JOIA Paraiso by Iberostar - Adults Only All Inclusive Resort

After staying at this resort for 12 times for over 160 nites, I am choosing to try NOT to repeat a lot of what has already been said. SO...WHAT'S NEW? DINNER RESERVATIONS are only needed for the Haiku Tepanaki tables and the Tuesday Nite Gala Buffet. These reservations do exactly what they are supposed to do by eliminating long lines and staging guests so servers and chefs can better serve them. This is a very good change. NEW MENUS at the Haiku Bistro and Legado (Mexican) offer many new choices. Be sure to try both. (No reservations required). CHEF'S SPECIALS are now offered at all of the a la carte restaurants. Look for a white 5 x7 paper tucked inside of your regular menu. We tried these new items in every restaurant and all were outstanding! These "specials" may just show up permanently on the next menu. EVENING ENTERTAINMENT has several changes starting with the time. Theatre Shows now begin at 9pm or 2100 hours. This is 1/2 hour earlier than the previous show times. The two newest shows are "Frida"-- the life of famous Mexican artist Frida Kahlo who was also the wife of famous Mexican muralist Diego Rivera and "The King Returns" a show about Michael Jackson. If you haven't been to the Joia in 2025 or 2026, you may not have seen "A Tribute to Queen" which will have you singing Radio Ga Ga in your sleep. This also means that Bingo, Mexican Lottery Trivia and Blackjack are earlier starting at 20:15 or 8:15pm. SPF 30, 40 and 50 are avaliable in quart pump bottles throughout the resort at towel stands. AFTERNOON ARTS AND DESIGN hosted by Mala and Montserrat at 1530 or 3:30pm are generally held in the Clubhouse and include painting, bracelet making and macramè just to name a few. So, these are several things which are new at this time. Please remember to install and use the Iberostar app so you don't miss anything.

MINIMAL STAFFING WORKING HARD Just back from ten days at JOIA PARAISO in the Mayan Riviera. The resort is absolutely beautiful and although it’s a well-established resort everything has been very well maintained overall and in spotless condition. The interior public areas with marble flooring are gleaming, the elevators are polished to perfection, public bathrooms are spotless even at the beachside. Our suite was well maintained and kept immaculate by housekeeping. We had to request service to our minbar a few times as it did not seem to occur automatically. The minibar snacks were mostly non-existent and/or stale. The property is very well maintained from gardens to the pools everything is very appealing. The beach in front of the hotel has a lot of coral so not really great for swimming. At this time there was a lot of seaweed but two tractors worked all day long to remove the seaweed and there was plenty of swimming in front of the Iberostar sister hotels adjacent to JOIA. The water was warm, with a beautiful firm sandy bottom but, the waves were quite strong which limited swimming for some folks. That said, this cannot be controlled by the resort and they do work hard to keep the beach looking good. The restaurants were all very good, the buffet I must say though was exceptional in variety and actual quality of their offerings. Prime Rib, Steaks, Lobster, Jumbo Shrimp and so many other fantastic well above average options. With the exception of the buffet, restaurant staffing is to say the very least inadequate. Meals at the a la carte restaurants took roughly 2 ½- 3 hours and this was not because the existing staff were not working hard. The same was true of the beachside luncheon restaurant, two servers looking after 20-30 people. The servers were doing their very best with the resources they had to provide adequate service. Throughout the resort including the restaurants or any other service, the staff are phenomenal, they really go above and beyond on a daily basis to ensure the guests have a very positive experience. One example of this was a young woman SOFIA takes care of towel service. My wife banged her leg on a chair causing a blood blister. Sofia immediately responded to help and facilitated an escort to/from the medical facility. Jose at the bar often solo, serving more than a dozen guests, never stopped being friendly and professional once again ensuring his guests were well taken care of at all times. Mara, one of the pool organizers and entertainment, was always so upbeat and a joy, always smiling, always encouraging guests to have a great time. She never stopped, never sat down, always preparing or participating in guest experiences. These are just three examples of how the staff at this resort really do shed a very positive light on IHG/IBEROSTAR resorts. Please congratulate them for their exceptional service and dedication. I would without hesitation highly recommend JOIA PARAISO for a superior Adult Only vacation.

