Hotel response to emails- Doesn't happen. I tried to get all babysitting requirements addressed up front. They don't want to hear from you unless you're here.
Check in- 1 hour 50 minutes to check in.
Beach- I wouldn't call it a beach. White strip of sand that a big chunk was prohibited surrounding a massage table. Corded off with bright yellow police tape. Stairs down to steep drop off in water.
Babysitting- Sitters don't go in water with kids. I had a 2 and 4 yr old so this made me miss diving since I want my kids to have fun too while I'm gone. I checked the night before to confirm she'd go in, she said yes and then said no Hotel policy doesn't allow it in the am when it was too late to change.
Breakfast- Fabulous. Neverending feast with good fresh fruit and custom omlettes, and different cereals. Our kids would eat at 7:00 and again at 10:30.
Lunch- Not as good but passable. Menu items were better than the buffet
Dinner- Terrible. Lots of cheap pasta, mystery meat only if it was attached to bone and more bone than meat.
Restaurant- Reservations sold out by 8 am for that evening. We did go once and it was fabulous. It was not full though. They definetly seem to limit how many folks they take to cut costs.
Conceirge- nice but would say yes to whatever you asked. He was asked to confirm the babysitter would go in the pool and never did.

... But Here's How to Find the Best Snorkeling!

I stayed at the FA Cozumel in June of 2004 under the all-inclusive plan and was very disappointed. My room on the 6th floor was fine, and the grounds and pool were clean, but the service I received from the employees of the bar, restaurants, and front desk was terrible, even though I was friendly and kind and came equipped with a pocketful of U.S. dollars for tipping. Hotel staff were one step from hostile. They appeared sullen and surly and angry. This colored my impression of my entire stay.

I am a mom of two little preschoolers from Minnesota, and this "pampering" vacation was a gift to me from my family. For months I looked forward to being served a tall icy drink as I sat on a beach chair by the pool. No staff at FA Cozumel, though, ever offers anyone a drink by the pool. You have to walk to the bar and request it, and then a surly, unsmiling man will hold out a plastic bottle for you and turn away. It was just not what I was looking for.

The food on the all-inclusive plan is all you can eat, but it's mundane, college cafeteria fare. Even my meal at the upscale Miramar restaurant (where you can go once on your stay) reminded me of a Taco Bell gordita, except with very tough flank steak meat (albeit on a heavy china plate and starched white tablecloth).

I chose Cozumel because I love to snorkel, and the snorkeling was okay -- although nowhere near as wonderful as Maui in Hawaii. That's the best place I have ever been. (Friends I made at the resort who are seasoned divers said that the diving and snorkeling in Cozumel is not anywhere near as good as it is publicized to be. They theorized that the coral reefs around Cozumel are suffering from polution, overuse, and inconsiderate tourists kicking the coral.)

My best Cozumel snorkeling occurred first, at Chankanaab, the protected park a short cab ride from the hotel, where an absolutely fabulous guide named Mario takes tourists on guided snorkeling tours of the area -- for tips. (Ask for Mario in the little shop that rents the underwater helmets that keep your hair and shoulders dry. And tip him well! He and his wife are trying to save to build a Christian preschool on the island.) I even asked Mario to take me privately to "the best snorkeling spot; the ones the locals love the most." He took me to Paradise Beach, where I saw, among other things, five massive parrot fish swimming together, in addition to hundreds of other fish. I also paid about $20 U.S. to go out snorkeling with a scuba diving boat. I snorkeled while they dove far below me, and then during the divers' mandated rest period the boat took me to a secluded cove where I snorkeled happily and saw hundreds of colorful fish.

I'd also like to advise that you be aware of the high and low temperatures for the week that you are there. Even early June was so hot and humid that sitting by the pool was really no pleasure, even in the morning. My glasses fogged up from the humidity and I could hardly see my book!

One other thing. MLT Vacations failed to fulfill their obligation to pick me up at the ferry dock in Playa Del Carmen and transport me to the Cancun airport, even though I had confirmed arrangements with the representative at my hotel. I was stranded, afraid, lugging suitcases, and unable to use any phone I found. Even kind strangers could not figure out how to help me. This was infuriating. When you make your arrangements, ask exactly what you should do and how you should contact them if they fail to meet you and you are stranded.

After reading the reviews of this hotel before our trip, we decided against it. And instead opted for the 'superior' Grand Occidental (see review)

After appalling service, and overbooking - we changed hotels midway through our stay.

We ended up at the Fiesta Americana. And quite honestly found the staff, the rooms and the food far better.

We didn't go all inclusive at this resort, and quite frankly don't think that we lost anything by it.

If you think that 'You get what you pay for' then the FA will outshine your expectations.

A truly friendly hotel.

Okay:
I don't scuba dive. I went with my mother, my younger sister and a friend, none of whom scuba dive either.
We found the staff to be friendly and very helpful.
We did the all-inclusive package, and had no problems whatsoever.
It was a relaxing place, and if you wanted nightlife, you could always go to the town nearby, or take the ferry to Playa del Carmen. Some of the clubs on Cozumel were featured on Wild On E!
I had no complaints...we all got to know other people that were staying there, and found it to be a great time. It was not pure luxury, but it was very nice.