sytech, what are you looking for in a hotel?
If you want someplace nice but still on the reasonable side price wise, Fiesta Americana might work for you. Too far from town to walk, but it's a $6 taxi. They have an on-site shop (most of the big dive travel companies offer well priced hotel/dive packages for FA and Dive House), or you can book with any shop you like and they can pick you up at the hotel pier. You'd be away from the cruise terminals but still a reasonable taxi from town.
Casa del Mar might also be an option, but you will see ships anchored off-shore. It's 3mi from town (we walk it most of the time). Sort of a Mexican Holiday Inn for divers. Nice, clean, comfortable, a pool, restaurant, on-site dive shop (or again, any shop can pick you up at the hotel pier), a few restaurants in walking distance if you don't want to go to town... I've stayed in the oceanview rooms and they're fine. We really like the cabanas and I've been able to book one online with travelocity or expedia the last couple trips for under $90/nt. The cabana has a bedroom and full bath downstairs, a kitchenette, sofa, small table and a bath w/ shower upstairs. Small patio outside with a table, umbrella and chairs. OXXO store right next door for drinks and snacks (we find them to be about the same price as the big stores), or you can go to Chedraui and take a taxi back with a few bags of drinks and food.
More basic and a mile closer to town is Villablanca. The "Superior Oceanview" rooms are a good deal, usually $55-65/nt (through travelnotes.cc) Nothing fancy, and actually a bit quirky, but the rooms are large, full-size fridge, sitting area, (only one room has a microwave, coffee pot and table) convenient location, $4 taxi or about 20 min walk to town. Dive Paradise and Papa Hogs both across the street.
If diving is the reason you're going to Cozumel then I wouldn't stay north of town. There's only a couple shops who will pick up there, otherwise you'll be heading to the pier in-town or having to get to the Caleta to meet the boat.
I loved Curacao and the shore diving. Can't wait to go back there this fall. Totally different sort of dive trip then Cozumel. Love them both. Cozumel is a boat diving destination and not really the place to choose if you want to do 4-5 long dives a day. The on-site shops that do run morning and afternoon trips tend to schedule their sites for the week, time their dives and give you short SIs. You might get more dives then if you go with a smaller (and bit more expensive) shop, but you won't necessarily be getting more bottom time or the best quality diving.
If you want someplace nice but still on the reasonable side price wise, Fiesta Americana might work for you. Too far from town to walk, but it's a $6 taxi. They have an on-site shop (most of the big dive travel companies offer well priced hotel/dive packages for FA and Dive House), or you can book with any shop you like and they can pick you up at the hotel pier. You'd be away from the cruise terminals but still a reasonable taxi from town.
Casa del Mar might also be an option, but you will see ships anchored off-shore. It's 3mi from town (we walk it most of the time). Sort of a Mexican Holiday Inn for divers. Nice, clean, comfortable, a pool, restaurant, on-site dive shop (or again, any shop can pick you up at the hotel pier), a few restaurants in walking distance if you don't want to go to town... I've stayed in the oceanview rooms and they're fine. We really like the cabanas and I've been able to book one online with travelocity or expedia the last couple trips for under $90/nt. The cabana has a bedroom and full bath downstairs, a kitchenette, sofa, small table and a bath w/ shower upstairs. Small patio outside with a table, umbrella and chairs. OXXO store right next door for drinks and snacks (we find them to be about the same price as the big stores), or you can go to Chedraui and take a taxi back with a few bags of drinks and food.
More basic and a mile closer to town is Villablanca. The "Superior Oceanview" rooms are a good deal, usually $55-65/nt (through travelnotes.cc) Nothing fancy, and actually a bit quirky, but the rooms are large, full-size fridge, sitting area, (only one room has a microwave, coffee pot and table) convenient location, $4 taxi or about 20 min walk to town. Dive Paradise and Papa Hogs both across the street.
If diving is the reason you're going to Cozumel then I wouldn't stay north of town. There's only a couple shops who will pick up there, otherwise you'll be heading to the pier in-town or having to get to the Caleta to meet the boat.
I loved Curacao and the shore diving. Can't wait to go back there this fall. Totally different sort of dive trip then Cozumel. Love them both. Cozumel is a boat diving destination and not really the place to choose if you want to do 4-5 long dives a day. The on-site shops that do run morning and afternoon trips tend to schedule their sites for the week, time their dives and give you short SIs. You might get more dives then if you go with a smaller (and bit more expensive) shop, but you won't necessarily be getting more bottom time or the best quality diving.
