Our 4 Th trip to Cozumel began at 2:45 a.m. It takes about a hour from our island to BWI. Routine check in. The 1:45 wait for departure. Continental via Houston. Houston plane full with scuba clubs. The only problem is a full plane arrives, a full plane leaves. No net gain. When USAir resumes weekday flights and others pick up the pace maybe the hotels will be better than 40 % full. It sure has driven airfare up, about a 25% increase from the mid-Atlantic. It took about an hour to clear customs, even with the new x-ray machines. Aldora greets you just past customs. It is nice seeing Greg from Aldora and his smiling face greeting you at the airport. I grab two tickets for the van. This option saves you twenty bucks, at least on a Travelocity package. Just go through the glass door to the right and it is a few feet on the left. We are on the last van from the Continental flight and depart for Cozumel Palace. By the way, the airport exit and road is done. It is very nice.

We arrive before 1 p.m. to a gracious staff armed with scented towels and champagne cocktail. After a brief stop at the front desk you are escorted to a comfy couch. A pleasant concierge explains the passport package included with your stay at Coz Palace. This passport provides you several tours at no extra charge. Included are excursions to Tulum and Coba. Also included is a lame snorkel tour to the International pier and a somewhat better villa Blanca reef. A twenty-five dollar rental car discount, golf discount across the way and several other items are included. It is a very nice addition to our all-inclusive package.

We are shown to our room, # 333. It is a nice size room with a balcony facing Playa del Carmen. Although the weather did not cooperate, it did provide a nice view of the sun setting in the west on two different occasions. Our room had a king bed with box springs, not a concrete platform. It was by far the most comfortable bed I have slept on in Coz. Our room also has a small fridge stocked with water, soda and beer. There is also a liquor dispenser with rum, brandy, scotch and tequila. This is included in the package price. There is a TV with a few English-speaking stations. The bathroom has a great shower stall, is completely tiled and stocked with Biosilk bath products. No need to bring toiletries from home. There is also a two-person Jacuzzi tub with a waterfall faucet and plenty of HOT water next to the bed. Robes and slippers are provided. A couple chairs and tables are provided. An electronic safe with a personal combination is also provided. There is plenty of room for suitcase storage and clothes, but no place for dive gear. There is storage lockers provided on site by Aqua Safari and Aldora stored my gear for me for the duration of our trip. The room is cleaned at least twice a day and decorated with towel art and nightly candies on the pillow.

We have stayed at both all-inclusive and non-AI properties in Cozumel. The last two times at Hotel Cozumel the food insured you dined in town at night. The food at Coz Palace was very good. There is an outdoor grill which doubles as a steak house at night. There is separate Sushi, Italian and Mexican restaurants although they are attached.

Breakfast is served buffet style in the Italian restaurant. The nice lady at the omelet station did eggs all ways, pancakes, waffles and Mexican specialties. She would make me four fresh corn tortillas each morning to go with my eggs con chorizo y queso. She also made quesadillas, tacos, empanadas, huevos rancheros, etc. Lots of pastries, breads, hot cereals and such were available along with lots of fresh fruit. There were several toppings for the yogurt. There was a Bloody Mary and mimosa bar, as well as a juice bar. They would even provide a carryout box and box lunches for people leaving on the tours to Tulum and Coba.

Lunch is provided at the grill. Several days there is a specialty grill by the waterfront with kabobs, ribs, etc. The Italian restaurant also serves buffet at lunch but I did not eat there so I cannot comment. I had a nice focaccia sandwich, steak sandwich and club sandwich.

Dinner is a treat; served ala Carte. We would eat sushi for an appetizer. It was very good. Lots of wasabi and pickled ginger with different combinations of rice, crab, and fish. A hot appetizer was placed at each table, which included a hot banana/cheese stick, spring rolls, etc. We would then have dinner at the steak house or Italian place. Steak house had standard menu with filet, NY strip, rib eye, and good baked potatoes. Steaks were fairly tender and well trimmed. The Italian restaurant is where we went the most. The service was superb with a wine sommelier and captain style table service. The tableside coffee cart with flaming coffees topped off a fun night. Joel and Darwin spoiled us rotten. Thanks, amigos. I did not eat at the Mexican restaurant so I cannot comment. The Mexican food at breakfast was great.

Room service is provided 24 hours a day. We tried it once for a late lunch with smoked salmon and a chef salad. That was very good. The service was outstanding at all outlets and at all times. Liquor was top shelf and included Johnny Walker Black, Don Julio, Bacardi Anejo, Baileys, etc. Draft beer was Dos Eqius with can beer of Tecate Light and Modelo in the room.

