Iberostar Tucan / Quetzal Reviews

We booked this holiday as a special trip for our 30th wedding anniversary. What can we say. It was simply the best holiday we have ever had.

Everything was perfect, including the hotel, its grounds and facilities and of course every single member of staff who made us so welcome and treated us like royalty for our entire stay (two weeks). A special mention to the Star Friends who put on some excellent shows and were always available for activities during the daytime. We already have holidays booked for next year but will be re-booking for October 2006 as soon as the relevant brochure is available. Its true that the airport can be a bit difficult on the nerves after a long flight but all of that is forgotten the following day when you wake up at the Quetzal and begin to explore the place after finding brilliant sunshine greeting you at 6.30 am. We would recommend a stroll along the beach at this time of day (you won't be on your own).

Well done Thomas Cook in finding this gem which in our view is the best of all the 4/5 star hotels in Playacar.

Arrived at Iberostar Quetzal/Tucan 7-30pm on 11 Oct 04,after long flight,which was on time.The hotel reception is very grand and impressive.We received a welcoming cocktail and then went to find our room.

The room was large and well furnished with 2 queen sized beds,mini bar,tv.The hotel complex was large with both hotels sharing a huge theatre which had nightly entertainment which got a bit repetative as the days went on.In the lobby bar you could listen to some fantastic classical guitar from about 7-00pm till 9-30pm, which made a welcome change.Most of the popular spirits were premium brands and the cocktails were great,if the one you like wasn't on the menu just ask and the barman usually knew how to make it.The staff were all very friendly,polite and ready to help.

The resort was always spotlessly clean and always being maintained.There is a piece of jungle that devides the two hotels with pathways that run through it,this was fantastic,everytime we walked through we would come across monkeys or pheasants or lizards or some other jungle animal.In our opinion this is one of the best hotels we have ever stayed in,the pool is huge and clean with a seperate pool for sports and a kids pool.

The food was outstanding,something for everyone.All in all a great resort.Went on 2 trips,one to Cosumel on the ferry which was a good day out as you can use the fasilities at the Iberostar Cosumel for nothing,if you don't mind a 20min taxi drive.The other trip was to Chichen Itsa, to see the ruined city,great to see but a long day and very hot.Mexico and the Quetzal well worth going back to.

This place was absolutely incredible. I would highly recomment Iberostar.

From the moment we got there, until the moment we left, we were treated like royalty and so was every guest.

The hotel was immaculate. The pool was absolutely huge and never got busy. there was an adults only pool with tables and a fountain that was wonderful to sit and and have a cocktail. Our favourite bit about the hotel was the fact that it had a massive ";jungle"; area and here we saw the resident tortoise, flamingoes, peacocks, little rat/rabbir,squirrel things and monkeys hopping all around the trees making a right racket. Every journey through brought a new surprise.

The hotel itself wasd immaculate, they had people cleaning all the time and every member of staff was so nice. The evening entertainment was good too.

The food wwas amazing. i am a really fussy eater and yet never went hungry. The only downside was the Mexican a la carte was a bit disappiointing, but the steak house was amazing.

We went on a trip the Xel-ha - beautiful day. We also went to chichen Itza which was a long day, but worth it.

All in all, anyone thinking of booking the hotel is in for a real treat to say the least. Eat as much as you want, drink as much as you want and be in a fantastic hotel. what more could you ask for?
enjoy!!!

A fanatstic holiday had here. 5 Star hotel with 5 star service. From the minute you arrive you will be in paradise. The lobby is grand with shinning marble, the rooms are large, spacious, and are cleaned spotlessly every day by the maids who also restock you minibar in room. The maids also leave towel animals for you and little chocolates on your bed. A few dollars tip left for them!!!!!!!

The buffet resturant is massive and has a great choice and standard of food that everyone will enjoy. Breakfast, lunch and dinner buffets are all exceptional. Then you have your 4 a'la carte resturaunts, in which the steak house won it for us, the fillet steak is to die for. YUMMY!!!!!! Nightime shows were not my thing, very family orientated shows, but the effort put into these shows is tremedous. We just went to the disco bar or the lobby bar and made our own entertainment. Disco bar is air con when you need to cool down, as even at nights it hot.

