Resort/hotel help please

[mobeachlovers]

Planning a trip to Cozumel in January. Looking for a place to stay walking distance to town-2 miles or less, budget friendly, water access for snorkeling but would also like to try a beginning such as "resort dive" with hopes of liking and completing open water certification in near future. Is this even possible?:confused4:

 

[cicopo]

Park Royal is a bit over the 2 mile mark but worth looking at along with Casa Del Mar, Villablanca, Blue Angel & Hotel Cozumel. In town you have several choices in hotels but not resorts. Never stayed north of town so can't help on there. Many property tours of resorts I've visited or stayed at are here. Picasa Web Albums - Larry

 

[Zeagle Eagle]

What's your budget?

 

[redacted]

Planning a trip to Cozumel in January. Looking for a place to stay walking distance to town-2 miles or less, budget friendly, water access for snorkeling but would also like to try a beginning such as "resort dive" with hopes of liking and completing open water certification in near future. Is this even possible?:confused4:

Shore snorkeling and beaches in Cozumel leave a lot to be desired. You might want to look at adjacent mainland facilities where you will probably get more for less, find much better beaches, have better snorkeling opportunities, and still be able to arrange a DSD experience if you want.

 

[wills029]

Check out Blue Angel.

Our go to spot in Coz!!!

 

[Darol]

Hotel Cozumel Resort........

 

[DjDiverDan]

If I were looking for a "Resort experience", I think I'd go with Hotel Cozumel, but NOT the All-Inclusive option. I think Hotel Cozumel is a nice resort, close enough to be an easy walk to downtown, nice spacious rooms, huge pool area. The food, though, is IMHO, terrible. I admit to being a bit of a foodie, which is why I don't do AI anywhere on Cozumel. Too many great restaurants with a wonderful variety of food. If I were looking for something a bit more intimate, I'd go to Casa Del Mar - smaller hotel, decent rooms (definitely go for the Superior, the Standard Rooms are smaller and dingy, IMO). Definitely more of a hike to Downtown - probably right at the 2 mile mark, maybe a bit longer, but doable if you really like walking - but there are a few acceptable restaurants nearby, like Ernesto's, Tikila, Paprika, and Blue Angel if you don't feel like hiking into town and don't want to pay for the cab.

 

[mobeachlovers]

If AI we have found for around $1000/person 7nights + flight. Would rather find a non AI near town that would cost about the same for lodging and eating out. The problem Im having searching is finding something in that budget that is also on the water and has decent shore snorkeling and some sort of diving course as well. Stayed in the north several yrs ago at Playa Azul and though the beach snorkeling was great the distance to town for meals, ect isnt really want we are wanting to do this time.

---------- Post added August 17th, 2015 at 08:35 PM ----------

Do any of the in town hotels have water access with decent snorkeling?

 

[CNYMAD]

How about El Cantil. A lot of dive ops will pick you up at their pier and offer a course. Easy walk to town, snorkel out fronte, good pool area.

 

[Dave Dillehay]

The Villa Aldora is just north of town in what we call the serene near north. No hustle or bustle, no people with balloons on their heads and the snorkeling in front is delightful. IT is also less than one mile to town and a host of good inexpensive restaurants. Many people walk in and taxi back, or we provide free bicycles for our guests to use. We also pick up our divers there, including those staying further north like Playa Azul (nice place) who we also provide bikes for their use…as long as their diving is with Aldora. All rooms have at least kitchenettes free phone calls to the US and Canada and internet of course. Rooms start at $95 per night. We also do our discover diving there in our salt water pool, followed by a few steps into the water. Google Villa Aldora and see some real reviews.Dave DillehayAldora Divers