Trip Report 08/11/09-08/18/09 ~ Hotel Cozumel & Papa Hogs

[andyrent]

My wife and I just returned from a long awaited and very enjoyable trip to Cozumel. We are both divers but we didn’t want to spend every moment in the water. We have not purchased underwater camera gear. Unfortunately, we have no pictures to share.

We booked the trip through Orbitz. I used the Promo code Entertain200 that another member had posted on the forum. We flew from Houston Intercontinental on a direct flight with Continental Airlines. The 2 airline tickets and the 7 nights at Hotel Cozumel was $857.53. The price of the hotel included Breakfast only.

We booked 6 two-tank dives at $60.00 each with Papa Hogs (3 each) for a total of $360.00. We only had room for 1 BCD in our dive bag, so I rented a BCD for another $5.00 a day. Papa Hogs and their employees were friendly and very accommodating. Papa Hogs picked us up in one of their 6 pack boats at the Hotel Cozumel pier at 8:00 AM. After our dives they dropped us back off at the HC pier. We dove on Chankanaab, Paradise, Delilia, Tormentos, Santa Rosa, and Punta Tunich reefs. The reefs were beautiful. We saw lobster, jackfish, parrotfish, garden eels, conch, starfish, nurse sharks, lots of turtles, barracuda, pipefish, seahorse, a moral eel, and a lot more.

Since, we didn’t purchase the All-Inclusive option at Hotel Cozumel, we ate in San Miguel a lot. Our meals were all very good and we always had good service. Some of the restaurants that we visited were El Capi Navegante, Mosaicoz, Casablanca, La Mission, and Prima Trattoria. We found a bar off of the main square named Kelly’s that was good for after dinner drinks.

All-in-all we spent just over $1800.00 (flight, hotel, diving, food, souvenirs, transfers, tips, and parking). We had a wonderful time and would go back again in a heartbeat.

[Travelnsj]

Thanks for posting...Glad you had a good trip.

[Desert_Diver]

Thanks for the report.

It's been a while since I've been to Coz. It may be time for a repeat visit.

Thanks,

Art

PS Stay away from photography. It easily converts to obsession.

[Vercingetorix]

Thanks for the trip report. Haven't been to Coz yet, but you've provided some great options and cost break-down.

[gee]

Nice report Andyrent. Detailing the expenses like that is very useful information. I've used that code a couple of times & hope Orbitz continues with it in 2010. I'm a sucker for discounts!

[rayandpam]

We're doing the same thing 5-12 Sept., staying at Hotel Coz and diving with PapaHogs. Will be our second time diving in Coz and with PapaHogs, stayed at Villablanca last time. We also got it thru Orbitz with the entertain200, just under $500 each for air/taxes from Tulsa and 7 nites at Hotel Coz with breakfast. Trying to avoid renting a car for the whole week yet eating in town in the evenings.

[TRACI]

Papa Hogs

[legallybeth]

Thank you for posting! The cost specifics are very helpful. We're going in two weeks and also diving with Papa Hogs -glad to hear the good report.

[mr_tabasco]

Great report! Papa Hogs and Prima

[jaybob217]

Thanks for the trip report. Simple and detailing the expenses as everyone else has said helped a lot. My wife and I are looking at the same trip.

This too will be our first trip to Cozumel. As you, we're both divers but like to spend time relaxing and enjoying the local scenery/culture as well.

I was wondering if anyone could offer experience on how far the reefs are by boat from some of these resorts/hotels? I realize they're all over, but from what I've read, most great dive spots are on the Southwest end? Closer to say Iberostar resort? The reason I'm asking, is yes, unfortunately I get sea sick during Surface Intervals (although I have the patch this time so we'll see if that helps). But I've heard Dressler will return to Iberostar for SI's between dives... which sounds nice. I'm really hoping this sea-sickness patch works because spending SI's feeding the fish sucks.

We'd like to stay close enough to town to enjoy the many places to eat, but also would like somewhat of a beach and possibly shore diving and not too long of a boat ride to most reefs. I know this is possibly an impossible request... so willing to comprise I guess. We're looking at Iberostar to the South and possibly just staying right in town at Scuba Club, hear it has one of the few decent shore dives.