JOIA Paraiso by Iberostar - Adults Only All Inclusive Resort

JOIA Paraíso by Iberostar, Playa Paraiso, Riviera Maya: August 15 – August 20, 2026 (5 nights, Room 7331) Pre-review Notes: We are a married, middle-aged couple that has visited Mexico all-inclusive resorts more than 25 times. We’ve been writing Tripadvisor reviews to help ourselves navigate and choose the correct vacation options for us. We hope this review helps you too. This was our first visit to Joia. We booked directly from the Joia resort website and received private roundtrip ground transportation from/to the airport. I regularly read many of the most recent reviews on Tripadvisor prior to booking our trips to Mexico. Expedia rates Joia a 9.4 out of 10 (~1,000 reviews) and Tripadvisor rates the property a 4.7 out of 5 (from ~10,300 reviews). Prior to the start of this booking Joia had sent multiple emails asking if we wanted to pick a specific room (all room choices were at additional cost). We also received an email stating “We want your experience to be the best it can be and we are paying attention to every detail. Please complete the form within the following link to know your tastes, preferences and specific needs. This will help us make your stay at JOIA Paraíso by Iberostar unforgettable.” I clicked on the link and sent our arrival drink preferences (Margaritas on rocks, tajin, etc.). How it began: Upon arrival we were greeted with a non-alcoholic welcome drink and some snacks, so a little disappointed after asking for our preferences then not meeting them. Check-in time was reasonably quick as we received our bracelet style room keys, verified passports, and paid the required Mexico mandated fees. Then meeting with the employee to make reservations for Gala night (the only required reservation other than Teppanyaki) at the buffet took more than 30 minutes as the representative seemed a little socially starved and wanted to tell us about his hobbies. I cut the conversation short once the representative wanted to talk about a club or timeshares (I’m not sure because I wasn’t really listening at that point). We’d had already spent more than 12 hours of travel and were very ready for our room. After disengaging with the reservation representative we followed the bellman to our room only to have our room keys be non-functional. Resort Grounds: 9.7 According to Google, Hyatt Vivid PDC has 310 suits. The grounds are meticulously groomed with many flowers, palm trees, sculptures, paintings. The walkways are covered and paths are intricately decorated tile. There are stunningly beautiful wood carved doors. Gold mirrors, elaborate staircases, and a level of decoration we’ve never experienced before. The ceilings are a conglomeration of artwork to the degree we found ourselves just staring at the ceilings. The beach is above average for the area, but not exempt from mother nature and does experience sargassum like most beaches in Riviera Maya. Everywhere we ventured on property was well-maintained and clean. The Joia property is attached to a larger Iberostar group of properties that include family all-inclusive resorts, but we did not venture outside of Joia because our vacation enjoyment can be quickly decimated by the sound of screaming children. The property was easy to navigate and the pool, dining, and bar walk time from our room was very quick. Pools: 9.7 There are three main pool areas at Joia that vary in energy level. The main pool area includes a swim-up bar, an activities side closest to the beach, and large jetted tubs. Next there is a ‘quiet’ pool that is away from most any activity (with no swim-up bar). Then a lovely Spa complex that has a juice bar, jetted tubs, jetted water features, steam room, sauna, various massage options, and more. The roof to the Spa pool is glass and retractable which made for a really nice option because the sunlight exposure was limited somewhat and created a very tranquil area. Prior to our visit we expected to use the ‘quiet’ pool most, but found we spent most of our time in the main pool area due to its size, which created a nice vibe where the activity didn’t create a detrimental noise level. We could watch the activities from a distance and enjoy rather than be disrupted with splashed water or yelling. There was plenty of seating and staff brought towels to our chairs before we could find towels ourselves. Room: 8 We stayed in the Garden Suite base room type in building seven on the third floor. The third floor seemed like the second floor as the main walkway from the lobby area was level 2. We found the building layout to be a fantastic design where stairs seem minimal. The rooms are large and comfortable. There was no delivery box for room service delivery. We found the bathroom to be aesthetically beautiful but not very functional as the design weirdly splits the bathroom to two sides of a jetted tub. The bathroom split makes for a small shower (rainfall without a wand) and small non-private toilet area. The entryway to the bathroom has French doors and are just plain awkward. I’d guess the TV was around 40” in size and had several English-speaking channels, but only about 4 movie channels. There was a full table where we could eat room service and a lounger for indoor relaxation. The terrace was beautiful, had a fan, and two seating options. The room seemed to have a electronic system that alerted staff when we left the room, so the cleaning staff was able to get in and out to clean at a speed we’ve not experienced before. Turndown service was provided in the evenings too. We found ourselves wishing for a door sign to ask for no cleaning service because the speed and number of times staff was in our room unpacking our toiletry bags or placing a chocolate on our bed felt overdone to us. We realize some folks really like speedy/multiple room cleaning services, but we like our privacy and room cleaning at a rate we can control. The room included a mini bottle of reposado tequila (which we finished), a bottle of wine (which we had to ask staff to bring us a corkscrew), and included a well-stocked refrigerator, snacks, and a nespresso machine. The nespresso machine pod loading was not functional. Drinks: 8.7 The drinks at Joia are above average. We were able to order the margaritas we like at the pool or lobby bar which is notable as we’ve experienced other resorts where the ‘good’ tequila is only available at a single bar location. Joia had a anejo tequila available everywhere. I did not have prior familiarity to the specific anejo tequila prior to arrival but found Centinela Añejo to be quite good. Personally, I’d probably still choose 1800 or Don Julio anejo for my grapefruit margaritas, but shots were delicious. The house wine was also good as we found Malbec from both California and Argentina to be better than experienced at Excellence. The coffee shop in the main atrium/lobby area provided acceptable coffee, but the barista refused to make two