Compare Ib. Tucan and Del Mar

[travmagic]

Can anyone help me compare the Iberostar Tucan to the Del Mar? We went to the Tucan last year and everyone loved it! The jungle was awesome ( I know there are no monkeys at the Del mar). Restaurants were good and we loved Playacar. How do the beaches compare? I don't want our group to be disappointed in the Del Mar.
Thanks.

[KevKaos]

Originally Posted by travmagic

Can anyone help me compare the Iberostar Tucan to the Del Mar? We went to the Tucan last year and everyone loved it! The jungle was awesome ( I know there are no monkeys at the Del mar). Restaurants were good and we loved Playacar. How do the beaches compare? I don't want our group to be disappointed in the Del Mar.
Thanks.

Depends on when you are planning on going. I always liked the beach at the Parasio resorts (we were at the Lindo and would nowmally recommend using the beach in fromn of the Lindo over the Del Mar beach). Speaking to another user on this board at our Peep Meet, they were reporting alot of "issues" from the hurricane at the Parasio beaches. I'm sure you are aware of the exhaust smell and waves from the boats and jet skis at the Tucan. There was not much of that sort of thing at the Parasio's. It's a real toss up. KNowing what I know now (having just returned), I think I would go for the Tucan again. Keep in mind though, I love being close to town. Hope this helps a bit.

[travmagic]

I don't remember exhaust being an issue. I also liked being close to town although we will probably just come in for the day once. We are actually talking about next summer so any adverse effects from Emily will be taken care of (unless we have more to speak of!). I love the naturalness(?) of the Tucan!

Thanks for your info.

Originally Posted by KevKaos

Depends on when you are planning on going. I always liked the beach at the Parasio resorts (we were at the Lindo and would nowmally recommend using the beach in fromn of the Lindo over the Del Mar beach). Speaking to another user on this board at our Peep Meet, they were reporting alot of "issues" from the hurricane at the Parasio beaches. I'm sure you are aware of the exhaust smell and waves from the boats and jet skis at the Tucan. There was not much of that sort of thing at the Parasio's. It's a real toss up. KNowing what I know now (having just returned), I think I would go for the Tucan again. Keep in mind though, I love being close to town. Hope this helps a bit.

[KevKaos]

Originally Posted by travmagic

I don't remember exhaust being an issue. I also liked being close to town although we will probably just come in for the day once. We are actually talking about next summer so any adverse effects from Emily will be taken care of (unless we have more to speak of!). I love the naturalness(?) of the Tucan!

Thanks for your info.

If you haven't already seen it, I have a trip report up with photos for the Tucan from my vacation last week. I'm sure the jungle will be more filled out by next year, but they did lose some big trees, and they will surely not be back for awhile.

[vhonodel]

I have been to the Tucan 4 times now and have never smelled exhaust. I have seen wave runners and catamarans, no power boats. Maybe they are are to one side or another and I just never noticed. I certainly never saw anything with a motor while I was out in the water.

[travmagic]

Thanks everyone. I am familiar with the Tucan, it's the Del Mar that I am trying to get info on.

[KevKaos]

Originally Posted by travmagic

Thanks everyone. I am familiar with the Tucan, it's the Del Mar that I am trying to get info on.

I also have a review of last years trip to the Lindo where I do talk about the beaches. In the members gallery I have photos posted that show the beach in fron of the Del Mar, Parasio Beach and Lindo from last year. I do not know if they are representative of the way they look this year. Louden was at the Del mar or the Beach (my understanding is that these two are basically the same, much as the Tucan and Quetzel are) the same week we were down. She I believe is away from the board for a few days, but she may be able to provide some insight.

[KevKaos]

Originally Posted by vhonodel

I have been to the Tucan 4 times now and have never smelled exhaust. I have seen wave runners and catamarans, no power boats. Maybe they are are to one side or another and I just never noticed. I certainly never saw anything with a motor while I was out in the water.

I would bet that one of those four times was not the week of 1-6 Aug 2005. There were at least two parasail boats going back and forth just outside of the swimming area all day and the jet skis as well. The other boats were the snorkling tour boats and the dive boat run by dressels from in front of the Quetzal. I believe the Riu Palace also had dive boats that were located just across the proerty line but next to the Dressels boats. My biggest complaint about the power boats was from when I was taking family and friends out on the catamarans. The operators of these boat have a total disregard for the safety of sailors and kayakers. They cut across your bow WAY to close, causing extreme wake and on at least two occasions, they got so close that their line to the parasail just cleared the top of the mast by two feet. Anyway, I am ranting now and don't mean to do so. The fact is, if watching parasail boats go back and forth in front of your resort all day turnes you off, look elsewhere. Otherwise, the Tucan is fine. There were no parasail boats or jet skis at the Lindo last year, but that may have changed as well.

[vhonodel]

Originally Posted by KevKaos

I would bet that one of those four times was not the week of 1-6 Aug 2005. There were at least two parasail boats going back and forth just outside of the swimming area all day and the jet skis as well. The other boats were the snorkling tour boats and the dive boat run by dressels from in front of the Quetzal. I believe the Riu Palace also had dive boats that were located just across the proerty line but next to the Dressels boats. My biggest complaint about the power boats was from when I was taking family and friends out on the catamarans. The operators of these boat have a total disregard for the safety of sailors and kayakers. They cut across your bow WAY to close, causing extreme wake and on at least two occasions, they got so close that their line to the parasail just cleared the top of the mast by two feet. Anyway, I am ranting now and don't mean to do so. The fact is, if watching parasail boats go back and forth in front of your resort all day turnes you off, look elsewhere. Otherwise, the Tucan is fine. There were no parasail boats or jet skis at the Lindo last year, but that may have changed as well.

