Occidental Grand Cozumel vs Occidental Allegro vs everything else

My wife, a few friends, and I are planning a trip to Cozumel in late summer.
A google search hasn't helped much in finding the information I was looking
for. We've managed to find a deal that would be about $1000 per person for
7 nights at an Occidental resort (Occidental Grand is $75 more per person)
including air out of Midland, TX. I was wondering what opinions people here
had of these resorts and how they compared to other options. Also, is $1000
per person a decent deal for the resort + air?

Also, my wife and I (and a friend or two) will be diving (a little). In
that vein of thought, I had a few questions. Is Dive Palancar a decent
operator? What prices can I expect? Do they allow shore diving (and would
it be worthwhile if they do)? If Dive Palancar isn't worth the time / cost
/ whatever, can other operators pick us up at the resort? Which other
operators would you recommend?

Finally, Are there any other tidbits of data you think I should be aware of
in regards to this trip?

I appreciate all the help I can get.

--
Chris Guynn
Information Technology Specialist
Big Spring Police Department
"Go Outside. I hear the graphics are amazing."

"Chris Guynn" <chrisguynn@sbcglobal.N.O.S.P.A.M.net> wrote in message
news:O2TTb.695$4x1.659@newssvr23.news.prodigy.com. ..
> My wife, a few friends, and I are planning a trip to Cozumel in late
summer.
> A google search hasn't helped much in finding the information I was
looking
> for. We've managed to find a deal that would be about $1000 per person
for
> 7 nights at an Occidental resort (Occidental Grand is $75 more per person)
> including air out of Midland, TX. I was wondering what opinions people
here
> had of these resorts and how they compared to other options. Also, is
$1000
> per person a decent deal for the resort + air?
>
> Also, my wife and I (and a friend or two) will be diving (a little). In
> that vein of thought, I had a few questions. Is Dive Palancar a decent
> operator? What prices can I expect? Do they allow shore diving (and
would
> it be worthwhile if they do)? If Dive Palancar isn't worth the time /
cost
> / whatever, can other operators pick us up at the resort? Which other
> operators would you recommend?
>
> Finally, Are there any other tidbits of data you think I should be aware
of
> in regards to this trip?
>
> I appreciate all the help I can get.
>
> --
> Chris Guynn
> Information Technology Specialist
> Big Spring Police Department
> "Go Outside. I hear the graphics are amazing."
>
It seems to me that it would be a shame to go to Coz and stay in an all
inclusive place out in the sticks. Cozumel has much to offer in the way of
eating places and laid back things to do.
Jack

"Jack Sloan" <jqsloan@hal-pc.org> wrote in message
news:402000ee$0$41123$a726171b@news.hal-pc.org...
<snip>

> It seems to me that it would be a shame to go to Coz and stay in an all
> inclusive place out in the sticks. Cozumel has much to offer in the way of
> eating places and laid back things to do.
> Jack
>
>

Any suggestions on better arrangements? I'm (seriously) very eager to hear
them.

Chris Guynn wrote:

> Any suggestions on better arrangements? I'm (seriously) very eager
> to hear them.

On advice from Bob Ling, I stayed at the Bahia when I was there. The rooms
are nice enough, the prices are good and the hotel is well located. It's
far enough from the center of town to allow sleep at night, but close enough
to walk to the nightlife. It's across teh street from one of the dive boat
piers as well.

I assume Bob still visits the island frequently and is as up to date on
what's going on today as he was back when he and I were there together.
I've always found his advice on Coz to be pretty much on target.

