Quote:
Originally Posted by c943
I have checked it out and the lobby and grounds look nice, I am looking for opinions on the hotel ,rooms restaurants and the El tukan beach club(which is the big appeal as I recall it is/was in the north...an AI beach club in the north would be awesome)
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Shammy was likely waiting for me to answer this one.
We stayed there twice non-AI (because it was the only nonAI hotel you could get in Playa as a package and therefore far cheaper).The last time was in March 2005. It is a bit shabby and tired, although they were doing some sprucing up the last time.
We would stay there again only if it was the same story and the package price was far cheaper than booking air and hotel, otherwise we'd try somewhere new. But it was a fine place to stay, clean and the staff were friendly, and it had a great location. It is popular with Europeans mostly. Very basic.
The pool is small but good for a refreshing dip, and the interior courtyard is very tropical and nice.
The rooms were nice and many have kitchenettes (do NOT book a studio- book at least a standard room or you will get a room without a fridge or they might even stick you at the annex across the street, or across Fifth Ave at the Moongate, they used to do that sometimes to people, anyway)
.Definitely specify you want a room in the main complex near the pool. Better yet- book one of the rooms with the separate bedroom/dining area/sitting room, they are nice and big.
The best thing about it is the location, it's quiet yet close to everything. And yes, the beach club was a great bonus (we got 'free' loungers and towels but we were non-AI, so no drinks.) It is no long the El Tukan though, right? not sure if you get passes to Mamitas now or another one? Nice beach.