JOIA Paraíso by Iberostar

Best hotel, best activities. Everything is so nice and pretty and clean. Beautiful views, great pools, wonderful spa. The staff are so nice. Thanks especially to Cinthia and Ianko, the yoga/pilates instructors. And to Viridiana from the entertainment team. I even did an activity coloring a cotton bag tote. So...

Best hotel, best activities. Everything is so nice and pretty and clean. Beautiful views, great pools, wonderful spa. The staff are so nice. Thanks especially to Cinthia and Ianko, the yoga/pilates instructors. And to Viridiana from the entertainment team. I even did an activity coloring a cotton bag tote. So fun! You guys are the best and made our experience marvelous. It is our 2nd time here and we are definitely coming back many times! :)

Review of JOIA Paraiso by Iberostar – February 12 to 25th. If I had to summarize the resort, it’s palatial. Everywhere you walk, it's beautiful. The inside and outside of the buildings are like a palace on the ocean, yet they are so comforting and mesmerizing as you walk through...

Review of JOIA Paraiso by Iberostar – February 12 to 25th. If I had to summarize the resort, it’s palatial. Everywhere you walk, it's beautiful. The inside and outside of the buildings are like a palace on the ocean, yet they are so comforting and mesmerizing as you walk through the halls and around the grounds. Peace and tranquility abound as the resort relaxes you with its charm and character, whether you are walking around or getting into a golf cart to be taken wherever you request. I don’t even know where to start. Thirteen days is a long vacation for Sue and me, but we had such a great time that we would have extended it even further if we hadn’t already had plans to be in New Orleans for Mardi Gras 2 days after our trip. We were initially going on vacation somewhere else this week, but we had to change plans as one of our friends was getting married in Paraiso, and we did not want to miss the wedding. Plus, it was Valentine’s Day on the 14th, so I wanted to do something special, which I will detail below. The vacation to JOIA Paraiso was perfect, and I will try to explain. I see many people list pros and cons, and I get that. I will start with our only negative comment in 13 days. The hostess at the Italian restaurant twice wouldn’t acknowledge us as members when we had reservations, so even though we had reservations, we had to wait. That was my only complaint. This place is pure bliss; it is heaven on earth, plus we had reserved the Presidential Penthouse, which was 2000 sq feet of a dream. I think that room might have ruined the rest of my vacations because I am not sure we will ever have a room as lovely as that. Upon arrival at check-in, the staff were so excited to see us, and they made us feel unbelievably welcome. I had requested the Presidential Penthouse, of which there are two of them at JOIA Paraiso. One in building 70 and one in building 71. We walked into the room to be greeted by a round dining room table that could seat eight people, which then opened up to a living room that could have a party for 30 people and not feel crowded. With high ceilings and floor-to-ceiling glass doors, which looked out upon a balcony that was the size of 3 standard balconies, my head was spinning. We walked into the bedroom to find a king-sized four-poster bed that almost looked lost in the room. There was a bathroom with a walk-in closet that was big enough to put a bed inside the closet itself. Then, an indoor jacuzzi and a shower that could hold six people. The outside balcony had a jacuzzi with a hammock overlooking the ocean, and you could hear the waves crashing on the shore. Sunrises from the balcony were excellent; we could lie in bed in the morning and watch the sunrise. Breath-taking. The food was terrific. We ate at the Japanese, the Ember steakhouse, French, Italian, and the buffet. Every meal we had was awesome, and the service was fantastic. We had no issues with reservations at any place other than with the hostess at the Italian restaurant. The buffet was excellent, and we went during the Gala night and Asian night. Of course, the Gala was loaded with various seafood and steaks, which was my favorite. Never ever miss the Gala night at the buffet. For lunch, we asked Chef Yahdir twice to prepare a special lunch at the Star Prestige beach area. Simply amazing, the first lunch was just Sue and I, and he made us Ribeye and lobster tails (Another great benefit of membership). The second time, we had a group of 8 members, and he made all these unique tacos. Everyone enjoyed themselves; it was our special party on the beach. On Valentine's Day, I asked to do a Romantic Dinner on the beach; it was amazing. It was a little pricey, but it was Valentine’s Day: a violinist serenading us, a 4-course dinner, and a bottle of Moet champagne, with the crashing of the waves on the shore. I would consider myself a foodie, which is essential in my selection of a resort, and they excelled these two weeks. The staff would greet us at lunch and breakfast every day, getting us our table and making us feel at home. It was more than just feeling at home; they made us feel special. The Staff. I can’t say enough about how respectful they were and how much they made us feel important. They would know our names, what we liked, and what made us happy. They were amazing. We had great Butlers: Karolina and Fatima. Every day, they would ask what they could do for us, how they could help, and what we needed. Where did we want to eat? Is everything going ok with our massages? Do you want a ride here or there? They were great. Butlers make a good vacation great. Javier and Denis were our Star Prestige Ambassadors; they ensured we had our bottle of wine or champagne every night at our dinner table and would check on us each day at our Cabana on the beach. The Star Prestige staff of Lesly, Andrea, Ana, Hector, Anselmo, and Gasper handled all our needs from check-in to checkout. We stopped by each day to say hello, and they would ask us what we needed, if everything was going ok, or what they could do to improve our vacation. Lesly and her team were an absolute pleasure. Manuel at the Star Prestige Beach area ensured that we had towels and drinks all day at the beach and looked after us constantly. He would set up our cabana each morning when I walked to the beach. Manuel would know when we were going for our massages and have a golf cart ready to take us to the central shopping center. Everything was always taken care of by the entire Star Prestige team. THIS IS WHY I JOINED THE CLUB, to be spoiled on vacation as this team constantly did! The drinks were always good. The lobby bartenders and servers at the Star Prestige Club and Star Prestige Beach Club served great drinks, and after the first day, they knew what we would have all the time. Again, the staff made you feel like you were family. The grounds were meticulously groomed. Every leaf on every bush was trimmed. You could look in all four directions, even up, and everything was perfect. What a beautiful resort. We would walk around, and it was so relaxing. We walked to other resorts down the beach to see the member's pool area, which was very nice. The maintenance crew would run the sand-cleaning machines up and down the coast daily, cleaning all the debris and seaweed. Everything was always clean. The beach had soft sand, palm trees, waves, and many chairs. The water was rough most days, but we could still go into the ocean. Yeah, cabana bingo with the towels is an issue like every other resort, but getting a cabana was never a problem, even when the hotel was filled on the weeks we were there. The entertainment was excellent. We saw a show in the theater every night. It was great, and there were no extra charges. There were a variety of acts. I think the entertainment has dramatically improved since we were here in September. There was also entertainment in the lobby before and after the theater performances. Singers, violinists, and guitarists were excellent, making the lobby bar a great meeting and hanging-out place. One night, we had about 18 people do a pub crawl across the five resorts, doing shots and drinks at each bar. Luckily, we had golf carts to get us back to the JOIA. We had our daily massages, which were fantastic and relaxing. I tried the beach and the Shopping Center. I liked the shopping center better with the changing room, air conditioning, and quietness. I prefer the setup at JOIA Bavaro, where the members' massages are done at the resort instead of the shopping center. It's hard to imagine going on vacation now and not getting a daily massage. The highlight of the vacation was the marriage of Brett and Collen; a beautiful bride and a great man were married on the beach. I had the high honor of officiating over the magnificent wedding. It was such a great night celebrating their love for one another and an enjoyable few days meeting their children and extended family. You learn a lot about someone when you see them interact with their family, and this family was all about love, fun, and watching out for each other. We had a blast, and felt part of the family. Sue and I were so happy they allowed us to share their wedding and family. Oh, wait, I forgot to tell you that we met Brett and Collen at Iberostar Playa Mita and became friends because we were both club members. How cool is that? We got lucky and saw friends we had met on previous trips, just wonderful people: Steve and Karen, Perry and Beverly. We also met some new club members, Nanci and Shawn, who we hope to see again in September, Nicki and Rob, Nicole and Greg, Katherine and Jeff, Martin and Julia, and Missy and her husband. We had the pleasure of spending time with all these club members on the beach, in restaurants, or at the lobby bar. The best part of our membership is the people we have met. To new friends, existing friends, and those we haven’t yet met, may we all have amazing Iberostar vacations in our future. We plan to return here in April we had such a great time.

