- Messages
- 189
- Reaction score
- 31
- # of dives
- 500 - 999
With one remaining week of 2009 vacation time to either use or lose, my non-diving wife and I headed back to Cozumel so that she could kick back around the pool and I could kick in the ocean. Through Air Canada Vacations, we booked a European plan package at the Hotel Cozumel and Resort and, after typical Air Canada delays, (late on each of the four legs there and back) arrived in Cozumel on January 2nd. In spite of the airlines inefficiency, their contracted ground handlers did a good job of whisking us of to the hotel.
We chose to go non all-inclusive since there are far too many great restaurants in San Miguel and we wanted to return to some old favorites and try some new ones. Casa Dennis continues to offer great food, good value and exceptional service and we ended up visiting our favorite waiter Martin twice during the week. Prima’s new location still offers the same menu items as well as some new ones but the atmosphere is more upscale and formal and not quite as much fun. The food, on the other hand, did not disappoint and I enjoyed the lobster Alfredo for my birthday. Guido’s hasn’t skipped a beat even with Chef Chris moving to open Kinta and was time well spent. The aforementioned Kinta had been on Christie’s list and Jeremy had suggested as well so, following advice to make reservations (a good idea) we enjoyed a great dinner in a nicely done contempory setting. This will quickly become a must do place in Cozumel. Finally we squeezed in La Mission (always good) and a couple of the cheap beer/margarita bars around the public square. Sadly the usual Sunday night gathering was missing on this trip because (I think) of Christmas/Three Kings celebrations taking place at the municipal plaza.
Dining out of the hotel for dinner was, we think, a good decision. The food at the hotel, while adequate, appeared to be from a limited menu far short of what would be offered at some of the better all-inclusives. Having stayed at several other all-inclusives and being reasonably satisfied with the quality and variety of food choices, we would have been extremely disappointed had we done other than the European plan. This reflects, as do several other aspects, that this is not a four star property as claimed by the hotel. The evening stage entertainment isn’t a grand production, bar service around the pool is more self service and it would be nice if the hot tub was occasionally actually hot. Now…having said all that and criticized the hotel…I should note that we would gladly return there in the future. The hotel is well maintained, rooms are clean and large, staff is very friendly, and it represents very good value…for a three star hotel. Best of all is a location close enough to town to walk without being far enough away to entice you into a taxi. That way you can burn off some of the calories from some outstanding dinners in town. One other little complaint would be the erratic opening time of the restaurant. Posted at 6:30 AM, it was often off by 15 or 20 minutes and, given the large number of divers on site, it would be nice if they were punctual so that we didn't have to rush to meet waiting dive ops.
Other than those issues, this is a diver friendly hotel with drying racks on room balconies, free and functional wi-fi and a convenient dock and dive center a one minute walk across the street. Operated by Dive Paradise, the dive center was well laid out with rinse showers and tanks, storage lockers for dive gear all set in a nice beach club surrounding. I heard great things about Dive Paradise all week but didn’t personally use them as I had booked in advance with Living Underwater, my regular dive op.
This must have been “Canada Week” with Jeremy as, on every dive day, the boat was totally canuck. We had divers from Calgary, Saskatchewan (actually Marg who must be now considered as being from Cozumel), White Rock where I live (small world) and Fort St. John, which, if you were wondering where it is…don’t worry…nobody in Canada knows either.
We did have a great week of diving (other than one port closure day) and sites ranged from Eagle Ray in the north (Jeremy offered me the choice of dive sites on my last day!) to Punta Sur in the south which was the fall back spot when Maracaibo proved to be too bumpy and everywhere in between. Dives were long and leisurely and the beach based surface intervals were, as always, appreciated. There was little in the way of marine life we didn’t see including the largest green moray I have ever seen, numerous eagle rays and a grand-daddy of a lobster that would have fed a family of six. Along the way Jeremy bagged close to a dozen lion fish and, unfortunately, there weren’t too many dives where they were absent. As pretty as these fish are, hopefully the combined efforts of the island’s dive masters will at least control their numbers and limit the damage.
Although a less than stellar week in the way of surface weather, sunshine and warmth, the water temperatures were fine and ranged between 79 and 81 and visibility was good. I don’t usually take advantage of the parkas offered by Living Underwater but definitely needed them during this trip. I did also get to meet a couple of ScubaBoard members and it was nice to be able to put a face to these regular posters. As usual…the trip was far too short and we look forward to a return soon as this island has an ambience and character all of it's own.
