Iberostar Waves Paraiso Beach - All Inclusive

Customer Ratings & Reviews

TripAdvisor Traveler Rating

9595 reviews

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  Would never stay again. When you can trust the guests better than the staff,there’s something wrong.

  The beach has rocks throughout and a bad under toe. The resort is massive but enjoyed the animals and birds. The beds are doubles not queens. Beds are hard and pillows terrible. Cleanliness is good but make sure you lock everything worth money up in your room in safe. My sister had her tablet and phone and 28$ American stolen from room which was locked. Only person in there was maid. We reported. They went through the room and found nothing then a couple days later said maid said someone came into room. Nothing happened to her. She’s still working there. The noise level in room is good but pool area is loud which is normal. Service is good, food good, and the best part is Sergio in the maya buffet. We loved joking around with him.

  Jan 25, 2026
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  9 nights of meeting expectations

  We booked our trip at Iberostar Waves Pariso Beach directly with Air Transat vacations approximately 8 months in advance. The total cost of our trip was $2,900.00 / person all in for 9 nights mid January 2026. The transfer from the airport to the resort was approximately 30 minutes in duration. We were to only couple from our flight attending this resort so check in was pretty quick and painless. Our room was ready upon arrival. We were given a couple options regarding bed type and floor so I get a feeling the resort wasn’t full. There was the typical “pressure” to attend the information session for the Iberostar club. This continued throughout our stay with just about every interaction with a concierge, which became somewhat annoying. This was our fifth trip to an Iberostar resort in the last 10 years. We are comfortable with the consistency of the brand and this site is no different. The quality of the food, the condition of the rooms and grounds all were within our expectations. The pool at the site is one of the most extensive that we have seen at any resort. There is ample seating around the pool either in the sun or the shade and there was never an issue of finding a suitable chair regardless of the time of day. The resort offers a shuttle to PDC for $200 pesos per person return. Leaving at 11:00 and returning at 3:00. This is approximately 1/3 to 1/2 the cost of booking a taxi. Additional comments: 1. The experience at this resort is very similar to Iberostar Waves Quetzal / Toucan. The exception being the pool is much nicer / larger. 2. The resort is nice and close to the airport. 3. The ability to walk the beach here is very limited. Once you go past the developed area the beach is very dirty with a lot of sargassum and a shocking amount of plastic waste. I know it’s not part of the resort, but it would be nice to see some clean up done here. 4. It seemed to be a free for all when it came to smoking and vaping at this resort. Especially around the pool and even in the entertainment venue. Staff seemed to just look the other way. There did not appear to be any type of enforcement. This was the biggest disappointment, deducted one star from the rating because of this. 5. The evening entertainment was some of the best we have seen post Covid, which was a pleasant surprise. 6. The Iberostar app made it easy to book a la carte restaurants directly. The Japanese and French were excellent. The smoke house was not very good. They need to take some lessons from Iberostar Waves Quetzal. I would recommend this resort to others, but will not likely return any time soon. While we appreciate the consistency of the Iberostar brand will like try something different next time.

  Jan 25, 2026
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  5-Star Pricing, 4-Star Delivery at Best

