IBEROSTAR TUCAN
Xaman-Ha,
Lote Hotelero Nš2
77710 - Playa del Carmen
Quintana Roo - Mexico
Tel: 52-984-8772000
Fax: 52-984-8730424
If you have done some homework about Mexico vacations, chances
are you have heard of the Iberostar Tucan Resort in Riviera Maya. This stunning
collection of expansive rooms and dazzling amenities has earned an international
reputation. For most people, however, this paradise is simply too far to be
practical.
Such is the gift of living on this continent. All inclusive
beach resorts such as this one offer a standard of service unrivaled the world
over. We can get there in a matter of hours. And with lower airfare comes peace
of mind, which never hurts when you're in the market to indulge yourself.
The Iberostar Tucan Resort in Riviera Maya: a Jewel
The Riviera Maya Mexico is one of the loveliest natural features to crown any
shoreline. White sand, blue skies and a breathtaking diversity of plants and
geologic features make this area a destination in itself.
The Iberostar Tucan located approximately 30 miles from the Cancun Airport, just
a few minutes from Playa del Carmen, and right next to an 18-hole golf course.
The resort is situated directly on the beach, within view of the island of
Cozumel.
This hotel operates in conjunction with a second hotel, the Iberostar Quetzal,
and the two share a host of facilities on a 10-acre spread. Children under age
12 stay free, a significant advantage in the world of all-inclusive properties.
A complimentary children's club and plenty of child-friendly food further
sweeten the deal and make this a popular resort for families. Spring-breakers
are discouraged by age-bracket policies (at least one person over age 25 is
required in each room).
Tucan's lobby is in a Mayan motif. The hotel shares six restaurants with the
Quetzal. The main buffet restaurant Cozumel has an exhibition kitchen. The other
dining areas include Marimba, which offers a Continental breakfast alternative
and functions as a steak house in the evening. Hacienda and Cozumel lay forth
the Mexican food, and Gondola does Italian. Guests can choose dinner at one
specialty restaurant for every two nights of eating buffet. Room service is
another dining option, and four bars (one on the beach, one in the lobby, one a
night club and one in the disco) keep guests happy.
Activities center on the four pools that take up the central part of the hotel,
and the complex holds plenty of palapa shade huts both here and on the beach to
keep guests from frying to a crisp. Besides the main pool, which has an island
whirlpool, guests enjoy an activities pool, a quiet pool and a children's pool.
Three lighted tennis courts are on the premises, along with sailboards, kayaks
and snorkeling gear at the beach. Indoor and outdoor spa services are available,
but at a cost. A dive shop also operates on-site.
The guest rooms are well-standardized in 10 three-story structures fringed with
thatched eaves. The cool marble floors, brisk air-conditioning, and cushioned
sofas and armchairs make them refreshing respites from the balmy air. TVs sit on
marble-topped dressers facing king or double beds, which lack box springs. All
rooms have ceiling fans, phones, minibars, safes, hair dryers, and balconies or
terraces. Baths lack tubs. Smoke-free rooms and laundry service are available.
Bear in mind that customers who book rooms here may find themselves assigned to
rooms in the Quetzal.
This hotel offers a fine compromise for those who want some of the
back-to-nature allure of the smaller resorts with the convenience of being close
to Playa del Carmen's shopping and social scene.
Accommodations:
The Iberostar Tucan boasts 350 rooms, all in 3-story villa style buildings.
Rooms feature one king bed or two double beds, A/C, ceiling fan, sitting area,
satellite TV, in-room safe, balcony, hair dryer, and mini-bar.
Pools:
There is a lake pool, kids pool, activity pool and adult pool. The spectacular
36,000sq ft lake pool has a central island covered with palm trees complete with
a Jacuzzi. The adult pool is in the rocks of a cenote, with a beautiful
cascading waterfall.
HOTEL FACILITIES
Barber / Beauty Salon
Boutique Shops
Car Rental
Concierge
Currency Exchange
Disco / Nightclub
Laundry / Dry Cleaning Service
Meeting Rooms
Parking (Complimentary.)
Physician on Call
Shopping Mall Nearby (0.5 miles)
Pools
Number of Pools: 4
Outdoor Pools: 4
Swim-up Bar
There is a lake pool, kids pool, activity pool and adult pool. The spectacular
36,000sq ft lake pool has a central island covered with palm trees complete with
a Jacuzzi. The adult pool is in the rocks of a cenote, with a beautiful
cascading waterfall.
