The food at Hotel Cozumel

[SkipperJohn]

My GF uncovered someone who posted on a Cozumel board that he or she had issues with the quality of the food on the meal plan at HC. Their complaint was that it was not maintained at the proper temperature so several people got sick. Anyone have any information on this? Maybe this person who posted this info was perpetually late to dinner or something....

[billindenver]

We have stayed at hotel coz three times now (9 days each trip) and we always get the breakfast plan only. We've spoken to a number of guests while there who are on all inclusive and every one of them has said the lunch/dinner is mediocre at best. Two separate couples called it equal to Denny's food at the best of meals. Edible certainly, but not memorable in any way. None said anything about being sick however. The breakfast is all I expect it to be, but then I eat very simple breakfasts when diving. Omelet, yogurt...OJ....dive dive dive. We have had the dessert there one evening and it was extremely mediocre. The good news is it is not much of a walk at all into town...where excellent food awaits.

Hope that helps a little.

[georoc01]

My GF uncovered someone who posted on a Cozumel board that he or she had issues with the quality of the food on the meal plan at HC. Their complaint was that it was not maintained at the proper temperature so several people got sick. Anyone have any information on this? Maybe this person who posted this info was perpetually late to dinner or something....

I have stayed there doing the AI a few times. We generally used it for breakfast & lunch & drinks, and then headed downtown for dinner. The difference in cost was such that it was worth it. The lunch was served over by the dive shop at the beach area, which is very convenient if you are doing both morning & afternoon dives.

The food is ok. They do eggs to order in the morning and have a grill going at lunchtime. Lots of fresh fruit. I concur that the desserts are nothing to write home about. But I none of us have ever been sick from the food there either.

[cicopo]

I've stayed there 4 times, 2 times were 2 week trips, one was an off season single week trip, and last Feb for the second week of a 2 week trip where week # 1 was spent at the Grand, and during high season. Last Feb the food wasn't up to previous years, but it still met our needs vs cost, and we do eat out some days no matter where we stay because we have several favorite places to eat & the list keeps growing.
Breakfast. Pretty hard to screw up but last trip we found (we went early so that I could dive early) that many of the foors in trays (they float in hot water) were cold, because they had been put out earlier & the water under them hadn't been pre heated. The Egg / Omlet station was the cure, and is generally where I head anyway.
Lunch. Again not up to previous trips but still close because it's never been very good, but that may be partly because there aren't a lot of guests around at that time of day. You can find something to eat, or get a hamburg / cheeseburg or a few other things cooked to order IF YOU'RE POLITE. The staff seems to respond to polite people much better than to complainers.
Dinner. We've always found that dinner would offer some decent choices, but again last trip things weren't as good as previous trips EXCEPT for that low season trip. Some nights were really great, but at least 2 were lackluster. We still enjoyed the food, but not as much as previous trips. The one off season trip had a good dinner, but far less variety was available which was understandable since they were at about 23% to 25% occupancy.
You might find this worth reading for a bit more insight.

Fully met my expectations again., our second visit. - Review of Hotel Cozumel and Resort, Cozumel, Mexico - TripAdvisor (http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g150809-d153308-r7156113-Hotel_Cozumel_and_Resort-Cozumel_Yucatan_Peninsula.html)

And this is what I wrote after last Feb's trip.

2 weeks, 2 resorts, my thoughts & comments. - Cozumel Forum - TripAdvisor (http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g150809-i66-k2599806-2_weeks_2_resorts_my_thoughts_comments-Cozumel_Yucatan_Peninsula.html)

[parrotheaddiver]

I have also been there several times on the AI plan....and echo what others have said...

I have a rule of thumb I go by and I try to be first in line ;) if it suppose to be hot and it is not I don't eat it...if it is suppose to be cold and it is not I don't eat it....