Is merely good resort food not good enough for you? JOIA is the pick for the picky. Its sophisticated dining program has wowed me on several recent visits. JOIA shines even amidst the Riviera Maya’s luxury resort competition. As a professional restaurant reviewer in the U.S., I know greatness when I taste it. Clearly, the Iberostar brand has doubled down on JOIA’s culinary dominance. Its kitchen wizards, like Chef Yadhir and Chef Darío, have updated and elevated JOIA menus with eats that are flavor-laden, haute-quality, and adventurous yet comforting. Knockout deliciousness and authentic cuisine infuse the resort’s restaurants: glorious Mexican, graceful Japanese, lusty steakhouse, magnifico Italian, elegant French, and a multi-culti beachfront café. Across the board, JOIA eateries boast dazzling design and warmhearted personal service. Take this, buffet snobs: JOIA’s version, Bellavista, is an am-I-dreaming food fiesta, an ever-changing edible extravaganza showcasing the passion and perfectionism of the resort’s Mexican chefs. The buffet’s piping-hot offerings are invariably flavorful and cooked just right, often in front of you: whether crisp-yet-tender roasted beef, pork, poultry; saucy Mexican and Italian dishes; never-limp pasta; seafood grilled as you like it. At Bellavista, as at all JOIA eateries, ingredients are the best you can get in this world. The charcuterie station flaunts Iberian ham, Italian prosciutto, French pâté and Roquefort cheese, Mission figs, Greek olives, plus much more. The raw bar tempts with the likes of oysters, Caribbean lobster, and fist-sized shrimp netted that day. Lush sushi beckons at most lunches and dinners. And Bellavista's desserts! Opulent pastries, cakes, and pies, sumptuous ice cream, exquisite macarons, chocolate truffles — all made in-house daily with no corners cut. Even the chocolate itself is crafted in the kitchen. Ladies: dress your sparkliest on Tuesdays for Bellavista’s glam Gala dinner. One last word: bars. JOIA’s are tops, especially Rhapsody, whose flavor-bomb cocktails would go for $25 in urban America. At JOIA, bons vivants have come to the right place.

Dahiomi en sugar, smile, black mamba, snoop and the whole entertainment staff are absolutely amazing!!! They work so hard and make sure everyone is having the best time here and have smiles on their faces!!! They start in the morning and work all day non stop and we couldn’t be more grateful for their hard work and dedication! Thank you to all for making this trip so special and no doubt that we will be back!!!

