Cozumel is an island located in the Caribbean just off the Mexican Yucatan peninsula. The island is approximately 11 miles wide by 29 miles long, with one city called San Miguel.

Scuba diving, snorkeling, beaches, tropical temperatures are just a few of the main attractions to the island. In addition you discover numerous other diversions including serious power shopping, endless dining opportunities, water sports of every kind, horseback riding, the weekly fiesta in the plaza (Sunday evening) and hammocks waiting for you to plop in for a afternoon. Enjoy the sand beneath your toes, the palm trees along the beach and dramatic sunsets over the Caribbean. You'll fall in love with the island and the local people who greet you with open arms and warm hearts. Not to mention those ice cold beers and tasty margaritas!

Cozumel's proximity to the mainland makes is easy to do day trips to historical sites such as the ruins at Tulum or Coba or the eco-parks such as Xcaret and Xel-Ha. Excursions to the mainland are convenient, with ferry service between Cozumel and Playa del Carmen offered 7 days a week. Roundtrip price is approximately $14; with ferries leaving almost every hour from early in the morning until about 11 at night. Crossing takes about 35 minutes.

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• We'll answer any questions you may have before or after you have made a reservation. We are familiar with the properties we offer.
• Villas and condos are completely furnished, including all linens, towels, cooking utensils, etc. You should bring your own beach towels.
• Maid service and purified bottled water is provided.
• A representative is in the area to greet you upon your arrival.
• You will have a contact on the island and in most cases that person is available 7 days a week.
• We can arrange car rental, cook service, diving, etc. It's your vacation, and we will help you make the most of it.
  

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• In-town villas are in most cases just a short walk to the ocean and close to restaurants/shopping. In-town properties are a comfortable, convenient choice for your stay. You may find you don't need a rental car because it is so easy to get around either by walking or taking a taxi
• Oceanfront/beach area properties offer spectacular ocean views or access. Because of location of these properties, you will want to have a rental vehicle. Some of the oceanfront/beach area properties have excellent snorkeling right in the area.
• Property size varies from 1 B.R. to 7 B.R. If you have a larger party, there are a number of villas close to each other that could be combined for groups. Most villas have restrictions on the number of guests that can be accommodated. You do not want to over-crowd your villa or condo or you'll run into problems (you may not have enough water, towels, etc.); and you could be faced with extra charges. When you make your reservation we need to know how many people will be in your party. If that number changes, you need to inform us. If you exceed the maximum occupancy in your villa or condo, you can expect one or more of these actions:
  • You may be required to pay an extra charge
  • You may lose your security deposit
  • You may be required to find alternative lodging for the extra guests
  • You may be asked to leave the property and forfeit your reservation
    

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You betcha!

Get a feel for the layout of the island, beach and dive site locations. Find out where tje villas are located. Find 'em on the map.

• Intown Villa Location Map: See where intown properties are located
• Oceanfront and Beach Area Villa/Condo Map: Find locations of properties
• Dive Site Map: Locations of major dive sites in Cozumel
• Island Map with Beachs, Etc.: Your map of the island
  

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• Absolutely. We recommend that you rent a car at least one day in order to get out and explore the island. For convenience you may want to have a rental car for your entire stay so you can get around wherever and whenever you want. Rental cars are available from $40 per day/$210 per week for a VW hardtop or convertible. You need a a valid driver's license in order to drive in Mexico.
• Make sure to follow all traffic laws. Do not drink and drive.
• Most streets in town are one way. The coastal highway is two-way and circles the island.
• Parking at most villas/condos is available on the street.
  
• If you choose not to rent a car, taxis are plentiful.

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• Certainly! This is a great way to sample authentic Mexican and Yucatan cuisine. Cook service varies depending on which property you select. Cooks normally prepare 2 meals per day, including breakfast and your choice of lunch or evening meal for 6 days during the week. Rates start at $95/wk. per person; $55 This includes the cost of the food, preparation, service and clean up. The price does not include beverages or tip for the cook.

