TC

Have sent you two emails KVR. Enjoy your trip.

hopefulist

Me, too! hopefulist (at) yahoo.com

cunae1

I'd love to see the list to help me plan for Dec. trip!
Thanks!

cunae1

Ooops! May need my email. It is [email protected].
Thanks again!

TC

Emails on their way to both hopefulist and cunae1. All I ask in return is that you email to me or post here with your findings. I won't get back this year until March and I'm always eager to hear the island news.

hopefulist

TC - THANKS!! It will probably be a week or 2 before I have time to read through. We haven't decided if we'll be heading to Cozumel, Isla Mujeres, or a combination. I word-searched down through for references to fish and see lots of great snorkeling, diving, and eating notes. Do you know anything about fishing? My husband is an avid flyfisherman who prefers to fish without a guide for bonefish and permit. We know it's there but information on independent fishing is tough to find. Any clues for us?

Our trip is planned for June but I will definitely post a travelogue when we get back. Thanks again for this wonderful enterprise!

TC

Hopefulist, Have a look at these two links for information on fly fishing. There is a good map of the area and calendar of fish by season. My husband is a bottom fisherman and has done that many times in CZM. He usually goes with one of the boats from the marina. Many times the guys just go down to the caleta (marina) and make contact with one of the local boats to go out for a day of fishing. You can also talk to any of the dive masters or other staff at your hotel. They are usually a good source of information. I have to say that we've heard lots and lots of good stories about Capt. Vega and his ability to find fish, so your husband might still want to contact him. Otherwise, one can drive to the far North end of the island (its a nasty road) and there is a small marina there where he might be able to get someone to take him out. You just have to be congenial and flexible. Hope this helps.

http://www.cozumelmycozumel.com/Page...hingStory.html

http://www.cozumelmycozumel.com/Page...arlosVega.html

hopefulist

Hey - thanks for the links. The 2nd one I'd discovered from googling. Problem is, we're trying to find fishing information to decide where to go, so waiting till we get there won't work for us. We'll probably have a week or more of island time and my husband typically spends at least 5-6 hours/day hunting fish; he's been really successfully in different areas of Belize and Honduras but we've never tried Mexico. I'm a diver so I know Cozumel would work for me. If we can't find enough information about the possibilities for boatless fishing (wading the flats, either walking to them or kayaking to them) then we might choose elsewhere. We're just beginning to research, though. Thanks for the help!!

TC

Tell your husband to have a look at Loco Gringo:

http://www.locogringo.com/research/flyfish.html

hopefulist

Thanks again! Lots of flats down that way but you can't (apparently) just stay in a local budget place and walk to flats or rent a kayak to get there - what Mike likes to do best. Typically the rate for guided fishing is $350-450 for just one day and the week long packages for everyplace we've found that include guides every day are $2500-3000 per person - yikes!!

It's hard to find advance information about what he's wanting for Belize and Honduras, too, but the fish are there. I think the lagoons on the north coast of Cozumel show promise, too. I'm glad we have plenty of time to plan and it's folks like you that help us scrap together the right information to make our decisions.

If you ever want to consider travel in Belize, Guatemala, or Honduras or attend a Spanish immersion program let me know - Mexico is new turf for me. THANKS

TC

Thanks, Hopefulist. We've done Belize and Honduras. Loved them both.

denof4

TC, Can you also send me your Cozumel link. We'll be going for a week in December. My email is [email protected]. Thx.

TC

No problem... its in your mail. TC

BeniciaChris

TC-You are one busy person. My husband & I will be in Cozumel November 28th to December 5th. Can you E-mail me your [email protected]
We are staying at the Melia. It is an optional all inclusive. I hate all inclusives but sometimes you can't even get a drink if you don't sign up. Since it is at the start of a 3 week vacation I'mon the fence. We have a time share & I think a kitchen-not that I go on vacation to cook. I hate buffets & love to try different places. HELP

BeniciaChris

KVR-cunae!-denof4
Hey if we are all in Cozumel 1st week of Dec we should meet up for a drink & toast the wonderful Fodors site-chris

TC

BeniciaChris, I really can't recommend an AI and you sound like you would hate it anyway. Everyone I've every known who used the service (and especially at the Melia), ended up being bored to death by the repetition of the food. They all eventually bail on the AI and go into town to eat. If you have a condo (like we do) here's our plan -- stock up and do your own breakfast. Its easy to get whatever you like. We go for coffee, yogurt, granola and all the amazing fruits that are available in the local market. The bakery items are also excellent. We kind of wing it for lunches depending on the dive schedule -- sometimes in the condo, sometimes on the beach, sometimes in town, or sometimes we just have a bigger than usual brunch/lunch and skip on to cocktails and dinner later. Our condo beach bar makes delicious smoothies -- my "snack" on days when we skip lunch.

We hit the liquor store or the liquor dept of the two big grocery stores and stock up on wines, beer or the makings for margaritas, etc. Whatever you fancy. Its always going to be cheaper than drinks at the condo bars, however, you can switch it up and have drinks at the bar a few times or maybe you'll be driving around the island and what to do Happy Hour at Coconuts or the Bob Marley Bar for something different. I don't think you are forced to take the AI option at Melia, therefore you will have no problem running a bar tab.

Our balcony overlooks the ocean and sunset, so its a very nice place to start the evening. The Melia has the same views if you take an ocean front room. Its also quite acceptable to make your own drinks and carry them down to the beach or pool for sunsets. After cocktails, we're into town for dinner. There are so many wonderful choice for dining in town that I can't imagine eating the same buffet, in the same setting, with the same people over and over and over again for our entire holiday. Have a look at the dining section of my list and then write again if you have more questions. My advice....skip the AI.

TC

BeniciaChris, Tried to send emails to your address listed above, but would not work. Please post again.

BeniciaChris

Hi-I got it-Thanks so much. I read somewhere-Maybe the RCI site where our timeshare exchange is 7 they said if you don't do AI you can't get a drink there.
When we were in Ixtapa in Feb it was a manditory AI & I hated it.
I think if you do the AI at Melei its 85$ per person per day!!!! Thats a big hunk of your vacation spending! Plus I love to try different places . Can't wait to read over allyour helpfulinformation-Chris

TC

Glad you got the info, Chris. Melia is getting beaten up pretty bad on TripAdvisor for its food and also they must have worked out some sort of deal with the cruise lines to allow daytrippers to use the pool and bar areas. Under those circumstances and what I've heard from friends, I would absolutely advise you to stay away from the AI. Hey, you can walk down to the Coral Princess (our place) and have happy hour with them. You can pay cash for drinks there. Also try walking to Playa Azul along that same stretch. Both are very nice.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserR...ECK_RATES_CONT

TC

Hey Chris, Why didn't you trade into the Coral Princess? Its an RCI resort.