VIDEO OF CASA DEL MAR: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_YGDeRPG67E&feature=channel_page
IS COZUMEL SAFE?
Crime is almost non-existent in Cozumel.
It is generally recognized as the safest Caribbean island -- that's one
reason we like it so much! I never worry about my wife Alison walking
by herself, day or night.
Part of the reason there is virtualy no crime in Cozumel is
the relatively small population and very family-oriented culture.
Another reason is that since Cozumel is an island, criminals would have
to buy a round-trip ticket on the ferry, which costs almost a day's
wages. They would then have a 40 minute ride in order to get to the
island. After they committed their crime, they would have to wait up to
an hour to get the returning ferry.
Here's what www.tripadvisor.com says:
Cozumel is one of the safest travel destinations in Mexico and may be
one of the safest places for travelers all across the world. The people
of Cozumel are friendly, the government of Cozumel is legitimate and the
area is designed with the needs of tourists in mind. Nevertheless, common
sense precautions should always be taken when traveling, especially when
traveling to a new location or foreign destination.
Crime: Luckily, crime is almost non-existent in Cozumel, which
is not true of many Mexican vacation spots. Violent crime is rare and
travelers don’t need to worry about it at all. Pick pocketing and
purse snatching are slightly more common so normal precautions should
be taken, including carrying very little cash, keeping wallets in front
pockets and remaining aware of your surroundings. Still, there is very
little to fear in Cozumel.
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Travel-g150809-s206/Cozumel:Mexico:Health.And.Safety.html
Here's a website you may find useful: http://mexico-update.com/index.jsp
And this was recently (3/27/11) published in the Spokane Spokesman-Review http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2011/mar/27/us-owners-in-mexico-offer-different-perspective/:
 March 27, 2011U.S. owners in Mexico offer different perspectiveTom Kelly
The Spokesman-Review A
presenter at the Mexico Resort Development Conference in San Diego
asked anyone in the room to stand up if they knew of any good news
regarding the tourism/housing market in Mexico. More people stood to
tell their stories than time allowed. The presenter ended with: “See, there is good news out there – but what is anyone doing to promote it?” Not
all of Mexico is awash in blood and drugs. Much of the violence occurs
in border towns, downtown Mexico City and the community of Culiacan,
two hours north of Mazatlan. Recently drug-related problems also
surfaced in Acapulco. However, much of the country remains a laid-back,
comfortable place to live and visit with inexpensive housing and a low
cost of living. The flow of North American traffic in the last quarter
of 2010 has increased. “When
someone gets killed in New York City, people in Europe don’t boycott
the United States,” said Marino Tomacelli, a San Diego resident who
owns property on the Riviera Maya. “There’s a general perception that
only negative things are happening in Mexico. That’s coupled with an
American ignorance of the geography. If there is a mugging at night in
Tijuana, they think there is going to be a problem in Cancun
and Cabo. “Nothing
could be further from the truth. I continue to feel safer in Mexico
than I do in the states. In fact, I think some people are promoting the
violence in Mexico to keep tourist dollars in the states.” Jeffrey
Hill, a former Seattle resident, has four vacation rental homes in
Puerto Vallarta and one in Florida. He spends most of his time south of
the border and part of his year in Fort Lauderdale. He bristles at the
mention of crime in Vallarta. “Would
I ever go out walking at 5 a.m. alone in Lauderdale or Miami? Hell no.
Just the thought of that scares the hell out of me. There are many
neighborhoods in Seattle where I would never go out walking alone in
the dark. I feel far safer in Vallarta than anywhere in
the states.” The
major tourism markets in Mexico are still appealing destinations to a
variety of visitors, particularly with the heavy travel discounting
that has occurred over the past year or two. As a result, new
second-home projects are being planned in some of the country’s major
tourist markets. Many second homeowners and tourists, however,
prefer to be removed from major cities. “There
have been no incidences of drug violence in our little beach community
of 15,000,” said Glen Triplett of his 5,000-square foot villa at Rincon
de Guayabitos, 45 miles north of Puerto Vallarta. “The local people are
very friendly and it is a great place to live. We have spent the summer
in Oregon and Washington and have frequently been asked about the ‘drug
violence’ much more so than in the past.” Hill
has been going to Puerto Vallarta for more than 30 years and has owned
property there for more than 11. He estimates 10 percent of his rental
clients ask about the drug violence. “So
what do I tell them? If you are a major drug dealer transporting drugs
and money back and forth between the U.S. border states and the Mexico
border states, then you should be very concerned about your safety in
Mexico, or in the U.S.” he said. “If you are a tourist coming to Puerto
Vallarta to soak up the sun and put your feet in the sand, then it’s a
waste of your time to even think about the drug wars impacting you in
any way. There is absolutely no connection between drug issues and
tourism in resort locations like Puerto Vallarta.” Bill
Mencarow spends part of his year in the San Antonio area and owns two
luxury vacation rental condos in Cozumel. He and his wife have been in
vacation rentals since 2004 and regard it as a business, not just a way
to try to pay the expenses of owning personal getaways. They
aggressively market these units and others that they own on rental
sites like HomeAway.com. “We
hear, ‘I’d never go to Mexico,’ but more from people we know or meet,
not from rental inquirers,” Mencarow said. “Those who contact us have
already decided to go to Mexico, specifically Cozumel, and they almost
never ask about violence. At most, we occasionally are asked if the
neighborhood is safe. “If
someone does ask about violence, I tell them that being afraid to go to
Cozumel because you’ve heard about violence in Mexico is like being
afraid to go to Hawaii because you’ve heard about violence
in Detroit.” Tom
Kelly is a former real estate editor for the Seattle Times. His book
“Cashing In on a Second Home in Mexico: How to Buy, Rent and Profit
from Property South of the Border” was written with Mitch Creekmore of
Stewart International.
