Iberostar Quetzal Message Board

[Rubio]

Does anyone know of any Iberostar message boards? I found one, but it doesn't seem to get much action.

[tesa001]

i wish, that is our choice for our honeymoon, and have been searching too...

keep me posted...
tesa

[Nerak936]

If you have questions or want to discuss the Iberostar Quetzal, then ask/discuss away!! There are plenty of us here who would love to chat and share info about the resort (which I personally have fallen in love with and can't wait to visit again next year)!!

What's on your mind???

[Rubio]

I am just impatiently waiting to go and want to read as much about it as possible. I read your great trip report Nerak. I can't think of anything specific right now other than in your experience, is the beach super crowded? We would be there in Oct. We wouldn't necessarily need a beach chair so no need to play the chair game, just our beach towels to lay out on and an umbrella. Could we move away from the crowds that way? Do they rent you an umbrella? Also, does the beach really look like a giant ashtray? I've read that many people leave their butts in the sand. SO gross! My husband smokes but has the courtesy to get a cup of water to put his butts in and throw them away and not smoke in areas where no one else is smoking, so he's the only guy smoking around a group of non-smokers. When he asked for one (water cup for butts) last time we were in Mexico the guy giving it to him looked shocked he would care enough not to litter, must be quite common.

Also, if you get there before check in, do they just hold your stuff until a room is available. And if you have a later flight out, will they hold your stuff while you enjoy the resort until you have to leave?

[Nerak936]

Originally Posted by Rubio

I can't think of anything specific right now other than in your experience, is the beach super crowded? We would be there in Oct. We wouldn't necessarily need a beach chair so no need to play the chair game, just our beach towels to lay out on and an umbrella. Could we move away from the crowds that way? Do they rent you an umbrella? Also, does the beach really look like a giant ashtray? I've read that many people leave their butts in the sand. SO gross! My husband smokes but has the courtesy to get a cup of water to put his butts in and throw them away and not smoke in areas where no one else is smoking, so he's the only guy smoking around a group of non-smokers. When he asked for one (water cup for butts) last time we were in Mexico the guy giving it to him looked shocked he would care enough not to litter, must be quite common.

Also, if you get there before check in, do they just hold your stuff until a room is available. And if you have a later flight out, will they hold your stuff while you enjoy the resort until you have to leave?

Rubio:

Glad you enjoyed my trip report.... we had a fabulous time. Now to answer your questions:

We never had a problem finding a chair on the beach (the pool in a whole other matter, as you probably know... but we couldn't care less about the pool). The palapas get staked out quite quickly, but since you easily get an umbrella from the towel hut we didn't care. No rental fee on the umbrella - they just take down your room # and give you a receipt. When you pass back in the umbrella by 6 PM, you hand them back your receipt. The umbrellas were great to have since I definitely need shade available on the beach.

As far as the beach looking like an ashtray..... no, it doesn't. Sure there are and will always be plenty of rude, uncaring people who have no respect for the beauty of the area and will toss their butts wherever they please ..... so, yes, you do see cig butts in the sand. People might use it as their own personal ashtray (as do many ignorant folk here in the States), but the beach itself does not look like an ashtray. Whenever I was walking up to the beach bar for another pina colada, I'd pick up a few butts or plastic straws along the way (trying to help out a bit). But it's not like you have to watch to avoid stepping on them. Cudos to your hubby for being respectful of his surroundings and of the non-smokers!!

Luggage: We arrived at 12:30 PM and we couldn't check into our room until 3 PM. They have a hospitality room to lock up your luggage in and bathrooms and showers in the same area if you want to freshen up, change into your bathing suit, etc. Just ask. The room is just around the corner from the lobby, and they keep it locked up (though you might want to lock your luggage while it's in there since there could be other guests in there getting into their luggage.... we didn't bother locking ours, cuz I felt it was safe, and hey, I guess I like to try to have a little faith in my fellow man from time to time). Although we didn't use the hospitality room when we left (as our transfer bus picked us up at 12:35 so we were able to shower/change in the room before we checked out at 12 PM), I believe it works the same for those who check out at 12 and their transfer bus is later in the day. That way you can enjoy the beach and sun and fun right up to the very last minute!!! Also... don't hesitate to take your plastic-cupped cocktail with you on the transfer bus to the airport....might as well keep the vacation going as long as possible!!

If you have any more questions, feel free to ask!!

[Rubio]

Thanks Nerak! We could care less about the pool too. Glad it's there just in case, but I came for the beach, not the pool! No pretty beaches where I live so it's the only time I get to see a beautiful beach with white sand and blue water!