The main swimming poool is massive, and no problem getting a lounger here even at 9am. Swim up bar is a good place to hang out and meet new people, and get drunk!!!! There is also a kids pool and a water sports pool.

The hotels grounds are immaculate and you can basicaly walk about the whole hotel and its grounds in bare feet and never worry about even getting a stone chip. The jungle walk down to the pool is fasanating, we seen different animals and birds there everyday. Monkeys, iguanas, turtles, guinea pig type rodents, peacocks, wodpeckers etc all inhabit this section. Take your camera!!!!!!!

The beach is gorgeous, lovely soft white sand and aqua water,just the right temperature. Plenty of watersports to take part in. We walked the full length of the beach right into Playa del Carmen, its a lovely walk, takes nearly 50 mins, but you can cool off in the ocean as you go.

Overall i'll sum up with a few tips. Tip the barstaff and maids just a dollar here and there, it makes all the difference to them. The staff are fantastic and really go out of there way for you. International brands at the bar ie jack d, jim b. barcadi, smirnoff etc, ask for champagne and it comes in a flute with a cherry dropped in it. Also if you like baileys ask for that, its there own equivalent but just a nice. Go into Playa del Carmen even just once at nightime. The atmosphere is great and its fab for people watching. Very cheap to eat and drink out. Lots of bars, resturants, shops. Swim with dolphins, there are various places to do this, we chose Wet n Wild water park where you swim with them in the ocean, and then have the rest of the day at the water park with flumes / rides etc. It's something you will never forget and worth every penny.

Find it very hard to fault this hotel at all, its definately the best i've been to and would highly recommend to anyone (couples, families etc)

Just returned from Iberostar Tucan at Playacar and I can honestly say that it is the best hotel we have ever stayed in. We have been on many all inclusive holidays in the caribbean and no where comes close to this place!

The hotel itself is amazing, split into two sides, the Tucan and the Quetzal. The grounds are like a jungle with tropical birds, iguanas, monkeys etc. The whole hotel is decked with marble floors and thatched roofs and it is spotless throughout.

The rooms are huge with big bathrooms and nice furniture, if you can get a beachfront or poolside room them do it because the views are amazing. The beach is by far the best I have seen and the pool is a huge lagoon with jacuzzi, fountains and a separate adults only swim up bar pool. You get waiter service by the pool and on the beach so you dont even have to move to get a drink!

The food is great, loads of choice in the buffet with show cooking every night and as many fajitas as you can eat! Again, excellent waiter service. The A La Carte restaurants are great with a good choice on the menus, there are four A La Cartes in total and we thought that the steakhouse was the best.

The bars are well stocked with premium brand drinks and a full menu of cocktails. Watch out for the tequila though because it is lethal, the Mexicans drink it like water so they like to watch us Brits choke when we try to down shots of the stuff!

The entertainment team are excellent with a full programme of events through the day and great live shows at night, the best entertainment we have ever had.

In Playacar/Cancun there are lots of trips to do, I would recommend swimming with the Dolphins, speedboats at Cancun and Xcaret which is a big ecological park with everything from dolphins to exotic plants and butterflys. Playacar town is four dollors away in a taxi and has lots of shops bars and restaurants, even a MacDonalds for those who are craving a taste of home! From the town you can get a ferry to the Island of Cozumel which is also worth a visit. Senor Frogs is a great party bar where they serve cocktails in yard glasses, most tour operators offer a night out there.

All in all this was the best hotel and the best resort I have stayed in so far. The staff in the hotel love the Brits and they appreciate the odd tip for good sevice, although tips are not expected you cant help but give them a little extra.

The only negative point I can think of is the airport at Cancun. To warn you, they check all luggage by hand, yes by hand, no x-ray machines! This is done on the way in and on the way out so it can delay you a bit at the airport. The immigration is very slow and queues are likely. Dont be put of by this though, only a minor point but I had to write something negative!

If you stay at this hotel you will not be dissapointed, great location, great food, great staff. The weather is fab and you will get the best tan! After seeing Cancun we were so glad we stayed in Playcar, to sum up Cancun in two words - Concrete City. Big hi-rise hotels and shopping malls, not what I would call authentic Caribbean.

They say 5 star in the brochure and I would give it 6 stars. I'm ready to go again next year!