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Scuba Forum / General / December 2003Cozumel Hotel & Health Recommendations?
Hello to all, I've finally planned a dive trip. My last attempt was on 9/11/01 where I departed Newark for Bonaire through Puerto Rico about 1/2 hour before the downed planes departed. I was then stranded in Puerto Rico for 5 days and came home asap. So, ready to give it a try again, booked the flights and now need to book the hotel. I've been to Coz once before about 5-6 years ago. I stayed in a mid-range hotel across the road from the water. Also, I got a bad case of Montezuma's Revenge on that trip and vowed that I'd bring anti-biotics this time. Can anyone recommend: What are the best hotel/resorts to stay in? If all-inclusive, is the food decent/edible? Should I start anti-biotics before I get there or wait until I get sick? What foods to avoid (of course, ice & water)? Suggestions on who to dive with are also appreciated Thanks for any input! > Should I start anti-biotics before I get there or wait until I get sick? Don't take antibiotics if you're not sick. Read the instructions that were given with the antibiotics. Antibiotics can kill off the (good) intestinal bacteria that aid in the digestion process. As a result you can become more vulnerable to an infection. If you take antibiotics beforehand and you DO get infected, it will be with a strain that is immune to the specific antibiotic. What do you do then? Also keep in mind that antibiotics only work on bacteria. They will not help you against a viral infection. IK > > Should I start anti-biotics before I get there or wait until I get sick? > [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > Also keep in mind that antibiotics only work on bacteria. They will not > help you against a viral infection. If I get food poisoning in Cozumel (like last time), it's from bacteria so antibiotics will help. I've heard from a few divers that they start a series 2 days before the trip and it fights off the foodborn bacteria. Are your comments based on some specific history related to diving? > > > Should I start anti-biotics before I get there or wait until I get sick? > > [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] > 2 days before the trip and it fights off the foodborn bacteria. Are your > comments based on some specific history related to diving? Not specifically to diving tours, but consulting my doctor prior to trekking in Africa. For travels, he would only recommend preventive antibiotics in case of a(n already) seriously weakened immune system. YMMV; other doctors may be more generous w.r.t prescribing preventive antibiotics. Just got back from a scuba trip in Egypt, where a lot of people in my group got food poisoning. Fortunately I was spared, but I've had my share on a previous trip. Perhaps the immune system recognized the attack and reacted a little sooner. Hopefully you'll be spared as well on your 2nd trip to Cozumel. IK >> Also keep in mind that antibiotics only work on bacteria. They will not >> help you against a viral infection. [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] >2 days before the trip and it fights off the foodborn bacteria. Are your >comments based on some specific history related to diving? Schmoe, you've been told and told right. Check this page: http://wellness.ucdavis.edu/safety_info/poison_prevention/poison_book/food_poiso ning.html#prevented Note the conspicuous absence of any prophylactic antibiotics. Note the conspicuous absence of any antibiotics in treatment. Antibiotics providing immunity to food poisoning is a myth. If you eat bad food, you're going to get sick. It actually increases the risk, and can make some forms worse: http://www.medicalmoment.org/_content/signs/jun03/144106.asp safe diving, bullshark > >> Also keep in mind that antibiotics only work on bacteria. They will not > >> help you against a viral infection. [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > > Check this page: http://wellness.ucdavis.edu/safety_info/poison_prevention/poison_book/food_poiso ning.html#prevented > Note the conspicuous absence of any prophylactic antibiotics. > Note the conspicuous absence of any antibiotics in treatment. [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > It actually increases the risk, and can make some forms worse: > http://www.medicalmoment.org/_content/signs/jun03/144106.asp Sounds reasonable. Thanks for both pieces of advice IK & Bullshark. I'll take an antibiotic with me but won't use it unless it's unbearable. Last time, I dove through the illness for 4 days. It was unpleasant but the diving was so amazing, I toughed it out. Best meal I had that trip was the airplane sandwich on the way home. That should tell you something <g>. > Sounds reasonable. Thanks for both pieces of advice IK & Bullshark. I'll > take an antibiotic with me but won't use it unless it's unbearable. Last > time, I dove through the illness for 4 days. It was unpleasant but the > diving was so amazing, I toughed it out. Best meal I had that trip was the > airplane sandwich on the way home. That should tell you something <g>. What it tells me is that you don't know where the good restaurants are in Coz. They are plentiful. > > Sounds reasonable. Thanks for both pieces of advice IK & Bullshark. I'll > > take an antibiotic with me but won't use it unless it's unbearable. Last [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > What it tells me is that you don't know where the good restaurants are in > Coz. They are plentiful. You shouldn't bet on that. > > "Schmoe" <jschmoeleg@optonline.net> wrote in message > > You shouldn't bet on that. You are the one that said the best meal you had that trip was the airplane sandwich on the way home. > > > "Schmoe" <jschmoeleg@optonline.net> wrote in message > > > > You shouldn't bet on that. > > You are the one that said the best meal you had that trip was the airplane > sandwich on the way home. I wasn't the first person to get sick from eating at a good restaurant and I won't be the last. Hopefully, it'll will have been the last time I get sick eating anywhere. FWIW, I enjoyed the food very much there. Just got unlucky. Do you have any recommendations on hotels? > Sounds reasonable. Thanks for both pieces of advice IK & Bullshark. I'll > take an antibiotic with me but won't use it unless it's unbearable. Last > time, I dove through the illness for 4 days. It was unpleasant but the > diving was so amazing, I toughed it out. Best meal I had that trip was the > airplane sandwich on the way home. That should tell you something <g>. Definitely bring some ioperamide with you (brand name: Imodium). This will