Skittl1321
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Earlier this year I started getting bored, and planned a hypothetical trip to Cozumel. Then someone (DJDiverDan?) posted some really great airline fares, and suddenly my hypothetical trip became a real one. Even though I LOVED my last trip (Scuba with Alison staying at Sunscape Sabor) we did a few things differently this time. First- Alison was booked so I had to find a new op. Second we decided we wanted to stay in town instead of staying at an all inclusive. I'm happy to say our second trip was a great success.
Hotel
It turns out hypothetical trips don't have high budgets, so we chose Suites Bahia. We got a $42 per night room rate for a balcony room. When we got there we tried to see if we could upgrade to ocean view (hoping it was cheaper than the online price)- but it was an extra $22 per night- we declined. We were on the fourth floor, furthest side room forward- room 46, and had one of the "pizza hut" view balconies, but if you sat on an angle, we had a gorgeous view of the ocean.
The positives:
It was a WONDERFUL room, without a doubt we'd stay there again. Plenty of space- a king size bed (nice upgrade from the two doubles at sunscape) and a double bed (for our luggage...). The room was very clean, and the air conditioning worked well to keep the room cool and not too humid (the in room humidity last year was horrible, though it rained the whole time so that AC was fighting a losing battle.) There was a flat screen TV in the room, but the remote they gave us didn't work- I didn't try to turn it on any other time. We had a fridgerator, with freezer that worked excellent as well as a microwave. The room was outfitted with plates and utensils, all plastic wrapped so you knew they were clean. There was also a bottle opener and a bit of storage space in the kitchen. The sink was outside of the bathroom, which I like in a hotel. There was a small closet with hangers. There was plenty of hot water in the shower, the shower stall was small, but fine. There was a small bench at a vanity mirror (but the light was pretty bad if you are a make up applying type). The balcony had two chairs and a little table.
Breakfast was included at Casa Mexicana. It was a simple, but decent spread. I love chilaquiles which were always available. They had beans, eggs, sausage, sometimes bacon (and it was good crisp not fatty bacon!), some other things I can't think of. There was fresh fruit, including pineapple (important to me). There was an egg station that would make all kinds of eggs. I got an omelet and wasn't impressed. It just tasted like oil and the fillings were not flavorful or incorporated- they basically just sat on top of an already cooked egg. Kevin got Huevos Motulenos and he said they were good but very different than he had elsewhere (no plantains for one). It looked like they would also make pancakes or waffles for you. Unfortunately I didn't get to try a lot of what they make because my pre-dive breakfast is often comically small; I just can't eat before diving. The last two days I filled my plate to the brim! There was also cereal available.
The negatives:
If you are someone who is really concerned about security you will not like this hotel. There is no dead bolt on the door, but even worse the inside windows open to the inside hallway and are only secured by a small slide lock. The outside door is a typical sliding glass door with small lock. Of course, we had no problems, but it is a lot to worry about. (Neutral: To get the lock for the safe you had to pay a fee (deposit?) We just decided not to.)
The bathroom is TINY. You cannot close the bathroom door if you are siting on, or standing in front of the toilet. You basically have to walk around the door and then close it. This caused a few yells after toes were stubbed in the dark in the middle of the night. The water pressure in the shower was laughable. A spray bottle might have more water pressure. I basically gave up shampooing my hair and just applied copious amounts of conditioner hoping it could be salvaged when I got home.
But for $42 a night. Um, this place was a steal. It doesn't look like any pictures of the hotel made it to flickr, so enjoy this photo of brain coral instead:
Brains up close! by KevinMarks81, on Flickr
Hotel
It turns out hypothetical trips don't have high budgets, so we chose Suites Bahia. We got a $42 per night room rate for a balcony room. When we got there we tried to see if we could upgrade to ocean view (hoping it was cheaper than the online price)- but it was an extra $22 per night- we declined. We were on the fourth floor, furthest side room forward- room 46, and had one of the "pizza hut" view balconies, but if you sat on an angle, we had a gorgeous view of the ocean.
The positives:
It was a WONDERFUL room, without a doubt we'd stay there again. Plenty of space- a king size bed (nice upgrade from the two doubles at sunscape) and a double bed (for our luggage...). The room was very clean, and the air conditioning worked well to keep the room cool and not too humid (the in room humidity last year was horrible, though it rained the whole time so that AC was fighting a losing battle.) There was a flat screen TV in the room, but the remote they gave us didn't work- I didn't try to turn it on any other time. We had a fridgerator, with freezer that worked excellent as well as a microwave. The room was outfitted with plates and utensils, all plastic wrapped so you knew they were clean. There was also a bottle opener and a bit of storage space in the kitchen. The sink was outside of the bathroom, which I like in a hotel. There was a small closet with hangers. There was plenty of hot water in the shower, the shower stall was small, but fine. There was a small bench at a vanity mirror (but the light was pretty bad if you are a make up applying type). The balcony had two chairs and a little table.
Breakfast was included at Casa Mexicana. It was a simple, but decent spread. I love chilaquiles which were always available. They had beans, eggs, sausage, sometimes bacon (and it was good crisp not fatty bacon!), some other things I can't think of. There was fresh fruit, including pineapple (important to me). There was an egg station that would make all kinds of eggs. I got an omelet and wasn't impressed. It just tasted like oil and the fillings were not flavorful or incorporated- they basically just sat on top of an already cooked egg. Kevin got Huevos Motulenos and he said they were good but very different than he had elsewhere (no plantains for one). It looked like they would also make pancakes or waffles for you. Unfortunately I didn't get to try a lot of what they make because my pre-dive breakfast is often comically small; I just can't eat before diving. The last two days I filled my plate to the brim! There was also cereal available.
The negatives:
If you are someone who is really concerned about security you will not like this hotel. There is no dead bolt on the door, but even worse the inside windows open to the inside hallway and are only secured by a small slide lock. The outside door is a typical sliding glass door with small lock. Of course, we had no problems, but it is a lot to worry about. (Neutral: To get the lock for the safe you had to pay a fee (deposit?) We just decided not to.)
The bathroom is TINY. You cannot close the bathroom door if you are siting on, or standing in front of the toilet. You basically have to walk around the door and then close it. This caused a few yells after toes were stubbed in the dark in the middle of the night. The water pressure in the shower was laughable. A spray bottle might have more water pressure. I basically gave up shampooing my hair and just applied copious amounts of conditioner hoping it could be salvaged when I got home.
But for $42 a night. Um, this place was a steal. It doesn't look like any pictures of the hotel made it to flickr, so enjoy this photo of brain coral instead:
Brains up close! by KevinMarks81, on Flickr
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