We chose to go non all-inclusive since there are far too many great restaurants in San Miguel and we wanted to return to some old favorites and try some new ones. Casa Dennis continues to offer great food, good value and exceptional service and we ended up visiting our favorite waiter Martin twice during the week. Prima’s new location still offers the same menu items as well as some new ones but the atmosphere is more upscale and formal and not quite as much fun. The food, on the other hand, did not disappoint and I enjoyed the lobster Alfredo for my birthday. Guido’s hasn’t skipped a beat even with Chef Chris moving to open Kinta and was time well spent. The aforementioned Kinta had been on Christie’s list and Jeremy had suggested as well so, following advice to make reservations (a good idea) we enjoyed a great dinner in a nicely done contempory setting. This will quickly become a must do place in Cozumel. Finally we squeezed in La Mission (always good) and a couple of the cheap beer/margarita bars around the public square. Sadly the usual Sunday night gathering was missing on this trip because (I think) of Christmas/Three Kings celebrations taking place at the municipal plaza.
Dining out of the hotel for dinner was, we think, a good decision. The food at the hotel, while adequate, appeared to be from a limited menu far short of what would be offered at some of the better all-inclusives. Having stayed at several other all-inclusives and being reasonably satisfied with the quality and variety of food choices, we would have been extremely disappointed had we done other than the European plan. This reflects, as do several other aspects, that this is not a four star property as claimed by the hotel. The evening stage entertainment isn’t a grand production, bar service around the pool is more self service and it would be nice if the hot tub was occasionally actually hot. Now…having said all that and criticized the hotel…I should note that we would gladly return there in the future. The hotel is well maintained, rooms are clean and large, staff is very friendly, and it represents very good value…for a three star hotel. Best of all is a location close enough to town to walk without being far enough away to entice you into a taxi. That way you can burn off some of the calories from some outstanding dinners in town. One other little complaint would be the erratic opening time of the restaurant. Posted at 6:30 AM, it was often off by 15 or 20 minutes and, given the large number of divers on site, it would be nice if they were punctual so that we didn't have to rush to meet waiting dive ops.
Other than those issues, this is a diver friendly hotel with drying racks on room balconies, free and functional wi-fi and a convenient dock and dive center a one minute walk across the street. Operated by Dive Paradise, the dive center was well laid out with rinse showers and tanks, storage lockers for dive gear all set in a nice beach club surrounding. I heard great things about Dive Paradise all week but didn’t personally use them as I had booked in advance with Living Underwater, my regular dive op.
This must have been “Canada Week” with Jeremy as, on every dive day, the boat was totally canuck. We had divers from Calgary, Saskatchewan (actually Marg who must be now considered as being from Cozumel), White Rock where I live (small world) and Fort St. John, which, if you were wondering where it is…don’t worry…nobody in Canada knows either.
We did have a great week of diving (other than one port closure day) and sites ranged from Eagle Ray in the north (Jeremy offered me the choice of dive sites on my last day!) to Punta Sur in the south which was the fall back spot when Maracaibo proved to be too bumpy and everywhere in between. Dives were long and leisurely and the beach based surface intervals were, as always, appreciated. There was little in the way of marine life we didn’t see including the largest green moray I have ever seen, numerous eagle rays and a grand-daddy of a lobster that would have fed a family of six. Along the way Jeremy bagged close to a dozen lion fish and, unfortunately, there weren’t too many dives where they were absent. As pretty as these fish are, hopefully the combined efforts of the island’s dive masters will at least control their numbers and limit the damage.
Although a less than stellar week in the way of surface weather, sunshine and warmth, the water temperatures were fine and ranged between 79 and 81 and visibility was good. I don’t usually take advantage of the parkas offered by Living Underwater but definitely needed them during this trip. I did also get to meet a couple of ScubaBoard members and it was nice to be able to put a face to these regular posters. As usual…the trip was far too short and we look forward to a return soon as this island has an ambience and character all of it's own.
Jeremy and the crew really spoil you and I sure wish I could of been there, instead. I too thought Hotel Coz was fine for what it cost, especially when they throw in the breakfast buffet. Hope to dive with you again sometime,