slow down the peristaltic movements of your bowels if things go wrong. Perhaps it's not the best thing to take when you have food poisoning; instead of flushing out the infection it remains inside. But hey, it's quite comforting if you *must* fly back, or make that dive. IK > Hello to all, > > Also, I got a bad case of > Montezuma's Revenge on that trip and vowed that I'd bring anti-biotics this > time. It's been fifteen years since I've been in Cozumel, but in the oldy days I used to go there a couple times a year. I used to get a room downtown ($3.50 a night, with breakfast) or stay at La Ceiba ($85.00 a week) where the food was awful. Now the Montezuma's trick: It's not from "bad" bacteria, it's from bacteria you are not used to. That's why it's called "traveler's diarrhea", because all travelers get it away from home. Immediately upon arrival, drink several large glasses of tap water (not easy for me as I never drink water). Your system will adapt with only a short and minor bout of discomfit, and you can enjoy the rest of the trip without passing the local cuisine. Enjoy. >Immediately upon arrival, drink several large glasses of tap water (not >easy for me as I never drink water). Your system will adapt with only a >short and minor bout of discomfit, and you can enjoy the rest of the >trip without passing the local cuisine. You do know where they got the idea for the Mezcal "worm", don't you?  Signatureferret "He leads me beside quiet waters ICQ 163264 He restores my soul" - Ps 23:2 "Follow, lead or get off the shotline" Make spammers pay... use CruelMail >Immediately upon arrival, drink several large glasses of tap water (not >easy for me as I never drink water). Your system will adapt with only a >short and minor bout of discomfit, and you can enjoy the rest of the >trip without passing the local cuisine. Noooooooo!!! My Mexican friends would NEVER give that advice. The number one rule I have learned from them is to always use bottled water from a reliable source for all consumption. Tap water is for showering (mouth shut), washing, and flushing toilets. Warm tap water is usually warmed by sitting in a cistern up on the roof, and likely has contamination in it. Even cold tap water is suspect because the water lines leak, and at times siphon ground water back into the system. If it comes from a tap, it's not fit for consumption. One friend washes her veggies in bottled water with a little javex added, then rinses in bottled water. She says she is VERY sensitive to those bacteria. Ice is safe because everybody buys ice from the same places that bottle water. I've heard several Mexicans talk about how gross the "buffets" are the large all-inclusives, and the "punch bowls" full of juice, rum and whatever the last guy had on his hand. Watch a Mexican buy a beer - they like to see it opened in front of them, and they then wipe the neck inside and out with the paper napkins that all bars there provide. Eat and drink in places where you see lots of locals. They don't like getting sick either. And they don't drink the tap water. SignatureRemove preceding and trailing X from username for replies (Sorry, but I'm SICK of spam...) I haven't had any problems when I was down there with regards to getting sick... I'm not that diligent about avoiding the tap water... I brush my teeth with it and probably swallow some of it during the rinsing process... I've found that eating cheese helps with diarrhea (not that I've ever had it in Mexico)... Helps clog up the system so that you have something solid there instead of the squirts... <grin> I've stayed at 5 star (Diamond Allegro) and 1 star (Days Inn) hotels in Cozumel... Personally, I preferred the 1 star since I found it more convenient from a diver's point of view... Instead of bathtubs, they had a large (enough for 3 people and SCUBA gear) shower stall / room that also had a water faucet on the wall... It made rinsing gear very convenient... I don't like the all-inclusive type resorts since I prefer to explore the island and eat at the restaurants that are more inland that the locals eat at... > >Immediately upon arrival, drink several large glasses of tap water (not > >easy for me as I never drink water). Your system will adapt with only a > >short and minor bout of discomfit, and you can enjoy the rest of the > >trip without passing the local cuisine. > > Noooooooo!!! My Mexican friends would NEVER give that advice. Yeah, I don't think I've got the guts to try that 'tough love' advice anyway. It may work but I'm not the guinea pig to find out. I'm sure it's just paranoia because of my last trip but I'll be very antiseptic this time around. Leaving 12/12 for anyone going down who may like to hook up for a cerveza or 3. <snip> >>Immediately upon arrival, drink several large glasses of tap water (not >>easy for me as I never drink water). Your system will adapt with only a [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > The number one rule I have learned from them is to always use bottled > water from a reliable source for all consumption. Bottled water is the worst. The small amount of bacteria from around the neck is enough to make you real sick but not enough to act as a prophylaxis. >Bottled water is the worst. The small amount of bacteria from around the >neck is enough to make you real sick but not enough to act as a prophylaxis. How would there be any more bacteria around the neck of bottled water than around the neck of a beer bottle, coffee cup, or anything else? Bacteria is everywhere. All bottle necks might have some contamination on the outside. Doesn't change the fact that the water inside the bottle is sterile, while tap water is not. Ask any local in Cozumel - the local water supply is NOT considered potable. Some of the larger hotels and resorts MAY have their own secondary filtration system, which may or may not be working when you are there. I once got food poisioning (campylobacter) on Roatan. It was no fun at all. In 10 trips to Cozumel, 8 of which I stayed in town and "ate local", I have never once had even a mild hit. I'll continue to follow the local advice on my next trip. When in Rome... SignatureRemove preceding and trailing X from username for replies (Sorry, but I'm SICK of spam...) >>Bottled water is the worst. The small amount of bacteria from around the >>neck is enough to make you real sick but not enough to act as a prophylaxis. [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > Bacteria is everywhere. All bottle necks might have some > contamination on the outside. Bingo! > Doesn't change the fact that the water > inside the bottle is sterile, while tap water is not. Fine. As long as you stay