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Lodging & Accomodations Overview |
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What Sort of Accommodations are Available? |
Similar to the variety of the sea life that can be found in the crystal blue waters of Cozumel, the lodging and accommodations alternatives of Cozumel come in every size, shape, and color.
With everything from hotels, all-inclusive resorts, boutique inns and hostels to B&B's, condos and vacation home rentals, travelers are sure to find a lodging option to suit their vacation needs.
The hotels tend offer a more "touristy" view of the island simply because vacationers do not have to venture far from the hotel for anything. The flip side would be vacation rentals and condos which tend to encourge visitors to explore Cozumel beyond the tourist zone for restaurants, shopping and activities.
Where are Accommodations Located? |
Cozumel's vacation accomodation choices are located in various sectors of the island but in general, these sectors break down into 5 areas:
Southern zone
Northern zone
Downtown area
Midtown (San Miguel) area
Corpus Christi area
It goes without saying that there is a good selection of lodging options in the area which is excellent if travelers want to be near the main shopping and dining and nighlife areas. However accommodations in downtown are not large, spreadout, resort type properties but rather 3 - 6 story facilities with limited (if any) garden / outdoor areas.
Both the and Southern zones have an excellent variety of lodging to choose from but both areas suffer the dilemma of their relative isolation from Cozumel's main downtown district. It turns out the majority of leisure activities including shopping, dining, and nightlife can be as much as a $10-$20 cab ride away way.
Corpus Christi area (located between downtown and the southern district) while closer to downtown still involves a taxi ride to get there since it's a good distance from the main plaza where everything tends to happen. This added distance doesn't offer the ability to leisurely stroll among the many daily and nightly activities typical of the Cozumel experience. In addition, this area is subject to some zoning laws that prohibit the location of shopping, restaurants, and many other types of tourist driven businesses. That being said, the Corpus neighborhood is home to one of the largest supermarket and shopping plazas on the island: Chedraui and visitors can easily walk to this commercial center from anywhere in Corpus.
Midtown district of Cozumel is now one of the most desirable locations for travelers wanting to immerse themselves more into Cozumel's culture. Because of the growth and expansion of the city over the last 5 - 10 years, Midtown doesn't seem as "far back" as it used to seem to some vacationers. Since the city developed the historical district downtown in 2007 and all streetside parking in the main downtown area, folks are venturing farther back into town looking for restaurants, shopping and such where parking is FREE and not such an issue. Because of this, Cozumel's midtown area is emerging as the islands best value in terms of accommodations and restaurants which don't sport "tourist zone" pricing. It is possible to reach Cozumel's main plaza from anywhere in the midtown area with a quick 10 - 15 minute walk through some of the safest streets on the planet.
For the best deals in lodging look to venture to Cozumel in the off-season. Mid-August to mid-November, and then again during the months of May through July offer the best prices for accommodations. Don't be surprised by the 12% hotel tax.
Vacation Home Rentals, Condos & Guest Houses |
The many beautiful vacation villas, condominiums, and guesthouse that line Cozumel's streets offer an excellent alternative to the commercial area hotels and resorts. Fortunately for visitors, vacation properties are scattered throughout most of the zones described above. Some are beachfront properties while others are located in town in regular neighborhoods to allow for a more "island living" experience. There is such a variety of options available in fact that travelers typically have little difficulty finding a property within their budget. Many of these vacation properties offer their own swimming pools, jacuzzi's and meal plans and are definitely worth considering for those travelers anxious to move beyond the tourist zone hotels and really get to know the island better.
Check out our complete list of Value vacation rentals!
Vacation Rentals
And don't forget Sherri has places to stay, too!!
IslaMar Vacation Villas
Of course we can't end this section without asking you to consider staying with Sherri at IslaMar Villas! After all, Cozumel Insider was originally built to help Sherri's IslaMar Guests find their way around Cozumel!!
