Casa Del Mar Cozumel Hotel & Dive Resort

Guests access the Hotel Casa via a long driveway flanked by manicured gardens that leads to a covered entryway set with an intricately carved wooden bench and tiled sunburst on the floor. Inside, the lobby has a built-in couch topped with blue floral cushions and a cluster of carved wooden furniture. A small alcove holds desktop computers; this is where the free Wi-Fi signal is strongest. A door leading out the back of the lobby brings you to the guest rooms, spread out over three floors around a central courtyard with blooming flowers and a Spanish fountain. The swimming pool and Deluxe Cabanas are accessed via a private path, and the beach and dive shop are located across the street, though there's a pedestrian bridge that spans the highway, for easy access. This is clearly an older property, though it's clean and well-maintained. Many of the guests here are divers, though families, couples, and large school groups are common visitors as well. 

The hotel is located on the well-traversed Avenida General Rafael E. Melgar highway that runs along the coast and into downtown San Miguel. It's technically a beachfront property because the hotel's private artificial sand beach is accessed via a pedestrian bridge that runs over the highway, but swimming conditions aren't exactly prime. The immediate area is home to a few beach clubs, neighboring resorts, a cigar shop, and the hotel's dive shop, but not much else. Plan on a six-minute drive to get to the heart of the action in San Miguel, or a long 45-minute walk. Cozumel International Airport is a 15-minute drive. 

Rooms are divided into three distinct categories with prices and quality ranging from one price bracket to the next. Basic Standard Rooms are the cheapest option and have tube-style TVs, threadbare sheets, and views of the parking lot. Superior Rooms include a balcony with pool or garden views, newer sheets, and organic toiletries. Eight Deluxe Cabanas are the nicest options. These are split into two stories and have a kitchenette, two bathrooms (one with a tub), a full living room, and a furnished patio. Stained glass windows add a special touch to the living rooms. All rooms come complete with air-conditioning, free bottled water, and a closet. Decor looks dated in each. Think: white-tile floors, white stucco walls, patterned bedspreads, and some Mexican-style tiles as built-in headboards. Bathrooms range from white-and-blue polka dot tiles to pieces of split wood over the shower. Past guests have complained about flooding showers and lack of water pressure. The Wi-Fi signal doesn't quite reach the rooms, and though the hotel's website claims guests can purchase a stronger signal, that option wasn't available during our visit. 

Features at Coral Reef are convenient but fall short. The highlight here is the on-site dive shop (across the street from the hotel) and pier where dives depart daily. Guests can rent gear and there's a dedicated space for rinsing and hanging wet suits. Adjacent to the dive shop is the hotel's private, artificial beach. Hammocks are strung up and the sand is combed, but cement stairs leading into the ocean are dangerously slippery and swimming conditions aren't ideal. On our visit, the beach looked downright deserted. Back across the street is a large pool and swim-up bar. There's a hot tub and ample amount of sun loungers. The pool could use a good cleaning, though the water is warm. Beach towels are free for guests to use. It's a pain to walk to the lobby in your bathing suit to pick them up and drop them off. 

Coral Restaurant is located under a large palapa next to the pool. All-inclusive packages are available and there's a large selection of American and Mexican dishes, but food quality is mediocre. Tennis courts are built next to the parking lot, which offers free parking. Spotty Wi-Fi is free in the lobby or there are two desktop computers for guests to use.