Switzerland Travel Community? Join

Switzerland Travel Community: Ticino Tourism, Ticino Restaurants, Ticino Hotels, Ticino Attractions Home Browse: -- ---Destination--- Adelboden Airolo Aletsch Andermatt Anzre Appenzellerland Arosa Ascona Bad Ragaz Baden Basel Belinzona Bern Berner Oberland Bettmeralp Biel Braunwald Brienz-Meiringen Brig Brissago Celerina Centovalli Charmey Chteau-d'Oex Chur Crans-Montana Davos Disentis-Sedrun Einsiendeln Emmental Engelberg Estavayer-le-Lac Flims Laax Falera Fribourg Geneva Gimmelwald Glarus Grchen Grindelwald Gruyres Gstaad Interlaken Jungfrau Region Kandersteg Klosters La Chaux-de-Fonds Lago Maggiore Lausanne Lauterbrunnen Lenzerheide-Valbella Les Diablerets Leuk Leukerbaad Leysin Liestal Locarno Ltschberg Lucerne Lugano Martigny Mendrisio Montreux Morges Mount Pilatus Mt. Rigi Murren Murten Nendaz Neuchatel Nyon Pays du Grand-St-Bernard Pontresina Rapperswil Rheinfelden Riederalp Romont Saanen Saas-Fee Sainte-Croix Samedan Samnaun San Bernardino Sntis Savognin Schaffhausen Schwyz Scuol Sierre Sils-maria Silvaplana Sion Soglio Solothurn Splgen St. Gallen St. Moritz Thun Thurgau Thusis Ticino Toggenburg Torgon Vaduz Val de Illiez Verbier Villars Visp Region Weggis Wengen Winterthur Yverdon Zermatt Zug Zurich ---Region--- Basel Bernese Oberland Central Switzerland Eastern Switzerland/Liechtenstein Fribourg Geneva Graubnden Lake Geneva (Vaud) Neuchtel / Jura / Jura Bernois Schweizer Mittelland Ticino Valais Zurich Switzerland Game Log in Email Address: Password: Remember Me Problems logging in? Not a Member? What is the Switzerland Travel Community? Join the community to discover Switzerland through firsthand travel reviews and photos, to meet other Swiss travelers, earn valuable rewards, and much more! Switzerland > Ticino Ticino is a Latin land: the Romans brought vineyards and left important public structures (towns, bridges and alpine passes). The names of numerous villages, such as Sonvico and Vico-Morcote, testify to this. In the Middle Ages, Ticino was dominated by the bishops of Como and Milan. And it was a place where the Rusca, Visconti and Sforza families imposed their will over the land. Ticino Top Picks as chosen by Switzerland Travel Communitymembers Ticino Journals Hikes and treks in southern Switzerland Cappuccino on the Piazza in Ascona Mogno and Fusio See All Ticino Lodging No entries available. Write your own review and earn valuable GO Points. Ticino Dining Antica Osteria Dazio Ticino Activities Trekking in Valcolla 2 Trekking in Valcolla 3 Hiking at Monte Lema See All Ticino Culture & Nightlife No entries available. Write your own review and earn valuable GO Points. Ticino Experiences No entries available. Write your own review and earn valuable GO Points. What's the Difference Between a Journal and a Review? Think of it in book terms: reviews are like chapters within a journal. In a "journal" on Zurich, for instance, you'll find individual "reviews" for resorts, mountains, restaurants, attractions, and activities. Featured Member. Member lashr1999 writes: "Lucerne is a world-famous city in Switzerland in the center of Europe. It is surrounded by great mou..." read more Community Ticino Members With Ticino Journals rhiannon1968 walkingaway Ticino Photos See All Most Recent Ticino Journals Summer in Locarno Mogno and Fusio Cappuccino on the Piazza in Ascona Hikes and treks in southern Switzerland See All Return to Home Information about Swiss Quality Switzerland Tourism : About Us : Privacy Statement

Japan Travel

Japan National Tourist Organization Website Add to Favorite | Home | Site Map | Contact US | Operation hours of Tourist Information Center (TIC) on the New Year's Day Good Dealh Hotel Special Promotion ! Akasaka Prince Hotel (Tokyo) Aranvert Hotel Kyoto (Kyoto) Fujiya Hotel (Hakone) Hotel New Otani Tokyo Hotel New Otani Osaka -- Tokyu Hotels Cerulean Tower Tokyu Hotel (Tokyo) Shibuya Excel Tokyu Hotel (Tokyo) -- ANA Hotels ANA Hotel Hakata, Fukuoka -- Kyoto Takaragaike Prince Hotel Hakata Tokyu Inn, Fukuoka -- more Luxury Hotel Four Seasons Tokyo at Chinzan-so Mandarin Oriental Hotel, Tokyo Sign up for site updates! Enter your