Spring Break Destination: Cozumel / Playa Del Carmen, Mexico
This place is a vacation resort! Perfect for Spring Break!
Cozumel is a great destination for beaches and diving.
Beaches, snorkeling, scuba diving, or just chillin on a boat with your friends.
When you're done on the water, take the fun back to Downtown San Miguel, where the party doesn't end.
Get some high class fun on a limited budget.
FUN
beaches
scuba diving and snorkeling
Or Get on a boat!
Paradise Beach, Carretera Sur Km 14.5, 9am-5pm daily. Free admission, beach chairs $2. Beautiful sandy beach, one of Cozumel´s largest swimming pools Food and drinks served right on the beach. Clean bathrooms, showers, change rooms and lockers. Beachwear boutique, parasailing, waverunners, massage, etc. also available. Located 9 miles south of San Miguel (Downtown)
SCUBA DIVING
Cozumel is one of the premier diving destinations in the world. The main attractions are the reefs offshore and the multiple dive shops and operations always ready to take you there. The main town, San Miguel, and dive operations are on the west side of the island, but if you rent a car or scooter then the east side of the island is the place to go. The east side of the island is mostly undeveloped, but there are beautiful beaches, big waves, and rocky outcrops over the ocean. If the waves are sufficient you can find a few small blow holes. A boat dive for certified divers (two tanks) will cost around $70, plus any equipment rental and Marine Park Fee.
Cozumel is a great destination for beaches and diving.
Beaches, snorkeling, scuba diving, or just chillin on a boat with your friends.
When you're done on the water, take the fun back to Downtown San Miguel, where the party doesn't end.
Get some high class fun on a limited budget.
FUN
beaches
scuba diving and snorkeling
Or Get on a boat!
Paradise Beach, Carretera Sur Km 14.5, 9am-5pm daily. Free admission, beach chairs $2. Beautiful sandy beach, one of Cozumel´s largest swimming pools Food and drinks served right on the beach. Clean bathrooms, showers, change rooms and lockers. Beachwear boutique, parasailing, waverunners, massage, etc. also available. Located 9 miles south of San Miguel (Downtown)
SCUBA DIVING
Cozumel is one of the premier diving destinations in the world. The main attractions are the reefs offshore and the multiple dive shops and operations always ready to take you there. The main town, San Miguel, and dive operations are on the west side of the island, but if you rent a car or scooter then the east side of the island is the place to go. The east side of the island is mostly undeveloped, but there are beautiful beaches, big waves, and rocky outcrops over the ocean. If the waves are sufficient you can find a few small blow holes. A boat dive for certified divers (two tanks) will cost around $70, plus any equipment rental and Marine Park Fee.
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CLUBS (try to stay with the clubs on this list, or else it sucks)
Places to Stay
(let's avoid the cheap and messed up places, shall we? Anything under $40/night is bad, unless you're going in the winter. Even as a poor college student, don't spend your vacation in a cheap motel or hostel. That's for backpacking in Europe.)
Just from my own experience, all inclusive plans (breakfast, lunch, dinner, and drinks) do save money on meals, but seriously, I don't want to have all my meals at the hotel! After included breakfast at the hotel, I want to venture out. There are great places for drinking by the beach, taco stands, and really nice restaurants too. So instead of spending money on an all-inclusive plan, I'd rather spend that money on food outside the hotel. But if you really want, just add about $80/day for the hotel rates.
FLIGHT+HOTEL PACKAGE ON SALE RIGHT NOW:
EXPIRED - right on the beach, all-inclusive hotel package which includes all meals + drinks at the bar.
email me for rate from your departure city.
The following prices are for 4-people groups, and for comparison purposes only for spring. Smaller 2-person rooms would be less than half the cost.
THE BEST - but not the most expensive - Presidente Intercontinental - $1178/night for 4 people. If you got money, this is where to spend it.
MY CHOICE - El Cid La Ceiba - $228 for 2 bedroom suite
Best Cheap Choice - Vista Del Mar, Avenida Rafael Malagar 45 - $100 for 4 cramped people, 2 double beds. $10 more for room overlooking the ocean.
Fiesta Americana Cozumel All inclusive - Resort on the beach! Deluxe double bed room for 4 people, right on the beach, $573/night
From the Airport
There are more flights into Cancun, so if you fly into Cancun, you can easily take a shared van to Playa Del Carmen for $30/person (45 minutes) and then take a ferry across to Cozumel for $14 (only buy one-way trips from one of the ferry companies). Or a short flight from Cancun airport to Cozumel is just $75.
