Mixed feelings on this place.
The positive things:
1. Staff. They smile from 08.00 till 23.00, and are friendly from 08.00 till 23.00. It is hardly impossible to be so friendly the entire day. In fact, it is rather a sad story, I think. Salaries of hotel staff in Cancun is only a few pesos per day, and I guess the situation is the same here. It is a palce were rich meets poor ina very wealthy environment. Give a good tip!
2. Snorkling in front of the hotel is fantastic.
The negative things.
1. You get an organge strip around your wrist, which identifies you as a guest, and entitles you to use all facilities. But then.....downtown they can also see that you are in an 200 USD/per night hotel, and you can forget any reduction. In a few occasions, the people who try to get you in restaurants down town, said: "Amigo..you are in El Cozumeleno Beach Resort, food is not good there, come and eat here!"
2. Ok..the food.....so many reviews here have already mentioned it. But remember....no buffet food is good. Food has to be eaten as soon as it has been prepared. So....it cannot be good. It is average for buffet food. But nothing compared to the food we had in Chetumal (that was great food for Mexicans prepared by Mexicans). This is food preparaed for Amercians. But don't expect anything better downtown...there you have food for tourists.
The very negative things.
1. This hotel was sold to me by a travel agency in Chetumal as a 5-star hotel. But it is a 4-star hotel!!! We paid cash at the travel agency, and therefore had it 40 USD per day cheaper. Cash means no tax for them. But because we paid upfront, there is no way to get check out early, get your money back, and go somewhere else.
2. Our room is VERY dampy. Don't ask me why. The hotel manager tried to explain to me what condensation is, and that this is normal at this place. Well...I have a PhD in science, and let me tell you...this is NOT normal. All our cloths are semi-wett, books get dampy, there is condensation on my camera, and I hope my laptop will survive. There is a layer of condense on the floor. The only thing you can do is dry it, and sleep with an open balcony door. Apperantly, not all rooms have this problem. The statement on the door to keep the balcony door closed to avoid condensation is just rubbish. First night we did this, and woke up in a room in which each tile was completely wet (and very slippery!!). I think our room has been empty for a long time.
3. To get decent food, you can go to the restaurant in the hotel. BUT....you need to make a reservation before the end of the afternoon. If you don't do this, then..sorry....no access to the restaurant. So..if you arrive in the evening on the first day...sorry..you did not book. If you book at 19.00, they will tell you that the restaurant is full. Well...that is bollucks (it was empty the entire evening).....it is just a way for them to save money.
Other comments: Loud entertainment and music during the entire day....but quiet at 22.00. Go the the northside of the beach, and you don't hear all the noise and bingos. No musquitos at the end of November.
Summarising, great place for families with kids, but not for me. Staff (waitresses) are doing a great job, but give them a tip!
BA