slowtrav1

Dear fellow travellers,

My husband and I are planning a short trip (4-5 nights) in March to Isla Mujeres. We have been to Playa and Cancun and picked Isla over Cozumel for swimming beaches. We love the ocean and the beach and for a vacation, like to get into the water everyday, and prefer small-scale accommodations. Villa La Bella is what we're considering...any suggestions or reviews? Villa La Bella is right on a swimmable beach is my understanding. Any other comparable but less expensive accommodations that I'm overlooking?

I'd love suggestions on activities like snorkelling and ocean kayaking - what to do and what to avoid, and the best way to get around in town. Should we make a day trip to Cozumel ...? Someplace else?

Thanks a lot in advance.

hopefulist

Have you checked out Map chick's Can Do map of Isla Mujeres? It's amazing. We're heading to Isla as part of a longer trip in June so please post a trip report. Happy trails!
http://www.cancunstore.com/

KVR

We went to Isla Mujeres this time last year after being to Cancun twice, Playa twice and Cozumel 3 times. Isla is a very cute Island and very small. The main street has some very nice beach front resturants and bars. We found the prices to be very good. We stayed at the Avalon Reef Club and it was OK. Their beach area was nice and we enjoyed the snorkeling. Rent a golf cart for the day and go around the Island.

We flew into Cancun and took the ferry over to Isla Mujeres. If you want to go to Cozumel, then you'll need transportation to the ferry terminal in Playa del Carmen. It's about an hour drive. We went to Cozumel last week for our 4th trip. I'ts still our favorite and we will be going back. Isla Mujeres was nice, but too small and not enough to do to keep us entertained for another trip, but we're glad we experienced once.

JeanH

Villa la Bella is not on a swimmable beach. It's got beautiful views, but swimming on that side of the island is dangerous.

The hotels/condos on Playa Norte are on swimmable beaches. Na Balam, Cabanas Maria del Mar, Ixchel Condos, Nautibeach Condos. Around the corner is Privilege Aluxes, large ugly, out of place, in my opinion.

Posada del Mar is across the street from the beach.

Back to the Caribbean side (where Villa la Bella is), we have always stayed at Hotel Playa la Media Luna. It's on a really pretty stretch of beach, although, once again, not swimmable. I love falling asleep to the sound of the waves crashing at night. Next door is the more upscale Hotel Secreto. Both of these properties are a five minute walk from the above mentioned Playa Norta.

If you want to step out and swim, I wouldn't stay at Villa la Bella.

There are also some properties on the other side of the island that have swimmable beaches, but to my mind, the beach isn't nearly as nice, more sea grass, and not as clear.

AJMelheim

We have stayed at Na Balam and it is lovely, with beautiful beach right out your door. Have also stayed at Posada del Mar and it is nice and has a good restaurant. Both have swimming pools. Look at a map of the island. Anything between the people ferry and Playa Norte will have good, white sand beach right out your door. Anything on the north side of the island will be rocky, crashing-waves-type beach (and, as JeanH said, dangerous for swimming). But the north side of the island is GREAT for finding sea glass.

You can easily walk the "downtown" portion of the island. Renting a golf cart is the best way to explore the rest of the island.

Be sure to have breakfast or lunch at Cafe Cito (Calle Matamoros). Fabulous waffles and freshly made marmalade!

I LOVE Isla Mujeres! Enjoy yourselves!

slowtrav1

Thank you everyone; this is a ton of useful information. I had read that the Caribbean side is dangerous with currents and some of your responses confirm that.

slowtrav1

We have not been to Isla or Cozumel - so, if you have been to both places which would you pick and why? If Cozumel, what are good places to stay that have swimmable beaches, and are also small scale (not interested in all inclusives).

Thanks!!

KVR

We've been to Cozumel 4 times (2 land vacations and 2 cruises) and Isla Mujeres once. We prefer Cozumel. More things to see and do and easy acess by ferry to get to Playa del Carmen.

Cozumel has good snorkeling because most of it is rock and iron shore. Our last trip we stayed at the El Cozumeleno, which is an AI and the beach was rather rocky. Next door is the Melia also an AI and their beach was better. However, due to the pier built between to two the Meila's water can get cloudy.

Most of the non-AI hotels are in town and have man made beaches and then stairs that go down into the water. Here's a list of non AI hotels:

Coral Princess Hotel & Resort

El Cid La Ceiba Cozumel

Fiesta Americana Cozumel Dive Resort

Playa Azul Golf, Scuba and Spa

Presidente Intercontinental CZM Rst & Spa

Sol Cabanas Del Caribe

Vista del Mar Boutique Hotel

Our next trip we are looking at the Coral Princess. Go to Trip Advisor and read reviews and look at pictures to better help with your decision.