We recently stayed at Iberostar JOIA Paraiso from February 21st to February 28th, and it was truly an incredible experience. We opted for an upgraded beachfront room, and it was absolutely worth it. Having direct access to the pristine, well-manicured beach made all the difference. The beach service was outstanding—perfectly...

We recently stayed at Iberostar JOIA Paraiso from February 21st to February 28th, and it was truly an incredible experience. We opted for an upgraded beachfront room, and it was absolutely worth it. Having direct access to the pristine, well-manicured beach made all the difference. The beach service was outstanding—perfectly timed every 15 minutes, ensuring we were always taken care of without ever feeling interrupted. The pool area was just as enjoyable, featuring a clean and well-maintained swim-up bar with friendly, attentive service. While the water was a bit on the chilly side, that’s more of a seasonal factor than a resort issue. Service was impeccable across the board. The concierge team was incredibly attentive, making sure every request was met with efficiency and care. Dinner service was outstanding, with an exceptional variety of top-quality food to choose from. Every meal felt like a special experience. The nightly entertainment was well-planned and enjoyable, though it felt like it was missing a little something—perhaps an extra element of excitement or interaction to truly elevate the experience. The spa was phenomenal, featuring a wide array of relaxation and therapy options, all delivered by friendly, knowledgeable staff. The golf course was also in excellent condition, and despite some mixed reviews online, we found the staff to be highly attentive and professional. Our room was spotless, cleaned twice daily, with an additional turn-down service while we were at dinner—a small but luxurious touch that we truly appreciated. The Only Downside – The Over-the-Top Timeshare Pitch The only real drawback to our trip was the aggressive and outdated timeshare sales pitch. As frequent travelers, we’re familiar with these tactics, but this one was particularly excessive. It started when a concierge pressured us into taking a tour despite multiple refusals. The next morning, they knocked on our door and called repeatedly to make sure we attended. What was supposed to be a 90-minute session dragged into a two-hour ordeal. The sales pitch itself felt dated and out of touch—something straight out of a bad ‘80s movie. By the end, it was unclear what exactly they were even selling because they had thrown so many different offers at us. The three-person closing team was overly aggressive, making the whole experience uncomfortable. Highly Recommend CARM Transportation For our airport transfer, we chose CARM Transportation’s private shuttle service, and we highly recommend them. They were easy to find, our wait time was less than 10 minutes, and they provided snacks and beers for the ride. Most importantly, we felt safe the entire time. Our return trip was just as smooth—they picked us up right at the resort lobby and got us to the airport hassle-free. Final Verdict: A Fantastic Destination Aside from the sloppy sales pitch, Iberostar JOIA Paraiso was an amazing resort, and we highly recommend it as a travel destination. The service, food, beach, spa, and overall atmosphere were exceptional. We had an absolutely perfect vacation, and we will definitely be back! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5 – Minus the timeshare experience)

We have previously visited Iberostar properties and have loved the privacy and pampering of the adults only butler's suites. Others had told us that if we liked other Iberostar's, we would LOVE Joia in Riveria Maya. We booked 5 days in an beach view butler's suite. There were positives, but...

We have previously visited Iberostar properties and have loved the privacy and pampering of the adults only butler's suites. Others had told us that if we liked other Iberostar's, we would LOVE Joia in Riveria Maya. We booked 5 days in an beach view butler's suite. There were positives, but a lot of negatives which I'll detail. First of all, if you talk to 3 different staff there, you will get 3 different pieces of information. We made the reservation 4 months in advance, had been emailed a confirmation # and when we called to ask questions (and make dinner reservations as we had done in advance at other properties) we were told they didn't have our reservation. Several times, staff said they would check and call us back without response. Finally after 3 days, it looked like they had finally found our reservation after all...this was unnecessary and anxiety producing. Positives: The Joia property is gorgeous and meticulously maintained. The beach is beautiful and similarly well kept. Our room was very nice with a great private balcony and view. Food at the morning breakfast and 1 restaurant (Venetian) was quite good. Negatives: ADJACENT PROPERTIES at Iberostar looked more like brightly-colored Motel 6s. Unfortunately, our room was at the north end of the property and the outdoor theater from the next property made it imprssible to enjoy our lovely balcony/view until after 11:00 at night...think bad blaring music! If you go there and want a beach view suite, ask for one far away from adjacent properties. BEACH- While the beach was lovely, this was supposed to be an adults only property. Sounds of kids on the beach and in the surf boogie-boarding wasn't what we anticipated...note: this was not from the adjacent property, they were on the adults-only beach. The biggest turn off to the beach was the camo-clad soldiers with machine guns who occasionally strolled by. Maybe this made us safer, but it was certainly a NOT PEACEFUL OR RELAXING ATMOSPHERE! FOOD at many of the restaurants (E.G grill &French restaurants) was terrible...think overcooked, chewy steak, mushy lobster, food that either had sat under a heat lamp or on a counter) The only salvation was that as an all inclusive, we could supplement the bad food somewhere else...IF YOU COULD GET IN. As above, we tried to make dinner reservations for our entire stay before arriving (as we had at other Iberostars) but could not. Shortly after we arrived, we met with the concierge and tried to make reservations - only to find many restaurants were already booked. We made one reservation with the conciege that the restaurant said they never got. We tried to rectify this with our butler, who said if we went to the restaurant at 8:00, they would take us. When we arrived, the restaurant said no...at that point, we had cancelled our other plans and ended up in the buffet for dinner. STAFF while we loved the pampering of butlers at other Iberostars, the staff here didn't get that message. Sometimes butlers did what you requested, sometimes they didn't. Sometimes it took 2-3 reminders. One time, my husband went downstairs to see if he could get the coffee pods we asked the butler to bring. He found our butler joking around with others - he said he forgot our request! We asked if we could have our mini bar stocked with seltzer for our stay...we had to ask this EACH DAY. Many guest-facing staff spoke limited English. Between my limited Spanish and a lot of gestures, we somehow worked things out, but as it seemed most guests were English speaking, better English skills of guest-facing staff seems pretty important. SPIRITS; the "house" wines were barely drinkable. We asked if there were other options (we assumed this would be an additional cost) but it seemed this was only for time-share guests. ENTERTAINMENT: We checked out a few shows. We weren't expecting Las Vegas reviews, but most seemed more like the high school productions our kids had been in. The one exception was the fire show which was very good! On balance, it was a beautiful property but our expectations were not met. We might return to other Iberostars (E.G the one in the DR is lovely) but not this one. Disappointed. :-(

Joia Paraiso is the luxury adult only end of this sprawling 5 hotel gated resort complex. My husband and I just returned from another great stay at the Iberostar Paraiso Grand which was renamed Joia Paraiso since our last visit June 2024. This is our 10th stay at the Joia/Grand....