[BeachBaby]

Hi Karen,

It's me again with more questions! I'm sorry is just that everytime I see you responding to a post about the Quetzal I think of more questions to ask.

What time was your flight departure? You said your bus came at 12:35pm. I am just trying to get a feel of what time the bus comes to pick you up from the resort to take you to the airport.

How does the towel policy work? I keep reading something about you having to pick up a towel every morning and return it every night? Can't you just grab a bunch of towels for the length of your stay and return them as you are finished with them?

Do the rooms have key cards?

Ok, that's it for now...

Thanks!

[Nerak936]

Originally Posted by BeachBaby

Hi Karen,

It's me again with more questions! I'm sorry is just that everytime I see you responding to a post about the Quetzal I think of more questions to ask.

What time was your flight departure? You said your bus came at 12:35pm. I am just trying to get a feel of what time the bus comes to pick you up from the resort to take you to the airport.

How does the towel policy work? I keep reading something about you having to pick up a towel every morning and return it every night? Can't you just grab a bunch of towels for the length of your stay and return them as you are finished with them?

Do the rooms have key cards?

Ok, that's it for now...

Thanks!

Keep those questions a-coming!!! Makes me feel like I'm there again!!

Our flight was at 3:15. There was a bit of a fiasco on the transfer bus so we were a little late getting there (fiasco was due to some absent-minded passengers, not the transfer van people), so we didn't get to the airport til 2:10. We still had plenty of time to check in and get to the gate and have a snack pre-flight.

Towels: You are assigned one towel card per person. When you go to the towel hut, you get one towel for each towel card (so stocking up not allowed). When you turn in your used towel, you can either get your towel card back or another towel (so if you forget to turn in your towel before it closes at 6 PM, no problem... just keep it in your room and return it the next day and get a fresh towel). As long as when you check out you pass in the same # of towel cards that you were issued, you'll be all set. If you lose your towel or your towel card, it'll cost you $10.

Yes, the rooms have key cards. Same size as the towel cards. Be advised that a towel card will not open up your room no matter how many times you slide it in and out and no matter how many times you swear and jiggle the door's handle!!! (not that this is the voice of experience talkin' here.......)

[BeachBaby]

Thanks Karen!

[JenLN]

I have of course heard the insulated cup tip many times....I'm wondering, at the IB* Tucan/Quetzal, is there a size limit on this? I wanted to get one of the mugs from QT that are about 32 oz....just so I have to go to the bar fewer times. Will they fill those up, or does it have to be a smaller one, the size you would use for coffee? Do they serve wine at the bars, too? Sangria? I was thinking I could make my own impromptu sangria by taking fruit from the buffet, throwing it in my mug, then adding wine at the bar. I wonder if that would work.

Also, anyone with experience with weddings there? We're going to a wedding and they're having a rehearsal dinner and wedding dinner....do you think we'll have to use our reservation tickets for those?

Nerak, the Thursday you were there was shrimp night, right? Was that the 20th of May?

I've been told that there is sushi available on the buffet. If you like sushi, and you tried it there, is it at least halfway decent? I'm getting really excited about unlimited sushi, and I hope its not too bad in quality.

Tipping strategy....one big lump up front and tell and tell the bartender or maid that's for the week? One big lump at the end? Pay as you go? Anyone know what they prefer? If you tip big in the beginning, they may expect you continue giving that much...if you tip big at the end, they don't know you plan to do this and won't give you as good of service. Tipping as you go means I need cash on hand at all times, not such a big deal for the maids, but maybe so at the beach/pool bar.

OK, one more question...my bf was wondering about bringing his mp3 player and earphones...I thought there might be music played over loudspeakers by the pool or beach, is this the case?

[Nerak936]

Originally Posted by JenLN

I have of course heard the insulated cup tip many times....I'm wondering, at the IB* Tucan/Quetzal, is there a size limit on this? I wanted to get one of the mugs from QT that are about 32 oz....just so I have to go to the bar fewer times. Will they fill those up, or does it have to be a smaller one, the size you would use for coffee? Do they serve wine at the bars, too? Sangria? I was thinking I could make my own impromptu sangria by taking fruit from the buffet, throwing it in my mug, then adding wine at the bar. I wonder if that would work.

Also, anyone with experience with weddings there? We're going to a wedding and they're having a rehearsal dinner and wedding dinner....do you think we'll have to use our reservation tickets for those?

Nerak, the Thursday you were there was shrimp night, right? Was that the 20th of May?

I've been told that there is sushi available on the buffet. If you like sushi, and you tried it there, is it at least halfway decent? I'm getting really excited about unlimited sushi, and I hope its not too bad in quality.

