Playa Del Carmen and Iberostar Tucan/Quetzal trip report, August-Sept 2007

missixty · 09-17-2007

We've recently got back from two weeks in Playa

So gutted to be back home, already saving to try to come back next year fingers crossed!!
I was going to write my trip report earlier than this but didn't realise I couldn't use my photos off facebook to add to the trip report. I'm uploading photos as we speak so watch this space for a lengthy trip report!!

Chilepepper · 09-17-2007

I can't wait!!!

Sunny20 · 09-17-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by missixty

We've recently got back from two weeks in Playa

So gutted to be back home, already saving to try to come back next year fingers crossed!!
I was going to write my trip report earlier than this but didn't realise I couldn't use my photos off facebook to add to the trip report. I'm uploading photos as we speak so watch this space for a lengthy trip report!!

Can't wait for the report... !!!
I need my playa fix in the next 25 days

MicheleR · 09-17-2007

I'm anxious to read your trip report! Heading to the same resort very soon! Hope you had a wonderful time!

missixty · 09-19-2007

DAY 1
After the worst flights imaginable last year with Monarch, we paid a bit more to go with First Choice this year to get the great long haul flights they were advertising. I have to say we weren't at all dissapointed - leather seats that were as comfy as economy class can be, seat back tellys with movies, games and television (although for the best movies and games a £5 upgrade was required which I thought was a bit cheeky but worth it!), a free comfort pack and the meals were edible, not to mention we had 30kg hold luggage and 5kg hand luggage which a girl like me needs! Check in was fairly quick and easy, the flight was on time, everything went as fine as a long haul flight possibly can.

Ste on plane trying (but failing) to get some sleep

Seat back tellys

Our luggage was pretty much first off the carosel - there's a first - but we had to wait for everyone else anyway as we were on a coach this year (last year there was just a mini bus for us and one other couple) so despite landing at 2 we didn't end up getting to the Tucan till 5pm

Once we got there we could tell immediately, just from standing in reception, how much better this place was going to be than the Occidental Allegro Playacar that we stayed at last year. Don't get me wrong we absolutely loved the Allegro and it will always be the place that we first fell in love with Mexico but it is not even comparable to the Tucan they are in completely different leagues.

Welcome drink in lobby whilst checking in

The lobby

Check in was quick and easy. We had asked our TA to request a room for us in block 11-13 because we wanted to be close to the beach/pool for if we needed to nip back to the room during the day. We weren't bothered about the view so much as the location. We were allocated room 1125 which is in the block closest to the beach other than the upgraded block and our room was pretty much closest to the beach in the whole block. It was on the middle floor and we had a beach view!! It was lovely and a really nice suprise, I had been worried with all the worry about Hurricane Dean that our TA wouldn't of even rememered to request our room so to get this room was brilliant.

Walking to our room

View from balcony, looking away from beach

View from balcony looking towards beach

Beach view from room 1125

The room itself was lovely, it was huge. We had two double beds, a sofa, table and chair. The mini bar was stocked with Superior beer, coke, diet coke, fanta, sprite and water. The bathroom was gorgeous and everything was clean.

Towel art left by the maid

Curtain art done by the maid!

Shower

Bathroom

Enjoying a diet coke out of the mini bar

My boyfriend always insists on unpacking before we do anything (whereas I would be happy to dig a bikini out and go and sunbathe straight away!) so after unpacking it was early evening and we decided to have a walk around the resort.
We couldn't actually believe how big the swimming pool was, despite having seen photos and read people mentioning its huge but when you actually see it it's bigger than you imagine! This was also the only time on the holiday that I managed to get on one of the double bed things by the pool - apparently people were getting up at 5am to reserve them! If I had been overly bothered about having one I would have had no problems moving peoples things but I wouldn't want to lie in the shade all day anyway.

Part of the huge pool, impossible to get it all on a photo

I figured it might be my only chance all holiday for a photo opp on the beds and I was right!

Next we went for some tea in the buffet resteraunt. We were sat at the edge of the buffet resteraunt near the water, the view was amazing. The food was great. I really don't understand how anyone can complain about it and people who say that you get bored of it after a day or so I really don't understand because there's different things on every night and theres enough choice each night to make completely different meals anyway. Mine and my boyfriends plate's always looked completely different theres loads of choice and we piled loads on! I loved the food in the buffet resteraunt, I didn't just think it was ok I thought it was really nice.
After dinner we went to the lobby bar for a quick drink. We had been awake for well over 24 hours at this point with all the travelling so we were shattered but wanted to have a quick first night drink before bed. The drinks were really great - all tasted great and well presented. Even champagne was on the all inclusive! The beer they serve on draft is Dos Equis. My boyfriend is a fussy drinker and normally only drinks Corona or Sol but he liked the Dos Equis just fine.

