Cozumel or Playa del Carmen? And recommmendations for places to stay?

Question

Which do you recommend and why? And any suggestions on where to stay? Also , better to stay in a hotel or rent a condo or something for the week?

Answer 1

Cozumel is better for scuba diving (best place in mexico). It is smaller, more "american" (US & Canadian Tourists), and more familiar.

Playa del Carmen has a better nightlife, beautifull sandy beaches just in front of the downtown, more "european" (European and Southamerican tourists as well as a big European community there), and the crowd is in the late 20´s to 50´s.

In Cozumel I recommend Aura Cozumel Resort Wyndham Grand Bay for a Luxury Vacation or the Occidental and Iberostar all Inclusives Resorts for a cheaper budget. All of them are in the south part of the island where the scuba thing is happening, but if you want to do some shopping or clubbing  you must take a 15 minute taxi ride to go to downtown.

In Playa del Carmen I recommend Iberostar and Occidental All Inclusives also if you prefer this kind of vacation. Personally, in playa I prefer smaller hotels (with european plan), there are plenty of them over the 5th avenue and they are cheaper and surprsingly charming plus, they are over the 5th ave, where everything happens in playa.

Condos and vacation rentals are also available and I recommend them if you want some privacy and travel with a big crowd. (search: condos in Playacar Golf course in Playa del Carmen / or in Cozumel).

January is not too hot as august and less rainy. No Hurricanes in winter but you can enjoy the mex caribbean in both seasons.