What to take to Cozumel? And other questions.

[underachiever]

This wil be our first trip. (April) Looking to stay at Villa Blanca or Casa del Mar. Just wanted to ask a few questions. Please provide any more useful tips. Thanks in advance

What type electrical plugs?

Seems as though Credit cards cost a lot to use, so USD or pesos or Travelers checks?

Is tipping for diving the norm in Cozumel? (please, just yes or no)

How bout tipping cabbies?

Seems as if walking to and from town is possible from some of the hotels. Are there sidewalks? Is it well lit at night? From Villa blanca to town?

And list 2 of your favorite eating establishments.

 

[MMM]

This wil be our first trip. (April) Looking to stay at Villa Blanca or Casa del Mar. Just wanted to ask a few questions. Please provide any more useful tips. Thanks in advance

What type electrical plugs?

The kind you currently plug in at home
Seems as though Credit cards cost a lot to use, so USD or pesos or Travelers checks?

I take US $ to pay diving/hotel (which is usually what you are quoted in) and pesos for day-to-day expenses - restuarants, taxis, grocery store, market, etc. etc.

Is tipping for diving the norm in Cozumel? (please, just yes or no)
Yes, for everything from soup to nuts: diving, restaurants, maid service, bagging your groceries, cabs....
How bout tipping cabbies? Yep.

Seems as if walking to and from town is possible from some of the hotels. Are there sidewalks? Is it well lit at night? From Villa blanca to town? Yeah, from Villa Blanca there are sidewalks, but only on one side of the road. I probably wouldn't try it at night without a flashlight. It's perfectly safe - you just won't be able to see much.


And list 2 of your favorite eating establishments.

I couldn't limit myself to such a short list, but that's because I like to eat at Mom and Pop eateries back off the beaten track. Cheap but definitely not glamorous or well-publicized.

 

[joewr]

I couldn't limit myself to such a short list, but that's because I like to eat at Mom and Pop eateries back off the beaten track. Cheap but definitely not glamorous or well-publicized.

All I can add to your answers is YEP!

joewr

 

[ffestpirate]

U.S. plugs
Use pesos, but get your exchange @ Mexican bank atms(better exchange rate)
Yes, tip as you would anywhere in the states.
Cabbies appreciate your tips and are very loyal when taken care of(normal tiping %)
Walking is a plus if you're close enough as parking can be dicey. If you're close to downtown San Miguel, walk. If not, cab.
Avoid mopeds unless you have a death wish.
As for eating, sample the local, off the beaten path, establishments.
The more you can experience in the less frequented tourist areas is: A) cost efficient B) More culturally gratifying, and C) a more "local" experience.
I hope you guys have a ball. Cozumel rocks.

 

[Jim Baldwin]

This wil be our first trip. (April) Looking to stay at Villa Blanca or Casa del Mar. Just wanted to ask a few questions. Please provide any more useful tips. Thanks in advance

What type electrical plugs?

Seems as though Credit cards cost a lot to use, so USD or pesos or Travelers checks?

Is tipping for diving the norm in Cozumel? (please, just yes or no)

How bout tipping cabbies?

Seems as if walking to and from town is possible from some of the hotels. Are there sidewalks? Is it well lit at night? From Villa blanca to town?

And list 2 of your favorite eating establishments.

A folding cooler bag comes in real handy. Make a run to the Chedauri and pick up snacks, drinks, etc. Lots of 2 and 2 1/2 liter bottles and a couple of bags of ice if you don't have access to an ice machine. Lots of rooms have mini refrigerators but sometimes you just want an ice cold drink.

We always take some cash and then stop off at at one of ATM's on the island. HSBC and Banomex are at the square downtown. There is also one at Chedauri right before you go inside. Most have a $300 limit and you get your money back in pesos.

Lots of places to eat. Coffelia about a block and a half east of McDonald's just across the street from Blue XT Sea, Tortuga's on 30th. Taco Dia on 30th across the street from the San Francisco grocery store are just a few.

If you plan on using a credit card to pay for your diving there is normally about a 10 percent fee for this. You are paying for the exchange rates and credit card fees that the credit card companies charge these operators. Most only accept Visa and Mastercard.

Cozumel is a very safe place and you should have no problem going anywhere at night. Watch for the low hanging awings.

 

[MichiganDiver]

Randy and Angie,

Thanks for posting this thread. I have many of the same questions. Without intending to divert the focus of your thread, I'd like to ask responders to add recommendations for non-diver activities. My wife and 11-y.o. will want to bike, kayak, hike, etc. while my 14-y.o. and I are diving.

Jim said:

and a couple of bags of ice if you don't have access to an ice machine.

Shouldn't we avoid ice machines? How about over-the-counter meds to pack? Is everything we might want readily available?

 

[Christi]

What type electrical plugs?

110/220v - same as in the US

Seems as though Credit cards cost a lot to use, so USD or pesos or Travelers checks?

Merchant fees here in Mexico are outrageous. Therefore, it is very expensive for businesses to accept them...and is why you will find that many small businesses simply don't accept them period. Jim said that some will charge you 10% to use your credit card...this is not completely accurate. Our sales tax is 10%, and has to be paid whether we take cash or credit card. However, some establishments will offer a cash discount. If you pay with credit card, this cash discount simply goes away, so it is costing you 10% more to use your credit card...but they are not actually charging you 10% more, or shouldn't be anyway. It is customary for a 4% to 6% additioanl charge to apply for credit card taransactions however. Merchants here are charged this PLUS sales tax on top of the fee...so it really takes an unreasonable chunk away from the merchant and into the hands of the banks.

Here are my "money tips" for Cozumel:
http://www.bluextseadiving.com/moneymatters.php

Is tipping for diving the norm in Cozumel? (please, just yes or no)

Yes. The average base is $5 per tank per diver, so for a 2-tank dive, $10 for you and $10 for your wife. The crew typically pools the tips.

Restaurants, 15% to 20%, as is customary in the states.

How bout tipping cabbies?

Be very careful about this. If they are very friendly, informative, helping you with luggage, groceries, giving you an island tour, etc. then yes. If they are driving you from point A to point B like a bat out of hell with a surly attitude, then I would say no. Also make sure that you have small bills or monedas (mexican coins) because one of the biggest tricks many of them pull to earn more tips is to play the no change game...even if your fare is $4 and you give them $5...they'll say, "sorry, I don't have change." If they do this, then tell them to come back to you when they do...this is unnacceptable and is grounds for automatic no tip in my book! I bet change will magically appear!

There are some very nice, freindly, outgoing, helpful taxi drivers...but there are just as many looking for an oportunity to cheat you. So just use your judgment...and if they have a bad attitude, well...it's your money, so do what you feel is appropriate.

Seems as if walking to and from town is possible from some of the hotels. Are there sidewalks? Is it well lit at night? From Villa blanca to town?

Yes there are sidewalks and walking around Cozumel is very safe. Just use the same basic precautions you would use anywhere...be aware of your surroundings, don't walk around with money hanging out, etc. and no one will bother you. DOn't make yourself vulnerable in otherwords.

And list 2 of your favorite eating establishments.

My two personal favorites are Le Chef and Especias...although there are many great restaurants here
(Sonora Grill, Mission on 30th, El Moro, Camilos, Casa Denis, Guidos, La Cocay, etc.)
Here is my restaruant list:
http://www.bluextseadiving.com/restaurants.php

My wife and 11-y.o. will want to bike, kayak, hike, etc. while my 14-y.o. and I are diving.....
Shouldn't we avoid ice machines? How about over-the-counter meds to pack? Is everything we might want readily available?

Where will you be staying? The AI hotels have many of these activities available on premises complimentary or for a nominal fee.

Ice machines are FINE! NO ONE, I repeat NO ONE is going to serve you tap water or ice made with tap water...the locals don't even drink it. ALl ice is purified as is water that you will be served. Some of the larger hotels do have water purification systems, so they will tell you (or there will be signs in your room) that the water is potable or not. If it says not potable, then don't drink it.