inside the sealed bottle you are protected. Grab the outside of the bottle then wipe yer mouth with yer hand and yer not. > Ask any local in Cozumel - the local water supply is NOT considered > potable. Some of the larger hotels and resorts MAY have their own > secondary filtration system, which may or may not be working when you > are there. Cozumel has no water supply. There are a few brackish wells and water from seawater plants. > I once got food poisioning (campylobacter) on Roatan. It was no fun > at all. In 10 trips to Cozumel, 8 of which I stayed in town and "ate > local", I have never once had even a mild hit. I'll continue to > follow the local advice on my next trip. When in Rome... I had the same thing in both New York and London. But never in my many trips to Roatan. "mike gray, CID" <mikegrayCID@worldnut.nut> wrote in message news:NIesb.49794 > > I once got food poisioning (campylobacter) on Roatan. It was no fun > > at all. In 10 trips to Cozumel, 8 of which I stayed in town and "ate [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > I had the same thing in both New York and London. But never in my many > trips to Roatan. My two worse cases of food poisoning happened from eating at restaurants in New York City and Greensboro NC. I have never gotten sick from eating in Cozumel, Cancun, Belize, Caymans, Dominica, Martinique, Austria, Yugoslavia, Greece, Phillipines, Thailand, Dominican Republic, St Maarten, Bahamas, Key West, Hungary, Poland, Germany............ Signaturejim frei http://stormwatergroup.com >> > I once got food poisioning (campylobacter) on Roatan. It was no fun >> > at all. In 10 trips to Cozumel, 8 of which I stayed in town and "ate [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] >Greece, Phillipines, Thailand, Dominican Republic, St Maarten, Bahamas, Key >West, Hungary, Poland, Germany............ Campylobacter is a "reportable disease" in Canada, meaning that your doctor is required by law to inform the local health authorities of your illness, and you have to "prove" you are cured. I only made that one trip to Roatan, but the friend who I travelled with had been there several times before. He was MUCH sicker than me (he spent the entire week in bed eating dry toast and drinking ginger ale when he could) and only did one day of diving. By the time the week was over more than 1/3 of the guests at the resort were sick. I didn't get hit until the last day, and I enjoyed the diving a lot. My friend still won't consider going back. SignatureRemove preceding and trailing X from username for replies (Sorry, but I'm SICK of spam...) > I only made that one trip to Roatan, but the friend who I travelled > with had been there several times before. He was MUCH sicker than me > (he spent the entire week in bed eating dry toast and drinking ginger > ale when he could) and only did one day of diving. By the time the > week was over more than 1/3 of the guests at the resort were sick. I was in Roatan in March, and most of us were affected in one way or another. Fortunately for me, I got onto a "schedule" whereby I would drain myself first thing in the morning and then go for a dive without worrying about soiling my wetsuit. Never did work out exactly what the problem was (food/water/etc), but it cleared up as soon as we left... > Noooooooo!!! My Mexican friends would NEVER give that advice. > [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > water lines leak, and at times siphon ground water back into the > system. If it comes from a tap, it's not fit for consumption. In Cozumel (at least when I was there) everyone uses bottled water because they don't have a choice. The Island's water supply is contaminated with sea water. Over population has meant that the water is being pumped out of the ground faster then it can be naturally filtered. suds <snip> > Ice is safe because everybody buys ice from the same places that > bottle water. No. Ice is safe when you see the circle hole inside the cube. That is machine made... and even then it's questionable. > I've heard several Mexicans talk about how gross the "buffets" are the > large all-inclusives, and the "punch bowls" full of juice, rum and > whatever the last guy had on his hand. First of all, your friends never worked the restaurant trade. Any buffet is gross. Do you think think that the restaurant is giving away food ?? LOL If you wanna talk about what the last guy had on his hand or how many roaches are usually running around in the pots in the kitchen, then you would never ever ever ever go out to eat any meal in any restaurant !! Trust me. I know. I've been a waitress at the top of the line places...places where you can drop $100 per person a plate in the blink of an eye without counting drinks or snacks or dessert. And if I told you what went on behind the scenes, you'd get sick. > Watch a Mexican buy a beer - > they like to see it opened in front of them, and they then wipe the > neck inside and out with the paper napkins that all bars there > provide. Wiping the neck of a bottle means nothing. It doesn't do a thing as far as taking off any 'germs'. I learned that from being in Indonesia/Asia for a month. Wiping the neck is the equivalent of us wiping the top off of a soda can. We do it because we think the top looks a bit cruddy and could use a wipe but if if we could, we'd wash the dang thing or we'd be drinking from another container. > Eat and drink in places where you see lots of locals. They don't like > getting sick either. And they don't drink the tap water. Certainly depends on where you are... and it depends on if you have the same resistance to 'germs' as the locals do. babette7401@hotmail.com (Salty) pounded away at his keyboard resulting in: :If you wanna talk about what the last guy had on his hand or how many :roaches are usually running around in the pots in the kitchen, then [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] :the blink of an eye without counting drinks or snacks or dessert. And :if I told you what went on behind the scenes, you'd get sick. There is a very popular Slop Chewy place near where I work. They do a rip roaring take out business. Some of the more popular take out dishes are prepared at the entrance, where we can all see what is happening. If the customers don't care about hygeine, why should the staff? Dan Bracuk If at first you don't succeed, you run the risk of failure. The Best of rec.scuba http://www.pathcom.com/~bracuk/RecScuba/ > babette7401@hotmail.com (Salty) pounded away at his keyboard resulting > in: Dan, I'm fairly certain that Salty is among the fairer gender so unless built like Governor Arnold, could not pound away at HIS keyboard :) . She is, however, sassy as she is salty. Any other S word I cannot testify to. <snip> > > babette7401@hotmail.com (Salty) pounded away at his keyboard resulting > > in: > Dan, I'm fairly certain that Salty is among the fairer gender so unless > built like Governor Arnold, could not pound away at HIS keyboard :) . She > is, however, sassy as she is salty. Any other S word I cannot testify to. Schmoe, ya have to understand that Dan doesn't think of me in terms of gender. He considers me to be a moose. Dan is from Canada so I guess being a moose is a good thing. :) <looking sternly at you> I'll be back. > > > babette7401@hotmail.com (Salty) pounded away at his keyboard resulting > > > in: [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > being a moose is a good thing. :) > <looking sternly at you> I'll be back. Hey, in a cold Canadian winter, a nice looking moose...