Overall, Joia was a great place for my boyfriend and I to spend our first trip together. It was a very relaxing and beautiful place. Ruth with TripGuy made sure everything was taken care of including flights, transport to and from the resort, and resort reservations. It’s really nice being able to trust someone enough to take that off your plate and enjoy your vacation. She’s never placed me at a bad resort. The main pool area was beautiful, well maintained, and had a great swim up bar. Louis and Jose made some amazing drinks and made sure our cup was never empty. Louis had a specialty drink that was the perfect combination of sweet and citrus. We enjoyed the daily activities, especially the volleyball. Jonathan from the entertainment team did a great job at making everyone feel welcome, even if you weren’t participating in every game. He kept the energy up and sparked conversations for us to get to know the other guests to make friends. Some people do play the towel game, which is unfortunate, but we were always able to find a seat. They did not skimp on towels, which was great! You could get as many as you needed throughout the day. They also had sunscreen and would blow up your floats at the towel hut. One thing that I was impressed by was the bathroom by the pool. People were going in and out in soaking wet bathing suits, but the floor was never wet when you went in. The housekeeping crew kept it mopped and clean. We didn’t spend much time at the beach because of the sargassum. We were in building 74, which didn’t have a view of the pool or beach, but that was fine for us because we really only got ready and slept in the room. We did see monkeys from the balcony which was really cool to see. The room itself was very clean and they made sure you had everything you needed. The housekeepers came in twice a day. The room had a nice jacuzzi, balcony, and two separate sinks to make getting ready for dinners easier. For food we enjoyed the taco bar behind the steakhouse, the rotating pop up food stand by the pool, and the buffet if we were still hungry. The sushi at the buffet was great! We went to the Italian, Japanese, French, and gala night at the buffet for dinners. The steakhouse was by far a favorite. I wish that we had discovered it earlier so we could go a second night. I had the lobster and my boyfriend had the filet mignon wrapped in bacon with lobster. Both meals were delicious. The sides were the one place that we felt was lacking. For example, the mac and cheese tasted like box Mac and cheese and the potatoes were hard and undercooked. We didn’t partake in many of the shows because we chose to wake up earlier to spend some quiet time by the beach and pool. We did go to the late night disco two nights and enjoyed it. There was a wedding party, so I’m not sure how busy it would be on a normal night but was fairly busy when we went. It was nice being able to take a golf cart to and from the mall and other resorts to be able to enjoy things like this. Out of the bars, the lobby bar ended up being one of our favorites. They had music most nights and Daniel made the best drinks. The espresso martini and pistachio martini were my go tos. Definitely a place we would go back to!

I have been trying to post this review for weeks now, but TA thinks it's an AI generated review and keeps rejecting me, so hopefully by stating this it will finally be posted. We stayed at Joia end April for seven days to celebrate my mom’s 82nd birthday, and it was truly unforgettable. The weather was perfect, and we enjoyed crystal clear turquoise Caribbean water for some of our stay. We stayed in the ocean-access beachfront rooms, and the butlers in Building 70 were exceptional—so kind and attentive to my mom. A special thank you to Gabriel for helping her to the beach each day, and to Paoula for a lovely tour to see the flamingoes and swans. The service throughout the resort was outstanding. By day two, staff were greeting us by name. Humberto and Rodrigo provided excellent beach service, and the food was absolutely top-notch—one of the main reasons we continue to return. My mom enjoyed every single meal. Our final night at Ember was incredibly touching. Felix arranged a beautiful table with rose petals and decorations for my mom—it brought all of us to tears and created a memory we will never forget. Special thanks to the many staff who made our stay so meaningful: Sommelier Juan, Esteban, Johnathan, Guadalupe, Leonardo, Lizandro, Lizeth, and Monserett who had our coffee's waiting for us at the coffee shop. This resort is clean, well-organized, and has a warm, welcoming atmosphere. We felt truly cared for from start to finish. We will absolutely be back—thank you for another incredible stay.

What a special, special all inclusive facility. The entire property is immaculate. Attention to detail is paramount to the entire staff. Rooms, grounds, pools, beaches, service, food, entertainment...it is truly a paradise. Opulence is the key word when describing this resort. I can't praise the staff enough...they wish your stay to be memorable. Ari, Freddy and all the staff will provide excellent service, advice and ensure your stay at Joia is memorable.

We are just leaving after 9 days at this amazing resort. We have been Sandals people until now. This resort had delicious food and met all of our expectations and beyond. We never met one person on the staff that wasn't amazing and friendly. We were in building 70 with an oceanfront room and our butler Gabriel took amazing care of us. The concierge, Armistides, was so friendly and made sure every need was met. At this resort, they definitely want people to take the tour and learn about their vacation club. We had done it previously at another iberostar property and did not likebthebway we were treated and the high stress sales pitch. Armistedes talked us into giving it another try and promised it would be a good experience we could walk away from whenever we wanted. We decided to do it for a free massage. Claudia was our tou person and right from the start I shared with her about our prior experience. She promised it would be stress free and it was. She did an amazing job. Ultimately we did join the club. It definitely isn't for everybody but with being close to retirement and the number of trips we take, it made sense for us. I did my own math on top of what they said and found it will pay for itself in just a few years. Overall and excellent trip. Will definitely come back. Seaweed was a problem towards the end of the week, but that can happen anywhere depending on the season and the weather. Lastly, Juan, the Sommelier, was excellent. We did 2 wine tastings and a tequila tasting that were really enjoyable.

