Presidente Intercontinental - Worth it or Not?

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This is a great thread.

:popcorn:
 
deerboy:
Thanks for the help, very genorous knowledge base from the Scuba Board faithful, as always.
I last stayed at the Presidente in late 2004. It was fantastic! I have not been there since the hurricane/remodel but I'll be there two weeks from tomorrow. If you would like, I'd be happy to send some pictures of the general hotel grounds. Also, I'm planning to dive again with Scuba-Du. I'd be happy to give you a full update after. Let me know.

Portland Diver
 
Portland Diver:
I last stayed at the Presidente in late 2004. It was fantastic! I have not been there since the hurricane/remodel but I'll be there two weeks from tomorrow. If you would like, I'd be happy to send some pictures of the general hotel grounds. Also, I'm planning to dive again with Scuba-Du. I'd be happy to give you a full update after. Let me know.

Portland Diver


I've been staying there since 1993. I'm anxious to see what they've done with the 25 million they got in insurance money. I'll be there May 2nd. and plan on taking a lot of pictures. I too will post a full report when I get back.
 
cheesehead:
In one word-no.

We stayed there for several years but the price has gone from 50% higher to 300% higher from what I can see (Funjet and Apple).

The hotel was gorgeous and should be now. Scuba Du was a great dive op, I hope it is as good. The shore dive was good but last July when I snorkeled over it, the reef was trashed.

Casa Mexicana works better for me. A condo at El Cantil probably would work better. Some of the condo rentals in the north have been better.

Tim

You're right. Presidente's top end room rates are off the charts! You can rent your own villa for those rates.
 
Portland Diver:
I last stayed at the Presidente in late 2004. It was fantastic! I have not been there since the hurricane/remodel but I'll be there two weeks from tomorrow. If you would like, I'd be happy to send some pictures of the general hotel grounds. Also, I'm planning to dive again with Scuba-Du. I'd be happy to give you a full update after. Let me know.

Portland Diver

Im trying to find a dive op for my stay there next month. I see scuba du and blue-xtc both do pick up at the Presidente but when I looked at the scuba du website I saw the dive list was set for the week and im very hesitant to book with a company that is set on certain sites each day of the week (weather permitting of course). I also dont like the fact all the sites they pick are at 80' for the first dive and 50-60 for the second. I know its common practice for a deep morning dive and a shallow second, but I think it really limits the choice of diving sites when you say your only going to sites that are 80' for your first dive and then 50-60' for the second. can you give me your experience with this dive op?

Thanks.

Geoff
 
waynel:
You're right. Presidente's top end room rates are off the charts! You can rent your own villa for those rates.



That's not true unless you are talking about the suites. They are and have always been very expensive. I stay in what is called a Beach Front Superior room. The price that I will be paying this May is 24.00 a night more than two years ago when I last stayed there. During the high season , after Thanksgiving through Spring Break, the rates do go up considerably but, I dont go during that season. If you join Intercontinentals' Priority Club, you get a free upgrade and a free night if you stay through a weekend, cost is 150.00. Ya gotta work the system, always.
 
gbrandon:
Im trying to find a dive op for my stay there next month. I see scuba du and blue-xtc both do pick up at the Presidente but when I looked at the scuba du website I saw the dive list was set for the week and im very hesitant to book with a company that is set on certain sites each day of the week (weather permitting of course). I also dont like the fact all the sites they pick are at 80' for the first dive and 50-60 for the second. I know its common practice for a deep morning dive and a shallow second, but I think it really limits the choice of diving sites when you say your only going to sites that are 80' for your first dive and then 50-60' for the second. can you give me your experience with this dive op?

Thanks.

Geoff
There is plenty of diving at Cozumel at both the 80-100 level and the 50-60 foot level, so it's not really a limitation. They do that (I surmise) to avoid the possibility of arguments on the boat between the "just been there yesterday" folks and the "leaving tomorrow and still haven't been there" ones. It's a different style, and not without merit, though I like the daily consensus way better, even though it sometimes has me going to the same site two days in a row. But hey, it's all good.

Just about any dive op that isn't based far south will pick up at the Presidente, so you'll have lots of choices.
 
We'll be going back at the end of April. This will be our first return since Wilma and the enforced major remodelling. As has been pointed out, it's a very nice hotel. It all boils down to what you're looking for and how much you're willing to pay. If the comparison means anything to you, it's nicer physically than Las Brisas in Acapulco, but you don't get your own pool. If you go, follow the advice to join the Intercontinental Ambassador program. It got us an upgrade to a fantastic oceanfront room from the "cheapo" internet rate and a free night. Breakfast is great but spendy. I personally can't imagine going to an Italian place when I'm in Mexico, so we eat other meals in town.

As far as operators, everyone has their favorites. We've liked Dive Cozumel (also known by the name of their boat, Yellow Rose).
 
I found Scuba-Du to be very flexible when I scheduled with them. Although they do have a weekly schedule, they were flexible while I was there. As for the 80' - 90' morning dive and 50' - 60' second dive, I agree this can be limiting and was the only negative thing I can say about the opertaion. I'll report back when I return about how they are running things now.

PD
 
Portland Diver:
I found Scuba-Du to be very flexible when I scheduled with them. Although they do have a weekly schedule, they were flexible while I was there. As for the 80' - 90' morning dive and 50' - 60' second dive, I agree this can be limiting and was the only negative thing I can say about the opertaion. I'll report back when I return about how they are running things now.

PD

The 80-90' first dive and 50-60' second dive is the norm for most if not all Coz dive ops. I don't think it's at all limiting; there are scads of sites there that fill both orders. What would you do otherwise?
 

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