email address: New Kyoto Tours Combine Serenity, Tradition and Elegance of the Geisha -- 60th Anniversary of the United Nations Special Exhibition in NY Japanese New Year's Special "Hatsumoude" Go back in time for a limited time at Mitsui Echigoya Station (Kimono Outlet) The Imperial Palace opens its grounds to the public for one of only two open houses during the yearI A chance to win a round-trip ticket to Japan! -- offered by Kintetsu International. The Mitsui Memorial Museum opened in October 2005 Fantastic Seasonal illuminations in Tokyo and Kobe! A Winter Wonderland in Hokkaido Reserve your place for the Sapporo Snow Festival The Spiritual Japan Program Japan Vacations 2006 to Fit Your Taste & Budget Last Minutes Winter Special Tour: "Sake" - gOnsenh(Hot Spring) 9 days 7 nights Highlight Japan plus Beyond (Tokyo, Kyoto, Seoul Package) Art Journey in Shikoku Tour Japan Cherry Blossom Tour 2006 g Bonsai h Exhibition Tour The Golf and gHanamih ( Cherry Blossom) Tour Ancient Treasures of Japan and Korea 7 days Japan Escorted Tour from Christmas Eve to the year end!! Last Minutes Tour Deals by JNA Travel. Two other dates available. gKOIh ( Colored Carp ) and gGARDENh Tour Other Kyoto experiences and Geisha Tours IACE's Package Tour Special:Sumo Tour, etc Frank Lloyd Wright's Japan,gTHE WRIGHT WAYh -- A Collectorfs Passion Japan Experience Spring 2006 Package Tokyo and Beijing, Yangtze River Cruise Japan Railways moves closer to non-smoking service. Can an obaasan (with nine grandchildren) visit Japan on her own? -- A story of 5 nights in Japan written by a sweepstakes winner. I entered a contest sponsored by Jalpak, the tour company for Japan Airlines .... in March. I had quite forgotten about it and was surprised to find out in June that I had won a flight to Japan [more] Bathing Monkeys: In Nagano's Yudanaka Onsen not only humans enjoy the hot spring waters Yudanaka and Shibu Onsen are the two most prominent of more than half a dozen hot springs, clustered together in Yamanouchi Town in northern Nagano Prefecture. [more] Japan Airlines All Nippon Airways United Airlines American Airlines more Current Japan time HOME • SITE MAP • WEBSITE INFO © Japan National Tourist Organization

Hotel Travel

Sydney hotels reservations, cheap hotels, travel, discounts and vacations Sydney Hotels 100,000 luxury, chain and discount hotels worldwide, Cheap hotels, accommodation and hotel reservations. all-hotels.com, travel lodgings and reservations Sydney Hotels Sydney: Often mistaken as Australia's capital city, Sydney is one of the most popular tourist vacation destinations in the world. With an average of 240 days of sunshine a year, and access to some of the world's most famous attractions, it's not surprising! Sydney, the capital of New South Wales, is Australia's oldest city and is situated on Port Jackson - arguably one of the world's most beautiful natural harbours. The harbour is best seen at the weekends when it fills with a spectacular array of cruisers, yachts and sailing boats. A boat trip on the harbour will offer visitors unparalleled views of the world famous Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge. Search Hotel Directory " name="Join" class="subsgo_v" Where's your next vacation? Sydney hotel guide Hotels in Sydney Darling Harbour Sydney Airport Travel Guide & Information Cheap hotels European vacations US City breaks Discount hotels, lodgings Travel resources Currency converter Hotel Search Find out the availability of hotels in Sydney Where? Arrival Date DD 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 No. of Nights NN 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 No. of Adults 1 2 3 4 Hotel name? " name="Join" class="searchbutton" title="Search Accommodation and Lodgings" Refine your seach for other hotel deals and Discount hotels by using our.... Multiple Room Search Featured Sydney Hotels Grace Hotel Sydney Star Rating 77 York Street, Sydney, Australia, 2000 The Deluxe Grace Hotel is just 20 minutes from Kingsford Smith Airport and is right in the heart of the central business district. This hotel is only 500 meters from the Town Hall and the Wynyard