I have never gotten sick on the food...I try to order off the grill if at all possible...when you go AI you get what you pay for ;)

IMO food is better in town

[kjack_1]

My GF uncovered someone who posted on a Cozumel board that he or she had issues with the quality of the food on the meal plan at HC. Their complaint was that it was not maintained at the proper temperature so several people got sick. Anyone have any information on this? Maybe this person who posted this info was perpetually late to dinner or something....

Go to Trip Advisor and take a peek at what others say about Hotel Coz. But remember, a lot of folks only head to the internet to post a bad report when they've had 'issues' with a hotel. Coz is rated at 3 stars (not that means much) and is a average hotel.

Food borne illness is a little different. The folks that got sick could have been infected by any number of sources....it doesn't mean they caught it at the hotel or from the food at the hotel. It's just easier to say it was the food.

My wife and I have been to a lot of hotels in Coz and Cancun. I have a bullet proof stomach, my wife does not. Neither one of us have had any issues with getting sick. Okay, she did break her arm while in Cancun - but that's a different story, and not related to what she ate. :D

YMMV,
K

[robint]

I have to echo what the others have said.... the food downtown is much better than at any hotel on Coz. We have been 5 times and stayed at a different place each time and eaten at probably every restaurant at least once. The worst food we have gotten was at ScubaClub, it was edible but mediocre for the most part. I just don't think the AI food on Coz is good because they are trying to cook things that they don't normally eat (they try to do American style food and fail misserably). Worst food we had was an attempt at Italian, uggghhh. The restaurants downtown, however, you get real authentic Mexican and Mayan food and that is what they know best. :D
So go to Hotel Cozumel, get the breakfast only option, and eat ala carte the rest of the time... walk to town for dinner.

[Drewpy]

Why would anyone want an AI in Coz. So many great places to eat!

I wouldnt consider anything but a breakfast.

JMHO...

[SkipperJohn]

Thanks all. The response is like a cave, lots of echos.
I booked with my local dive club. The deal included all meals, dives, flights, etc etc etc. I guess I'm ok with blowing off dinner most nights, but I was hoping I was basically done spending-more or less.
Is there anything to watch out for on these evening dinner strolls walking from HC to town? Any alleys that should be avoided?
Thanks for the advice.

[cicopo]

The AI option comes down to cost per day & whether you expect to stay at the resort much of the day. I've got it for free one trip as an early booking bonus, 1/2 price another year, and paid full price another trip and still got my moneys worth. Some people don't realize that it's not just alcohol that's expensive, because soda's, lemonade, coffee & tea all cost pretty much what a beer or mixed drink costs. A few drinks of any kind plus breakfast can just about equal the AI cost if it was on sale.

[Drewpy]

Nothing to worry about on your strolls..its all good.

Have fun!

[DiverBeth]

I've stayed at hotel coz 3 times. I echo the above comments about the food. Breakfast and lunch were ok but we strolled into town unless we were just absolutely pooped and didn't really care what we ate for dinner. Lots of great places to eat in town and then a nice leisurely stroll back.

[cicopo]

Cozumel is one of the safest places you could travel to for walking around, day or night. About the only things to be aware of are uneven sidewalks, or even large holes in them when you get back a few blocks from the main street, and don't assume that a taxi will give you the right of way if it wants to make a turn onto the street you're about to cross, because they think all roads belong to them.

[Zman96]

I have stayed at this hotel 2 times now including last week and I will add another echo to the other responses. Breakfast is good, get the items that are made to order that way you know they are fresh and the same goes for lunch. We have never eaten dinner there even on the AI plan, because of all of the wonderful dinner choice in town that can range in price from $4 per person to the very expensive if that is what you want. It is a nice easy walk or cheap $60 peso cab ride to the center of town. This is a good very economical hotel that is in a great location to town, with the ability to be picked up by most any dive op at the hotel pier. Enjoy your trip, we are wrestling with staying here again in May or renting a house a few blocks behind Chedraui.

