trying to do this vacation really cheap... as it will be our third vacation of the year, and one is a bit of a doozy budget wise. Still need to figure out if we have enough miles to get there. I can't afford airfare for another trip.

I also find it interesting the number of people who mention they use breath control to do their ascents. (Oh, and for Mike- I asked one of the instructors who did my OW class. He ascends that way too. He just doesn't teach it in OW, because PADI recommends new divers use their fins. Just like he teaches using an octo for air sharing, when he uses primary donation in his real diving. But since you'd think I somehow expressed I know better than him and all.)

I don't know how the price compares to the Sabor, but I'd reissue a Casa del Mar suggestion. You have to get an ocean view room at Casa del Mar, so calculate that in the price, but the cab fare one way to town is 80 pesos and Alison picks up there. Food is *very* easy at CDM, and it's just fine. I think they have the best cheese fondue with chorizio I've had anywhere. Nice enough shore diving. Lockers right on the dock. Ernestos across the street. Paprika right down the block. There's 3 suppers right there at a different place each night without taking a taxi. Oxxo one block away.

I was just told about next high season's pricing. Air and hotel for one week out of Bismarck, ND in a balcony room is about $900/pp. I believe that includes breakfast too and maybe transfers. (And for the last few years it has also included 2 Atlantis submarine tickets, which is right across the street.)

In the internet tv show that forums are, I'm personally rooting for a Bahia choice. You're right there downtown. Walk across the street for a taxi to the caletta. (110 pesos maybe?) If the Bahia includes the Casa Mexicana breakfast that's a big plus. Downside is no shore diving, which may not matter to you, and it'd be a little more expensive in the taxi department than staying at CDM. (110 or whatever pesos versus 80 pesos.)


-Blair

 

[Skittl1321]

Bahia does include Casa Mexicana breakfast- and it is really inexpensive. (Suites Colonial is even less...but no one seems to mention them. They are in the same hotel family.)

Will have to relook Casa Del Mar one more time. Being on the water could be nice, and dock pick-up is fabulous...

 

[halocline]

Has the OP learned that there are not 10,000 places to stay and decided on a place yet?

Maybe, but what we've all learned from this thread is that Mossman doesn't need to use his fins to impress cute girls, he just inflates his chest.

 

[nodakdive]

Bahia does include Casa Mexicana breakfast- and it is really inexpensive. (Suites Colonial is even less...but no one seems to mention them. They are in the same hotel family.)

Will have to relook Casa Del Mar one more time. Being on the water could be nice, and dock pick-up is fabulous...

As part of a package, I think CDM is about $100/night for a balcony room ($50/pp). CDM is one of those that's East of the road, so it's not really "on the water". Their pool deck is one story above the street, the restaurant about 1/2 a story above the street. It's the one that has the wooden arched walkway over the road. About half of us go through the restaurant instead of the walkway.

The Bahia breakfast would be better than CDM's. I stayed at Casa Mexicana years ago so I've had both. CDM's isn't bad, but it's basic. Omelette station, etc, but the main "meat protein" is cut up hot dogs, which I happen to love. Casa Mexicana had bacon and sausage, etc.

-Blair

 

[Skittl1321]

"on the water"

Right, I think I meant access to the water. We could easily walk over the bridge and go snorkeling.

However, I think Bahia won.
When we looked at the price difference, we figured it was a wash between taxi's to the Caleta before and after diving, and taxi's to/from town for dinner (it looked like we could maybe walk to town if we wanted a really long walk). At CDM, some days we could walk to lunch but others we might want a taxi. But Bahia has a fridge, so that means we can do some meals in the room, and bring home leftovers. So, we figure with the like $200+ difference over the course of the stay, if we really want to snorkel, we can taxi to Money Bar Which we'll probably do anyway.

And while we did get in the pool a few times our last visit, I think we'll be okay without it. We're going in December, so it won't be so warm we need to cool off. I guess if we miss it, we don't go with this plan next time!

How early does Casa Mexicana open breakfast? I mean, I assume they cater to divers- but is there enough time to walk over there and eat and still get a taxi to the marina?

 

[Ron Lee]

How early does Casa Mexicana open breakfast? I mean, I assume they cater to divers- but is there enough time to walk over there and eat and still get a taxi to the marina?

Verify the current time. When I stayed there it opened at 700 AM which meant that I had to hustle to eat, then go back to the room to brush my teeth and get my scuba gear then walk over to the Aldora pier for a 730 AM pickup.

 

[Skittl1321]

Hmmm... that does sound a bit rushed. Though we rent gear, so we can just bring our bag with a wetsuit to breakfast with us, but obviously a walk to the pier wouldn't be as long as a cab to the marina...

Some mornings though we had late departures because of cruisers though, so maybe I can just ask Alison what the latest I can get to the marina is. If it's 7:30...then I think Casa del Mar might be winning again.


Oh well, I have a bit more time to decide. We were going to book to get orbitz's discount, but I broke a bone in my neck earlier this summer and we think I probably need to make sure I'm fully cleared before I book a vacation. It would suck to book and not be able to dive.

 

[jbjclj]

We have been going to Cozumel for 30 years and have stayed all over the island. The last few years we stay in town for a week to 10 days and then 2 weeks at an AI with friends. We have stayed 3 times at Suites Bahia, once in oceanfront , twice in balcony. Very spacious, refrig and micro. I would feel claustrophobic in their basic rooms.

It got too noisy at night with the Thirsty Cougar noise, so we decided to try Vista del Mar this time. It was just fine. $41 for an oceanfront room with small refrig, spacious and they serve a continental breakfast every morning (certainly not Casa Mexicana/Suites Bahia) I would request 3rd floor. We are going again in Oct/Nov and an oceanfront room is $38. Plus, we walk to all the great restaurants.

 

[Ron Lee]

It got too noisy at night with the Thirsty Cougar noise, so we decided to try Vista del Mar this time. It was just fine. $41 for an oceanfront room with small refrig, spacious and they serve a continental breakfast every morning (certainly not Casa Mexicana/Suites Bahia) I would request 3rd floor. We are going again in Oct/Nov and an oceanfront room is $38. Plus, we walk to all the great restaurants.

Noise at downtown hotels is why I no longer stay there. Hacienda San Miguel is fine although the back rooms may have barnyard animal noises.

 

[Skittl1321]

We ruled out Vista Del Mar based on the photos of their breakfast. Husband needs some protein, I need fruit.

Our AI was noisy until about midnight...so I'm hoping if I could generally sleep through that (I go to bed around 9), I can sleep through downtown.

I'm second guessing again and thinking Casa del Mar. I can't tell if breakfast is included if you don't get their meal plan though. I want breakfast.