Hotel Cozumel & Resort

Hotel Cozumel and Resort sits behind a large paved parking lot that's decorated with a huge planter filled with pink flowers and a massive fountain accented with three dolphin statues, a nod to the fact that the dolphins at the nearby Dolphinaris were housed in the resort's massive pool (filled with saltwater, of course) during Hurricane Wilma. The hotel's facade is painted in shades of peach and the huge lobby has an interior-facing courtyard complete with hanging green plants and a second dolphin-accented fountain. Neither fountain was turned on during our visit. The back wall is made up of enormous windows that overlook the swimming pool. Mexican-inspired touches include hand-painted blue and white tile directional signs and faux-blue shutters above the front desk. The overall effect is a bit romantic, but definitely dated. Outside, the scene is sun-filled and tropical with palm trees, trimmed hedges, and flowering bushes. The beach is accessible via an underground tunnel decorated to look like an aquarium.

Guests are a mixed bag of couples and families; business travelers use the hotel for it's gigantic conference center. 

Hotel Cozumel and Resort is located on the northern edge of the Hotel Zone, just outside of the main drag of shops and restaurants near the ferry terminal. Though the resort is not directly on the beach, the ocean is across the street and accessible via an underground tunnel that begins in the hotel's lobby. There's ample free parking in the lot in front of the hotel.

• Four-minute walk to Dolphinaris Cozumel
• 15-minute walk or three-minute drive to Señor Frogs
• Six-minute drive to ferry terminal to Playa Del Carmen
• 11-minute drive to Cozumel International Airport

There are 181 rooms spread out over three floors at Hotel Cozumel Resort. The vast majority are Standard Rooms, with six Junior Suites and one Master Suite available. Standard Rooms come, well standard, with free Wi-Fi, bottled water, air-conditioning, and a flat-screen TV. Decor is simple. Think: white walls and old tile floors, plus palm tree patterns on the curtains and a beach scene painting above the bed. Brown wicker furniture is in good shape, except for the occasional scratch. Bathroom vanities are set outside of the bathroom, which has a shower/tub combo and fabric curtain. The vanity is large and features a single sink, there's a hairdryer attached to the wall, and a basket of honey scented toiletries are provided. Each room has a terrace furnished with plastic white patio chairs and a small table; most of the terraces overlook the back of the resort and onto the swimming pool, though some have distant views of the ocean across the street. 

The highlight at Hotel Cozumel and Resort is the enormous outdoor swimming pool which has geometric cutouts and a small island with a Maya-inspired pyramid. The massive pool deck is set with ample blue sun loungers and umbrellas, so that finding an open chair is rarely a problem. Adjacent to the pool area is a small fitness center that's seen better days and has out-of-date cardio equipment and weight benches. Behind the pool is the indoor and outdoor kids' area. The indoor portion is decorated with hand-painted Disney and Pixar characters on the wall. A flat-screen TV and mostly inflated ball pit are meager indoor offerings, and the patchy soccer field doesn't look much more appealing. It seems like most kids spend their time at the pool, where staff organizes volleyball and "crazy games." There's an outdoor theater that hosts occasional evening entertainment. Between the lobby and pool is a well-stocked gift shop that sells everything from bathing suits to snacks. A small spa provides massages and nail services for a fee.

The resort is also home to a huge conference salon that can be divided into three rooms or hold 500 people in one place. On our visit, the local school was presenting a mother's day presentation on the indoor stage. Weddings and business meetings are also held in the conference salon. Wi-Fi is free throughout the property. Tour desk operators are available in the lobby for guests that want assistance booking tours and excursions.   

Just off the lobby of the resort is an underground tunnel that leads under the street and to the hotel's private beach and dive shop. There's a beach club here, too, but it was closed during our visit. White sand is placed along the shoreline; there isn't a sand entrance to the water, instead swimmers access the sparkly blue water from a pier or ladders leading into the ocean. White plastic loungers with blue cushions and colorful hammocks are interspersed among the sand and palm trees. A small rock pool is where SCUBA lessons are held, which include training classes and wheelchair accessible dive gear. Storage lockers and a gear rinse area are available. The white gazebo over the water is a popular spot for small wedding ceremonies. Since both ends of the beach are walled off, this is one of the most private beaches in Cozumel. 

When booking rooms, guests can choose between an all-inclusive package that includes food and drinks, or the European plan, which allows guests to buy meals and booze a la carte as they choose. The food quality here varies, though past guests have commented that cocktails are usually strong. Los Arcos is the main restaurant, located off of the lobby and overlooks the parking lot. The air-conditioned dining room serves buffet-style breakfast and dinner in a Mexican-themed room. Lobby Bar is open in the late afternoon throughout the evening, for cocktails and beer among flat-screen TVs. Los Pericos Grill, next to the pool, does snacks like hot dogs and nachos from late morning until late afternoon. Los Girasoles serves lunch by the beach, though it was closed during our visit. Room service is available for an additional fee.