First drink!

All inclusive champagne cocktail - complete with a cherry!

While we were having our drink we saw this crazy guy proving there is no such thing as health and safety at work laws in Mexico!!
After this it was off to bed as we'd been awake (and travelling) WAY too long and we had to be up early for the rep meeting in the morning.

missixty · 09-19-2007

DAY 2
We woke up early as our bodys were still on uk time so by 7am we were up and out.

We put our sunglasses on in the air conditioned room and then went out onto the balcony and they steamed up!!

Peacock taking and early morning dip in the pool!

We went for breakfast at the buffet resteraunt and we weren't at all dissapointed. There was plenty of choice from fruit, to cereal, to fresh bread, to pancakes, but what we opted for was, of course, a full English breakfast! The bacon was crisp, the sausages nice, hash browns cooked to perfection. You could have your eggs pretty much anyway you desired; various varieties of scrambled egg, various omlettes, poached eggs, boiled eggs, fried eggs...the choice was yours. Everything we had was really nice.
After breakfast we went down to the beach but it was still early and quite cloudy but still very warm. We decided to take the opportunity, before it got to hot, to go off exploring the beach to the south of the Tucan.

Cracking open a coconut we found on the beach

Deserted south playacar beach

Weird little creature we found on the beach

In the sea as far south as you can go in Playacar

A shrimp?

Palm tree on beach south of the Tucan

We spent ages wandering around the beach which was huge and deserted but not actually as nice as the beach at the hotel. There was also loads of dead fish on the deserted bit of beach, I don't know if they got swept up when it was the hurricane and couldn't get back in the water or something. It was fun to go off exploring though.
We had to rush back for our meeting with the rep and spent a lot of the day after the meeting sunbathing. In the early afternoon we decided to start the drinking early and go in the pool bar, this place really is gorgeous! We loved it, I wish we'd spent more time in it.

View of the pool bar from the steps

First drinks in the pool bar

Enjoying my first mojito

Another during that first afternoon spent in the pool bar

We ate tea at the buffet reseteraunt again and then got ready for a night out in Playa Del Carmen. We were still really tired and jet lagged but as we can only go out every other night on hol (due to hangovers!!) we made ourselves make the effort and go out so that we could have as many nights out as possible!

We started the night in this nice little bar on 5th ave with swings at the bar, I forget the name of it.

Then on for a Yellow Submarine cocktail at the Yellow Submarine!

We wanted a fairly chilled out night so we went to one of our favourite bars from last year - Deseo. This place is so relaxed and chilled out, its the perfect place to spend an evening.

Black and white soundless movies on the wall and chilled out music make a perfect atmosphere

The drinks here, if this infact possible, are a little bit TOO strong!!

We hadn't intended to stay all night but before we knew it it was 1am and they were closing.

You can see how it would be easy to lose a whole night here just drinking, chatting and completely relaxing.

Again, I don't think there's such a thing as health and safety laws in Mexico! lol

We weren't quite ready to go home so we went to a bar with hookah pipes near the "coloured bird" (won't let me write the real name!!). I'm not sure what it was called, it was on the corner of the cross roads though.

Pineapple tobacco

We went onto the "coloured bird" for a drink or two but didn't end up staying long as we were tired and for some reason this year we just didn't love the place like we did last year, we didn't really spend much time there this year.
We got back to the hotel just before 3am so we decided to check out what the club at the hotel was like.

The onsite club - Mascara!

And this is how busy it was!! So we just got a water and then went back to our rooms and went to bed.

It was a lovely first day and first night out that was really relaxed but loads of fun. Best of all, we still had our whole holiday ahead of us (like it was never going to end!) at this point.

silvergirl · 09-19-2007

Great pictures, thank you!

By the way............that hookah stuff. What's that all about??

Looks too good to be legal!

missixty · 09-19-2007

Haha it's nothing like that it's just flavoured tobacco but it's really pure it has no niccotine in it or anything and it tastes well nice!!

adella · 09-19-2007

Nice

Lillibet · 09-19-2007

Yum! Fond memories of the mojitos from the Tucan/Quetzal bars!

MartyC · 09-19-2007

Nice TR and pictures. Waiting for more.

missixty · 09-19-2007

DAY 3
We weren't too badly hungover from the night before as we'd took it (fairly) easy so we were okay to get up and spend the whole day sunbathing. Not much to report here, we just laid out in the sun all day!