Details:
After passing immigration, customs and the luggage area, there are people at desks, they appear to be official and they may ask for documents. Also they may ask some questions...where are you going, your name etc.. but they only want to sell a "timeshare". They will offer free Tours, breakfast, dinner or maybe transportation, but you have to give them your credit card number and spend about one hour in the airport. Never accept any "free" ride to your hotel. Instead, they will take you to a three-hour timeshare Just say 'No Gracias" and exit the terminal to find the ADO Bus. There are shared vans available that go to Playa Del Carmen, but the ADO bus is the cheapest and easiest to find, at $12/person. (A taxi will cost you $60-$90)
ADO Bus:
From Terminal 3: Walk out of the airport and veer right towards the large buses. Only speak with employees wearing an ADO logo on their shirt. Tickets may be purchased from a booth inside the terminal or at the door. Last bus leaves at 10:45 p.m.
The bus stops at Terminal 2 and then most rides are direct to PDC.
For Shared van:
Exit the terminal and veer right, look for an employee with a transportation logo on their shirt organizing a direct ride to Playa Del Carmen and buy a ticket right at the shuttle van for arround $25 per person, no reservations needed.
To come back to Cancun airport from Playa Del Carmen:
Tickets can be purchased at the ADO Bus Station on 5th Avenue and Benito Juarez up to 24 hours in advance of a specified departure time. The bus lets off all passengers at Terminal 2. A shuttle bus is available to Terminal 3 and there is a walkway.
Cozumel Ferry:Ferry to Cozumel
Ask your driver to drop you off at the pier. The ferry terminal is located right in downtown Cozumel, next to the Punta Langosta Cruise Ship Pier, right in front of Punta Langosta mall, and a block from the town square.
There's a ferry that goes every hour, from 7 am to 10 pm. it takes 30-40 minutes across, and costs about $14
Or better option: I could arrange a driver van to pick up your whole group to your hotel resort.
Getting Around
The best way to travel here is by taxi or rental car. But don't get scammed by the many touts trying to get you to rent a taxi or hotel deal timeshare. I can get you a safe rental. Advice: Don't rent a scooter, unless you regularly ride a motorcycle. The roads are bad, and there are many accidents involving tourists around here.
Taxis
$3-4 within downtown.
March 20-27, 2015 is prime time, starting as low as $450 for roundtrip tickets.
It's never too early to plan your spring break, cuz then you HAVE to do it, and not let anything get in the way!
LET'S MAKE SOME RESERVATIONS AND PUT THIS ON THE CALENDAR!
Contact:
Jason Kim
jasonkim.inteletravel.com
jason@budgetagency.org
*All my services are free. My commissions come from airline/hotel profits, not your pocket.
- Viva Mexico
- The Famous Money Bar
- La Noche Un Bar - 9 pm-4am
- Carlos n Charlies
- Alberto's Beach Bar, Carretera Costera Sur km 18, fresh daily seafood. Tables on the beach to watch the sunset. live DJ most nights.
- Casa Denis, (Near San Miguel main square, has very good, reasonably priced entrees. Mayan Pork is an interesting take on conventional barbecue - tender with a slightly sweet marinade. Dinner comes with a free Tequila shot at the end. $10-$20
- Casa Mission, 55 Avenida entre Avenida Juarez y calle 1 Sur, surrounded on all sides by an extensive garden that combines perfectly with the colonial hacienda ambiance. One of the most romantic spots on the island.
- La Choza, Calle Adolfo Rosado Salas #198, at Avenue 10. Fish is excellent, tasty fajitas and guacamole
- El Morrito III, 6th Street North between Rafael E. Melgar Avenue and 5a North Avenue. cheap authentic Mexican food. Tacos are ok. but great atmosphere
- Pepe's Grill, At the corner of Avenida Megler and C Salas, Steak and Seafood.
- Prima Trattoria, Adolfo Rosado Salas between Avenidas 5 and 10. Northern Italian style cuisine
- Senor Frogs yes, it's the party restaurant chain famous all over Mexico. MUST VISIT, especially at night! Located right above Carlos 'n Charlies,
Places to Stay
(let's avoid the cheap and messed up places, shall we? Anything under $40/night is bad, unless you're going in the winter. Even as a poor college student, don't spend your vacation in a cheap motel or hostel. That's for backpacking in Europe.)
Just from my own experience, all inclusive plans (breakfast, lunch, dinner, and drinks) do save money on meals, but seriously, I don't want to have all my meals at the hotel! After included breakfast at the hotel, I want to venture out. There are great places for drinking by the beach, taco stands, and really nice restaurants too. So instead of spending money on an all-inclusive plan, I'd rather spend that money on food outside the hotel. But if you really want, just add about $80/day for the hotel rates.
FLIGHT+HOTEL PACKAGE ON SALE RIGHT NOW:
EXPIRED - right on the beach, all-inclusive hotel package which includes all meals + drinks at the bar.
email me for rate from your departure city.