Trip Report-First time but not our last! We just returned from 5 nights at this beautiful resort. I want to share our experience as first timers as I enjoyed reading about others experiences prior to our trip. We had previously stayed at the Paraiso Maya several years ago with our teenager and several other all inclusives in Mexico. We booked separate flights and hotel. My husband has a Delta cc so we had a free companion fare to use. We booked through the Iberostar website and got an extra discount by joining the IHG rewards. Thanks to everyone for posting your discount codes and tips. Since we booked through the resort, we had private transportation through W2M. We had a bit of an issue locating them exiting the airport but found them off to the right. After a short wait we were on our way in a brand new SUV. Arrival/Check in-On arrival we pulled up and were quickly greeted. Like a fine tuned machine, each staff member swiftly handed us off to the next. We were seated in the lobby and given cool welcome drinks as they took our passports. We were then escorted to pay and then promptly whisked away by golf cart to our room in Building 71. It was about 10 minutes, quick and efficient-a great first impression! Room-I was not prepared and we pulled up and saw the view through the doors to the ocean. Awesome! One of the reasons we chose this resort was the oceanfront room at a reasonable price. We arrived at our second floor room and loved it. The bathroom is great with divided double sinks, great hair dryer! The bed was very comfortable. Bellman stated butler would be up shortly but we waited 30 minutes and were very hungry so we could not wait and left. I see lots of comparisons between if 70 or 71 is better. If you are a beach/ocean person, the stretch in front of 70 is the best. We tend to stay at the pools so we didn’t mind 71 at all. We were a very short walk from the pool to our room. Pools-we only hung out at the main pool. Every morning I got up to get a palapa next to the pool. It seemed like most were taken by 9am but there was always a Bali bed or loungers available. It never felt crowded. We brought floats and are glad we did since there were not many to use from the resort. Our wonderful butler Karolina filled our floats up for us. The pool is cool but refreshing once in. I couldn’t help but think in December and January how cold it is! Service around the pool is great, constantly walking by asking if we needed anything. We brought large tumblers and filled them with ice and water every day. Lots of people had yeti types of various sizes for drinks but the regular cups worked fine. No towel card games, you get as many as you needed. Activities-several activities at the pool daily. I did whatever version of aqua aerobics at 11:30 daily, a cocktail class, throwing a football, chess, etc. We found it to be a good mix of activity and laid back. At night, we played bingo at Rhapsody and went to a couple shows. Raymundo and Fabian are awesome and full of energy! Drinks-This is where all inclusives usually fail us with overly sweet drinks.We are craft cocktail people, we love interesting drinks with good alcohol. Lots of top shelf spirits and interesting different types we don’t see back in the US. Luilly and Gerardo at the lobby/mixology bar took care of us every night and made us fantastic drinks that we would pay $$in restaurants at home. They are wonderful people and made our experience so special. Food-LOVE the beach/ceviche bar. Ate there several days. Shrimp Caesar, beef quesadillas, shrimp ceviche. Had lunch at the pool in our chairs one day too. Don’t sleep on the taco bar at the mall too. Awesome horchata and hibiscus tea if you want to get out of the sun for a bit and check out the shops at the mall. So we ate at the Italian twice, Mexican twice, and Steakhouse once. I forgot to get reservations for hibachi but once I tried, they