coffees one morning. We are still puzzled by the refusal. We aren’t sure if there was a language issue or something else, but we have been to many resorts where one of us orders room service as the other makes a coffee/pastry run. Never before has a barista refused to make two coffees for an individual. Returning to the room with only one coffee wasn’t the start to the day we’d hoped for. The cerveza options were also above average as two types of Bohemia were available at various locations along with Indio and Dos Equis. Breakfast: 6.7 We ate breakfast that included room service, pastries from the coffee shop, and the buffet Bellavista. Bellavista was a beautiful area and fairly quiet in comparison to many buffets. The largest disappointment to food at Joia was the quality and variety of pastries. The pastries were small and limited in variety. We found the breakfast room service food quality to be acceptable, but a small menu lacking any Mexican options. Also, the amount of coffee provided filled 2.5 of the cups provided (1.25 cups per person). The coffee wasn’t on the breakfast menu, but had to be requested via the phone app via special request. The amount of coffee provided compounded our coffee issues after the coffee shop refusal. However, room service was received in about the time estimate provided (45 minutes) and the food quality was acceptable. The buffet breakfast experience was below our expectation too. We found the food to be average (chicken tamales were our favorite), but mostly the same pastries as the coffee shop. When being seated one morning we waited for drinks for two minutes and when no one asked for drinks we just went to the buffet. When returning with food our seats had been given to other patrons. I found one of the fresh juices I liked. I was hoping for fresh mango, but none to be found. I was excited for the salmon bagels due to the variety of salmon, but couldn’t locate a toaster. I ordered a double cappuccino and regretted the decision as it was mostly milk with a splash of espresso. There was no a la carte breakfast option at Joia. Lunch: 8.2 We had lunch at the Punta Sal Cevicheria Grill every day of our stay. We enjoyed the location of the cevicheria as it overlooked the beach and ocean. The wildlife was fun to watch, especially coatis as they performed acrobatics as they jumped from palm trees and ran past our seating location. We enjoyed several of the menu options including mussels, ceviche, fish & chips, fish tacos, steak tacos, lobster rolls and especially the smash burger tacos. The cerveza tastes better overlooking the ocean. The staff did a good job consistently. Dinner: 8.9 We ate at L’Atelier (French), Venecia (Italian), Haiku (Asian), Legado (Mexican), and Bellavista (Gala Night). We found all the a la carte restaurants to be generally above average. If there was a weak spot to be found in the a la carte restaurant options I would point to the desserts, maybe. I was expecting lamb chops at L’Atelier and they were out. Not all items were as we expected, but there was always something delicious. The buffet on Gala night was our least favorite. While the grilled lobster, lamb, and prime rib options were delicious the cheese selection was missing one of the options we were most looking forward to. Maybe the buffet just isn’t our preference? If we were to visit Joia again we would skip Gala night and be sure to visit Ember (Steak House). If the pinnacle of your all-inclusive food requirement is unlimited grilled lobster tail then Joia may be the perfect choice. Room Service: 8 Room Service at Joia was split into 3 menus by time of day for a breakfast, lunch/dinner, and late night. Order delivery was received between 45 minutes and 1.25 hours. Cutoff for the larger day menu was 11pm and orders placed just prior to the 11pm time had the longest delivery time. There was a steak option on the menu and requests for extra french fries and hot sauce were accommodated. The chocolate ice cream was my favorite dessert at Joia, but wasn’t included on the late night menu. Food Thoughts Summary: We expected a very high score for food at Joia prior to our visit. Coffee/pastries, absence of an a la carte breakfast option, and unmet buffet expectations brought down our food scores. Food Score Including Drinks: 40.5/50 or 81% (8.1 used for overall score) Entertainment/Activities: 8.1 The nightly entertainment included various musical performances and shows in the lobby/atrium area. We went to one of the shows in the theater and one in the atrium. The theater is a gorgeous venue. The variety show was mildly entertaining (unicycles, singing, hula hoops, etc.), but we were hoping to be offered entertainment more adult themed. There are many activities throughout the day such as yoga, games, music, etc. There is a Rhapsody bar for post theater activity that we did not experience. Vibe: 9 Joia is the most aesthetically beautiful resort we’ve experienced. The artwork is gorgeous. There are glass sinks in the restrooms outside the buffet. The site design makes the short walks from room to destination enjoyable. There is variation between highish to low energy levels, but the high part of the Joia scale begins where other resorts report medium energy. The room bathrooms are a hiccup in an otherwise great overall design. The inclusion of Spa pool water treatment with steam/sauna use is very relaxing. We spotted and talked to other patrons that we recognized from YouTube review videos at the breakfast buffet and made sure to say hello. The vibe rating assumes you find quiet relaxation a positive. Service: 8.5 The staff was friendly and enjoyable. The room cleaning and turndown service outpaced our needs. We had a few service hiccups, but didn’t realize how many until writing this review... Refusal of a two coffee order from the coffee shop. A lengthy >30 minute Gala night dinner reservation as part of the check-in process. Our bracelet style room keys didn’t work when we arrived at our room. A buffet table seating given to other patrons when we visited the breakfast buffet. An online form requesting our preferences that was ignored. We were both asked to fill out a survey via electronic tablet at Bellavista Gala night, not looking at each others ratings, one of us rated all ‘satisfied’ and one of us all ‘very satisfied’. The next day we received a phone call apologizing that they let us down. We didn’t feel an apology was needed at all. Demographic: By our estimation the average guest was 60 years old and middle- to upper-middle class. We had fewer conversations with other guests on this vacation when compared with others, but did speak with folks from Canada and the United States. Positives: Beautiful art. Great overall resort design. Fantastic pools. Above average food that includes lots of lobster and mussels. Anejo tequila at the pool! Negatives: Room restroom design. Service hiccups. No a la carte breakfast option. Overall Score: 61.1/70 = 87.2%