The hotel is spotless and in top condition. Even the halls are air-conditioned which led to some cool walks from the boat. We did not run the AC in our room. On site was a dive shop, small spa and salon, gift shop, waterfront gym with plasma screen, EMT, kids club and several travel services. We were not approached one time about time-share. I highly recommend Cozumel Palace

The hotel is located across the street from Chedraui. It is a short walk to town. We visited Tony Rome, El Morrito and the French Quarter to watch some football. We were there during the day of the dead festivities. The square was covered with displays and stages. There were vendors selling tamales, pan de la muerta and other local specialties. The rain made a mess of the displays but the loving families, for the most part, continued through the week. I highly suggest a future trip during this week as the day of the dead activities really added to a already great Cozumel Plaza del centro.

On Tuesday we met friends arriving on the Grandeur of the Seas. Seven of the floating hotels called on Cozumel that day. The cab drivers and vendors were ready for them. We had made arrangements to tour the island in cab # 10, driven by Gabby. Thanks to Julie and Janie for the referral. I recommend him. Drove by Presidente. The landscapers were finishing up and it looked very good from the road. I also saw it from the water and it is ready to receive visitors. The coastal road is all fixed and better than ever. The little hotel on the left is being replaced with condos. A nice spot if you are not worried about big storms. Followed road till it met up with the island road. The cieba tree has its leaves back. We started at Paradise/Bob Marleys. Everything is back in order. The pigs are fat and happy. They need to come up with a better bano solution. These could have made Steve’s pictorial from a couple years ago. Appetizer was good as well as drinks. Next stop, Chen Rio. I also made a dive from here earlier in the week. The thing Chen Rio had in common with all the other east side places was a lack of customers. Strange considering the number of cruise ships in port. We had the seafood platter. Whole red snapper scored, seasoned and simply fried. It also had a fish filet, probably grouper, garlic shrimp and conch and maybe something else. By this time drinks had kicked in. Margaritas here were very good. We had to eat in the screened in porch as the flies attacked us on delivery of the platter. It was just fine for our group of four and properly cooked. I have had it in the past and it can be hit or miss. Better bathrooms here. Vaminos al Coconuts. Had some nice margaritas and cold beer here. Always look for my business card and check out the new shirts and photos. Best bathrooms on this side here. During our surface interval the previous Sunday, we were down the hill at Ventanas. They are wiring the hotel and adding a generator to provide more constant power. Aldora is also opening a small shop on premise. There is also something to do with the turtle-nesting program. The new desk girl mentioned AC but I would not hold my breath on that one. Anyway, on to Mezcalitos. Getting close to closing time so we have two rounds, take our pictures at the NAKED BEACH sign and soak up the last few minutes we will spend this week on the east side. The cross-island road is being widened. It is almost across to Mezcalitos and pretty far along toward Bob Marleys. Watch for holes. Why are they widening the road? Look for resorts, I’ll betcha. Thanks for the great ride and company Gabby. He will show you as much or little as you want. Good man. Said so long to our guests and headed to the plaza. Man, 8:30 I better get to bed. It is hell to get old.

I spent the week with Aldora divers. I had Luis for three days and dove with Memo on the eastside. We also did a night dive Wednesday. My three tanks on Wednesday added up to a combined four hours and fifteen minutes. Aldora provides steel 120’s which provide added air for this six three heavy breather. It is so much fun to not be hurried or pressured to make a quick dive. We take a 90-minute to two hour SI at Playa Mia. Coz Palace will provide a box lunch but I usually just had water and guacamole. Very relaxing. Lots of turtles, lots of giant crabs, one eagle ray and some large green morays. Very nice diving. Maracaibo and Francessa stick out as my favorite dives of the week. Every time is different but I really like a lot of stuff on the bottom, which those two dives provide. A norte had scuttled our Sunday dive, which is why we dove the east side. The water was a little choppy Tuesday and Wednesday but fine the rest of the time. Aldora keeps and cleans your gear for the week. Nice boats with twin four stroke 130’s, parkas and cold water. I really like their service.

Cozumel is recovering. MargaritaVille will open at the acario site by spring I bet. Lots of building going on. Mr. Tony’s embassy will be done shortly. The diving is good. Lots of newly remodeled rooms at Presidente and Park Royal. I missed eating in town at night, but if I make it back in April I plan on staying at Vista del Mar and catching up then with the operators I have come to know.