Train Station. The Darling Harbors Convention and Exhibition Center and the Cockle Bay Wharf are within walking distance from the hotel. Hotel guests are just moments away from The Queen Victoria Building and the... Grace Hotel Sydney Reservations... " name="citypagehotel" class="subsgo_v" title="View Cheap Hotel Rooms and other Discounts" onclick="window.location='http://www.all-hotels.com/xbook/servlet/ChooseDates?hotl_id=306083'" Metro Sydney Star Rating 300 Pitt Street, Sydney, Australia, 2000 Located at 300 Pitt Street Sydney and situated in the very heart of the city, the new Metro Hotel Sydney stands ideally in the centre of the exciting business, tourism and leisure heart of Sydney. Only minutes away from the museum, Town Hall and Central Railway Stations and with monorail and buses at the hotel doorstep, traveling is effortless. There is a licensed restaurant on- site, Portobello, which features colorful... Metro Sydney Reservations... " name="citypagehotel" class="subsgo_v" title="View Cheap Hotel Rooms and other Discounts" onclick="window.location='http://www.all-hotels.com/xbook/servlet/ChooseDates?hotl_id=319230'" Travelodge Sydney Star Rating Corner Wentworth Ave/Goulburn STR, Sydney, Australia, 2000 Welcome to the Travelodge Hotel Sydney! This chain of hotels provides a consistent blend of modern quality accommodation and friendly service. Situated on the edge of the Central Business District, you will be perfectly positioned to explore the city of Sydney. Restaurants, theatres, a great range of shops and nightclubs are within easy walking distance. Major attractions that you won't want to miss include the Darling Harbour... Travelodge Sydney Reservations... " name="citypagehotel" class="subsgo_v" title="View Cheap Hotel Rooms and other Discounts" onclick="window.location='http://www.all-hotels.com/xbook/servlet/ChooseDates?hotl_id=306203'" Radisson Sydney 72 LIVERPOOL STREET, Sydney, N S W, Nova Scotia, Australia, 2000 The Radisson Hotel and Suites is a superior deluxe hotel located 20 kilometers from the Kingsford Smith International Airport. This boutique hotel is situated in the heart of Chinatown, within easy reach of Darling Harbour, Cockle Bay Wharf, Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre and the Sydney Entertainment Centre. At your doorstep you will find some of Sydney's major attractions including Queen Victoria... Radisson Sydney Reservations... " name="citypagehotel" class="subsgo_v" title="View Cheap Hotel Rooms and other Discounts" onclick="window.location='http://www.all-hotels.com/xbook/servlet/ChooseDates?hotl_id=194974'" Marriott Sydney 30 Pitt Street, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 2000 The Sydney Harbour Marriott is ideally located in the central business district just one block from Circular Quay and Sydney Harbour. Guests can enjoy views of the botanical gardens, the city skyline, historic Macquarie Park, the world-renowned Sydney Opera House and beautiful Harbour Bridge. The main business and financial district, shopping, sightseeing and "The Rocks" restored historic area are all within easy... Marriott Sydney Reservations... " name="citypagehotel" class="subsgo_v" title="View Cheap Hotel Rooms and other Discounts" onclick="window.location='http://www.all-hotels.com/xbook/servlet/ChooseDates?hotl_id=208394'" Quality Hotel Sydney Star Rating Corner Wentworth Ave & Goulburn St., Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 2000 The Quality Hotel SC Sydney is a 192 room, 4 star hotel, providing accommodation that is both cheap and friendly with courteous service. Located at the crossroads of Sydney, the hotel is only 15 minutes drive from the airport, and an easy stroll to Darling Harbour, Hyde Park, Chinatown and downtown Sydney. Shopping, theatre, cinema, museums, and the many attractions Sydney has to offer are all within easy reach. Guest rooms are spacious... Quality Hotel Sydney Reservations... " name="citypagehotel" class="subsgo_v" title="View Cheap Hotel Rooms and other Discounts" onclick="window.location='http://www.all-hotels.com/xbook/servlet/ChooseDates?hotl_id=272161'" Crown Plaza Darling Harbour 