You can find reviews and info on all the Iberostar properties on the Iberostar Board, scroll down the page, each resort has it's own section with questions, reviews, photos, etc.

www.iberostar-board.com/boards/index.php

thanks NJLynn but I have already looked through those. What I would like now is the hear the opinion of people who have been to both hotels and can therefore compare the 2.

We have been to both and in November we stayed at the Del Mar and took a day trip to the Tucan. Both are great. Del Mar is bigger, newer and has beautiful pools and beautiful grounds. Tucan has the better beach, is more jungle-like and is closer to Playa del Carmen, as you are aware. In my opinion, it's a matter of taste, my husband feels the Tucan is warmer and more intimate, I like the Del Mar, although since the complex now includes the LIndo and Maya as well as the beach, it is a really big resort. We looked at the Lindo and Maya and although they are impressive, I like the grounds better at the Del Mar and beach and, for our purposes, don't see paying the difference although many people, especially with children, love the Lindo.

The comparison question has been brought up on both this board and the IB board which is why I put in the link. We really love the Iberostars, y;ou really can't go wrong with either.

thanks NJLynn. Now if we stay at the Del Mar and want to use the wave pool etc at the Lindo, how long a walk is it.......rather is it practical to think we can do this or is it too much, also, how did you think the food compared at the Tucan compared to the Delo Mar?

Guests of the DelMar/Beach are not supposed to use the wave pool at the Lindo.

It's probably about a 15 minute walk to the other hotels, pools, commercial center, etc. definitely walkable.They do have a little trolley that you can grab if it's around. Last post said you aren't supposed to use the wave pool ( which is correct) , we didn't try but our friends did and nobody bothered them. We were at the Tucan a couple years ago, Thought the food was fine, same at Del Mar, but when we did the day trip I thought the lunch buffet was a bit better at the Tucan than what we'd been having, maybe just caught a good day, but it was great.

Shame about the wave pool. Just out of interest, have you been to the Iberostar hotels in Bavaro, Dom Rep.....and if so, how do they compare??

No, we've not been to the DR, I'd be interested in comparisons myself!

Just as an FYI - although the wave pool and lazy river are only for the Lindo/Maya guests, the kids' wristbands are white, no matter which Iberostar you stay at, so therefore nobody would know where the child is staying. The only downside to this would be you couldn't get a drink at the Lindo while watching your child enjoy the wave pool! I wouldn't worry about the walking distance between the DelMar/Beach pools and the Lindo pools - it's no big deal - I would say less than 5 minutes.

oh by the way, how far is the pool from the Del Mar to the beach. I ask because a nice thing about the Tucan is that the beach starts where the pool finishes which is really nice. You can sit so that you are by the pool but can see the ocean.