Any comments about safety in Cozumel (from personal experiences or known information) would be greatly appreciated. I'd also like viewpoints on how good the island is for small children-- especially when compared to St.Bart or Maui.

Hi Gigi,<BR>Coz is extremely safe - even back in the neighborhoods off the beaten path.<BR>Been all over the island for ten years and NEVER felt unsafe.<BR>Lots of fun things for the kids to do.<BR>(Haven't been to St B or Maui, but I have been to 25 to 30 Caribbean islands.)<BR>Snorkeling here is some of the best in the Caribbean and a lot of it can be done from shore.<BR>Many small horseback riding places.<BR>Good day trip to Playa del Carmen on the ferry.<BR>With very small kids, I'd stay away from downtown San Miguel on days there are a lot of cruise ships in town - it's just pandemonium. A good idea for those days would be to rent a Jeep and do a trip around the island or go to Chankanaab - a park with a beautiful beach and lots to do and see.<BR>Just a side note, and please don't take offense, but from my observations, people who like St Barts or Hawaii may not like Cozumel. Of course, this may not be the case at all - just my impression. <BR>It's very laid back and casual, and not at all a "THIS is where I went for MY vacation," kind of place.<BR>If you are a fun-loving, friendly, open to new places and experiences kind of person, Cozumel is for you...

Cozumel is probably one of THE SAFEST places you could visit. I moved here from the U.S. 6 years ago and that was a big factor in my decision. There are many Americans who even chose to raise their kids here because it is such a safe environment for them. The island is very family oriented. Every Sunday evenings the locals get all dressed up and meet on the town square for the evening to listen to music and let the kids run around and play. I think you will find it much more "kid friendly" than most any other destination you might choose. There are many good all-inclusive hotels with special actiivities for kids, playgrounds, kiddie pools, etc. I'm not usually a fan of all-inclusives, but when traveling with small children it's usually the best way to go. Cozumel is not a "glitzy" place, it's a casual beach town with very friendly people, beautiful water, and usually sunny weather.

Thank you- Nancy & Cozannie for your very good comments. Cozumel sounds wonderful! Do you know if it's also safer than Playa del Carmen?- that's what I've heard. Nancy, I think I know exactly what you mean about St.B and Maui. Cozannie- what were the other factors that made you decide to move to Cozumel-- and to an island, not in the U.S.? What is the education system like there? Thanks again for your replies.

Hi again Gigi,<BR>I have personally found Cozumel to appear to be safer than PDC. I've never had any problems in either place, but I would not hesitate to go anywhere on Cozumel day or night, whereas I felt a little unsafe at night in PDC. (I've also heard some rumors and read some things on this board about PDC - it has changed completely in just the past few years.)<BR>Cozannie is right about the parties at El Centro on Sunday nights. The families bring their children all dressed up from church and let them run around with the other kids - largely unsupervised as everyone kind of watches out for each other's little ones. There is usually live music and a carnival air with vendors and sometimes dancing. It's really refreshing to see that kind of family activity going on. <BR>Nighttimes in PDC are geared almost exclusively to adults. I don't have kids, but if I did (especially under 10), I'd definitely go with Cozumel.

Nancy- thanks again for the info. Cozumel does sound really good. Another question: Do you, or does anyone, have info. on driving and ferry safety from Cancun to Cozumel? Also, do you know how long it would take to get to Cozumel from Cancun? There are direct flights to Cozumel from where we live only during certain months. And we may just opt to fly to another city to get a flight into Cozumel, but would like the info. -thanks.