We really liked the location of the Avalon Reef Club on Isla Mujeres. It is an AI, but the price was so good we easily went into town to eat. The hotel is lower budget, but their beach area was very nice.

The hotel sits at the end of the Island so one side is rough;

http://travel.webshots.com/photo/291...38640397hBbLRw

The other side is calm;

http://travel.webshots.com/photo/251...38640397PYaEGx

JeanH

Avalon Reef is having major issues at the moment. As far as I know, the bars and restaurants are all closed, as is the gift shop. Rumors abound that the hotel itself will be closed, due to nonpayment of taxes.

I've only done a day trip to Cozumel, have stayed in Isla several times. The beaches on Isla are stunning. Restaurants are absolutely excellent, and most are quite inexpensive.

It's true there isn't much walk in snorkeling, if that's your priority, Coz may be better.

Keep in mind that Coz can have more than half a dozen cruise ships in port on any given day. That alone, tends to keep me away.

KVR

Did not know that about the Avalon, but not suprised. However, any hotel in that area would be good to look into.

Be aware that if the only reason keeping your from Cozumel is the cruise ships, it's a very bad decison and not enough research on your part to make such a decison. There are plenty of places to go to avoid the influx of cruise ships passengers. We've never had any problem or any conjestion. I would hate for someone to miss out on a great Island by such a bais statment.

BeniciaChris

My husband & I just got home Sunday from 3 glorious weeks in the Cancun area. We spent our first week in Cozumel-Flew Mayair from Cancun with the help from all of you. I was so worries about the bag restriction-they were great-let us check a 3rd bag no charge.We had not been to cozumel for over 20 years.
Next we took the ferry to PDC and stayed at The Grand Mayan-Wow waht a place.
Our 3rd week was in Cancun-We took the ferry to Isla Mujeres-We had not been there also in over 20 years. Through your suggestions we rented a golf cart to go around the island. We had a wonderful lunch at Hotel Villa Rolandi-spoke to some people who go there often & they said they have a private yacht to bring them there. It was a faboulous place-maybe out of your budget.www.villarolandi.com
We also stopped by the Avalon (20 years ago when we were there we stayed there when it was The Presidente). Yes, there was NO RESTAURANT or BAR. They did let us look at a room. I had such wonderful memories of the waves crashing on rocks below our window. I hope they get things straightened out as it is a timeshsre in II & I would love to go back & stay there.
November 28th to Dec 19th were perfect weather for our time there-the last day or so it was a little cloudy & sprinkley.

hopefulist

BeniciaChris - thanks for taking the time to post about your trip. I think you should start a new topic and hit the "trip report" button so it will be flagged as such. Maybe add some more details about what you did while you were there?

alovesa

Check out our Yucatan trip report (link below)--we loved Isla Mujeres. We stayed in town for $60/night and then paid about $20/day to use the beach facilities at Na Balam. It was the perfect combination! The happy hour was great; we liked the quiet, calm beach; there was some snorkeling nearby; and then we schedule a dive trip from town. If you're reading the report, it's one of our last stops on the trip, so scroll down: http://thither.hitherandthither.net/...uary-2008.html

Have fun!
Ashley

hopefulist

Loved your blog, Ashley - thanks for posting! We're spending a few weeks this summer, starting with a week in Tulum, then heading to Valladolid and San Felipe before finishing on Isla Mujeres. Can't wait!!

AJMelheim

Dear hopefulist,

Have you made your lodging arrangements for Valladolid? I recommend Casa Hamaca Guesthouse. (In the interest of full disclosure, I know the owner and he is a wonderful man.) Every single review on Trip Advisor is 5 stars out of 5. I hope to visit Casa Hamaca in March.

www.casahamaca.com

hopefulist

Thanks for the recommendation. I've read the reviews and the place looks beautiful. I think we're going to stay at Hotel Zací the few nights we'll be in Valladolid, a good budget place near the zocalo and the shuttle stop for Chichen Itza with ac and a pool.

slowtrav1

Thanks all for your insightful comments on Isla versus Cozumel. I'll let you know the details once we've made our trip...

BeniciaChris

hopefullist-I did as you suggested-I did a trip report. I hope you enjoy. It was a wonderful relaxing trip-Hardest decision-where to eat dinner.

hopefulist

Yes - thanks for taking the time to share your trip with us! Glad things worked out well for you - I've jotted down a few food notes.

alovesa

Just a note on the link I posted above, it may not be working anymore. Instead just go to www.hitherandthither.net and look for the link on the right. Sorry for the inconvenience!


Ashley