My view for most of the day

We have one night out one night in on holiday, so we had booked in at the speciality resteraunts for our nights off. We were entitled to 5 visits during our stay but booked in 6 times with no problems always getting in at the resteraunts we wanted on the days and times we wanted. Our first reservation was at the Steakhouse.
This was by far the nicest meal me and my boyfriend have ever had ever. I don't just mean in a hotel, this was nicer than any resteraunt, however expensive that we have ever been to. I had the tenderlolin steak and my boyfriend had the rack of beef ribs. Both were cooked to perfection and really really soft. Both were served with a corn on the cob and a baked potatoe with sour cream. I'm very wary of eating baked potatoes unless they are cooked by myself as there's nothing worse than undercooked hard potatoes (in my opinion!) but these did not fail to satisfy, they were really soft and the sour cream was gorgeous. We didn't have a starter or desert this time as we were too full.

Ready for going to the Steakhouse

Quick drink (nicely matched with my eyeshadow!) before dinner

We then went back to the hotel room for an early night so we could make the most of the following day.

TnJ · 09-19-2007

enjoying the report so far! Y'all make a cute couple!

MTLBiceps · 09-19-2007

Wow! Those are great pics! It looks like you had a really good time! I'm very jealous! I wish I was there right now! LOL

I've seen up to Day #3, cant wait to see the others!!

So you had a great time at Playa? My girlfriend and all of her friends LOVE it there! They have told me its their favorite place in the whole world. I'm going in March and I cant wait!! I really want to go badly!!

Christian Knudsen

Susangria · 09-19-2007

It's so funny how my husband and I went to the same hotel as you and had similar and different experiences from yours. Yes, we loved it and were blown away by the food selection and service, but on our second visit to the hotel, Playa del Carmen kept calling us back for more. It wasn't that our experience at Quetzal/Tucan wasn't amazing, it was just that the town had so much to offer as well. When we realized how much time and money we were spending away from the hotel, we knew we would have to stay in town this year (which we did, August 31-Sept 10). I love your pics from your trek south. We did that last year and found all kinds of human critters, but no wildlife - and no cocouts, either! You two really are a very lovely couple. Great report!

09-17-2007	#1 (permalink)
missixty life=playa Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Manchester, UK Posts: 693	Playa Del Carmen and Iberostar Tucan/Quetzal trip report, August-Sept 2007 We've recently got back from two weeks in Playa So gutted to be back home, already saving to try to come back next year fingers crossed!! I was going to write my trip report earlier than this but didn't realise I couldn't use my photos off facebook to add to the trip report. I'm uploading photos as we speak so watch this space for a lengthy trip report!!

09-19-2007	#12 (permalink)
missixty life=playa Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Manchester, UK Posts: 693	DAY 3 We weren't too badly hungover from the night before as we'd took it (fairly) easy so we were okay to get up and spend the whole day sunbathing. Not much to report here, we just laid out in the sun all day! My view for most of the day We have one night out one night in on holiday, so we had booked in at the speciality resteraunts for our nights off. We were entitled to 5 visits during our stay but booked in 6 times with no problems always getting in at the resteraunts we wanted on the days and times we wanted. Our first reservation was at the Steakhouse. This was by far the nicest meal me and my boyfriend have ever had ever. I don't just mean in a hotel, this was nicer than any resteraunt, however expensive that we have ever been to. I had the tenderlolin steak and my boyfriend had the rack of beef ribs. Both were cooked to perfection and really really soft. Both were served with a corn on the cob and a baked potatoe with sour cream. I'm very wary of eating baked potatoes unless they are cooked by myself as there's nothing worse than undercooked hard potatoes (in my opinion!) but these did not fail to satisfy, they were really soft and the sour cream was gorgeous. We didn't have a starter or desert this time as we were too full. Ready for going to the Steakhouse Quick drink (nicely matched with my eyeshadow!) before dinner We then went back to the hotel room for an early night so we could make the most of the following day. Last edited by missixty; 09-19-2007 at 08:03 AM.. Reason: forgot to post two photos!

09-17-2007	#2 (permalink)
Chilepepper beachaholic Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Appleton, WI Posts: 280	I can't wait!!!

09-17-2007	#4 (permalink)
MicheleR way into it Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Connecticut Posts: 196	I'm anxious to read your trip report! Heading to the same resort very soon! Hope you had a wonderful time!