were already booked out three days. We didn’t try the French because my husband and I dislike mushrooms and foie gras and the menu didn’t have much to offer beyond that. We did hear people say it was very good. Mexican-Guacamole cart! Best I’ve ever had! Steak tostada, enchiladas suizas, shrimp ceviche, fajitas, Al pastor tacos. Everything was fantastic both times. No room for dessert! Italian-Mozzarella app with pesto and Mussels in the blue cheese bread bowl were our faves. Spaghetti bolognese, gnocchi with beef, and vodka pasta were all wonderful. Tiramusu, lemon tart and pistachio dessert were awesome. We ordered a nice bottle of Mexican wine here and enjoyed it. Joel was our server and he really stood out. Steakhouse-garlic bread to start was so good! Coconut shrimp app was so good. We had ribeye and flank steak. Both were much better than I expected them to be. The chocolate peanut butter cake was so rich-I’d advise to share. We still didn’t finish! The dining here was the best all inclusive food and experiences we’ve had. We usually between 6-6:30 and got seated right away. One night at the Italian we arrived and we had to wait about 30 minutes. They texted once our table was ready. Spa-my husband has back issues and wanted a massage. The resort price is about $250 vs beach $160. There were a lot of flies on the beach so he decided against it. He asked our butler to set up a time but they were all in the afternoon and my husband wanted morning. One day by the pool, David came with his chair and gave my husband a head/neck massage and then gave him 25% off for a morning massage the next day. It worked out well. He said the spa was really amazing and did the sauna, steam room and had a nice juice bar. Said it was one of the best massages he ever had. Butler service-we weren’t sure if we would use their services but we did. There are big glass bottles filled with water in the room. I walked down to get them refilled and they sent someone up with four new bottles. My husband bought us Turkish towels that are supposed to dry quickly. Well they were the same shade of blue as the new resort towels. One night I didn’t realize I put it in the dirty towel bin till the next morning. We let Karolina know on the chance someone found it, not thinking they would among the volume they see daily. 2 hours later they show up with it at the pool! Wow!😮 They also confirmed our departure transportation and set up the bellman to come to our room to pick up our bags. They have 2 golf carts there and shuttled us to the mall. They knew who everyone was and were always ready to assist. Now the one negative… Since the butler didn’t catch us in our room on arrival, they found us by the pool the next morning and went over the resort map, talked about credits and the welcome breakfast. We politely declined went about our day. The next morning another butler asked if we went to the welcome breakfast, that we need to go, and really tried a hard sell. I know it’s their job but it was off putting to hear the sell a second time, even harder than the first. On day 4 we were up at the lobby and another person approached us again about the welcome breakfast. Honestly after being there and having a great time we might be interested in more information but they are so aggressive we wouldn’t ask because we don’t want to be bothered! Despite that it doesn’t change our feelings about the resort. Tips-We tipped every meal, drink, housekeeping, ride, service. We even tipped the entertainment. I took 100 in $1, 20 in 5’s, $10’s and $20’s. I would say about 50-60% of people tipped. The service at this resort is really exceptional. The staff here works very hard and made this vacation so wonderful. Tip with your ❤️! To close, we love this resort and its staff. The size is not too large, a quick 5 minute walk and you’re anywhere you want to be. We’re already thinking about our next trip!