150 DAY ST. PRIVATE BAG Q600, Sydney, Australia, 2000 The Crowne plaza Darling Harbour is perfectly located on the city side of Darling Harbour. Not only are we on the fringe of the CBD, we are within walking distance to the Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre and many of Sydney's best tourist attractions.In a five to ten minute walk from your accommodation, you could be at the Darling Harbour Harbourside complex, Sydney Aquarium, Powerhouse Museum, Chinatown, Cockle Bay Wharf or... Crown Plaza Darling Harbour Reservations... " name="citypagehotel" class="subsgo_v" title="View Cheap Hotel Rooms and other Discounts" onclick="window.location='http://www.all-hotels.com/xbook/servlet/ChooseDates?hotl_id=198329'" Avillion Hotel Sydney Star Rating 389 Pitt Street, Sydney, Australia, 2000 The Avillion Hotel Sydney is a superior deluxe- class hotel located 12 kilometers from Sydney International Airport. This outstanding hotel is situated in the cultural and theatrical heart of Sydney's Central Business District. A myriad of tourist attractions of this harbor city is within easy walking distance such as Darling Harbour, Cockle Bay Wharf, Sydney Aquarium and Chinatown. The theaters and cinema complexes and... Avillion Hotel Sydney Reservations... " name="citypagehotel" class="subsgo_v" title="View Cheap Hotel Rooms and other Discounts" onclick="window.location='http://www.all-hotels.com/xbook/servlet/ChooseDates?hotl_id=306040'" Hotel search around the world: Amsterdam Anaheim Atlanta Barcelona Berlin Boston Brussels Canada Cancun Chicago Dublin Edinburgh Florence Hong Kong Houston Istanbul Italy Las Vegas London Los Angeles Madrid Miami New Orleans New York Nice Oregon Orlando Paris Prague Rome San Antonio San Diego San Francisco Seattle Spain Sydney Tampa Toronto Venice Washington DC Our site works best on Explorer 5 + Netscape 7 + Firefox 1 Also to use our site you must have cookies enabled. About Us - Affiliates - Hotelier Services - Advertising - Privacy Policy - Disclaimer - Terms and Conditions All-Hotels is a registered trademark (RN 2,516,395) 1997 - 2005 OTC / Lastminute.com All-Hotels Home Featured Hotels Hotel Directory Cheap Hotels Promotions and Deals Help and FAQ Site Map

Travel > Global Style

Travel Guides, Vacation Ideas, Travel Deals, Conde Nast Traveler on Concierge.com Destinations USA + Canada > Europe > Caribbean > Latin America > Asia > Australia + Pacific > Middle East + Africa > See All > Ideas Beach + Island > Cruise > Culinary Travel > Global Style > Luxury > Romantic > Ski + Adventure > See All > Best Of Gold List > Readers' Choice Awards > Hot List Hotels > Hot List Tables > Hot List Nights > Ski Resorts > Top Spas > Gourmet Guide > See All > Tools Destination Finder > Hotel Finder > Forums > Travel Tips > Currency Converter > Maps > Photos > Weather > See All > Deals Booking > Travel Deals > See All > Condé Nast Traveler Read Condé Nast Traveler Subscribe to Condé Nast Traveler Articles > Lists > Travel Tips > Great Drives > Room With a View > Where Are You? Contest > Word Trips Contest > Subscribe > See All > forums New York City Paris London Jamaica Rome Sydney Fort Lauderdale Melbourne Puerto Rico Chicago Revel Rousers Electric City -- New Year, New You New! Trail Guides Where to eat, drink, and be merry at these slope-side retreats Park City, Utah | Northern Vermont | Telluride, Colorado Naughty, Now Nice Once the Riviera's Reno, Nice is now its Miami Beach Plus: Where to go next—inspiration for your next journey -- Be invigorated in Vail: Live the snow-lover's dream from $1277+ Web Fares from American Airlines: Book yours and save! Yoshimizu Ginza, Tokyo "With no fluorescent lights and absolutely no televisions, the only sound here is likely to be from Japanese musicians practicing in the studio below." Jackson, Wyoming "A full day of unadulterated, first-rate powder-plowing in the Snake River Mountains will spoil you for regular hills." Web-Sight Tour the world from your desk with our photo finder Search by your favorite activities and more Choose from 1,500+ top-rated hotels Photo Finder Maps Weather Currency Converter Condé Nast Traveler Gold