Ron Moore
06-04-2007, 09:02 PM
Arrive Iberostar Tucan December 9 for a short six nights. We are immediately taken aback by the majestic and magical open-air quality of this resort. The jungle setting is what sets the Tucan apart from most of the other hotels and resorts we’ve experienced, and this resort is truly beautiful and unique. The grounds are very well maintained, as are the pools and all public areas. What a beautiful and magical place!
Guest services go out of their way to provide help in a variety of ways. Indeed - the entire Iberostar staff is to be commended for the quality of service they extend to the guests. This is a 4 **** resort with 5 **** service in our opinion - what a wonderful experience! The excellent reviews we’ve digested were accurate.
We head for our oceanfront room in bldg 10, room 1012. I chose this suite to be close to the beach, and because the resort appeared to be full I didn’t know where a standard room would land us. There are nice areas around the property, but there are also rooms located adjacent to the kids playground or the disco – decided to play it safe for our first visit and it was a good choice. Through Liberty Travel the price for a standard room was $233/night, oceanfront $300 – definitely worth the small difference if the suite is available.
The room was very comfortable and extremely clean, with excellent service daily. We were greeted with nice flowers and a fruit basket, and more flowers arrived mid-week - nice touch! The mini-fridge was stocked every other day with soft drinks (Coke, Sprite, orange), as well as Superior beer and bottled water. You may be ale to request a particular beer but we hardly used it and never asked. There is also a gallon of purified bottled water for use with the coffee maker, etc. If you want any extra items such as extra beer just leave a note – not a problem. The fridge is not very cold but ice is available. We left tips on some days during the week and at checkout. No difference in service without a tip.
The bathroom has ample room, and the shower is very roomy. The bed is firm, but not at all uncomfortable – we slept very well. TV offers a few channels of English if you want to doze off to a movie. Balcony provides a great view of the beautiful beach, but it does get crowded as the palapas and lounge chairs extend in front of the building.
The beach is wonderful, water was warm and free of seaweed. A small ledge developed before the water from the sea swell while we were there.
The food was excellent and choices were varied. The buffet in the Tucan was very good with such a variety of offerings it would be very hard to go home hungry! The few not so good reviews we read on this buffet are hard for us to understand, and I am very picky with food. The steamship was excellent. My wife tried more of the local dishes than I and she really liked many of them. The beach side palapas were good for lunch by the beach, choices were good (various meats and salads, open-air grill served burgers and dogs).
The specialty restaurants were a nice experience. We had two guaranteed for our six-night stay, and we reserved two others as well. The Japanese restaurant was very good and was a unique experience for me. The Italian restaurant was good, although we were not as impressed here. The Steak House was amazing – My wife and I both ordered the filet (2 for me, actually), and these were excellent steaks! I was very impressed with the quality and the presentation, and the waiter was the best we experienced. I would highly recommend the steak house if you enjoy a quality steak.
The Tucan is a first-class resort with first-class service. The Tucan reception and rooms border the southern edge of the property, and the Quetzal reception and rooms border the northern edge. The jungle, restaurants and pools separate the Tucan and Quetzal accommodations. The jungle setting in the center of the resort is really quite beautiful, and walking the paths through the jungle affords close-up views of peacocks, swans, iguanas, turtles, flamingos and other wildlife including the rodent critters we haven’t learned the name of yet. A walk through the jungle at night is really quite breathtaking with the lighting.
The main pool is vlarge and winds between the Tucan and Quetzal. There is a separate swim-up bar with tables but we didn’t get a chance to try that pool. The pools were also cold (December) as they are not heated.
My wife had a massage by the pool, nice but a bit noisy. Would have preferred the beach early in the morning. The spa services are also offered in the spa near reception for a more peaceful experience. The lobby, buffet restaurants, palapas, bars, and pools are all very clean and well maintained. This resort receives high accolades and repeat guests for a reason. We met several new friends at the Tucan, and the variety of cultures here makes for very interesting conversations.
The Star Friends perform several functions – they mingle with the guests and organize activities such as volleyball and aerobics, and they also work with the kids and involve them in many activities. The entertainment provided in the evening was very good. The kids perform with the Star Friends around 8 PM, and the adult show (Star Friends perform) is at 9:30 PM. (the kids are involved in a variety of activities during the day and perform in the early show in the evening). This must be a great benefit to the parents. The staff works very hard to provide a variety of entertainment. Some of the acts can be a little corny, but can be very funny. But overall we enjoyed the entertainment. I’ll get that song out of my head some time…”H e y, H e y, Baby, I wanna know, will you be my girl…”
BARS –
Drinks in the La Plaza bar (auditorium) are extremely good – whatever you want (almost) and plenty of it. No top shelf liquor, at least in the vodka and liqueur categories, but the average varieties like Smirnoff’s are available here. The Lobby bar Tikal has a fair variety of drinks as well, a little more limited. The palapa bars have even more limited drinks with draught beer, Miami Vices and basic well drinks.
