VillaBlanca

[briankinley2004]

I have a group of 3 families that are planning a trip in June. Some are divers and some are not. There are also some pre-teen and young teenagers in the group. After researching packages and trying to get something to meet everyones requirements we decided for right now that VillaBlanca Gardens is our best fit. Some of the group is on a budget and we are not expecting 5 star accomodations. Scuba Club would be my preference but with no TV's, a little more costly and tanks banging at 6am for the majority that wanted to sleep in we took it off the list.

Anyway my question is has anyone stayed in or seen the 2BR and 3BR villas at VillaBlanca? Are they close to the rooms and are they in the same condition as the rooms? We have received a rate quote on them and they have a kitchen. The extra cost for one villa would be offset by being able to cook alot of our own meals. We were thinking of one family getting a villa and everyone splitting the extra cost so we could cook there for some meals. I have read a couple of trip reports from various sources that eluded to the villa rooms being moldy or in bad repair. We are not expecting perfection but sure don't want anything like a leaky roof or stopped up plumbing the whole trip.

The remainder of the group would be in standard and/or superior rooms. Also is Dive Paradise a good operator? We have seen some things good on here about them. One of the guys tends to get a little seasick and I was thinking with the bigger boats and VillaBlanca being closer to the reefs that may help that part. Also they offer an afternoon dive in the package which is a plus.

Thanks for any input on this resort or dive op!

 

[loudives]

Never stayed in the villa but you have to remember you are in the tropics. Mold is a fact of life. I have stayed in the super room and it was fine. Just a bit of mold around the corners of the shower. They turn off ac when rooms empty so humidity builds and mold starts. you get that in all the hotels. Not so much to get sick over. If you do think it extensive the hotel will send a maid to clean just ask.

I would go with Papa Hogs, or Scuba Mau. They are right next door to the hotel and there pier is right across the street.

The beach across the street is rocky but snorkeling is OK from there to about 500 yard north. The younger ones will enjoy the snorkeling. Make sure you get aqua socks or similar at walmart around 8-$10 for everyone-- helps on those rocky beaches!

 

[Divedoggie]

If you are looking on Travelocity or Applevacations, etc, and Villablanca is a little less expensive than say...Fiesta Americana Dive Resort, then I would recommend spending just a little more and booking at Fiesta Americana.
I have stayed at quite a few properties in Coz. Villa Blanca was a good place for a couple of bachelors, but not a family group. The sheets were filthy and were never changed, you need to take a taxi into town from either place, no amenities, pool was small and dirty.....
Fiesta has great amenities, great pool for the kids, restaurants, clean concrete area to assemble/disassemble/rinse/dry gear,etc. You can have private ops pick you up or go with the on site Op Dive House, who would be great with a big group.

 

[briankinley2004]

Hey Lou the mold does not really bother me in moderation as I am from Louisiana. Will make sure to bring a can of Lysol to spray in the a/c like we do in Jamaica. We did not have any mold as Scuba Club if I remember. Also Dive Paradise says they have a place at Villa Blanca or at least I thought I read this. Is this not true? The small boats at Papa Hogs may be a problem with one of the guys as he tends to get sea sick. DD as far as looking I have been going to the websites of the resorts and found VB thru Dive Paradise and another source. I was thinking Fiesta Americana was further South than VB and was far away from everything. That is one reason I did not look at it. Is it all inclusive? We were leaning away from AI's. I have read alot of reviews of VB and probably 90% were positive but I did see a couple that said it was dirty. Are the Villa Blanca Hotel and Villa Blanca Gardens the same?

 

[Divedoggie]

Yes, Fiesta Americana is further south, but Villa Blanca is pretty far south too. Its a LONG walk into town. You can stay at Fiesta Americana with or without the AI package. With all of the great restaurants in San Miguel, AI doesn't make much sense.
Now, I've travelled a lot. All over the world, and usually don't stay at fancy places. I like the local mom and pop places if possible.
I have stayed at Villa Blanca, Caribe Blu, Casa del Mar, Fiesta Americana, El Cozumeleno, and some others over the years. The two hotels that I continue to go back to are Caribe Blu and Fiesta Americana. Of those two, if I had a large group with kids, I would go to Fiesta Americana.