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Exceptional Service at Iberostar JOIA Riviera Maya My wife and I spent seven wonderful days at Iberostar JOIA Riviera Maya, and the experience was outstanding from beginning to end. The property is beautiful, exceptionally clean, and well maintained, but what truly made our stay memorable was the incredible service. A very special thank you to GUADALUPE, MONSERRAT, JONATHAN, and LENIN. Each of them went above and beyond throughout our entire stay. They were warm, attentive, professional, and genuinely committed to making sure we had an amazing experience. They are all a MUST-MEET during your stay! From the moment we arrived until the day we left, the hospitality was phenomenal. If you visit this resort, make sure you seek out GUADALUPE, MONSERRAT, JONATHAN, and LENIN they represent exceptional customer service and are a huge part of what makes this property special. Thank you to the entire Iberostar JOIA Riviera Maya team for making our 7 day vacation such a memorable one. We would absolutely return!

The service - this is where I want to put the emphasis on why our stay was great.  Every landscaper, concierge, bar tender, chef, waiter, bellboy, activity worker… everyone, was above and beyond pleasant. They would greet you, remember your name (or at least try) and try to bend over backwards to make your stay great. I once had a waitress (Miss Monnesart) around the pool take my order at my chair and while she was making it, I joined a water volleyball game. She found me; waved me down; and let me know she was setting my drink close to the pool where i was instead of back at my seat away from the pool. It was little things like that that really spoke to me.  And the biggest reason why I would ever want to go back. The Activity Staff. These are the individuals leading activities (which I recommend you go to as many as you can), either around the pool, on the beach, by the clubhouse or the late into the evening. They would see us around the resort and yell, “Hola, Mr Jason! Hola, Mrs Kimmi!!” And engage in conversation with us, that made us feel so welcome! I want to specifically call out the following: Chef Amayalli - she searched every restaurant on our annniversary dinner night to hand deliver us a cake with 'Happy 20th Anniversary!' written on it! My wife and I were both tearing up at just the thought that someone remembered us on our anniversary! I want to let everyone know that Chef Amayalli made our anniversary night something so special by just remembering us and making us that cake. Being treated so special on a special evening touched us more than I can say. Mr. Pedro - who was at every beach volleyball game and every night time activity we attended! I don’t know why, but I feel like I was meeting up with my best friend every time I saw him! Miss Mala - who was at the frisbee toss game, taught us Spanish and was such an impressive volleyball player! She had such a great sense of humor and we would sit and have the funniest conversations with her! Miss Alma! This was the first activity worker we interacted with! She gave us Merengues dance lessons and included us at the dancing at the Rhapsody bar! She made us feel so absolutely welcome! Miss Monnesart! As well as playing volleyball with us, she gave us Margarita lessons, Salsa dance lessons, painting lessons and also hung out with us at the lobby and bar! She was such a joy to be around! Miss Cassandra! Always a smile on her face! She led our guacamole making classes, made us feel welcome at every evening event hosted and played in every beach volleyball game they had! I cannot tell you how much we enjoyed her company! Mr. Fabian! We absolutely loved learning to paint during one of his activities, hearing him sing during karaoke, playing volleyball with him and hanging out with him during the evening activities! We could talk to him for hours! Mr. Carlos! He led our TRX, water exercise and water paddle board relaxation class! He pushed us to do our best and I appreciate so much that he incorporated Spanish speaking lessons into the workout classes! I can find you a pool, a beach, some scenery or food/drink most likely that is just as nice as JOIA’s. But I cannot find you another Chef Amayilla, Mr. Pedro, Ms. Mala, Ms. Alma, Ms. Monnesart, Ms. Cassandra, Mr. Fabian or Mr. Carlos!! They are one of a kind, and made our trip go from great to awesome! We love their staff and can’t wait to get an opportunity to go see them again!

