Playa Paraiso, Mexico. A Picture Perfect VacationBy Madelyn Miller
The company designer must have worked on movies. Or could have if he didn’t spend all his time designing paradise after paradise for lucky guests of Iberostar properties. There are several in the location I visited just 20 minutes South of Cancun, each new resort gets better and better. The company considers Paraiso Lindo their brightest star on the Riviera Maya. But that star might be eclipsed when the next Iberostar property opens in November 2004. Each building has its own concierge who makes dinner reservations. You also have full dining exchange privileges at over 12 restaurants and 14 bars in all 3 Iberostar resorts in Playa Paraiso.
SOME SUPERLATIVESThe presentation of food is so far above what you expect from the stereotype of an all inclusive. Even buffets, like the breakfast buffets, have new and different selections everyday. I think you could easily stay two weeks and never have the same meal twice. At breakfast, they actually make donuts and frost them right before your eyes. Kids must love this. And I admit I was taken by it, too. I can normally resist a chocolate frosted donut for breakfast. But I was visiting on my birthday and I decided to go ahead and enjoy every calorie. The donuts are even more delicious than they look. Actually fresher than anything like Krispy Kreme Staff energy. You can tell everyone enjoys working there and they seem to take pride in serving well and anticipating your needs. After a few mornings of brewing my own iced tea, they quickly identified me as the lady who liked a big glass of ice in the morning There are a zillion things to do. Something is happening all the time. I looked at the schedule and was almost tired looking at the pool activities, games, contests and shows. You can do more than just dine around at the sister Iberostar properties. They even offer a free shuttle bus to the beach town of Playa del Carmen every hour or so. But you might not want to leave paradise Weather was breezy, not too balmy. I may have just been lucky at the beginning of March, but I think the property is laid out to maximize the ocean breezes. I loved ice cream station “El Mirador” which served a variety of flavors every day from 11AM to 6PM. Most people had a daiquiri for happy hour. I preferred the vanilla and mango ice cream swirl. We all have our quirks. And Iberostar Paraiso Lindo is so good at anticipating them and indulging you. Star Rock Café is a sports bar and disco that offers drinks until 3AM. Serious smokers will like the cigar lounge Robusto. The snack service is almost better than 7-11. From 11pm to 3am, there are hot buffet snacks and from 3am to 7am there are cold snacks. And then you can start all over again at the breakfast buffet. And you thought there was a lot of food on a cruise ship WHAT COULD BE BETTERIf you arrive around 4pm, (and have been on an airplane that only served pretzels) you might starve until the restaurants serve dinner at 6pm (reservations needed), From 4-6 pm the choices are hot dogs from a stand, ice-cream cones, or room service. Kids might like these choices, however, as a hungry adult who had been traveling all day, I was disappointed. I called room service. Actually, I was so hungry when I arrived I asked for a room service menu at the front desk so I could order ahead and hopefully be served not long after arriving. The reception area person told me they did not have a menu. I asked her to call room service, and I asked what sandwiches they had. The woman who answered really had trouble reading from the menu in English. I did get some food, and it was not bad, but it was not what I ordered. Instead of iced tea, they brought me some canned drinks, instead of a brownie, they brought me a yummy small chocolate cake. WHAT WAS BETTER THAN I EXPECTEDMy slightly jaded group of travel writer companions was extremely impressed by the evening entertainment and the quality of food. Much more variety than we expected. This experience gave me a whole new attitude towards all-inclusives. And upon comparison, I discovered that packages on Iberostar were actually less expensive than other all-inclusives. A good deal, A good time. A great over-all experience. I am eager to check out their other properties. When I got home from this trip, I contacted my stockbroker and asked him to check out their stock because I was so impressed by how well run the company seemed Iberostar Hotels & Resorts, a Spanish-owned hotel company, offers guests first-class accommodations and the convenience of an all-inclusive vacation. Located on the best beaches of the Caribbean, Iberostar Hotels & Resorts incorporate the area’s natural environment and local culture. Designed with leisure travelers in mind, a wide variety of daytime and nighttime activities, dining and entertainment options are available. For more information about Iberostar Hotels & Resorts call 1-888-923-2722 or visit www.iberostar.com NEARBY EXCURSIONSTulum. This ancient Mayan ruin has always fascinated me. South of Akumal, it is a formidable archaeological zone with a walled Mayan city containing temples, shrines and platforms built atop rock cliffs overlooking the Caribbean Sea. You can take a tram from the entrance or walk to the ruins. Open 8am to 6pm, it is best to go early to avoid the crowds and the hot sun. What you learn is greatly affected by the quality of your guide. Be sure to engage a certified guide. On this trip, we used a regular guide and once paid his $40 for a 30 minute tour, he could not wait to get rid of his. He kept pointing to the exit, to be sure we knew where it was. And then when he decided the tour was over, he casually suggested we find our own way out. Since I had been there before, I knew about the pole acrobats. (tip expected). Last time I was in Tulum, I actually bought one of the elaborately beaded skirts the performers wear. Mine goes around my shoulders as a shawl. But this colorful spectacle is one the uncertified guide had no plans to include.
