Hotel Pepita, Cozumel

Hotel Pepita is a budget hotel found on the Mexican island of Cozumel. It was recommended as one of the better budget options in the Lonely Planet guide, so when I arrived I wandered along and enquired about a room (I wasn't very organised but I was early)! I was lucky and there was to be a room later on - I left my bag in their luggage store and returned later after a couple of dives. At busy times it's probably better to book in advance - I don't ...
.../> From the outside the hotel is pretty - it's directly on the street, but looks very green and inviting due to lots of flowers and some nice paintwork. The main door opens directly to a small (and fairly basic) reception area, which then leads to the internal courtyard.

The room was nice though nothing special. There were two double beds, reasonably comfortable, and the room was vey clean. The ensuite bathroom was basic, but also ... more

Hotel Pepita is a budget hotel found on the Mexican island of Cozumel. It was recommended as one of the better budget options in the Lonely Planet guide, so when I arrived I wandered along and enquired about a room (I wasn't very organised but I was early)! I was lucky and there was to be a room later on - I left my bag in their luggage store and returned later after a couple of dives. At busy times it's probably better to book in advance - I don't think they have more than a dozen rooms, which is part of the charm of the place.

From the outside the hotel is pretty - it's directly on the street, but looks very green and inviting due to lots of flowers and some nice paintwork. The main door opens directly to a small (and fairly basic) reception area, which then leads to the internal courtyard.

The room was nice though nothing special. There were two double beds, reasonably comfortable, and the room was vey clean. The ensuite bathroom was basic, but also clean. There was a small fridge in the room, handy for breakfast snacks, and a small rail for hanging your clothes. There was a limited view looking over the internal courtyard; from the other side you could see across a junkyard to the neighbouring road (this was actually not as bad as it sounds). There was air-con in the room, but I never used it as I was there in late January, and it wasn't too hot.

One of the best features of the hotel was the internal courtyard, with a long central table in the shade as it's main feature. In the mornign there would be a table set up where you could help yourself to coffee - a useful way to start the day! There would often be a couple of people sitting around here throughout the day. There's no breakfast service, but there are plenty of places nearby.

The hotel was fairly quiet, though there was a bit of street noise at the weekend - but it was also Carnival at the time. I never heard any noise from other guests. Prices were reasonable - the advertised rate is about US$30 for a room, but I think I paid a little less as I was travelling alone. Service was pretty good - occasionally I had to wait a bit at the front desk, but this was usually to pay as I hadn't been asked for a while!

The hotel is fairly central - about 3 blocks back from the seafront, very close to the main square and centre, and only 2-3 minutes walk from the local market, which is a fantastic place to eat breakfast. There are several dive shops in the vicinity.

Overall I thought this place was a good deal - not fancy, but friendly, and worth it for the price you pay. Especially good for backpackers or those on a budget. 

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