The following prices are for 4-people groups, and for comparison purposes only for spring. Smaller 2-person rooms would be less than half the cost.
THE BEST - but not the most expensive - Presidente Intercontinental - $1178/night for 4 people. If you got money, this is where to spend it.
MY CHOICE - El Cid La Ceiba - $228 for 2 bedroom suite
Best Cheap Choice - Vista Del Mar, Avenida Rafael Malagar 45 - $100 for 4 cramped people, 2 double beds. $10 more for room overlooking the ocean.
Fiesta Americana Cozumel All inclusive - Resort on the beach! Deluxe double bed room for 4 people, right on the beach, $573/night
From the Airport
There are more flights into Cancun, so if you fly into Cancun, you can easily take a shared van to Playa Del Carmen for $30/person (45 minutes) and then take a ferry across to Cozumel for $14 (only buy one-way trips from one of the ferry companies). Or a short flight from Cancun airport to Cozumel is just $75.
Details:
After passing immigration, customs and the luggage area, there are people at desks, they appear to be official and they may ask for documents. Also they may ask some questions...where are you going, your name etc.. but they only want to sell a "timeshare". They will offer free Tours, breakfast, dinner or maybe transportation, but you have to give them your credit card number and spend about one hour in the airport. Never accept any "free" ride to your hotel. Instead, they will take you to a three-hour timeshare Just say 'No Gracias" and exit the terminal to find the ADO Bus. There are shared vans available that go to Playa Del Carmen, but the ADO bus is the cheapest and easiest to find, at $12/person. (A taxi will cost you $60-$90)
ADO Bus:
From Terminal 3: Walk out of the airport and veer right towards the large buses. Only speak with employees wearing an ADO logo on their shirt. Tickets may be purchased from a booth inside the terminal or at the door. Last bus leaves at 10:45 p.m.
The bus stops at Terminal 2 and then most rides are direct to PDC.
For Shared van:
Exit the terminal and veer right, look for an employee with a transportation logo on their shirt organizing a direct ride to Playa Del Carmen and buy a ticket right at the shuttle van for arround $25 per person, no reservations needed.
To come back to Cancun airport from Playa Del Carmen:
Tickets can be purchased at the ADO Bus Station on 5th Avenue and Benito Juarez up to 24 hours in advance of a specified departure time. The bus lets off all passengers at Terminal 2. A shuttle bus is available to Terminal 3 and there is a walkway.
- -Never accept any "assistance" from anyone who volunteers to carry your baggage anywhere.
- -Never accept to follow a "representative" of the company you have hired for transportation to your hotel to the car or van unless they can show you the official list that includes your name.
- -Never accept to follow or get a ride with anyone who claims to work for the company you have hired to take you to your hotel unless they are wearing a uniform with that company's logo on or are holding a sign with your name or the company's logo on it.
- -Never answer the question "Which hotel are you going to?" (¿Para qué hotel va?) with the actual name of your hotel. They will all claim that is where they are going.
- -Never answer the question "What company are you looking for?" (¿Qué compañía está buscando?) with the actual name of your ride company. They will claim that they work for them and have been expecting you.
- -Never accept assistance of guys offering to call your transportation company for you. They will cheat on you, say that your driver won't arrive due to some unexpected event and offer "help" to get you in a cab (with whom they have previous arrangement to earn a commission) or take you to a time share presentation. They may also tell you that there's no problem and that your money will be refunded ..but your REAL driver is outside waiting for you and will mark your transfer as No Show (non-refundable).
Cozumel Ferry:Ferry to Cozumel
Ask your driver to drop you off at the pier. The ferry terminal is located right in downtown Cozumel, next to the Punta Langosta Cruise Ship Pier, right in front of Punta Langosta mall, and a block from the town square.
There's a ferry that goes every hour, from 7 am to 10 pm. it takes 30-40 minutes across, and costs about $14
Or better option: I could arrange a driver van to pick up your whole group to your hotel resort.
Getting Around
The best way to travel here is by taxi or rental car. But don't get scammed by the many touts trying to get you to rent a taxi or hotel deal timeshare. I can get you a safe rental. Advice: Don't rent a scooter, unless you regularly ride a motorcycle. The roads are bad, and there are many accidents involving tourists around here.
Taxis
$3-4 within downtown.
March 20-27, 2015 is prime time, starting as low as $450 for roundtrip tickets.
It's never too early to plan your spring break, cuz then you HAVE to do it, and not let anything get in the way!
LET'S MAKE SOME RESERVATIONS AND PUT THIS ON THE CALENDAR!
Contact:
Jason Kim
jasonkim.inteletravel.com
jason@budgetagency.org
*All my services are free. My commissions come from airline/hotel profits, not your pocket.