Tipping strategy....one big lump up front and tell and tell the bartender or maid that's for the week? One big lump at the end? Pay as you go? Anyone know what they prefer? If you tip big in the beginning, they may expect you continue giving that much...if you tip big at the end, they don't know you plan to do this and won't give you as good of service. Tipping as you go means I need cash on hand at all times, not such a big deal for the maids, but maybe so at the beach/pool bar.

OK, one more question...my bf was wondering about bringing his mp3 player and earphones...I thought there might be music played over loudspeakers by the pool or beach, is this the case?

Okay... bear with me.... just had a great steak and coupla June Bugs (Malibu, Midori, Banana Liquere, and pineaplle juice = yum).....

Drink cups: Bring whatever you want and ask 'em to fill it up. If they won't, then ask for two drinks and dump it in there yourself. David and I had insulted "drinky cups" from Aruba which they filled just fine. Sometimes one of us was ready for a refill before the other, so the slow one got a drink in a cup that we transferred to the insulated cup when ready. They're cool there. Give it a try. Dont' know a thing about mixing your own sangria. Give it a try (I'm repeating myself already). The white wine that I had with dinner sometimes was probably from a 50-gallon drum out back but I like the cheap stuff, so I suffered through it. Would I drink it solo at home. No. But a bit with dinner was nice. They don't really "allow" you to take food from the buffet out of the restaurant area (although I never saw anyone try and/or get stopped), so just do it on the sly if you do.

Don't know anything about weddings there. Saw a couple of brides during our week, but don't know details. We're engaged now but probably will tie the knot sometime in 2037.

Shrimp night for us was May 27th, not the 20th. It was good. As long as you can figure out how the hell to eat those things. I had to forego the utensils and just grab those suckers and rip 'em apart. So much for looking ladylike at dinner. David just laughed at me. Which he seems to do a lot when we're on vacation, now that I think about it........

Didn't see any sushi. Glad I didn't. YUKKKKKKKO. Fish weren't meant to be eaten raw. That's why God created fire and microwaves.

Tipping: Hard to comment on this. Such a personal thing. We gave the maid $3/day (and only got two towel animals the whole week... bummer!), tipped the restaurant staff a coupla bucks if they helped us, tipped good when we did the ala carte restaurant, and took care of the disco bartenders when we were there. We tipped the pool bar/beach bar guys that last day we were there, since we really didn't have cash with us during that time of day. Don't worry about not getting good service if you don't tip. You'll get GREAT service no matter what. I think perhaps some people tip heavy at the end.... or maybe some at the beginning of their week. We never saw any difference, tip or no tip. Do what's comfortable for you.

Music: Can't really recall. I think there was music piped in. Near the pool there's definitely music, especially if they're doing pool aerobics or teaching salsa dancing (or whatever that was). My attitude is leave the tunes at home (but that's just me.... I like my discman when I take my morning walks). Part of the whole experience is the sound of where you are. Let it in!! Don't block it out!! You can always listen to YOUR music when you're at home. You won't hear the sounds of what's going around you later on, so soak it in while you can...... the breezes..... the waves.... the occasional mariachi band...... some of it's corny, but it's sooooo coool just the same.

Just my take on it. To each, his own.

[Sandra, Az]

Just thought I would say, we LOVE sushi and never saw any on the buffet. Don't think I would've missed it but then again it's been over a year since we were there.

[emmalaw45]

Just reading some of the old posts on here from last year and thought I'd ask a little bit about the food at the Tucan. I amn a very fussy eater as I am not a big fan of meat, I can just about cope with chicken as long as there are no pink or black bits in it!!!!! haha. Sad I know but I just can't help it.

I do eat a lot of the vegetarian food in the UK and lots of salad and vegetables but I have heard that a lot of people got sick at this hotel eating the freshfruit and salad and I am afraid I just can;t afford to risk it as we are getting married at the Tucan in April. I'd hate to be sick on my wedding day so I guess it will be all cooked food for me.

What are the meals like in the buffet? Is there quite a range to choose from?

Thanks
Emma

[TeeZet]

Originally Posted by Nerak936

Don't know anything about weddings there. Saw a couple of brides during our week, but don't know details.

I have some pics here

Originally Posted by Nerak936

I had to forego the utensils and just grab those suckers and rip 'em apart.

You sure did the right thing there!

Originally Posted by Nerak936

Didn't see any sushi.

I did (yummy!). Not at the buffet, though, but at the 'Bonsai', the new Japanese reastaurant. Really not too bad!

Enjoy!

[emmalaw45]

Thanks for that. I checked those pics out when they were posted the other day. So lovely.

I just can't wait now. 7.5 weeks until we fly out!!