I just returned from the Iberostar Grand Hotel in Riviera Maya, Mexico. The trip was a recognition trip of our status with MAST Vacation Partners, recognizing the top producers in the group. This year’s trip was sponsored by one of fabulous partners, Travel Impressions. We had a great time, despite 5 straight days of rain.
The Iberostar Grand Hotel Paraiso is the star of Iberostar’s Playa Paraiso complex, a vast walled city with a larger transient population than some Midwestern U.S. towns.
The beachfront resort is about midway between Cancun and Playa del Carmen, putting it in the heart of the Riviera Maya corridor.
It is easily the most luxurious of the resorts in the development, offering an adults-only all-inclusive environment to counter the often-rambunctious family atmosphere found at the four other hotels. Its Greco-Roman architecture blends with the jungle-like terrain, full of tropical gardens and flowering trees.
Guests are warmly greeted at check-in with oshibori towels and glasses of champagne, setting the tone for an indulgent vacation, where nearly everything is included in the room price, including nightly theatrical shows, premium-brand liquors, golf, sailing, wine tastings and gourmet a la carte meals (some limits apply).
Guests at the Iberostar Grand Hotel Paraiso have access to the facilities at the four other resorts within the Playa Paraiso complex, including approximately two dozen restaurants and the same number of bars. Even for guests who prefer to stay on property, there are many dining options.
The beachfront international buffet is the most popular restaurant, serving breakfast, lunch and dinner—indoors or out. It offers limitless buffet meals, plus nightly specials, including lobster night and a Mexican fiesta. The steak house serves dinner only, featuring Angus beef, fresh seafood and views of the ocean. The resort’s Japanese restaurant serves fresh sushi, Asian noodle and rice dishes, teppanyaki and teriyaki. For hearty Italian food, guests can enjoy a la carte meals at the northern Italian restaurant, serving pizzas, pastas and fresh salads. For light meals all day long and late-night snacks, the poolside international Grand Paraiso Exteriorgrill is the place to be. 
The hotel lobby bar is a relaxing spot for daytime fun and early-evening socializing. It has a sophisticated urban twist. The pool has a swim-up bar, and drink service is available on the sundeck. For the sophisticated set, a martini and cigar bar offers a chance to chat with like-minded guests while savoring an exotic drink and a smoke. For late-night fun, guests head to the amphitheater for live shows, then hit the on-site nightclub for DJ dancing until late at night. Special events, such as live music, wine tastings and star-gazing outings are also staged throughout the week.
Guests at the resort can spend the day lounging at one of the three swimming pools, including a huge saltwater pool, a lakelike freshwater pool and a heated indoor pool. The beach is nearly a half-mile long and is dotted with sunbeds, ideal for taking a snooze in shaded comfort. Active guests can head to the fitness center and hit the workout stations, treadmills and free weights, or take advantage of the included yoga, Tai Chi, spinning and dance classes.
Back outside, the athletic set can play tennis, go windsurfing, snorkel or participate in free scuba diving introduction classes. The “Star Friends” activities staff is on hand to lead guests to the next activity.
Guests can take a complimentary shuttle to the town of Playa del Carmen for souvenir shopping, beach-hopping and dining.
The Playa Paraiso Resort Spa services all the hotels in the complex. It offers 32,000 sq ft of Zenlike luxury and specializes in couples treatments, thalassotherapy and beauty treatments. It houses whirlpools, saunas, Turkish baths, Roman baths and a Mayan Temazcal sweat lodge. Massages are offered in Grand Paraiso Lobbythe spa, on the beach and in the guest rooms of Iberostar Grand Hotel Paraiso.
Guests have playing privileges at the adjacent 18-hole championship golf course, designed by P.B. Dye. Hotel guests get one round of golf per person for a stay of four nights or less, and two rounds for longer stays.
A full-scale convention center welcomes groups with more than 15,000 sq ft of space, ideal for upscale meetings, conventions and expositions.
There is also a mall connected to the hotel, with ample shopping options and external dining experience, not included in the all-inclusive rates.
Guest rooms are housed in modern buildings spread out around the complex. All rooms are actually suites, with one king or two double beds, spacious floor plans, two-person jetted tubs, satellite TV, CD/DVD player, MP3 docking station, safe, coffeemaker, ceiling fan, premium linens, stocked minibars (including beer, wine and liquor), premium bedding and private terrace or balcony, depending on location. Baths are large, with marble fixtures, luxury amenities, robes and slippers.
Smoke-free and special-needs rooms are available. No pets are allowed. Nightly turndown service is complimentary. Room service runs 24 hours, and hotel security is on patrol around the clock.
Given the large size of this hotel and the overall Iberostar complex, getting around can be an issue. Electric carts are used to transport guests to and fro, but it can become tiresome for those accustomed to fending for themselves.
via STAR Service Online – Iberostar Grand Hotel Paraiso.
