Stayed at Occidental Grande Cozumel from Nov. 8th to Nov. 15th in Royal Club. My husband and I are both in our 30s stayed at resort as gift from my mother. I will list pros and cons of resort. I have been coming to Cozumel since 1985 (have not been in last 11 years, a little lapse there!) The island has changed significantly since I last saw it approx. 11 years ago, a lot more touristy, but if you get off the main strip of San Miguel still some great Mexican character to it...
Pros:
1. Beautiful grounds and architecture. Well kept and very clean. Had a wonderful Spanish feel to it. Loved how they lit the domes at night...
2. Staff was exceptionally nice (except for a few, but that happens almost everywhere)
3. Above average food (not gourmet), but good variety. With a few exceptions of some stale desserts (maybe because it was slow season and they tried to preserve the food a little longer!)
4. In Royal Club beautiful bathrooms with jacuzzi tub (small) and walk in frameless shower with marble? finish or some type of native stone to area...
5. Free movies for Royal Club (about 50 to choose from in concierge area for the Royal Club)
6. Georgous beach and water!
7. Nice pool (but very cold, not heated - it was November though)
8. Royal Club has small private pool for its own guests. I imagine this would be esp. nice during busy season!
9. Royal Club has extra private restaurant, good food (again,not gourmet)
10. Nightly entertainment (Mariachis -spelling? -the night we ventured out, not sure about other nights - they were very good though
11. Loved the location and view of the Beach Club (place where lunch is available daily). Our waiter, Rodrigo was esp. helpful to our group with crying kids....
CONS:
1. My brother and his wife brought their 18 mo. old and 3 1/2 year old. I do not have kids but here were their complaints: Crib collapsed (yes collapsed!) about 3-4 times. They finally found one that did not. Staff tried very hard to fix problem, not their fault of course, but they seemed shaken by incident. Just a wierd thing to happen to an 18 mo. old!
2. My brother and his wife thought the kids club had too many kids and not enough adult vision, so they did not take their kids to club (again personal preference on parent ), but staff was very friendly from what I observed...
3. They state you have free wireless internet service, which is not entirely true. In the Royal Club you have 1 computer for 2 buildings and they were occupied quite frequently for the slow season and yes it was free. However, if you want it in your room, you have to pay $25 per day (I think that is expensive, but maybe I'm clueless). In the other part of the resort I heard you have to pay $6 per 30 min. on community computer - again quite expensive. Also it was very slow, not high speed as should be for those prices...Again it is Mexico so maybe it was expensive for them to put in...???and they are compensating their costs???
4. Complimentary airport shuttle was a little confusing, but worked out in end. Have to have them fill out voucher for way back to airport. When you pick up return voucher, you have salesman try to sell you excursions. The salesman was nice, but we were not interested. Again, it is personal preference...
5. Beds were hard, but I am very picky about beds. I think some of the US chains beat them on this such as Wyndham, but I know good beds are hard to come by in Mexico. Sheets/pillows were average.
6. Alcoholic drinks were weak, but maybe they did this for our safety so we would not pass out from alcohol poisoning, as so many Americans suffer in Mexico!
7. Private pool in Royal Club is actually a giant hot tub and they did not heat it except by request. Even when we requested to heat it, it did not seem to warm up - this might be a slow season issue?
Overall, it was a GREAT place to stay. I would probably return again, my brother and his wife with their kids, maybe not.