If you want the best atmosphere, food, amenities, services, location and adults only hotel in Riviera Maya, The Joia Paraiso by Iberostar is the one for you. It’s a big family that welcome you and make you feel at home. From the bellboys to the guys that clean the beach. I love to go there every time. Gabriela, Evely, and Ancelmo from the starprestige are the most helping people ever. If you want to have fun, you have the entertainment team, with a lot of activities day and night. Mala, Casandra, Pedro, Fabian, Ariel are the best, including the boss Carlos. You are going to love them and miss them when you leave. They make your stay much more fun. In the Rhapsody bar you have the most incredible bartenders (Luigi and Jonathan) and djs (Javier and Lalo), to have a club vibe without going out from the hotel. The restaurants are also amazing. All of them are delicious, but I really love the French and Italian one. Not just for the food, for the people that work there. The experience is amazing. Also the principal buffet for breakfast, lunch and dinner is really diverse in food, drinks and desserts. The gala night is really yummy. The captains and waitresses are the most happy people that you going to know. Joseph, Guadalupe, Jazmin, Cecilia, Katerine, Chef Yadhir, Chef Darío, and other ones that I forget the name. In the pool or beach Mirna, Jorge and Jose are going to help you with towels, sunscreen, aloe, books, floats, drinks, clean your sunglasses and more. In the pool bar or beach bar Jose, victor, and the others are really good with drinks. Besides the ocean pool and tranquility pool, you have the spa with the climate pool. If you want a bigger spa, in the shopping center is a big one that you have to share with the others hotels. And last but not least the rooms are really comfortable from the suite to the villa, all are amazing. Big room, big bathroom, big balcony, amenities like pillows menu, drinks, bathroom kit, room service and others. I know for sure that I’m skipping a lot of things but you have to go to experience yourself.

A huge thank you to Fatima for her accommodations, and for helping get us scheduled for a few different reservations. Gustavo, Caronlina, Benito and Tomas were also so kind and helpful. Mirna, Monserrat, and Lennin at the pool were so kind, attentive, and amazing at helping assist in meeting our food and drink needs! For activities and entertainment, Fabian and Mala/Fernanda were so fun and engaging! They were so encouraging as well. For our dining experience, Eusebio and Jesus at Venecia made our experience so wonderful. Adrian and Johnathan at Haiku made hibachi style dinner so much fun and complete. Our Legado experience was made well by Norberto and his kindness. And our last evening was at Ember. Leonardo took care of all of our needs. Chef Dario was so kind to have a conversation with us about our experience but allowed us to learn more about his culinary background and interests. All of the mentioned staff have made our experience so special and we are excited to see familiar and new faces when we plan to return. Thank you all!

An honest review. This was our fifth visit. Many guests are repeat customers. This time it was six of us , my wife,myself,my daughter, her husband and the in laws. There were other large groups. Best way for me to describe this place, it is like putting on your favorite shoes. You know what you are getting. We like the facilities.(there are plenty of photos on line)The rooms are nice, even though we don't spend much time in them. The food, keep in mind that it is a mass produced food. We are foodies and we know food, my wife worked in the food industry for 30 years. For an all inclusive, i think Ibero Star does a really great job. I did missed the Ibero ham which they didn't have this year. My wife is vegetarian and Dario the Chef made sure she was taken care of. If you are the complaining type, stay home. The tacos in the Mexican restaurant were truly exceptional. We went twice. My suggestion to the management, put a variety taco sampler on the menu. We know Cancun and Riviera May well, it is our twenty fifth visit to this region. There are many great resorts in this area catering to variety of tastes. JOIA is not a rowdy or a hook up place. Most people come with companions. The crowd is a mix of young , older, Europeans, Americans and of course Mexicans. What really makes this place special are its employees. They are genuinely nice and very accommodating, you don't feel as it is fake . I made a very stupid mistake and left the safe door wide open all day, there it was, our cash, wallets , passports and my wife's jewelry for all to see. (they changed the safes and i must've pushed the wrong button) ,I know that multiples of staff entered the room. The maid , the fridge guy and NOTHING came up missing. Of course I would never tell anyone it is OK to leave valuables laying around, but somehow I wasn't surprised that nothing was taken. Many of the employees are long term employees ,and they take a great deal of pride in their work. Ibero star is very animal friendly place and some monkeys figured out how to get in . No one was stressed out over this, and they left on their own . Important rule, leave the animals alone, and they won't bother you. I'm not mentioning any names of the employees we like. The list would be too long. Lastly, the entertainment crew is really great. Somehow they figured out the balance how to keep the place tranquil while turning the cheese pool games in to fun. We are already planning our next visit . It might be even a larger group than this time,

