Iberostar Del Mar & Beach OR Tucan/Quetzal?

[jroo]

Hi All!

Well, after all the reading regarding wilma and about our honeymoon for the next Nov. 30, the question is wich one is better for us: Iberostar Del Mar & Beach OR Tucan/Quetzal?

We've reservation for the Del Mar & Beach, but we can switch to Tucan/Quetzal.

Any suggestions? I've seen in pics that the beach seems to be more beautifull at Tucan... and it's near PLaya. So why Del Mar / Beach? Some told me about the "towel game" at Quetzal but not in Del Mar... We don't know what to do

Thanks!

Juan and Laura
From Argentina

[ewill]

Either is nice. I like the beach at Playacar better, but it may not be the same after the storm. I was assuming Nov. 05, not 06. If your trip is in 06, the beach will be fine, and it may be now, I don't know. I was at the Lindo last November after Thanksgiving and the Resort had very low occupancy and towels, chairs, reservations to restraunts was not a problem. If you stay at the Del Mar / Beach they have a shuttle that runs on a schedule to Playa Del Carmen. I'm not sure if your staying at the Del Mar / Beach, but if your staying at the Lindo / Maya, you can visit all the other Iberostar properties. We have stayed at the Iberostars several times and have always been pleased. Our Nov. 05 trip was cancelled so we are going to the Iberostar Bavaro in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. Enjoy your trip!

[Jillian]

We went to the Tucan for our Honeymoon in August and loved it, so that would be my choice only becuase we have been there. We loved everything about it.

[jroo]

Dear Ewill,

Thanks for the info. We've reservations for the DEl Mar for next november 30, 05. This will be our honeymoon, I've seen tons of pics and care about the rocks in the Del Mar zone... does it bothers to swimm? the rocks...

About tucan I've seen pics plenty of people and mor quiet the Del Mar... and in the Tucan all complains about the "towel game"

So, we don't know what to do ¿¿??

[Jillian]

Originally Posted by jroo

Dear Ewill,

Thanks for the info. We've reservations for the DEl Mar for next november 30, 05. This will be our honeymoon, I've seen tons of pics and care about the rocks in the Del Mar zone... does it bothers to swimm? the rocks...

About tucan I've seen pics plenty of people and mor quiet the Del Mar... and in the Tucan all complains about the "towel game"

So, we don't know what to do ¿¿??

The towel game was being played but I think if you did a search you would find that the towel game is played at alot of the AI's.

Like I said we loved everything about it..the location, the people, the beach, the food, out room (we had a jr suite which was right on the beach).

[ewill]

I've seen tons of pics and care about the rocks in the Del Mar zone... does it bothers to swimm? the rocks...

I also don't like the rocks when it makes it a hassel getting in and out of the water. There are a few rocks in some areas, but you can avoid them.

[louden48]

We stayed at the Beach in Aug. We spent more time in Playa and would have spent less $$$ if we'd stayed at the Tucan. The towel game is played at every AI we've ever been to...you won't get away from that without getting out of an AI, altogether. We never used the other Iberostar properties other than waiting on the bus to go to town. If you want to be close to town and the activities there, stay at the Tucan. If you want to ride the shuttle bus to town and back and be on their schedule for your personal entertainment, stay at the Del Mar/Beach. Personally, we enjoyed town much more than the resort. I think if we'd been there before Hurricane Emily hit and the beach would have been in better shape at the IB Beach, then we would have spent more time at the resort. I didn't see near as many rocks at the Beach/Del Mar as I saw at the other AI we stayed at the year before. While on our last trip to Playa we met some folks who regularly stay at the IB Beach and they said the beach was pretty gross from what they were used to...of course, this was just a few weeks after the hurricane. So, we took them into town to Mamitas and they had a blast. We just looked for better beach than what was readily available at the time. Hope that helps! One of the peeps at our Post Emily Peep Meet, KevKos, stayed at the Tucan and had a blast. PM him and ask him for advice. It think he stays there reqularly.

[jroo]

Originally Posted by louden48

. I think if we'd been there before Hurricane Emily hit and the beach would have been in better shape at the IB Beach, then we would have spent more time at the resort. I didn't see near as many rocks at the Beach/Del Mar as I saw at the other AI we stayed at the year before. .

NaughtyChica...

thanks a lot for your comments. I've read your trip report also. As this is out hanoeymoon we care more about the beach and the building / pool / restaurants...
I think we'll go to playa 3 or 4 times in all the 8 days, 1 day for Chichen Itza and probably 1 day heading to tulum and area...

So, Do you think that te beach is prettier in the Tucan than in del Mar / Beach? What about accomodations?

Thanks for all help!
Juan and Laura
From Argentina

[louden48]

Originally Posted by jroo

NaughtyChica...

thanks a lot for your comments. I've read your trip report also. As this is out hanoeymoon we care more about the beach and the building / pool / restaurants...
I think we'll go to playa 3 or 4 times in all the 8 days, 1 day for Chichen Itza and probably 1 day heading to tulum and area...

So, Do you think that te beach is prettier in the Tucan than in del Mar / Beach? What about accomodations?

