Hi everyone,
I am planning on taking the "more time than money" route to San Pedro this year. I think I have the plane to Cancun and bus to Chetumal figured out but how about suggestions for hotel in Chetumal overnight. Something within easy reach of both the bus and dock for the next day.
Thanks Patti

Hotel Los Cocos. Great location, really nice restaurant, around $100 US mas o menos for a night.

Noor is also fine.
Cheaper ($85 or so per night), decent restaurant - super-close to the pier and Sam's Club.

In Chetumal, I like staying in the downtown area (near the Maya museum) because it's handy to food & shopping. Use taxis to get anywhere in the city -- from the bus terminal to downtown is MX$15 (that's pesos), and to the water taxi is MX$15.

There are at least 10 hotels of all budgets within a few minutes walk from the Museum of Maya Culture in the central area of the city. The Holiday Inn is probably the easiest to find on the main street, Av. Heroes, opposite the market.

Around the north corner from the Holiday Inn, there are 3 hotels:
Hotel Ucum, Av. Mahatma Gandhi 167, Chetumal
Tel: 832 0711
http://www.hotelucumchetumal.com/index.html
Hotel Ucum has 3 standards of rooms:
MX$220: 2 double beds, bathroom (hot water), fan
MX$270: 2 double beds, bathroom (hot water), fan, cable TV
MX$380: double bed, bathroom (hot water), a/c, cable TV, nicer than the cheaper rooms.
The cheaper rooms surround the parking area, and can sometimes be noisy. The MX$380 rooms are behind the main building, and are quieter. And there's a swimming pool.
Last year, the hotel offered wifi internet for a fee of 30 pesos a day.

Hotel Gandhi, Av. Mahatma Gandhi No. 166, Chetumal
Phone: (983) 285 3269, 285 3270
Email: loscuatesdelsureste@hotmail.com
New hotel (opened in late 2007), across the street from the Ucum, clean, modern, a/c, hot water, cable TV, phone, wireless internet.
Single: MX$500, Double: MX$600, Mini-suite: MX$700. Sometimes during the low season, the rate drops to MX$399.

Hotel Xcalak is a new hotel beside the Hotel Ucum.
The rooms are above a restaurant; all rooms are MX$400.

Several metres south of the Holiday Inn, there is 1 hotel:
Hotel Juliet
Clean, modern, a/c, fan, hot water, cable TV, wireless internet.
Last year the rates were MX$300 to $400, but then the hotel closed, underwent some renovations and reopened a couple of months ago. I don't know the new rates.

Down the street to the south from Holiday Inn:
Hotel Brasilia, on the same side of the street as Holiday Inn
Single rooms (very small) for about MX$170 (MX$190 with a TV).
Doubles are about MX$250.
Very low budget hotel; not so clean nor modern.

Further down on the opposite side of the street is Los Cocos.
Expensive.

Across the street from Holiday Inn is:
Hotel Villa Fontana, Av. Heroes 181, Chetumal
Tel: (983) 129 2003, 129 2004
Email: hotelvillafontana@hotmail.com
Clean, a/c, fan, hot water, cable TV.
MX$350 to $480 depending on the number and size of beds.
(Rates are from last year)

There are a couple of hotels on the west side of the Museum of Maya Culture:
Hotel Azteca, Calle Belize 186, Chetumal
Tel: (983) 832 0720, Fax: (983) 832 0666, 832 8575
Email: hotelrealazteca@hotmail.com
http://hotelrealaztecachetumal.com
MX$300: A/c, fan, hot water, cable TV, parking.

Hotel Cristal, around the corner from the bus terminal
Single: MX$140 (fan), $190 (fan & TV), $275 (fan, TV, a/c)
Double: MX$235 (fan & TV), $350 (fan, TV, a/c)
Triple: MX$410 (fan, TV, a/c)
Quadruple: MX$480 (fan, TV, a/c)
(rates are from last year)

There are more hotels south along the main street, and on some of the side streets. Also, some hotels north along the main street.

I wouldn't suggest staying near the bus terminal.

http://www.allmexicohotels.com/quintana-roo/chetumal/
http://www.chetumalhoteles.com/hoteles.html

Within 100 meters of the pier... http://www.hotelnoor.com.mx/ Highly recommended.

I second Hotel Cocos for location and cold air-conditioning. Within walking distance of most everything in town including the Muelle Fiscal. Lobby is very nice, rooms are okay, nothing special. Around US$100. Probably can get a better deal if you ask. Last stayed there a few weeks ago.

Thanks these are going to be a big help. See you in San Pedro in Jan.
Patti

I think you get a 10% discount at Los Cocos if you travel with Water Jet Express. Present your ticket and ask if the discount program is still in place.
Same program was available at Noor.

Dear Mister8266
You gave me some great info on hotels in Chetumal. They were all around the Holiday Inn. Is there some reason you do not recommend the Holiday Inn?
Just wondering since it seems to be the easiest to book.
Fearless

Patti, I know the real reason is you just want to be able to say "But I stayed at a Holiday Inn last night"

In your original post, you said you have "more time than money" -- that sounded like you are looking for a lower priced hotel.

I've never stayed in the Holiday Inn. I've been in the lobby a few times to check the rates, and from memory, they were around US$100 a night. A year or so ago, in the low season, they were offering a "special" rate of 1000 pesos a night. I think there is a swimming pool and I've heard they have a good breakfast.

Without knowing more precisely what you want most in a hotel (price, comfort, location??), I can't make any recommendation for you. I can only provide the information about hotels that I have either stayed in or checked out, so you can make a decision.

For the true Budget minded person..Hotel Ucumb..$20 a night, not an offensive place, swimming pool. for one night not a bad choice.

Would that make me cool? It's been so long.

Actually I'm looking at staying at the Noor. Has anyone stayed there? Did you like it?
I'm already making my plans for January, I cant wait.
Patti

I stayed at Noor. It was nice. Right on the bay. Walk across the street to Sams Club. Not far from the restaurants on the strip. The hotel is clean and safe. Nice bar and restaurant. Small pool. Walking distance to the water taxi. Cost around $90US for the night I think.

Found one!
I was having trouble getting a reservation online for the places everyone recommended (Noor, Los Cocos etc never answered my email). But I kept looking and found booking.com which got me to Hotel & Suites Arges. It looks like it is between the HI and the dock, with ac, wi-fi and free breakfast for only $45US a night. So I am now booked there and will let you know how it is.