Mala, John and monse from the entertainment made my stay fun and entertaining, I just have a good time I will recommend to come to iberostar, the views and food are amazing, make sure to try all the activities around the pool and the shows so professional. The Mexican and Italian are my favorites restaurants. The huichol art was beautiful and I learnt something new about the Mexican culture

This is now our favorite adults only resort in Cancun. The entire resort is stunning. Every person working was so friendly and helpful. We loved both pools. The outdoor furniture was the nicest we've experienced compared to 15+ resorts and plenty of loungers. Food and service were terrific. There are so many little things they do that add up. The best part is didn't see anyone smoke. That's a first. Will be back.

We just returned from an absolutely fabulous stay at JOIA Paraíso by Iberostar! As a middle-aged couple, the atmosphere was perfect for us. JOIA Paraíso is very calm, relaxing, and sophisticated, which was exactly what we wanted. The pools were peaceful, and the entertainment team provided activities and fun throughout the day without creating a party atmosphere. The JOIA Paraíso section is definitely not a party resort, which was perfect for us. It is ideal for anyone looking to relax, enjoy excellent food and drinks, and receive outstanding service in a beautiful setting. The food throughout our stay was fantastic. Unlike many of our previous all-inclusive vacations, the restaurants at JOIA Paraíso included options such as lobster and filet mignon. The bars stocked high-end liquor, including Grey Goose and Patrón, and the bartenders could make just about anything we requested. While we walked through and explored the other sections of the Iberostar complex, it was clear that the JOIA section is set apart by its higher-end offerings, and we never felt the need to eat or lounge elsewhere. What really sets JOIA Paraíso apart, however, is the staff. Everyone we encountered was exceptionally friendly and welcoming and genuinely seemed happy to have us there. The level of personal attention throughout the resort was remarkable. About a week before our vacation, the very friendly and welcoming Deiris Montiel from Reception reached out to make sure our room would be ready upon arrival and to address any pre-arrival needs. We opted to upgrade to an oceanfront walkout suite, which was well worth the additional expense. Deiris then personally greeted us when we arrived at the resort. Jose May from Pool Concierge greeted us each morning, made sure we had fresh towels, and let us know about the events scheduled for the day. He regularly checked on us at our pool cabana to make sure we had everything we needed. He was attentive, friendly, and thoughtful throughout our stay. Adiel, Francesca, and Jonathan from the entertainment team were wonderful and added so much fun and personality to our vacation. Leonardo at the breakfast buffet was constantly hustling and making sure our coffee was full. The only minor drawback during our visit was the sargassum on the beach, but the resort worked hard to manage it, and it did very little to detract from our overall experience. Between our oceanfront accommodations, the quiet pools, wonderful food and drinks, and extraordinary staff, we had an amazing vacation. JOIA Paraíso has set a very high bar for our future all-inclusive vacations. We would absolutely return and cannot recommend it highly enough.

As "First-Timers" at the JOIA, it will definitely not be our last! Seeing the resort in person left us speechless. It is truly breathtaking. Our Ocean Front room was more than we expected and was just what we needed for a nice "Reboot". All of the staff we met during our stay made us feel so welcomed and at home. They are an awesome group of people that take pride in what they do each and everyday (Mirna, Yasmin, Monserrat, Rubin and Adrian our Butlers, just to name a few). The entire pool staff rock and made sure everyone was entertained. The GALA was fantastic!!! Kudos to the "Chef" for introducing himself to us personally, especially on our first day during lunch and again taking the time to check on us during dinner at the GALA....."Thank You"! That made us feel so special!! We met so many people/families during our stay and have been in contact with each other already........friends for life. We will be back and plan to bring our daughter and parents with us after the renovations. Thanks again for a FANTABULOUS time!!!!

