Hi all. I'm new to the forum and diving. My wife and I are planning a trip in mid August. My wife doesn't dive but will snorkel. We have looked at accommodations near the ocean and rounded out Villablanca hotel and Casa Del Mar. Is there any close restaurants nearby either one? Any recommendations for a dive shop to cater to new diver? Also can snorkelers go on the dive boat's? Thanks for any help and looking forward to Cozumel.
Villablanca Hotel or Casa Del Mar
- Thread starter SamDM
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It would appear your criteria is cheap. Not that there is anything wrong with that. At VB you have a few dive ops but there are otehrs I would prefer and they may be able to pick you up at the pier across the street. It's been a long time since I stayed at VB but there are two or three restaurants nearby. Turquoise bar n grill is ok. At CDM, you also have a number of dive ops and a pier for pickups. There are also several restaurants nearby, probably more than VB and you are pretty close to the international pier so a lot more traffic (both vehicle and foot). Right next to CDM is a small place Village Tan Kah, owned by Scuba Shack across the street. We've used them our last few trips. We like to eat at Tikila, Paprika, Ernesto's, and CDM itself. There's also the best shore dive there, imo. Anyways, that's my recommendation over either CDM or VB. If I had to choose between your two, I'd pick CDM.
Hi Sam
My wife along with my dive shop has done over 15 trips to Cozumel over the past few years. If it wasn't for the current situation in the world we would have done 5 or 6 trips there this year. We exclusively use Casa Del Mar and there in-house dive operation Marine world Cozumel. Marine world Cozumel is conveniently located right across the street. You don't even have to cross the road because there's a bridge right to the dive shop. Marine world Cozumel has three modern boats and great experienced dive Masters. Casa Del Mar has a restaurant on-site that is not bad but it will get old fast. There are many restaurants close by to the North and South but all of them will be a little more expensive than going downtown too 30th Avenue or 65th.
I've never stayed at VillaBlanca and I don't know anybody who has so I can't give you a first-hand review. What I can say is that knowing Cozumel just about anywhere you stay you'll be happy.
Have fun in Cozumel and happy diving.
My wife along with my dive shop has done over 15 trips to Cozumel over the past few years. If it wasn't for the current situation in the world we would have done 5 or 6 trips there this year. We exclusively use Casa Del Mar and there in-house dive operation Marine world Cozumel. Marine world Cozumel is conveniently located right across the street. You don't even have to cross the road because there's a bridge right to the dive shop. Marine world Cozumel has three modern boats and great experienced dive Masters. Casa Del Mar has a restaurant on-site that is not bad but it will get old fast. There are many restaurants close by to the North and South but all of them will be a little more expensive than going downtown too 30th Avenue or 65th.
I've never stayed at VillaBlanca and I don't know anybody who has so I can't give you a first-hand review. What I can say is that knowing Cozumel just about anywhere you stay you'll be happy.
Have fun in Cozumel and happy diving.
Casa Del Mar has steps right into the water. You will see lots of different fish so it should be pretty good. The shore diving from the same spot is good. We've seen many different kinds of eel, turtles, seahorses and pipefish just to name a few. Casa Del Mar also has a private beach to the south that they will take you to. I have not been there because I'm not a beach person.
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I've stayed at both years ago, but I took upgraded rooms. The Superior rooms at Villa Blanca were outstanding, by far much nicer than those at Casa Del Mar. Things could have changed some over the years, but compare square feet and read the details closely. Glancing on Hotels.com for August and considering Free Cancelation rates only...
Casa del Mar is listing Superior rooms much cheaper than their Standard rooms which is odd, and their Standard rooms at the same rate as their cabins so mistakes were made.
Superior room, garden view: 322 square feet @ $52/night plus substantial taxes typical of Cozumel.
Room (no name), partial view: with refrigerator, 323 square feet @ $59/night
Villa Blanca rooms all open up to the garden with a partial ocean view.
Standard: 344 square feet @ $47/night
Superior: 645 square feet @ $54/night - well worth the upgrade!
My bud & I had connecting Superior rooms. His had a couch while mine had a dining table. I think mine was the only one with a full size fridge.