List 2005 Read about the world's best 700 places to stay Condé Nast Traveler Hot List 2005 The best new hotels, restaurants and bars worldwide Subscribe Now And Save 78%! Subscribe Enter to win the Condé Nast Traveler Greek Paradise Sweepstakes Enter to win World Beat: The latest news from Concierge.com Insider Deals: The Web's best travel savings Contests and Sweepstakes Site Map | Contact Us | Contributors | Newsletters | Subscription Services | Press Center | Advertising Visit Our Sister Sites Concierge / Epicurious / Men.Style.com / Style.com / Allure / Architectural Digest / Cargo / Domino Glamour / House & Garden / Lucky / Self / Teen Vogue / The New Yorker / Vanity Fair / YM Subscribe to a magazine: View Special Offers View All Titles - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Allure Architectural Digest Bon Appétit Bride's Cargo Condé Nast Traveler Details Domino Elegant Bride Glamour Golf Digest Golf For Women Golf World Gourmet GQ House & Garden Jane Lucky Modern Bride Self Teen Vogue The New Yorker Vanity Fair Vogue W Wired Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy . Concierge.com © 2005 CondéNet Inc. All rights reserved. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached, or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of CondéNet Inc. For more information, please contact us . ALPHABETICALLY Amalfi Coast Amsterdam Angkor Anguilla Antigua Antwerp Aspen Athens Atlanta Avignon Bahamas Baja California Balearic Islands Bali Bangkok Barbados Barcelona Bath Beijing Belize Bequia Berlin Bermuda Big Island Bologna Bombay Bordeaux Boston British Virgin Islands Brooklyn Brussels Budapest Buenos Aires Cairo Canadian Rockies Cancún Cape Town Capri Central Coast Chamonix Charleston Chicago Cilento Coast Colonial Williamsburg Copenhagen Costa Rica Côte d'Azur Cozumel Cyclades Dallas + Fort Worth Delhi Devon + Cornwall Dresden Dublin Dubrovnik Ecuador Edinburgh Fernie Alpine Resort Fez Fiji Florence Fort Lauderdale Fort Myers + Naples French Polynesia Garden Route Glasgow Goa Granada Great Barrier Reef Grenada Gulf Islands Hamburg Hamptons Hanoi Ho Chi Minh City Hong Kong Ionian Islands Israel Istanbul Italian Lakes Jackson Jamaica Kauai Kenya Key West Lake District Lanai Laos Las Vegas Lisbon Ljubljana Loire Valley London Los Angeles Luxor Madeira Madrid Malaysia Marrakesh Marseille Martha's Vineyard Maui Megève Melbourne Memphis + Graceland Mexico City Miami Milan Montréal Moscow Munich Mustique N. CA Wine Country New York City New Zealand Norfolk Northern Vermont Oahu Orlando + Disney World Oslo Pacific Coast Palm Beach Palm Springs Panama Paris Park City Peloponnese Peru Philadelphia Phoenix + Scottsdale Porto Prague Provence Puerto Rico Puglia Québec Rhodes Rio de Janeiro Rome Salzburg San Diego San Francisco San Miguel de Allende Santa Barbara Santa Fe Seattle Seville Shanghai Sicily St. Barths St. Lucia St. Moritz St. Petersburg Stockholm Sydney Tallinn Telluride Tokyo Toledo Toronto Trinidad + Tobago Turks + Caicos Tuscany U.S. Virgin Islands Vail Valencia Vancouver Venice Vienna Vieques Warsaw Washington D.C. Weimar Yucatán Zanzibar Zurich COUNTRY/STATE US-Arizona Phoenix + Scottsdale US-California Central Coast Los Angeles N. CA Wine Country Palm Springs San Diego San Francisco Santa Barbara US-Colorado Aspen Telluride Vail US-Florida Fort Lauderdale Fort Myers + Naples Gulf Islands Key West Miami Orlando + Disney World Palm Beach US-Georgia Atlanta US-Hawaii Big Island Kauai Lanai Maui Oahu US-Illinois Chicago US-Massachusetts Boston Martha's Vineyard US-Nevada Las Vegas US-New Mexico Santa Fe US-New York Brooklyn Hamptons New York City US-Pennsylvania Philadelphia US-South Carolina Charleston US-Tennessee Memphis + Graceland US-Texas Dallas + Fort Worth US-Utah Park City US-Vermont Northern Vermont US-Virginia Colonial Williamsburg US-Washington Seattle US-Washington D.C. US-Wyoming Jackson Anguilla Antigua + Barbuda Argentina Buenos Aires Australia Great Barrier Reef Melbourne Sydney Austria Salzburg Vienna Bahamas Barbados Belgium Antwerp Brussels Belize Bermuda Brazil Rio de Janeiro British Virgin Islands Cambodia Angkor Canada Canadian