I stumbled on Baldwin's B&B in 2004 when I was looking for a place to take the wife on our honeymoon. The pictures on the website looked beautiful and the prices look affordable. When the cab dropped us off I was wondering if I'd made a mistake. Not to worry, it was safe (except for the sidewalks) and the people were very friendly and patient with our limited Spanish. We were in a residential part of town that didn't look like what I was expecting. We stepped through the gates into paradise (the pictures on the web are 100% accurate) and thoroughly enjoyed our stay for the next two weeks. First off, the rooms are lovely and comfortable and the grounds are immaculate. Kathy has hundreds of orchids and other blooming flowers and fruit - kind of reminds me of what the Garden of Eden may have been like. There's no way to adequately describe Kathy's two course breakfasts. We never felt the need to eat lunch! There are loads of fresh fruit, much of it from the property, meats, breads, yogurt and the best waffles I've ever had in my life. Dale and Kathy know all the ins and outs of the one town and don't mind sharing the secrets. The back of the island is mostly empty beach (most of it rocky) with a few places to buy beer and food. Chichenitza is a long day trip but doable from here. There are Mayan ruins on Cozumel to explore, too. Lots of interesting markets to explore and craftsmen to seek out. Most of the commercial places speak English. We came back for spring break this year (2007) and rumors of hurricane damage were way over-blown - the damage was non-existant. This trip we brought my oldest daughter and her husband to share a week in paradise with us. Yes, I gained 7 lbs, mostly off Kathy's breakfasts, but it was worth it. Dale and Kathy are great hosts - laid back, and both have a great sense of humor, and they mix a mean margarita. Best of all, Dale makes sure there's no shortage of Cervaza in the cabana. Cozumel is a lot quieter than Cancun, which we love. Can't recommend it enough if you want a low key, laid back piece of paradise and island living. I can't wait to return. Two recommendations when you come. First, rent a car if you plan to spend any time at the beach on the back of the island (town is within walking distance and cab fares are cheap). Second, going through the airport you will be positively assaulted by time share sales folk that want you to visit the Mayan gold coast. They offer money, booze, and other expensive trinkets. Say NO in the strongest terms you use....and keep saying it. You really don't want to go.

I found a wonderful gem hidden in the city of Cozumel. The breakfast was excellent as well as the hospitality. The little Casita was a perfect retreat to retire to at the end of the day ,or just to chill at the entire day. All of the little creatures made it a true oasis. I'm an animal lover, and seeing the lizards, iguanas, birds, and turtles were a true delight! The pool was great to take a dip in and the gardens were beautiful. Kathy and Dale are full of knowledge and gave great advice about the Island.

My husband Joe and I stayed at Baldwin's Guest House last month, and I must say that our stay was fantastic in every single way!

I found out about Baldwin's Guest House through Trip Advisor and after reading all of the rave reviews, I figured that ALL those people MUST be onto something special. And indeed they were. Dale and Kathy have themselves a little oasis right in the heart of San Miguel, and it is their location that made the visit so special.

It was a short cab ride from the hotel, and the B& B itself is gorgeous. Kathy keeps her rooms impeccably clean and they are very tastefully decorated, The grounds are lush and inviting and the pool was *just* right for the afternoons where we wanted to be lazy and stick around. A site to behold is the mini animal sanctuary they have in their backyard--from iguanas to birds to turtles galore, it truly was paradise in the backyard.

While the grounds and the house itself were great, it was Dale and Kathy who made the trip extra special. For example, on the second day that we were there, I *enjoyed* one of the cruises a *bit* too much ( all because of Kailua...hee hee), and , well, let's just say that I woke up 5 hours later to Kathy and Dale laughing and asking if they could "upgrade" my husband and I to their largest room. So-- because I enjoyed the spirits on the boat too much, Kathy had to clean up the room AND we got an upgrade! I was SO embarrassed, but even after day two, Kathy and Dale seemed like old friends and I had to laugh it off.

If you go to Baldwin's, be prepared to eat some FABULOUS breakfasts which were always a highlight of the day. Kathy is a gifted cook as well as hostess and we could always count on Dale to move the umbrella *just* right so we could sit in the comfort of shade. :) Also, Kathy's margueritas are the best on the island. You MUST ask her to make you a pitcher!!

Dale and Kathy also made excellent recommendations in terms of where to eat and what things to do and see, and this was invaluable. What made the location extra special is my husband and I got to walk through the neighborhood (which was VERY safe by the way) and take in the sites of San Miguel. It was a 10-15 minute walk to the main strip and a $3 cab ride to just about anywhere in town. It really was a perfect location.

My husband and I would wholeheartedly recommend Baldwin's Guest House. Staying there in addition to some UNBELIEVABLE snorkeling, was the highlight of our trip. Speaking of snorkeling, if you are interested, my husband and I recommend Eagle Ray Divers. They can be found on [--]. We went on the 3 Reef Snorkel Tour, which was $65 a person . We had Snacks and drinks on the boat after the first trip and Lunch after the 2nd trip. We went to Columbia, La Francessa, and Dzul Ha. It was the most amazing snorkeling we have ever done. We saw a sea turtle, a stingray, a gorgeous and HUGE moray eel and a plethora of other fish. It was a perfect way to end our trip (we snorkeled on Friday and left on Saturday).

My husband and I took some pics of the property and such and they can be viewed at: http://www.unitedstatesofbeauty.com/private/cozumel2007/day5/index.html

If you have any questions, feel free to email me at mfongemie@msn.com

My husband and I *really* hope that we can visit Dale and Kathy in Cozumel next year!

-Michelle & Joe

You may think that the reviews for this place sound too good to be true, we did, but trust us, Dale and Kathy have earned and deserve all the praise they receive from their guests!

We had never stayed at a b&b before since we tend to prefer our privacy. But based on the reviews we read for Baldwin's Guest House we decided to give the b&b experience a try. I'm tempted to say that it was like staying with friends because Kathy and Dale are such wonderful people but the reality is it was more like living in a home away from home except that someone else makes breakfast, stocks the beer fridge and cleans house! They have a way of making you feel like you belong there. We had all the privacy yet all the company we desired.

Our room (Garden Room) was great - immaculately clean, quiet, spacious and very nicely decorated. Kathy and Dale gave us great advise on what to do on the island. Kathy's breakfasts are to die for - they are so delicious and were large enough to sustain us through a day of diving and through to dinner. And Dale, well Dale's a hoot. I'm still laughing at Dale.

If your idea of paradise is a liquour-fueled stay at an all-inclusive, you might want to think twice about this place. But if you want to stay in a place with great people who make you feel at home, this is the place for you.