Happy to hear Dzul Ha is still going strong and in good shape. Also that Playa Corona are only charging $1 to snorkel. Last time we were there is was $5 U.S. each whether you are there or not. Sounds like you are ready to try something other than an AI. Lots of other options.

: Allow me to preface this report with the fact that our 8:00am flight on the 2/16/03 left Denver at 3:00pm so we where a little late getting to Cozumel. The Immigration Officials were very happy about working at 8:00pm on Sunday which is their family day, it only took an hour and a half to get through the airport. Thank you Ryan International Airlines. There are a number of good things about this hotel and a number of not-so-good things. The location here is one of the best I have ever seen for snorkling. It is only a little distance maybe a 1/4 mile walk to Dzul Ha beach resort. They have done a lot of work here since last year and it is quite busy. There seems to be a lot of tours that drop people here. They offer food, drink, lockers and gear rental, and best of all a place to enter the water free. The north to south current was quite strong all week , so drifted down to our resort. Lots of fish, nice coral, big barracudas. You could easily have kept on going south down the coast to Chankanaab it is about 3/4 of a mile south of the resort. On the other side of Chankanaab is another beach club called Playa Corona. This one has been upgraded as well. Here they have fresh water rinsing showers, nice bathrooms and a large number of tables, drinks, food, volleyball pit, and a little shop. They also have a dive shop operated by Sand Dollar I believe, at least that was the shirt the staff was wearing. They charge $1 US if you want to snorkel for the upkeep etc. a bargain. While we were putting our gear on a tour from a cruise ship showed up, about 25 people, and I'm sure they paid a lot more. The snorkling here was spectacular I have never seen fan coral this large, they looked like trees growing in the ocean. The water gets deep about 100 yds out from shore going down to 50 - 75 feet. There is a nice edge that runs along this drop off and parallels the beach. The fish really hang along this area. A couple of tour boats pulled up and dropped in the same area, but it is very large and un crowded even with a lot of people in the water. If you go to Coz do not miss this area.

: Back to the hotel itself, this is primarily not an all-inclusive property. They have one buffet open for breakfast and lunch and one for dinner. The buffets as a good friend of mine would say "will make a turd, but that's about it". There is a specialty restaurant that you get 2 meals at with a seven day stay, but it is nothing special. All the hotel rooms face the ocean and from the 3rd -7th floor you have a nice view from a little balcony area. The rooms are large and clean, but a bit worn. Our toilet made loud growling noises and vibrations as the pressure tank for flushing would loose it's pressure and refill about every 3 minutes. We asked the front desk to fix it and they did send someone up. He did try to repair it, but basically said just be glad it flushes, luckily the noise from the air conditioner some what masked it at night. The hotel is separated from the beach by the old road, and you have to cross this to get to the daytime restaurant, dive shop, and beach area. On the main location there is a nice pool with a swim up bar, but neither this pool, nor the by the beach had anywhere near enough chairs. Everyday 30-40 people would be sitting on the concrete around the pools or laying in the sand as all the chairs were occupied. The beach pool area did have drink runners, but no direct access to a bar. The wait was long between visits. I found it easier to cross back to the main area and get drinks there. Don't misunderstand me the staff was very hard working but as I said this at best half A.I. and half not, as a result every single time you ordered a beverage, a bottle of water, whatever, a bill had to be rung up on a register and you had to sign it. As you Mexico veterans know, the bartender takes your order, calls it to someone else who writes up a ticket, and then passes it to a cashier that rings it up, gives it to the guy that wrote it, and he gives it to the bartender for you to sign. Even if you are the only one at the bar, it will take 5-10 minutes to get a beer. This procedure got really old. I believe this was the reason for the slow service that many people complain about. On the plus side the beers offered were, Corona, Dos XX's, Tecate, Modelo Especiale, Sol, and once in a while Superior. The well liquors were also quite good, Bacardi, Jim Beam, Oso Negro Gin, Cuervo Gold, it was disappointing however that none of the waitstaff or bartenders ever made an effort to remember your drink or room number. It was if they were just going through the motions. At most of the resorts we have stayed at in Cancun, Playa and Cozumel, you give the bartender $20 US your first trip to the bar and he will remember for the rest of the trip. These folks were polite and courteous, but made no effort to be friendly. Also the dinner buffet and the bar close at 11:00pm. There are no activities here, it is a more of a hotel than a resort.

: The eastside of the Island was great as always. Bob Marleys, Coconuts, Mescalito's all going strong, full of people. Don't forget to look at the photo albums on the bar, you may see someone you know. We rented scooters from Sol Y Mar. They were almost new Honda's and riding double could easily run at 60-70 KPH. With insurance and gas the rate was $44.00 a day. Much cheaper than a car and no hassles at the gas station. While I really enjoyed the location I don't think I will stay at the resort again.

: The airport is still under construction, they are really trying hard to upgrade the facilities. They are getting there, but it will be awhile.