Tulum has surprisingly good shopping and you can barter on price. Leave some extra time to browse.
The beach looks glorious and I have heard it is one of the nicest in Mexico, but I haven’t made it there yet. DOLPHIN DISCOVERYThe marina at Puerto Aventuras offers a unique opportunity to interact with these marine mammals in harmony with nature’s environment. Swim, scuba diving and encounter programs are available. The dolphin experience is $119 a person with extra ($12 and $15 for prints, $49 for a video) Expensive but worth it. I have actually swum with the dolphins at four other locations and was extremely impressed by the natural setting and the skill of the trainers. The “tricks” that you got to do with the dolphins (or more accurately, they did for you) were much more advanced. The only negative is that the water is a little cold when you first enter and there are fish swimming around. I am sort of a hot house princess, so I did recall a previous dolphin experience in a more contained environment that had filtered water. Dolphin Discovery offers a more “reality” experience. They also offer sealife programs that feature encounters with stingrays, manatees and dolphins. The marina itself is scenic and it is fun to browse in the shops and stop at the pubs and restaurants. The Pub had reasonable food and I enjoyed a chicken sate entrée that was generous enough for two for just over five dollars. Open 9:30am to 5:30 pm GUIDEBOOKSLET’S GO MEXICO MOON HANDBOOKS PACIFIC MEXICO Lonely Planet Mexico EYEWITNESS TRAVEL GUIDES MEXICO TRAVELERS TALES GUIDES Michelin Tourist Guide to Mexico, Guatemala and Belize BERLITZ CANCUN & COZUMEL Hunter Travel Guide ADVENTURE GUIDE TO THE YUCATAN, CANCUN & COZUMEL HIDDEN CANCUN & THE YUCATAN EAT SMART IN MEXICO LIVE BETTER SOUTH OF THE BORDER ON MEXICAN TIME BEST SOUVENIRS OF MEXICOLegal drugs. I always get Retin-A for myself and friends. I know people who also buy antibiotics and other prescription drugs that are available over-the-counter in Mexico Damiana. A sweet liquor believed to be an aphrodisiac. I think it works because it is so yummy you drink too much. And the bottle could be a collector’s item, it is shaped like a voluptuous nude woman Mexican sea salt. Easily available in supermarkets. A wonderful gifts for gourmet foodie friends. Other food gifts include mountain grown coffee, Mexican vanilla, and sweets made of tamarindo and coconut. MOST REQUESTED THINGS TO BRING BACK FOR FRIENDSRETINA- if you are old enough to need it, you know what it is and will appreciate that it costs about 90% less if you buy it in Mexico. If you have lots of friends who want it, it may be worth a trip to Walmart. But call ahead and tell them you want to order some, the day I was there they only had 3 tubes in stock. I had had four disappointed friends. Kahlua MY FAVORITE MEXICAN DRINKDirty banana (recipe compliments of Dorado Pacifico, Ixtapa) ½ oz. condensed milk Combine all ingredients and blend with ice TO GET A TASTE OF MEXICO AT HOME |
TM
Approaching the new Iberostar Paraiso Lindo is like entering an adult amusement park.
Eye candy is everywhere. Gorgeous vistas of larger-than-life gazebos, pyramids and pillars make you feel like you are on the set of a movie. And everyone treats you like a star.
Your room is stocked with a minibar (all inclusive) and complimentary room service is available 24 hours. While there may not be the white flowers and specific brands of designer waters required by stars like J.Lo, you will find a bunny, or snail or teddy made out of towels waiting to greet you on your bed.
Food at the specialty restaurants was especially wonderful. I ate at Jambalaya the first night and enjoyed a seafood appetizer buffet, followed by served entrees (I recommend the rib eye steak, sliced off the bone and seasoned in a way that would make any Cajun proud) and a dessert buffet. 
On the final night, we ate in the gourmet restaurant which has formal service in an elegant setting, but you can still come in resort casual clothes. The presentation was amazing, I hated to deflower the salmon “rose” I was served as an appetizer. Choices are sophisticated combinations with classical sauces. I ordered the rack of lamb but it was a tough choice between that and the veal and fresh fish offerings. For dessert there are crepes, flaming strawberries, and an all too tempting dessert cart of truffles, chocolate covered strawberries and cream puff swans among others. 
You will have trouble trying to find time to eat in all the restaurants unless you stay a long time. Choices include a la cart Gourmet, Italian, Cajun, Oriental, Steak House and Fondue. (and that is just for dinner)
You will be wined and dined (actually cocktailed) as there are unlimited international and domestic cocktails, beers and soft drinks. I celebrated the fact that even the champagne is free. I was so busy touring the restaurants, checking out the bars, and enjoying the views from the pool, that I never even got to the famous white sandy beach first day I was there.