Here's part of an article from a local Cozumel newspaper:
"The marches against violence in Mexico City are a wake-up call
to authorities in major urban areas in Mexico; fortunately Cozumel enjoys
a security that is envied by many other entities in the country. According
to a recent survey, 93% of tourists to the island said they planned to
return and 100% said they thought Cozumel was a safe place to visit.
"Cozumel Police Chief Rudy Erosa Navarrete informed that as of today
they have not registered a single public murder, bank robbery or kidnapping,
making Cozumel one of the safest cities in the country.
"Police commander Victor Alvear Martínez informed that the
principal crime here on the island is motorcycle theft. This month a total
of 8 thefts were reported, however, the police have recovered all but
two." (Cozumel News in English, www.CozumelMyCozumel.com)
Also see http://snipurl.com/cozumelsafety
Airlines have set up bargain-basement sale racks for select customers. All you have to do is sign up.
Travelers can land promo codes, which generally can be used even for
previously discounted tickets, by signing up for alerts from specific
airlines, or from fare-watching Web sites like Airfarewatchdog.com and
FareCompare.com.
Airfarewatchdog sends out alerts about promo codes; FareCompare posts them on a blog on its site.
Do I need a passport?
All U.S. citizens traveling by air to and from Mexico are required to
have a valid passport to enter the U.S. This is a change from prior travel
requirements, which in many cases allowed travel with a driver's license
or birth certificate. See
www.CozumelParadise.com/airlines.htm for more information.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Here's a recent trip report from one of our guests with lots of ideas
for things to do, restaurants, etc.:
Posted on: 8:41 pm, April 14, 2009
kentmorrdave
Kent Island, Maryland
Poasted at:
http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g150809-i66-k2711098-Trip_Report_Easter_Santa_Semana_2009-Cozumel_Yucatan_Peninsula.html
Cozumel Easter April 2009
Dca to Czm tickets purchased in August in 2008 for Easter 2009 were $650,
almost $250 more than now. However, I booked on Orbitz and when the same
itinerary was purchased for $422, Orbitz kicked back $228 for each of
the (5) $ 650 tickets I had purchased, so Thanks and salute Orbitz. I
will never buy tickets 8 months in advance again.
We arrived in Cozumel Friday April 3 to perfect weather, which held true
our entire 10 day trip. My wife left her wallet at the immigration stand
as we checked our party through. A very nice woman, Rhoda, from Michigan,
found her wallet moments later. We picked up our bags, stressed through
the x-ray of the bags, purchased our van tickets and waited in the van
to leave for El Cantil. During the x-ray, the inspectors picked through
each food item so make sure not to bring any meat or cheese, they will
take it if seen. The nice woman from Michigan, Rhoda, attempted to find
the holder of the wallet but we were already in the van and did not see
her attempts. As we arrived at the condo, my wife realized her wallet
was gone. A panicked trip to the airport yielded no wallet. As she was
talking to me on the phone, on the way back to the condo, Rhonda, who
had arrived at El Coz, called our home in Maryland with the fact she had
our wallet. The taxi quickly turned to the north, greeted Rhonda and gathered
the wallet, what a relief. Thank you so much, Rhonda.
A quick check in with Claudia and Ramon and we are un-packing at El Cantil
Casa Phoenix, 7A at Sur. El Cantil is across the street from Chedraui
and just two blocks from the new Mega store. It is so convenient for our
group of 6. We have brought along our oldest daughters boyfriend and our
youngest daughters longtime friend from down the street. We head to Mega
and 1100 pesos later we have a start on the week’s groceries. Be
careful on the escalator at Mega as the cart got stuck on the landing,
causing my wife a cut and bruise.
We have a full fridge and dive boat reservations for the week. Our first
night we have dinner at
Los Otates, which we always find good. Pozole, frijoles charros, guacamole,
etc. We finish our night with a trip to the plaza and Tony Rome’s
to say hey and our first night is done.
My regular dive op was not working Saturday so I booked a dive trip on
Belinda, The fast boat of Aqua Safari. Thanks Georgina for last minute
reservations. Joining me was DS2 from this, and other boards about Cozumel.
She now has a home on Cozumel and is always doing something for the people
of Cozumel. Salute Debbie. We are off to Colombia; DM Mariano is our guide
today. He is very good and of course he finds a pipe horse and a seahorse.
Deb is very busy with her reef research. Our second dive is at Colombia
Shallows, always fun, and we are back at the dock by 1 p.m.
I have some prep and baking to do for some guest I have coming to the
condo Palm Sunday. Albert from Primas/Wynstons was good enough to sell
me a whole beef tenderloin. They sell USDA choice meats at the restaurant.
We are going to Kelly’s for the Final Four. They had lots of big
screen viewing available. We had dinners, appetizers and a few drinks,
$1100 pesos for six of us. Back to the square for some music and we are
home by 10 p.m.
I had no diving planned for Sunday and Monday. We have a dinner party
today and our family is going to Punta Sur parque on Monday. Our dinner
and swim party Palm Sunday was such fun. Jeremy and his crew from the
Jewfish, Captain Francisco and mate Ricardo and their families joined
us. Jeremy and his crew from Living
Underwater spoil me so much on the boat I wanted to return the favor.