Rockies Fernie Alpine Resort Montréal Québec Toronto Vancouver China Beijing Hong Kong Shanghai Costa Rica Croatia Dubrovnik Czech Republic Prague Denmark Copenhagen Ecuador Egypt Cairo Luxor England Bath Devon + Cornwall Lake District London Norfolk Estonia Tallinn Fiji France Avignon Bordeaux Côte d'Azur Chamonix Loire Valley Marseille Megève Paris Provence French Polynesia Germany Berlin Dresden Hamburg Munich Weimar Greece Athens Cyclades Ionian Islands Peloponnese Rhodes Grenadines Bequia Grenada Mustique Hungary Budapest India Bombay Delhi Goa Indonesia Bali Ireland Dublin Israel Italy Amalfi Coast Bologna Capri Cilento Coast Florence Italian Lakes Milan Puglia Rome Sicily Tuscany Venice Jamaica Japan Tokyo Kenya Laos Malaysia Mexico Baja California Cancún Cozumel Mexico City Pacific Coast San Miguel de Allende Yucatán Morocco Fez Marrakesh Netherlands Amsterdam New Zealand Norway Oslo Panama Peru Poland Warsaw Portugal Lisbon Madeira Porto Puerto Rico Puerto Rico Vieques Russia Moscow St. Petersburg Scotland Edinburgh Glasgow Slovenia Ljubljana South Africa Cape Town Garden Route Spain Balearic Islands Barcelona Granada Madrid Seville Toledo Valencia St. Barths St. Lucia Sweden Stockholm Switzerland St. Moritz Zurich Tanzania Zanzibar Thailand Bangkok Trinidad + Tobago Turkey Istanbul Turks + Caicos U.S. Virgin Islands Vietnam Hanoi Ho Chi Minh City

Mexico Travel Information. Travel

Cozumel Mexico Travel Info : TravelYucatan.com Cozumel Mexico Travel Information Cozumel Mexico COZUMEL MEXICO Cozumel is the largest island in the Mexican Caribbean. It is also the most populated island in Mexico with an estimated population of around 90,000. Cozumel is situated near the eastern tip of the Yucatan Peninsula in the State of Quintana Roo . The island is approximately 30 miles [48 km] long and 10 miles [16 km] wide. It is about 12 mi [20 km] from the mainland, and some 36 mi [60 km] south of Cancun. Hurricane Wilma Distaster Information Isla Cozumel [or Cozumel Island] derives its name from the Mayans who once lived there and regarded the island as a sacred place. In Mayan, Cuzamil [Cozumel] translates to "land of the swallows," a reflection of the indigenous birds that inhabit the island. The Mayans are believed to have settled the island over 2000 years ago harvesting the rich abundance of seafood for commercial use. Conch shells were collected as an ingredient for stucco, which was used extensively on the mainland. The ocean also supplied a large number of other valuable items such as shark teeth, stingray spines and seashells that were used for ritual purposes. The Spanish explorer Juan de Grijalva first landed on the shores of Cozumel in 1518. The visitwas proceeded a year later by the butcher Hernn Corts. The conquistadors ruthlessly invaded the island destroying everything that lay in their path. Whether or not the Spanish knowingly imported smallpox on purpose is a matter of speculation, however to the ravaged Mayans the disease soon eclipsed their very being. Those who did not die a miserable death were shackled and sent to Cuba to live out their lives as slaves. Between 1519 and 1570 the island's population dropped from 40,000 to 30. By 1600 the island was desolate, its once flourishing community gone. Soon the island's numerous coves provided safe havens for marauding pirates. In 1848 during the "War of the Castes" the island was reclaimed by the Maya and used as a sanctuary for those seeking refuge from the war. Slowly the island was reinhabted and in 1910-1917 the Mexican Revolution resulted in land reforms and freedom for the Isleos. The popularity of a new "candy" called chewing gum in the U.S.A. led to the island's growth. Cozumel was a port-of-call on the gum and coconut export route from Central America. During World War 2 the U.S. Air Force built a base on the island in order to launch aircrafts, in the pursuit of German U-boats. The first hotel, the "Louvre" opened in 1924, followed by the "Yuri" in 1932 and the "Playa" in 1938. After the the economic crises in the thirties, tourist development stopped. During the fifties, with the advent of modern scuba equipment divers