Author Archives: Clay Williams

Parks: We visited Xenotes, Xcaret, Xplor Fuego, and Xenses. Our favorites were Xenotes and Xenses, but this could all be left to personal opinion. We were there for 7 days and all though we were well planned opted to not over plan and just enjoy the trip.

We ended up canceling our Xel Ha reservations to spend an additional day at the resort (by that point we knew we would be coming back in the future). We rarely had any waits at any of the parks. We’ll try an atv in cozumel recommended by the staff. The only thing to note is that I would suggest at Xenses to start with the dry side and end with the west team (The Town). There are locker rooms to change in between. The bus that ran to Xplor, Xenses, and Xcaret was very timely and comfortable.

Restaurants: Hands down, the Mercado buffet is the best buffet we have ever experienced! We ate all the restaurants that required reservations. Cuevas was our least favorite as the night we went there was no breeze and very hot. Fusion was great.

The teppanyaki table was typical but always fun. The sushi bar was phenomenal! I don’t eat seafood of any kind, and the sushi chef was kind enough to prepare me sushi out of beef, chicken, and veggies so that I could be part of the experience. Not only was it delicious, but it was beautiful as well. We didn’t even ask for this as I was taking one for the team that night and was happy to swing by the taco cart! I’d say the sushi bar was our favorite! We also ate at Chibali.

The service was outstanding, and the food was delicious as well. The desserts were to die for. My son was excited when his milkshake included sprinkles around the rim of the cup, lots of whipped cream and a donut! We also at as Las Playas, which was also delicious (my husband says it is the best shrimp cocktail he has ever had). I was sad to not eat at La Cantina or Bio. Just leaves me more to look forward to on our next visit.

All of the above was amazing, but the main reason that we will be going back was the people. Every single person that we encountered were so genuinely kind!

Those who made our visit extra special were Jonathan at check-in, Crystel in the lobby bar who made the most fantastic coffee ever, and Dulce, the hostess at Xin Gao. In addition to the people, the property itself has a magical quality. At every turn, the property is beautiful. I could go on and on about each and every detail. We cannot wait to go back here!

Mar y Tierra and the beach bar are lovely places to go directly from the beach. As a sea lover, I will instead be there than in the swimming pool, Juan can tell.

We were aware of “el sargazo” and a bit worried about it. Once there, we realized the intense effort they made to keep the beach clean, so this wasn’t a problem anymore.

I met lovely people from New York, North Carolina, Mexico, and Nebraska. Most of the couples celebrating life as we did.

I really loved the chapel, and I think a Sunday mass is something my parents missed. And the staff recommended us the riviera maya fishing charters for a good fishing experience. For me, the only thing missing is a library with some mexican literature and art. I believe that concierges should have more of this to offer.

How to forget the guys that made our experience full of good vibes: Fernie, Lorenzo, Julián, Jerónimo, and others. Thanks for the volleyball, that ball game which name I completely forgot, the swimming pool dancing during the bubble party and the mechanic bull.

Special thanks to Lenin for that special moment singing Fernando Delgadillo, to WILLIAM who he always made tasty drinks for me full of love. Thanks to Alfonso, to his company and service during breakfast. To Luis Alejandro from Puebla and his Mexican literature recommendations. And to you, “Hola de nuevo.”

Thanks, Cesar for the Catamaran experience. I will come back to keep on learning from you. Same to the lifeguards. Antonio, Elio, your impeccable service on the beach made us be in heaven.

I don’t want my lousy memory to punish so many other names, I will always carry with me their faces among with every single kind thing they did for us. I wish them the best.

They are definitely the reason why my family and I will repeat this experience here as soon as we get the chance.

We went here for our tenth anniversary and our friend’s 20th. David and Lilli made it the best vacation we could have hoped for. Their availability, kindness, positivity, and expertise is the reason we enjoyed the trip as much as we did.

I’m sure they were hosting many other people, but we felt like a priority. No matter the amenities, food, or resort- David and Lilli made the trip special for us. Thank you so much!

