Recommendations for Cozumel?
 

I'd like to book a stay Cozumel for March, any recommendations? I've been looking at Cozumel Palace, El Cozumeleno and Flamingo Hotel- I know this is a wide range in options, just looking for a good value.

Also, I'm trying to avoid the spring break crowd in Cancun. I'm assuming I'll be slightly better off doing so by staying in Cozumel, is that right?

You will avoid most of the spring break crush going to Cozumel vs Cancun.

Easier to make recommendations for a hotel/resort with a little information about you and what you are looking for:

For how long are you going? Are you a diver? Want to learn? Do you have kids? Must the hotel/resort be all-inclusive? Including alcohol? Buffet food okay?

5 days. Just my wife and I. No kids. No diving, enjoy snorkeling though. Im open to all inclusive with alcohol, but not a must. I like leaving the resort and exploring on my own. Thanks.

It's not all-inclusive, nor is it a resort, but my wife and I love Villa Escondida, a four unit quiet B&B across the street from La Choza. If you were considering the Flamingo, take a look at this gem. Only breakfast is included, but it is incredible. The hosts are amazing, they can help you with whatever you want to do. The location is very convenient to everything and David and Magda are great at restaurant recommendations.

We have stayed in all-inclusives, hotels and B&Bs on the island, but now usually stay longer term in an apartment or house. For five days, check out this oasis.

Good call. I like the fishing boat.

Sorry for piggybacking the question, but what hotels/resorts would you recommend for a family with little kids? Thank you.

We traveled with a neighbor family last year and stayed at Allegro Cozumel, as they had a 6 year old. The food was pedestrian, but plenty geared for kids, and I always found something decent at every meal. It has a very nice beach and 4 pools, one of which is like a kids water park. There is a kids program and nightly shows, etc. There were LOTS of kids! Our friends got a unit near the kids pool and we got one as far away from it as possible, haha.

I had a pretty good time, as the reefs are only 5-10 minutes away. Which means it is down at the south end of the island. I rented a car so as not to feel like a "resort hostage." Good dive shop, nice boats, free nitrox, so I was happy.

The resort is older, but pretty well maintained, and the price was right. I've heard people knock it, but it was okay with me. Our friends learned to dive, the kid snorkeled, we hung out at the pool. There are several bars, alcohol included. We stayed there for a week with the friends/neighbors, and when they went home, we moved into town.

I've stayed at Hotel Cozumel and Scuba Club, and there are some kids activities, and those places are in town. Any of the resorts will have some program for kids, unless they are adults only.

We are just back from a long weekend at the Playa Azul. http://www.playa-azul.com Breakfast was included.

The hotel is a U shape with the pool in the middle. We had a great view of the small beach and waterfront. There are little thatch roof things for lounging in the shade.. The beach front bar was at the left side of the U; the open air restaurant just to the right. Sunday afternoons seem to be popular for salsa dancing.

The beaches are small but sandy and surrounded by rockiness. I think little kids would love the little beaches and they do not get deep quickly. I saw a lot of people snorkeling. We didn't snorkel because nothing seems to wow us after the Great Barrier Reef.

Probably due to the time of the year the clientele skewed older. We didn't golf but heard other people talking about golf.

We had room 309 which was at the short part of the U. There were 2 beds, a balcony, and a decent sized bathroom. Beach towels were provided.

The hotel is roughly 3 miles from town. Taxi IIRC was $9. The road has a really nice dedicated pedestrian and bike path. We would walk out there just for a stroll. It was very well lit at night. The front desk can arrange many things including bike rentals.

I would stay there again.

Playa Azul is inclusive for golf. You pay for the cart only. I would think it would be a great place for golfers. It's nice, if a little isolated as mentioned. There may be inclusive meal plans as well.

Friends of ours are running the dive shop there now. We just finished 3 weeks of diving with them, BlueDream Cozumel, and will be heading up there to pick up our gear later. We fly home tomorrow. They picked us up every day at a pier convenient to our apartment.

As mentioned, the beach is nice there, good for kids. We have been paying 80mxp for taxis to/from there, ymmv.