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: Happy to hear Dzul Ha is still going strong and in good shape. Also that Playa Corona are only charging $1 to snorkel. Last time we were there is was $5 U.S. each whether you are there or not. Sounds like you are ready to try something other than an AI. Lots of other options. : : Allow me to preface this report with the fact that our 8:00am flight on the 2/16/03 left Denver at 3:00pm so we where a little late getting to Cozumel. The Immigration Officials were very happy about working at 8:00pm on Sunday which is their family day, it only took an hour and a half to get through the airport. Thank you Ryan International Airlines. There are a number of good things about this hotel and a number of not-so-good things. The location here is one of the best I have ever seen for snorkling. It is only a little distance maybe a 1/4 mile walk to Dzul Ha beach resort. They have done a lot of work here since last year and it is quite busy. There seems to be a lot of tours that drop people here. They offer food, drink, lockers and gear rental, and best of all a place to enter the water free. The north to south current was quite strong all week , so drifted down to our resort. Lots of fish, nice coral, big barracudas. You could easily have kept on going south down the coast to Chankanaab it is about 3/4 of a mile south of the resort. On the other side of Chankanaab is another beach club called Playa Corona. This one has been upgraded as well. Here they have fresh water rinsing showers, nice bathrooms and a large number of tables, drinks, food, volleyball pit, and a little shop. They also have a dive shop operated by Sand Dollar I believe, at least that was the shirt the staff was wearing. They charge $1 US if you want to snorkel for the upkeep etc. a bargain. While we were putting our gear on a tour from a cruise ship showed up, about 25 people, and I'm sure they paid a lot more. The snorkling here was spectacular I have never seen fan coral this large, they looked like trees growing in the ocean. The water gets deep about 100 yds out from shore going down to 50 - 75 feet. There is a nice edge that runs along this drop off and parallels the beach. The fish really hang along this area. A couple of tour boats pulled up and dropped in the same area, but it is very large and un crowded even with a lot of people in the water. If you go to Coz do not miss this area. : : Back to the hotel itself, this is primarily not an all-inclusive property. They have one buffet open for breakfast and lunch and one for dinner. The buffets as a good friend of mine would say "will make a turd, but that's about it". There is a specialty restaurant that you get 2 meals at with a seven day stay, but it is nothing special. All the hotel rooms face the ocean and from the 3rd -7th floor you have a nice view from a little balcony area. The rooms are large and clean, but a bit worn. Our toilet made loud growling noises and vibrations as the pressure tank for flushing would loose it's pressure and refill about every 3 minutes. We asked the front desk to fix it and they did send someone up. He did try to repair it, but basically said just be glad it flushes, luckily the noise from the air conditioner some what masked it at night. The hotel is separated from the beach by the old road, and you have to cross this to get to the daytime restaurant, dive shop, and beach area. On the main location there is a nice pool with a swim up bar, but neither this pool, nor the by the beach had anywhere near enough chairs. Everyday 30-40 people would be sitting on the concrete around the pools or laying in the sand as all the chairs were occupied. The beach pool area did have drink runners, but no direct access to a bar. The wait was long between visits. I found it easier to cross back to the main area and get drinks there. Don't misunderstand me the staff was very hard working but as I said this at best half A.I. and half not, as a result every single time you ordered a beverage, a bottle of water, whatever, a bill had to be rung up on a register and you had to sign it. As you Mexico veterans know, the bartender takes your order, calls it to someone else who writes up a ticket, and then passes it to a cashier that rings it up, gives it to the guy that wrote it, and he gives it to the bartender for you to sign. Even if you are the only one at the bar, it will take 5-10 minutes to get a beer. This procedure got really old. I believe this was the reason for the slow service that many people complain about. On the plus side the beers offered were, Corona, Dos XX's, Tecate, Modelo Especiale, Sol, and once in a while Superior. The well liquors were also quite good, Bacardi, Jim Beam, Oso Negro Gin, Cuervo Gold, it was disappointing however that none of the waitstaff or bartenders ever made an effort to remember your drink or room number. It was if they were just going through the motions. At most of the resorts we have stayed at in Cancun, Playa and Cozumel, you give the bartender $20 US your first trip to the bar and he will remember for the rest of the trip. These folks were polite and courteous, but made no effort to be friendly. Also the dinner buffet and the bar close at 11:00pm. There are no activities here, it is a more of a hotel than a resort. : : The eastside of the Island was great as always. Bob Marleys, Coconuts, Mescalito's all going strong, full of people. Don't forget to look at the photo albums on the bar, you may see someone you know. We rented scooters from Sol Y Mar. They were almost new Honda's and riding double could easily run at 60-70 KPH. With insurance and gas the rate was $44.00 a day. Much cheaper than a car and no hassles at the gas station. While I really enjoyed the location I don't think I will stay at the resort again. : : The airport is still under construction, they are really trying hard to upgrade the facilities. They are getting there, but it will be awhile.

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