Hi Gigi, haven't check in for a few days and just read your new messages. My primary reason for moving to Cozumel was for diving. I first came here in 1992 and met someone who had a dive business but was in financial trouble and in jeopardy of losing his business. Very long story short, I help him out and in process because a dive shop owner! I tried managing it by making frequent trips but that was a disaster, so I finally had to make the decision to move. It wasn't a really difficult decision to make. I already had a business, knew lots of people here, etc, so it wasn't like I was just starting here from scratch. I have since turned over daily operations of the business to someone else but still own shares of it.<BR><BR>To answer you question about getting from Cancun to Cozumel, it's easy but a little time consuming if you don't take the shuttle flight. There are several daily flights to and from Coz and Cancun but they are not cheap and there are not always seats availabe when you want to go. You can take a bus from the airport now directly to Playa del Carmen (a little over an hour by bus) where you will get on the ferry to Cozumel. It is very safe and is about a 40 minute trip. This is a passenger ferry only, not a car ferry. That is another service altogether. I used to fly into Cancun all the time, it's not that big a deal, but it would be preferable to fly directly into Coz if you can. <BR><BR>I hear both good and bad about the schools here. There is an American school where most Americans send their kids. Many parents here choose to home-school their kids. I was just talking to a lady the other day whose son was in the American school but she took him out and is now home-schooling him. She said her problem was that they overload the kids with so much homework that they have no time for anything else. she said even she would have a hard time doing all the assignments that her son brought home. Other than that, I have not really heard too much else negative about the school. There are lots of kids living here whose parents moved here from different countries, mainly US, Canada and Europe.<BR><BR>Playa del Carmen is a fun place to visit but I would never live there because of the safety issue. It is an adult place, not at all family-oriented like Cozumel and seems to have lots of displaced vagrants hanging around. Since Coz is an island, most everybody here has a reason to be here, either a job or family.

Hi Gigi,<BR>I would only add a couple of things to the already great info you have gotten from Cozannie...<BR>We have done both the ferry thing to Coz and flying many times.<BR>It's not very expensive to fly over from Cancun to Cozumel - a few weeks ago it was $68, or you can go round trip for usually $100-125.<BR>We were staying in Akumal, so we took a cab to PDC and then the ferry to Coz for two weeks, but on the way back, we flew to Cancun from Cozumel.<BR>They fly from Cancun to Cozumel and back almost every hour every day. It's only a 20 minute flight.<BR>I'd only recommend the ferry if you like adventure (as we do and are comfortable with new experiences.<BR>It also depends on how much luggage you have as you cannot drive to the ferry and you have to lug your stuff down through town. (You can also go to the Continental Plaza Playacar hotel and ask them to call you a "tricyclero" - a guy on a big tricycle who can pedal down there with your stuff piled on it, but it's not for those who are not intrepid!)<BR>Have fun!

It´s me again! I guess it´s a matter of perspective whether the flight to/from Cancun is expensive or not. After you have lived here a while you forget what it was like to think $68 is inexpensive! I can get to Cancun and back for less than $25 by ferry and bus.<BR><BR>If you take the bus or taxi to Playa, there are guys with tricycles everywhere who will take your luggage to the ferry, you don't need to go to a hotel to get one. As soon as you step out of the bus station or the taxi drop-off you will see them. He will take your bags all the way down the pier to where they check bags onto the boat. Give the guy 2 dollars or 20 pesos, a little more if you have lots of bags.

I actually have a question. I'm going ot be one of those cruise people and we're only spending 1 day in Cozumel. You make it sound so nice that I wish we were spending more time there. Given the short stay, what would you recommend doing? Can we snorkel without taking an expensive cruise tour?

Dear Gigi,<BR>I hope you had better luck with getting a tricyclero than we did. <BR>We arrived at the taxi stand - several blocks from the ferry - with fifteen minutes before the ferry was to depart.<BR>It took us almost ten minutes to find one with both my husband and the taxi driver running around looking. Make sure you give yourself plenty of time to catch the ferry or you will have to wait for another hour for the next one while humping your luggage around in the heat. (See why we usually fly?)<BR>Also, the ferry staff is not very gentle with your luggage, and there are times it sits for quite awhile untended in the sun with a lot of people milling about (but we've never had any problem with theft). You also have to wait in line separate from where the tricylclero left your luggage up by the ferry.<BR>I enjoy the ferry trip over, but I wouldn't recommend it to someone on vacation and going for the first time...

Cozannie & Nancy- thanks again for all the info.!- very helpful. I would definitely take the flight into Coz., although possibly take the ferry to PDC for a day trip, too. It sounds like diving is the main reason why someone would go to Coz.-- how are the beaches? Dede- what other stops does the cruise make?