Two of the most popular all-inclusive resorts include Allegro Occidental Grand (southern
district) and Melia Maya (northern district). Both of these self-contained
resorts offer meals and beverages within the all inclusive price
in the restaurants located on their property. In addition, they
offer daily activities both in and out of the water including scuba,
snorkeling, and tennis amongst other activities. Beyond that, the
all-inclusive resorts have nightly entertainment with local talent and
staff members. Remember, all of this falls under the umbrella of
one convenient price.
All Inclusive properties are an excellent choice for first time travelers not familiar with the area enought to want to venture beyond the hotel and they are also great value options for vacationing families. Some folks just like the convenience of not having to worry about anything once they arrive ~ everything is already paid for and ready for use!
The hotels of Cozumel have something to suit every type of guest possible.
Whether you're looking for a romantic getaway, 5 star luxury inn, small
bed and breakfast, or proximity to entertainment and shopping, you can
find something to suite your needs. All districts have a variety
of hotels to choose from as well.
Review & Print Cozumel Insider's Handy Hotel Reference Chart!
If considering an "all-inclusive" resort, remember that to fully take advantage of your dollar you should never leave the resort. Unfortunately, with the convenience of one price comes the lack of exposure to the many wonders (entertainment, restaurants, shopping, and culture) that Cozumel has to offer. With the location of each resort being roughly a $15-$20 cab ride away from town when staying at a southern island resort ($5-10 from northern resorts), your dollar might be better served by staying closer to the heart of Cozumel if you truly want to experience the island culture.
The hotels of the northern and southern districts face the same issue as the resorts. With a variety of accommodations available, you are still a $15-$20 cab ride away from any form of cultural activity in town. In addition, with the best beaches located on the southern end of the island, plan on renting a car if staying in a hotel in the northern zone.
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IslaMar Oceanview Condo # 2WM Melgar 1BR/1Bath Vacation Rental |
A spacious second floor waterfront bungalow with lots of light and gorgeous bedroom ocean view. Cozy living area, custom kitchen cabinets with built in electric stove top and eating bar. Enjoy the convenience of being right downtown on the malecon & parade route for Cozumel Carnaval!
$ 115/night, $ 805/week
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IslaMar Oceanview Condo # 3WM Melgar 1BR/1Bath Holiday Rental |
A spacious second floor waterfront condo with lots of light and gorgeous bedroom ocean view. Cozy living area, custom kitchen cabinets with built in electric stove top and eating bar. Enjoy the convenience of being right downtown on the malecon & parade route for Cozumel Carnaval!
$ 115/night, $ 805/week
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IslaMar Vacation Rental Condo Studio #1 Holiday Rental |
This spacious 1 bedroom / 1 bath efficiency studio sleeps two and has a fully equipped traveler's kitchen. Enjoy the water jets of the spa or just lounge by the pool and listen to the waterfall in the background.
$ 69/night, $ 483/week
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IslaMar Vacation Villa #2 Norte 1BR/1Bath Holiday Rental |
This lovely second floor vacation rental apartment with bedroom equipped with a king-sized bed and ensuite bathroom is spacious and bright with a lovely front veranda on which to enjoy your morning coffee and listen to the songbirds.
$ 79/night, $ 553/week
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IslaMar Vacation Villa #3 Sur 1BR/1Bath Holiday Rental |
This lovely second floor vacation rental apartment with bedroom equipped with a king-sized bed and ensuite bathroom is spacious and bright with a lovely front veranda on which to enjoy your morning coffee and listen to the songbirds.
$ 79/night, $ 553/week
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IslaMar Vacation Villa #4 West 1BR/1Bath Holiday Rental |
A wonderful ground floor vacation rental apartment with lots of light. Spacious living room, granite countertop kitchen and a shaded porch with hammocks and outside tables and chairs.
$ 79/night, $ 553/week
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IslaMar Vacation Villa #5 Norte 1BR/1Bath Holiday Rental |
For those who like a little more space this lovely one (1) bedroom and one (1) ground floor vacation rental bungalow is roomy and has a large private patio in front and extra big patio and private garden in back.