<g>. The key is to trap the moose into a rocky corner and he'll back right up into ya. Don't ask me how I know that. > Hey, in a cold Canadian winter, a nice looking moose...<g>. The key is to > trap the moose into a rocky corner and he'll back right up into ya. Don't > ask me how I know that. I don't wanna know how you know that, esp since you're from NYC. For some reason, a Broadway production comes to mind though. > > "Schmoe" <jschmoeleg@optonline.net> wrote in message > news:<6xeub.25800$Uj2.4399803@news4.srv.hcvlny.cv.net>... [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] > trap the moose into a rocky corner and he'll back right up into ya. Don't > ask me how I know that. Schmoe, I found evidence of which I spoke about Dan considering me to be a moose. He actually put up 2 pics of me. See.... http://www.pathcom.com/~bracuk/Moose/Pages/OldSalt.htm Dan is crafty fellow. I am very fond of him. And re: your revelation about the moose who will back into you... well I've thought about t and I realize that I was wrong about you knowing that from a Broadway thing. You know that from watching one too many episodes of "Rocky and Bullwinkle" !!!! > Schmoe, I found evidence of which I spoke about Dan considering me to > be a moose. He actually put up 2 pics of me. See.... [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > that from a Broadway thing. You know that from watching one too many > episodes of "Rocky and Bullwinkle" !!!! Here all this time I thought you were Boris's female companion...Natasha!! Signature“Genius is 1 percent inspiration and 99 percent perspiration”- Thomas Edison “If Mr. Edison didn’t perspire so much, he would get more accomplished”- Nikola Tesla > Here all this time I thought you were Boris's female companion...Natasha!! Well I was...until the FBI requested the personal records of my LDS's customers. Then I decided that I better behave myself. >>Here all this time I thought you were Boris's female companion...Natasha!! > > Well I was...until the FBI requested the personal records of my LDS's > customers. Then I decided that I better behave myself. We wouldn't want that to get back to "Meester Beeg". Signature“Genius is 1 percent inspiration and 99 percent perspiration”- Thomas Edison “If Mr. Edison didn’t perspire so much, he would get more accomplished”- Nikola Tesla > > > > Dan, I'm fairly certain that Salty is among the fairer gender so unless > > > > built like Governor Arnold, could not pound away at HIS keyboard :) . [quoted text clipped - 21 lines] > that from a Broadway thing. You know that from watching one too many > episodes of "Rocky and Bullwinkle" !!!! Not a very good fake. Alt.binaries.pictures.celebrities.fake would slam the poor fellow. I can fake better than that using MSPaint. rhys <snip> > Schmoe, I found evidence of which I spoke about Dan considering me to > be a moose. He actually put up 2 pics of me. See.... > http://www.pathcom.com/~bracuk/Moose/Pages/OldSalt.htm That's pretty funny. You have wayyyy too much time on your hands. Or horns as the case may be. <snip> > There is a very popular Slop Chewy place near where I work. They do a > rip roaring take out business. Some of the more popular take out > dishes are prepared at the entrance, where we can all see what is > happening. What do you see ?? > If the customers don't care about hygeine, why should the staff? Because it's the law and the Board of Health will shut down the place and then the staff will be without a job ?? :) Actually, if you can see into the kitchen, the place is probably reasonably clean. One of my fonder memories of working in a restaurant has to do with the food items that would sometimes fall off the plate and onto the floor. The food item was never replaced with another. It was brushed off and put back on the plate... and served with a smile. >> There is a very popular Slop Chewy place near where I work. They do a >> rip roaring take out business. Some of the more popular take out >> dishes are prepared at the entrance, where we can all see what is >> happening. > >What do you see ?? It's prolly more of what you don't see. Like no stray cats, dogs, or pigeons. http://masturbateforpeace.com > >What do you see ?? > It's prolly more of what you don't see. Like no stray cats, dogs, or > pigeons. I can understand the cats and dogs... but pigeons ?? They hardly have any meat on them. >> >What do you see ?? > [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] >I can understand the cats and dogs... but pigeons ?? They hardly have >any meat on them. True - how about ocean going pigeons - otherwise known as seagulls. In my much younger days we would go to the local barn and pick off pigeons. We tried to get there in late spring after the babies fledged or a few weeks later. Not much meat otherwise. My brother an I could pick off a dozen or so in an hour or two. We had to use our trusty and rusty BB guns 'cuz, at that age, we weren't allowed to use anything that had gun powder especially inside a barn. We'd bag 'em and trek home to my dear old mother who would then prep them, cook 'em in the oven with onions and potatoes. Ya know, even after all these years, I'm still having the Pavlov response. Closest thing now is those funky little cornish game hens or maybe quail. Pigeons were about the same size as quail by the time they were cooked. http://masturbateforpeace.com > >> >What do you see ?? > > [quoted text clipped - 19 lines] > > http://masturbateforpeace.com It's illegal to eat the native pigeons here in NZ, they're a protected species due to over eating why back before the Dept of Conservation was formed. But introduced english pigeons can be found sometimes in fancy restraunts, bred for the pot, absolutely delicious. rhys > True - how about ocean going pigeons - otherwise known