Five times in a row and counting! The Joia has become our favorite place to stay in Riviera Maya! This resort checks all of the boxes for us and we feel like it’s our home away from home! The grounds are impeccable and the food is excellent. The thing that stands out the most is the incredible service and hard-working staff. We wish to give a thank you and shout out to Montserrat and to Adriana out at the quiet pool. Adriana has served us for many years and does an excellent job! We were so happy to see that Eusebio was still at the Italian restaurant so we requested him. He was so good to us and really made us feel special! We wish to give a shout out to Luz (Maya) at the cafe. She always started our mornings out with a smile and a hot cup of coffee: a perfect way to start the day! She was very nice and always very efficient. We want to give a final shout out to Michelle who was helping Montserrat out at the pool and also was hosting at Ember. Not only was she working during the day at the pool, but she was working as a hostess at night. She mentioned that she was in training and we believe that she will be a true asset to your resort. We can’t say enough good things about the Joia and we look forward to returning again for #6!

We have been fortunate to have been guests at many of the all inclusive properties in the Cancun / Riviera Maya area and this property is the best! Every detail is thought of and worked on at this property. The grounds are immaculate with the staff always working to keep it this way. The food is really outstanding which is unique for these all inclusive resorts. Each sit down restaurant features a wide selection of meals that were excellent. We ate at the Steakhouse, the Italian, the French and the Mexican (twice). The Tuesday night Gala Buffet (featuring seafood) was also very good! The staff, led by Isla Kobus, is outstanding and very attentive to any possible need or request. Bars are well stocked with great service from the many members of the staff. Evening entertainment included a Michael Jackson tribute, a Queen inspired Cirq / acrobat show and a variety show. All were entertaining and presented in the very nice and comfortable theater on the property. Summary - You cannot go wrong with this Iberostar location. Food, drink, staff, amenities, etc. are all first class! Side note - we were celebrating our 40th anniversary and found a plate of chocolates, a nice letter and a bottle of champagne in our room the night before our anniversary! Nice touch. The only negative - prices in the on site shopping areas are very high! A small, plastic football for use on the beach / pool = $37? Children's t-shirt = $42? The property should re-think these prices. Joe & Diane V.

Love it! Best resort ever! 3rd time coming here within a year. I don’t think there’s any other resort that compares in the Cancun/Riviera Maya area. The food is great, and with great variety that you get, with the many restaurants and different themed nights, there is always something for someone! The service is amazing, I promise that you won’t find the level of attentiveness and care that you get here, at any other resort. Do also want to give a shoutout to the entertainment team, specially Alma, Mala, Jonathan, and Pedro, they are extremely friendly, and all of them will make sure to remember your name, make sure you always feel welcomed and always willing to help you find something to do! This place definitely deserves a perfect 5 stars, and you should definitely come here, cause I’m ready to book my next trip here as I’m writing this review

I can’t say enough about how great this place is! We came to JOIA in the summer of 2025 and we’ve been here three times already! We are continuously impressed with this place and there is always something new to try. There are many dining options: Italian, Mexican, French, Japanese with a Hibachi, and a buffet that has different themes each night. We have found the quality of the buffet to be top tier and they include so much variety for each “theme”! We loved the food here. More importantly, I think the top tier staff are what makes this place something we keep coming back to. Staff are very accommodating to needs and will always continue to make your stay special. For example, sometimes housekeeping has left rose pedals after making up our room, a very nice touch adding to the tranquility feel of the resort. Everything is very clean and we are always impressed. I appreciate the little things such as Carlos and other wait staff remembering us and our drink orders, and Jesus helping us get a custom order at the Italian Restaurant! Additionally the activities they have around the resort are fun and welcoming! I’d like to give a shout out to the entertainment team here at JOIA! Want to give a huge shoutout for Mala for always seeking us out and making nights extra fun, she has been extremely welcoming and since the first trip, she always remembers us and can’t say enough how great that has made us feel! I also want to show my appreciation for Alma, Pedro, Fabian, and Jonathan, you guys have really made this particular trip memorable as we try new things, crafts, games, karaoke, and even showing us some dance moves! We definitely appreciate all you guys do really great to make sure everyone has an enjoyable stay! I'd also like to express how impressed we were with the shows and theater team. The quality of the magic show, the fire show, and honestly all of them are top of the line. The quality and ability of the performers is similar to what I would expect in Las Vegas. I'd also like to a shout out to Daniel at the concierge desk. He really made our stay comfortable and ensured we had everything we needed. Also would like to give a shout out to Daniel at the Lobby bar. The resort is also in a central location so it’s really easy to take a day trip or excursion too. Great if you want to explore Cancun, Playa del Carmen, or even Tulum! I do think it’s best for conferences if the guests stayed closer to the convention center

