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Cozumel Island
Island Guides
Mayan Ruins
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Cozumel Trip Report Trip Report Jan 6-13, 2001 My wife and I investigated a few destinations a couple of months before we left. Susie is 5 1/2 months pregnant and we wanted to take a last trip together before baby comes.We had been to Cozumel on day trips twice before, once while on a cruise and once while staying for a week in Playa Del Carmen at RIU Tequila. The last time we were in Mexico we both got Montezuma real bad, and we were particularly concerned about getting Monte again, especially since Susie is pregnant. Sooo, we waited until the Saurday one week before, looked in the Saturday Star, and looked for the last minute deals. We had already identified two options - Turks and Caicos, or Mexico. We had already done extensive research on the 4 and 5 star resorts in these locations, so we knew the properties pretty well. We basically wanted to snorkel, and be able to enjoy the beaches, both at the resort, and maybe a day or two via car rental. We also wanted the all inclusive option because we were concerned about water purification systems and quality of food products. We booked the Fiesta Americana - on the Saturday before it was CDN$1230 taxes included each, for an all-inclusive. The Allegro and Iberostar were about another CDN$250 for each person. The Fiesta was rated by SunQuest as a 4 star plus. This also included airfare from Toronto. We arrived late on Saturday, about 11pm and not much was happening, the bar was closing at 11:45, with no-one around. We had asked for a king bed, and they ushered us to a room in a 'palapa', which on this web site previously, we had seen them referred to 'calistas' I believe. The four plex units were clean, all cement, and quite comfortable. This is Mexico, so we knew not to expect chocolate on the pillows. The room was very comfortable. The good things about Fiesta Americana: They have a nice pool, swim up bar, and there is always chairs at the beach, becuase so many people are there to dive. Staff are generally friendly and efficient, not slow like Jamaica. Food is basic, (could be better)on the buffets, and you won't get sick. If you are on the all inclusive, always order from the menu at lunch. Breakfasts are the best for buffets, and they'll make you a great omelette any way you want it. We booked a full day snorkel tour through Royale Tours (our rep) and enjoyed a day at four sites: Blue Sky (an easy area to get started), Columbia and Palancar Reefs (among the most spectacular snorkeling anywhere in the world) and Xul Ha, which is just 500 meters up the road from the Fiesta - it is also an excellent snorkelling spot. $60 US for each of us, lunch and all the tequila and beer you can drink. We stopped for lunch at the Reef Club, and had an excellent buffet lunch. I love Mexican food, and the spicy salsas and peppers, and this was great. We also rented a car - a 'Mexican Ferrari' (VW bug)one day and drove slowly around the island. We stopped in at several other hotels including the Reef Club and the Iberostar. We were impressed by both, especially Iberostar - they took us for a tour of the property and showed us a room. The property is new - one year old, and has a lot of amenities. It also has a beach which runs right into the ocean, and is right on the SanFrancisco reef for diving and snorkeling. There are three restaurants and we checked out the food - it looked way better than Fiesta - we both agreed that we would have been happier at Iberostar, for a little more money. Nonetheless, we weren't too upset, the Fiesta was OK, and was close to town, and we weren't about to be bummed out on our holidays. So off we went and drove around to Chen Rio beach. The beaches on the east side are great - they are 'free'. Each beach generally has a bathroom, confection and a restaurant facility. You can go and lay on the beach and swim, but you are expected to tip the manager for looking after your car, and buying a pop or beer or three - they need to make some money to offer the services, and they don't expect much. The lobster lunch at Chen Rio is US$20 pp and is amazing - I had it but Susie was concerned about parasites, and she missed out on a great meal - make sure you indulge when you go. After that we drove around to San Gervasio - the fertility temple and ruins area - we bought a couple of tickets and paid a guy to look after our car and went off to see the sites - it was interesting - nothing like the mainland ruins - and since we really didn't need fertility inspiration anymore we left after 45 minutes and headed to town. The restaurant 'La Mission' had been recommended to us as 'the best place in Cozumel' for authentic Mexican/Yucatan food - Susie had the Mexican Chicken meal, and I had the Mexican Fiesta or Combination meal. Both were good - we each had a couple of Sprites, tipped 10% and the total cost was US $55. (on our way out of town on our last night, we went to 'El Morro' on the way to the airport for dinner with another couple and the four of us had entres - each of which was outstanding - we had drinks