Let's face it. Americans have high expectations when it comes to hotel accommodations. If you expecting white down duvets and fluffy pillows, flat screen TV, endless pool, etc. don't stay here!! If you enjoy simplicity, cleanliness, charm, convienience, and affordability, this is this place for you. I just went down for a week of diving and relaxing...don't know why else you'd go to Cozumel and although at first impression, I was a little unconvinced that this was going to be a comfortable stay, by the second day, I was settled in.

The Villablanca sits right across from Papa Hogs dive shop and dive boat/dock. It was wonderful to simply walk across the street in the am and hop on the boat. Although a somewhat lengthy walk, you can go into downtown safely (sidewalk all the way there) and a nice view of the ocean the entire way. I always felt safe during my stay here and hey, after a few cervezas and a long day out on the ocean, who needs a cushy bed?

Yes, the showers are not so great (low water pressure and spotty hot water), but the maids kept it very tidy and I appreciated a large enough room to spread out in. I would definitely reccommend the upgrade to the superior rooms. Never saw the villas, so don't know how those are.

The rest./bar across from the hotel has decent food (mostly snacks), but you can't beat watching the sunset from their lounge chairs! The hotel rest. is also charming. The owner is friendly and ready to please. Good coffee is hard to come by in Cozumel although they have a Starbucks downtown. I would reccomend the hotel rest. for breakfast (the french toast is lovely) and coffee but if they're not open, you can hit up the OXXO store down the block for coffee.

Mostly I would say if you're a "stay in your room" and hang at the hotel mostly kind of person, this might not be the most ideal stay for you. The fun of going to Cozumel is exploring the island (definitely check out the other side of the island). You can rent a car from the hotel. If you're adventurous when eating out, ask the locals for the best places to avoid the tourist traps.

Two of us went and had a fine time at the Villablanca. The staff were friendly and brought plenty of bottled water to the room whenever we asked for it. The hotel restaurant has very good food. We liked the hotel because we were traveling on a shoestring budget and used it as a base for exploring the island on our rented scooter. Plenty of snorkeling right off the beach across the street from the hotel, but it's worth taking the short drive south to the park where the fish are eager to swim with the visitors. It's a great budget hotel, so don't go expecting five star amenities. The iguanas loved to watch the sunset with us. We stayed in B-8 in the back on the second floor and had a fine time.

We've stayed at the VIllablanca several times over the past few years, and are very happy with it. In fact, I just made a reservation for another week there. The rooms are clean, big and quiet, snorkeling off the beach is good, the staff has always been helpful and friendly. We feel it's an excellent value and a good location, although a bit removed from downtown. It is not a luxury hotel, but is comfortable.

Are these people that are praising this resort talking about the same resort I stayed in... The Villablanca???? I only stayed there one night (thank god) because I was booked for a week at a different resort on a Friday to Friday stay and could only get a flight in on the day before. I thought this resort looked ok for one night after looking at it on the web. I felt like I was in a shady border town in Mexico instead of on Cozumel island. The pictures on the web are nothing like the resort. The resort seems to be very old. Our bedding had holes and stains on them. The bed was hard as a rock. When I turned on the water to take a shower, all I got was a gurgling sound and a trickle of water. I called the front desk and they were not concerned. They said try again later. They do not have a water purification system so don't drink it!!! Their supply of drinking water was a 5 gallon jug with a hand pump stuck in it. The air conditioning was a window unit stuck about 8 foot in the air and all this was in a "deluxe" unit. I would hate to see the standard unit!!! I can't give reviews for the staff or food because I left there asap the next day.

I stayed a week at El Cid La Ceiba which is just a short distance south. It was very nice. Staff was very friendly. Rooms were clean and spacious. Right on the beach with wonderful snorkling 50 feet from our room. They have a water purification system.

If you are looking for activities to do...you MUST book a trip to Xel-Ha. It is worth every penny and then some. It is a tropical paradise just across the water on the mainland. Book a full-day there and you will NOT regret it.

My advice is avoid the Villablanca. It should be called "The Villadump Hotel"!!!!