Golf: ONSITE
Iberostar Playa Paraiso Golf Course Located within the Iberostar Playa Paraiso
complex. First tee time available is 6:30 am
PD Dye course design. Par 72.
Holes: 18
Lessons Available
Tennis
Number of Courts: 3
Outdoor Courts: 3
Lighted Courts: 3
Court Fee: Complimentary.
Racquet Rental Fees: Complimentary.
Pro Onsite
Water Sports on Site
Fishing: Additional Charge
Sunfish Sailing: Complimentary
Scuba: Additional Charge
Snorkeling: Complimentary
Paddle Boats: Complimentary
Waterskiing: Additional Charge
Wind Surf: Complimentary
Health Club / Spa
Aerobics: Complimentary
Jacuzzi: Complimentary
Nautilus Equipment: Complimentary
Spa: Additional Charge
Steam Room: Complimentary
Manicure / Pedicure: Additional Charge
Facials: Additional Charge
HOTEL DETAILS
Iberostar Tucan is a luxurious All-Inclusive beachfront resort in perfect
harmony with the environment. Fully appointed rooms with balconies or terraces
are housed in bungalow style 3-story units surrounded by 28 acres of lush,
exuberant gardens. The resort features a jungle-style garden, a large lake pool,
nightly entertainment, a disco, three lighted tennis courts, and world class
diving instruction with state-of-the-art equipment. Domestic and International
drinks are available 10 am to 2 am.
Beach: The Iberostar Tucan is situated directly on a 1/8 mile stretch of white
sandy beach. There is a 5- Star SCUBA Diving Center offering optional dives for
certified divers and certification courses for new divers (there's an extra
charge for these services)
Check-in: 3:00 pm
Check-out: 12:00 noon
Total Rooms: 350
Year Opened: 1997
Credit Cards: Visa, Master Card, American Express
HOTEL RESTRICTIONS
No Springbreakers. Dinning A La carte men are required shirts with sleeves,
pants and proper shoes.
ROOM TYPES
STANDARD ROOM
1 King or 2 double beds and sofa that folds out to a single bed, Balcony or
terrace, Situated in three storey buildings, Ceiling fan, Hairdryer, Telephone,
Satellite TV, Minibar, Safety deposit box
1 King Bed or 2 Double Beds
Other Amenities -
Air Conditioning
Fan
Shower
Balcony or Terrace
Minibar
Sofa
Coffee Maker
Hair Dryer
Iron
Telephone
Television
Room Safe
Satellite
JUNIOR SUITE OCEANFRONT
1King or 2 double beds, Located in beachfront building, Balcony or terrace with
with frontal view of ocean, Sitting area with two single daybeds , Ceiling fan,
Hair dryer, Telephone, Plasma Cable TV, Minibar, Safety deposit box
Other Amenities:
Air Conditioning
Fan
Shower
Balcony or Terrace
Minibar
Sofa
Coffee Maker
Hair Dryer
Iron
Telephone
Television
Room Safe
Satellite
DINING
There are 7 Restaurants at Iberostar Tucan:
Japanese Restaurant - A la carte restaurant serving Japanese cuisine.
La Hacienda - An a la carte Mexican restaurant, reservations are required. There
is an elegant dress code, gentlemen are requested to wear slacks (no jeans).
Hours are 6:30 to 10:30 pm.
Palapa Uxmal - A beach/pool snack bar serving a continental breakfast from 10:00
am to 12:00 noon, a buffet lunch from 12:00 noon to 4:00 pm, coffee and cakes
from 4:00 to 5:00 pm, and snacks until 6:00 pm.
La Gondola - An a la carte Italian restaurant, reservations are required. There
is an elegant dress code, gentlemen are requested to wear slacks (no jeans).
Hours are 6:30 to 10:30 pm.
Restaurant Cozumel Tulum - The main restaurant serves delicious buffet style
meals, featuring show cooking and special theme nights. Breakfast is served from
7:00 to 10:00 am, dinner is served from 6:30 to 9:30 pm. No shorts or sleeveless
t-shirts are allowed during dinner.
La Marimba - An a la carte grill steakhouse, reservations are required.
Gentlemen are requested to wear slacks or Bermuda shorts (no jeans). Hours are
6:30 to 6:30 to 10:30 pm.