Debbie (DS2) from the boards also joined us. Along with roast beef I also
had fried chicken, mashed potatoes and for dessert chocolate coconut torte
and banana cream pie. Good ole home cooking Americano style. After dinner
we swam for a couple hours before everyone headed out around 7 p.m. Our
family once again headed to the plaza for the traditional Sunday night
activities.
Monday at 9 a.m. our two rental beaters show up right on time. Sol y
Mar brought us a VW convertible and a Geo Tracker. We head south down
the beach road and arrive at Punta Sur parque around 10 a.m. After paying
$10 USD per person you slowly drive along the ocean past the crocodile
viewing and park at the lighthouse. A bus takes you the last couple miles
to a beautiful beach park. Shaded hammocks, a restaurant, snack bar and
rental stands are available. We grab a couple umbrellas and the s shaped
chairs and take it all in. You swim to the southern end of the reef and
drift northward while you snorkel. Rest areas are located every so often
to provide a rest area. Men in kayaks keep a watchful eye on the snorklers.
A beautiful area and very peaceful and quiet, much different from the
beach clubs to the north. We head out about 2 p.m. and go to Playa
Bonita. Severe erosion has ate away the beach and undermined the walk
ways at the restaurant. If it keeps up it will be Playa feo. Our lunches
were very good and the service was fantastic.
Monday night was the finals of the NCAA basketball tournament. Our kids
stayed at the condo and we head again to Kelly’s. We reach it at
7 p.m. and it is standing room only. Oh, well. We head to town with the
idea of Jeannie’s, which has several televisions. However, as we
approached we decide on the Cigar Bar. It is a nice little place and when
we went in we see CozSally who was meeting friends for bridge. We settle
in and order great cheese steaks and an avocado salad. The game was a
blow out and we head back at half time. As we walk down the street I noticed
a cool north breeze has come in. It continued through the night and blew
all our porch furniture into a big pile. Jeremy calls at 7 a.m. to say
the boat will not sail today. Some boats did sail around noon but it stayed
rough all day. Tuesday turned into a lazy pool day, oh well.
Wednesday we load at Caleta because of rough seas at El Cantil. We head
south to Colombia deep and roll back at 8:24 for 70 minutes at 92fsw.
Colombia is always beautiful and today was no exception. We do a 1 ˝
hour surface interval at Caracol pier. Our second dive is at Yucab for
78 minutes at 56 fsw. The kids spend the morning at San Gervasio. The
low humidity and cool breeze made for a perfect day at San Gervasio. Wednesday
night we go back for Pozole at Los Otates and an early evening.
The Jewfish pulls up to the condo pier at 7:30 Thursday morning. We are
off to Maracaibo. Maracaibo is always one of my favorite sites. A dramatic
wall, awesome sea fans and growth. As you ascend from the deep you go
up a curved face on the wall which is a site to see. We come upon a splendid
toadfish at 110 feet, which may be the deepest I have ever saw one. This
was a planned deco dive and I reached 149 fsw, my personal deepest dive
ever. I don’t know how it happened but my strobe flooded either on
the dive or shortly after. The pictures from that dive came out, but as
I descended on Santa Rosa, our second dive, smoke came out of my strobe.
Boo-hoo. Maybe Ikelite will be able to save it. Santa Rosa was perfect
today, 70 minutes at 82 fsw, a gentle current and great viz. We had two
juvenile Eagle Rays below us on our safety stop, the only two I saw all
week. I am diving with Guppie, Bayless and Dave Miller this week, all
of which are very good divers. We pick up a kilo of aracherra from HC
Monterey, when added to a stack of warm tortillas and some beans and rice
from Chedraui make a fine dinner, for under twenty bucks total.
After diving at the far south end of the island Thursday we head north
to Barracuda on Friday. Barracuda is usually a thrill ride and today was
no exception. Two divers had issues on descent, so we waited for them,
and we find ourselves having to swim to the wall. We were huffing and
puffing when we reached the wall. Once we got settled we just go for a
ride. I did not even bring my camera on the dive. It is too much effort
to stop and shoot. 96 fsw for maximum depth. Our surface interval is at
the dock near Playa Azul hotel. We have the Captain’s masa/egg/tomato
casserole, chicken salad tortas, banana cream pie and cookies. A very
pleasant SI. Our second dive is San Juan. It has much less current and
is a nice reef to cruise along at. There is lots of fish and great growth
on the reef. Since the northern reefs are close to town I am dropped off
at the dock at noon. Tammy and the kids have gone to Paradise
Beach club. 10 dollars gets you all the water activities including
kayaks, snorkeling, water slides, icebergs, etc. The posted taxi fare
was 190 pesos for five from El Cantil to the club, which what was charged.On
the way back, cab 268 said no way, 26 bucks. Make sure you have a settled
price before departure, the cabbies are hungry. Every one had a good time
at the club and had lunch at the new Parilla Mission sur between Puerto
Maya and International pier.
Our gracious host at El Cantil Casa Phoenix presented us with a dinner
at Primas/Wynstons last Friday night. What a pleasant evening. Joined
by our friends from Louisiana/Cozumel Jim and Donna, our family had a
great time. We had appetizers, salads, entrees and desserts. Donna and
I had the herb crusted rack of lamb,$28,yes,rack of lamb in Cozumel. Not
a double cut chop but a full rack, cooked perfect medium rare, with garlic
mashed potatoes and veggies. Awesome Caesar salads,$5.00, were also had
by 3 of us. I also had the fried calamari,$7.00, with marinara. My wife’s
dinner was the bacon wrapped filet mignon,$16, with mushroom demi glace,
also cooked perfect medium rare, and Jim had the Delmonico,$18.00.Our
kids had chicken parmesan,$13.00, and fettuccini alfredo,$10.They also
had hot fudge brownie sundaes with home made vanilla ice cream for dessert.