We did try the tequila slammers with friends, too easy to drink! I tipped $1 - $2 regularly, appreciated by the bartenders. The service is well worth any tip.
OFF RESORT –
We enjoyed Playa, 5th Ave is very similar to downtown San Miguel in Cozumel. Karen’s was fun, Blue Parrot was probably much more lively later at night (we stopped here in the afternoon), several good bars and restaurants in this area. La Parilla was recommended by my sister and brother-in-law and was a great spot to chill and enjoy several Coronas. Nearby LaCasa Del Agua also looked like a nice spot, but we met up with some other folks in the bar across the street with the swings and chilled there – great bartender, fun place to lime!
Because of the iffy weather we didn’t take the excursions we had hoped to, but we toured Tulum which was worth the time. We had an excellent guide through the Iberostar Tour group. You can also access the Apple and Liberty tour desks at the hotel as well. The Iberostar tours are varied and I’m sure the cat day sail would be great in better weather. We ferried to Cozumel, we had been here before and we enjoy the island. Great beaches and snorkeling on Cozumel if you decide to spend a day there…
We will definitely return to the Tucan when looking for this type of getaway. We’ve taken cruises in the past and have stayed on several Caribbean islands. But this stay at the Tucan was a nice alternative to a cruise, and the guests are treated very well. The service here is first-class, and the entire staff is wonderful. We highly recommend the Tucan to anyone – singles, young or old couples or families with children – the setting is perfect for anyone and the beach really is nice. However adult couples looking for a very quiet and secluded respite (such as a quiet and private honeymoon) would do better to look at a Secrets Capri or another adults-only resort, as the Iberostars do cater to families and there are really no “secluded” spots on the resort grounds or the beach. For those looking at a wedding at the Tucan these are done nicely. There were 2 weddings during our stay there. I know that we would have been bored at a secluded adults-only type of resort from the many reviews I’ve read, as we are not honeymooners and we like to meet other folks from other parts of the world and we do enjoy activities. Just depends on what you’re after… When we want a beach and are looking for solitude on a quiet stretch of sand we will go to BVI (Tortola or Anegada), and I’m sure there are many small hotels along the Riviera that offer this seclusion.
The Iberostar is a great bonus for families with the Star Friends providing activities for the kids. And as a couple we were never “bothered” by kids at all during our stay, and we were able to enjoy the company of others here and that’s part of the theme I think.
Our only 2 regrets– the weather didn’t cooperate, and my wife didn’t see a monkey! But the Tucan is a slice of paradise for those seeking a getaway that offers excellent service, a wonderful beach, many dining options, and a variety of people to meet.
Guest services go out of their way to provide help in a variety of ways. Indeed - the entire Iberostar staff is to be commended for the quality of service they extend to the guests. This is a 4 **** resort with 5 **** service in our opinion - what a wonderful experience! The excellent reviews we’ve digested were accurate.
We head for our oceanfront room in bldg 10, room 1012. I chose this suite to be close to the beach, and because the resort appeared to be full I didn’t know where a standard room would land us. There are nice areas around the property, but there are also rooms located adjacent to the kids playground or the disco – decided to play it safe for our first visit and it was a good choice. Through Liberty Travel the price for a standard room was $233/night, oceanfront $300 – definitely worth the small difference if the suite is available.
The room was very comfortable and extremely clean, with excellent service daily. We were greeted with nice flowers and a fruit basket, and more flowers arrived mid-week - nice touch! The mini-fridge was stocked every other day with soft drinks (Coke, Sprite, orange), as well as Superior beer and bottled water. You may be ale to request a particular beer but we hardly used it and never asked. There is also a gallon of purified bottled water for use with the coffee maker, etc. If you want any extra items such as extra beer just leave a note – not a problem. The fridge is not very cold but ice is available. We left tips on some days during the week and at checkout. No difference in service without a tip.
The bathroom has ample room, and the shower is very roomy. The bed is firm, but not at all uncomfortable – we slept very well. TV offers a few channels of English if you want to doze off to a movie. Balcony provides a great view of the beautiful beach, but it does get crowded as the palapas and lounge chairs extend in front of the building.
The beach is wonderful, water was warm and free of seaweed. A small ledge developed before the water from the sea swell while we were there.
The food was excellent and choices were varied. The buffet in the Tucan was very good with such a variety of offerings it would be very hard to go home hungry! The few not so good reviews we read on this buffet are hard for us to understand, and I am very picky with food. The steamship was excellent. My wife tried more of the local dishes than I and she really liked many of them. The beach side palapas were good for lunch by the beach, choices were good (various meats and salads, open-air grill served burgers and dogs).