ACTIVITIES & ENTERTAINMENT
Daily Activities & Entertainment:
Bike Tours, Olympic Games, Air Rifles, Archery, Volleyball, Dance Classes,
Spanish Classes, Water Basketball, Waterpolo.
Nightly Activities & Entertainment:
Nightly Entertainment with Live Band (Horror Show, Mexican Show, Las Vegas
Movie), Theme Parties, Mascara Disco from 11 pm onward.
CHILDREN'S PROGRAMS
There are three different clubs available for children between the ages of 5 and
16 from 10:15 am to 5:00 pm. The Mini-Club is for kids between 5 and 7, the
Maxi-Club is for 8 to 12, and the Teeny Club is for 13 to 16.
Applicable Ages: 5 to 16 years old.
Program Fees: Complimentary.
Children's Facilities
Playground
Teen Disco
Babysitting Fee: $10 per hour
Advance Notice for Babysitting: 24 hrs.
Cribs on request only, no charge, based on availability.
Special Features:
24-hour food & beverage service, room service (11am - 11pm), imported drinks,
disco, Caribbean orchestra, lit tennis courts, non-motorized watersports
(snorkeling, windsurfing, sailing, kayaks, catamarans), 5-Star PADI & SSI scuba
center, archery, basketball, volleyball, bicycles, gym, Jacuzzi, steam room,
sauna, spa, and Lucy's Kids Club (ages 4-12)
Complimentary day pass to Iberostar Paraiso del Mar & Iberostar Cozumel
(transfers are not included)
Iberostar Tucan Review
We returned from a 1 week stay at the Iberostar Tucan on March
3rd. We booked this trip back in June and it was a long wait until Feb 24th when
we arrived there. It was everything I expected and more.
We had a 5 hr 10 min direct flight form home and after about 1 1/2 hours at the
airport waiting for luggage, customs, Immigration and the other travelers who
would be on our Transportation we were on our way. It was about a 50 minute
drive to the resort and we were the 2nd drop off, the first was the Sandos Gala
Playacar next door. The van dropped us off first at the Quetzal Lobby where we
were informed to head to the Tucan Lobby. The bellboys quickly transported us
and luggage there to check in. By this time it was about 5:40 pm and it sure was
nice to finally be there. We were booked into building 12, ground floor with a
small pool view. I had e-mailed 2 weeks earlier requesting same except for a 2nd
or 3rd floor, Oh well it was a fine room. Before heading to our room we booked
our 3 A la Carte's at the Kiosk and also booked for 2 others to be on a
cancellation list then off to the room. The room was very clean and Towel
sculptures were waiting. First thing first was to grab a cool one from the
Mini-Bar and step out on the balcony for a look at what was to come in the next
week.
Resort : The resort is beautiful and the grounds are amazing. You could not ask
for a nicer setting with the Jungle in the middle and all of the wildlife
roaming around. During our week we seen many types of animals including the
monkeys on 3 occasions. The pathways on the inside of the grounds are beautiful
to walk on and have a nice glow after dark. The Pool is huge and a very nice
temperature. It is mostly about 5 feet deep and would probably take a good 1/2
hour to walk around the outside of the pool while in the water. Be sure to get
out early to reserve your pool lounger if you want a favorite spot as they go
quick, although it is not allowed reserving always happens. There was a young
man working (Guillermo??). He worked from 6 am until dark picking up around the
pool, fetching more loungers if you needed and doing whatever was needed to keep
the area around pool tidy. This guy was amazing and he never stopped all day.
The resort layout is rather large and you need to have some good legs to make it
the whole week.
Beach : The beach was still very large compared to what other resorts had to the
north. There were many rows of Palapas and loungers and you could always find a
spot. The waves were rather large our whole week with the last 3 days being the
windiest. There was very limited activities other than standing in the waves
going on at all of the resorts. Never seen any parasailers, kayak's, snorkelers,
and only 1 Jet ski out all week in the water all the way down the beach
included. When we first arrived I could walk down to the edge of the Royal
Hideaway property but a few days later I could only go about 2/3 past the Viva
Wyndham property as the beach was gone and the waves were crashing on the
retaining wall there. The Royal was jack hammering out a wall to allow their
guests access to the beach in front of the RIU Playacar. The only beaches that
were decent yet were the Sandos Gala Playacar, Tucan/Quetzal and the Riu
Yucatan. The Riu Palace beach got very small and they lost 2 palms in the waves
later in the week and most of the others are tied back with ropes along the
beach. The Viva Wyndham beach is filled with large sandbags trying to slow the
waves.
