I'm about to book a trip to Cozumel and was wondering if anyone was familiar with the island and which of the hotels are the closest to town and nightlife. I'm having a hard time finding a map that shows this info.

 

Been there a couple of times. This is not the true Mexico as it is VERY touristy. Great place for diving or snorkeling. Prices on most things are a lttle high. Never stayed in any of the hotels so can't tell you anything about that. There is not much to choose from as most of the tourist things are really close to the harbor. Have you been to Mexico before?

 

Cozumel is one of the top 5 diving destinations in the world. It used to be very laid back, but cruise ships have changed all that. Hotels are great. If you are a diver the Galapagos Inn (now Scuba Club Cozumel) is right on the water with a nice restraurant. Great dive hotel with a great dive master. There is a nice hotel north of the city where my daughter married. Pretty cool place. Carlos & Charles is THE bar to be at night. DO NOT start a tab, pay for each round as you get it. Food is great. Water everywhere is okay to drink since made from sea water and chlorinated. Taxis are the transportation of choice and cheap. If you know just alittle Spanish the locals will appreciate it.

Just remember you are in a forgein country. Treat locals with respect and they will go out of their way to make your visit great. VERY honest locals. I left $200 worth of dive stuff on the beach for 3 hours and it was there when I came back. A local snorkel rental shack operator has stowed the equipment in his shack for safe keeping until I got back. I also left $500 cash drying on my bed (I got thrown in the pool wallet and all) The maid would not enter the room until I moved the money! Unbelievably honest people.

 

Carlos & Charlies has closed down in my city and I have been told that the entire chain has gone belly up, but have not had that info verified.

 

Now that would be a shame! C&C was the party to end all parties, every night!.......

 

Must be a nice place, my X honeymooned there with my replacement....

 

The reason you got replaced is cuz you spend too much time on DTR!
No one could replace yous!

 

Ya gotta get it right... I'm in the South, its Youse-all

 

I honeymooned there a long time ago. My wife and I used to go there every year. We both scuba dive and it was an awesome sleepy little Mexican town. Then the cruise ships came. The town changed to a collection of t-shirt shops, tourist bars and trinket stores. The great local restaurants were replaced with KFC, Subway and Dominos.

I have a lot of very fond memories, but I won't be going back. The only thing that can DESTROY a town's personality faster than a Wal Mart is a cruise ship pier.

 

About 20 years ago I was looking for stuff for the kids to take home. I walked into a shop around 2:00 pm and there was no one there. I looked behind the counter and two clerks were napping. It was siesta time! I had to wake the guy up to buy some shirts. . .