all around and I had a couple of beers - with tip and everything it was $US 50 and was by far a better meal). Another day we took a taxi up to the SanFrancisco beach - this is really the beginning of the good sand beaches and the closest good beach to where the cruise ships dock. We spent the day - US$3 each for a wooden lounger with an ocean float cover, and only US$1.50 per Sprite. We had a lovely day, and walked all long the beach. We bought an aztec mother of pearl mask and a mexican blanket from the local vendor, at good prices. (Buy the blankets at a roadside or beach vendor rather than in towm - you'll pay 20-50% less) Areas of Concern: The Fiesta Americana resort is not all inclusive for all guests, so you always have to sign the bill, and you'll be amazed at the expense of the food. Those people who aren't on the plan always complained about the price/value relationship. Because service staff see regular tips from those not on all inclusive, those of us on AI, generally got second best treatment. Some staff openly complained about the distribution of the tips on the AI plan. I made a point to notice those staff who tried hard regardless of the type of guest, and at the end of the week gave them a tip and thanked them for the good service. They really appreciated the recognition and the cash. For those who did't try so hard or complained, they just shared what the hotel offered them as usual. This however, needs to be addressed by management so that it isn't so obvious to guests. The other interesting thing is the signing of the bills - I marvelled how this process is put in place not to control the guests, so much, as it is to control the staff! They did give you a survey at meals to fill in your satisfaction level - we filled in 5 or 6 during the week. We looked through some of them. We marvelled at how so many people appeared to respond so favourably - the highest rating in all categories ! Then we realized that the staff must be filling in some of them because there was no controls on the forms - no room numbers or names on the survey !!! One comment even said, in really poor english 'much better than two ago days' Susie and I howled with laughter with that one - We bet one of the managers was particularly tough on them two days previously. Related to the AI program is also the bar fridge in your room - even though you are all-inclusive, don't eat any chips or pop in your room - it seems strange that you can go to the bar to order these items for free, but you can't have them in your room. There really isn't a beach where you can walk into the ocean directly - they have cement stairs onto the limestone and the sand is bordered all around by cement above - the sand area is well maintained - as is the entire resort, but it really isn't a 'beach'. You'll appreciate bringing your 'beach shoes' to swim in, so you can get comfortably into the water here. Because the resort is not entirely AI, they do not offer a lot of variety in either the lunch or dinner buffets, and although they have different themes each night of the week, there just isn't enough variety to be enjoyed. And Italian night in Mexico just doesn't work well. Anyway, as I said earlier, choose from the menu at lunch and go out for dinner in town a couple of the theme nights which aren't appealing. Be sure to go upstairs to the 'a la carte' restaurant - they have great lime soup, and the entres are decent - the ambiance is also very enjoyable. On teh AI plan, you can only go to this restaurant twice during the week however. Probably the biggest drawback at Fiesta Americana is the lack of activities at this resort. There is precious little offered throughout the day, certainly no childrens programmes or adult organized activities. There wasn't even music playing at the beach or pool - what there was late in the week you couldn't hear. The bar - well - it is a joke - nothing happening there - it isn't comfortable, cozy or inviting at all. I was there a week and only saw one person outwardly drunk - and at an all inclusive resort !!! They had the same guy playing guitar all week, but believe me, you wouldn't be getting up to do any dancing. If you don't dive, or don't live to lie in a chaise lounge ALL DAY, you will get bored here. So overall, we had a good trip, relaxing and enjoyable - we saw some sights, caught up on our sleep, did some snorkelling, and didn't get sick. The Fiesta should be rated, in my humble opinion, as a three star resort, and hopefully they'll fix some of the weaknesses in the bar, activities, variety of food and contradictory AI plans for the benefit of their guests - they have a good location and well maintained facilites, so it seems it is within their grasp. Don't be scared away - it is a decent resort, and reasonable for the price we paid - you'll have to pay more for El Presidente or Iberostar, so there will be a tradeoff. I'd still recommend this resort, but only if you can get it at a last minute sell off, and based on a three star rating. Feel free to email me with any questions on the resort. Adios - Deano deanwtaylor@hotmail.com Lodging Reviews
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