Just returned from IB Quetzal

[txmaverick]

We just returned from IB Quetzal and we had a GREAT time.
We have been there numerous times so it was quite a shock seeing how damaged the jungle was.
I expected that it would be damaged, but it is EXTREMELY damaged.
The beach is HUGE now though. It looks like it is at least double or triple the size it was before Wilma. The beach is so gorgeous and well maintained. (As always)

We were upgraded to an ocean view room at no extra charge which was very appreciated. The rooms have coffee makers and clocks in them now which they didn't have when we were there last fall.
The outdoor theater is open and the shows were a lot of fun. Fabio is so adorable.

The food at the buffets was the same as usual. (Good)
We ate at both buffets and the Quetzal side is definitely the nicer buffet even though the food is the same at both locations. One morning we were at the Quetzal buffet eating breakfast and a monkey came into the buffet area. It was roaming all over the dishes knocking a few to the ground.
The monkeys were all in the trees next to the buffet and people would hold out bananas to them and they would hang by their tails and use both hands to take the banana from people's hands. They were really cute but I don't think that people should feed them because it could create a big problem like they had a few years ago when they had to take the monkeys away for a while because they were attacking the guests. A manager came by and told the guests to not feed the monkeys because of the problem they had a few years ago.

We ate at the Japanese restaurant. YUCK!! I am not picky at all but the food was absolutely disgusting. (And I love Japanese food)
We had a 9:00 reservation and were starving. The buffets close at 10pm so we got up late during the dinner and left so that we could get to
the buffet before it closed. We had everything but dessert at the Japanese. The service at the Japanese restaurant was horrible. The waitress was a total jerk. This is the only rude employee we've ever dealt with at this resort and she took rude to a whole new level.
This was very unfortunate because my husband & I are on cloud nine and so happy every moment we are at this resort. We feel like these people are a second family to us because we've been there so many times. I couldn't believe the IB would hire a person like this.
She called one guy fat who sat next to us and his wife was really PO'd at her. They left before the main course was served.

We also ate at the steakhouse and I cannot tell you how romantic it was. They use one of the pool side restaurants as the steak house at night. Everything was wonderful, especially the service.
The pool bar was great. Jose is the best bartender we've ever had at Iberostar. Ask him about a drink called "Sh*t on the grass."
We laughed so hard at him. He was a total trip.
We met a lot of people from Holland at the pool bar. They were the neatest people.

There is still some clean up work to be done but they all work so hard. Iberostar Quetzal is a top notch resort in every way.
There are still numerous roofs that are being replaced, re-thatched or whatever they call it. Mainly on the Quetzal side.

They replaced the wooden ice-cream bar with a very VERY nice stone beach bar. It’s right on the beach. Jose works there during the early morning and then at the pool bar in the afternoon.

We took a taxi to IB Paraiso Del Mar/Beach. It was 22.00 USD to get there and 20.00 USD to get back to Quetzal.
We were blown away when we first got there. Then after the LONG walk to the beach, we were shocked at how crappy the beach was.
The water wasn't even blue. It had more of a lake color to it. Nobody was in the water. There were large rocks in the water; the beach was dirty looking unlike the perfect sand on the beach at the Quetzal.
We met a nice guy named Mike who was staying there and he said that he usually stayed at the Tucan but he decided to try the Paraiso this time. He said that he was extremely disappointed because the beach sucked so badly. We met another guy and his wife that was from Arizona who said the same thing. They said that they were jealous that we were staying at the Quetzal/Tucan and that they would never ever stay at the Paraiso again.
We were there less than 2 hours and could not wait to get back to the Quetzal. We had planned to stay at the Paraiso all day but after seeing the beach, we rushed back to our resort.
When we got back to our resort, we went straight to the beach and admired the beautiful turquoise water. (HUGE difference in the two beaches)
I don't know that I would stay at the Paraiso if the trip was free. (Well, maybe if it was free, but I certainly wouldn't pay to stay there)
The best thing that came out of visiting the Paraiso is the fact that we appreciate the Quetzal even more now.

The waves at the Quetzal were a bit rougher than all the other times we stayed there but we had a blast playing in the waves. It certainly wasn't too rough; just rough enough to make it fun.
The hurricane brought in so much sand that you could go out a lot further than before and could still stand up. (And I am only 5 ft tall.)
The poolside restaurant on the Tucan side is my absolute favorite place to sit and eat in the afternoon. I call this the "postcard restaurant" because it is a picture perfect view of the ocean. I just sit there in awe at the beauty of the ocean.