[firechuk]

Several years ago there was an incident at the Hotel Coz that was the result of a chef not rinsing some food correctly. Once the source of the illness was pinpointed, and this happened quickly, he was gone. FAST. My wife and I have lead trips there 11 or 12 times over the last 6 or 7 years, and while the AI food is predictable, it is of good quality and quantity. We have never had an incident, other than one who forgot and brushed his teeth in the room sink with tap water. The food and the services of the hotel have gotten progressively better over the years, and the only issue that remains is the water in the room taps...get it on you but not in you. Bottled water is provided, and all the water used in the restaurant for rinsing, cooking, ice and drinks is filtered and is ok for American digestive systems. Parrotthead Diver is correct - order hot and fresh off the grill, and try to be in line early for the omlettes. They make an effort to provide attractive, tasty food with good service and a bright atmosphere. Usually they do a great job. Enjoy!

[vdoman]

If you are going to eat in the local restaurants, be sure to convert some of your cash to Pesos and pay them using Pesos. Otherwise they will sting you on the exchange rate both paying them and in the change they give you back. Double Whammy!

[SEMO Scuba]

We had a group of five stay at Hotel Coz in June for 7 days. All inclusive was only $100 more each for the whole week, which is pretty cheap if you consider that you get free beverages too. Business was still really slow in June everywhere in Coz due to the recession and H1N1.

We all thought the food was decent, definitely better than Denny's. I had an omelet or fried eggs each morning so my breakfast was always hot. There was fruit, yogurt, pastries, and other items on the breakfast buffet.

The food on the lunch buffet next to the dive shop was decent too, but not as good as breakfast or dinner. I ate there between dive trips each day.

The dinner buffet usually had at least one main course meat and chicken and fish were on the buffet most days too. I am a bit of a picky eater and I always found plenty of items that I liked.

I stayed at the Iberostar 8 years ago. The food at Hotel Coz was not as good or of the variety of Iberostar but if you look at the difference in cost it is easy to see why. The stay at Hotel Coz for 7 nights, all inclusive, with airfare from St Louis was only $800 per person. I hated it so much I'm going back to Hotel Coz again in November for another week!

[1KWIK_69]

We have never had an incident, other than one who forgot and brushed his teeth in the room sink with tap water. The food and the services of the hotel have gotten progressively better over the years, and the only issue that remains is the water in the room taps...get it on you but not in you.

In seven trips to the island, including staying at Hotel Cozumel, I've always brushed my teeth with the tap water with no problems? It doesn't taste very good but it won't kill you......

[SkipperJohn]

In seven trips to the island, including staying at Hotel Cozumel, I've always brushed my teeth with the tap water with no problems? It doesn't taste very good but it won't kill you......
a weight loss program? ;)

I have a very sensitive stomach. I'll stick with bottled water or my usual travel rinse, mouthwash.

I wondered about showering and the like. I guess you have to be careful not to ingest any water while bathing?

[1KWIK_69]

a weight loss program? ;)

I have a very sensitive stomach. I'll stick with bottled water or my usual travel rinse, mouthwash.

I wondered about showering and the like. I guess you have to be careful not to ingest any water while bathing?
I really don't think there's a problem with the local tap water in CZM. It's not like the old days. I've been there lots of times over the years with lots of different people and none of us has ever gotten sick from the water. Last year March we had a little bout after having some mango ice cream thing in Tulum, but it wasn't that bad.

[cicopo]

I've been sick twice. The first time was my first trip (95) and I made the mistake of eating from a bicycle based canteen wagon which came to the dive shop where I was hanging out with everyone. That wasn't a biggie, but it did upset my stomach at dinner enough that I had to head back to the room rather quickly & unexpectedly. The second time was 3 trips ago & was the result (in my opinion) of eating 4 very spicy meals in a row, which was very new to my eating habits. I've showered at every resort I've stayed at and I'm sure some water entered my mouth & none of it has been an issue that I'm aware of. Using the bottled water & staying hydrated is a good plan but I think street vendors are also using bottled or purified water these days so I'm not to worried by them anymore. At Hotel Coz they give you a free bottle to start with, but it's up to you to refill it from the different cooler bottle stations in the halls. We always bring some Rubbermaid 16 oz drink bottles, and I usually have one for juice that I fill while at breakfast & take with me on the dive trips.