We have been to the Royal/Hilton in Playa for the past 5 years straight. It’s one of our favorite places to vacation. For the past 3 years, we have stayed in a presidential suite. If you have never stayed in a presidential suite at the Royal/Hilton, Oh my god, they are lovely.

Not only do you have plenty of space to do your thing, but you also have your own roof-top pool. That is where I spend most of my time in my inflatable hammock with my waterproof kindle. Do I come back looking like a lobster? Of course! But that is the price you have to pay for total relaxation. Sacrifices people. Its all about the sacrifices.

Our first time at an all-inclusive resort and what a great experience. Would come back to the Hilton-playa Del Carmen. Staff was excellent and suggested to try the snorkeling riviera maya in Cozumel, food excellent, location wonderful, and overall presentation of the property was unbelievable.

The pool has several cabanas that you can sit in free of charge. Sometimes you just want to be poolside but not in the sun. The food was excellent, and we tried them all and was not disappointed. Our accommodation was pretty good too. We opted for a garden view that included a small patio with a table and chairs.

This hotel does offer to walk out rooms. I think we will try that next year! They have nightly and daily entertainment to keep you from getting bored. 5th Avenue is literally steps from the hotel if you fancy a walk to the shops. I would highly recommend staying here. The grounds are simply stunning!

Me and my wife liked our trip to Blue Diamond earlier in June, for my birthday. Checked-in was the smoothest I ever had,no lines, no stress,ready to accommodate my requests, and the personnel saluted with my last name on my arrival.

Room, facilities, and surroundings are gorgeous. Attention to the details and quality of service is what set this resort apart from the crowded Riviera Maya resorts. Shoot out to Abril at frontdesk, David at the ceviche bar, Pedro the bellboy and everyone else that made our time pleasant. Temazcal, spa, infinity pool, cenote were excellent experiences.

Blue Diamond is an excellent place to stay. The resort itself gorgeous with a beautiful beach. The staff is incredibly friendly and helpful with their discover scuba diving cozumel recommendations. We are members of Circle One and go back every year and love it more every time we go. Having a Master Suite, we have our own pool, butler service, and a reserved day bed on the beach.

Close to Playa del Carmen if you want some urban wildlife, but if you are looking for some relaxing quiet time, you can just stay at the resort. There is a beautiful spa, and the staff will come and book you on the beach. (Thanks Rosario) Food is incredible, and the kitchen staff is accommodating if you have special dietary needs. The Circle One staff (Vicky and Pablo) were accommodating and super friendly. I love this place, and we will be back in 2020.

Great place to celebrate and/or vacation. The service was excellent. The staff is so friendly and courteous, ready to do whatever to make your stay exceptional. We just added the honeymoon package because it was free when booking, but they made it, so we did actually have a honeymoon. Pictures included. Every day was a surprise. Food is excellent every one of them.

Adela at the concierge went above and beyond in making sure that I was surprised with rose petals, balloons, and a birthday card! She was so kind and helpful in scheduling our activities! I even observed her ensuring a fellow client made it to her room safely after having too many drinks! She also recorded the bikes to be delivered to our offices.

Lastly, I can’t finish without saying that the groundskeepers here, gardeners, and the individuals cleaning up the beach were all polite and diligent in keeping the facility impeccable! The facility needs a lot of maintenance as it’s in the middle of the jungle. Every day we observed them cleaning up the facility, sanitizing the walkways & all! As we all know, the sargassum (seaweed) problem is all along the coast, but upon walking up and down the beach, we noticed that Blue Diamond had the cleanest beach! They were working around the clock! Sunrise to sunset! They are the real MVPs!

We stay here six months during winters. Love these spacious villas with beautifully kept gated grounds and an immaculate pool. Hummingbirds and wild parrots are abundant. Just a stone’s throw from the sea with stunning ocean sunsets from the balcony. Cecelia is very accommodating providing whatever you might need. As divers, it is convenient to be within walking distance to Papa Hogs a fabulous dive shop and restaurant with their six pax fast boats.