A bottle of Coppola California cabernet was shared by the adults. I can't
tell you what a great dinner we had, muy bueno. The view of the sea as
the sun set and then the view of the malecon is very nice. The owner of
the restaurant also greeted each table as he checked on the meals served.
Casa Phoenix is a large 4 bedroom, 4 bathroom condo with a huge deck and
hot tub, 7 stories up looking over the sea. It has plenty of room and
the house keeper was the best ever. She traded me my cookies for her chicken
salbutes, a good deal says I.
Saturday morning arrives all to fast and my last two dives of the week
are upon me. Palancar Caves, bricks, gardens and my now ritual last dive
of the week, Cedar Pass or Cedral. Tad and Tom from Houston are with us
today, I had dove with them previously on Jewfish in November of 2007.
I settle up with Jeremy and lay back to enjoy our last night on the isla
for awhile. We have dinner at Parilla Mission with all our favorite tortas,
tacos and sopa de lima.
Tammy and I head east past Corpus Christi church before packing. The
aroma from the Sunday morning pork stands cooking cochinita pibil is awesome.
It is like a magnet, but we stay strong, just enjoying the aroma. Out
on 35 is the Mecca from what we understand. A little market named el Aro
was just about to open at 7:15. Last week we walked by at 11 a.m. and
he had sold out so get there between 8 and 9. It is worth the walk just
for the aroma. We head back on five to the sea, grab some turkey and fresh
tortas from mega for the plane, and begin the dreaded task of packing
up to go home .
Easter activities were far fewer than previous Easter visits. I saw no
carnival or much activity outside the plaza this Holy week. We had 10
great days of sunshine with low humidity.
Friends ask why I go back time after time to Cozumel. It is a different
adventure each time and after a dozen trips I still eagerly look forward
to my next trip. The Ravens have an away game the first week in November,
so maybe then, I sure hope so. I always meet new folks and look forward
to seeing the ones I know. Cozumel is also a very good value, IMHO. I
highly recommend Living Underwater and Casa Phoenix for your families
vacation.
Driving: From personal experience since 1989: Walk or take taxis
in town. Rent a car for a day to explore the rest of the island. Fortunately,
you can walk to almost all the restaurants, shops, etc.in 3 to 20 minutes
from the condo. If you don't feel like walking, take one of the taxis
that fight for your business right outside the front door. Or just take
the elevator to Prima restaurant on top of our building for terrific food
and the most spectacular view on the island.
Renting A Bicycle: Right across the street.
Renting A Scooter: Not unless you want to test out the Cozumel
hospital. They are extremely dangerous in Cozumel for a variety of reasons:
the insane traffic, the road conditions, the aggressive auto and taxi
drivers, and the poor rental scooter maintenance (such as bald tires).
The numbers of tourists who rent scooters and end up in hospitals if not
sent home by Medivac are legendary. You don't want to hear the horror
stories. Please don't rent a scooter.
Eating and Drinking: Everyone knows that “you don’t
drink the water in Mexico,” and that's excellent advice. However,
the water in our condo is safe. Not only is it filtered, it goes through
UV light treatment to kill all germs. After that, we take the extra precaution
of running it through reverse osmosis at the kitchen sink (there's a special
faucet there) for drinking.
Restaurants in the tourist area serve bottled water and purified ice.
Is this a good place for children?
There's lots for them to do on their own right on the property: depending
upon their age, swimming in the large freshwater pool, in the kiddie pool,
in the ocean, snorkeling, the beach, etc. They can walk across the street
to the new multiplex cinema (first-run American movies, stadium seating,
surround sound), shopping mall and brand-new bowling alley. There's a
"swim with the dolphins" attraction a block away. For the older
ones, the museum, locals disco and some American-style nightlife (Jimmy
Buffett's Margaritaville, Carlos 'n Charlies, Senior Frog) is within a
couple of blocks. Horseback riding and tennis are options as well. We
have several TVs in the units with Dish Network and a library of DVDs,
plus board games, playing cards, books, magazines, etc.
Children under 5 are not permitted in Casa Phoenix because there are
four balconies and it's on the 7th floor. If you have young children
Casa Del Mar is the best choice; they can walk right out to the beach.
Access to the beach from the other units is by the elevator and through
the garage.
Should we fly into Cancun or Cozumel?
It's much more convenient to fly directly into Cozumel International
Airport. Our representative will meet you there and escort you to the
airport van (we pay for the tickets).
There is an air shuttle service that flies directly into Cozumel International
Airport in 15 minutes from Cancun. It costs $63.00 per person. http://www.mayair.com.mx
Here is other information on Cancun Airport transportation: www.cancun-airport.com/transportation.htm
See http://www.cozumelparadise.com/airlines.htm
for information about airlines, visa, etc.
What is the configuration of the bedrooms?
Each unit has four bedrooms. Each bedroom has an attached private bathroom
with sink, vanity, commode and shower. Casa Del Mar has three bedrooms
with one king bed each and one bedroom with a queen and daybed. Casa Phoenix
has three bedrooms with one king bed each and one bedroom with two queens.
