Divers vs non divers, is there a happy medium?

[cicopo]

As a regular at Hotel Cozumel I'd be interested in hearing what went wrong with that experience, either here or by PM.

 

[nodakdive]

Take care about booking Casa Del Mar. They have opened the Del Mar Latino beach club on their waterfront that is geared to the cruise ship crowd. I have seen complaints about it from guests at the hotel. When I last looked on the hotel website, there is no mention of it.

This didn't exist the last time I stayed and is good to know. Depending on your group and what this amounts to, it would impact my willingness to suggest CDM. I dive during the day and the ships are leaving when I get back so it wouldn't impact me very much. That beach area used to be relatively quiet.

 

[Chavodel8en]

Could the happy medium be Playa del Carmen as a base of operations, with the divers spending a few days in Cozumel?

with the ferry, its not out of the question that folks could meet for dinner on either side.

 

[Windlaker]

DFDUBB,

Been stalking here for a long time....finally registered. No, I don't knit either.

Just looking different viewpoints regarding a vacation spot we enjoy. We love the food, the people, the laid back atmosphere. Do a little snorkeling.

Out of all the spots we've hit in the Caribbean, this is the place we fell in love with.

 

[DandyDon]

I finally got my daughter & hubby to get away from the cruise port on their last visit and explore San Miguel some last February, hit some of my favorite eateries, etc. They such boat people tho, I don't know.

 

[deepsea21]

My wife and I were married in Coz and had about 50 friends/family show up for it. Only a few were divers. Everyone had a blast and most made week-long vacations of it. We didn't play tour director and pretty much expected everyone to find their own enjoyment which they did. Some went to beach clubs, a few stayed at AI's, most stayed in town, some rented jeeps, went shopping, hung out a bars, whatever. If someone couldn't figure out how to have a good time in Coz without having their hand held I figured that was their problem.

 

[wildbill9]

Hotel.Cozumel, now this was 4 to 5 years ago. It was our first trip to Cozumel with 2 others dive couples. We went on the all inclusive plan (very bad decision). Food absolutely positively completely sucked. Except for breakfast is was worse than bad....hot food room temperature, cold food room temperature well everything same temperature. No flavor worse than bland. Lack of options and food seemed to be recycled from previous lunch or dinner . Little to no service. Liquor was not what bottle was labeled, wrong color and wrong taste...We know what we like to drink tastes like. Bar service incredibly slow. One person had their belongings stolen when we were in the pool. Beach, u walked across the street to a man made small area over looking the ocean. Pool was packed with kids and closed at 6pm. Really???? Room was ok but we were ground floor and very noisy. Overall one of the worst places we have ever stayed. And don't even get me started on the diving, when our dive boat had to return to the dock because they forgot the dive master....well we should have bailed then but being a mook we didn't, bad decision. Bill. I edited this to recognize Christi with blue XTC, after reading post after post about how great the diving was (ours was mediocre at best) she convinced us try it again. Totally different experience, loved it so much it is on our short list of where we could retire at. Hated to wait 2 years to return but there are a lot of places to see on this big blue rock.....

 

[cicopo]

I don't think we're too easy to please but in general we used to find the lunch menu lacking years ago but lately it's been pretty good (We're there in high season so it's near full capacity) but if we don't like it we get fajitas or Tacos at the pool snack bar. Dinners have been much better on at least the last 3 trips (& I've been told it's because of a new chef). We also get great service but that may be because they (most of the staff & managers) know us & I do tip. I rarely dive with DP & Christi's op is one of my regular choices. I consider her & Pedro as friends. Can't say much re the booze side of this because I'm either having Rum or Beer & my wife sticks to white wine or a Pina Colada. One of either is usually her daily limit. Sounds like your last visit may be more years ago that you say because the beach club was expanded when the owner (now deceased) bought the house across the street. Even when the hotel is full there's usually space at the beach club.

 

[deepsea21]

Hated to wait 2 years to return but there are a lot of places to see on this big blue rock.....

... and lots of places not worth seeing according to those who have been there and done that. Pretty sure the Dominican Republic is not going to make my list (it was never on it). Maybe in my old age (if I'm lucky enough to make to old age) I'll see the DR and other crappy destinations from the bar by the pool on a cruise ship if/when I can no longer dive. I imagine most will look nice and pretty much the same as every other cruise port in the Caribbean viewed from the Fiesta deck or whatever they want to call it.

 

[Brodydog]

when our dive boat had to return to the dock because they forgot the dive master.

Ok, now that got a chuckle out of me