Our second time at this resort (April 3 - 10) and it did not disappoint. Four people in our group - myself and my husband, and adult daughter and fiance. There are so many things to enjoy at this resort. The hotel itself is beautiful - the lobby is grand, the grounds are beautiful and the rooms are spacious. Housekeeping was excellent and it is obvious that cleanliness is a priority. Never a problem getting pool loungers (off season, hotel not at capacity) and the entertainment staff were excellent. Lots of things to do if you choose - pool volleyball, water aerobics, corn hole, ping pong, croquet, crazy game, bingo at the swim up bar, margarita making class, blackjack etc... Have to give a huge shout out to Pedro, Mala, and Fabian - always laughing and smiling. We did not use the services at the spa, but did use the pool and hot tub there - very relaxing. We also used the quiet pool - if you want some quiet down time, that's the place to be. The restaurants were all good. Always able to find something at the buffet. Mimosas ready to go in the morning. Mario sure took care of us at breakfast! We tried the steakhouse, the Italian, the gourmet (French) and the Japanese. The show at the Japanese restaurant was amazing - Miguel did a terrific job! (note - you need reservations for this) Wait times were reasonable for the a la cartes - one glitch on our last day as the steakhouse was hosting a 50+ wedding party, leaving the other restaurants with huge lineups. We are not fussy eaters and have no dietary requirements, so really no complaints about the food. The cordon bleu roll at the French restaurant was amazing - and the tiramisu at the Italian was to die for. For the most part, the service in the a la carte restaurants was good - a bit on the slower side as hotel was not at capacity and likely not full staff (they were sure working hard) No hurry to be anywhere - it's vacation, right? The main pool also had a snack bar set up everyday - each day with something different - hamburgers, tacos, etc....great, if you didn't feel like heading to the buffet. The Star Cafe offers specialty coffees and cocktails, as well as pastries - worth checking out. The lobby bar staff made an awesome pistachio martini and there was evening entertainment as well - saxophonist, violinist, singer etc... We took in a few of the evening shows - have seen lots in our travels, but they were entertaining. Really depends on personal taste and what you enjoy. Overall, this is a great resort - you are also able to use the facilities at the other Iberostars - Maya, Lindo, Del Mar, Beach - we did check them out but spent most of our time at our "adults only" resort. A bit of something for everyone!