Every bedroom in each condo has its own attached private bath. Of course,
linens, pillows, towels, etc. are furnished, along with daily maid service
at no additional charge. See htty://www.CozumelParadise.com/interiorphotos.htm
How many people can stay in the condo?
The maximum occupancy for Casa Phoenix is 8. It has 3 bedrooms with one
king bed each and one bedroom with two queen beds.
The maximum for Casa Del Mar is 8-9. It has 3 bedrooms with one king bed
each and one bedroom with one queen bed and one daybed (a couch by day
that can become a twin bed at night).
We can increase this for a couple of small children (cribs are available
for rent from our concierge).
There is absolutely no sleeping permitted on the couches or chairs
-- or floors, walls or ceilings, either!
Is there a washer & dryer in the unit? A safe?
If you would like to use the washer and dryer in the condo, let us know
and it will be made available to you. There are also coin-operated machines
in the building and a laundry/dry cleaner across the street.
There is a digital safe in each
bedroom.
Are towels, linens, beach towels, soap, dishes, silverware, glasses,
pots and pans, etc. provided?
Yes, all of the above and more.
Does the "Mexican Super Wal-Mart" across the street have
items we will be familiar with, or will there be mostly Mexican products?
There are quite a few U.S. and other familiar brands. If you want to
cook there’s plenty to choose from across the street. They also have
a pharmacy, deli, bakery, fresh fish, imported gourmet items, liquor,
a pretty extensive wine selection from around the world, beer, toiletries,
clothing, etc. Everything is safe to eat, but get some iodine solution
(they sell it in the produce dept.) and wash all fresh produce.
There's now a second Super Wal-Mart-type store two blocks away that's
even better stocked.
But don’t waste your money on steaks from the grocery store. Shoe
leather would be more edible. If you want to cook steaks, our management
can get American USDA beef for you with advance notice. The restaurant
in our building also serves USDA beef.
Do we need shots before going to Mexico?
You are more likely to experience Montezuma's Revenge. Here's information
from webmd.com: "40 percent of visitors to Mexico experience traveler's
diarrhea and it can wreck a trip. Being careful what one eats and drinks
and being prepared for illness if it occurs are the keys." So be
sure to take anti-diarrhea medicine. If you forget, pick some up at the
pharmacy across the street from Casa Phoenix. www.webmd.com says "The
medication in Mexico should be as safe as the equivalent product in the
U.S."
"One of the things...about travel to a developing place like Mexico
is the regard for public safety that we are accustomed to in the U.S.
is missing. There won't be guardrails, there will be huge holes in the
sidewalk, wires stretched between buildings at eye level...So the first
thing I say to people is exercise extreme caution, because accidents continue
to be the most serious problems we see in travelers." (webmd.com)
Speaking of safety, once again: DO NOT RENT A SCOOTER!!
Is it safe to drink the tap water?
Yes, in the condo. But never anywhere else. Even locals don't unless
they are very poor. Everyone drinks bottled water. That's what you'll
get in restaurants when you ask for agua (water). It's also what the ice
is made from. However, there are no guarantees of any of this if you decide
to try a place out of the tourist areas. If you do, it's best to get bottled water, a
soft drink or beer and drink out of the bottle.
The tap water in our building goes through an extensive filtering process
and is also exposed to UV light which is supposed to kill everything.
We brush our teeth with it, some people (including the builder) drink
it. We prefer to err on the safe side, so we've installed a reverse osmosis
system (R.O.) in the kitchen for drinking. There's a spigot on the sink.
Do most people speak English?
Despite the huge growth in tourism and the fact that the tourists are
almost all English-speaking, quirky little Cozumel remains charmingly
Mexican and Spanish-speaking. The exceptions are in the main tourist area
right around the Plaza, where, unfortunately, timeshare salesmen and store
hawkers have found it pays to know English. Most taxi drivers and waiters
in restaurants that cater to tourists know a smattering of English. But
take your English-Spanish dictionary to the grocery store across the street
and anywhere out of the tourist area.
Our assistant manager/concierge Claudia and her employees are fluent
in English, and our builder/manager Albert, who has lived on the island
for 25+ years, is American.
What time of year is the best?
Summer in the tropics is very hot and humid (of course, the condo has
central air conditioning -- 2 zones, in fact). But it's less crowded and
cheaper then, and you may get (somewhat) used to the heat. Plus, the days
are longest in the summer. The coolest time of the year is October - April.
From November - February, days are usually in the 60s - 70s°F and
nights in t had that kind the 60s°F or sometimes even a bit cooler.
Winter is the driest season. Spring brings warmer weather, moderate humidity
and pleasant cool nights.
Our favorite time of year in Cozumel is Fall. It's low season and the
weather is delightful. And we have the lowest rates of the year for staying
in our condos!
Hurricane season is June through November. Historically it's unlikely
a hurricane will hit after September.
Cozumel rarely gets hurricanes -- a serious one about every 20 years.
We had the biggest one in recorded history in 2005 (Wilma), so we're not
due for another big one until 2025. BTW, nobody on Cozumel was killed
or seriously injured by Wilma, and our building sustained very minor damage.
See http://www.cozumelparadise.com/weather.htm
Do you have a beach?
Yes, a very nice sandy one. But it is not the wide beach that gently
slopes into a long shallow sandy bottom. Cozumel has few beaches like
that, and they are all miles from anywhere. You can't have both great
fish life for snorkeling/diving and a beach sloping into long shallow
sandy bottom. They just don't go together. Sandy bottoms are not conducive
to coral formations and fish life.
