Nobody else has said it yet, so I will. All the Resorts mentioned are All-Inclusive. While I would gladly stay at an AI Resort in Jamaica (safety reasons), Roatan, even Grand Cayman (good restaurants, but the prices there will kill you), I would NEVER choose an AI at Cozumel. OK, so I did do the AI thing at Hotel Cozumel for the Cozumel Invasion in July - my first AI stay in Cozumel since I started going there in 1989 - but I did not like it. The Hotel was great, but the food was awful, and I ended up eating outside the Hotel for all but 2 lunches and 3 dinners. I assume the food at Cozumel Palace is higher quality, same for Iberostar, but there is simply no reason to avoid going out on Cozumel. It's probably the safest location in Mexico, far safer that most big cities in the U.S., the people are very friendly, and it has many excellent restaurants, for Yucetan cuisine, Tex-Mex, gourmet tastes, Italian, Asian, Steaks, etc. a lot of variety, and a lot of choices in nearly every price range. I love the diving, but I'm a two-dive a day, plus 1, maybe two night dives, kind of guy. And dining and socializing is a big part of the vacation experience. I also think that when you vacation in a foreign country, you ought to grab the opportunity to take in some of the foreign culture, and that's a lot harder at an AI Resort. Yes, AI's can be very convenient if you have small kids that need (or want) to eat at regular times, or who will always grab a hot dog or hamburger or fries at the poolside snack bar, and you don't want to constantly give them cash for those things, or be shocked when all the room charges show up at the end of the week. So if you are doing the family vacation thing, I understand the choice of an AI Resort. Otherwise, my recommendation is to look for a good European Plan Hotel, well located (I prefer near downtown to limit the need for taxis, but I've also stayed at Casa Del Mar several times, farther South near the Cruise ship pier), choose a Dive Op that suits your needs and desires - large boat vs. six pack, valet operator like Aldora, Dive with Martin, or many others, or more bare bones operators, and take the time when you are not diving to explore and enjoy the many fine restaurants and other attractions of Cozumel outside of the cacoon of an AI Resort.
