Mexico Iberostar resorts tips & hints - Post your tips here, please!

[George]

I found several tips for Iberostar resorts in Mexico.

IB Paraiso Beach:

"HINTS and TIPS:
Tip well, you'll get better service, and take one dollar bills with you.
Don't go if you are a strict vegetarian.
Book a car for the whole holiday. Taxis are expensive, and there are no buses from the resort, apart from the free bus to Playa del Carmen. It's a long way away from anything.
Definitely go to Tulum and swim in the sea, and swim with Dolphins at Cancun - it's amazing and the most memorable day of our trip.
Extra strength mozzie repellant spray - it's easy to put on, it works, and you'll need it.
It is a long trip to Chichen Itza, and once you're on the motorway, there's no getting off! Have a full tank of petrol, and consider whether it's worth the journey. If you decide to go, take the toll-free 180 road on the way back - you'll see the 'real' Mexico - fascinating drive through all of the villages, but takes 4 hours...."

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Iberostar Tucan:

"There is no need to take towels (think of the excess baggage!) as they are supplied for the pool/beach, there are towels in the room and these being a little bigger would have helped, take a few wire coat hangers as there aren’t enough supplied to house the “must have” holiday wear! An absolute must is snorkel gear, expensive to buy at the hotel and difficult to find good inexpensive ones in Playa car. Flat shoes for the ladies as the paths are “natural” through the wooded areas and difficult to walk in heels (although heels for “dressing” on an evening can be difficult (great tip here is to take the side route through to the bars/entertainment/restaurants as these have flatter paths. Try booking trips in Playa Car saved a fortune and got excellent door to door service (which some of the “rep” trips did not supply!! CHECK THIS)….Xcaret is a MUST see, but try to stay for the show at the end, it was worth going just to see this spectacular show, the underground swimming, the dolphins and all the other amenities are wonderful (try doing this at the beginning of your stay in case you wish to go again as one day just isn’t enough to see it all) The Mayan temples are also a must see but be prepared for a long journey (it took us 4½ hrs to get there!!!) the “Island of Women” was beautiful and the trip over in the “party” boat was fun and all inclusive (the staff on it where amazing) tip; if you are going here to swim with the sharks be warned ..They are NOT near to where you dock although they are not the hour away that the local taxi drivers had us believe!! The captain of the boat eventually took us (what a saint) and it’s about 15 minutes in a taxi ($4) but there is only one “vegetarian” shark!!! and he looked very sad!!! Final hint take lots on $1 for tipping and also pesos for buying souvenirs in Playa Car In summary I and the party where only upset once by this holiday and that was as we boarded the coach to leave, highly highly recommend!!!"

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"Also, be wary of using your credit card for long distance calls - use the phone cards!  I made one call & billed to my credit card, less than 5 mins long...$75.00 USD.  Seems it should have been 75 pesos, but got screwed up.  My credit card company tried to fight this, but got a real run around trying to find out where the call actually was billed through.  Never got resolved, I ended up paying for it!"

"I bring about $250 in cash.  I do exchange some money here in the US, first althought not the best rates, so I have some pesos on hand when I get there.  I hear the best exchange rates are at the atms in town but am not sure. I usually tip the maids and workers at the resort in pesos.  In town, I negotiate items with US dollars bc is seems that is what they really want and you have better bargaining power with USD.  At least in my experience.  I use my credit card for large purchases or for excursions as you do get good rates with them.  One thing to remember is to call your credit card company before you go to Mexico and let them know you will be out of the country and where.  This is to help protect against any credit card fraud.  It's a good precautionary measure."

"Credit cards do get the best rate for currency exchange, but banks also tack on a 2-3% fee for currency exchange.  My suggestion would be cash and travelers checks and only exchange to peso as needed in Playa Del Carmen or use the ATM."

"We personally had traveller's cheques. We would cash only what we needed for about 2 days at a time and leave the rest locked up in the room safe. Whenever you buy anything down there you shoiuld negotiate the price. Most places you never pay what they are asking, usually only about 1/2 of what they want. Always lots of places to cash traveller's cheques like the hotel desk or banks in Playa or any of the Cambios or cashing houses lined along 5th Avenue. The very best rates are usually through your credit card. If you do use your bank card or credit card at any of the bank machines you should note that you should have an eight digit personal ID code. If you have a four digit one the machines down there won't recognize it for some reason."

"In terms of exchanging money, don't do it at the resort as we found that you can get a better rate in playa del carmen.  There is an American Express kiosk in downtown playa (don't remember where exactly, but closer to playacar) that always seemd to have good, if not the best rates.
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[Mjo]

Bring a cheap $1.50 raft with you and leave it there when you leave (at the Kid's Club). They will blow it up for you at the Dive Center. They cost $12.00 at the gift shops.