Joia Paraiso is the luxury adult only end of this sprawling 5 hotel gated resort complex. My husband and I just returned from another great stay at the Iberostar Paraiso Grand which was renamed Joia Paraiso since our last visit June 2024. This is our 10th stay at the Joia/Grand. Before that we had stayed at their adjacent Maya and Lindo and Del Mar sections since 2001. The Iberostar brand is a well run hotel group and their service and standards are impeccable. They change or upgrade offerings in dining and activities continually. We appreciate the switch to no reservation required for the restaurants. The addition of Gala night at the buffet was a welcome change with live music and dinner club lighting and exquisite buffet offerings. We are not party pool people and the Grand offers quieter options such as the quiet pool with cabanas and well designed beach chair and palapa for shade. There is drink service at the beach too. The Grand has its own spa with an indoor pool just steps from the center building. It looks like something from Rome or Greece. It’s a lush getaway spot for a quiet swim and reading out of the sun. Or a sublime massage upstairs. In addition we love the complex’s bigger Spa Sensations in the Shopping Area where we used the wet area comprised of a massive inside quiet pool with zen music and the large selection of water treatment pools steam rooms and saunas. All with access to Maya gardens and private beds. This property is refined and elegant and is a gem. The entire resort property has 5 hotels all connected by a grand garden lined boulevard and pathways with access to the bars and lobbies if each hotel. They each have a fun unique vibe and theme. Making exploring and walking this resort an adventure. It’s a 25 minute ride from the airport. But it feels like a world away. The perfect spot to recharge and romance. And to be pampered.

We are repeat visitors to the Iberostar Grand, now Joia, and Iberostar members. This visit surpassed everything that we have experienced in the past. We understand that the resort closed in August for a refresh and it truly shows! The resort is absolutely gorgeous. At our last visit, we played...

We are repeat visitors to the Iberostar Grand, now Joia, and Iberostar members. This visit surpassed everything that we have experienced in the past. We understand that the resort closed in August for a refresh and it truly shows! The resort is absolutely gorgeous. At our last visit, we played the towel game at the Star Prestige area. Thank you for fixing this issue with more cabanas and monitoring by the staff. The Star Cafe is a great addition with the staff greeting us everyday with a smile as they prepare our cafe lattes. What shows the most prominently is the energy and passion among the staff. There seems to be more personal touches and a joy among everyone who works here. I want to shout out to the Star Prestige beach staff, Manuel, Alejandro, and Eli, to Hector who took care of our every need as members. As always, I need to acknowledge Emilio at L'Atelier (you are the best waiter on the resort - your energy and passion is infectious), to Felix and Luis who made my birthday extra special, to Joel at Venitia, and Manuel at the Mexican restaurant. Each of you made our stay extra special. The spa services (massages) were the best ever with Jacqueline winning my prize for getting my back back into shape. I am sure that I am missing many people who made our stay special. Grateful for the decision to become an Iberostar member and looking for our next trip with our family. This place is a slice of heaven on earth.

Disappointing Experience at JOIA Paraiso by Iberostar Our stay at JOIA Paraiso started with an immediate upsell offer to upgrade our room with butler service to an oceanfront view. While the view was stunning, the butler service felt more like a tactic to schedule a breakfast meeting and pressure us...

Disappointing Experience at JOIA Paraiso by Iberostar Our stay at JOIA Paraiso started with an immediate upsell offer to upgrade our room with butler service to an oceanfront view. While the view was stunning, the butler service felt more like a tactic to schedule a breakfast meeting and pressure us into joining the IHG membership club. We came to relax at an all-inclusive resort, not to be sold a timeshare. To be fair, we are not frequent all-inclusive resort travelers, but our previous experience at The Excellence Beloved was far superior in service and attention to detail. We enjoy traveling with two other couples to explore different resorts, and unfortunately, this one fell short of expectations. Service & Experience Issues: • We were celebrating our 25th wedding anniversary, which we mentioned in our booking, yet the resort never acknowledged it—not even once. • Requested guacamole and chips for in-room dining on the first day and were told it wasn’t available. • Our bed sheets had sand in them the first night. • Asked for nachos and ribeye quesadillas at the beach but were denied. • Ordered mixers for vodka, but it took two days to receive them. Instead of bottles, they delivered two small glasses, one without a lid. • Requested a bottle of champagne from the butler on Thursday—wasn’t delivered. Called again at 5 PM, and it finally arrived at 6:30 PM, just before dinner. • Made an 8:30 PM dinner reservation on Wednesday but only received bread and water by 9:40 PM. We also ordered a $300 bottle of wine, and one of our glasses was dirty. Instead of replacing it, they poured the wine into another glass. • Community bathrooms were frequently out of hand towels. • Our safe malfunctioned twice in two days; despite multiple requests, it was never replaced. • At the French restaurant, the hostess told us at 9:40 PM to “eat fast” because they closed at 10 PM. We still tipped our waitress generously ($70), but the rushed service was off-putting. • No turndown service on our last night. Overall, JOIA Paraiso failed to deliver the high-quality service expected at a resort of this caliber. While the property itself is beautiful, the service inconsistencies and lack of attention to guest needs—especially failing to acknowledge our milestone anniversary—made for a disappointing stay. We will not be returning.

We just got back from a romantic trip to Joia Iberostar Paraiso. Here’s our experience: CHECK-IN: We were picked up at the airport without a hitch. Though we checked in online ahead of time, it took us a really long time to get out of the lobby and then they...

We just got back from a romantic trip to Joia Iberostar Paraiso. Here’s our experience: CHECK-IN: We were picked up at the airport without a hitch. Though we checked in online ahead of time, it took us a really long time to get out of the lobby and then they never texted us when our room was ready. We were pushed hard to go to a time share presentation in exchange for two massages and a wine tasting. We said we’d think about it since the offer was tempting. They called our room that night and we said we weren’t interested. They called again an hour later, when we again said no, and three times in the morning, waking up my husband. (I was at the beach.) POOLS: Beautiful, clean, the main pool has fun entertainment during the day such as live music and games. (Axel was a standout, and a young woman whose name started with V.) The quiet pool has a photogenic iguana nearby. They have floaties, but sometimes they run out or people hoard them by loungers when they aren’t using them. The hot tubs are fun and social but could be hotter. The lobby and all the grounds are immaculate and beautiful. BEACH: Big and beautiful. Loungers under umbrellas were still available at 11 A.M. This is not a resort of early risers, so there’s no towel game. It’s a little rocky, but if you walk not too far to your left when facing the ocean, a beach by another Iberostar resort has a smooth entry into the ocean. OTHER RESORTS: You can walk by the beach or take a golf cart ride from the main entrance of Joia to other Iberostar resorts. We had fun on the water slides at the hotel next door and one farther away had live flamingoes. There’s also a small shopping area you can walk to or go to by golf cart. Activities such as archery and Zumba are also available at other resorts. SHOWS: We enjoyed the circus/acrobatics and rock bands. Guest karaoke at the Rhapsody Bar was a blast. We were confused by the illusionist show which was mostly dancing. FOOD/DRINKS: The wonderful Japanese restaurant was our favorite; we ate there twice. It’s also the only one that needs reservations. We would prefer reservations everywhere since we could plan our time better and not worry about getting in. The Mexican restaurant was good, as was the lunch buffet. Ember had slow service and our least favorite food. Drinks were watered down by the pool, but the lobby bar has excellent cocktails. We especially loved the chocolate martinis and mojitos. ROOM: The outer balcony was gorgeous. The room was fine except the jacuzzi tub was a little small and you’ll want to bring a surge protector/outlet strip since there weren’t a lot of outlets. COMPARISON TO OTHER RESORTS: We’ve been to Royal Hideaway, LeBlanc, Excellence Playa Mujeres, Valentin Imperial, and El Dorado Maroma. LeBlanc had the best food, the Excellence Playa Mujeres the best overall experience, but we had a fun and relaxing time at Joia Iberostar.

Back up to 5 stars, largely based in what I’ve heard about changes coming. The big reason for reducing to 4 stars last September was the management decision to stop taking dinner reservations at the a la carte restaurants and the resulting issues. We were able to overcome those issues...

