Barcelo or Tucan ?

NorthMinnesota · 08-30-2004

We were at the Barcelo last spring and loved it!!! However, our teens want to be closer to Playa for evening activities and "better" food options. They loved the pools and beach area at the Barcelo but they heard that the Tucan is fun, too. I don't want to be disappointed if we head closer to Playa since the adults loved the beautiful long beach. Can any one add any info to this family debate??? Thanks for your help!

K and P · 08-30-2004

When we walked through the Tucan back in March it looked great. Its almost as Beautiful as Barcelo. I my self didnt care for the Playa area, too busy and same with the beach. The beach can be pretty rough in that area and doesnt have that nice tropical feel Barcelo does. Just my opinion. I sure the resort is A 1 if it was just on the BM beach it would be perfect. But if you do go let us know how it was, its supposed to be one of the best resort down that way.

NorthMinnesota · 08-30-2004

Hey K and P! Thanks for responding. We truly had a wonderful time at the Barcelo and we love the remote/uuncrowded feel of the Barcelo beach. Is the Tucan beach really crowded like a Florida resort area? Can you walk for a long way on the beach? Not sure I want to give this up. Maybe the girls wil have to earn money for the taxi rides in to Playa!

K and P · 08-30-2004

I have to say I felt like the Playacar area was like resort strip, its very nice but its just one place after another. We stayed at the RIU and the beach was very crowded in the spring, and all the places like the Gala and the Iberostar and the RIU's have the same frontage so there is not much area for them to put all the chairs out so you dont have that much room, or the nice palm trees to put your chair under, there are a few but not like at Barcelo.
If you remember we left the RIU for one $400 night at Barcelo just feel relaxed and have some pool and beach space. I know the Tucan is a great resort, but the pool and beach dont compare to Barcelo if you are looking for the spread out tropical setting. I know some prefer the Playacar area but we wouldnt return. We might do the Palladium in a couple of years but that one has a nice big area like Barcelo has.
You can get the busses from Barcelo for $1.50 each way into Playa its cheaper then a cab.
I dont mean to cut the Playacar area down its really beautiful but we prefer the tranquility of Barcelo.

NorthMinnesota · 08-30-2004

This just might be a case where Mother knows best and pulls rank to repeat at the Barcelo!

The collectivos are nice but I don't remember them running late at night when we were there. We tend to do late dinners and then people watch while the girls meet friends and dance at some of the clubs so taxi might be the best bet on the way home. We'll see what compromise we reach as I don't want to fight for beach space. We really aren't shade people so the palms aren't a big deal for us. We need our sun fix after the long Minnesota winters!

K and P · 08-30-2004

Good Luck, see ya on the Barcelo Board. I will have a new Barcelo Review and Pictures in 2 weeks. Take Care Pam

08-30-2004	#1 (permalink)
NorthMinnesota añejo Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Minnesota Posts: 5,599	Barcelo or Tucan ? We were at the Barcelo last spring and loved it!!! However, our teens want to be closer to Playa for evening activities and "better" food options. They loved the pools and beach area at the Barcelo but they heard that the Tucan is fun, too. I don't want to be disappointed if we head closer to Playa since the adults loved the beautiful long beach. Can any one add any info to this family debate??? Thanks for your help!

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

08-30-2004	#2 (permalink)
K and P beachaholic Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Ont, Canada Posts: 343	When we walked through the Tucan back in March it looked great. Its almost as Beautiful as Barcelo. I my self didnt care for the Playa area, too busy and same with the beach. The beach can be pretty rough in that area and doesnt have that nice tropical feel Barcelo does. Just my opinion. I sure the resort is A 1 if it was just on the BM beach it would be perfect. But if you do go let us know how it was, its supposed to be one of the best resort down that way.

08-30-2004	#3 (permalink)
NorthMinnesota añejo Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Minnesota Posts: 5,599	Hey K and P! Thanks for responding. We truly had a wonderful time at the Barcelo and we love the remote/uuncrowded feel of the Barcelo beach. Is the Tucan beach really crowded like a Florida resort area? Can you walk for a long way on the beach? Not sure I want to give this up. Maybe the girls wil have to earn money for the taxi rides in to Playa!

08-30-2004	#4 (permalink)
K and P beachaholic Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Ont, Canada Posts: 343	I have to say I felt like the Playacar area was like resort strip, its very nice but its just one place after another. We stayed at the RIU and the beach was very crowded in the spring, and all the places like the Gala and the Iberostar and the RIU's have the same frontage so there is not much area for them to put all the chairs out so you dont have that much room, or the nice palm trees to put your chair under, there are a few but not like at Barcelo. If you remember we left the RIU for one $400 night at Barcelo just feel relaxed and have some pool and beach space. I know the Tucan is a great resort, but the pool and beach dont compare to Barcelo if you are looking for the spread out tropical setting. I know some prefer the Playacar area but we wouldnt return. We might do the Palladium in a couple of years but that one has a nice big area like Barcelo has. You can get the busses from Barcelo for $1.50 each way into Playa its cheaper then a cab. I dont mean to cut the Playacar area down its really beautiful but we prefer the tranquility of Barcelo.

08-30-2004	#5 (permalink)
NorthMinnesota añejo Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Minnesota Posts: 5,599	This just might be a case where Mother knows best and pulls rank to repeat at the Barcelo! The collectivos are nice but I don't remember them running late at night when we were there. We tend to do late dinners and then people watch while the girls meet friends and dance at some of the clubs so taxi might be the best bet on the way home. We'll see what compromise we reach as I don't want to fight for beach space. We really aren't shade people so the palms aren't a big deal for us. We need our sun fix after the long Minnesota winters!

08-30-2004	#6 (permalink)
K and P beachaholic Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Ont, Canada Posts: 343	Good Luck, see ya on the Barcelo Board. I will have a new Barcelo Review and Pictures in 2 weeks. Take Care Pam

register to remove these adverts