I stayed at Villa Blanca Gardens with a single buddy. We had fun, but swore to spend $10 a night more next time for a better place. The place was mosquito infested, the AC was ancient, loud, drippy. We had large spiders crawl out of the shower drain, ants all over the walls, bad mattresses with nasty stains and dirty sheets. The pool is full of leaves, bugs, etc. Since it was just my buddy and me, we stayed out late, did a fair amount of drinking, and dove all day every day. Absolute minimal time was spent at the hotel. If I would have had a wife and kids there, I don't think that we would have had a very good trip.
Just my 2 cents!

 

[briankinley2004]

The Fiesta certainly looks like a nice place. I am going to run it by the group. Only drawback other than being a long way from town (but closer to reefs) is the cost. The package rate non-inclusive for FA is about $250 more per person per week. One family has 5 so it would cost them $1250 more to stay there. My wife and I have stayed in alot of countries as well including nights in a Mexicans house with no A/C and hearing rifle shots from the hotel room by the police station at 3am in Sao Paulo. We have learned to be flexible and also enjoy the local places. We probably would choose something like Fiesta though to relax and enjoy if we were going on our own. How long ago was your stay at VB? I wonder if they have improved any since your stay.

 

[1KWIK_69]

The Fiesta certainly looks like a nice place. I am going to run it by the group. Only drawback other than being a long way from town (but closer to reefs) is the cost. The package rate non-inclusive for FA is about $250 more per person per week. One family has 5 so it would cost them $1250 more to stay there. My wife and I have stayed in alot of countries as well including nights in a Mexicans house with no A/C and hearing rifle shots from the hotel room by the police station at 3am in Sao Paulo. We have learned to be flexible and also enjoy the local places. We probably would choose something like Fiesta though to relax and enjoy if we were going on our own. How long ago was your stay at VB? I wonder if they have improved any since your stay.

I've stayed at Fiesta Americana and it's a nice place with a great pool. I've also stayed at Casa Del Mar twice and they're a nice lower priced place that's just a block from Villa Blanca. You might also check out Hotel Cozumel Resort. I've stayed there twice. They have decent prices and would be good for families. It's not a bad walk from town either.

 

[briankinley2004]

Thanks for the info Kwik. We originally started talking about the trip with Casa Del Mar and decided it was so far away from town. We have priced Hotel Coz but the total cost for a group of 5 non-all inclusive would be over $1000 more than Villa Blanca. For a family on a budget this could make or break the trip.

 

[1KWIK_69]

Thanks for the info Kwik. We originally started talking about the trip with Casa Del Mar and decided it was so far away from town. We have priced Hotel Coz but the total cost for a group of 5 non-all inclusive would be over $1000 more than Villa Blanca. For a family on a budget this could make or break the trip.

Well Casa Del Mar was nice and not an AI so maybe it'll fit the bill. It's been about 4 years since I've stayed there but I doubt it's changed much. They have a decent pool with a swim up bar and the breakfast buffet was good. The shore diving use to be really good in the area too but hurricane Wilma messed that up. Before Wilma, that whole area between Ville Blanca to the north of Casa Del Mar and Aqua World to the south use to be my favorite shore dives. There was even a really cool airplane that you could do a night dive to just south of Casa Del Mar's peer, but the hurricane took it away too. The coral has probably recovered somewhat by now and I'll bet at night there are still plenty of lobsters and an octopus or two to see.

 

[loudives]

Thanks for the info Kwik. We originally started talking about the trip with Casa Del Mar and decided it was so far away from town. We have priced Hotel Coz but the total cost for a group of 5 non-all inclusive would be over $1000 more than Villa Blanca. For a family on a budget this could make or break the trip.

Cozumel & Resort Hotel Cozumel - hotel deals and reviews - venere.com

try this site Hotel Cozumel non AI has double room for 2 adults 2 kids under 12 June 13-20 for $499. The hotel web site says you can ask for extra bed or cot. the average price is 71 per night.

go to www.calibex.com type in cozumel hotels in the search and you get many hotels at discount. this site shows the options then routes you to the site to book.

Or Barracuda for 35 a night, rroms have 2 double beds, minifrige, ac, tv, sand patio, small pool, walk to eveythig. better than Villa IMO. for on a budget 35 for a room is great.