Back up to 5 stars, largely based in what I’ve heard about changes coming. The big reason for reducing to 4 stars last September was the management decision to stop taking dinner reservations at the a la carte restaurants and the resulting issues. We were able to overcome those issues this trip and we understand reservations will be reinstated in the near future. With that out of the way, our tenth stay (19 weeks total now) at this resort was, as usual, fantastic. The staff is always what makes our experience so great, Daniel and Dario at the lobby bar, Luilly at the Rhapsody bar, Jonatan at the pool bar are all great at what they do. Same goes for Mirna at the pool and all the servers who work so hard in the pool area and the restaurants, such as Luz and Leticia as well as all the Star friends , especially Axel and Carlos. A new (to us) staff member who made this vacation outstanding was Yaksa, our concierge who helped us and our friends tremendously in navigating the restaurant situation. Now that management has apparently recognized the error of its ways, the restaurant stress should be lessened in the future. You can tell how great this place is by the number of regulars or repeat visitors it attracts. We always look forward to meeting up with other couples that we’ve met here over the years and when combined with the staff that has become our Mexican family we feel like we’re coming home every time we arrive.

There are so many reviews of this wonderful resort so it is daunting to think that I can add anything new or different. That being said, everything about this resort is first rate and extraordinary. The food is amazing, the grounds pristine, the rooms roomy and as well equipped and...

There are so many reviews of this wonderful resort so it is daunting to think that I can add anything new or different. That being said, everything about this resort is first rate and extraordinary. The food is amazing, the grounds pristine, the rooms roomy and as well equipped and the staff to a person as kind and as helpful as you could ever imagine. This is very clearly a VERY well managed resort.

We arrived january 15th to joia iberostar and as always have been, all was amazing! As usual we had our buttler Fatima, excellent attention, always there when we needed it, the mexican racoon had my wife crazy. Our concierge Miriam with cool tattoos, also top notch service, since arriving, she...

We arrived january 15th to joia iberostar and as always have been, all was amazing! As usual we had our buttler Fatima, excellent attention, always there when we needed it, the mexican racoon had my wife crazy. Our concierge Miriam with cool tattoos, also top notch service, since arriving, she introduced herself and helped us through everything we needed at the very beggining, so charming. Definetely a experience we would do again all times posibles. Thanks iberostar joia well se you again soon :)

We have just returned home after two weeks in "paradise". As we reflect on our 17 visits to Joia Paraiso Grand, it’s clear that this resort holds a special place in our hearts. Each stay is a reminder of the exceptional service, beautiful surroundings, and unforgettable experiences that have made...

We have just returned home after two weeks in "paradise". As we reflect on our 17 visits to Joia Paraiso Grand, it’s clear that this resort holds a special place in our hearts. Each stay is a reminder of the exceptional service, beautiful surroundings, and unforgettable experiences that have made it our preferred destination time and time again. The consistency in quality and the ever-evolving amenities ensure that we always look forward to our next visit with great anticipation. In conclusion, our latest stay at Joia Paraiso Grand by Iberostar was nothing short of extraordinary. It reaffirmed why we keep returning to this paradise, each time finding new reasons to fall in love with it all over again. Special thanks to incredible hard working people like Mala, Carlos together with their teem.

Our stay in Iberostar Joia Paraiso was amazing and impressive. The level of care and attention to the minimal details is astonishing. The hotel premises ( starcafe , restaurant, and spa etc. ) are sophisticated and cozy. Our very special thanks to our hotel concierge agent Lubasha - she is...

Our stay in Iberostar Joia Paraiso was amazing and impressive. The level of care and attention to the minimal details is astonishing. The hotel premises ( starcafe , restaurant, and spa etc. ) are sophisticated and cozy. Our very special thanks to our hotel concierge agent Lubasha - she is very kind and was attentive and aware of our needs - she supplied us with all important information and guide us throughout our stay. thanks!!!

This was our seventh vacation at JOIA Paraiso. As usual we were warmly welcomed and luggage delivered to our garden view room in short order. We generally spend our days at the quiet pool, relaxing. There are both lounge chairs and day beds available under individual shade pergolas, however the...

This was our seventh vacation at JOIA Paraiso. As usual we were warmly welcomed and luggage delivered to our garden view room in short order. We generally spend our days at the quiet pool, relaxing. There are both lounge chairs and day beds available under individual shade pergolas, however the lounge chairs are always snapped up first. A few mornings there were none left by 7 am. Clearly the lounge chairs are preferred over the day beds. If possible, it would be helpful if Management could give careful consideration to providing more lounge chairs and eliminating the day beds. This appears to be what has happened at the main pool. Guests with mobility limitations avoid the day beds. Unfortunately there continues to be the problem with guests saving pool chairs and leaving them unused for a considerable length of time. In some cases guests must put a personal item and towels out in the night. On the positive side, a visit to JOIA Paraiso wouldn’t be complete without a warm smile and friendly hug from Mirna at the pool. Adriana looked after our drink orders at the quiet pool with friendly efficiency. The new Star Café near the lobby is a welcome addition, although we didn’t mind a short walk in the morning to the Star Café at Paraiso Maya next door. Breakfast and the occasional lunch were at Bellavista buffet. Never a disappointment. Especially knowing that we will be looked after by friendly staff like Cecelia. In the evenings we ate at Venecia (Italian), L’Atelier (French), Ember (steak house) and Legado (Mexican). Service was excellent throughout however special mention to our server, Reyes and Chef Jessica, in Legado, who went above and beyond to make our meal and evening a memorable one.

My wife and I have just returned from a rather cool/cold cloudy week at JOIA Paraiso. This was not a problem for us ( the staff were more challenged) and in fact we enjoyed a fantastic week. For 30 years we have travelled to this area of Mexico ( and...

My wife and I have just returned from a rather cool/cold cloudy week at JOIA Paraiso. This was not a problem for us ( the staff were more challenged) and in fact we enjoyed a fantastic week. For 30 years we have travelled to this area of Mexico ( and other areas in the Caribbean) and watched the Mayan Riviera develop. We moved up through the resort 'hierarchy' over those years and lately have been staying at Excellence and Secrets resorts. We see a noticeable trend as resorts cut back on what they offer as they move to control costs. If you visit the same resort over a number of years this becomes obvious. Our last trip was to an over priced Secrets in the Dominican Republic. We returned home very disappointed. In searching for this trip we read about the new developments ( JOIA) at the Grand. We had stayed once before in 2019 and enjoyed it. In our view the JOIA Paraiso is on a mission to excel and overtake other premium resorts that have become over confident. Our comments by category: The people Reviews of every resort rave about the staff. We have been to dozens of other resorts and report that best staff we have ever encountered are at this resort. They engage with you and lift you up. They are proud of their resort and want to ensure you are having the best vacation possible. Every single encounter with a member of the staff was 125%. Even at 0400 in the morning after very messed up flights the gentleman on the front desk made us laugh and the drive to the room was upbeat. The resort Right on the beach! Close to 50% of the rooms are ON THE BEACH. The resort layout is beautiful and immaculate. Some may find the interior décor in the main building rather ornate but we found it inspiring and took pictures every night. Amazing! The guest rooms may be 17 years old but they are spacious, attractive, comfortable and everything works perfectly. Bathroom is over the top. Newer resorts can't compete. The housekeeping is the best we have ever had. Every detail, twice a day is attended to. Could not ask for anything more. The food We care about food and we care about the ambience in the restaurants. JOIA makes evening meals a special occasion. Wonderful , well presented food by well trained and knowledgeable staff. Carefully planned menus. The décor and room layouts far exceed or equal almost every other resort . The buffet is open for three meals a day. Fantastic! Theme nights add interest. Bright, open and attractive location. Equal to or better than the best buffets at any resort we have been to. Endless choices and high quality top end options. Yes, buffets always suffer with keeping food hot but Joi does make a serious effort. Pools and Beach As stated above we had a cold week and folks were reluctant to take off their sweatshirts and jump in. The last day the heat and sun returned and suntan cream was required. Folks were in the water. Pools and beach were all you could ask for. The activity team worked the pool and beach taking the time to chat with everyone and bring on a smile. Front desk team Who ever talks about the folks on the front desk? As a long retired accountant I appreciate the folks who work behind the scenes and also deal with your booking and room issues. I met some wonderful folks who were beyond helpful and you will meet a few of them in the attached pictures. Conclusion It seems to us that JOIA Paraiso is striving to be the best in Mexico. The effort was obvious to us. A beautiful and perfectly maintained property We are now no longer searching for where our next trip will be. We will just return. You can read a zillion other details in all the other positive reviews . We really just wanted to say that on a cool week that this resort and its staff made us feel warm and appreciated. We had a great week and we thank you. The folks in the attached pictures make the difference. There are many others but you will get the idea.