• We truly appreciate your business. We work hard to respond quickly and professionally to e-mail and telephone calls. We answer e-mail and phone calls 7 days a week, virtually 365 days a year.
• You can rest assured that we have seen every property that we represent. We have personally toured each condo and villa on our website so that we can give you our personal input. If we like one property over another, we will be honest and tell you.
• We have taken the photos of the properties and they have not been enhanced in any way. What you see is what you get.
• We offer the largest selection of properties on the island. We don't, however, offer EVERY property. We include properties which have a strong management company who will provide responsive and reliable services to guests.
• We don't try to mislead you with information. Some website try to paint a prettier-than-the-real picture when describing properties. We won't tell you a property is "luxury" unless it truly is.
• Property management companies may feel obligated to book the properties that they manage, which is understandable. We have no bias in that regard. However, we do give higher recommendations to the properties that offer the most amenities, good locations, pleasant decor, reliable management services and best value.
• We have stayed in many of the properties that we represent so we know there is a difference in comfort levels and we're happy to give you our personal opinion.
• You can be confident that we know the area. We travel to Cozumel frequently so we know the island and keep our site updated.

• Many properties are booked a year or more in advance, especially for holidays and winter months. Book early so you are not disappointed. Availability of a property can change at any minute. Though we have calendars on all of the properties, we always need to confirm with other agents before we can guarantee availability.
• We need to have a 50% deposit in order to confirm a reservation. We cannot hold a property for more than 5 days; that gives you a chance to get us your deposit. We recommend Fed Ex or priority mail.
• Payment can be made with a personal check, money order or credit card.
• Your final payment is due 45 days before you depart. Also due at that time would be the tax and refundable security deposit.
• Our cancellation policy: If for some reason you need to cancel your reservation, we can refund all but $150 of what you have paid IF we can rebook the property for the same dates at the same rates. We highly recommend travel insurance .
• You will get a letter of confirmation after your initial deposit. When you have paid your final balance, you will also receive an informational packet. Your security deposit will be refunded within 30 days after you return unless there has been damage to the property, of course).
  

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• In case of an emergency back home, we can provide you with phone numbers and FAX number that you can leave with your family in the event that you need to be reached during your vacation. Many of the properties have phones and we can give you that number if you request it before you go. However, sometimes it is best to leave the phone number of the office or representative in Cozumel. Office is open seven days a week and someone is always there until 8 p.m.; most representatives have 24-hour emergency numbers. It may be easier to reach you through the office or representative since you may be at the beach or exploring the island during the day.
• What if something happens on the island? We post emergency numbers in the properties just in case there is an emergency. There are English speaking doctors, dentists, chiropractors, etc. on the island. There are also clinics and hospitals.
  

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We recommend that you drink purified bottled water; this is provided in every villa and the maid will see that it is replenished as needed. Restaurants/hotels use purified bottled water and ice is made from purified bottled water, too . . . so relax. If in doubt, drink beer, sodas . . .


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No, but it will make your vacation more interesting if you can say just a few words (please, thank you, hello). Many residents, and most all of those working in hotels, restaurants, taxis and dive shops speak English.


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You can use either, but we usually change money when we get there. There are several places, or cambios, where you can exchange dollars for pesos; near the plaza you'll find cambios. We don't recommend that you exchange at the airport or hotels (rates are usually not in your favor). There are several automatic cash machines on the island. You can use dollars, but it's usually to your advantage to use pesos. Credit cards are widely accepted; note that some businesses will charge an additional fee to use a credit card so ask before you use.


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Swimsuits, shorts, comfortable walking shoes, thongs or boat shoes for the beach, sunscreen, maybe a sweatshirt or long sleeve shirt in case it gets cool. If you are on any medication make sure it is in original bottle, clearly marked. Pack your camera and plenty of film.


