A couple weeks ago I wrote a post mentioning that the Iberostar Grand Hotel Paraiso was recently rated the #1 all-inclusive resort on earth by TripAdvisor.com. We got a lot of feedback on this with people wanting to know why it was rated the #1 all-inclusive resort on earth and if we agreed that they deserved this rating. To answer the latter question first, yes, I do believe that the Iberostar Grand Hotel Paraiso deserves to be rated as the #1 all-inclusive resort on earth and believe that most people would agree. I have traveled fairly extensively throughout Mexico and the Caribbean and have yet to find it’s rival. Here is why.

First of all, the resort’s architecture including the hallways, lobby, restaurants, walkways, etc. are Grand, they really are. Every guest of the Iberostar Grand Hotel Paraiso is at least 18 years old (a true adults only) so every square inch caters towards adults and nothing is kiddie-proofed. The rooms are very plush and comfortable with one of the nicest mattresses I have slept on in a hotel, an over sized & furnished balcony, two-person Jacuzzi in room, 24 hour in room dining, fully stocked minibar, daily housekeeping & turn down service, butler service, DVD library, etc.

There is a great infinity pool (salt water) that has a beachfront infinity edge, a nice swim up bar, basketball goals, music, pool side wait service, covered bali beds, chaise lounges integrated into the pool, integrated hot tubs… It’s basically THE pool. They also have my personal favorite, which is the tranquility pool, on the side of the complex if you want to take a nap, read a book, or just float around in relative silence. The beach is enormous with powdery white sand and it’s on the Caribbean – enough said there. Except, I forgot to mention the palapas on the beach and beach-side wait service. Oh yeah, and all the complimentary non-motorized water-sports you can take out from the beach. There is a world class golf course on site that was designed by PB “Pete” Dye, at which green fees are complimentary/reduced (depends on length of stay, how many times you play, time of year you travel, etc. but always a GREAT deal).

The bars have top shelf liquors including Grey Goose, Belvedere, and Stolichnaya vodkas, Johnny Walker, Don Julio, Tanqueray, Hennesey, 1800, Bombay Sapphire, Crown Royal, and more. The restaurants have wine by the bottle, both domestic and international and including Cabernet, Merlot, Shiraz, Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio, dessert wines, and more. I think there had to have been a hundred or so different bottles of wine you could order, included in the all-inclusive.

The restaurants offer unlimited a-la-carte dining at a Steakhouse, Italian, Gourmet, and Surf-n-Turf. My personal favorite was the traditional surf-n-turf, which is filet and lobster (except I asked for the upgrade to a double cut filet, which was a hearty size and exceptionally tender) at the Surf-n-Turf. The buffets, however, are really a great choice since you can just come and go as you please, there is no dress code, you can get a bit of everything, and the food is really just as good. The breakfast buffet is my personal all time favorite breakfast/brunch buffet that I have ever had on earth. There are about ten different fresh fruit juices, eggs any way you can imagine, all sorts of pancakes & french toast & waffles, fruit beyond belief, lots of meats, cereals, muffins, pastries, oats, grits, etc., etc.

They have a full service spa on site with everything from getting your nails done to half day or even full day spa packages. Inside the spa, you can use their hydrotherapy circuit pool which is available whether or not you are getting a spa treatment and is worth using every day, in my opinion. There is an amphitheater for shows every night, a discotheque that’s open late (I think 2-3 AM, on average), beach volleyball, classes during the day, and much more.

As as guest of the Iberostar Grand Hotel Paraiso, you also get access to the four adjacent resorts on the Playa Paraiso complex: Iberostar Paraiso Maya, Iberostar Paraiso Lindo, Iberostar Paraiso Beach, and the Iberostar Paraiso Del Mar. This gives you tons more restaurants, bars, and pools to access, a wave pool & lazy river (at the Iberostar Paraiso Maya), more activities, etc.

It is hard to do this resort justice with words and pictures – however, I assure you that once you go, you too will know why the Iberostar Grand Hotel Paraiso is the #1 all-inclusive resort on EARTH.

Here’s what some of our clients who stayed at the Iberostar Grand Hotel Paraiso thought:

This is a top notch facility – we had a great vacation experience. The pools are excellent and the beach is lovely. Overall, everything was superb. – Harold (January 2011)

This resort is amazing! It was first-class all the way. There’s no other place I would stay. - Sarah (June 2010)

This was one of the best trips we ever have taken. It is highly recommended! - Lisa (January 2010)This the first all inclusive we arranged and I am glad we did. It exceeded all our expectations. I can’t wait to come back for another visit. We loved the time we spent at this hotel. – Giblin (November 2009)

Iberostar Grand was the best hotel we have ever stayed in while visiting the Mexican Caribbean. Above & beyond expectations!!!!! Definitely going back. – Wanda (August 2009)

WOW! – Ambrosia (January 2009)