Cynthia, the Zumba instructor, was so incredible! She’s so fun, supportive and brings high energy fun!! The entire resort has been a great experience with high quality service, food and cleanliness. They take food allergies very seriously and are very accommodating.

This is our second time at this resort and we couldnt be happier. The entertainment staff - Mala, Bede, Luis, Viedma, Carlos were so fun and made us feel so special. Every member of the staff is so friendly and does their best to make your stay as great as...

This is our second time at this resort and we couldnt be happier. The entertainment staff - Mala, Bede, Luis, Viedma, Carlos were so fun and made us feel so special. Every member of the staff is so friendly and does their best to make your stay as great as possible. Manuel, Rodegio and Eli at the pool bar always took great care of us. We rode the waterslides everyday and went to the beach. There is so much wildlife and the grounds are stunning. There is not one thing we would change. We are already planning our next visit back.

We booked the Villa Suite at Joia Paraíso by Iberostar in Cancún and got an incredible deal. The booking process was smooth, with only a slight hiccup upon arrival — there was no one immediately available at the airport to greet us. However, the staff quickly arranged our private transportation...

We booked the Villa Suite at Joia Paraíso by Iberostar in Cancún and got an incredible deal. The booking process was smooth, with only a slight hiccup upon arrival — there was no one immediately available at the airport to greet us. However, the staff quickly arranged our private transportation without issue. When we arrived at the resort, the check-in experience was outstanding. We were warmly welcomed, seated near the reception area, and served a delicious welcome drink. The check-in process was seamless, and our room was ready for us upon arrival, which was a pleasant surprise. Our villa was stunning. Right outside the door, two iguanas seemed to be guarding the entrance — a fun, tropical touch. The villa came with complimentary bikes for exploring the property, and a beautiful private walkway led to our secluded pool and patio area. Inside, the villa featured an open-concept layout with a relaxing hammock, a spacious bedroom, and a semi-kitchen area. The bathroom was luxurious, with double sinks and an elegant design. Overall, the villa was breathtaking and exceeded our expectations — absolutely worth it. There were a couple of minor setbacks. We had difficulty logging into the resort app at first, which we later realized was under the secondary guest’s name. Once resolved, the app worked fine, though we found its functionality a bit limited. For example, beverage service couldn’t be ordered to our villa through the app — apparently, that’s only available for beachside rooms. This was disappointing, as we had to call in for room service every time we wanted a drink, and the minibar wasn’t customizable through the app either. Despite this, the staff more than made up for it. Our butlers, Ana and Adrián, were exceptional — always attentive, proactive with communication, and quick to provide anything we needed. Martín from room service also stood out for his top-notch service. At the lobby bar, Estohanie was a delight, and Alfonso at the steakhouse made our dining experience memorable. One suggestion for improvement: It would have been helpful to receive a welcome checklist or questionnaire upon arrival, especially with the villa-level service. A quick inquiry about our minibar preferences — such as favorite snacks or drinks — would have elevated the experience even more. For example, we don’t drink beer, and some of the juices provided weren’t to our taste. That said, Joia Paraíso is a phenomenal resort. With access to nearby properties, scenic paths, and the local mall, there’s plenty to explore by bike or on foot. The nature, wildlife, beach, and incredible staff make it well worth every penny. Highly recommended — we would absolutely return.

The staff, the grounds, pools, rooms and food were all exceptional. We were constantly asked if we required anything or if any improvements could be made. Special shout out to Sacnite for ensuring we got the room we wanted. Thank you Joia, it was fantastic

We visited once again 8 nights at this fantastic resort in March 2025 where a 5 star is truly well deserved relative to many resorts we have stayed at. The restaurants excellent food and service. We enjoyed many of the night shows, but the staff are really welcoming and do...

We visited once again 8 nights at this fantastic resort in March 2025 where a 5 star is truly well deserved relative to many resorts we have stayed at. The restaurants excellent food and service. We enjoyed many of the night shows, but the staff are really welcoming and do their utmost to please and fulfill every and any request. our butler this time was Karolina who made sure that all our needs were taken care of - very professionally and fun to have with us on our wing. We were served by a host of servers that deserve complements yet a very special THANK YOU to Cesar at the gourmet restaurant L'Atelier - we hope to see him again and again on every visit. Thanks again to club team Iberostar JOIA

The JOIA in Riviera Maya has been the most amazing trip we have ever taken. We came for a few days this month for a friend’s wedding and upgraded to the JOIA and couldn’t be happier that we did. Transfer to JOIA was so easy and safe. Check in was...

The JOIA in Riviera Maya has been the most amazing trip we have ever taken. We came for a few days this month for a friend’s wedding and upgraded to the JOIA and couldn’t be happier that we did. Transfer to JOIA was so easy and safe. Check in was a breeze. Our room was absolutely perfect, clean, cool, and stocked with everything we needed. Right on the beautiful beach!!! Our butler, Gustavo, was a highlight of our trip. He was so friendly and attentive to us. Whatever we needed, we had it. The buffet is one of the best places I have ever eaten, and Ember steakhouse was phenomenal. We also really enjoyed the hibachi restaurant. The pool was beautiful and quiet, the spa was relaxing, and the gym was great although small. The lobby bar was exceptional. Being able to go to all of the properties was so fun- Lindo pool was great, the galaxy club was so much fun, and we even got beautiful tattoos at Del Mar! The only complaint I would make is the restaurants did take a long time to get food out… I’m talking about an hour each time… - but hey, you’re on vacation so you need to be a little lenient! We will absolutely stay at the JOIA again, and cannot wait!!! I will recommend this resort to anyone!

This resort is by far our favorite of all the resorts we have stayed at on the Riviera Maya. We were there for 14 days of peace, relaxation and great food and it did not disappoint. We spent most of our time at the beach - when we were there...

This resort is by far our favorite of all the resorts we have stayed at on the Riviera Maya. We were there for 14 days of peace, relaxation and great food and it did not disappoint. We spent most of our time at the beach - when we were there the beach and water were crystal clear, always a chair to be had, lots of towels and good beach bar service. We also loved the use of the spa pool and facilities, Quiet Pool and the other pools of neighbouring resorts. The Food and **NOEMI** (She is a TOP NOTCH FIVE STAR EMPLOYEE) We are Vegan and we were worried but we were treated and ate like Royalty!! Noemi hands down made this vacation extra special for us(I miss her). Always there at meals to ask us if there was anything special we would like to eat, suggestions and surprises. No amount of compliments can describe how incredible the meals that she and all the chefs prepared for us over the 14 days - For this alone we will come back. If you are worried about dietary restrictions, don't, just ask and you will be taken good care of. Chef Aldahir - Pastry - Made us the best vegan caramel sauce and treats. Chef Carlos - Japanese - WOW! He made us feel so special in his restaurant and the food was always amazing! Chef Irving, Chef Federico, Chef Gammaliel, Chef Yoari, Chef angel, Chef Oscar - Servers - Carlos, Neri, Juquin and Josue were outstanding along with hostess Michel. How do they have so much talent in one place! 5 star ***** The room was always kept clean and comfy, loved the soaker tub and pillow options. The staff always greeted us warmly and with a smile no matter where we were on the resort. One of the groundkeepers stood out to us, I think his name was Darwin, so sweet and a great smile and Tomas(building 70). We loved that this resort is eco friendly. No plastic water bottles, straws, single use plastic etc. Thank you JOIA Paraiso and all the staff - We'll see you again :) *I would like to suggest more loungers at the Quiet Pool instead of day beds.