If the traditional sloping sandy beach is of primary importance to you,
and you are not that interested in great diving or snorkeling, I recommend
Puerto Aventuras
on the mainland.
Our beach is built on a seawall that is on almost gin-clear water perfect
for snorkeling, swimming and scuba diving, but there is no surf to play
in. The beach is white sand with palapas (large thatch umbrellas), a large
(50' x 25') freshwater pool, flagstone sundeck, plenty of beach furniture,
etc., built on a seawall; basically, it's a huge sandbox.
We do have a small natural rocky/sand cove where you can enter the water
in the traditional beach way, but it's not an easy entrance. Or you can
use the swim ladders, or just jump in (it's about 10 feet at the end of
the dock). Here's a picture of part of the beach: http://www.cozumelparadise.com/beach.htm
Will we need to rent a car?
No. That's one of the main reasons to stay at Casa
Phoenix or Casa
Del Mar. You are pretty much in the middle of everything and you will
save money because you won't need a rental car or taxis. Restaurants and
shopping are right in the neighborhood. The main plaza and ferry dock
is about a 15 minute walk along the oceanfront promenade. If you don't
feel like walking, taxis are plentiful and a short ride to almost anywhere.
But it's great fun to rent a car for a day or two and explore the island
(see the q&a below under "other recommendations"). Driving
around town is a challenge and we don't recommend it (make sure you get
the insurance), but when you get out of town it's no problem.
Here's a tip from a discussion at www.CozumelMy Cozumel.com: "One
thing I did was to rent a (non-motorized) bike for the entire time I was
there. Probably one of the best things I have ever done in Cozumel. It
allowed me to tour all the different neighborhoods at a leisurely pace
and to pick up various groceries from the small markets and juice shops."
Should we rent a moped/scooter?
NO!!! The injury and
death rate is horrible, even among people who know how to operate them.
Combine unfamiliar traffic laws and Cozumel drivers on Cozumel and you
have a recipe for disaster. See: http://www.cozumelmycozumel.com/dc/dcboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=16321&mode=full
How easy it is to get a taxi? Are they expensive?
The taxis fight for your business. You can get to the Plaza from our
condo for about $3.00 - $4.00, the airport for about $8.00 - $10.00. Set
the fare BEFORE you go. The fares are supposed to be standardized, but
we've found that some drivers get creative with their prices.
A tip: You'll save a few bucks if you aren't picked up or dropped off
right in front of our building, the grocery store across the street, or
at any tourist attraction. The taxis charge more for trips from and to
hotels, tourist attractions, grocery stores, malls and condos. Walk half
a block down the street from the condo and get a taxi, and have them drop
you at the Palacio Municipal (City Hall), across the street from our building.
Are there cars for rent? Do you have reserved parking?
All the major U.S. car rental companies have offices in Cozumel, and
there are some local companies as well. Our manager can arrange to have
you picked up by one of them.
You can park it in our underground garage in the reserved space.
Should we get the insurance offered by the car rental company?
Check with your insurance agent at home.
All I can tell you is that my agent says I'm not covered in Cozumel for
anything, collision or liability included. However, if I charge the rental
to my Visa card and decline the Collision Damage when I rent (which Visa
insists you do in order to have Visa cover it), Visa says I am covered for collision,
theft and vandalism. Fortunately, I've never had to test that.
But neither Visa nor my U.S. auto insurance will cover liability on a
rental car in Mexico, so I get the rental car company liability insurance.
BTW, I have found that Avis in Cozumel usually has the best rates. But
don't wait until you get here -- book on-line for the best deal.
What is it like driving in Cozumel?
In town, it's a...challenge. You'd better be a good driver, because nobody
else is.
Almost all of the streets, except the major ones, are one-way, and they
don't always have signs that tell you that. Many of the streets, especially
downtown, are narrow, and people don't always obey the stop signs (there
are few traffic lights). Sight lines at corners are usually obscured.
The challenges are compounded by the numerous scooters driven by locals.
They don't seem to notice that there are cars on the road.
Again, your U.S. car insurance is no good in Mexico. See above.
Bottom line: Unless you are very confident in your driving and have experience
driving in Mexico, don't drive in the downtown area -- walk or get a taxi.
That said, DO rent a car and drive around the island. Go up north to
the golf course and hotel zone, south to the beaches, Punta Sur park,
lighthouse, around the southern tip and up the deserted wild east coast.
Or go straight across the cross-island (east-west) road. Stop along the
way for pictures, the great beaches on the east side (don't go in the
water -- very treacherous undertow), and have a libation and lunch at
Mescalito's, where the east side road meets the cross-island road. Sit
on the beach or under the big palapa on the sand, watch the waves come
crashing in, and enjoy the very best Margarita on the island.
An another local tip: If you are stopped by a policeman for a minor traffic
violation, give him 50 pesos ($5.00). Yes, that's bribery, and it is the
system. George
Washington Plunkett, the boss of New York's Tammany Hall in the 19th
century, called such a system "honest graft." The police are
paid very little, even by Mexican standards, and this is how they are
(unofficially, of course) expected to supplement their income. I wish
we had that "user fee" system in the U.S. -- it would keep our
taxes down!
Do you have any restaurant recommendations?
These are some of our favorites. Cozumel has a huge number of restaurants, and
there are many we haven't tried. Most have full bar service.
Prima (on the top floor of our condo building -- also has room
service) for USDA choice and sometimes prime steaks, fresh local seafood,
Northern Italian dishes, homemade pasta, American veal, fantastic bruschetta,
salads, homemade ice cream and other wonderful desserts, etc. We've been
going there (originally it was downtown) since 1989. Insider tip: Ask
if they have king crab today. It's never on the menu because it is hit-or-miss,
and they only get a few when they get them. BTW, one serving is plenty
for two. Prima has a full bar and one of the most extensive wine lists
(imported and domestic) on the island. Our favorite dishes include fettucini
Alfredo with lobster, Greek salad, bruschetta, fish
of the day with garlic, steak Prima, steamed mussels and more. We are
there every few days when we’re in Cozumel and have never had a bad
meal there. Caution: In high season you may have to wait for a table.
Ask our management to make a reservation for you. Prima is owned by Al
Dannerman, builder of our condos and owner of the managemen company for
Casa Phoenix. Here's what Frommer's
travel guide says about Prima. Here are some customer
reviews.
Chedraui and Mega
are two grocery superstores across the street from the condo (Chedraui
is immediately opposite; Mega is two blocks away).
La Conchita del Caribe on 65 Ave., for fantastic shrimp
ceviche. Ask for the whole fried fish -- you pick out your
fresh-caught fish from the cooler!
Rolandis, right next door to our condo building. Northern Italian and more.
For a change of pace, go to 30 Ave. for hamberguesas
(hamburgers). Cooked outdoors on a wood fire, cost about 12 pesos
each last time we were there, carry-out or al fresco. A local
place, most tourists never find it.
Kinta -- a fabulous new gourmet restaurant off the downtown Plaza,
5th Ave. between 2nd and 4th north, local phone 869-0544). I'd call the
cuisine "Continental-Mayan fusion." Full bar, wine list.
Il Giardino: An Italian Grill -- new, haven't tried it, but everyone
is raving about it. Open from 11 a.m. - 6 p.m.
French Quarter -- great atmosphere, excellent food, cajun, seafood,
steaks. Owned by Mike Slaughter from Louisiana, a great host. Just half
a block south of Prima on Ave 5 South, on the west side of the street.
The bar attracts a lot of American expats. http://www.islacozumel.net/food/french_quarter/
Plaza Leza -- On the downtown Plaza. Gets raves for shrimp ceveche,
fresh fish.
La Choza -- 10th Ave. off the Plaza. A Cozumel institution, and
deservedly so. Mayan cuisine. Recommended: the whole fish with garlic
(seasonal, not on the menu). A favorites with locals. FYI: If you already
know La Choza, it's no longer where it was. It was torched on Aug. 10,
2008, and they rebuilt around the corner.
The restaurant upstairs at the Museum -- great oceanfront spot
for breakfast or lunch.
Rock 'n Java Caribbean -- American-style for breakfast,
lunch or dinner. Just a block from the condo toward town. American-owned,
gourmet sandwiches, soups, salads, unbelievable homemade desserts (apple
pie almost half a foot high!).
Rock 'n Java Thai Noodle Bar -- in the Mega Superstore building. Local
phone 869-2794.
Coffee Bean -- local gringo hangout that serves a variety of American
and European coffees, espresso, cappucino and yummy desserts. No bar.
Chilango's -- a couple of blocks east of the condo, in a private
home. You eat in their living room. Only open for lunch. Very local. Ask
for fish if it isn’t on the menu. Don't expect anyone to speak English.
A different experience! No bar.
Hog Town Cafe -- Claims to have the best burger on the island.
Maybe so! Great spot for casual American food and a beer. Outside and
inside tables. Not fancy, but good. Half a mile or so south of our condo,
next to Villablanca Hotel. Owned by Mike and Margaret Gerus, originally
from Ontario, Canada, who also own Papa Hog's Scuba Emporium.
http://www.cozumel.tc/cozumel-general-information/scuba-diving-cozumel.html
Mescalito's on the deserted east side. A beach bar with the best
Margaritas on the island (maybe it's the atmosphere), good burgers, great
shrimp dishes, Mexican food
Jimmy Buffet's Margaritaville opened in 2007 and is just a block
from our condos. This is not a recommendation, just FYI. It has a nice
patio. Inside it's very loud, lots of drinking games, etc. The food is
OK, the margaritas fair and overpriced. In other words, it caters to American
tourists. Carlos 'n Charley's and Senor Frog are a couple of blocks farther,
same types of places.
There are many others we haven't tried, so this list is by no means complete.
If you discover a great place, please let us know! There are hundreds
of restaurants on Cozumel. It's fun to explore and find new ones.
Outside the tourist area are many real hole-in-the-wall places. Thanks
to having a close friend who is Mexican and lives in Cozumel, we've eaten
at many of them that few tourists ever see. Part (most?) of the fun is
discovering these places yourself or, better, with a local friend who
knows them and who will steer you away from places that leave a lot to
be desired in the areas of good food and sanitation. If you decide to
venture outside the tourist area in search of the "real" Cozumel
dining experience, do so at your own risk. Don't misunderstand -- the
risk is not to you externally (crime is virtually nonexistent), it's internally.
Also see http://www.cozumelmycozumel.com/Pages/Food&DrinkIndex.htm
Any other recommendations?
The Plaza, or town square, is a 15 minute walk from the condo (or a
5 minute taxi ride) and steps away from the ferry docks. You MUST spend
some time there. When, is another story.
When the cruise ships are in port, the Plaza is jumping. If you are into
being surrounded by people and hawked at every 10 seconds by street salesmen,
go for it when you see the ships disembarking.