Lee

On Tue, 03 Feb 2004 19:57:34 GMT, "Chris Guynn"
<chrisguynn@sbcglobal.N.O.S.P.A.M.net> wrote:

>My wife, a few friends, and I are planning a trip to Cozumel in late summer.
>A google search hasn't helped much in finding the information I was looking
>for. We've managed to find a deal that would be about $1000 per person for
>7 nights at an Occidental resort (Occidental Grand is $75 more per person)
>including air out of Midland, TX. I was wondering what opinions people here
>had of these resorts and how they compared to other options. Also, is $1000
>per person a decent deal for the resort + air?
>
>Also, my wife and I (and a friend or two) will be diving (a little). In
>that vein of thought, I had a few questions. Is Dive Palancar a decent
>operator? What prices can I expect? Do they allow shore diving (and would
>it be worthwhile if they do)? If Dive Palancar isn't worth the time / cost
>/ whatever, can other operators pick us up at the resort? Which other
>operators would you recommend?
>
>Finally, Are there any other tidbits of data you think I should be aware of
>in regards to this trip?
>
>I appreciate all the help I can get.

$1000 is about right if flying out of Midland (to DFW). You should be
able to get cheaper (ck www.adventuretoursusa.com &
www.mltvacation.com for packages departing out of DFW) if you want to
make the drive. Not sure about the diffference between locations.
Don't get a site by the pool if you want some quiet time. Just was
there in November.

You will need a car to get the most out of the island. I use the AI
for breakfast/lunch/drinks and get into town for dinner. Might not be
the cheapest, but saves the hasle of looking for food & driving after
a few too many drinks.

Usually smart rental cars (google for web site) will have car
specials, but you'll need to email to get them (insurance included).

I use dive with Martin....plan on $60 per 2 tank dive with multiple
dives being cheaper. Small boats, decent guides, dive till your tank
is empty (well, ~500 psi). Good thing about being so far south is
the boat ride is usually only 5-15 minutes.

Michael

"Chris Guynn" <chrisguynn@sbcglobal.N.O.S.P.A.M.net> wrote in message
news:UGUTb.18431$I8.17518@newssvr24.news.prodigy.c om...
>
> "Jack Sloan" <jqsloan@hal-pc.org> wrote in message
> news:402000ee$0$41123$a726171b@news.hal-pc.org...
> <snip>
>
> > It seems to me that it would be a shame to go to Coz and stay in an all
> > inclusive place out in the sticks. Cozumel has much to offer in the way
of
> > eating places and laid back things to do.
> > Jack
> >
> >
>
> Any suggestions on better arrangements? I'm (seriously) very eager to
hear
> them.
>
stay at the Plaza Las Glorias and walk to town ...sample the many
restuarants..they're mostly all good . Try some of the hole in the wall
type joints they're good too.
check out renting a house for a week ...some are affordable and nice. and
with several couples splitting the accomodations they can be very
affordable.

On Tue, 03 Feb 2004 19:57:34 GMT, "Chris Guynn"
<chrisguynn@sbcglobal.N.O.S.P.A.M.net> wrote:

>My wife, a few friends, and I are planning a trip to Cozumel in late summer.
>A google search hasn't helped much in finding the information I was looking
>for. We've managed to find a deal that would be about $1000 per person for
>7 nights at an Occidental resort (Occidental Grand is $75 more per person)
>including air out of Midland, TX. I was wondering what opinions people here
>had of these resorts and how they compared to other options. Also, is $1000
>per person a decent deal for the resort + air?
>

I spent Christmas at Allegro. Having been all over the Caribbean, I
must say I was disappointed. The resort is beautiful, but in
operation it was very much third-world - power went out several times,
etc. Plus the time share people drove me nuts. While the rest of the
staff was nice, the dive op was very much cattle boat operation.
Also, as resorts go, this one is very family oriented (meaning lots of
kids).

I second the suggestion about Bob Ling and paying attention to his Coz
posts. If you want to dive, stay downtown and use one of the fast
boats. Eat out a lot.

