Trip Report Suites Colonial, dentist, diving, food

[Kimela]

You need to understand that restaurants, taxis, stores, etc that accept a foreign currency in Mexico are doing you a favour and are free to set the exchange rate to whatever they see fit. If you don't like it, that's on you, not them. To expect to receive the bank rate of exchange at a restaurant is a bit much.

I don’t expect their exchange rate to be what I see on my app. I expect to pay for the convenience of using US dollars. But I do expect something ‘reasonable'. IMO, their rate wasn’t reasonable.

But it might be a-ok for you. That’s ok.

 

[Kimela]

THANK YOU! I should have just texted you directly LOL!

Now it’s out there for everyone to see what they offer. And I really like to promote the places I enjoy. Btw, they are only open until 5:00, so you might want to go there the day before you leave or the day you arrive.

 

[mcohen1021]

Now it’s out there for everyone to see what they offer. And I really like to promote the places I enjoy. Btw, they are only open until 5:00, so you might want to go there the day before you leave or the day you arrive.

True.... If he's cuban, he'll have to make me something not on the menue - my favorite from the time my [cuban] mom made it - biztek empanizado, arroz blanco, y platanos maduros...

fat chance, but id love it if they had malta hatuey! That will have to wait for Miami!

 

[morecowbells]

I've also been using Dra. Yazmin for several years despite having dental coverage from work. For me, it's not so much the price (which is less than deductible) it's the quick response and personal contact and easy transaction. In the US, it takes awhile sometimes weeks to get an appointment, you sit in a waiting room 30 minutes then in an exam room before seeing the dentist. If you need to call you'll probably be leaving a voice message and at best talking to a receptionist. In Cozumel, I almost surely can get an appointment within days, I've never sat in their small waiting lobby more than 5 minutes, either the dentist or assistant follows me into the room and gets started right away, and I have Dra. Yazmin on whatsapp and can have a direct chat within minutes. One time when I was getting a few crowns I foolishly munched on chips the next day and popped a temporary crown. Messaged her to see what I should do, promptly got a reply that if I can get there in an hour they can re-glue it in a few minutes, else do a liquid diet and come in first thing in the morning.

Thanks for the info. Out of curiosity, does Dr. Yazmin send your tooth impression/molding out to a lab to complete the crown? That is the problem I have at home. Getting fitted and using a lousy temporary crown which EVERYTHING I eat sticks to until I get the permanent; not to mention the $1800+ cost which my dental insurance may pay half if I am am lucky.

@mcohen1021 you must be referring to La Caretta. I love their Ropa Vieja! I will hop, skip and run to a different terminal if it means I get a meal there.

 

[Shawn C]

I don’t expect their exchange rate to be what I see on my app. I expect to pay for the convenience of using US dollars. But I do expect something ‘reasonable'. IMO, their rate wasn’t reasonable.

But it might be a-ok for you. That’s ok.

You should have asked what the exchange was before you sat down. You had options/leverage at that point. After you'd already eaten, reasonable is whatever they decide it is, not you. You definitely paid for the convenience though, I'll grant you that.

 

[Kimela]

Thanks for the info. Out of curiosity, does Dr. Yazmin send your tooth impression/molding out to a lab to complete the crown? That is the problem I have at home. Getting fitted and using a lousy temporary crown which EVERYTHING I eat sticks to until I get the permanent; not to mention the $1800+ cost which my dental insurance may pay half if I am am lucky.

@mcohen1021 you must be referring to La Caretta. I love their Ropa Vieja! I will hop, skip and run to a different terminal if it means I get a meal there.

Yes, she sends it out, but it’s done within a few days. When I had mine done it took a couple of extra days because the moto who was transporting my mold was in an accident and my mold was lost. She uses someone on the island that uses German technology and materials. I have a crown and a bridge from her and they look better than the American made stuff.

I like working with her because (like someone else said) she personally responds to email and whatsapp, and she will tell you how long it will take, as well as the cost up front.

 

[mcohen1021]

@mcohen1021 you must be referring to La Caretta. I love their Ropa Vieja! I will hop, skip and run to a different terminal if it means I get a meal there.

Of course I'm referring to La carreta! Next best thing to my mom's cooking! We grew up going there as kids!

The one on SW 8th is a little bit better than the airport but I'm not going to complain!

 

[Catito]

Now it’s out there for everyone to see what they offer. And I really like to promote the places I enjoy. Btw, they are only open until 5:00, so you might want to go there the day before you leave or the day you arrive.

Hello:

How did the coral look? Any spectacular finds on your two dives? How can I get a hold of the dentist.

Thank you.

 

[Kimela]

Hello:

How did the coral look? Any spectacular finds on your two dives? How can I get a hold of the dentist.

Thank you.

Here’s a link to her website: Dental Care Cozumel – Your Smile, Our Island. The office number listed on the website is also her whatsapp - and I think she’s the only one who reads/responds to it.

We only dove two dives on Tikila (shore dive - our max depth was 34 ft) and I don’t know if I’d call that much of a ‘reef’, but there is coral there and it looked ‘ok’. There are coral heads here and there, but not like a long reef structure. I hadn’t been in the water since last May and I would have been happy with anything. I also am always looking for macro - and Tikila never lets me down. You might want to check with someone who has been to Palancar or some of the other reef sites for better info.

But we did see a school (?) of cuttlefish of about 30, and plenty of cleaner shrimp, a drum and a juvenile high-hat, several morays, pipe fish, etc. The cuttlefish were a treat!

I took this shot of a small coral head - and then some cuttlefish.

 

[Catito]

Here’s a link to her website: Dental Care Cozumel – Your Smile, Our Island. The office number listed on the website is also her whatsapp - and I think she’s the only one who reads/responds to it.

We only dove two dives on Tikila (shore dive - our max depth was 34 ft) and I don’t know if I’d call that much of a ‘reef’, but there is coral there and it looked ‘ok’. There are coral heads here and there, but not like a long reef structure. I hadn’t been in the water since last May and I would have been happy with anything. I also am always looking for macro - and Tikila never lets me down. You might want to check with someone who has been to Palancar or some of the other reef sites for better info.

But we did see a school (?) of cuttlefish of about 30, and plenty of cleaner shrimp, a drum and a juvenile high-hat, several morays, pipe fish, etc. The cuttlefish were a treat!

I took this shot of a small coral head - and then some cuttlefish.
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View attachment 890670

Oh super nice! Thank you.