as seagulls. Gulls and albatros look to have more meat but I haven't tried one to be able to confirm it. They might just have more feathers and thus, look fatter. <g> > In my much younger days we would go to the local barn and pick off > pigeons. We tried to get there in late spring after the babies [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > is those funky little cornish game hens or maybe quail. Pigeons were > about the same size as quail by the time they were cooked. Funny but that tale does not support my mental image of you at all. babette7401@hotmail.com (Salty) pounded away at his keyboard resulting in: :Actually, if you can see into the kitchen, the place is probably :reasonably clean. One of my fonder memories of working in a restaurant :has to do with the food items that would sometimes fall off the plate :and onto the floor. The food item was never replaced with another. It :was brushed off and put back on the plate... and served with a smile. Waste not want not I always say. Dan Bracuk If at first you don't succeed, you run the risk of failure. The Best of rec.scuba http://www.pathcom.com/~bracuk/RecScuba/ > Waste not want not I always say. Indeed. That might have been the motto for the survivors of the plane crash whose story was told in the book and movie called "Alive". >So, ready to give it a try again, booked the flights and now need to book >the hotel. I've been to Coz once before about 5-6 years ago. I stayed in a >mid-range hotel across the road from the water. Also, I got a bad case of >Montezuma's Revenge on that trip and vowed that I'd bring anti-biotics this >time. http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dbmd/diseaseinfo/travelersdiarrhea_g.htm has info about traveling and illnesses. >Can anyone recommend: > [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > >Thanks for any input! My wife and I have traveled to Coz/Cancun/Playa a lot over the past few years. Luckily, we've never had a problem there. We've stayed at all-inclusives, as well as pay as you go. We dove with Sand Dollar Dive. Clean boats, good guides, good dives. But there are a lot of other good dive ops there as well. One dive trip it was just the guide, captain, and us. Max divers we had during the trip was 8 and they split us into two different groups to avoid the cattle boat feel. Short Taxi ride from one end of island to the other. If you book with them they will pay the taxi for you - if you need it. The hotels - well - we won't go below four stars. But having said that, if all you want is to dive - there are still plenty of other good quality hotels at a lesser price. If on Cuz - beware - seems all the beds are as hard as a rock. Last trip, we took a couple of the thin auto-inflate camping mats and slept much better. Even having been there frequently - we still haven't seen all that we want to see...underwater. Surface - do a tour or two. Drink well, eat good. Stay safe. Ivan http://masturbateforpeace.com > >So, ready to give it a try again, booked the flights and now need to book > >the hotel. I've been to Coz once before about 5-6 years ago. I stayed in a [quoted text clipped - 37 lines] > > http://masturbateforpeace.com Thanks for the post, good info. FWIW, I couldn't resist hitting your link above. Very funny amusing. I feel better now. :) >Thanks for the post, good info. FWIW, I couldn't resist hitting your link >above. Very funny amusing. I feel better now. :) Eh, it gives me something to do on my off days. http://masturbateforpeace.com > Hello to all, > [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > > What are the best hotel/resorts to stay in? The best hotel on the island is the Intercontinental El Presidente -- hands down. > If all-inclusive, is the food decent/edible? It is not all-inclusive and the food is good. > Should I start anti-biotics before I get there or wait until I get sick? > What foods to avoid (of course, ice & water)? > Suggestions on who to dive with are also appreciated > > Thanks for any input! "Schmoe" <jschmoeleg@optonline.net> pounded away at his keyboard resulting in: :Can anyone recommend: :What are the best hotel/resorts to stay in? It is probably harder to find a bad one than a good one. I have been there 5 times, stayed at 5 different resorts, dove with 5 different dive shops, and enjoyed every trip. You can read a report of my last trip here: http://www.pathcom.com/~bracuk/Trips/cozumel03.htm If I was going to go back soon, I would stay at Iberostar, making it 6 different hotels in 6 trips. Dan Bracuk If at first you don't succeed, you run the risk of failure. The Best of rec.scuba http://www.pathcom.com/~bracuk/RecScuba/ > Hello to all, Hello to you !! > I've finally planned a dive trip. My last attempt was on 9/11/01 where I > departed Newark for Bonaire through Puerto Rico about 1/2 hour before the > downed planes departed. I was then stranded in Puerto Rico for 5 days and > came home asap. I bet you could write a book about that experience. Geeze. :( > So, ready to give it a try again, booked the flights and now need to book > the hotel. I've been to Coz once before about 5-6 years ago. I stayed in a > mid-range hotel across the road from the water. Also, I got a bad case of > Montezuma's Revenge on that trip and vowed that I'd bring anti-biotics this > time. And you are going back to Coz because... ???? > Can anyone recommend: > What are the best hotel/resorts to stay in? [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > Suggestions on who to dive with are also appreciated > Thanks for any input! Ok. Here's my take on it : 1. Don't bother with Coz. Seriously. Why do you wanna go there ?? You've been there once before. You got sick there. And you didn't speak highly of the diving while you were there. I went to Coz years and years ago and I thought it sucked. I haven't been back. It's an over-rated tourist trap. Too many ppl seem to be sheep on the issue. They follow the leader and say... "Ohhhh yea, Coz is cool.", instead of being honest and saying..."Ohhh hell. I didn't think Coz was so good." Well I'm not going to be a sheep. Coz sucked !! 2. You can't take antibiotics to prevent something that you have no idea will occur. And the antibiotics aren't going to help with the Tortilla Trots. 