[Zman96]

We have brushed our teeth with the tap water all 3 trips without incident, and my wife also has a very sensitive stomach.

[PARADISE HUNTER]

I've stayed at some AIs and non AIs on Cozumel. Both have their upside. I've found the breakfasts and lunches to be fine, but the dinners are usually disappointing. The lunches always seem to have fresh grilled fish and that's hard to beat. If you add up what you'd spend for breakfast, lunch and a half dozen beverages per day I think it will still be a savings over paying for everythink a la carte. You are close enough to town to go in for your dinners by walking or a cheap taxi ride. The one down sided to eating all of your breakfasts and lunches at the resort, is that you are always in the same restaurant or two.

Cozumel is very safe, I walked all over the city by myself, both day and night and never had a problem.

Have fun!

PH

[1KWIK_69]

I've stayed at some AIs and non AIs on Cozumel. Both have their upside. I've found the breakfasts and lunches to be fine, but the dinners are usually disappointing. The lunches always seem to have fresh grilled fish and that's hard to beat. If you add up what you'd spend for breakfast, lunch and a half dozen beverages per day I think it will still be a savings over paying for everythink a la carte. You are close enough to town to go in for your dinners by walking or a cheap taxi ride. The one down sided to eating all of your breakfasts and lunches at the resort, is that you are always in the same restaurant or two.

Cozumel is very safe, I walked all over the city by myself, both day and night and never had a problem.

Have fun!

PH

Wyndham has like five different restaurants and the food is really good if you avoid the buffet.

[Fin59]

We have been to Hotel Cozumel over a dozen times and always do the AI plan. You'll get your pesos worth just with breakfast and drinks. Our dive shop picks us up by 7:30 so we don't really have time to go anywhere for breakfast and there are no refrigerators in the rooms. Coffee is usually ready about 6:30 AM (Cozumel time) but there are also coffee makers in the rooms.

Lunch is a buffet usually on the ocean side restaurant. If you don't like what's on the buffet at lunch you can always get a grilled burger, fish and usually chicken or pork. The grilled fish is awesome. There is also a snack bar by the pool that has things like chicken nuggets, French fries, pizza already cooked. Not what most of us go to Cozumel to eat, but they seem to be a big hit with the little kids playing around and in the pool and it's probably pretty convenient for the parents since they don't have to get up and go feed them. You can also get the burgers/fish at the snack bar. FYI…the birds that hang around the pool love the French fries.

Dinner is another buffet. I would imagine it is pretty much like most AI's, but you can also order from the menu. Their chili relleno beat the heck out of La Choza's. My opinion….if you eat the buffet and say you can't find anything to eat, then you are just way too picky.

As far as getting sick, I was a little one time when we stayed at Casa Del Mar and ate most of our meals in town and some at their restaurant. My husband got sick a few years ago when we were staying at Hotel Cozumel. In both cases, we have no idea what it was that made us sick, if it was food at the hotels or in town. His stomach is a little more sensitive than mine and he usually avoids the pico de gallo and has no problems. You can have stomach trouble here in the states traveling, also. It isn’t just a "Mexico thing."

I know you can get a breakfast only option, but even if you eat lunch and dinner in town, you'd still be paying for your drinks at the hotel, so I would think it would be cheaper to do the AI plan. For us, it's just convenient and we get lazy on vacation. It is nice to come back from diving and have lunch, then go to the room for a shower and siesta. Also nice to not have to keep money with you at the hotel or keep up with how much you spend. Like I said, if you don't see anything on the buffet you want, ask to see the menu. There is one for dinner I know and one trip they weren't doing the buffet at lunch, it was menu only. I think it probably depends on how many people they have staying at the hotel.

