If you're not into touristy "cruise ship cattle car" feeling, and want to experience Mexico, I highly recommend Hotel Flamingo. In the heart of Cozumel, you are convenient to everything, but still enjoy the feeling of old Mexico. We are repeat guests here, and always enjoy the rooms, food and drink. The restaurant, newly opened, served us one of the best meals we've had on the island. If you are a diver, the room - dive package makes sense. They offer a small group diving experience, very safe, and personal attention.

Spent a few days at the Hotel Flamingo with my son on a spur of the moment trip. It wasn't fancy, but very reasonable and clean. The staff was very friendly and helpful. It seemed like staying with a family. Wherever you went from this convenient hotel, people seemed to know the owner, Tom. You must try the food. Dinner was execellent so if you decide not to stay here at least stop in for dinner. Neither of us are divers, but Chantel, front desk clerk, set us up with a day long trip where we went Snuba diving (got to dive twenty feet underwater to look at the coral and fish while tethered to a 20 foot airhose). That alone made the trip worthwhile.

I stayed at the Flamingo the first week in Jan. 2005. I chose it based on the reviews in TripAdvisor.com. I was not disappointed!

The Flamingo Hotel is a delightful 4-storey, yellow-stucco hotel with a modest, provincial charm. Like the town itself, it has a relaxed and friendly atmosphere that will suit independent travellers of all ages and nationalities. English and Spanish are spoken fluently by the staff.

It's close to everything: a 100 pesos (w/tip) ride to the airport, just 4 blocks to ferry, and 3 blocks to the town centre and shopping - but not too close - the Flamingo is on a peaceful side street with minimal traffic.

There's a bar and a courtyard restaurant that serves breakfast, lunch and gourmet dinner, and a rooftop bar where you can lounge, watch the cruise ships in the harbour and chat with your fellow guests as the sun sets over the water.

The Flamingo is good value for the conservative traveller who wants to be close to the centre but not right in it. It has very large rooms with big windows, a powerful ceiling fan with a not so powerful air conditioner, TV, telephone and a bathroom with walk-in shower (no tub) and plenty of hot water. The rooms are very, very, clean with friendly maid service.

The Flamingo staff are very helpful and will make sure your stay is an enjoyable one - whether it's diving, biking, shopping or just lazing on the dozens of public beaches Cozumel has to offer.

While there's nothing wrong with all-inclusive resorts, there's so much to see and do in San Miguel and so many different places to explore on the island, you'll be glad you stayed at the Hotel Flamingo.

I was. And I'd definitely come back again!

My family of five was on vacation in Cancun and went Scuba diving for two days off of Cozumel, so I booked a couple of last-minute rooms for the night at the Hotel Flamingo on the island. What a charming downtown hotel! We had an excellent dinner in the intimate, foliaged courtyard near the fountain. We raved over the goat's cheese and carmelized onion appetizer served with brochettes of shrimp and chicken. The meal was prepared to perfection and the presentation was lovely. Then our server skillfully delighted us with flaming Mexican coffees to finish the evening.

The rooms were fine - clean and unpretentious - and if we'd had longer to stay we certainly would have made use of the private rooftop patio for sunning or lounging with views of the docked cruise ships.

The tasty complimentary breakfast got us started the next day for a bit of exploring and shopping before our afternoon dives. We felt we'd found a real gem of a place and highly recommend the Hotel Flamingo.