carrie

Has anyone ever stayed at this AI resort and/or used their dive shop?<BR><BR>Likes/dislikes about the hotel, grounds, dive shop, food, pool, location/easy access to Playa, etc.<BR><BR>Thanks!<BR><BR><BR>

Joyce

I have stayed here, the grounds are beautiful, the Pool takes 5 minutes to walk from one end to the other, with 3 swim up bars. It is located 30-35 minutes south of the Cancun Airport and about 20-25 minutes from Playa Del Carmen. I though the food was excellent and they had international brands of liquor. Beds are hard as they are all over Mexico. Here is a link to Pictures.<BR>http://www.principaltravel.com/mexic...ort.asp?id=138

Parrot Mom

Not going to make myself popular, but we did not like the IB Paraiso..it was the only vacation I couldn't wait to go home. Wrote a review for a forum and was slammed for it.. a few weeks later a much more negtive report on the same resort.. The food was definetely mediocre, the entertainment was the worst ever for a large chain, the staff was delightful. The pool is humungus..one of the largest I've ever seen..the time we were there the beach was unswimmable and the red flag was flying. Two idiots insisted upon being in the water and there were guards around. If you get in line early enough you can get the free bus that lets you off 10 minutes from Playa de Carmen.. For more information please write. We are going back to the D.R. where there is better value for your money and better all inclusives..including pools and beaches..

Joyce

Great Parrot Mom,<BR>It was the hotels fault the flags were up. Well I will slam your beloved D.R.<BR>I got a parasite there (Gran Ventana in Puerta Plata). I could not eat for 8 weeks without cramps and throwing up. I have NEVER experienced that in Mexico

Parrot Mom

Sorry Joyce..but we have traveled for more than 20years and we have been in Cancun, Cabo San Lucas, Puerta Vallarta several times, Manzanillo and Cozumel..and have never gotten sick.. Neither have we gotten sick in the D.R., perhaps we have been lucky. The only time I have come home sick with "tourista" is from drinking water near Macchu Picchu in Peru which was considered "good luck". wrong...LOL What you mised was my saying that the IB Paraiso was a resort we would NEVER go back to..and I would be reluctant to try another even in the D.R. Too many problems and things we were disappointed in. Saying that I want to say that because of the reputation of people on various forums we expected this to be first class and a step above what we are used to. No, I am not a snob..I don't expect as others do "white glove" treatment..but I did expect from what I had read entertainment that a large chain like Iberostar would put on. they had a great band and singer..one decent show the entire week and food that was not recycled.. Yes, I do like entertainment..but if they are going to talk about their "fabulous" entertainment.. at least watch something that I was embarassed for the staff.. You obviously don't enjoy having the Paraiso criticized.. I believe in giving the good with the bad and I'm fairly honest. A few days or week later somebody else wrote a review of the hotel which was more devastating. Oh yes. I won't even discuss the treatment and abuse of the animals on the property..that is for another story. Ostriches living in mud and in a small area, the same with the deer.. The African Grey parrots, of which I know about) are put on a tree trunk to sit all day..with nothing to do...but you wouldn't understand that...the man feeding and cleaning did a great job and they ate well, but this is no way for an inteligent animal to live..on a tree trunk with nothing to do but be stared at...don't even start.. that is cruel.. You probably like going to swim with the dolphins....how many of them have died...Mexico is trying to crack down..but the average tourist doesn't care.. Didn't mean to be so nasty, but you pushed a button in defending the Paraiso.. I can write pages and pages of positive reviews on many resorts all over the spanish speaking countries..

Joyce

I would never rate the entertainment at Any of the AI's Fabulous. Iberostar is better than Most AI's in Mexico, but compared to a Cruise or Jamaica AI entertainment it is very amaturist.<BR>Parents love it because they include their kids (we loved it when they took our granddaughter age 2 on stage). Young couples love to see their kids fussed over as do grandparents.<BR>No Iberostar is not a Grand Lido, Couples or even Sandals as far entertainment, but they are also usually a lot less expensive.

Parrot Mom

To give IB Paraiso their due..they had a great kiddie camp and the children followed the counselor around like a Pied Piper and put on a show everynight which we enjoyed..plus the band was fabulous with their singer.. You just have no idea how bad the entertainment was that week..people told us it was "better the week before".. Actually, we enjoy AI entertainment it's fun..but this group was beyond pitiful. But, again that is only one reason we didn't enjoy the IBP..if you care to write me I'd be glad to tell you the good and the bad..as I do with any resort or cruise..Last March we were at an AI resort where the only fault for us..was that we had a long distance to walk to the main area..my husband walks with a cane..the food was far superior.. the animation staff may have been amatuers, but they did it with such zeal..No, we don't go to high end resorts or cruises..but we do cruise and take land vacations..but when people just rave and rave over a resort and the reviews are so glowing and I go with high expectations...it;s a bummer when I'm greatly disappointed. and the fact I couldn't wait to go home...that is unique.

Ellen

Good grief, Ms. Parrot, why didn't you go in to Playa for entertainment or an occasional dinner. And if you need to locate PETA, why don't you look up their website?