3. Avoid eating any fruits/vegies that you can't peel. This past July/August, 3-4 months ago, I flew into Cancun with a group of 7 other divers. We traveled to the extreme southern section of the Yucatan. We were just 30 miles north of entering Belize. We were in the middle of nowhere.. the jungle. I trusted the resorts's claim that their water was safe and I didn't get sick. My friends insisted on using bottled water and some of them got sick. We spent a week there and then traveled up to Playa del Carmen. I drank the hotels and restaurants water and ate what I wanted while I was there. Again, my friends used only bottled water. Some of them ended up with diarrhea. I didn't. If I were you, I'd forget about Coz. I'd fly into Cancun and head south. I'd stay in Playa del Carmen or Akumal and I'd dive off the coast there and plan some cenote dives. Coz can't compare to that. In fact, like I said... Coz sucks. LOL Playa del Carmen hotel = Continental Plaza Dive operators = Hiddens Worlds / Dos Ojos for the cenotes. Dive operators = Tank Ha for the coast Whatever you decide, have a fun and safe trip !!!! :) On 16 Nov 2003 00:30:22 -0800, (Salty) wrote ... >3. Avoid eating any fruits/vegies that you can't peel. Along with a certain restaurant in Philly these days... <evil-grin> > On 16 Nov 2003 00:30:22 -0800, (Salty) wrote ... > >3. Avoid eating any fruits/vegies that you can't peel. > Along with a certain restaurant in Philly these days... <evil-grin> Ohhh... I haven't heard about that. Tell me. On 16 Nov 2003 17:29:42 -0800, (Salty) wrote ... >Ohhh... I haven't heard about that. Tell me. Ooops... It was in Pittsburg, not Philly... Hepatitis A outbreak due to contaminated green onions at a Chi-Chi's Mexican restaurant... When I was stationed in Norfolk while in the Navy, I ate at a Chi-Chi's in Virginia Beach quite often... They had really good shredded beef chimichangas... Probably one of the better hot sauces that I've tasted at various Mexican restaurants over the years... http://www.cnn.com/2003/HEALTH/conditions/11/15/hepatitis.outbreak.ap/index.html <Snip> >Probably one of the better hot sauces that I've tasted > at various Mexican restaurants over the years... And coming from a Texan, that's saying a LOT!!!. C Guynn On Mon, 17 Nov 2003 15:43:47 GMT, "Chris Guynn" wrote ... >And coming from a Texan, that's saying a LOT!!!. I have to admit that I tend to form an rather biased initial impression of a Mexican restaurant by the taste of the chips and hot sauce... If they can't get that right, it's a safe bet that they probably can't get the rest of the menu right... The Chi-Chi's restaurant in Virginia Beach, VA had three flavors of hot sauce -- mild, hot, and extra hot... The extra hot sauce was made with green chilli peppers... I liked a little more of the tomato flavor in the hot sauce, so I would mix it with the 'hot' level of sauce... The chimichangas there were really good... They came with a sour cream topping and a single chimichanga would make a good meal... They also had a fried ice cream desert that was rather good... Their bar also had a Pina Colada that when made with Meyers Dark Run was rather tasty (they didn't use a mix like you see most bars use), especially during the 2 for 1 Happy Hour... > On 16 Nov 2003 17:29:42 -0800, (Salty) wrote ... > >Ohhh... I haven't heard about that. Tell me. > Ooops... It was in Pittsburg, not Philly... Hepatitis A outbreak due > to contaminated green onions at a Chi-Chi's Mexican restaurant... When > I was stationed in Norfolk while in the Navy, I ate at a Chi-Chi's in > Virginia Beach quite often... They had really good shredded beef > chimichangas... Probably one of the better hot sauces that I've tasted > at various Mexican restaurants over the years... http://www.cnn.com/2003/HEALTH/conditions/11/15/hepatitis.outbreak.ap/index.html Lemme try this post again : I think that y0u'll have this kind of thing no matter where you go. I've eatten at Chi-Chi's before too. IMHO, they are a typical 'rip-off' kind of chain that tries to capture an ethnic food. IOW, if I want to eat Mexican food, I won't go to a Chi-Chi's. On 17 Nov 2003 08:04:47 -0800, (Calamari) wrote ... >I think that y0u'll have this kind of thing no matter where you go. >I've eatten at Chi-Chi's before too. IMHO, they are a typical >'rip-off' kind of chain that tries to capture an ethnic food. IOW, if >I want to eat Mexican food, I won't go to a Chi-Chi's. I don't know about their other foods, all I ever ate there was their chimichangas, fried ice cream, chips & hot sauce, and pina coladas... From what I remember, those items were pretty good... But then again, back then, all I had to compare it to was Navy food anyway... <grin> I'm not really a big fan of Mexican food... The only things that I eat are chimichangas, fajitas, tacos (w/ no veggies), burittos (w/ no beans and preferrably shredded beef instead of ground beef) and of course, the chips and hot sauce... It's been over 20 years since I ate there... Don't know if they have changed... > I don't know about their other foods, all I ever ate there was their > chimichangas, fried ice cream, chips & hot sauce, and pina coladas... > From what I remember, those items were pretty good... But then again, > back then, all I had to compare it to was Navy food anyway... <grin> Fried ice cream is pretty good. Were you on a ship most of the time during your stay in the Navy ?? > I'm not really a big fan of Mexican food... The only things that I eat > are chimichangas, fajitas, tacos (w/ no veggies), burittos (w/ no > beans and preferrably shredded beef instead of ground beef) and of > course, the chips and hot sauce... > It's been over 20 years since I ate there... Don't know if they have > changed... You're funny. You say that you're not a big fan of Mexican food, but then you go on to rattle off all the stuff that you'll eat. LOL !! Do y'all have those peppers that are stuffed with cheese there ?? They're sometimes called 'Poppers'. > > I don't know about their other foods, all I ever ate there was their > > chimichangas, fried ice cream, chips & hot sauce, and pina coladas... [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] > y'all have those peppers that are stuffed with cheese there ?? > They're sometimes called 'Poppers'. We do. We also sometimes stuff jalapenos with a mixture of cream chesses and Lipton Ranch Soup mix. Talk about some good stuff. [for some reason, my news server hasn't received the original message from Salty yet, so I'm snipping her post from Chris' reply] "Salty" <babette7401@hotmail.com> wrote in message > Were you on a ship most of the time > during your stay in the Navy ?? No, but considering what we were paid back then, I would rarely eat off base... The money was spent on booze instead since the Navy didn't provide us with that... <grin> > You're funny. You say that you're not a big fan of Mexican food, but > then you go on to rattle off all the stuff that you'll eat. LOL !! Do > y'all have those peppers that are stuffed with cheese there ?? > They're sometimes called 'Poppers'. I was just pointing out