Iberostar Tucan/Quetzal

Holly and Ken · 06-28-2002

Has anyone stayed here lately, we're deciding between the two.
Is it easy to hop between the 2? Does the pool connect the 2? Can you reserve dinner or buffet at either? Is there really a jungle in the middle area? How is the food? Are the rooms clean & the staff efficient? What about the entertainment?
My list of questions goes on and on.
I'm just excited about getting out of Chicago in the winter, we're planning on late January arrival.
Thanks for the help,
Holly

Cowgirl · 06-28-2002

We stayed there last September for one week and we're returning for two weeks in September and October of this year to get married there -- if that's any indication of how much we like the place! We stayed at the Quetzal, and to be honest, I couldn't tell a difference between the two, because yes, you can use all the restaurants and the pool and beach are (of course) shared. They have two lobbies, I'm not sure why. Perhaps there is some sort of limit on the size of a resort so the ended up with one big one by calling it two? Anyhow, the only difference we noted was that the lobby bar at the Quetzal side was much more fun than the other one.

Yes there really is a jungle in the middle area, and lots of winding pathways that are lit at night by low lanterns. It's very pretty. The rooms were VERY clean and the staff was fantastic. We weren't into the entertainment so I can't really comment on that... we thought the theater shows looked hokey so we skipped out. But the disco was a total riot -- talk about stepping back into the 80s, it was a total time warp. They played a crazy mix of music -- from techno to... you guessed it... disco. Once you get over the cheesiness of it all, it's really a lot of fun.

That all being said -- DO go into town. You owe it to yourself. The resort is beautiful but you haven't experienced PDC unless you go into town. Have a few drinks at some of the cool bars. Do some shopping. The people are fantastic and you'll have a lot of fun. This trip we plan to hit Blue Parrot and Club Tutix and some of the other late-night spots I've read about on this forum. No sense in spending your whole vacation at the resort!

Hope that helps! Have a blast!

scott doty · 09-05-2002

We've been to the Iberostar Quetzal twice over the last 1 1/2. You can't go wrong! Your jaw will drop when you get off the bus. The lobby looks like Gilligan's Island on steriods. There's lots to do at the resort. Reserve a catamaran(free), nonstop beach volleyball, more pools than you can swim in, I know most hotels offer 1 free dive a day(not sure on this one), you can parasail(35$ I think), rent a jet ski(?), paint pottery, aerobics...it goes on and on and that's just at the resort. You MUST go into town even if you don't like shopping. From the town square you can shop, then wander back to the beach for a beer and some of the best people watching on the planet then back to the room for a nap before dinner and a HUGE show that's pretty good(it appears that they hone an act then switch them among the hotels on a regular basis. Then ya gotta dance your booty off till dawn and start again. I think one night they even had a road trip for $25 to Senor Frogs in town with a few drinks included...can't miss it. I've been going to this area(Cancun, Cozemel, Playa) twice a year since 1980 and I'm not going anywhere else(we leave in 10 days!)

Yall have fun!!

Cowgirl · 09-06-2002

Since this popped back up to the top... thought I'd let those of you interested know that the IB* Quetzal/Tucan is undergoing some renovations that should be completed very soon. I'm in regular contact with my wedding coordinator there (Joan -- she's a total doll) and she's been keeping me updated. Really two things to mention -- you know the adults-only pool, the one with the waterfall? That is being renovated to have a swim-up bar. I understand that should be done by the time we arrive on September 21. Also they are renovating the lobby bar on the Quetzal side to make it bigger and include bar stools. Not sure how I feel about that since this was our favorite place to hang out. Never very crowded and we met wonderful people from all over the world... it was hard to leave. But perhaps this will be a nice improvement!

All in all, I love this resort... mixed in with a heaping helping of time actually in PDC. I'm not much the Senor Frogs type... nor the show type at the resort... but what I DO love is a gorgeous pool, lovely rooms and that beach. The service is always wonderful as well. All for an incredible price. I'm so excited about turning my friends and family on to this place.

