My husband and I chose to stay at the Cozumeleno after close friends recommended the hotel. It was our first trip to Cozumel and we were in heaven from the moment we stepped off the airplane. Our friends warned us the food wasn't great, but it was edible. (*A little tip:* There are so many birds flying around the outdoor restuarant areas, always take a plate from underneath the top one just in case.) We wanted to try out the authentic restaurants in town anyway, so we just planned to eat dinner in town each night. The resort is beautiful. We stayed at the Coz in July of 2002 and have been longing to return ever since. I highly recommend requesting an ocean-view room in the older section of the hotel. The room was huge and the view was absolutely breathtaking, not to mention it was very quiet and peaceful. Our balcony was so spacious and we enjoyed looking up at the stars every night. If you love to snorkel, this is the place for you. There are tons of fish and other sea creatures to view from the area right in front of the hotel. TAKE AN UNDERWATER CAMERA WITH YOU - it is so much fun to take pictures of all the creatures underwater and the water is so clear, blue and beautiful. If you are feeling adventurous, try a snorkel tour. We booked a tour through the hotel on a glass-bottom boat. The "glass-bottom" was far from clear, but what the boat lacked in luxury the guide made up for with knowledge and service. When booking a deep sea fishing trip, BE CAREFUL!!! We booked ours through Adventure Tours (our package representatives) and were very disappointed. We were assured the fish were biting and we would catch something spectacular. WRONG!! While I understand the guides can't predict when and where the fish will bite, I still would have liked to catch something bigger than my shoe. Our boat was very old and we became nauseated after breathing in gasoline fumes for many hours. You should probably invest in those special wristbands to help prevent motion sickness, bring some Pepto Bismol with you just in case and pack a few snacks and maybe an extra bottle of water. Don't make the mistake of buying a six pack to drink on the boat, you will be sorry. We spent all day on the water and only caught two small barracuda. The next day, another (brand new) fishing boat pulled up to the pier and they had a boat full of HUGE FISH, mahi-mahi and others. Make sure you book a trip on a NEW BOAT in relatively good condition. Ask around and see who has been fishing around the hotel. Don't feel pressured to book your trip through the hotel or your package representatives. Another thing to keep in mind when deciding on where to stay is the Cozumeleno is very close to town, walking distance, in fact. My husband and I walked into town for dinner and after dark took a taxi back to the hotel for around $5USD. In town, beware of the cruise ships arriving. From what I remember they come into town around noon and are docked for a few hours. The ships bring tons of people and the shops, restaurants, etc. can become very crowded. When shopping, don't be afraid to barter with the vendors. Another thing to keep in mind is your wristband. All the salesperson has to do is look at your wrist and know you are a vulnerable tourist. In the evenings, when we were shopping, I tried to wear a lightweight sweater to hide my wristband as they cannot be removed until you leave the resort. This wasn't a big deal to me, but it is definitely something to keep in mind if you find yourself lost in town or trying to get a lower price when shopping. Restaurants in town? LA CHOZA. We ate there almost every night for dinner (I know, sounds boring right? The food was great, we didn't get sick, the service was excellent, they had a trio that sang to us every night - it was great!!!) Carlos & Charlies? Just buy a shirt, hat, whatever and save your money to eat somewhere else. At night, Carlos & Charlie's is a fun place to be - big drinks, crazy people, wild, wild, wild. Beware of the shots - if you've been there, you know what I mean and if you haven't, beware of the whistle and the crazy waitresses! I had lunch with my husband on my birthday at Charlie's and it was fun, however the food was average and expensive (think Hard Rock Cafe in the USA). That night, we ate at La Choza and were serenaded by our favorite trio. Guido's is okay, a little pricey, but the pizzas were fresh and had interesting ingredients. If you love seafood, be sure to ask about "catch of the day specials." La Cabana del Pescador is a restaurant highly recommended in all the travel guides and books we bought prior to our trip. They only serve fresh lobsert with vegetables & rice, but I thought it was really good. My husband didn't like this restaurant because you chose your own lobster tail, it was in a very unique building and the lighting was a little dim. However, I loved the food. We rented a scooter and toured the island. We wanted to see the other resorts. We knew someone who stayed at the Allegro and loved it, so we wanted to check it out. The Allegro is very beautiful. The food was a little better there (we actually were invited to eat breakfast - but we also had to endure a painful timeshare presentation). You have to remember you are several miles from town if you choose to stay out at one of the higher rated resorts. You may have food that is a little tastier, but you will pay more to go into town and you will probably pay more to stay at one of these resorts. If you want to stay at the resort and don't wish to venture into town or around the island, then I would highly recommend the Allegro. There are so many shops scattered about around the island. While on our scooter tour we stopped along the way to buy hats, t-shirts, etc that were quite a bit cheaper than in town. It is a very beautiful drive around the island and takes about an hour to go all the way around depending on how often you stop. Even though it is Mexico, we only used US dollars. Our travel agent and friends both recommended bringing a bunch of dollar bills and cash. Tip around the hotel and you will be grateful you did. You don't have to tip a lot, a buck or two here or there, but it does make a difference. Remember there are a lot of people who are working just for tips and are being paid very low wages, no matter what you may have paid for your vacation. Try to budget a few bucks a day for tips at the hotel into your entire package. I know it is dangerous to carry cash, especially when you are tourist on vacation, we were so glad we only brought a few Traveler's Checks. Bring a STACK of DOLLAR BILLS WITH YOU!!!!! After reading the previous reviews I am longing to hop on a plane and go back to Cozumel. This was the best vacation I've ever been on, so relaxing, lots of fun things to do, a very casual, laid-back atmosphere. It was really nice to stay close to the town, I think it gives you more options. I think the best way to think about a vacation in Cozumel and at this resort is to ask yourself what you expect to get out of the hotel and activities. This isn't a spa resort. You aren't going to receive gourmet meals. Don't expect 5 star service because this is not a 5 star hotel. I felt they treated us with respect and provided excellent service, but everyone has different expectations. If you have a family, I think this is probably one of your best bets if you want to stay on the island. We had a week package and by the end of the week we were getting tired. (We were recovering from wedding stress, so we were actually exhausted when we arrived). Some of the friends we made at the hotel were only staying 4 nights and if you want a quick vacation, they felt it was perfect. We however were on our honeymoon and wanted a few extra days. We made a promise to each other our next vacation would include a different destination, maybe even a cruise. I just keep coming back to the Cozumeleno. I know there are probably places just as beautiful and a little cheaper... I've heard great things about South America, but I think Cozumel and the El Cozumeleno are going to be hard to beat. I hope you enjoy your stay in Cozumel and don't forget to learn a few Spanish phrases (learn them well) to "impress" your waiters and always say, "Gracias" (thank you) and "De Nada" (you're welcome).