09-19-2007	#5 (permalink)
missixty life=playa Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Manchester, UK Posts: 693	DAY 1 After the worst flights imaginable last year with Monarch, we paid a bit more to go with First Choice this year to get the great long haul flights they were advertising. I have to say we weren't at all dissapointed - leather seats that were as comfy as economy class can be, seat back tellys with movies, games and television (although for the best movies and games a £5 upgrade was required which I thought was a bit cheeky but worth it!), a free comfort pack and the meals were edible, not to mention we had 30kg hold luggage and 5kg hand luggage which a girl like me needs! Check in was fairly quick and easy, the flight was on time, everything went as fine as a long haul flight possibly can. Ste on plane trying (but failing) to get some sleep Seat back tellys Our luggage was pretty much first off the carosel - there's a first - but we had to wait for everyone else anyway as we were on a coach this year (last year there was just a mini bus for us and one other couple) so despite landing at 2 we didn't end up getting to the Tucan till 5pm Once we got there we could tell immediately, just from standing in reception, how much better this place was going to be than the Occidental Allegro Playacar that we stayed at last year. Don't get me wrong we absolutely loved the Allegro and it will always be the place that we first fell in love with Mexico but it is not even comparable to the Tucan they are in completely different leagues. Welcome drink in lobby whilst checking in The lobby Check in was quick and easy. We had asked our TA to request a room for us in block 11-13 because we wanted to be close to the beach/pool for if we needed to nip back to the room during the day. We weren't bothered about the view so much as the location. We were allocated room 1125 which is in the block closest to the beach other than the upgraded block and our room was pretty much closest to the beach in the whole block. It was on the middle floor and we had a beach view!! It was lovely and a really nice suprise, I had been worried with all the worry about Hurricane Dean that our TA wouldn't of even rememered to request our room so to get this room was brilliant. Walking to our room View from balcony, looking away from beach View from balcony looking towards beach Beach view from room 1125 The room itself was lovely, it was huge. We had two double beds, a sofa, table and chair. The mini bar was stocked with Superior beer, coke, diet coke, fanta, sprite and water. The bathroom was gorgeous and everything was clean. Towel art left by the maid Curtain art done by the maid! Shower Bathroom Enjoying a diet coke out of the mini bar My boyfriend always insists on unpacking before we do anything (whereas I would be happy to dig a bikini out and go and sunbathe straight away!) so after unpacking it was early evening and we decided to have a walk around the resort. We couldn't actually believe how big the swimming pool was, despite having seen photos and read people mentioning its huge but when you actually see it it's bigger than you imagine! This was also the only time on the holiday that I managed to get on one of the double bed things by the pool - apparently people were getting up at 5am to reserve them! If I had been overly bothered about having one I would have had no problems moving peoples things but I wouldn't want to lie in the shade all day anyway. Part of the huge pool, impossible to get it all on a photo I figured it might be my only chance all holiday for a photo opp on the beds and I was right! Next we went for some tea in the buffet resteraunt. We were sat at the edge of the buffet resteraunt near the water, the view was amazing. The food was great. I really don't understand how anyone can complain about it and people who say that you get bored of it after a day or so I really don't understand because there's different things on every night and theres enough choice each night to make completely different meals anyway. Mine and my boyfriends plate's always looked completely different theres loads of choice and we piled loads on! I loved the food in the buffet resteraunt, I didn't just think it was ok I thought it was really nice. After dinner we went to the lobby bar for a quick drink. We had been awake for well over 24 hours at this point with all the travelling so we were shattered but wanted to have a quick first night drink before bed. The drinks were really great - all tasted great and well presented. Even champagne was on the all inclusive! The beer they serve on draft is Dos Equis. My boyfriend is a fussy drinker and normally only drinks Corona or Sol but he liked the Dos Equis just fine. First drink! All inclusive champagne cocktail - complete with a cherry! While we were having our drink we saw this crazy guy proving there is no such thing as health and safety at work laws in Mexico!! After this it was off to bed as we'd been awake (and travelling) WAY too long and we had to be up early for the rep meeting in the morning.