-HW "Skip" Weldon
Columbia, SC

On Tue, 03 Feb 2004 19:57:34 GMT, "Chris Guynn"
<chrisguynn@sbcglobal.N.O.S.P.A.M.net> wrote:

>My wife, a few friends, and I are planning a trip to Cozumel in late summer.
>A google search hasn't helped much in finding the information I was looking
>for. We've managed to find a deal that would be about $1000 per person for
>7 nights at an Occidental resort (Occidental Grand is $75 more per person)
>including air out of Midland, TX. I was wondering what opinions people here
>had of these resorts and how they compared to other options. Also, is $1000
>per person a decent deal for the resort + air?
>
>Also, my wife and I (and a friend or two) will be diving (a little). In
>that vein of thought, I had a few questions. Is Dive Palancar a decent
>operator? What prices can I expect? Do they allow shore diving (and would
>it be worthwhile if they do)? If Dive Palancar isn't worth the time / cost
>/ whatever, can other operators pick us up at the resort? Which other
>operators would you recommend?
>
>Finally, Are there any other tidbits of data you think I should be aware of
>in regards to this trip?
>
>I appreciate all the help I can get.
On the plus side, the Occidental does have a nice beach - one of the
nicest on the island.

Ok now for really helpful advice. here is a website where you can get
lots of info on hotels, dive ops, things to do etc.

http://www.travelnotes.cc/tchatters/viewforum.php?f=1

Get the Cozumel map from www.cancunmap.com so you can understand where
hotels are. The best beachs are at Reef Club and south which
includes the hotels you discussed.

If you are willing to drive to DFW, you need to check the charters
that fly out of there and go to their websites to check prices and hot
deals/late minute deals, etc.

Summer may be a slow time with lots of mucho better deals that $1000 a
person. However, I just checked the last minute deals at
www.atusa.com and Allegro was $880 not including taxes/fees which
would probably get it up to $1000 per person. So assuming airfare per
person of $300 (as high as $600 from some places), that means $100 per
person per day for hotel and meals. Probably a fair price.

Ypu can choose a dive op not associated with the hotel and have them
pick you up.

Ron Lee

Both the hotels that you mentioned are FAR AWAY from town. You'll spend at
least 20+ dollars going into town.

I spent two vacations at Plaza Las Glorias, it is a great hotel, nice staff,
and a short walk to town, and best of all it is right near a major
supermarket! This is where all the locals buy their goods. The rooms are
really big and roomy, and all the rooms have a Ocean View, also the hotel
has a dock that you can go snorkeling off of. The last time I was there they
had a barracuda living around the dock.

The dive shop at Plaza Las Glorias is OK, they have boats that leave right
from the dock at the hotel so you won't have to haul your gear very far, the
boats are really nice. I been at some dive shops at Coz and the boats look
like they were on their last leg, sorry I don't remember the dive shop
names.

The only problem I had with the dive shop at Plaza Las Glorias(Aqua Safari)
is they wouldn't rent me tanks since I didn't have a scuba buddy. I had to
go to a didn't shop to rent a tank.

Tom


"Jack Sloan" <jqsloan@hal-pc.org> wrote in message
news:40207058$0$41123$a726171b@news.hal-pc.org...
>
> "Chris Guynn" <chrisguynn@sbcglobal.N.O.S.P.A.M.net> wrote in message
> news:UGUTb.18431$I8.17518@newssvr24.news.prodigy.c om...
> >
> > "Jack Sloan" <jqsloan@hal-pc.org> wrote in message
> > news:402000ee$0$41123$a726171b@news.hal-pc.org...
> > <snip>
> >
> > > It seems to me that it would be a shame to go to Coz and stay in an
all
> > > inclusive place out in the sticks. Cozumel has much to offer in the
way
> of
> > > eating places and laid back things to do.
> > > Jack
> > >
> > >
> >
> > Any suggestions on better arrangements? I'm (seriously) very eager to
> hear
> > them.
> >
> stay at the Plaza Las Glorias and walk to town ...sample the many
> restuarants..they're mostly all good . Try some of the hole in the wall
> type joints they're good too.
> check out renting a house for a week ...some are affordable and nice. and
> with several couples splitting the accomodations they can be very
> affordable.
>
>
>