In a tourism-rich area like the Riviera Maya, there's no shortage of luxurious beachfront, all-inclusive resorts. So it's often the details that really set a property apart, as I discovered during a recent hosted stay at the Iberostar Grand Hotel Paraiso.
Around the corner from my room, I was usually struck by the gorgeous view — an impossibly blue ocean framed by a perfectly picturesque doorway offering instant access to the beach — but on my second morning I came upon a couple preparing to check out. As they said goodbye to their butler, the trio embraced like old friends, hugging emphatically amid the couple's repeated promises to return and reconnect with him next year.
This warmth of service was evident all over the property, both in my own first-time interactions with the staff and in the exchanges taking place around me, which frequently turned out to be repeat guests greeting their favorite waiters, butlers and bartenders all around the resort.
Aside from the exceptional service, the resort offers plenty more to love. The adults-only property is part of Iberostar's Grand Collection, comprising the brand's most upscale hotels. Every room on the property comes with butler service, a pillow menu, 24-hour room service and a customizable minibar. The balconies are outfitted with plush furniture and a hanging swing.
A suite at the Iberostar Grand Hotel Paraiso. Amenities for all rooms at the resort include butler service, a pillow menu, 24-hour room service and a customizable minibar.
The resort's features include three pools, five specialty restaurants and two buffets, with an abundance of lounge chairs, umbrellas and cabanas spread around the pools and the beach.
Guests at the Grand also have access to the rest of the Iberostar Paraiso complex, which includes four family-friendly hotels and shared facilities such as a large spa, an on-site golf course, shopping, a fitness center and a nightclub.
A few features have recently been added to the Grand Hotel Paraiso. Following client requests for oceanfront dining, a beachside grill opened this past March at La Brisa restaurant, serving cooked-to-order fare just steps from the sand at lunchtime. And those taking part in Star Prestige (an optional upgrade with elevated services and amenities) can enjoy a private beach deck that was added last year.
Another recent addition is Iberostar's Fit & Fun program, which launched in 2016. For those looking to keep up their wellness routines on vacation, the program offers a wide range of activities at the gym, the pool and the beach.
A sampling of the Fit & Fun's lineup of classes and activities includes kickboxing, outdoor running, spinning, beach yoga, Aquafit pool workouts, Pilates and Zumba. While I opted instead to sample the swim-up bar, a few of my fitness-minded travel companions were pleased with the intensity of a "boot camp" class, which incorporates a variety of workouts into one high-energy session.
Fit & Fun classes take place at the complex's main gym, but guests of the Grand with an interest in wellness have more exclusive options. In addition to a smaller fitness center on the property's grounds, the Grand also has its own spa, complete with a quiet pool enclosed by a retractable roof and outfitted with sleek hydrotherapy jets and waterfalls, which quickly became my favorite spot on the property for peace and seclusion.
Nightly rates at the Iberostar Grand Hotel Paraiso begin at $266 per person, double. For more information, visit www.thegrandcollection.com.