[SkipperJohn]

For the past 13 years all my traveling has been to Vegas and Aruba. This is my first venture to somewhere else besides those 2 places in 13 years!
you guys are sure making me anxious... LIke a kid before xmas! It's going to be a LOOOOONG 2 weeks till I leave! (which I just found out is an 8am flight meaning get to Kennedy by 5am...
Then returning 11/7 at midnight!

[PARADISE HUNTER]

Wyndham has like five different restaurants and the food is really good if you avoid the buffet.

Yes, but most AI's always serve breakfast in the same restaurant, the buffet. Usually lunch is in the same buffet and maybe one other location my the beach or pool. The other restaurants are for dinner.

PH

[newgentry]

Several years ago there was an incident at the Hotel Coz that was the result of a chef not rinsing some food correctly. Once the source of the illness was pinpointed, and this happened quickly, he was gone. FAST. My wife and I have lead trips there 11 or 12 times over the last 6 or 7 years, and while the AI food is predictable, it is of good quality and quantity. We have never had an incident, other than one who forgot and brushed his teeth in the room sink with tap water. The food and the services of the hotel have gotten progressively better over the years, and the only issue that remains is the water in the room taps...get it on you but not in you. Bottled water is provided, and all the water used in the restaurant for rinsing, cooking, ice and drinks is filtered and is ok for American digestive systems. Parrotthead Diver is correct - order hot and fresh off the grill, and try to be in line early for the omlettes. They make an effort to provide attractive, tasty food with good service and a bright atmosphere. Usually they do a great job. Enjoy!


My daughter and I just got back yesterday from our fourth trip to Coz, we've stayed at Hotel Coz and went AI each time. I would agree (and echo) with everything in this post.

[Ray and Pam]

Did Hotel Coz for the first time this September. B/F was included with the room and some fresh fruit from the B/F bar made for a nice surface interval snack.
Lunch was in the room, peanut butter sandwich, protein bars, jerky, tuna sandwich(1 can tuna, 2 pickle relish pkg, 2 mayo pkg) or leftovers from the previous nite in town. We had a small icechest.
Walked to town for supper every evening. We didn't rent a car this time which more than paid for the evening meals.
Only dangerous thing we found were the uneven/potholed sidewalk and running the gauntlet of salesmen in the square.

[1KWIK_69]

Yes, but most AI's always serve breakfast in the same restaurant, the buffet. Usually lunch is in the same buffet and maybe one other location my the beach or pool. The other restaurants are for dinner.

PH

At Wyndham you have several options for Lunch. Last time we would just park our dive gear at one of the outdoor tables at the Sabor section restaraunt right off the dive boat and grab some calamari, grouper, and a margarita! :)

As for dinner, you don't get in anywhere except the buffet without a reservation, and you have to make them days early!!!

[Cozoholic]

We stayed there once, food was terrible and the beds were hard.

[dmoore19]

We stayed there last year in November. The breakfast was great, lunch was OK but not great. We had dinner downtown most nights but ate there a couple of times and it was good. If you expect gourmet meals, you need to go somewhere else. If you want food that is good and convenient Hotel Coz will fit the bill. If you are on a budget, I don't think you could beat it. The food is plentiful and edible, not gourmet but you certainly won't starve. As others have mentioned, the drinks are included. I don't drink a lot but like a couple of cold ones in the evening. They are included in the AI. We liked hanging around the pool in the evening and having a couple before bed. With the diving we were usually ready to retire by 9 so overendulgence wasn't a problem. Everyone there is friendly and will take care of you if you play nice. Have fun, two weeks will go by quicker than you think. The only thing that goes by faster is when you're there!

[1KWIK_69]

We stayed there once, food was terrible and the beds were hard. If you're talking about Wyndham, we found their food at the restaraunts really good, but the buffet was terrible. They had the best calamari I've ever eaten. :eyebrow: