Looking for some travel advice

[RockyTop]

Hello everyone.

I have been trying to decide where to go this year for vacation and was wanting a little advice.

Here is a little info for you all to chew on:

There will be 4 of us going. 2 divers and 2 non-divers. Therefore we need to stay somewhere that has more to do than just dive.

My wife and I went to the Bahamas last year and stayed at the Breezes. We loved the place and would not hesitate to go back. I did the shark dive with stuart cove and thought it was amazing. This year, we thought we might like to try somewhere else.

There are really on a few requirements for the stay. We want all-inclusive and a nice beach is a must. Cost is also a factor. We will be staying 5 nights and want to keep it under 1,500 pp. As for myself, I just need a place to dive and I am happy.

At this point I am leaning toward going back to the Bahamas. Everytime I find something that looks good for the non divers, the diving is lacking or the price is too steep. Then I start looking at resorts that cater to divers and my mouth starts watering. Of course the problem then is it wont make the non-divers to happy.

Any advice would be appreciated.

[smokey braden]

rockytop,
maybe you could do some research on cozumel.
my non-diving wife and i both had a very good time.
they also have many ai resorts if that is a concern.
there is a tremendous amount of info about coz on this board.
regards,

[RICHinNC]

Barbados has some deals going on....and there is a ton of stuff to do above surface. I had a great time there.
rich

[Tanked Monkey]

Playa del Carmen is great. And it's an hour south of Cancun, so you can get away from all of that. PDC is a bit more euro, while Cancun can be fratty. The offshore diving in PDC is OK, but you're a quick ferry ride to Coz, and the Akumal cenotes just to the south are awesome and within easy range. I stayed at the Blue Parrot, which has one of the best bars in Mexico (IMHO). http://www.blueparrot.com Their onsite dive shop, Abyss, is wonderful. Playa has some really great shopping, really good restaurants, and great nightlife. Day trips to the Myan Ruins are easy as well. Playa del Carmen a great place for both divers and non-divers.

Mike

[RockyTop]

I have been researching Coz a good bit. The places that everyone likes here appear to be a no go. I hear good things about both Fiesta Americana and Hotel Cozumel. No way the wife is going for Fiesta as it is across the street from the beach. That really does not excite me either. Hotel Coz seem nice but from the pictures I have seen a beach really doesnt exist.

Another place that looked good to me was the Reef Club. After I started reading a bunch of bad review, Im not sure that is the right place either.

I have done all the research I can. Thought I would just throw this out for more comments. I know more about hotels and destinations than I ever wanted to.

thanks for you help.

[Allison Finch]

Hotel Cozumel is really nice. They don't have a beach in the classical sense, but they have a nice sandy sunbathing area with a nice entrance to swim. They are on the "iron shore". Good food and good all inclusive prices. They are close to town too. I stay there when I go to Coz. Well, not my next trip there....but then I won that one at DEMA. I'll go and stay where the prize says to!