Once again a wonderful vacation at JOIA Paraiso. This was our fourth trip to the resort and will definitely not be the last. Pros: The staff is absolutely amazing. Everyone is helpful and friendly and you could not ask for better service. Everyone at the lobby bar, especially Antonio and...

Once again a wonderful vacation at JOIA Paraiso. This was our fourth trip to the resort and will definitely not be the last. Pros: The staff is absolutely amazing. Everyone is helpful and friendly and you could not ask for better service. Everyone at the lobby bar, especially Antonio and Daniel, make wonderful drinks and make your time there fly by. The Star Prestige staff is top notch, servers at the restaurants, pool bar, Star Prestige beach were all amazing. The food is excellent. Great variety and the quality of food is amazing. Rooms are spacious, beds are very comfortable and quiet. Cons(and not really but things that could improve) The towel game at the Star Prestige beach was ridiculous. They need to enforce the 2 hour rule like other JOIA Iberostar properties we have been at. My wife and I would go to the beach at 8 a.m. and only 2 or 3 daybeds available and we would stay until 1 p.m. and over half the "reserved beds" were still not occupied. The app to contact the butler. We were told this trip to just use the Iberostar app and chat from there. First 2 requests were answered and the next 2 completely ignored. One day our minibar was not restocked. Messaged through the app, still nothing. Stopped at the Star Prestige to let them know, and it wasn't restocked. Not sure how we got missed but not having water is a big deal.

We were somewhat apprehensive of the "Legado" Mexican Restaurant especially since it had a new menu. We shared these concerns with Restaurant Manager Janeth upon our arrival. She reviewed the menu with us and pointed out her favorites. Norberto took our drink order and Janeth returned with Chef Angel who...

We were somewhat apprehensive of the "Legado" Mexican Restaurant especially since it had a new menu. We shared these concerns with Restaurant Manager Janeth upon our arrival. She reviewed the menu with us and pointed out her favorites. Norberto took our drink order and Janeth returned with Chef Angel who not only gave us recommendations but also told us how the pair the various menu items together. First was guacamole. Not the normal pot of green. A beautifully arranged plate of guacamole with radish roses, tiny cherry tomatoes and an array of baby greens served with 3 large chips. Next was five large shrimp with black garlic aoli and a spicy Chipotle sauce. The meal continued with marrow bone and braised beef short ribs that the chef said worked well together on a tortilla. Each was beautifully garnished and every item had a special sauce. Roasted cauliflower was served on delicious hummus. Our waiter Norberto brought each of our choices in a timed succession which allowed us to savor every bite. We concluded our meal with a shared strawberry dessert tamale and lava cake with ice cream. All in all it was a lot of food and the truth is without Chef Angel recommendations we might have order a totally different dinner. We hope you try all of the unusual and delicious choices on the new Legado menu. Thank you Janeth, Norberto and Chef Angel for an unforgettable meal.

Based on reviews I had very high expectations coming in, and full disclosure - that may be a part of the issue. I’ll break down my review individually; Food: 2/10. I left this resort so hungry and ready for a good meal. I get everyone has different salt preferences but...

Based on reviews I had very high expectations coming in, and full disclosure - that may be a part of the issue. I’ll break down my review individually; Food: 2/10. I left this resort so hungry and ready for a good meal. I get everyone has different salt preferences but if you don’t season your food, provide me salt. Every restaurant was disappointing. Every day was the same options at the buffet. A wide selection but all mediocre. The only notable thing I ate was the bone marrow at the Mexican restaurant. It was very good. What I can’t speak to is the desserts or sweet offerings, because of my required diet (medically). I’ll also say the Japanese restaurant was decent, which in the grand scheme of things - is a high mark. Outdoor activities: 2/10. Almost the same activities everyday. Bingo, throw a ball through some large object, etc etc. Why can’t pool volleyball before then 30-45 mins? It’s vacation. We’re not toddlers, we don’t need constant structure. The options to be active were not great. The days we were there it was red flag everyday so no water activities. Not their fault on that, but still disappointing. Drinks: 8/10. Extensive available high end offerings. Mixing was hit or miss, but the craft bar was excellent. Consistently. Events/shows: 2/10. Some were literally insufferable. The fire show had LED glow sticks and less fire. It was just underwhelming. The musical was so bad we left. I’ve been to WAY better shows at much cheaper resorts. The other lobby “entertainment” offerings were also rough. Who’s sitting and sipping a drink while listening to a trumpet? Flutes, lame but still ok. Golf: probably good and presumably drawing a large number of people based on what we saw. Social side: 2/10. We are in our late 30’s and early 40’s. Generally we make a friend or two on vacation but the overwhelming numbers were people much older than us, or in groups - so socializing together. If you want to drink at the pool bar with friends (who came with you) all day, then this is probably a decent resort choice for you. Room/grounds: 8/10. Room was clean, view was good, services were good. Always seeing people cleaning, pruning, the grounds are meticulously maintained. Spa: 1/10. Honestly, depends on who you get, always but my massage was effectively a beat down. Despite repeated asks to reduce pressure, she never asked about pressure but after my complaint, never adjusted to my requests. The spa pool was pretty though. I can say definitively I will not be back. For a “premier”, “luxury” line - it just didn’t meet my expectations. I frankly feel like 3 stars is being generous.

Got to witness the new tables & chairs being unpackaged at Bella Vista for outside dining-asked all over where Myrna was located-finally someone said she was a butler in the main building and there she was-just doesn't seem the same without her personality around the pool-food was great-room was great-all...

Got to witness the new tables & chairs being unpackaged at Bella Vista for outside dining-asked all over where Myrna was located-finally someone said she was a butler in the main building and there she was-just doesn't seem the same without her personality around the pool-food was great-room was great-all good but for a couple of days of seaweed on the shore-people like Dennis-Ilse-Paulina-Nubia-Marco-Lorena-America -Naeomi-Elizabeth-Karolina-Lucas-Gonzalo-and many many others will make your stay-----GRAND----

My husband and I are Iberostar loyalists and stayed at this beautiful resort last May, loved it so much and could not wait to come back this year. However, unfortunately, so far our experience here has not been the same. Started with a longer wait than usual for check in...

My husband and I are Iberostar loyalists and stayed at this beautiful resort last May, loved it so much and could not wait to come back this year. However, unfortunately, so far our experience here has not been the same. Started with a longer wait than usual for check in when there were only one couple ahead of us, followed by lack of service for our room amenities. Could not get water nor Kleenex for our room for many hours!! Had to keep asking the concierge outside our suite. Service in the dinning room is also very slow. Getting coffee refills for breakfast was rather challenging. Seems like lack of staff working. Hopefully our next 8 days will improve.

Once again I am writing my review before our trip is completed. It is for those of you that are still on the fence, deciding whether or not to pick this hotel for your unforgettable trip to Caribbean. I personally have a full trust in this hotel, so my choice...