09-19-2007	#6 (permalink)
missixty life=playa Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Manchester, UK Posts: 693	DAY 2 We woke up early as our bodys were still on uk time so by 7am we were up and out. We put our sunglasses on in the air conditioned room and then went out onto the balcony and they steamed up!! Peacock taking and early morning dip in the pool! We went for breakfast at the buffet resteraunt and we weren't at all dissapointed. There was plenty of choice from fruit, to cereal, to fresh bread, to pancakes, but what we opted for was, of course, a full English breakfast! The bacon was crisp, the sausages nice, hash browns cooked to perfection. You could have your eggs pretty much anyway you desired; various varieties of scrambled egg, various omlettes, poached eggs, boiled eggs, fried eggs...the choice was yours. Everything we had was really nice. After breakfast we went down to the beach but it was still early and quite cloudy but still very warm. We decided to take the opportunity, before it got to hot, to go off exploring the beach to the south of the Tucan. Cracking open a coconut we found on the beach Deserted south playacar beach Weird little creature we found on the beach In the sea as far south as you can go in Playacar A shrimp? Palm tree on beach south of the Tucan We spent ages wandering around the beach which was huge and deserted but not actually as nice as the beach at the hotel. There was also loads of dead fish on the deserted bit of beach, I don't know if they got swept up when it was the hurricane and couldn't get back in the water or something. It was fun to go off exploring though. We had to rush back for our meeting with the rep and spent a lot of the day after the meeting sunbathing. In the early afternoon we decided to start the drinking early and go in the pool bar, this place really is gorgeous! We loved it, I wish we'd spent more time in it. View of the pool bar from the steps First drinks in the pool bar Enjoying my first mojito Another during that first afternoon spent in the pool bar We ate tea at the buffet reseteraunt again and then got ready for a night out in Playa Del Carmen. We were still really tired and jet lagged but as we can only go out every other night on hol (due to hangovers!!) we made ourselves make the effort and go out so that we could have as many nights out as possible! We started the night in this nice little bar on 5th ave with swings at the bar, I forget the name of it. Then on for a Yellow Submarine cocktail at the Yellow Submarine! We wanted a fairly chilled out night so we went to one of our favourite bars from last year - Deseo. This place is so relaxed and chilled out, its the perfect place to spend an evening. Black and white soundless movies on the wall and chilled out music make a perfect atmosphere The drinks here, if this infact possible, are a little bit TOO strong!! We hadn't intended to stay all night but before we knew it it was 1am and they were closing. You can see how it would be easy to lose a whole night here just drinking, chatting and completely relaxing. Again, I don't think there's such a thing as health and safety laws in Mexico! lol We weren't quite ready to go home so we went to a bar with hookah pipes near the "coloured bird" (won't let me write the real name!!). I'm not sure what it was called, it was on the corner of the cross roads though. Pineapple tobacco We went onto the "coloured bird" for a drink or two but didn't end up staying long as we were tired and for some reason this year we just didn't love the place like we did last year, we didn't really spend much time there this year. We got back to the hotel just before 3am so we decided to check out what the club at the hotel was like. The onsite club - Mascara! And this is how busy it was!! So we just got a water and then went back to our rooms and went to bed. It was a lovely first day and first night out that was really relaxed but loads of fun. Best of all, we still had our whole holiday ahead of us (like it was never going to end!) at this point.

09-19-2007	#7 (permalink)
silvergirl añejo Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 4,948	Great pictures, thank you! By the way............that hookah stuff. What's that all about?? Looks too good to be legal!

09-19-2007	#8 (permalink)
missixty life=playa Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Manchester, UK Posts: 693	Haha it's nothing like that it's just flavoured tobacco but it's really pure it has no niccotine in it or anything and it tastes well nice!!

09-19-2007	#9 (permalink)
adella way into it Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 119	Nice

09-19-2007	#10 (permalink)
Lillibet beachaholic Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Beautiful part of north UK Posts: 304	Yum! Fond memories of the mojitos from the Tucan/Quetzal bars!

09-19-2007	#11 (permalink)
MartyC reposado Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Vancouver BC Canada Posts: 1,039	Nice TR and pictures. Waiting for more.

09-19-2007	#13 (permalink)
TnJ añejo Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: vuelo corto al PDC Posts: 2,051	enjoying the report so far! Y'all make a cute couple!

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09-19-2007	#14 (permalink)
MTLBiceps into ruins Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Montreal, Canada Posts: 78	Wow! Those are great pics! It looks like you had a really good time! I'm very jealous! I wish I was there right now! LOL I've seen up to Day #3, cant wait to see the others!! So you had a great time at Playa? My girlfriend and all of her friends LOVE it there! They have told me its their favorite place in the whole world. I'm going in March and I cant wait!! I really want to go badly!! Christian Knudsen

09-19-2007	#15 (permalink)
Susangria way into it Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 111	It's so funny how my husband and I went to the same hotel as you and had similar and different experiences from yours. Yes, we loved it and were blown away by the food selection and service, but on our second visit to the hotel, Playa del Carmen kept calling us back for more. It wasn't that our experience at Quetzal/Tucan wasn't amazing, it was just that the town had so much to offer as well. When we realized how much time and money we were spending away from the hotel, we knew we would have to stay in town this year (which we did, August 31-Sept 10). I love your pics from your trek south. We did that last year and found all kinds of human critters, but no wildlife - and no cocouts, either! You two really are a very lovely couple. Great report!