Trip Report-Blue XT SEA and Vista del Mar

[Sue Sue]

DH and I just returned from a one week stay. 11/11 - 11/18 Needless to say, we had a wonderful time !

As always, our diving was with Blue XT SEA. This trip critter report included 5 days of fantastic diving-no current conditions with very good visibility. Two huge nurse sharks, two huge green morays, eagle ray, Octopus night and day, numerous blennies and FISH, FISH, FISH !!! The fish and the corals we believe must be on steriods. The Queen Angels are huge as well as a few of the Parrot Fish. We saw a few turtle, crab and lobster, but not as many on this trip as usual. However, this is what is so wonderful about Cozumel diving. We have never been disappointed and know there will be marine life treasures to be found. Of course, it helps to have such a professional crew guiding our way. We can not thank Christi and her crew enough. Every time we dive with them we are amazed with their diving experience and knowledge. We are very thankful for being in such good hands. Oh, also, we want to give a shout out to Scott, Dan, Terry, Steve, Kim and Dominic. It was truly a pleasure diving with all of you. We had a blast !!!

We stayed at the Vista del Mar for the first time. DH and I have stayed at many accomodations on the island and we were very pleased with this hotel. Our oceanview room was very large, bright, breezy and clean. A breakfast tray of coffee, juice, pastries and rolls, butter & jelly was served every morning @ 7:00 AM per our request. We truly enjoyed the convenience of walking to the pier to meet our dive boat 2 small blocks north, as well as easy access to Blue XT Sea's shop which is just around the corner.

We also appreciate the convenience of walking to all of our favorite restaurants. This trip we visited La Choza, Kinta's, Wynstons, Rock n Java, Jeanies Waffle House, La Perlita Caribe, Sorissies (sp?) twice, Especias and BBQ chicken from a place we never miss back on 30th.

Overall, a great time. We are already planning our next trip !! Mike and Sue

 

[down4fun]

Thanks Sue. Your report is very timely as I am planning a trip to Coz next month to dive with BlueXTSea, and want to stay at Vista Del Mar. Your details about being in town close to resturants and the docks is just what i needed to hear to confirm that is where I want to stay. I was at Caribe Blue last time, but going solo this time and wanted to be closer to town. Thanks.

 

[deepstops]

Kim,

I stay at the VdM when I go down there, to me, it's the place to be. I like the city and the restaurants. I always get the oceanview rooms but beware, the street noise can be annoying to some people.

Make sure you get to El Moro for dinner when you're there, that's my personal favorite place to eat.

 

[Sue Sue]

Thanks Sue. Your report is very timely as I am planning a trip to Coz next month to dive with BlueXTSea, and want to stay at Vista Del Mar. Your details about being in town close to resturants and the docks is just what i needed to hear to confirm that is where I want to stay. I was at Caribe Blue last time, but going solo this time and wanted to be closer to town. Thanks.

Your Welcome ! DH and I have stayed @ Caribe Blue a few times as well. Vista del Mar is somewhat similar in size, however, the rooms and atmosphere is a step up. The hotel and service has a boutique touch . If you can, try to get a 3 or 4th floor ocean view room. DH and I had actually booked a non-ocean room due to reports of bothersome street noise from the rooms facing the ocean. The original room would have been just fine, but we changed our minds when we found that there was actually very little noise in the front rooms, especially when the AC was on. However, there was a good amount of time we did not use the AC as we had a beautiful cool breeze for much of the time. We opened the sliding door to the balcony and truly had no problem with the street noise. In fact, we sat or stood on our balcony quite a bit to take in the activity.

In comparing Caribe Blue to Vista del Mar, we find :
Different type of street noise-Caribe Blu in Back of room, with loud engine stop and go "VROOM"S" due to the speed bumps in front of the hotel: VDM-moving traffic noise which diminshes once the cruise ships leave.