Once again I am writing my review before our trip is completed. It is for those of you that are still on the fence, deciding whether or not to pick this hotel for your unforgettable trip to Caribbean. I personally have a full trust in this hotel, so my choice was easy. My wife, on the other hand, reads a lot of review. Sometimes she reads them to me and some of those register in your mind even when you do not want it. So, here is my unsolicited opinion. I am very happy we chose the Iberostar JOIA PARAISO! For us, we could not find any changes for worse. Nothing! Management? As busy as they are, they will stop in the middle of their way and talk with you, giving all of their attention and listening to your concerns and suggestions. The resolutions are quick and effective! And you know what? Once you meet them, they will remember you, even from the last year. Thank you, Mario, Denis and Ilsa! You never made feel unwelcome and never treated us as clients, but more like a family! Personnel? As friendly as they can be! They remember you personally and even your preferences! Thank you Leslie and your Team of Star Prestige! You managed to get us in the room prior to check in time and the location of the room is just perfect! Food and drinks? Plentiful! One of the reviews said they saw a change in the menus and less variety than before. Well, that is not our experience! Breakfasts and lunches at the buffet offer lots of different choices. I just spoke with the Food Concierge Noemi ( a very sweet and friendly person) and together we estimated that for today’s lunch they offered more than 80 different entries, salads, fruits and pastries. I think it’s more than that, but did not want to count them. Meat, fish, poultry, burgers, cheeses - they got it all. File mignon for lunch - you got it! So, no changes there, only good ones. And personnels working at the restaurants? They remember you and greet you like an old friend! Thank you Felix, Alberto, Leonardo, Josue and many others, old friends and new ones! We are happy to see you, and we feel welcomed here. We have scheduled the Chef’s Experience with Yadir tomorrow and can’t wait to see our old friend again. Bars? I am not sure, since I only stop there for a coffee, not for alcohol. But they are always busy! And variety on the shelves is impressive! Hotel grounds and rooms Always clean and taken care of. Rooms are cleaned daily and feel fresh and clean. No bugs, no mold, no stale smells. Our cleaning lady Alondra was finishing our room before we come for lunch and did a great job. Beach. Recent storms brought some seaweeds but it is cleaned daily. The beach right in front of JOIA is not the best, but only 100 feet to the left it is really good. There was only a small hiccup at the sauna with temperature below my low, but I was explained that some clients before us put excessive amount of water on the rocks and it ruined the heating elements. It works, but not at full capacity. And a new element has been ordered. As you can see, I can write a novella about this place, but that is not my intention. I am writing this review to give my personal opinion. Can you fings you don’t like? You may. Can you not find the food that was there last year but not today? I think you may. But you can always ask for help and a substitute will be provided, if possible. My honest advice - always seek resolution, not a reason for a conflict! OK, I think it is time for me to head to the beach now. I know, I missing names and issues, but I am limited in this review. See you here!

We have been enjoying Iberostar vacations along the Riviera Maya for over twenty years. This was our second time to the JOIA (recently renamed from the Grand). My wife and I were celebrating our wedding anniversary, just the two of us. I am thankful to Yaska who helped arrange for...

We have been enjoying Iberostar vacations along the Riviera Maya for over twenty years. This was our second time to the JOIA (recently renamed from the Grand). My wife and I were celebrating our wedding anniversary, just the two of us. I am thankful to Yaska who helped arrange for a beautiful flower arrangement to be in our room upon arrival, and she was very helpful as our concierge, too. We also appreciated the service of Rogelio and Victor as we spent every day on the beach under a palapa. My only suggestion is to bring back group tennis in some fashion with or without a tennis instructor so that solo tennis players who are staying at Iberostar can find someone to play tennis. We had a very enjoyable time during our stay with the beach, the food, and the entertainment.

Hi Trip Advisor community! Just got back yesterday from the JOIA Paraiso by Iberostar. Our first visit to this property. Couldn't wait to get my review on here. As always, I'll try to give you the most important information you will need that will help you decide if this property...

Hi Trip Advisor community! Just got back yesterday from the JOIA Paraiso by Iberostar. Our first visit to this property. Couldn't wait to get my review on here. As always, I'll try to give you the most important information you will need that will help you decide if this property is for you or not. I think reviews should give more info than just shout outs to staff because they make great daquiris (which is an important thing too, don't get me wrong!) But reviews need to have details and insights about other things, too. I hope this review helps you. Sit back, grab a drink and get reading! First thing - this resort used to be called the Iberostar Grand Paraiso. It is now JOIA Paraiso by Iberostar. But it's the same property so when you see previous reviews about the Grand, that's this spot. LOCATION: It's about 25 minutes (give or take traffic) from Cancun airport to JOIA. It's in a gated community alongside four other Iberostars. NOTE #1: About those four other resorts: the four other Iberostars are family friendly, but don't worry about this. You can use all their facilities but they are not permitted to come over to the JOIA side. Best of both worlds. It's a large complex but you can hitch a ride on a golf cart to take you around if you feel like checking out the other properties. This also gives you a wider range of dining options. So it's a good thing. ARRIVAL: We were greeted warmly with a cold towel and a lovely drink that, to this day, I have no idea what it was. Guess I could have asked! But it was good. Check in was speedy. NOTE #2: I'd emailed the resort about two weeks prior with a couple of special room requests. Got them. Thank you to the staff who paid attention to my email! Greatly appreciated. Upon check in, you have to pay a resort fee. It's a very small fee similar to hotel tax (well, I guess that's what it is, a hotel tax!) It's about 14 U.S. for the week. So be prepared for that. They'll attach a lovely little bracelet to your arm. This is your room key. Beats shuffling around in your beach bag to find a card key. Bellmen (sorry, never quite sure what to call them) will escort you and your bags to your room. RESORT VIBE: The look and feel of this magnificent resort can only be described as "over the top gorgeous." Seriously, even the bathrooms off the lobby are over the top. The resort was built in 2007 but you wouldn't know it. It looks brand new. It sparkles. Everything is clean and shiny. It's well maintained. Clearly, a great deal of attention to detail happens here. The architecture reminds me of an Italian resort rather than a Mexican one. I'll attach photos and you'll see. Be prepared to be really impressed with the indoor atrium just off the lobby. That's a big "wow" moment. I'll definitely attach a photo of that. ROOM: We booked a gardenview/jungleview suite, and it was lovely. The king bed was comfortable, air conditioning worked perfectly (but we hardly heard it) and the balcony had a wood floor, swinging chair as well as a long bench with pillows on it. You also get a Nespresso machine, tea, and a bar containing the usual suspects - pop, water, beer, juice, etc. Oh, and a white wine! Thank you JOIA, for recognizing that not all of us like beer! Little touches matter, don't they? PROPERTY: This property is gorgeous, well maintained and clean as a whistle. Manicured gardens surrounded by tropical rainforest, a spotless main pool with Jacuzzis and lots of loungers. NOTE #3: No chair game here. Another bonus! You don't have to get up at the crack of dawn to get a decent lounge chair by the pool. Big shout out to all the other considerate guests that were there the same week as us! They play music at the main pool, but nothing obnoxious. Nice easy listening music with occasional live musicians. There is a quiet pool as well, and this is pure heaven. It's quiet and has a lot of Bali beds for you to rest and relax. There is also towel service there of course. BEACH: Might as well get the bad news over with now ... NOTE #4: Yes, it was seaweed city for most of our week. Funny thing - first two days, hardly any. Then on day three we woke up to a massive pile of it, so it obviously came in with the tide overnight. They work hard to clean it, but it's a hard thing to stay on top of. Tractors go back and forth all day doing their best. Please - don't blame the resort and don't blame your travel agent. Blame Mother Nature. But ... the good news is this: the beach is wide and long and you can walk it. The sand is white, powdery soft and beautiful. Most of the days were red flag days, meaning the water was quite rough with large waves. Beautiful to look at, but honestly, don't go in too far! The lifeguards are not tyrants! They keep a close watch, but will blow the whistle if you venture out too far. During our week, we witnessed the lifeguards pulling a couple of people back to safety because they'd swam out too far. A bit of a tense moment. You can go in, but stay close to shore. A big shout out to the lifeguards who work that beach and keep everyone safe. RESTAURANTS: As with all my reviews, I'm not going to get into the "this restaurant was our favourite!!" or "we didn't like that!" because food is subjective. What I like, you may not like. I will say is this, though: there is enough variety to keep everyone happy, and if you have a dish you don't particularly care for, order something else! It's not rocket science, so please don't write a horrible review because you may have gotten an overcooked steak one night, or a salad that didn't have enough cucumbers in it for your liking the next night. You get my drift here. The people in these restaurants work so hard to give you a great dining experience. There is so much to choose from, including the beautiful breakfast & lunch buffets. Room service is also included in your stay. We didn't try it so I can't comment on it. I guess I should have at least looked at the menu ... sorry. Honourable Mentions: -- NY Steak and guacamole at the Mexican restaurant -- Passionfruit daquiris -- Beef carpaccio and spicy rigatoni a la vodka in the Italian No reservations for any a la carte dinners, which is also a bonus. Go wherever you feel like going (after thinking about it over a cocktail at the lobby bar, naturally!) EXTRAS! YES, YOU READ THAT RIGHT: This resort offers things for guests that many others do not: -- Bali beds are included. You don't have to pay extra or reserve one. First come, first served. -- Red and white wine included in the room, as well as a bottle of Mezcal. -- The hydrotherapy spa pool is included. -- Lots of toiletries, including a loofah and bath salts. Nice! -- A pair of sandals. *** A COUPLE OF FINAL IMPORTANT ITEMS *** -- If you like loud, rowdy foam parties in the pool or "drink till you drop" tequila competitions, DO NOT COME HERE. This resort is not for you. -- If you're planning a big thing like a bachelor party or looking to meet singles and do some loud partying, DO NOT COME HERE. This resort is not for you. There are other resort options that are more suited for those kinds of gathering. -- If you like upscale, quiet elegance, COME HERE. This resort is for you. -- PLEASE be kind and tip the staff. They work hard, and they deserve it. A big thank you to all the staff at JOIA who went above and beyond and were so great to deal with. You are great ambassadors for this resort. I think that about covers it, except the final question: WILL WE GO BACK? Absolutely. We're planning the next visit to JOIA right now as we speak (er, type!) This is a new favourite. So, if you're sitting on the fence about booking, it's time to get off the fence and book this resort. If you've already chosen it, bravo! Get ready to have a wonderful week in Riviera Maya. You've made a very good choice. I hope you have found this review and my photos helpful. If you have any further questions or concerns, feel free to drop me a line any time. I wish you all great travels, no matter where your passport takes you! Sue