And yes James... next trip we are exploring the cozy hotel route. The deals on AIs are just incredible and I can't find cheap flights out of IAH unfortunately unless we book a package. We are so excited you are providing more options.

Can't wait -- although I'm freaking slightly that it's only two weeks until we leave! Feels like I have so much left to do! But even so, I cannot wait to get there...

BarbC · 09-06-2002

I'll probably never stay there, but I think the IB*s are Beautiful! The one on Cozumel is somewhat smaller-scale and even prettier than the Tucan/Quetzal, but they all seem to be well-designed. I envy my son's working life there. I haven't yet seen the IB* Pariso where he works now.

Why don't we stay there?
1. Kevin & Kat can't socialize with guests, and a great part of our trip to Playa is to visit them.
2. Now they have a big-enough place, we'll even stay with them next time!
3. I think my husband is as allergic to AIs as James is.

Munichchick · 09-06-2002

We have stayed at the IB Quetzal twice and it was just great. The grounds are beautiful, jungly and lush with Flamingos, parrots and a resident Monkey Family. The best part are the waterfalls next to the Quetzal side Bufett Restaurant. The food was very good at all Restaurants and they even make Mojito's in the Lobby Bar. The Resort is done with lots of style and nice details. We are into architecture (father in law is Architect) and interior desing and appreciate nice work. The resort was just perfect for us. We have also stayed at the IB Cozumel and liked it just as much. We actually liked the rooms better because they are in Mayan Style Palapa Roof Villas and we had an upstairs unit with lofty Palapa Roof and Hammock on the Balcony. If you stay at any of the IB's you can go to the others for day use. Just go to the Front Desk and reserve your day use than take the ferry over to Cozumel hop on a taxi and have fun. Another thing many people don't know is following. We called the IB Paraiso in advance and asked about this. If you are not staying at any of the IB Resorts you can go there for day use and I think it was $50 per person. Just go to the Security gate and tell the guy. He will call the front desk and let them know. After that they will let you drive your rental car to the Lobby and you can check in at the front desk. You pay, leave a credit card or driver liscense behind and they give you a wrist band like all other guest have. You can also do Evening Use and that was $35 per person starting at 6:30 PM. We did this last time! Next time we will maybe try the day use. This is a good option if you prefer to stay in a smaller hotel in Playa but still want to get pampered AI style for a day or just check out the resort for a future stay! The IB Paraiso is very large, beautiful and amazing but I think we prefer the IB Quetzal and Cozumel. I think you can not go wrong by staying at an Iberostar Resort if you like the All-Inclusive Vacation experience. Have a great vacation!

leenga · 09-16-2002

How far from Playa is this resort? Is this the Iberostar that is near the Riu Yucatan?

We stayed at the Riu Yucatan in Jan 2001 and loved it. We are thinking of returning to the Mayan Riviera this Jan but would like to try someplace else. We kind of want to stay in the same general area as the Riu (close to Playa). Does anyone have other suggestions?

We will be using Apple Vacations, so that limits which hotel we can use..

Cowgirl · 09-17-2002

I'd guess it's about a mile and a half from PDC... because I ran to town and back and it took me about half an hour. So walking leisurely it's probably 20 to 30 minutes to get to town. We usually took a cab just so we wouldn't break too much of a sweat!

In other words, it's definitely close enough that you can go to town often, unlike some of the other resorts that are way far away...

We leave Saturday morning -- can't wait!!

leenga · 09-17-2002

About how much is it for a cab ride to PDC from IB?
It was about $5 when we were there, from Riu Yucatan.

By the way, HAVE A GREAT TIME, COWGIRL!!

Cowgirl · 09-17-2002

That sounds about right from what I remember -- granted it was a year ago so I'm foggy on a few of the details!

Thanks so much!! I'll post a trip report when I return!