As my vacation here at JOIA comes to an end I wish to thank the entire staff for making me feel welcomed and pampered. The staff in building 70; Fatima, Gabriel, Aristide, Bernardo, Rodolfo, Paola, and Fernada were absolutely fantastic! Those who maintained the rooms, room service and all other areas exceeded my expectations! I will be back and look forward to seeing everyone again 😎

Hello everyone, Just back yesterday from stunning JOIA Paraiso by Iberostar in the glorious Riviera Maya. This was our second visit, and this is a follow up review to my April 2025 review which I invite you to read for additional details, as I'll try to keep this one shorter! GROUNDS, POOLS In a word, stunning. Okay, two words - still stunning. This resort is still as beautiful and well-kept as it was a year ago. Very impressed with that. SEAWEED Ah, the dreaded seaweed. We arrived on April 6 and had none for about three or four days. Then it showed up, but it wasn't as horrible as some spots. The resort did a great job scooping it up. They really do their best. Mother Nature has been pretty rotten to us in this area. BEACH Soft, white, powdery sand. Just beautiful. SEATING AROUND BEACH AND POOL As always, no issue finding a lounger or Bali bed. And you don't have to get up at 6 in the morning to secure your chairs! Plenty to go around. ANY DIFFERENCES FROM LAST YEAR'S VISIT? We didn't notice any major differences at all. There were a couple of very small issues, none life altering by any means. First, we'd initially booked an upper suite and they'd put us in a first floor room. No problem, we explained at check in and he changed it right away (actually gave us our original room, which was nice. Apparently they keep track of repeat guests and mean it when they say "welcome back.") The food was 99% perfect. Really. One night we had a meal that kind of missed the mark, but hey, it happens. Maybe the chef had a bad day or whatever. I've had bad meals here in Toronto! So it was one off night. And being all inclusive, what should you do? Moan and groan? No, just go to another restaurant! It's all there for you. I mention these two things not to criticize the resort but to please ask everyone not to go haywire if something goes a little wrong. Nothing in life is perfect, but the people who work at this resort work very hard to make our vacations special. SPEAKING OF PEOPLE ... I should say that EVERY staff member was, as before, friendly and seemed to genuinely enjoy working there. To me, that says something. I should take names down but I keep forgetting. I'm sorry, but if JOIA management is reading this, please know that they all shine. I did remember two names, though .. --- Jonathan (Entertainment Team) who made my day by telling me I won a prize for getting their questions of the day right. Keep smiling, Jonathan! You are just the nicest person with a terrific career ahead of you in this industry. We hope to see you again (and I hope to win the prize again!) --- Christian (server at breakfast and lunch buffet) - thank you for your cheerful demeanor and teaching me a little Spanish. Class act! A FEW ADDITIONAL NOTES - They are undergoing some construction on one of the buildings facing the beach (I think it's the north end of the beach). You may hear some hammering and drilling and such if your room is there. Perhaps request a room in the other building if the noise will bother you. My suggestion would be to email the resort prior to your visit and inquire if the work will be finished when you get there. - The spa pool is free for all to use. It has hydrotherapy, a juice bar and it's simply gorgeous. A quiet oasis. - Men can wear Bermuda shorts in the restaurants. Bonus, right? ;) And NO reservations for any restos, save for the Japanese teppanyaki table. - Unlike most resorts, JOIA does another thing right: Bali beds are NOT an additional charge here, like they are elsewhere. First come, first served. Thank you JOIA. - There is a quiet pool and believe me, it's QUIET. They play very soft spa-like music. If you're like me and you need a very quiet pool, JOIA has you covered. - You may want to bring water shoes if you go in the ocean. There are small rocky parts here and there. But once you're in it's heaven! - There's a hotel environmental tax that you pay upon arrival (it's minimal, something like 3 bucks a day ... hubby handled that so not my job to pay such close attention to these details!) - You'll get an envelope in your room saying "Sorry we missed you." This is an invitation to speak to staff about their hotel membership. To be clear, it's nothing nefarious! We met several people who were members and loved it, but just know that is what it's about. You do not have to go. - PLEASE, PLEASE, tip these wonderful people. They work so hard. I was somewhat dismayed to see a group of eight in a restaurant one evening leave at the end of their meal without leaving so much as a buck. C'mon, folks. Be kind to the workers who work so hard. They deserve it. SPEAKING OF FOOD ... Honourable mentions (I can't resist): -- The guacamole boat, loaded NY nachos, tenderloin and chicken enchiladas at the Mexican restaurant. -- The spicy rigatoni, tenderloin and beef carpaccio at the Italian restaurant. -- "On My Way" cocktail in the lobby bar. IS THIS RESORT FOR YOU? If you like peace and quiet, classy music at the adult pool and a beautiful environment, yes it is. If you crave loud obnoxious music, foam parties and drunks walking around all day, no, it is not. I understand we cannot reach out to each other on Trip Advisor anymore so instead of saying "feel free to contact me if you have questions" I'll end this by saying I hope I helped you make a vacation decision. If you've booked already, you made a good choice. If you're sitting on the fence, just do it! You will really enjoy this beautiful resort. I have attached some photos and I hope you enjoy them. Final thing: I always answer the question "Would we return?" ABSOLUTELY. We will be back to JOIA Paraiso next year for our 3rd visit, and I can't wait. I wish you happy travels, no matter where your passport takes you! Sue

Another great trip to this amazing property. Favorite restaurants this time were the Japanese - both the regular restaurant & hibachi, Italian restaurant, and the buffet. The food is phenomenal and some of the best meals ever! We had a large group last week of 12 and the resort went out of their way to make this an unforgettable trip. The following people really made the experience more than amazing and fulfilled even our unexpressed needs: Star Prestige Beach Concierge & Pool Concierges - Mirna, Ellie, Manuel - Phenomenal and remember everyone and their preferences. The resort wouldn't run without these 3. Grecia, Daniella, Anselmo, & Diana (Star Prestige Office), and Servers - Emilio (French), Guadalupe (Buffet), Monti (Star Cafe), Luigi (Rhapsody Bar), Leticia (Pool), Frida (Lobby Bar) & Felix (Italian restaurant manager), Entertainment hosts Mala & Pedro (who killed me in chess!). Spa host Luis and spa attendants Arturo (the BEST!), Yolandra, Yoli, & Camas. All of these people really make the experience more than amazing and fulfill even our unexpressed needs. We cannot wait to go back. See you all in December!

This was our second stay here and it was like returning home. It is still such a beautiful, well-maintained property that we have grown to love and compare all other resorts to. The food is wonderful, the rooms are big and beautiful, the grounds are immaculate and gorgeous, and the service is top notch. Leticia and Lenin took great care of us at the pool and we enjoyed our daily lunches at the beachfront taco restaurant with Jesus’ efficient and friendly service. Our hibachi meal was one of our favorites and Daniel did an excellent job as our hibachi chef. The first time we were here it was May, and this was during the lobster mating season where they don’t serve it to help maintain ethical fishing practices so we were excited to enjoy lobster at dinner most evenings this time. I also loved having the opportunity to take an outdoor yoga class every morning with Cynthia. We will for sure be back and will continue recommending this resort to others.

We loved everything about this resort on our first visit and second visit, so we came back for a third visit!! Staff are what makes this resort a 5 star winner!! They are friendly, respectful, and full of life and laughter. From check-in to check-out we were well taken care of. We stayed in building 71, room number 7140 (a corner unit with a view of the pool and the ocean, and a jacuzzi on the balcony. It was heaven!! Kudos to all the staff but particularly the staff we saw often including the Lobby bar staff, pool staff, entertainment staff, housekeeping, Cafe Bar, and restaurant staff, all who were always asking if we needed anything. We met wonderful people, shared lots of laughter, and had the best time!! We are so looking forward to our 4th visit!!

This was THE best (and very high-end) all-inclusive vacation I have ever experienced! First, the refrigerator is stocked with brand name items, such as bottled Mexican Coca-Cola; bottles of wine or Prosecco, depending on what you request; and they will supply you with any “alternative” milk/creamer you request on a daily basis. The bars all have top shelf liquors such as Woodford Reserve, Grey Goose, St. Germain’s, etc. And, the in-house barista rivals that of any high-end coffee shop with eco-friendly travel cups. The food is fantastic! During the lunch buffet, they will let you select fresh salmon, fish, or cuts of steak to grill in front of you. The mangoes are mouth-watering fresh and juicy and the fresh seafood offerings such as littleneck clams and prawns are exquisite! Be sure to try the steakhouse twice as the starters alone are worth going back for multiple nights in a row. The rolls at the French restaurant will have you begging the hostess to just slip a basket in your room everyday. A team cooks/grills fajitas and hamburgers poolside, but their secret stars are the accompanying fresh juice offerings. The beachfront cafe has the best seats in the house where you can leisurely snack and sip the day away. What I liked about the resort was the availability of beachfront loungers and poolside daybeds. The staff was extremely attentive in ensuring you always had a beverage, whether on the beach, in the lobby, or in the pool. The other amenity that many did not use, but was mind-blowing was the covered “indoor” pool and spa. It was incredibly tranquil with steam and saunas in the respective locker/changing areas; be sure to try the different poolside showerheads as they have different massaging features. If you want to use the main spa in the plaza area, it has larger jacuzzis with a cold plunge pool, and a serenity room. (ALL INCLUDED!) The resort gym offers free fitness classes and one-on-one training options; be sure to explore the other properties as the family location has peacocks, coati, and agoutis everywhere! I could write chapters on all the Lucious amenities of this place, but I will leave some things a “surprise” so you can experience it yourself! We have finally found our “return to” vacation place and will never go elsewhere! Thank you for the best vacation I have ever had in my life!

Our recent stay at JOIA Paraiso was absolutely fabulous!!! Now that we have been to this resort for the 3rd time, we can't wait until the 4th visit. Each of our visits were in March. This year was quiet (about 60% capacity due to the crazy world we are living in right now) but none-the-less lots of fun, relaxation, laughter and serenity. We can't say enough about the staff. All of the staff are amazing! From Check-In to Check-Out they were there to offer assistance, ask if we needed anything (what do you need when you are in paradise?!), and to always make you feel awesome. We stayed in Room 7140 which is a corner room where we had full view of the ocean, plus a side view of the pool area. Every aspect of this resort is top notch. A big shout out to the bar staff in the lobby and at the swim up bar, entertainment staff, housekeeping, pool side service staff, chefs and servers, front desk etc. etc. Thank you all for helping us make new memories. See you in 2027!!