that there are very few Mexican dishes that I will eat... Most of them just look disgusting and I will unlikely ever taste because I can't get past the look of them... Refried beans look like they are more like biologically reprocessed beans... Guacamole looks disgusting... I suspect part of the problem is that I never really ever developed a taste of veggies, so any dish with a lot of them looks disgusting to me... I cannot make a comment on the majority of the dishes over at Chi-Chi's, only the small number of things that I would eat... Basically, they were good enough that I would order the same thing everytime I went there... Perhaps just as importatnt at that time, they were at a price that I could afford on the Navy's pay... <grin> We even have Poppers at Burger King... They are cheddar cheese stuffed jalapeno peppers that are battered and deep fried... > We do. We also sometimes stuff jalapenos with a mixture of cream chesses > and Lipton Ranch Soup mix. Talk about some good stuff. Exactly !! Yummy stuff !! <snip> > 1. Don't bother with Coz. Seriously. Why do you wanna go there ?? > You've been there once before. You got sick there. And you didn't > speak highly of the diving while you were there. Not sure where you got that from. Even though I was sick, I thought the diving was magnificent. I've dove all over the Caribbean and aside from Little Cayman and the Brac, I thought Coz was the best so far; strictly speaking of underwater. <snip> > > 1. Don't bother with Coz. Seriously. Why do you wanna go there ?? > > You've been there once before. You got sick there. And you didn't > > speak highly of the diving while you were there. > Not sure where you got that from. From this... "I've been to Coz once before about 5-6 years ago. I stayed in a mid-range hotel across the road from the water. Also, I got a bad case of Montezuma's Revenge on that trip..." And you don't say a thing about liking the diving in your original post. <grin> > Even though I was sick, I thought the > diving was magnificent. I've dove all over the Caribbean and aside from > Little Cayman and the Brac, I thought Coz was the best so far; strictly > speaking of underwater. Well if you don't wanna try something new, then I guess you should return. Have a great trip !! > > > 1. Don't bother with Coz. Seriously. Why do you wanna go there ?? > > > You've been there once before. You got sick there. And you didn't [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] > Well if you don't wanna try something new, then I guess you should > return. Have a great trip !! You're right about my original post. Still, I didn't say I did not like the diving. On your "try something new" comment: foolishness. You know nothing about me. Do you never return to a great restaurant? I have several reasons for returning to Coz, your useless sarcasm aside. I thought the diving was great and want to experience it healthy where I can completely enjoy it. It's also very convenient to get to and I want to stay close to the states because on my last trip I was stranded on an island for 5 days due to 9/11. Coz is a quick boat to mainland (I'm assuming your not quick enough to figure that out based on your requirement for sarcasm where I've used none). <snip> >(I'm assuming your not quick enough to figure that > out based on your requirement for sarcasm where I've used none). Tweeeeet! That's a 15 yard personal foul for roughing the poster... > You're right about my original post. Still, I didn't say I did not like the > diving. Alrighty then. > On your "try something new" comment: foolishness. No. It's a suggestion. If you take it to be sarcasm, then that's your problem, isn't it ?? > You know nothing about me. The point here is ...?? > Do you never return to a great restaurant? Ahhh... yea. I return because I think it's good. I think Coz sucks. Again... your point is what now ???? > I have several reasons for > returning to Coz, your useless sarcasm aside. And your reasons for justifying your return are duly noted. > I thought the diving was great > and want to experience it healthy where I can completely enjoy it. As if someone would not waant that. > It's also > very convenient to get to and I want to stay close to the states because on > my last trip I was stranded on an island for 5 days due to 9/11. Convenient for what travel plans ?? You wanna go to Mexico, then go. Coz is no different from going to Akamal or Playa. > Coz is a > quick boat to mainland (I'm assuming your not quick enough to figure that > out based on your requirement for sarcasm where I've used none). LOL I pointed out to you that Playa is just A QUICK BOAT away from your beloved Coz. You need to take a chill pill and re-read. I'm beginning to think that you're simply lost in Coz land. Hey... if you are... then go for it. <snip> > > On your "try something new" comment: foolishness. > > No. It's a suggestion. If you take it to be sarcasm, then that's your > problem, isn't it ?? No, it's a geographic problem. Us New Yawkers take pretty much everything as sarcasm. Besides, I didn't say it was a problem, just foolishness. No problem at all. > > You know nothing about me. > > The point here is ...?? You suggested that I was wrong to go back to Coz partly because I should try something new. I've got enough newness I'm sure. It gets old after a while <g>. But you wouldn't know that 'cause ya don't know me hence the "you know nothing about me". > > Do you never return to a great restaurant? > > Ahhh... yea. I return because I think it's good. I think Coz sucks. > Again... your point is what now ???? I can't imagine why you hate Coz so much. How many times have you been there? > > I have several reasons for > > returning to Coz, your useless sarcasm aside. [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > Convenient for what travel plans ?? You wanna go to Mexico, then go. > Coz is no different from going to Akamal or Playa. I'm told the boatrides from Playa or Akamal are long. I'd rather be underwater. As far as other Great Maya spots, I've been to Belize too. > > Coz is a > > quick boat to mainland (I'm assuming your not quick enough to figure that [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > beginning to think that you're simply lost in Coz land. Hey... if you > are... then go for it. Where can I get this so called 'chill pill'? Does it go down well with Tequila? I'm not lost anywhere, we just chose Coz for the reasons I've mentioned. I'm sorry you had a bad experience in Coz. I enjoy every place I go even if the diving isn't as good as hoped. In Coz it was. In Belize it wasn't but I had a blast. Go figure. Little Cayman still tops my Carib list but someday