My wife and I celebrated our 21st wedding anniversary at this resort. This is our first trip to Mexico and our first time staying at a Iberostar resort. Pros: First, I would like to acknowledged that this is the cleanest resort we have ever stayed at. Staff goes above and beyond to keep the resort clean and presentable. Second, the food was by far the best we have had at an all inclusive. Staff was very pleasant and I would like to specifically recognize the following staff; Dario at the Lobby Bar, Benjamin the Butler, Luis at the Buffet, Mala and Fabian from the Entertainment Staff, Monterat at the pool, and last but not least, Norberto our waiter at the Mexican restaurant. We visited the Mexican restaurant two nights in a row because of Norbertos exceptional service and recommendations. (Fish Ceviche at the Mexican restaurant is a must!) Cons: While the resort is extremely clean, the rooms are slightly dated. The drinks at the pool bar were inconsistent and sometimes hard to gain access to the pool bar due to limited seating and access. (Second pool bar would be advised). I would also like to point out that if you don't wake up every morning at 6:30 am and go reserve a cabana, you will not get one if you arrive to the pools after 7:30 am for the entire day. People put their belongings at the lounge chairs and don't come back for hours, this should be monitored. Overall we had a excellent trip and would recommend this resort to friends and family!

My wife and I visited JOIA Paraiso in late June, 2026, for our anniversary. We stayed in a Villa. The trip was just about perfect. Check-In: Our flight out experiences a 10 hour delay, and the hotel helped us change our airport pick-up and other dislodged arrangements. We arrived at night, but the hotel staff on duty checked us in quickly (including refreshing welcome drink). The bell staff drove us to the room. Once we got to the room, the butler come in to finish the check-in, help us make reservations and orient us to the hotel. We were fully checked in and relaxing in the room no more than half an hour after arrival. Butler service: The Villas came with butler service. They arranged meal reservations (not necessary, but we are part of the Club, so were able to reserve tables), massage reservations and our daily afternoon deliveries of ice. About halfway through the trip, I injured my foot and after that we were dependent on the Butlers to drive us around the resort as well. We never waited more than 5 minutes for a ride, no matter where on the full resort we were. Food: The food ranged from perfectly acceptable to downright wonderful. The breakfast buffet had a wide assortment of food. I mostly ate the local offerings - tamales, chilaquiles, chorizo and potatoes, poached eggs in poblano cream sauce. There were also everything you could order off a Denny's menu, if that was more your thing, plus a yogurt bar, sashimi, many fruit juices and so forth. We ate most lunches at the Puerta Sal chevice bar on the beach. The menu there was more extensive than we expected. The room service menu was fine. We enjoyed the burrito. The dinners had the widest range of quality, though all were perfectly acceptable. We ate at the L'Atelier (French) twice (Emilio was a great waiter) and enjoyed both those meals. The best meal we ate was the Wine and Food Prefix dinner we scheduled through the wine bar. 5 courses, with all Mexican wines (better than I expected.) The actual meal was one of the Top 100 meals of my life - Mexican fusion prepared to perfection! It costs extra, but if you enjoy being surprised and delighted by a meal, I cannot recommend it enough. Wine Tasting: In addition to the Prefix dinner, we did two additional wine tasting events at the wine bar. The first was Spanish wines, the second Mexican wines. Eric and Victor, the sommeliers, presented a great tasting experience. We took the time to let the wines open up and evolve over the hour-and-a-half tasting. It was refreshing to taste wine with a professional who wasn't trying to sell me the wine, just helping me learn about and appreciate it. Room: We stayed in one of the Romance Villas. We enjoyed the private pool - I started each day with a dip while my wife was still sleeping. The rooms are in the process of being refreshed, and the room next to our had workmen during the day. We almost never heard them or were disturbed by their presence. The Villas are about 1/8th of a mile from the pools and restaurants - an easy walk until I hurt by foot. We will absolutely pay for a Villa again the next time we return. Wildlife: There are a lot of animals on the property. None of them were aggressive or begging for food or anything. They were just existing. These included many birds (peafowl, flamingos, geese, plus many song birds), sereques (a rabbit sized animal that looks like a guinea pig with deer legs), coatis (cross a racoon with a cat, give it a nose twitches and a bouncing walk - then add the cutest babies following along in a row) and even, one night, a wild pig sitting by the path. Shows: We went to two shows - the Magic Show and the Fire Show. Both were well done. The Magic show was mostly large stage magic - make the girl disappear, saw the girl in half, switch places with the girl. Well done, with one trick in particular that ended in with an unexpected coda that I enjoyed. The Fire Show by the pool was also enjoyable. Mosquitos: One of my concerns before we went, especially having rented the Villa, was mosquitos. I'm pleased to say that we saw exactly 1 mosquito the entire time, and that was while I sitting out back in the predawn stillness of our private backyard and pool. The staff told me that the mosquitos can be bad during the rainy season, but it was dry when we were there (barring two afternoon thunderstorms), and we were pest free. Spa: We got massages at both the JOIA Spa and the larger Spa Central. Quality massages and facilities, as good as any state-side resort. Basically, we had a vacation that was everything we hoped it would be. We are looking forward to coming back.