The specialty restaurants were a nice experience. We had two guaranteed for our six-night stay, and we reserved two others as well. The Japanese restaurant was very good and was a unique experience for me. The Italian restaurant was good, although we were not as impressed here. The Steak House was amazing – My wife and I both ordered the filet (2 for me, actually), and these were excellent steaks! I was very impressed with the quality and the presentation, and the waiter was the best we experienced. I would highly recommend the steak house if you enjoy a quality steak.
The Tucan is a first-class resort with first-class service. The Tucan reception and rooms border the southern edge of the property, and the Quetzal reception and rooms border the northern edge. The jungle, restaurants and pools separate the Tucan and Quetzal accommodations. The jungle setting in the center of the resort is really quite beautiful, and walking the paths through the jungle affords close-up views of peacocks, swans, iguanas, turtles, flamingos and other wildlife including the rodent critters we haven’t learned the name of yet. A walk through the jungle at night is really quite breathtaking with the lighting.
The main pool is vlarge and winds between the Tucan and Quetzal. There is a separate swim-up bar with tables but we didn’t get a chance to try that pool. The pools were also cold (December) as they are not heated.
My wife had a massage by the pool, nice but a bit noisy. Would have preferred the beach early in the morning. The spa services are also offered in the spa near reception for a more peaceful experience. The lobby, buffet restaurants, palapas, bars, and pools are all very clean and well maintained. This resort receives high accolades and repeat guests for a reason. We met several new friends at the Tucan, and the variety of cultures here makes for very interesting conversations.
The Star Friends perform several functions – they mingle with the guests and organize activities such as volleyball and aerobics, and they also work with the kids and involve them in many activities. The entertainment provided in the evening was very good. The kids perform with the Star Friends around 8 PM, and the adult show (Star Friends perform) is at 9:30 PM. (the kids are involved in a variety of activities during the day and perform in the early show in the evening). This must be a great benefit to the parents. The staff works very hard to provide a variety of entertainment. Some of the acts can be a little corny, but can be very funny. But overall we enjoyed the entertainment. I’ll get that song out of my head some time…”H e y, H e y, Baby, I wanna know, will you be my girl…”
BARS –
Drinks in the La Plaza bar (auditorium) are extremely good – whatever you want (almost) and plenty of it. No top shelf liquor, at least in the vodka and liqueur categories, but the average varieties like Smirnoff’s are available here. The Lobby bar Tikal has a fair variety of drinks as well, a little more limited. The palapa bars have even more limited drinks with draught beer, Miami Vices and basic well drinks.
We did try the tequila slammers with friends, too easy to drink! I tipped $1 - $2 regularly, appreciated by the bartenders. The service is well worth any tip.
OFF RESORT –
We enjoyed Playa, 5th Ave is very similar to downtown San Miguel in Cozumel. Karen’s was fun, Blue Parrot was probably much more lively later at night (we stopped here in the afternoon), several good bars and restaurants in this area. La Parilla was recommended by my sister and brother-in-law and was a great spot to chill and enjoy several Coronas. Nearby LaCasa Del Agua also looked like a nice spot, but we met up with some other folks in the bar across the street with the swings and chilled there – great bartender, fun place to lime!
Because of the iffy weather we didn’t take the excursions we had hoped to, but we toured Tulum which was worth the time. We had an excellent guide through the Iberostar Tour group. You can also access the Apple and Liberty tour desks at the hotel as well. The Iberostar tours are varied and I’m sure the cat day sail would be great in better weather. We ferried to Cozumel, we had been here before and we enjoy the island. Great beaches and snorkeling on Cozumel if you decide to spend a day there…
We will definitely return to the Tucan when looking for this type of getaway. We’ve taken cruises in the past and have stayed on several Caribbean islands. But this stay at the Tucan was a nice alternative to a cruise, and the guests are treated very well. The service here is first-class, and the entire staff is wonderful. We highly recommend the Tucan to anyone – singles, young or old couples or families with children – the setting is perfect for anyone and the beach really is nice. However adult couples looking for a very quiet and secluded respite (such as a quiet and private honeymoon) would do better to look at a Secrets Capri or another adults-only resort, as the Iberostars do cater to families and there are really no “secluded” spots on the resort grounds or the beach. For those looking at a wedding at the Tucan these are done nicely. There were 2 weddings during our stay there. I know that we would have been bored at a secluded adults-only type of resort from the many reviews I’ve read, as we are not honeymooners and we like to meet other folks from other parts of the world and we do enjoy activities. Just depends on what you’re after… When we want a beach and are looking for solitude on a quiet stretch of sand we will go to BVI (Tortola or Anegada), and I’m sure there are many small hotels along the Riviera that offer this seclusion.
The Iberostar is a great bonus for families with the Star Friends providing activities for the kids. And as a couple we were never “bothered” by kids at all during our stay, and we were able to enjoy the company of others here and that’s part of the theme I think.
Our only 2 regrets– the weather didn’t cooperate, and my wife didn’t see a monkey! But the Tucan is a slice of paradise for those seeking a getaway that offers excellent service, a wonderful beach, many dining options, and a variety of people to meet.