We had a two-bedroom flat that comfortably fit four people. We also had a huge kitchen area that had pots and pans. The beach is across the street. There is also a pool on the grounds. We had a great stay.

Everything maintained, and I felt safe. There is gated parking. Down the street, there are a few scuba and snorkel shops. There is a restaurant that serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. I would come back to this place next time it was far better than an all-inclusive hotel. I highly recommend renting a car from the airport and use it for driving the beach to beach.

We stayed at Villas Mayaluum last week and had a wonderful time. We had a three-bedroom (#2). There was more room than we knew what to do with. The unit itself is right by the road, however, and there is significant road-noise, yet only a concern for a light sleeper. There is one bedroom that didn’t face the better street. I would recommend a unit farther back if possible.

Most of the residents appeared to be long term renters. The property is gated, and you have a code and key to come and go. There is sufficient parking for the units. The pool and patio area is wonderful! The grounds are lovely. There is an area that you can cook etc. by the pool. It looks beautiful, but the grill needs to change. The condo itself could use a few more items in the kitchen, but we got by just fine. The management is not all that accessible, but again, there are a majority of long term renters here. I should have scheduled a day to exchange towels right away.

If you stay here, come prepared with a list of questions, and everything will go very smooth. A nice guy from there suggested the cozumel water jet board for people who love water sports. There was a washer/dryer combo that was a bit complicated as the buttons are of course in Spanish, come prepared with a translator app if you are not fluent. We got it to work, however, and that makes for much lighter packing. The beds are reasonably comfortable. I couldn’t ask for too much more in a condo rental. The location is nice, beyond some traffic noise, it is a nice quiet setting. I would highly recommend staying at Villas Mayaluum.

I booked this place online and dealt with Cecilia, who owns the establishment. She was terrific to deal with. She was most helpful when my husband and his sister arrived. The place was large and kept very clean. Cecilia kept in touch with me via email, because neither my husband or sister-in-law is computer savvy. I will recommend this place to my friends and hope to make a trip down one day.

We have come to this place for the fourth time and fall in love with it more each time! The rooms, the view, the food, and the PEOPLE make it a place we want to come back to over and over. We are people who look for a giant stride away from the all-inclusive resorts, and this fits our pace just perfectly. We had some of the best snorkeling and diving right off the shore from the hotel.

There is no doubt why it is one of the most photographed areas on the island, and we took our fair share of both actual and mental photographs home with us. We are already talking about when we are going back!

This is my third time for their Cielo trip; I always enjoy it, the boat is clean and well-stocked with high-quality beer (Dos Equis & Sol), mixed drinks, and delicious sandwiches and tacos. We stopped to snorkel in Colombia, and Andres helped everyone gear up. He told us about the best shore snorkeling cozumel so we can do it next time. Then off to Cielo where we anchored and let us enjoy the beautiful clear water.

I like all the staff, and they don’t hit on you like most of the tour excursion staff, I appreciate they are just lovely and enjoyable. One of the team grabbed my sisters camera and took a pic of a batfish in slightly deeper water near the boat, It was excellent shots, and usually, batfish are in the north of the island, so rarely, it was there, and he spotted it! I was impressed. We left at noon and returned at about 5:30 pm, well worth the money. I love this operation!

If you want to see the most magnificent April sunset in Cozumel, sit overlooking the water at the Blue Angel Restaurant. The delicious meal, the serene sea, and the colorful sunset created one of the most memorable eating experiences of our Cozumel trip.

I’ve read some of the other reviews and understand why people say it’s a little loud – it’s close to the road and you can hear traffic (has never bothered me really). However, you can turn on your AC, and it drowns out all the noise, and you’ll be exhausted from a great day of diving anyways.