We have booked our next visit - of particular note for this review is that we travel extensively and have NEVER returned to a hotel, usually wanting to try something new… but this one has us coming back for seconds. The property is everything you hope for when you book...

We have booked our next visit - of particular note for this review is that we travel extensively and have NEVER returned to a hotel, usually wanting to try something new… but this one has us coming back for seconds. The property is everything you hope for when you book a 5-star adults-only all-inclusive. It is expansive, beautiful, and offers many options. Highlights for me included the coatis, spa pool, the quiet pool, the mangrove walk to the property over where there is a lazy river. Our room (lowest category) was superb and we enjoyed the walk to get anywhere we wanted. Our favourite restaurant was the steak house - each of our two servers exceeded expectations. The floor concierge attended to our two requests. The front desk, coffee bar, and bellhops all meet 5-star expectations. The only negative thing I can say about this resort has to do with the specialty restaurants (except steak house - excellent, and Japanese - we didn’t visit.) The Italian had the WORST food; it was almost comical how bad it was. And the Mexican fajitas were sadly pure fat/grissle. The service at both however was impeccable. We didn’t complain about the food because I didn’t believe it would be any better if we did. Oh, and, a surprise at the buffet has made for some very fun storytelling at home: we arrived early for buffet lunch and they were still putting out the food, and not all the labels were out either. I foolishly took an item that wasn’t labeled. I should have realized that this chocolate & pistachio item was suspect since it wasn’t with the desserts. It turned out to be fois gras dipped in chocolate (?!?!) which I did NOT enjoy. I took a photo (attached) once the label was put out - notice two pieces are missing and my guess is that that other person also took it before the label was placed. (Joia didn’t do anything wrong, and I learned to know better what I put in my mouth.)

Overall a great experience with a few reservations. First of all the staff was fantastic. Aiming to please and professional. The resort is spotless and very well maintained. Our room was spacious and quiet. Food was very good for an all inclusive with multiple choices. The Italian was the weakest...

Overall a great experience with a few reservations. First of all the staff was fantastic. Aiming to please and professional. The resort is spotless and very well maintained. Our room was spacious and quiet. Food was very good for an all inclusive with multiple choices. The Italian was the weakest of the a la carte restaurants. The buffet options were extensive especially for breakfast. The beach was beautiful but as pointed out by multiple reviews rocky to right. Need to walk left to avoid. Liked the golf course. Great condition but not easy. Lost 8 balls in 3 rounds. Pickleball courts were new and nice but no way of getting a game unless you brought players. Luis from the recreation staff did recruit one of his fellow staff members to play against my wife and I and is hoping to set up a sign up option. One caveat is when booking hotel on general Iberostar number no one seems to have correct information. I am not sure whether it is the language or poor management of the reservation agents. Nevertheless we would come back.

We read the reviews for JOIA in Travelocity prior to going and we had hesitation--primarily the reviews pertaining to the age of the hotel. When we arrived, we were not bothered by the age in the particular section where we stayed because it was so well maintained, the ocean view...

We read the reviews for JOIA in Travelocity prior to going and we had hesitation--primarily the reviews pertaining to the age of the hotel. When we arrived, we were not bothered by the age in the particular section where we stayed because it was so well maintained, the ocean view was amazing and JOIA is so big (the newer part of the hotel was excellent). Super important about this hotel: The cleaning, bar, restaurant and coffee barista staff were AMAZING. They worked so hard to ensure that we were taken care of and they treated with so much respect. Service is very important to us, and the reason why our stay was good is only because of this part of the staff. With this said, the negative aspect: The 'butlers' at the hotel had to be reminded to have our room cleaned; they weren't helpful with getting us restaurant reservations; they weren't knowledgeable about the other hotels within the complex. Our experience with this part of the staff was poor. We did not feel like we were getting 'above and beyond' service. Again, I want to stress that the cleaning staff for our room was excellent. Aside from this, nothing compares to the worst part of our stay---we went to the concierge to ask for information about the other hotels, to get an idea of how to navigate around the complex. We were given a map and tips about what to see, including the shopping area that has the best crepes. We were encouraged to get a better understanding of Iberostar by participating in what was essentially a time share breakfast. We made it clear that we wanted nothing to do with time shares. The young lady said it was no obligation to attend if we changed our minds. On the day that we were to attend the session, we received 3 urgent separate calls, which woke us up at 7:30am by a man who said we was calling to remind us of our appointment, My husband replied that we changed our mind and decided to not attend. He also told the man that he woke us up with the repeated calls. The response was "oh, this is REALLY BAD" followed by a phone hang up. This left us absolutely shocked. We didn't know what to make of the extreme rudeness and disrespect. I called the front desk and asked to speak with a manger, the person who answered ignored my request and asked me what I needed. I told him about the call and asked if we were going to be penalized. He sounded annoyed and asked if I just wanted to cancel the tour. I said that I did, and he said that was fine. The night prior to us leaving, we were sitting in the balcony area, enjoying our last evening on the beautiful ocean view. The phone once again started ringing over and over until we ran to pick up only to be told that our meeting time at the lobby was at 9am so that we can check out the next morning. I asked to be picked up at 9:15 because we wouldn't be picked up by our shuttle until 9:30. I was then scolded and told that we had to do a proper check out and he reluctantly agreed to 9:15. Again, very rude treatment. I felt like he was doing me a favor by allowing us to stay a few minutes later. To sum this up, we have zero issue with paying higher prices for hotel stays because we want above and beyond guest service. Our stay was not cheap by any means. Our experience by the above particular staff members left a lot to be desired.