Thanks for all help!
Juan and Laura
From Argentina

You know, we really didn't see the Tucan...we decided, however, that if our kids were with us we would have stayed at the Tucan for the kids programs and to be close to town. Romantic wise, I think the El Dorado Royale is more romantic. It was definitely more romantic than the Beach. I guess because it was smaller and adults only, it was more intimate. I don't want to throw a kink in your plans, but at the EDR, they have those wonderful palapa beds on the beach. The biggest drawback there is that the beach, while nice, does have a view problem with these large sandbags (beached whales) to keep the surf down. But a short walk down the beach and then you don't have to look at them. We had a great view at that resort and could hear the ocean from our room. Not to mention that the rooms are much larger and have a large in room jacuzzi. I think we were disappointed with the Beach because it (the resort) was so large. We felt it lacked the "personal service" (I guess that's what you call it) that we received at the EDR. The other thing we enjoyed about the EDR that wasn't to be found at the IB Beach was a nice quiet place near the beach to listen to waves at night...steps from the bar...and a cool ocean breeze. There were a lot of honeymooners at that resort and they really catered to the honeymooners.

As far as resturants were concerned, the food was good at both places but most of the resturants at the EDR are air conditioned, as oppposed to most of them being open-aired at the Ib Beach/Del Mar.The facilities were much more beautiful at the IB Beach resort than at the EDR.

I'm sorry that I'm just comparing the two, but those are the only places we've stayed at in Playa. I know this probably won't help you but we are actually looking at staying in town for our next trip, possible at the La Tortuga. It looks incredibly intimate and is close enough to town for fun evenings...not to mention a jacuzzi on the rooftop of some of the rooms.

I hope this helps. If I've left anything out that you'd like more info on, just ask! I'll be glad to share with you any info I have. I hope you have a wonderful time on your honeymoon. Eight days in Playa is paradise!

[littlek20]

How is getting a chair on the Iberostar Quetzal Beach? Do I have to be up at 6am for that? The Tucan and Quetzal share the same beach right? Do they play the towel game on the beach as well? Is the Resort located right on the beach? You don't have to walk across streets to get to the beach right? I'll be getting married there in 2006 and I just wanted to make sure the beach is on the resort premise.

Thanks!!!

[Jillian]

Originally Posted by littlek20

How is getting a chair on the Iberostar Quetzal Beach? Do I have to be up at 6am for that? The Tucan and Quetzal share the same beach right? Do they play the towel game on the beach as well? Is the Resort located right on the beach? You don't have to walk across streets to get to the beach right? I'll be getting married there in 2006 and I just wanted to make sure the beach is on the resort premise.

Thanks!!!

They do share the same beace and are located right on the beach

if you're up by 10 there should still be some chairs left, or you could just put your towel on the sand, or bring your own big beach towel and use that.

Here are some pics of the beach at IB Tucan:






These were taken in August pre Wilma

[littlek20]

Thanks for the photos. I can't wait to go!!

Originally Posted by PlayaHereWeCome

They do share the same beace and are located right on the beach

if you're up by 10 there should still be some chairs left, or you could just put your towel on the sand, or bring your own big beach towel and use that.

Here are some pics of the beach at IB Tucan:






These were taken in August pre Wilma

[littlek20]

If you stay at either the Del Mar or the Beach, do I get to use both of the resorts facilitities? Does that go for the same for the Maya/Lindo as well? Thanks,
Kristine

[babs31]

Maya uses all four resorts (del mar, beaches lindo) Lindo use some of the Maya ( I am not sure about all the bars) restraurants and all beaches and del mar. Del mar and Beaches just share each other. Maya and lindo share the same pool but separate lobbies and services. Beachs and Del mar share the same pool but separate lobbies. The Del mar/ beaches pool is tropical, where as lindo is more concrete I would say. Lindo has a corcierge for each building, whereas Beaches and del mar do not. Entertainment del mar beaches may not use the lindo theatre. But lindo can go to both. (this was all pre hurricane info though) Which ever resort you choose you will love. also lindo/ maya had access to ala carte restaurants every night.

[Daniel M.]

I have been to both the Iberostar Paraiso del Mar and Toucan. Both are excellent. The rooms, restaurants, theater are all almost identical. The only difference in the rooms is that the Toucan has large showers instead of bathtubs.

The Paraiso del Mar/Paraiso Beach, Paraiso Lindo are located about 20k north of Playa del Carmen. Taxis can run between $15-$20us each way. The Toucan/Quetzel is located in Playacar, a hotel zone on the beach, just south of the main shopping area in Playa del Carmen. $4us gets you to the shopping area, or you can walk (about 1.5k).

My wife and I like the Toucan best. We will be there in early May for 2 weeks with some of our friends (our 6th time at the Toucan). It's closer and more convenient for shopping in Playa del Carmen. Public transportation is safe and cheap in the area. I suggest you go to cancunmap.com. I would suggest purchasing the maps for Riviera Maya and Playa del Carmen. These are detailed maps with all sorts of info about the area, including restaurant reviews and public transportation tips.



My travel agent has a hard time getting booking dates for the Toucan because it has so much repeat business. We have stayed at some of the other hotels in Playacar, but the Toucan is, by far, the best. The only reason we don’t stay at the Paraiso del Mar is it’s location. If you like to spend most of your time at the club, there is no real difference between the different Iberostar hotels. All are excellent. We just like the convenience of being in Playa del Carmen.



If you are taking small children, I think the Paraiso Lindo has more children’s activities. You would have to check with Iberostar for that.



Here are some other sites for you.



Cave/underground river diving/snorkeling: http://www.hiddenworlds.com/



Excursions:
http://www.alltournative.com/Alltou...mas/default.asp



The best snorkeling place in the world: http://www.xel-ha.com/



Maps and travel info:
http://www.cancunmap.com