My husband and I come to Cozumel to dive, have drinks with an ocean view, and enjoy good food – which this resort alone provides it all. They make it so easy for you. Your dives are well-organized, your gear is excellent for, all you have to do is wake up, eat your free breakfast, mosey down to the boats, and ENJOY. The happy hour was excellent, the lunches were great, and it’s close enough to town that a quick taxi can take you just about anywhere for a reasonable price. Can’t wait to come back here.

I recently stayed at Casita de Maya Boutique Hotel. I enjoyed my stay. The rooms are very friendly and clean. Jolie, the hotel manager, keeps the hotel clean and her guests happy. Dan, the owner, is always available to meet any of your needs. I had stayed at Casita de Maya several years ago. It was right then, and it is better now. I will stay here again and will, without any reservations, recommend it to my family and friends.

We chose this smaller hotel for our two-night stay in Cozumel as we were not interested in the all-inclusive resorts and wanted a more authentic experience. All I can say is this hotel lived up to its reviews and more!

The rooms are charming, large, with fantastic aircon (a necessity during summer) with a beautiful pool! We had a place that was directly opposite the lake, which was great.

The best part of our stay was Daniel, the excellent onsite cook who also recommended us helmet diving cozumel tours. He is a handsome man and was so patient with our lack of Spanish and even taught us some words and phrases! Dan, the owner, was also around and was great to chat to! He has some exciting stories!

I have traveled to Cozumel since 1985 and stayed at both all-inclusive and hotels. My advice is to skip the mediocre food and drink experience and stay with Dan at Casita de Maya! His staff is friendly and helpful. The local cuisine is fantastic, and Dan pointed out several restaurants that were top notch. I’ll be back!

Dan and his staff were very accommodating. The head chef Daniel’s food was delicious. The rooms were very comfortable with good working air conditioners. Edgardo was helpful with any requests we had. Jolie kept the place spotless and clean each day. We can’t wait to get back to the #1 hotel on the Island!

Best vacation stay ever. Casita De Maya is the best hotel we’ve stayed in Cozumel! Daniel’s margaritas are the best we’ve ever had. We’ll never stay anywhere else. The whole team is fantastic, kind, and generous — king and queen for a week.

This place was awesome! We were a little worried at first since the hostel is relatively new and didn’t have that many reviews, but we ended up having such a great time! Gaetan, the owner, was so welcoming the moment we arrived. He helped us navigate the island and gave us recommendations for all the hot spots in Cozumel. Hostel guests get amazing deals for renting out scooters (50% off!) and discounts on diving too. The place is spotless and organized with amazing AC.

This hostel is in a fantastic location, walking distance to everything on the island. Great rooms, amazing AC that will freeze you and owner that is welcoming to help at everything and has a lot of knowledge in diving!
Go there!

The hostel was clean and in the perfect location on the main road, close to the ferry dock. Gaetan was a huge help – recommending some excellent restaurants and the cozumel reef restoration tour, and making sure we looked after. It was all very reasonably priced and easy to communicate back and forth when making our booking. I would stay here again next time I’m in Cozumel.

I just had a fantastic stay at Hostel Auikyani. This hostel is a 5-minute walk from the ferry and is brand new. All of the facilities were very clean and modern.

On top of that, Gaetan was an incredibly welcoming and friendly host and gave us many food and transportation recommendations and local tips. He also helped me plan my PADI Open Water certification and was an invaluable resource being a past dive master himself. Overall, the hospitality he showed us made our trip! I recommend staying here if you’re ever in Cozumel.

We had a fantastic time at this hostel. You can see everything is brand new, with a beautiful design and very tasteful decoration. Rooms are big and comfortable, the a/c works smoothly, bathrooms are spotlessly clean, and the WiFi works well all through the hostel.

Moreover, the hosts, Gaëtan and Judith, are amiable and would do everything in their hands to make us feel like home: they provided a lot of tips and insights on the island and helped us with everything we needed. I can’t think of a better place to stay in Cozumel; I would go back there if I stay on the island again!