started coming to Cozumel. World-famous explorer Jacques Cousteau and his team discovered the wall of reefs just off the island's shoreline and declared them to be one of the most incredible diving destinations in the world. After that diving exploded on the island! By 1970, Cozumel's population quickly grew to 10,000 and with the influx of tourism this once desolate island has now become the jewel of the Mexican Caribbean. SAN MIGUEL, COZUMEL When you get off the ferry in Cozumel you are met by a barrage of sales representatives for various dive and snorkel operations. Also in the mix are representatives for hotels and resorts who often carry photo-albums of pictures of the resorts. Once you get through this you are in the city of San Miguel right in the tourista shopping zone. There are public information booths present however these are manned by sales representatives for time-shares. Once you ask a question you are a step away from a free lunch, tour and a wasted day [don't get trapped into this]. There are numerous restaurants, cafes and shops selling everything that is carried on the mainland so shopping is not a problem and one does not have to leave the island. In fact some people prefer to shop in Cozumel instead of Playa del Carmen although the two are quite similar. The San Miguel tourist zone extends from the coastline back several blocks and north/south several blocks. Outside of this you have residential neighborhoods and general Cozumel industrial zones. The town of San Miguel, the airport, and the hotels are all located on the western side of the island. Fortunately, massive resort development is paralyzed by a lack of portable water and a strong desire to protect the island's delicate ecosystem. COZUMEL CLIMATE Average air temperature: 80F [27C] July/August - High 80's to low 90'sF [32C] December/January - Mid 70'sF [24C] Winter Months: Cold fronts may create windy, cloudy and cooler weather. Afternoon thunderstorms are common, usually lasting for an hour. Water temperatures range from 77-82F [25-28C] throughout the year. GETTING THERE Cozumel has an international airport with connecting routes to Playa del Carmen, Cancun and other destinations in Mexico, Belize and Guatamala. There is immigration at Cozumel airport. It is basicaly the same as Cancun airport or Merida. You press the button at the trafic light then proceed. The most common method of transportation to the island is by boat. There is a ferry service that connects Cozumel to Playa del Carmen for pedestrians and a ferry out of Calica for vehicle transportation. The ferry connecting to Playa del Carmen runs quite frequently [there are 3 ferries on duty]. Getting to Cozumel from Cancun Airport If you are landing in Cancun you need to either: Take an Airport-Shuttle to Playa del Carmen . Take a bus from the airport or Cancun city to Playa del Carmen. Take a taxi* to Playa del Carmen. Take a bus to Cancun city then take a taxi to Playa del Carmen. Take a car across on the ferry at Calica . * Taxis are not allowed at the airport but sometimes you can get one when the taxi is dropping somebody off. They are not allowed to hang around. From Playa del Carmen you take the ferry to Cozumel. We have bussed from Palenque to Playa del Carmen on the red-eye arriving a 5:00ish, walked to the ferry, boarded, slept, landed in Cozumel, hopped in a taxi and been in our hotel room by 7:00 am. COZUMEL SNORKELING For diving info see Cozumel Diving Cozumel's limestone shore is surrounded by temperate, crystal clear waters, which range from stunning turquoise to deep indigo. With over 30 kilometers of reefs, water visibility to 200 feet, and over 200 species of tropical fish, Cozumel is considered by many as the finest dive destination in the Atlantic. Water temperatures range from summer highs in the low 80's (F) to winter highs in the low 70's (F). Water depths range from as shallow as 10 to 100 feet. Water current conditions vary from light to moderate to strong. For snorkelers, there are plenty of places to go off the shore if you have your own gear and a rental car. Snorkeling trips by boat are available at the lobby of any hotel