CB has a swimming pool that you can swim in. VDM has a wading pool, however deep enough to submerge yourslef to work out body heat if needed.
CB all rooms Ocean front view; VDM half of the rooms have view of marketplace which does have music and people noise during day when cruise ships are in. A few of the these rooms have very large balconies, the others do not have any balconies.
CB/VDM both have stairs
VDM-serves light Breakfast, CB does not
CB has dive pier, VDM is short walking distance to pier
CB 10-15 min walk to town-VDM in town
CB has wirelss internet in lobby; VDM wireless on each floor lounge/lobby area as well as pool

Have a wonderful time !!!

 

[Diver Kat]

Hey Sue Sue!! Glad to see you had another great trip!! Last we PM'd each other, you were going to stay at the Hotel Fontan .... what precipitated the change to VDM? I was hoping you'd have a review on HF ....:depressed:

 

[BTravlin]

We're going over Christmas and will also dive with BlueXTC and stay at the Vista del Mar. First time diving with Christi but have stayed at Vista del Mar before. Your report is spot on. We like the ocean front rooms too and have had no trouble with street noise either. You will hear some tanks clanging on the Aqua Safari pier in the morning but we're up by then to go diving anyway so no harm. We also like how convenient it is to downtown and all the restaurants. Can't wait.

 

[down4fun]

Kim,

I stay at the VdM when I go down there, to me, it's the place to be. I like the city and the restaurants. I always get the oceanview rooms but beware, the street noise can be annoying to some people.

Make sure you get to El Moro for dinner when you're there, that's my personal favorite place to eat.

Thanks Brian, I just made my reservation thru BlueXTSea for 12/13-12/19 at VdM

 

[Sue Sue]

Hey Sue Sue!! Glad to see you had another great trip!! Last we PM'd each other, you were going to stay at the Hotel Fontan .... what precipitated the change to VDM? I was hoping you'd have a review on HF ....:depressed:

You know, we changed our mind for a few reasons. One, due to the the deal we found with a Continental OnePass offer. The price was less for the week than with orbitz, (and that was a good deal ), plus, we could get a few miles. We also looked at the type of activity we were going to be doing for the week and decided that an in-town location would be best. Our base for this trip was primarily central, so since Fontan is pretty far north, we would have used a lot of time commuting back and forth. Since we only use taxi's, that was a big $$ savings there as well. But who knows, maybe Hotel Fontan is in our future. SS

 

[H2ODoc]

In comparing Caribe Blue to Vista del Mar, we find :
Different type of street noise-Caribe Blu in Back of room, with loud engine stop and go "VROOM"S" due to the speed bumps in front of the hotel: VDM-moving traffic noise which diminshes once the cruise ships leave.

CB has a swimming pool that you can swim in. VDM has a wading pool, however deep enough to submerge yourslef to work out body heat if needed.
CB all rooms Ocean front view; VDM half of the rooms have view of marketplace which does have music and people noise during day when cruise ships are in. A few of the these rooms have very large balconies, the others do not have any balconies.
CB/VDM both have stairs
VDM-serves light Breakfast, CB does not
CB has dive pier, VDM is short walking distance to pier
CB 10-15 min walk to town-VDM in town
CB has wirelss internet in lobby; VDM wireless on each floor lounge/lobby area as well as pool

That's a great comparo! We've considered trying the VdM, but I think I'd miss the bigger pool area and the shore dives/snorkeling/swimming off the pier at CB. We did check out the rooms once and they did look like a step up from CB. I guess you really can't go too wrong either place.

 

[Diver Kat]

You know, we changed our mind for a few reasons. One, due to the the deal we found with a Continental OnePass offer. The price was less for the week than with orbitz, (and that was a good deal ), plus, we could get a few miles. We also looked at the type of activity we were going to be doing for the week and decided that an in-town location would be best. Our base for this trip was primarily central, so since Fontan is pretty far north, we would have used a lot of time commuting back and forth. Since we only use taxi's, that was a big $$ savings there as well. But who knows, maybe Hotel Fontan is in our future. SS

Thanks Sue!! Hadn't thought to check my Continental links ... I may have to give it a look-see for any other deals ... otherwise, I'll let you know how it goes in March at the Fontan!! And maybe we'll end up in Coz at the same time one of these days, it would be great fun to catch a dinner with you (and drag Alison & Christi with us!!)