Very interesting. I'm sorry you had to endure all that. We always go the first week of Dec and the first week of May. Maybe more of this goes on in the summer months? Of course when I refer to being out in the water, I mean just wading or on a raft Maybe when out a bit further on a cat, you would encounter boats?? But, I definately never smelled any exhaust while in the water or on the beach.

[KevKaos]

Originally Posted by vhonodel

Very interesting. I'm sorry you had to endure all that. We always go the first week of Dec and the first week of May. Maybe more of this goes on in the summer months? Of course when I refer to being out in the water, I mean just wading or on a raft Maybe when out a bit further on a cat, you would encounter boats?? But, I definately never smelled any exhaust while in the water or on the beach.

Just so we are clear, you could smell a noticible gasoline/exhaust smell (though not constantly) while wading in the water. Not saying it would stop me from going to the Tucan again in the future, but i think it is only fair to give others as complete a picture as possible. Especially if this is something new in the general area, I think many people will want to know about it. To me, the parasail boats are to much like Cancun. I really hope they don't start trashing up Playa like Cancun. let the two areas remain very different.

[vhonodel]

Originally Posted by KevKaos

Just so we are clear, you could smell a noticible gasoline/exhaust smell (though not constantly) while wading in the water. Not saying it would stop me from going to the Tucan again in the future, but i think it is only fair to give others as complete a picture as possible. Especially if this is something new in the general area, I think many people will want to know about it. To me, the parasail boats are to much like Cancun. I really hope they don't start trashing up Playa like Cancun. let the two areas remain very different.

I honestly didn't think I was giving an unclear picture of the 4 times I have visited, but simply commeting on the fact that the week you were there it appeared to be really out of hand which is not typical for that stretch of beach. Have also stayed a few doors down at the Riu Palace and again was fortunate enough not to experience this. I would suggest anyone wanting to research the issues of beaches & boats/wave runners/fumes , to read several trip reports pertinent to that specific resort. Personally, I have found far more boat/wave runner traffic along the beachs in town but maybe that's due to it's accesibility ? I don't really know, just an observation.

[KevKaos]

Originally Posted by vhonodel

I honestly didn't think I was giving an unclear picture of the 4 times I have visited, but simply commeting on the fact that the week you were there it appeared to be really out of hand which is not typical for that stretch of beach. Have also stayed a few doors down at the Riu Palace and again was fortunate enough not to experience this. I would suggest anyone wanting to research the issues of beaches & boats/wave runners/fumes , to read several trip reports pertinent to that specific resort. Personally, I have found far more boat/wave runner traffic along the beachs in town but maybe that's due to it's accesibility ? I don't really know, just an observation.

I'm sorry, I did not mean to imply that your posting was an intentional misrepresentation. I just see this situation as comparable to someone saying a house is in a quiet location and has always been that way, and then when you get there, you find out that a major highway sprang up in the mean time. It would be interesting to hear if these parasail guys are still around during the winter months.

[vhonodel]

Originally Posted by KevKaos

I'm sorry, I did not mean to imply that your posting was an intentional misrepresentation. I just see this situation as comparable to someone saying a house is in a quiet location and has always been that way, and then when you get there, you find out that a major highway sprang up in the mean time. It would be interesting to hear if these parasail guys are still around during the winter months.

Yes, I agree. I will be there Dec 1 and will let you know. I sure hope this is not the case, if so, we have lost our paradise

We've been to both. We did the Tucan first and to be honest, I was disappointed in the Del Mar. The ocean at Playcar is just so much prettier. There is also a lot more walking involved at Del Mar. You can not see the beach from the pool like at Tucan. We had a standard room at Tucan with a partial ocean view. At Del Mar, there really was no view other than looking at other rooms and some trees even though we were only one building back from the ocean view suites. I also thought the food was better at Tucan. The pool is huge at Del Mar but we always seemed to have to hike around it forever to find chairs in a decent location. There is also nothing really close to the Del Mar. It is a $20 cab ride each way into town. There is a free shuttle, but when we went it still dropped off at the Aviary which is a long hot walk from where the action is in Playa del Carmen. And then when its time to get back, it's an even longer walk back to the shuttle and you have to time it just right or you could be standing in the heat for an hour waiting for the next one. Don't get me wrong-we had a really nice trip at the Del Mar, but it is not a resort I would return to. I would jump at the chance to go back to the Tucan.

[travmagic]

Thanks for you recommendation. We are travelling with quite a few 18-21 year olds that won't leave the property. Does the Del Mar have more activities than the Tucan or are they about the same? They got a little bored during the day at the Tucan. We did love the beach there though. When did you go to the Del Mar?

Originally Posted by rat59

We've been to both. We did the Tucan first and to be honest, I was disappointed in the Del Mar. The ocean at Playcar is just so much prettier. There is also a lot more walking involved at Del Mar. You can not see the beach from the pool like at Tucan. We had a standard room at Tucan with a partial ocean view. At Del Mar, there really was no view other than looking at other rooms and some trees even though we were only one building back from the ocean view suites. I also thought the food was better at Tucan. The pool is huge at Del Mar but we always seemed to have to hike around it forever to find chairs in a decent location. There is also nothing really close to the Del Mar. It is a $20 cab ride each way into town. There is a free shuttle, but when we went it still dropped off at the Aviary which is a long hot walk from where the action is in Playa del Carmen. And then when its time to get back, it's an even longer walk back to the shuttle and you have to time it just right or you could be standing in the heat for an hour waiting for the next one. Don't get me wrong-we had a really nice trip at the Del Mar, but it is not a resort I would return to. I would jump at the chance to go back to the Tucan.