or the ferry docks. Snorkeling Cozumel is a lot differnet than snorkeling the mainland. In many locations on Cozumel as soon as you go out a few yards you are in deep water, but the visibility is good. The fish are bigger too. Many species of fish you see snorkeling the mainland are young and habitate there to avoid larger preditors. The two most common snorkel spots on the island are Chankanaab and Dzul Ha . Having snorkeled both locations we can offer this advice: Snorkeling quality is the same at both locations. In fact they are rather close to each other. What is different is this: Chankanaab is a eco-park, with all the bells and whistles, to which you have to pay admission. Dzul Ha is a free road-side attraction that you park at and jump in the water. If you're traveling with your family Chankanaab is recommended as you can spend the whole day there. If you are a couple looking for a cheap snorkel experience go to Dzul Ha. Both places rent snorkel gear and there are lockers and restaurants at each. You need to rent a car or take a taxi to get to either of these places. From San Miguel it is a short drive along the coast south. NOTE: It is advisable that all children and weak swimmers wear life-jackets when snorkeling here. Available at the rental stands. Other interesting snorkel locations: Hotel Presidente Intercontinental and La Ceiba Hotel beach . There is an underwater plane wreck used as a movie prop. Laguna de Colombia is a lagoon at the south tip of the island offering interesting snorkeling. Isla de la Pasion is a tiny island in Bahia Abrigo with secluded beaches and rocky shorelines. Isla de la Pasion is a state reserve and there are absolutely no facilities here. It is located north of San Miguel and you need to contact a fishing/dive charter to take you there. COZUMEL SEASONS Generaly summer is the low season and hotel rates are reduced competatively. In the winter prices go up and availability goes down. Best to book months in advance for winter vacations if you have a specific date in mind. After Labor Day and before the Christmas is an good time to visit but September and November are traditional huricane months. Crowds are down but the tempturature is still high. Rates are still lower than high-season. Rates go back down after Easter and low season begins. Availability at hotels is best during low season and room selection is best during this time. THINGS TO KNOW Water conditions on the beaches on the west side of the island [tourist zones] are usually excellent because the island blocks the currents and winds. You can buy almost anything your heart desires in the shopping zone. All popular snorkeling beaches have lockers and snorkel equipment for rent. Most streets in San Miguel are one way. The coastal highway is two-way and circles the island. Most stores have English speaking staff. All stores accept US dollars. Cozumel is a great place to find hard-to-get scuba and snorkel gear. There is a Sunday evening fiesta in San Miguel at the central plaza with live music. You can buy Cuban cigars here. You can get a taxi anywhere on the island [except the dirt road going north of Mezcalitos on the east side of the island]. There are a few Internet Cafes in San Miguel. Just walk around downtown and you will find one in no time. The further away from the waterfront, the cheaper the rates. There are laundromats in San Miguel. ENGLISH SPANISH today hoy tomorrow maana yesterday ayer monday lunes tuesday martes wed mericoles thursday hueves friday verdi saturday sabados sunday domingo COZUMEL INFO Introduction Cozumel Hotels Cozumel Hotel Map Cozumel Beaches Cozumel Shopping Restaurants Things to Do If you are staying at an all-inclusive for any length of time it is a good idea to tip the egg-lady at the buffet on your first day. She will remember you. In many resorts the egg-lady is in charge of the breakfest. | Cancun | Chichen Itza | Merida | Uxmal | Isla Holbox | | Mayan Riviera | Playa del Carmen | Cozumel | Isla Mujeres | Last Mod: November 2, 2005 2005 TravelYucatan.com v4.0 Description: Cozumel Mexico Travel Information. Travel Information for the Yucatan Peninsula Mexico