Mayan Riviera, Iberostar, Reviews?

[dtdesola]

Hi,

I'm planning a family vacation in the spring. I am considering the Iberostar in the Mayan Riviera. My wife and I have a two year old, and would like to dive as much as possible. We are new divers and are still most comfortable in technically easy dives that offer the richest experience. Other members of my family (read: babysitters) are a mix of divers, snorkelers, and non-aquatics. Based on all of the above, do you have any recommendations of places that everyone would enjoy? We are still in the planning stage, and would consider another location as well. Turks and Caicos and Cozumel are in the running. We are not really nightclubbers, casino-goers, etc. We tend to shy away from touristy places in general. Know what I mean?

Thanks for your thoughts,

-David

 

[diver_paula]

David,

I stayed at the Iberostar a couple years ago. At that time they had a dive shop but all the charters were out of a sister dive shop at another resort. Every day you meet at the dive store and WAIT for one of the employees to drive you over. It was about a 15 minute drive. The waiting for a return trip was longer given there weren't set shuttle times.

The diving was nice but the arrangements were inconvenient. It made it hard to communicate with my travel mates. I would think this would be necessary with a 2 year old. & difficult to plan anything else not knowing when you'd be back.

Before booking I'd make sure you are at the one where diving is done from the resort. I know there were two Iberostar's in the area so they may have different operating procedures.

Paula

 

[jlkline]

I've stayed at both Iberostars on the MR. Both are pretty big hotels with lots of servies, things for kids, etc. I preferred the Quetal / Tucan. The grounds are built right into the jungle with lots of native animals running around and its an easy walk / cab ride to downtown PDC. Food is about as good as it gets for an all inclusive.

Have never dove with either hotel, so I can't comment on that.

Hope that helps......

 

[Valwood1]

We stayed there for a long weekend Nov 2002, and were pleased generally. A few comments and tips are:

1. It's on the south end of the island and hence close -- 10 minutes or less boat ride -- to the most-frequented reefs.

2. There is an on-site dive op, but most of the ops based in town will pick you up at the hotel pier.

3. Rooms are nice but, like all of Cozumel, the humidity is such that nothing ever dries out. There are, I believe, four rooms to each building, and I guess you can request a booking to have your party in one building.

4. It's AI, and the food was pretty good.

5. It's a $15-20 cab ride into town.

6. Not sure how much there is to do for the non-aquatics, or what the snorkeling is like off the beach.


Bill

 

[dtdesola]

Thanks for your suggestions. Are there any other places where you've been that family members and divers have been mutually well served?

 

[bridgediver]

keep in mind that you don't have to use the dive op that is situated at a specific hotel. There are many around that will do alot for you to get your business. Dressel divers is the op that services all iberostar hotels and are alot more expensive than other local ops - I'm not sure of their service.

I like the iberostar chain but not dressel

 

[Valwood1]

There are lots of posts about the various hotels. We've also stayed at the Brisas (close to town) and the Occidental (an AI a bit north of Iberostar) -- I'm not including Hotel Barracuda where we stayed on our first trip, since it is really a dive diver hotel (my bride will not go there again).

The Brisas is only a short walk from town, and that's nice if you enjoy walking in the city.

The Occidental, like Iberostar, is a good cab ride into town. I thought that the food was not as good as at the Iberostar, and my bride said the room was better (ie., no musty smell -- I didn't notice that at Iberostar, but...maybe, it's just a girl thing).

You didn't ask, and there are loads of opinions on this board, but I['ve been pleased with both "Blue Angel" and "Scuba with Alison" as dive ops. Both can pick up at about any hotel.

Bill

 

[ggunn]

Valwood1 once bubbled...

[...]

The Brisas is only a short walk from town, and that's nice if you enjoy walking in the city.

The Occidental, like Iberostar, is a good cab ride into town. [...]

I got a smile from your referring to San Miguel as a city... ;^)

And if I might add a bit of interpretation for the benefit of those who have not been to Cozumel, I believe that by "a good cab ride", you mean a "long, expensive cab ride", right?

Cheers.

 

[diverlady]

Have you looked at the reviews here: resort reviews

If you're looking for other destinations the website is: Debbie's Caribbean Reviews

Diverlady