 

[rainmaker]

When I was at the Villablanca Hotel last October, all the electrical outlets in my room accepted only 2 prong plugs. If you stay there, you'll probably need a non-polarized (both blades the same width) 2-prong adaptor. They are difficult to find in the US, but can be purchased locally at the Chedauri mini-Walmart store (and probably at other locations as well), which is a 5-minute walk south of the ferry pier. If you walk downtown from the Villablanca Hotel, you'll walk right past it.

One additional thing; if you stay at the Villablanca, there are 2 boat docks. One belongs to Papa Hogs dive operation, and the other dock previously was owned by the hotel. However, the dock was destroyed by Hurricane Wilma, and was rebuilt by the Dive Paradise dive operation. I'm not sure what Papa Hogs' policy is concerning using their dock to be picked up by another dive operation, but Dive Paradise charges $2 per day for this privilege.

 

[MMM]

I find all the apprehension about food and water in Cozumel comical. I have NEVER - and I repeat NEVER become ill from eating or drinking anything there. And you should see some of the places I patronize!

About the only water I ever drink is what's served to me on the dive boats (and I'll go through about 3 or 4 bottles of the stuff during the course of a 2 tank dive). After that I stick to fresh orange juice from one of the market stalls, jamaica (sometimes even make it myself!), horchata, cervesa, and tequila, more or less in that order.

 

[Jim Baldwin]

110/220v - same as in the US


Merchant fees here in Mexico are outrageous. Therefore, it is very expensive for businesses to accept them...and is why you will find that many small businesses simply don't accept them period. Jim said that some will charge you 10% to use your credit card...this is not completely accurate. Our sales tax is 10%, and has to be paid whether we take cash or credit card. However, some establishments will offer a cash discount. If you pay with credit card, this cash discount simply goes away, so it is costing you 10% more to use your credit card...but they are not actually charging you 10% more, or shouldn't be anyway. It is customary for a 4% to 6% additioanl charge to apply for credit card taransactions however. Merchants here are charged this PLUS sales tax on top of the fee...so it really takes an unreasonable chunk away from the merchant and into the hands of the banks.

Here are my "money tips" for Cozumel:
http://www.bluextseadiving.com/moneymatters.php



Yes. The average base is $5 per tank per diver, so for a 2-tank dive, $10 for you and $10 for your wife. The crew typically pools the tips.

Restaurants, 15% to 20%, as is customary in the states.

Be very careful about this. If they are very friendly, informative, helping you with luggage, groceries, giving you an island tour, etc. then yes. If they are driving you from point A to point B like a bat out of hell with a surly attitude, then I would say no. Also make sure that you have small bills or monedas (mexican coins) because one of the biggest tricks many of them pull to earn more tips is to play the no change game...even if your fare is $4 and you give them $5...they'll say, "sorry, I don't have change." If they do this, then tell them to come back to you when they do...this is unnacceptable and is grounds for automatic no tip in my book! I bet change will magically appear!

There are some very nice, freindly, outgoing, helpful taxi drivers...but there are just as many looking for an oportunity to cheat you. So just use your judgment...and if they have a bad attitude, well...it's your money, so do what you feel is appropriate.


Yes there are sidewalks and walking around Cozumel is very safe. Just use the same basic precautions you would use anywhere...be aware of your surroundings, don't walk around with money hanging out, etc. and no one will bother you. DOn't make yourself vulnerable in otherwords.



My two personal favorites are Le Chef and Especias...although there are many great restaurants here
(Sonora Grill, Mission on 30th, El Moro, Camilos, Casa Denis, Guidos, La Cocay, etc.)
Here is my restaruant list:
http://www.bluextseadiving.com/restaurants.php




Where will you be staying? The AI hotels have many of these activities available on premises complimentary or for a nominal fee.

Ice machines are FINE! NO ONE, I repeat NO ONE is going to serve you tap water or ice made with tap water...the locals don't even drink it. ALl ice is purified as is water that you will be served. Some of the larger hotels do have water purification systems, so they will tell you (or there will be signs in your room) that the water is potable or not. If it says not potable, then don't drink it.

Thanks for correcting my mistake.