We went to downtown Playa and got lovingly harassed. (This really doesn't bother me--I love the people in Playa)
We met a huge celebrity while we were there. That was really cool.
There is a Wal-Mart in Playa that I didn't notice the last time we were there. This REALLY makes me mad because I know that this has to hurt the local businesses. I certainly would never buy anything at this Wal-Mart. I'd much rather put the money in the pocket of the hard working locals.
The local merchants don't bother me at all. But.. the timeshare people drive me nuts. (Always have)

Cancun is a lot more damaged than Playa is. Overall, Playa is in great shape. I would recommend that nobody hesitate to go there.
Playa is even more beautiful than before. Mainly because the beaches are prettier now.
As far as the Quetzal/Tucan goes, the resort is still my favorite place to visit in the world.
But the jungle area was severely damaged--close to destroyed but will definitely recover in a couple of years. It is going to take a lot more time for the jungle to recover than I expected. It made me a bit sad at first, but I quickly got over it once I saw the beach.
I would not hesitate to pack my bags and return tomorrow. I love this resort so much and cannot wait to return.

To anyone who is hesitating on going to this resort: GO!!! GO!! GO!!!!
You will NOT regret it.
 
I just want to add one more thing: You can go to downtown Playa and take the Iberostar bus to the other resorts for free.
We have done this before but the timeframe didn't work out for us this time. Taking a taxi is much faster but if you have the time, you can save some money.
I have a copy of the bus schedule which is still packed in my suitcase. I'll post it later.

[George]

txmaverick,

Welcome back!
Thanks for very informative report.

George

[mexicanbob]

So Txmaverick, Who was the big celebrity that you met in Playa? Also you should have informed the Public Relations manager about the rudeness of your waitress. I'm sure like any big organization there is always one ot two bad apples sneaking by the Human Resources people.

[txmaverick]

Hint: Last name: Van Dyke

[mexicanbob]

Hmmmm, Jerry or Dick, Which one should I pick?

[New englander]

Welcome back TX.
Thanks for the update. I'm in countdown mode at 41 days and counting. My wife and i will be returning for our second time. We can't wait. It getting real cold up here in Massachusetts.Glad to hear the beach is in tip top shape, but sorry to hear about the jungle. Even though Mother Nature was in a bad mood during Wilma, i glad to hear that the staff and the resort are up to the usual expectations best they can. ( except for that one waitstaff) Thanks again for the detailed update.   

[ccurtis3]

My Wife and I were there 11-29 Thur 12-5-05 we agree that Iberostar in playa is a great place to go, this was our third time there. We made friends with Marcos the daytime and nightime entertainer, with Nancy and Dora they were are beach waitress, the lobby bar workers on the Quetzal side Santos, Francisca, Rosario,Angel & Miguel. We gave out a lot of tips they work so hard and keep a smile on their faces,also Guillermo the hardest pool work I have ever seen we gave him $20 tip he deserved it. We went in to Playa to watch football and found a bar just southwest of were the taxis drop you off in town it was call club 77 they had eight plasma TV and cheap happy hour beer three Mexican beers for four dollars. We would  recommend this resort to anyone.

[morphasia]

Thanks TXMaverick, for that excellent review of the IB Q/T.  I was worried the foilage was so damaged that we wouldn't see monkeys, but obviously, if they're right near the restaurant, we're in monkey-business!  Your post has made me all the more excited to be going to PDC and the Q/T December of 2006. 

[ruthless]

thanks for the post.  cannot tell you how grossed out i was as i read about the walmart!  i still have the tast of bile in my mouth!  i'm also sad to read about the jungle!  you see, we're getting married there in june and were supposed to have the ceremony in the jungle. sigh.... any other suggestions?  i was hoping to avoid topless sunbathers and the speedo-clad as background to wedding pictures.  by the way, we jumped into this blind:  we've never been to pdc and i'm so *so* SO happy when i hear about how much everyone loves the tucan/quetzal and how just about everyone becomes addicted to pdc! 

[Mofi]

I agree Fabio is a nice guy and lots of fun....I met him at the poblado where they all live when I was trying to figure out which apartment my friends lived in and then again at the hotel after their new show the nutcracker.

Glad to hear you had a good time.

A note on walmart: I too that it was a terrible idea when hearing that it had opened. That being said, it has forced chedraui to pick up their act, and really doesn't effect local businesses, because they sell completely different things.  Now that chedraui has some competition, if you visit there store you will notice alot of improvements. So don't be so negative about the walmart.....I think alot of locals, including myself well I am not a local but know well enough from living there that walmart hasn't proved to be a bad thing like it has in many other cases.

[ruthless]

"So don't be so negative about the walmart.....I think alot of locals, including myself well I am not a local but know well enough from living there that walmart hasn't proved to be a bad thing like it has in many other cases."

Sorry, can't comply there.  The documented and questionable (if not unethical) business practices of walmart is enough to leave my opinion exactly where it is.  but back to the subject of pdc ...

[Mofi]

I know what you are saying....Here at home I would never step foot in a walmart.
That being said, all of my friends who happen to be mexican, shop there and will tell you that its a good thing that chedraui has some competition.
Before they never ordered enough of anything (had no sense of supply and demand) now that walmart is there both stores have to have an incredible sense of this. I still prefer chedraui but I think walmart is helping to improve chedraui.