We stayed at Hotel Cozumel from June 26 - July 1, 2005 and were glad to leave. This was our fourth, yes that's correct, 4th time to stay at Hotel Cozumel and this was definitely our last. We really hesitated to book this 4th trip, but the price was right and the timing was good.

When we arrived our room with a king bed was unavailable . . . as if they were surprised to see us! We were not told that our room had two double beds at check-in. We walked a half mile over to our room with all our scuba gear in tow only to discover for ourselves that our room was not a king as requested. After a refreshing walk back to the lobby, I was told we could "probably" move to a king room the next day. Soooo, we reluctantly unpacked only enough to make it through the night in hopes of a king room the next day. If you dive you know what unpacking means to a diver.

The next day we were offered a king room, but only after the usual 3:00 p.m. check-in time. So we checked all our bags (including our passports, money, jewelry, etc.) and went on our morning dive trip. What were we supposed to do with our stuff . . . take it on the dive boat?

Upon check-in to our king room we found it nicely cleaned and HOT!!! The air conditioner did not work except for minimal flow of 80 degree air. When we returned to the room after dinner it was about 85 degrees and 100 percent humidity. Nice sleeping conditions. We requested to have our air conditioner fixed 3 times. Repairmen came in the room and didn't have a clue how to fix the problem. After the 3rd complaint the front desk offered to move us to another room for our last night. I politely declined.

Several other guests complained of bad air conditioning and mold smell in the rooms also. We are tolerant people, but no A/C on a dive trip is intolerable.

You can read about the bad food in other reviews, but just take my advice and stay anywhere but Hotel Cozumel. REMEMBER, this was our fouth time so we gave this hotel a fair chance and we are done with it!!!

Please don't let any part of this review spill over to their onsite dive operator. Dive Paradise is great and you can use them at other hotels on the island.

Just say no to Hotel Cozumel,
South4Scuba

We stayed there from 6.24.05 - 6.29.05, the hotel was very clean and the food was O.K., as we always found something we enjoyed.It's also close to town, so we were very able to walk to town when we wanted. We have to say that the service at the beach area was better, and the bartenders were of better spirits, but then at the main pool seemed to be the hang out for the "kids" who acted like it was their first beer...so perhaps after dealing with these idiots it's understandable why there was not the same level of service with a smile!! The snorkeling and diving were great as from the shore there was much to explore. The down sides were no late night snack choices, and at the beach club for meals not enough snack choices beyond hamburgers..but perhaps they were doing me a favor!!I would return here in the future and would recommend it.

Spent a wonderful week with my wife and 2 kids, 6 & 11. Had a great time.
Here are some remarks and helpful hints for staying at the hotel:

Check-In was fast and easy with Guava Punch and bags brought from taxi to room. Ask for a ocean view room and recieved it. Nice view of water from room 1207.

Room was kept clean daily by the maid no problems there. However we went during the slow season and she came to the door some mornings before 9:00 A.M. to clean. The rooms had either a king or 2 double beds with a remote tv, small table with 2 chairs. The bathroom had a shower/tub combo with average water pressure, lots of hot water be careful!! The vanity was outside the bathroom which was nice for privacy.
In all the rooms were the same as a Holiday Inn or Comfort Inn.
Rating ****

Swimming pool was warm and clear with plenty of room for all. Very relaxing in the late evenings.

The beach was nice for laying around but the water was alittle difficult for the kids to get in and out off using the wooden stairs, use the ladder on the right side near the pier. Which is great for jumping off of!!! Take some bread to feed the fish!!! Lots near pier.

Food "Ok here we go"

Breakfast (7:00-10:30) in the main resturant only! You had your choice of fruit, breads, juices, coffee, bacon, potatoes, waffles, pancakes, and made to order eggs. The same thing every morning!! Its like eating at a Denny's everyday and having the same options to eat. The pancakes and waffles were hard in areas, bacon was cold and fatty, the potatoes were either deep fried and soaky or made with cheese and butter lots of butter. The fruit was good! as well as the strong mexican coffee.
Rating **

Lunch was served at the beach resturant or near the pool. (12:00 - 6:00) It was normally hamburgers, hotdogs, french fries, nachos, chicken wings and other fatty meat products. If you are going to eat, get it while it is fresh at 12:00 because it sits out all day! You never know for how long! The hotdogs and hamburgers are made fresh to order, but you will get sick of these fast. Lunch was the worst food normally for the trip because we would eat after diving late and the food was ussally out for a long time so it was hamburgers and hotdogs daily!
Ratings **

Dinner was served at the beach resturant or the A/C indoor resturant. (6:00-10:30) If you are going to eat outdoors wear lots of mosquito spray they come out in hordes at night! Dinner was sit down and you order off a limited menu with some daily specials that reminded you of the food from lunch, but fresher. We liked the chicken kebabs and grilled fish{lots of butter!!!!}. However like all the other foods it taste great the first couple of days and then it all starts to taste the same!!
Rating ***

Desserts were great consisting of cakes, tarts, custards, fruit, and ICE CREAM -- You have to ask for this make sure you ask for it.!!!

In all the Resturants were very nice and clean, with cloth napkins, nice glasses for wine, water and drinks, with great service. Alot of work goes into the appearance of the resturant.

The Bars were ok. However the bartender at the pool bar can be and will be rude at times. Don't ask for drink suggestions unless your a pretty blond. The drinks are served in a small!!! 8oz plastic cup. However, if you bring a thermos or large cup to the bar they will fill it up for you!! This is great for walking into town with an ice cold drink.

The activities were ok, most people are to lazy to play the games during the day and the activities director tries very hard to get people to participate ussally with very little results.

The nightly show is wonderful, again wear mosquito spray or lay in the pool the show is near the pool.

Kids club was great! Our kids were watched daily from 1:00-5:00, we were diving the afternoon fast boats, great no crowds and you normally can choice the best dive sites all to yourself. The director of kids club was Martha a wonderful young woman, who had daily crafts, activities and watched the kids as they swam in the pool. This was at no cost to us.

However we were told the the owners are planning on doing away with the activities, night show and kids club in July 2005. This would be a sad event.


Diving was wonderful as mentioned above we took the fast afternoon boats with Dive Paradise. This was the first time taking the afternoon boats in Cozumel and it was great, no crowds, somedays it was just my wife and I and we dived some sites that normally are not dived. As well as some custom dives, just ask! The fast boats leave at 1:00 and return by 5:00 the only bad thing is no shade on boats from afternoon sun. So bring a coverup or large towel.

Hotel Cozumel is probably fine for a first timer to the Carribean. I (and 42 of my friends) thought it was just ok. The rooms were clean, nothing fancy. The beds are very (VERY) firm. The food is also "ok". However - if you are hungry when you return from Senor Frogs or elsewhere (even if the hours posted say otherwise) you are SOL. Also, most meals while tasty are cold. We have stayed at many all inclusives and they have gotten so competitive that you can even have room service at many whenever you want. Not here. No chips, sodas, peanuts, a roll nothing. Vending machines would have been nice if nothing else.

The other comment I would make is the bar was completely understaffed, and there was always a long line at the bar. (Not just because we are a large group either - we arrived to this long line thing) They were also pretty stingy with the liquor. (maybe a 1/2 shot per drink) Staff seemed overworked and not very happy to be in the service industry.

I often think people are impossible to please when it comes to these reviews....but I returned earlier today, I am an experienced traveler, and I think there are a ton of better choices out there!