$ 89/night, $ 623/week
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IslaMar Vacation Villa #6 West 1BR/1Bath Holiday Rental |
A spacious ground floor bungalow with lots of light. Big living area, granite countertop kitchen and a shaded porch with hammocks and outside tables and chairs.
$ 79/night, $ 553/week
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IslaMar Oceanview Condo # 2WM Melgar 1BR/1Bath Vacation Rental
IslaMar Vacation Villa #4 West 1BR/1Bath Holiday Rental
IslaMar Oceanview Condo # 3WM Melgar 1BR/1Bath Holiday Rental
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IslaMar is a great place set back from the beachfront and big resorts. It is living in Mexico, if you get my drift. IslaMar is back perhaps 6 or 7 blocks from the resorts. We wanted something different this time. I loved being back with the local vibe. There are restaurants with amazing food back here. You walk to them. We walked at night through the narrow streets and visited with the friendly people. We felt safe. I'm not telling you what to do, I'm just telling you what we did. We also rented a small car and went to the beach every day. We found our dollars went a long ways in the grocery store. No place is too far away on Cozumel. Christmas Night we wandered into a park with an amphitheater. There was a clown performing. There were perhaps 200 locals there and we saw one other gringo. I loved being there and watching these beautiful people. They all seemed glad to see us. Is it for everybody? Probly not. There is a nice little clean pool, but nobody is going to bring you a margarita. If you have a hankering for fries at midnight, not going to happen. If you are set on a resort, this is not your place. But If you want to stay in a beautiful affordable villa with super cleaning and other services and run by great folks in the middle of town, you should try this. I love it and can't wait to go back! R. & C. Coburn ~ Terry, MT USA
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We visited Cozumel in March 2016 and stayed at the IslaMar vacation rental location for a week. This location is a great place to stay. Cozumel is dominated by the Cruise Ship industry and IslaMar is far enough removed from the crowded areas to give guests an authentic experience of the community apart from the tourist crush. At the same time, if you want to partake of the touristy stuff, it's a 20 to 30 minute walk to the oceanfront and the downtown core. And if you don't feel like walking, there's always taxis coming and going and it only costs a couple dollars to get there. The apartments are spacious and clean, and the grounds provide a nice quiet spot to enjoy the sun and pool. The neighborhood has everything you could possibly need, grocery stores, a bakery, restaurants and bars that are popular with the people who live here. A great perk for guests who stay at IslaMar is access to the PalMar beach club. P. & G. Schincariol ~ Toronto, ON CAN
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Stay (02/23/2013) - This has been an OMG vacation. Three (3) months in Cozumel has been AWESOME. The Villa has been a great place to stay. Thank you for everything you did for us and a big THANK YOU to Zuri. She is really special. How lucky you are to have her here to help with all the housekeeping. And thank you for Miguel for all his help! The Villa is a great place to meet new people and make new friends. We hope to come back sometime soon. Bruce & Rosanne W. ~ Oars Head, MA
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Sherri and her staff went above and beyond my expectations at every turn. They sent tons of helpful info before my trip, helped me on the day of travel, and gave me all the info I needed to take advantage of my stay in Cozumel. They had festive layout on the table with a bottle of Champagne for New Year’s Eve. I recommend this place for anyone willing to stay off the main drag and grab some authentic Cozumel. M. Adelman ~ Philadelphia, PA USA
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We stayed the week at Sherri's place and we loved it (actually added 3 more nights to our stay)! The villa and the pool are awesome. The place is in a more local, non-tourist area of Cozumel with a lot of great local restaurants nearby. It is a 15 minute walk to the tourist center (or a 5 minute bike ride). The place was very clean and Sherri gave us a lot of information about the island and things to do or visit. We definitely recommend her place! M. Mueller ~ Bochum, GER
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