09-05-2002	#3 (permalink)
scott doty sandflea Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 8	Iberostar We've been to the Iberostar Quetzal twice over the last 1 1/2. You can't go wrong! Your jaw will drop when you get off the bus. The lobby looks like Gilligan's Island on steriods. There's lots to do at the resort. Reserve a catamaran(free), nonstop beach volleyball, more pools than you can swim in, I know most hotels offer 1 free dive a day(not sure on this one), you can parasail(35$ I think), rent a jet ski(?), paint pottery, aerobics...it goes on and on and that's just at the resort. You MUST go into town even if you don't like shopping. From the town square you can shop, then wander back to the beach for a beer and some of the best people watching on the planet then back to the room for a nap before dinner and a HUGE show that's pretty good(it appears that they hone an act then switch them among the hotels on a regular basis. Then ya gotta dance your booty off till dawn and start again. I think one night they even had a road trip for $25 to Senor Frogs in town with a few drinks included...can't miss it. I've been going to this area(Cancun, Cozemel, Playa) twice a year since 1980 and I'm not going anywhere else(we leave in 10 days!) Yall have fun!!

09-06-2002	#4 (permalink)
Cowgirl way into it Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Texas Posts: 127	renovations Since this popped back up to the top... thought I'd let those of you interested know that the IB* Quetzal/Tucan is undergoing some renovations that should be completed very soon. I'm in regular contact with my wedding coordinator there (Joan -- she's a total doll) and she's been keeping me updated. Really two things to mention -- you know the adults-only pool, the one with the waterfall? That is being renovated to have a swim-up bar. I understand that should be done by the time we arrive on September 21. Also they are renovating the lobby bar on the Quetzal side to make it bigger and include bar stools. Not sure how I feel about that since this was our favorite place to hang out. Never very crowded and we met wonderful people from all over the world... it was hard to leave. But perhaps this will be a nice improvement! All in all, I love this resort... mixed in with a heaping helping of time actually in PDC. I'm not much the Senor Frogs type... nor the show type at the resort... but what I DO love is a gorgeous pool, lovely rooms and that beach. The service is always wonderful as well. All for an incredible price. I'm so excited about turning my friends and family on to this place. And yes James... next trip we are exploring the cozy hotel route. The deals on AIs are just incredible and I can't find cheap flights out of IAH unfortunately unless we book a package. We are so excited you are providing more options. Can't wait -- although I'm freaking slightly that it's only two weeks until we leave! Feels like I have so much left to do! But even so, I cannot wait to get there...

09-16-2002	#7 (permalink)
leenga toe in water Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Outside of Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 40	Location How far from Playa is this resort? Is this the Iberostar that is near the Riu Yucatan? We stayed at the Riu Yucatan in Jan 2001 and loved it. We are thinking of returning to the Mayan Riviera this Jan but would like to try someplace else. We kind of want to stay in the same general area as the Riu (close to Playa). Does anyone have other suggestions? We will be using Apple Vacations, so that limits which hotel we can use.. Last edited by leenga; 10-24-2005 at 09:18 AM..

09-17-2002	#9 (permalink)
leenga toe in water Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Outside of Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 40	How much for a cab? About how much is it for a cab ride to PDC from IB? It was about $5 when we were there, from Riu Yucatan. By the way, HAVE A GREAT TIME, COWGIRL!!

06-28-2002	#1 (permalink)
Holly and Ken sandflea Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 5	Has anyone stayed here lately, we're deciding between the two. Is it easy to hop between the 2? Does the pool connect the 2? Can you reserve dinner or buffet at either? Is there really a jungle in the middle area? How is the food? Are the rooms clean & the staff efficient? What about the entertainment? My list of questions goes on and on. I'm just excited about getting out of Chicago in the winter, we're planning on late January arrival. Thanks for the help, Holly