Dining : We ate at 4 of the A la Carte's during our stay. The Tropical,
Japanese, Steak House and the Italian. Our waiting list reservation for the
Mexican never happened. The Italian was my least favorite but they were all very
good. We ate at the buffets for breakfast (Tucan Side mainly and once on Quetzal
side). For lunch we always ate at the Beach Palapa on the Tucan side. There was
a small buffet and a grill area were you could get burgers, fries and hot dogs
and all of the fixings. This was very busy at lunch and had to wait for a table
on most days. The nights where we had no A la Carte's booked we ate at the
buffet on Tucan side. There was always plenty to pick from with different meats
to choose from although there was some repetition but with good planning you
could always try something different to eat. We looked so forward to the
Thursday Lobster at the buffet but none was found. We did spot some fresh shrimp
though. There was occasional entertainment roaming around the buffet and A la
Carte's as well. To sum up the food situation I would have to say I have no real
complaints about the food at all.
Bars : We spent little time in the lobby bars except for a drink or 2 before our
supper bookings. The Tucan Lobby side seemed busier than the Quetzal side and
more action. The beach bar was always busy and was a frequent stop until about 2
or 2:30 when we would head to the Adult Swim-Up Bar. We met several very nice
people and couples here from Minnesota and Holland. It did get quite rowdy at
times when certain individuals made an appearance but it was a good time had by
all. All of the bartenders can make a wide selection of drinks and will always
try to make whatever you tell them if they have it and you know how to make it.
After or suppers we would make our way to the Entertainment stage for a good
spot and a few Cappuccino's to digest our meal. Then a few more drinks then off
to bed to ready for next day in the sun.
Activity/Entertainment Staff (Star Friends) : There are about 10 to 15 of these
staff that rotate doing activities and entertainment throughout the day. All
kinds of things to try to get everyone involved at one time or another. There
were pool games in the water, games around the pool, games on the beach and
games in the ocean. There was also a different show every night at the stage
which was first led by the Mini Club Show, the audience participation show then
the awards ceremony for the days activities winners followed by a "We Are The
Champions" sing along. To wrap up the night they did a club dance to "Dalle
Paella" and "Hey Baby".......Very catchy tunes, you will arrive home still
singing them in your head.
Service : To sum it up I think that all staff performed exceptional in their
duties and seemed more than happy to serve you. A big thing to remember is that
to treat them with respect and have some manners and all will be fine. I noticed
many very rude people who felt they should be waited on hand and foot and at
that very minute and who also had no respect for other guests. If I acted like
that I would expect the staff to treat me very different from the other guests
who show respect to them.
Flight/Transportation : Our flight as I mentioned was a direct flight of 5 hours
and 10 Min's with Skyservice Airlines. We have traveled the last 5 years with
Skyservice so we are quite familiar with the service and room on the planes.
Their attendants were fine on both flights to and from Cancun. Our
transportation was included to the resort and we easily found it with the help
of our Signature Vacations reps. It was a large air conditioned van which
transported 10 guests to 3 resorts. There were no beer available for the trip
like I hoped but that was fine. It did not take long to remember how drivers are
in Mexico, but they are better than in Dominican Republic. They are busy working
on another 2 lanes for the road towards Playa Del Carmen and beyond so that will
make it a quick drive in the future I hope.
Tours : The only tour we went on was a Xel-Ha / Tulum Combo tour. We were picked
up at the Plaza Playacar and bussed to Xel-Ha. We were at Xel-Ha until 2:30 pm
then transported to Tulum until 4:45 pm. Xel-Ha was nice and it was also
All-Inclusive food/drink. The lazy river ride was awesome as was the snorkeling.
Tulum was neat to see but now that I have seen Mayan Ruins I should be good for
may years. Way too hot and sunny that day and not a tree in site.
All in all our stay was excellent at the Tucan. Not a complaint to think of
except for leaving a swimsuit hanging in the closet when we left. Upon calling
the resort and e-mailing them, nothing has turned up at lost and found as of 1
week later. It must have vanished. I would not hesitate to go back to the
Tucan/Quetzal and in fact look forward to a return visit. There were many return
visitors there.............I hope this review helps others to decide to book at
the Iberostar Tucan/Quetzal..... |