So I would certainly choose the Villa Blanca Superior room, then email the hotel to request a room with a fridge. The garden there was lovely and well kept. You can book with any of many dive ops who will pick you up at either dock so you are not locked in there. You can rent tanks and weights from the onsite Op for shore dives but I wouldn't bother as it wasn't worth it at either.
Snorkeling and scuba are so different that few Ops will take both on the same boat, and even if they did - it's not a good experience. With current load restrictions in place, I doubt that anyone would take both. Traveling with non-divers is too challenging for me, but y'all can take your snorkel gear in a taxi to a beach club with good snorkeling.
You can do breakfasts at the hotel and maybe lunches nearby, but you are going to want to take a taxi into town for dinners. Always agree on a price before boarding. There are a few drivers who are not fair.
Casa del Mar is listing Superior rooms much cheaper than their Standard rooms which is odd, and their Standard rooms at the same rate as their cabins so mistakes were made.
Superior room, garden view: 322 square feet @ $52/night plus substantial taxes typical of Cozumel.
Room (no name), partial view: with refrigerator, 323 square feet @ $59/night
Villa Blanca rooms all open up to the garden with a partial ocean view.
Standard: 344 square feet @ $47/night
Superior: 645 square feet @ $54/night - well worth the upgrade!
My bud & I had connecting Superior rooms. His had a couch while mine had a dining table. I think mine was the only one with a full size fridge.
So I would certainly choose the Villa Blanca Superior room, then email the hotel to request a room with a fridge. The garden there was lovely and well kept. You can book with any of many dive ops who will pick you up at either dock so you are not locked in there. You can rent tanks and weights from the onsite Op for shore dives but I wouldn't bother as it wasn't worth it at either.
Snorkeling and scuba are so different that few Ops will take both on the same boat, and even if they did - it's not a good experience. With current load restrictions in place, I doubt that anyone would take both. Traveling with non-divers is too challenging for me, but y'all can take your snorkel gear in a taxi to a beach club with good snorkeling.
You can do breakfasts at the hotel and maybe lunches nearby, but you are going to want to take a taxi into town for dinners. Always agree on a price before boarding. There are a few drivers who are not fair.
It has been a while since I stayed at Villa Blanca but they did have a pool and still advertise it. Papa Hogs is next door and there is shore diving in front of the hotel.
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My bad memory. I edited my post.
Oh, I just noticed that you are a brand new diver. Do you have DAN dive insurance? Get or change to the family membership and cover your wife with member benefits like Emergency Medical Evacuation for only $20/year more. You could cover her on the insurance too if you'd like, and there is some benefit even for a snorkeler, but do not scuba dive anywhere without dive insurance.
There are many great Ops who will pick you up at either hotel. I don't think anyone can be Salty Endeavors, but that's my opinions. Others have their favorites. It'd be best if you read over threads with reports.
i have stayed at casa del mar. my room was very clean and quite comfy with a small balcony. food was hit and miss there. as said already, marine world is across the street. great operation.
we know people who stay at tan kah for a month each year. this was mentioned above. i have never stayed there but they love it. apparently they get very good rates for accommodation / dive packages.
i have also stayed at the park royal but it may be more expensive for you. it is an all inclusive but was really nice. great food.
we prefer to stay a bit closer to town now and like to use hotel cozumel. we usually get good package rates from canada. so if that matters, i believe villa bianca is closer to town than cas del mar. but i still think it is too far to easily walk.
as don mentioned....watch out for the taxes. when pricing a place, makes sure you are comparing prices including all taxes and fees. taxes are very high on coz now imho.
we know people who stay at tan kah for a month each year. this was mentioned above. i have never stayed there but they love it. apparently they get very good rates for accommodation / dive packages.
i have also stayed at the park royal but it may be more expensive for you. it is an all inclusive but was really nice. great food.
we prefer to stay a bit closer to town now and like to use hotel cozumel. we usually get good package rates from canada. so if that matters, i believe villa bianca is closer to town than cas del mar. but i still think it is too far to easily walk.
as don mentioned....watch out for the taxes. when pricing a place, makes sure you are comparing prices including all taxes and fees. taxes are very high on coz now imho.
As to the question about restaurants, which restaurants are open? Which are closed permanently?
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