06-28-2002	#2 (permalink)
Cowgirl way into it Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Texas Posts: 127	We stayed there last September for one week and we're returning for two weeks in September and October of this year to get married there -- if that's any indication of how much we like the place! We stayed at the Quetzal, and to be honest, I couldn't tell a difference between the two, because yes, you can use all the restaurants and the pool and beach are (of course) shared. They have two lobbies, I'm not sure why. Perhaps there is some sort of limit on the size of a resort so the ended up with one big one by calling it two? Anyhow, the only difference we noted was that the lobby bar at the Quetzal side was much more fun than the other one. Yes there really is a jungle in the middle area, and lots of winding pathways that are lit at night by low lanterns. It's very pretty. The rooms were VERY clean and the staff was fantastic. We weren't into the entertainment so I can't really comment on that... we thought the theater shows looked hokey so we skipped out. But the disco was a total riot -- talk about stepping back into the 80s, it was a total time warp. They played a crazy mix of music -- from techno to... you guessed it... disco. Once you get over the cheesiness of it all, it's really a lot of fun. That all being said -- DO go into town. You owe it to yourself. The resort is beautiful but you haven't experienced PDC unless you go into town. Have a few drinks at some of the cool bars. Do some shopping. The people are fantastic and you'll have a lot of fun. This trip we plan to hit Blue Parrot and Club Tutix and some of the other late-night spots I've read about on this forum. No sense in spending your whole vacation at the resort! Hope that helps! Have a blast!

09-06-2002	#5 (permalink)
BarbC life=playa Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Ottawa, Canada Posts: 827	I'll probably never stay there, but I think the IBs are Beautiful! The one on Cozumel is somewhat smaller-scale and even prettier than the Tucan/Quetzal, but they all seem to be well-designed. I envy my son's working life there. I haven't yet seen the IB Pariso where he works now. Why don't we stay there? 1. Kevin & Kat can't socialize with guests, and a great part of our trip to Playa is to visit them. 2. Now they have a big-enough place, we'll even stay with them next time! 3. I think my husband is as allergic to AIs as James is.

09-06-2002	#6 (permalink)
Munichchick life=playa Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Corona, California Posts: 901	We have stayed at the IB Quetzal twice and it was just great. The grounds are beautiful, jungly and lush with Flamingos, parrots and a resident Monkey Family. The best part are the waterfalls next to the Quetzal side Bufett Restaurant. The food was very good at all Restaurants and they even make Mojito's in the Lobby Bar. The Resort is done with lots of style and nice details. We are into architecture (father in law is Architect) and interior desing and appreciate nice work. The resort was just perfect for us. We have also stayed at the IB Cozumel and liked it just as much. We actually liked the rooms better because they are in Mayan Style Palapa Roof Villas and we had an upstairs unit with lofty Palapa Roof and Hammock on the Balcony. If you stay at any of the IB's you can go to the others for day use. Just go to the Front Desk and reserve your day use than take the ferry over to Cozumel hop on a taxi and have fun. Another thing many people don't know is following. We called the IB Paraiso in advance and asked about this. If you are not staying at any of the IB Resorts you can go there for day use and I think it was $50 per person. Just go to the Security gate and tell the guy. He will call the front desk and let them know. After that they will let you drive your rental car to the Lobby and you can check in at the front desk. You pay, leave a credit card or driver liscense behind and they give you a wrist band like all other guest have. You can also do Evening Use and that was $35 per person starting at 6:30 PM. We did this last time! Next time we will maybe try the day use. This is a good option if you prefer to stay in a smaller hotel in Playa but still want to get pampered AI style for a day or just check out the resort for a future stay! The IB Paraiso is very large, beautiful and amazing but I think we prefer the IB Quetzal and Cozumel. I think you can not go wrong by staying at an Iberostar Resort if you like the All-Inclusive Vacation experience. Have a great vacation!

09-17-2002	#8 (permalink)
Cowgirl way into it Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Texas Posts: 127	I'd guess it's about a mile and a half from PDC... because I ran to town and back and it took me about half an hour. So walking leisurely it's probably 20 to 30 minutes to get to town. We usually took a cab just so we wouldn't break too much of a sweat! In other words, it's definitely close enough that you can go to town often, unlike some of the other resorts that are way far away... We leave Saturday morning -- can't wait!!

09-17-2002	#10 (permalink)
Cowgirl way into it Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Texas Posts: 127	That sounds about right from what I remember -- granted it was a year ago so I'm foggy on a few of the details! Thanks so much!! I'll post a trip report when I return!

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