If you would rather visit another time, then do so when the ships have
left. Some of the stores will be closed, though.
Sunday evening is a very special time downtown. All the ships are gone
and the locals come out for the free concert in the Plaza bandshell. You
won't see many gringos, and you will find the people are very friendly
and welcoming.
Rent a car and drive straight east to the undeveloped east side of the
island. Stop and see the San Gervasio Mayan ruins (don't expect Chichen
Itza -- it's pretty small, but it's still an authentic Mayan ruin), the
roadside shops and tour the Tequila Factory. Have a libation or two at
Mescalito's right on the beach (the best Margaritas on the island, but
expensive by Cozumel standards). Then drive south along the coast (the
road north is unpaved and for 4-wheel drive vehicles only -- no services
if you break down, and it's a L-O-N-G walk back to civilization). You'll
be going along the east coast of the island, which is the windward, wild
side. Don't worry about getting lost -- there's only one road!
The beaches on the east side of the island are great, but the water is
very dangerous, with strong ripping cross-currents, so look but don't
go in.
At the south end, stop and tour the Punta Sur eco-park. Then continue
your drive up the west coast, maybe do some snorkeling at Chankanaab Park,
go horseback riding, and drive up along the waterfront road past your
condo, past town to the north end, see the marina, the high rises and
the Nicklaus-designed golf course at the end of the paved road (or play
-- it's open to the public if you want to pay the $100+ greens fee). Have
drinks, lunch or dinner at one of the hotels on the beach.
You can't do everything in one day, of course. Pick and choose or keep
the car for a few days. You can park it in our underground garage or on the street.
More ideas: www.cozumelmycozumel.com/Pages/ThingsToDoIndex.htm
Our on-site manager can give you a lot more ideas. These are just some
of our favorites.
WORDS FROM THE LOCAL POLICE CHIEF ABOUT TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS and "Courtesy
Tickets"
El Semanario de Cozumel March, 2005 (translated by "Cozumel News
in English"
www.CozumelMyCozumel.Com)
The Coordinator of the municipal police, Comandante Ramón Chi Alcocer,
stated that there is a subsection of the traffic rules that allows for
so-called "Courtesy Tickets" given as a warning only. But normally
this possibility is valid only when the infraction is minor and not for
a grave offense.
"For example, I have noticed that tourists arrive on Cozumel and
rent some type of vehicle or other in order to get to know the island.They
are unfamiliar with such things as not parking in places where there
is a red curb or right next to a corner. It is in cases like this
that the courtesy ticket becomes worthwhile."
"Right now if the regulations violation is for excessive speed, driving
while inebriated or if he is implicated in a road accident, the visitor
can no longer enjoy this right," the Commandante explained.
But fortunately and particularly in the case of tourists that come from
the United States and Canada, the great majority have an excellent level
of road education, he maintained.
The commandant stated that if a police officer notices a tourist has parked
in a restricted area---by a store, for example-- his assignment is to
notify the driver immediately and make a judgement about how long the
tourist plans to stay there--a long time or just for a little while. Because
it is not intended to drive away this market by applying the regulations
drastically.
But, if the visitor takes a long time more than what he promised, then
the ticket of infraction is given and this has to be paid completely.
However, the Commandante added, if the tourist who has commited such
an infraction comes in and acknowledges his mistake, there is a good possibility
that the ticket will be cancelled. And this is an attitude encouraged
by top management in the police department.
If, on the other hand, the visitor comes in trying to cover up or acting
in an aggressive manner, then he is not given this solution.
MANY COMPLAINTS AGAINST TIME SHARE SALESMEN BEFORE PROFECO
El Semanario de Cozumel
Also tourists that invent anomalies in order to get a free vacation.
March, 2005 (translated by "Cozumel News in English" www.CozumelMyCozumel.Com)
Cozumel's delegate for the Federal Attorney's Office for Consumer Protection
(PROFECO), Ramiro Vélez Marino, indicated that, on the average,
his office receives 10 reports a month from Mexican and foreign tourists.
The principal complaint is against time-share salespeople, the second
against car rental agencies and the third is against jewelry stores.
"The first thing that happens is the complaintant fills out a form
and this is sent to the company in question. It calls for this company
to attempt an immediate reconcillation with the complaintant. But if the
problem is not dealt with, a date is set whereby the company must show
up in person and explain why he should not be forced to comply with the
details of the complaint.".
In the beginning they look for a reconcilation between the involved parties.
But in case where they can't come to an agreement and the tourist has
to leave the island, their complaint is given a specific account with
PROFECO and placed on an internet page to which the tourist has access
in order to follow the progress of the case.
The majority of the complaints get worked out in favor of the tourist
because when a check is done by PROFECO it is seen that the companies
or salespeople have indeed committed irregularities.
Vélez Marino explained that Mexico is the only country in the world
that has designed and created an office like the PROFECO to defend the
rights of the tourists and local citizens that are afflicted with some
abuse by sellers of goods or services..
On Cozumel, there is an awareness that many salespeople try to take advantage
of the tourism that comes to the island by different roads.
However, it "stands out and cannot be denied that there are also
clever tourists that come to Cozumel with the intention of spending some
free vacation time. They look for any failure in the service so they can
complain and the management of the hotel will grant them more days or
other benefits. In other words they decieve to get more benefits and favors
from the hotel."
Tourist wishing to contact PROFECO can go to www.profeco.gob.mx and choose
the "Attention to Foreigners" link they'll find there.
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