I'd like to try again to get to Bonaire. > > > On your "try something new" comment: foolishness. > > No. It's a suggestion. If you take it to be sarcasm, then that's your > > problem, isn't it ?? > No, it's a geographic problem. Us New Yawkers take pretty much everything as > sarcasm. Besides, I didn't say it was a problem, just foolishness. No > problem at all. You're from New York ??!! Geeze, that explains everything !! Hahahaha <snipping> > > > Coz is a > > > quick boat to mainland (I'm assuming your not quick enough to figure > that > > > out based on your requirement for sarcasm where I've used none). > > LOL I pointed out to you that Playa is just A QUICK BOAT away from > > your beloved Coz. You need to take a chill pill and re-read. I'm > > beginning to think that you're simply lost in Coz land. Hey... if you > > are... then go for it. > Where can I get this so called 'chill pill'? Does it go down well with > Tequila? <snip> I think you already found it. No worries, eh ?? :) <snip> >You're from New York ??!! Geeze, that explains everything !! Hahahaha ><snipping> I heard that! I mean, c'mon here. Geeeez. Where else can you go and pay some of the highest taxes in the states. Get your drugs from the Canuck side of the house. Really, Canuckland is just northern New York afterall. Endure some of the best weather.....58 below zero, 400 + inches of snow, and ice diving through 4 foot of ice. When we vacation, we go to PA to look at the trees and cows. Now, what the hell is this about Nenw Yawkers being sarcastic??? http://masturbateforpeace.com > <snip> > > [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > York afterall. Endure some of the best weather.....58 below zero, 400 > + inches of snow, and ice diving through 4 foot of ice. 400" of snow? 58 below 0? 4 foot of ice? I assume you are talking about upstate NY. That's not New York. That's upstate. Completely different. Not technically part of "New York" (d&r). Oh, and I get my drugs right here in NY, not in Canuckland. > <snip> > > > >You're from New York ??!! Geeze, that explains everything !! Hahahaha > ><snipping> > I heard that! I mean, c'mon here. Geeeez. Where else can you go > and pay some of the highest taxes in the states. Get your drugs from > the Canuck side of the house. Really, Canuckland is just northern New > York afterall. Endure some of the best weather.....58 below zero, 400 > + inches of snow, and ice diving through 4 foot of ice. Drugs ?? So when I ask you..."Got snow ??", you might not be talking about the frozen rain stuff when you answer ??!! > When we > vacation, we go to PA to look at the trees and cows. And after a while of you and all the other Upstate NY'ers doing this, our cows are hiding behind our trees and asking each other ... "What the hell is this guy's problem ??"... just like in some Far Side cartoon. > Now, what the hell is this about Nenw Yawkers being sarcastic??? Sarcastic. Yes. But you're an exception to the rules. In fact, you're an exception to many rules. And that's why I love ya !!!!! :) babette7401@hotmail.com (Salty) pounded away at his keyboard resulting in: :Ahhh... yea. I return because I think it's good. I think Coz sucks. What don't you like about it? Dan Bracuk If at first you don't succeed, you run the risk of failure. The Best of rec.scuba http://www.pathcom.com/~bracuk/RecScuba/ > What don't you like about it? How much time do you have to listen ?? <grin> babette7401@hotmail.com (Salty) pounded away at his keyboard resulting in: :How much time do you have to listen ?? <grin> Not much, be succinct. Dan Bracuk If at first you don't succeed, you run the risk of failure. The Best of rec.scuba http://www.pathcom.com/~bracuk/RecScuba/ > babette7401@hotmail.com (Salty) pounded away at his keyboard resulting > in: > :How much time do you have to listen ?? <grin> > Not much, be succinct. If I were to say... "Because.", is that too succinct ?? > Hello to all, > > I've finally planned a dive trip. My last attempt was on 9/11/01 where I > departed Newark for Bonaire through Puerto Rico about 1/2 hour before the > downed planes departed. I was then stranded in Puerto Rico for 5 days and > came home asap. My wife and I just returned from Cozumel. Having read the remarks generated by your original posting, just before leaving, we were a little apprehensive about the food situation. As it turned out, all worry was for not. We stayed at Scuba Club Cozumel. Meals, five - 2 tank boat trips and for what it was worth, unlimited shore diving, were included in the package. When we arrived, the first thing we did was sit down for lunch. There was a variety of fruit and salad, and we really thought hard before deceiding to have the greens. We went ahead anyway and as it was, no one in our group of 25 had any serious problems, over the entire week. I think if you took 25 people to "Anytown, USA" someone in the group would end up with a little discomfort because some people just don't travel well, so any minor problems anyone had was just one of those things. We were advised to use bottled water for teeth brushing and drinking, the hotel actually had water coolers with fresh, safe water throughout the facility. We kept 3 or 4 bottles filled all the time in the room fridge. My wife took imodium one day, I think that was the extent of our problems, and another couple did the same. They didn't have any long lasting problem either (I believe they were brushing with tap water, we didn't take that chance) Food was good, we actually ate almost all our meals at the hotel, just eating off-site once. My guess is most of the good resorts will be at least as safe as where we were. Good luck, hope you have a great trip, Ernie > > Hello to all, > > [quoted text clipped - 32 lines] > > Good luck, hope you have a great trip, Thanks for the note and good thoughts. Leaving a week from Friday and very psyched! How was the vis, water conditions and weather? > Thanks for the note and good thoughts. Leaving a week from Friday and very > psyched! How was the vis, water conditions and weather? The vis was pretty good, I'd estimate maybe a hundred feet or so. Maybe it was more, certainly clear enough to see tons of reef and sealife. The weather was excellent, sunny and warm every day but one. That day we had light rain in the morning but just cloudy in the afternoon. The winds were mostly from the north-east or east so the boat rides were fine. The day we left the wind shiffted to the north and was quite strong, had we been diving, it would have been a little less comfortable ride. Oh well, thats what Bonine is for!! Again, have a good time and great diving! |
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