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I know this may sound odd, but I feel safer on the streets in Cozumel than I do right here at home in the good old United States. The island has little crime, and the people are friendly and courteous. While you shouldn't leave valuables sitting around at the beach, by the pool or yard, you really should feel quite secure. We've traveled to the area with our family for over 15 years and felt perfectly safe, both with our children and aging parents.


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I can honestly tell you that the food is superb. There is a wide selection of restaurants and that's part of the fun. We have not hit every restaurant on the island, but we're trying our best to get around to as many as possible. You will find plenty of seafood, pizza, pasta, wonderful breads, delicious fruits and vegetables. Don't think you have to go to fancy restaurants to get a good meal; some of the best food can be found in the little out-of-the-way spots. See our dining page for our personal notes on island restaurants.


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One of the great benefits of staying in a private villa or condo is that you have more space, including a kitchen or kitchenette. You can stock up on your favorite foods and beverages for snacks, lunches or complete dinners. If your property has a barbecue, you can throw some burgers, chicken or shrimp on the grill. There are several large grocery stores on the island. Two of the largest, more covenant for shopping are:
• Chadraui: Located on the oceanfront road just south of Calle 11, across from Plaza Las Glorias Hotel. Plenty of parking. Instore bakery, deli, large selection of fresh fruits/vegetables, liquor/beer, and full line of groceries.
• San Francisco: On 30th Ave. on the corner of Juarez. Full selection of fruits/vegetables, beer/liquor, and groceries plus instore deli and bakery.
• Liquor Stores can sell beer/liquor until 9 p.m. Mon.-Sat. and before 2 on Sunday. Numerous liquor stores throughout San Miquel. A large drive up liquor store is located next to the San Francisco on 30th (just north of the store).
• Small neighborhood tiendas (stores) are scattered throughout town and are convenient to many properties. Don't be afraid to go in and poke around, buy a few Cokes or a few basics. Some tiendas stock fruits and vegetables, some have beer/liquor.
• Another alternative to restaurants and cooking yourself is to have a cook who will come in and prepare two meals a day in your villa or condo

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If you have a passport, you can use that. Otherwise, if you have a certified copy of your birth certificate (not a photocopy!), that will do. If you do not have a passport, you should have a photo ID (driver's license). If you are traveling with children and both parents are not traveling, you'll need a signed note from the other parent.


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Depends. If you go to the most expensive restaurants always, and need to fill all your time with diversions such as parasailing, deep sea fishing, scuba diving, special excursions, etc. you can drop a chunk of money; but no more (and probably quite a bit less) than if you were traveling in Florida. If you can do a few meals in, and try some of the smaller or less expensive restaurants, you won't have to spend much. There are several grocery stores, bakeries and fruit markets. Load up on soft drinks/beer so you don't have to pay the restaurant/bar prices. You can also pack a cooler with some snack foods to take along to the island. Ask us for tips on this, we do it all the time! The ferry is not expensive if you want to go to the mainland; however a day at Xcaret can be pricey if you have a herd of kids (it still won't cost as much as an amusement park in the states).

Travel can be very economical for friends or family traveling together. For example of group of 4 can stay in an in-town villa with private swimming pool, 2 BRS, full kitchen, etc. and have cook service for a week with 2 meals a day for 6 days for only about $300 per person for one week's accommodations and 12 meals! Or a group of 10 in a large oceanfront property with 2 meals a day for 6 days at just $475 for one week! You get more for you money when you choose to stay in a private villa or condo. That's one of the reasons we get so many repeat guests.


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It is customary. Maids receive a salary, but of course, she is always pleased when she is rewarded for her services. She spends at least a couple of hours each day cleaning and she takes great pride in her work. I'm sure sometimes it's somewhat of a thankless job and any special recognition is very much appreciated. The same is true for the gardener. A suggested guideline for tipping is 5% of the total rental of the property, but use your discretion.