My wife and I just returned from our trip back to the land of the Maya, having stayed at the Iberostar JOIA resort in an all-inclusive get-away. We desperately needed a break and reset. Not only were we celebrating her birthday, but I am a cancer patient and just completed 6 months of the most intense chemo available. You can imagine the condition I'm in and the extreme demands that my wife has had to bear. Our time at JOIA really couldn't have been better! I want to thank the Building 70 butler team for the kindness and compassion they showed us, which was really what elevated the experience beyond just going to a resort. We have stayed at another Iberostar resort previously and were impressed with the hospitality and facilities, but Iberostar JOIA's butler team Roland, Paulo, Gustavo, and Aris really created a personal experience for us that made us comfortable to ask for the attendance that we needed to be comfortable and relaxed. I also want to shout-out Lucinda and the team of chefs that worked with my wife's food allergy restrictions to make delicious and trust-able meals, which is a principal consideration for the places we choose to stay. Without the care of these two teams our stay wouldn't have resulted in our joining the Iberostar Club. But as I sat in the presentation (thanks Aris!) I asked myself if we could trust Iberostar for our future travel plans. These teams made us comfortable enough to close the deal. And lastly, I want to thank the Spa team for their incredible work that has brought me immediate and lasting relief. This experience was a blessing to me in a time when I really needed it. Muchos Gracias, until we meet again!

This was our 3rd stay here and we simply love it! The service is impeccable. We did absolutely nothing but lie at the beach which was our intention but there is plenty to do at the resort and around the area. The service is excellent, From the room to the restaurants to the beach service. Very spacious bedroom and bath area. Nice patio with chairs. Small dining area. Plenty of closet and drawer space. Quiet. Room was dark for sleeping. Umbrella provide in room if needed. Ironing board, iron, hair dryer, shampoo, conditioner, shower gel cotton pads, Q-tips all provided. They even had sunscreen and aloe available around the area. Smart tv, internet, Wi-Fi, and plenty of charging stations so don't forget your charging cords, Room also had a jacuzzi tub with bath salts provided. We had a room with butler service and each section had a concierge both of whom were very helpful and attentive to your needs. Mini bar refreshed everyday and room cleaned twice a day. Anything extra you may need they are there willing to help. Now a shout out to some employees who made a difference on this trip: In the Buena Visit Restaurant: - Abril: Super sweet. She made my eggs several mornings and a few days in, knew exactly what I wanted and how I like them cooked. Always engaging and always had a smile, even when the lights went out our last day there! Super sweet girl who was also very friendly and engaging. - Yadira: Made my eggs the morning Abril was off. Also super sweet and engaging. - Leonardo: Our waiter for breakfast and lunch. Oh my goodness. I've never seen any waiter who appears to love his job as much as he does. It didn't take us long to figure that out and requested to sit in his area. There were times the table wasn't set yet but he grabbed things and motioned us over and quickly prepared the table. Knew what we wanted to drink after a few visits. Very attentive. On the beach: - Geramaius (hope I spelled that right). Our main bar service on the beach. Again, sweet. Engaging. After a few days he knew our drink choices. Attentive. Amazing service. Activities: - Fabian. Our first encounter with him was on the beach during a guessing game. Then after dinner, we met up with him again at a blackjack table (side note. No gambling. Playing with chips, only). Oh my goodness. We had such a good time with him. His personality is perfect for this job. Talk about engaging with guests! He started talking about karaoke later that evening and he started singing right there, at which time I joined in. Fun time. Met some fun people, too. When he asked our names I told him just to call me momma. When we saw him down at the beach the next day for another guessing game, he called me momma. I'm still not sure if I ever told him my real name! Now for the final 2: - Marco and Fernando. Lifeguards. Unfortunately, I was in need of their services but not for what you are thinking. I collapsed at the table during breakfast. The staff quickly called for help. They quickly got me on the floor and elevated my feet. Bergan taking my BP which they did several times. BP and pulse were low. Then they called for medical from the infirmary. She checked me out and of course filled out the paperwork with my info, It didn't take long before I started feeling better. I refused the infirmary and wanted to try and eat, which I did and didn't have a problem the rest of our time there. It is reassuring to know they have trained staff on site to take care of your medical needs. And it's complimentary unless you'd go to the infirmary for further evaluation. Being a retired ER nurse, I knew what was going on and how to treat (rest and electrolytes, which I did) so I felt comfortable going back to our room. We have been to Cancun many, many times (also Dominican Republican and Jamaica) and have stayed at many different resorts (including Secrets and Zoetry) and this resort is the best we have stayed. This is a wonderful resort. Well worth the money.