We just returned from the Presidente in Cozumel - We stayed from April 2nd 2005 through April 8th 2005 - and had a very FUN, peaceful and relaxing family vacation there. My husband attended a medical conference at the Presidente and we tagged along! The location is perfect - on a quiet sandy shore line with fabulous snorkeling. The weather was beautiful! The staff was polite and helpful - the service was very good (excellent by mexico standards). Our rooms - two adjoining "Reef" rooms were spacious, bright, airy, and well-appointed. We were upgraded to reef rooms because we joined the "Ambassador Club" a few months prior to going and had reserved deluxe ocean front - i called ahead to ask for the upgrade and it was granted & confirmed! I have traveled extensively (even staying at the Four Seasons in Nevis and at a lovely property on St. Bart's) throughout the Caribbean and these were the nicest and most comfortable rooms (and beds) we have ever had! (Yes, ask for the feather mattress toppers). Friends of ours stayed in the Deluxe Beach front rooms and seemed happy with those as well. We traveled with our four crazy kids, ages 11, 11, 12 & 14 - and they enjoyed our time there very much. We signed the older two up with the on-site diving school - Scuba du - and they got certified in junior scuba over a three-day period - it was very safe and fun and kept them busy. (Yelta was their very excellent dive master instructor). The snorkeling off the hotel is amazing - huge parrot fish, baracuda, dolphins, etc. We rented the gear at $10 per day and kept it the whole week. The food at Presidente was quite good for breakfast, lunch, snacks and dinner and our bill at the end was very reasonable. We went horseback riding (recommended by the concierge) as a family and that was a lot of fun and lasted three hours long, for about $35 pp. The kids loved it - they allowed them to gallop and cantor away through the jungle. We also went to Chankanaab (sp?) and swam with the sea lion, Carla - for about $60 pp; this was worth it - great take-home photos and a fun experience. (We swam with dolphins in Xcaret, Mexico a few years prior so we opted not to do this again - it is very spendy - like $159 pp, I believe). I think Chankanaab would be boring if you didn't swim with the dolphins ($$$$) or the sea lion ($$) - just a tip. We had a great lunch at Chankanaab - while we waited for our sea lion session to begin. If you are more than two persons, rent a car, prearranged while at home, to get at the airport for when you arrive. The taxis charge by the # of persons, so a family of six taking taxis isn't cheap - we ended up renting a car at the Presidente after the first night, realizing the deal with the fares (to town with 6 people, both ways is $60 U.S.!). The car rental was super expensive - almost $100 per day, but worth it for us. Visit the "other side" of the island before you leave - it is quiet, yet wild, and has a very rough and beautiful surf - lots of boogie boarders over there and a differnt feel to it. Also, I run, and every morning I ran along the road (sea coast) outside of the Presidente (took a "right" as I exited the hotel turn off onto a well-traveled road - I felt safe and I was able to find an easy route - runners - run before 8 a.m. and bring a small water with you - I had my mini-ipod, too. When you return, you may ask the doorman for a water and they bring it right out to you. Acceptable fitness area, as well - not much equipment, but it was cool, clean and just fine for a quick weight work out. Runners, bring a sweat band for your forhead and wrists - it is very hot and humid, even early in the morning. We utilized the hotel's valet laundry and it was prompt and good service and it didn't add up to be that much. The hotel is great about supplying multiple bottles of spring water. My tip is "pack a pocket spanish guide" so you may write the staff (housekeeping) notes about what you want. I'd leave a note and tip on my pillow and would always get what I asked for (more towles, water, fruit, candles, etc.). I always tipped the morning and evening housekeeper - in-between $3 to $7 per time, (in each room) and they took excellent care of us. (another tip - bring $100 in singles and another $100 in $fives so you are well-prepared to tip, etc.) Communicating via phone with the front desk and operator isn't easy unless you speak Spanish, hence the notes work well. They have blow dryers in the rooms, so leave yours at home- it is so humid and windy you won't be drying your hair anyway, believe me! If you are traveling with kids (or not) bring snacks from home - we packed two boxes and shipped it with our luggage - dip, chips, cookies, candy, good ground coffee with filters and splenda pkts., cereal - i even packed two quarts of milk and cheese (with ice packs)- fresh bagels and cream cheese, peanut butter, etc. and we also brought six bottles of wine for our room - I am very glad we did this. Our kids were very happy to have snacks they were familiar with and were handy and always available in the room. The food there is good, but the kids liked to munch on things familiar when watching pay-per-view movies, etc. (or didn't want to venture to the breakfast buffet). I tired the local grocery store for pop, but other than the pop, we were happy we brought our own snacks with us. We rented jet skis at the hotel for $90 per hour and the kids LOVED them. The kids also each painted a ceramic figurine by the pool (about $20 each) and got to take home their pretty handiwork (baked overnight) as a souvenir. We ate in town several times: Pancho's Backyard (nice, attractively prepared food, and they have a very cute store your kids will LOVE LOVE LOVE, so do go! (early enough so the store is still open), La Choza (local cuisine, very good food, very casual and very "neighborhood" - be sure to go there; Primas (Italian, good food, nice ambiance, casual and inexpensive). note: Pancho's wasn't great for the kids to eat at - a little too quiet and no kid-friendly menu options. We ate at the Presidente in the fine dining room (without the kids) - good food, pretty interior and our service was fine, though not superior to the rest of the lovely hotel. The outdoor restaurant - good food and great for the kids, because they could run to the beach as soon as they were finished and they had many kid friendly items on the menu. Very appealing ambiance - under a palapa roof, live music, coconut cocktails, long bar, etc. Bring wraps and cotton jackts - it can be very windy and cool in the evenings, though it was usually very hot. we had two cool evenings when you absolutely needed something over your arms and legs.
Anyway, I would definitety go back to the Presidente - with or without the kids. I generally do not like all-inclusives and their hype or cheesy stuff, so I was happy the Presidente was not an all-inclusive resort. My feeling is the Presidente is a classy, "grand dame" of a hotel - quiet, respectful, clean, gracious, wonderful location - my kind of place! There is no real nightlife and no programmed preteen/teen activities, but we were just fine with that. Go and have fun! We really may return next year for the same conference, because all six of us really liked the Presidente!