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Cozumel Island
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Cozumel Trip Report Trip Report - Iberostar RESORT: We just returned from a week at the Iberostar. Thanks to this board I knew to ask for a room away from the stage, and ours was very quiet,(8500 building) loved the huge glass and tile shower, shampoo and shower gel is supplied, and the mini bar was full of coke, sprite, water, carbonated and non, and a couple beer, it was restocked every day, not every other as they tell you, (maybe as a result of tipping the maid the first night?) We also got fresh flowers on the king sized bed and an elaborate rose made from tissue one day. The food was nothing special, a few dishes at the buffet were very good, but I didn't find the hours all that convenient if you're going to be going into town. The buffet breakfast is finished by 10 and lunch isn't served there until 1. You could get lunch at 12:15 by the pool, but those burgers and fries were prepared almost an hour earlier, I prefer hot food, the roasted chicken was good. A hint for the buffet, don't fill your plate at the beginning with luke warm eggs, they make fresh individual omelets a bit farther down the line, and the same with pasta at dinner.The service at the resort ranged from really good to downright rude. Other guests returned from an exhausting trip to Chichen Itza, to find that at 10:30 pm their room had not been touched and the guy who brought them a whole 2 towels, was "surly". Worst was the security people, usually not a warm greeting whenever we returned from trips to town, (a couple of the guys manning the gate were nice) and on the dock they informed us as our fishing charter was approaching, that they would not be allowed to put their ropes on their dock! We had just spent the last hour watching all kinds of boats dock there... I was asked how I had booked this charter and when I said from home, from Canada, his attitude changed and our boat docked without further comment. When we returned though, an actual security guy was waiting to glare and stomp off. I'm not exaggerating a bit, and I know the other people on the charter from the Allegro had no such problem on their dock. The nicest staff I met there was a young woman who filled several positions, she participated in the evening shows, taught Spanish and aerobics by the pool, and worked with the children, wish I knew her name, (want to say Tracey, but I don't know why.) However much they pay her, it's not enuff. I would be very comfortable leaving my children in her care. The grounds, pool, rooms, etc. at the Iberostar are spotlessly clean. We were shocked when we stopped at the Reef Club to check it out, not even half as nice, so hopefully it's only half as much to stay there. We also checked out the Allegro and it is really beautiful there and a more relaxed atmosphere that we both noticed right away. The staff there were very nice, the guests looked happier and a large group was playing volleyball while we were there. The Iberostar seemed more formal to me, maybe the European influence. I talked at length on the plane home with an Allgero guest and this was her opinion: Great staff, really good food (better than Sandals in Jamacia she said), and beautiful grounds and beach, BUT the hot tub never worked, their first room was not nice, no one in their group got the king beds they had asked for, their bathroom was disgusting, and there was a constant sewer smell that affected her allergies so they were moved. The second room was on the upper floor with a thatched roof and they could hear EVERYTHING up there from the other rooms and outside, from whispers, to a hiccup, to .... all of it. Hint, consider taking foam earplugs with you. to be continued..... CAR RENTAL: If you are staying at a resort far away from town a car
rental is a really good idea. It's $15 each way into town by taxi, so two
trips will pay to rent a VW beetle. We didn't want to pay the $88 a day to
rent a jeep at the Iberostar from Executive, so we spent a lot of time trying to
track down a reasonably priced one in town. Although many deliver, they
won't to the Iberostar because security won't let them on the property. We
finally ended up with a jeep from Less Pay located in front of Hotel Baracuda
for $66 including insurance and tax. The roof wouldn't lock in place on it and
we got caught in a torrential downpour one night, and drove all the way to the
resort with arms in the air holding it in place. We were soaked but
thought it was funny as hell after all we'd gone through to get it. Hint,
check out not just roof mechanisms but head and taillights and high beams. I
would email rental places to arrange a vehicle and get the price including
insurance and tax, and take the email with you. We next rented a scooter from
Tommy's scooters and the first one had no tail lights and the second headlight
wouldn't dim. The scooter was the most fun and so much cheaper, wish we
had rented it from day one. It was rather disconcerting to see the locals
riding around with as many as two adults and two small children all without
helmets, but you will find they are all paying attention as they drive, and I
felt safe on the scooter although at first I hadn't considered renting one after
reading postings here. My husband has years of experience on
motorcycles, I wouldn’t get one if you are not an experienced rider. It goes
without saying not to rent one if you're going to be drinking. last regret The other thing I would do differently, is learn some Spanish before I go. It would have helped so much!! Not just for shopping or reading at the museum but so we could really talk to these people. I could have put some of the time I spent tracking down aqua shoes in the middle of our Canadian winter to better use. Walmart had the water shoes by the way, and cheap, about $8 Canadian.Lodging Reviews
Email us to have your review listed or removed. Thanks! Don't know where to begin? Contact us for a referral. We have lots of great ideas. Say you saw it on Travel Notes! Copyright 1998-2001. Travel Notes, Canada. Disclaimer. A division of Web Presence, Internet Advertising Solutions.
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