Iberostar Selection Paraiso Maya Suites - All Inclusive

“one of the better hotels”

OMG cannot fault this Hotel, service is above anything i've seen in Mexico, there is no making you feel like an outcast if you don't tip, which actually made us want to tip, not what we've seen in other Mexico hotels, definitely will come back, service is about the best you're going to see anywhere… more

OMG cannot fault this Hotel, service is above anything i've seen in Mexico, there is no making you feel like an outcast if you don't tip, which actually made us want to tip, not what we've seen in other Mexico hotels, definitely will come back, service is about the best you're going to see anywhere in Mexico

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“All Inclusive and…”

The resort is beautiful, peaceful and expansive. Takes a minute to get your directions but it’s worth it. The pools are plentiful, lazy river is peaceful and lovely. The beach is pretty and you can take out kayaks into a buoyed area. Try the Caribbean Freeze at the beach bar. The golf carts shuttl… more

The resort is beautiful, peaceful and expansive. Takes a minute to get your directions but it’s worth it. The pools are plentiful, lazy river is peaceful and lovely. The beach is pretty and you can take out kayaks into a buoyed area. Try the Caribbean Freeze at the beach bar. The golf carts shuttling you over to the other sister property for shopping or dinners was a welcome relief. The drivers are all friendly. Love seeing the wildlife along the properties. Value - buffets for Breakfast and Lunch were abundant and the breakfast buffet is over the top! Both breakfast and lunch buffet had something for everyone. We didn’t attend buffets at dinner as we chose restaurants. The French restaurant wasn’t a favorite. The Greek restaurant Lemon & Spice was fantastic, as was our waiter, Diego. Hibachi at the sister property was yummy and our chef was fun. Hydrotherapy was available to book at the spa as part of the all inclusive. Beyond frustrated with it being impossible to book. You an only book one day before and then need to wait to find out you’ve been cancelled. Super disappointed about this perk not being used/available. Another disappointing matter is Concierge. Basically, the “Concierge” exists to get you to attend the Vacation Club presentation. It quickly be became obvious that when you decline, their “service” vanishes. I’d rather the resort try to sell their Vacation Club without the mask of having a helpful Concierge. Once you don’t take the tour, you’re dead to them. Leading me to the scam of vouchers. We were on day 3 before ours were activated. We thought we used some in a gift shop. We then found out those $16 Munch mix chips were not part of the voucher. You have $450 in vouchers. The catch is you can only use $25 after spending $100 in one shop. Do a real services and don’t offer bogus offers. This would’ve been a 5 star review otherwise. It’s infuriating. $16 chips. $15 bandaids. And those were certainly on our bill at check out, despite the vouchers. Insanity. It truly is such a turn off along with the pretend Concierge service. The vouchers and the proposed Concierge service were such a point of frustration and disappointment. Just get rid of it as it’s not a real service. The room was pleasant and more than enough space for the family. Our balcony had tropical trees in front of it and we loved the hammock chair on the balcony. The housekeeping service was very good. Something was missed and we made a quick call and they delivered. Water pressure was fine and everything was in good shape. Lots of closet space. There were lots of activities to choose from, multiple fitness classes each of Spin, Water aerobics, Boot Camp. Yoga, Pilates, Pool activities, Beach activities, Bingo, Foam party etc. If you’re bored, it is by your choice. We booked an excellent snorkeling excursion with our Amstar rep Kefren in the lobby. It was about 50 minutes to the ferry point in Cancun. Excellent excursion! The pools are huge and beautiful. The resort was immaculate and the wildlife is a treat to see. The staff at the reception check in/out are so friendly. Overall, we enjoyed our stay.

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“6‑night getaway at Maya & Lindo (last week) – quick rundown for anyone thinking about an all‑inclusive in Mexico:”

I just got back from a 6-night stay at Iberostar Selection Paraíso Maya and wanted to share some honest thoughts after visiting all-inclusive resorts in Mexico and the Dominican Republic for the past 25 years. The Good Maya and Lindo are absolutely stunning. The architecture, landscaping, and over… more

I just got back from a 6-night stay at Iberostar Selection Paraíso Maya and wanted to share some honest thoughts after visiting all-inclusive resorts in Mexico and the Dominican Republic for the past 25 years. The Good Maya and Lindo are absolutely stunning. The architecture, landscaping, and overall design are some of the best I've seen. These resorts are HUGE, and I only had time to fully explore Maya and parts of Lindo. The food was hit or miss, but when it was good, it was excellent. I especially enjoyed the Maya buffet. A huge shoutout to the bartenders at the Cave Pool—they were some of the hardest-working employees at the resort and always provided great service. Be sure to tip them! The beach was beautiful for our first three days before the sargassum (seaweed) arrived, which is simply part of traveling to the Caribbean. Most of the staff were friendly and eager to help. Areas That Could Improve Check-in wasn't the warm welcome I'm used to. There was no welcome drink or towel, and instead of being escorted to the concierge, we were simply pointed in the right direction. The concierge experience was probably the biggest disappointment. That may explain some of the inconsistent information. For example, I was incorrectly told the complimentary spa hydrotherapy benefit was available every other day instead of daily. I also found that many conversations quickly turned into invitations to attend the breakfast presentation, which I repeatedly declined. None offered a physical map. Never gave directions - they just pointed where to go. Also, they always referred to the App instead of answering my question. Apps are not always correct and not everyone wants to use another App. I spoke with several employees during my stay, and many mentioned they'd been working there for less than one month - some for only a day or two. Transportation around the resort wasn't as convenient as at other large all-inclusives. Golf carts were available, but often had to be called, and the process felt slower than expected. Entertainment varied quite a bit. Some nights were fantastic, while others fell flat. The disco was fun, but as with most places, it depends on the crowd. A Few Tips If your room feels humid, leave the ceiling fan or A/C running. Some guests (including us at times) noticed damp bedding due to the tropical humidity. Double-check any hotel vouchers or excursion details to make sure what you're told matches what's written. Employees will sometimes say anything to get you to commit. Then you might see an extra charge when you check out. If you're taking the "free" shuttle into Playa del Carmen where you make a stop at a jewelry store and a tequila shop, be cautious. We found the beach disappointing, and Fifth Avenue was filled with aggressive vendors. Be aware of common scams, such as someone claiming they worked at your resort "yesterday" and inviting you to a family shop. If you're ever told cash isn't accepted and pressured to use a credit card, it's best to walk away. Several people in our shuttle group reported repeated charges on their credit cards, so I recommend using cash whenever possible and monitoring your accounts after your trip. Final Thoughts Overall, I had a very enjoyable vacation. No resort is perfect, but the beauty of the property, many of the hardworking employees, and the overall experience outweighed the negatives. If the price fits my budget, I'd definitely return - especially to explore the other Iberostar Paraíso resorts that I didn't get to see this trip. I'd love to hear about others' experiences. Did yours match mine, or was it different?

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