The ferry to PDC is fun. It takes about 45 minutes. Go relatively early in the day. PDC gets very hot downtown. I think PDC has one of the most beautiful beaches with blindingly white sand and blue water I've ever seen.<BR>There are some neat shops and nice restaurants. Don't get dressed up - it's a very casual town. I like Yaxche or La Parilla for lunch.<BR>The beaches on Cozumel are beautiful, and there is a lot to do. The beaches on the uninhabited side of the island are rock (ironstone), but are so wild and beautiful, you must go see them, but you can't swim except at Chen Rio. In my opinion, some of the best beaches are the ones found just driving around up past the Presidente. They all have signs that tell you what they offer (food, diving, etc.)<BR>If you are not divers, you might consider taking a resort course which would allow you to dive to 35 feet. (It's some of the best diving in the world.) If you aren't into that, you MUST at least snorkel. A lot can be seen that way also. I'd receommend the Fury snorkel tour/beach party. <BR>Also, Chankanaab has a nice beach with chairs and shade, snorkeling/diving, and decent food.

For a snorkel tour I would recommend Arricefes tour or the Morning Glory Katamaran. But the Fury would be good if your main reason for going is to spend the day with a boatload of drunks. Partying is their main business, snorkeling is second. I would not take kids on a Fury snorkel tour (but that's just my opinion, lots of people love the Fury trip). For the best free snorkeling without going on a boat tour, check out Dzul-Ha, just north of the Fiesta Americana hotel and Chankanaab. You will see snorkel boats just offshore there with people who paid for a tour, whereas you can jump in the water from the shore for free and see the same things.<BR><BR>Nancy is right, the best beaches for swimming are around the south hotel zone. Playa Palancar and Nachi-Cocom are more laid back with free admission. Mr. Sanchos has more of a tourist party scene but is a great beach and is also free. You have to pay to get into Playa Sol, very touristy. There are other beaches being developed at this moment, there is a new sign on the road every time I pass by. <BR><BR>You can swim on the east side, but only on a calm day. That usually only happens in the winter when a norte (cold front) is blowing in. When that happens, the wind and waves are on the usually calm leeward side and the east side becomes calm. But the vistas over there are spectacular anytime. Make sure you stop at Coconuts, high atop a rocky cliff, it has the best view on the island.

Interesting to read all the details. We are considering a vacation with the kids (ages 10 and 13) to the area. What would be more fun/safer/kid friendly - Cancun or Cozumel. Please respond as soon as is convenient - we need to decide soon.<BR>Thanks!

Jane, it depends on what kind of vacation you have in mind. If you want to stay at an all-inclusive hotel (which are best sometimes with kids) and not venture out to do many other things, then I would say either Cancun or Cozumel, not really much difference. Just get the best deal your travel agent can find. <BR><BR>However, if you want to be able to go to town and explore with the kids and not worry about losing them, stroll though the neighborhoods and see how the locals live, go snorkeling, take an ATV jungle tour, horseback riding...then definitely Cozumel would be best. You won't have to worry about the kids as much in Cozumel, it's a much safer town, not many college and high school aged party crowds, no beggars on the streets, family night in the plaza is fun (the kids can get their hair braided or get temporary henna tatoos), it's safe and easy to drive a Jeep or topless VW bug around the island, Cozumel Mini-Golf is great fun with a beautiful course right in the middle of downtown, there is a Go-Kart track south of town. Cancun is big and glitzy, with lots of discos and shopping malls (think Las Vegas on the Caribbean) but they do have some fabulous resorts there and great beaches. Cozumel is more calm and family-oriented. But as I said, if you are looking for a good all-inclusive where you will spend most of your time, it really doesn't matter which destination you choose.

Thanks Nancy & Cozannie for the info. again. Snorkeling does sound o.k., but what about undertows and sharks?-- any reports on those? Also, I've heard that Cancun is very American. Is Coz. like that also? I get the impression that there's people from other countries that visit there moreso than visit Cancun.

Hi Gigi,<BR>I've been snorkeling in Cozumel literally 100+ times, and have never had any problems with currents (at depths while diving, there are currents)<BR>or any hazardous marine life other than some thimble jellies once. In fact, I've never seen more than a nurse shark even while diving.<BR>You cannot swim on the unpopulated side of the island due to currents and surf, but that's not a problem where you would be going.<BR>Cancun is much more Americanized than Cancun, but Cozumel is beginning to lose a bit of its local flavor - but not enough to keep me from continuing to go back! More international visitors do go to Cozumel, but the tourists are overwhelmingly American due mainly to the numbers of cruise ships docking there.

Thanks for all the info.- Nancy & Cozannie! Coz. sounds pretty nice-- we'll have to go & visit.