  We were travelling from London — myself, my partner, and our 20-month-old son. We hadn’t had a proper holiday in over a year and decided to do something special with a trip to Mexico. The holiday was booked via Thomas Cook and was expensive, but based on Iberostar’s luxury and 5-star branding, we booked without hesitation. We stayed for 10 days. Iberostar positions itself as a luxury, premium 5-star resort. Unfortunately, the actual guest experience did not meet reasonable 5-star standards. ⸻ Arrival & Room Allocation On arrival, we were allocated a room with two separate beds on the first floor, with no lift access. Travelling with a toddler meant carrying a buggy up and down stairs multiple times a day. After requesting the beds to be joined, this was done, but a wall-mounted lamp was positioned directly above the pillow, resulting in my partner hitting his head several times. I requested a room move the following day. The relocation only happened on the third day of our holiday, and the process took half a day, effectively costing us a full day of our holiday. At this level, room moves should be handled smoothly and with urgency — this was not. ⸻ Aggressive Sales Pitch On our second day, we were invited to what was described as a “private breakfast.” In their hotel next door. In reality, this turned into a very aggressive membership sales presentation lasting over two hours, with prices reaching $95,000 USD. The approach relied heavily on high-pressure sales techniques: urgency, fear of loss, emotional manipulation, and indifference when we hesitated. We were also told we would receive two souvenirs as a thank-you for our time — in the end, we received nothing. As guests who were still settling in and unfamiliar with how the resort operated, this experience felt inappropriate and uncomfortable. There is another couple Iberostar properties next door, also rated 5-star, but clearly superior in both product and service. When I questioned the difference, I was told: “They are both 5-star, but service and everything else is better there.” That explanation alone speaks volumes about how loosely the 5-star label is applied. ⸻ Service Service across the resort was inconsistent and often below expected standards. High chairs were frequently unavailable, meaning our son had to eat in the buggy. Bar service was particularly uncomfortable. Bartenders were visibly disengaged and openly unfriendly if a tip was not given every single time. Eye-rolling, whispering, and laughing among staff were common. Specific examples: I ordered a glass of white wine. When one bottle ran out, the bartender topped up the glass with a different white wine, assuming I wouldn’t notice. This shows a lack of basic product knowledge and respect for the guest experience — something unacceptable in any properly managed bar. Or bartenders would make a big deal if we would ask them to fill up our own glasses with drinks , even tho their we’re doing it for other guests I work in hospitality. I understand staffing pressure, long shifts, and tipping culture — but professionalism, consistency, and guest respect are non-negotiable at this price point. ⸻ Food & Beverage Overall, food quality was mediocre. Not terrible, but lacking consistency, refinement, and execution expected of a 5-star resort. This offering would be acceptable at a solid 4-star property, not at this price level. À la carte restaurants: Hashiru (Japanese) — 7/10 Sushi was average, presentation acceptable, the live show was engaging, and service was good. Competently delivered, but nothing memorable. El Colonial (French) — 5.5/10 Burgundy snails were bland and poorly executed, showing a lack of technique and seasoning. The beef tenderloin was very chewy and unevenly cooked (ordered medium). Based on texture and temperature, it appeared to have been cooked from frozen or insufficiently tempered before service — a fundamental issue in product handling. Desserts were the strongest part of the meal. Service was professional, but the food did not justify the concept. La Plaza Buffet This was actually my favourite dining option. Themed evenings (Italian, Japanese, etc.) offered variety and reasonable consistency. My only concern was the limited availability of healthier options for children. ⸻ Housekeeping Housekeeping was acceptable but clearly influenced by tipping. Bed linen showed visible wear, including holes and occasional stains — something I would expect in a lower-tier hotel, not a 5-star environment. ⸻ Spa & Pricing The spa deserves a specific mention due to both price and limitations. Access costs $48 per person per day, which sets high expectations. Facilities include a jacuzzi, Roman bath, Buddha bath, sauna, steam room, a small pool, and basic wet areas. While clean, the facilities are limited and not particularly impressive. Despite paying this amount, spa access is strictly by reservation only, meaning guests cannot use the facilities freely throughout the day. This significantly reduces value, especially for guests with children. Treatments are heavily overpriced. A 1-hour massage costs $210, a price point that would only be justified in a true luxury spa with extensive facilities and exceptional service — which this is not. ⸻ Family Experience Despite being marketed as family-friendly, loud club music continued until 11 pm. Even though our room was not near the club, settling a toddler at night was consistently difficult. The room door was also extremely easy for our child to open from the inside. After several escape attempts, we had to block the door overnight with a large suitcase — a serious safety oversight. ⸻ Babysitting We hired a babysitter through the hotel and were quoted $14 per hour. The sitter stayed for two hours, yet we were charged $46, with no transparent explanation. ⸻ Communication & Guest Handling Staff often lacked accurate information or gave conflicting answers, which became tiring over a 10-day stay. We raised our concerns with management, the bar manager, and the head chef. While they appeared to discuss the feedback internally for days, the follow-through was poor. As a gesture, we were offered a restaurant reservation — which did not exist when we arrived. ⸻ Beach & Grounds The resort grounds are genuinely beautiful, with well-maintained flora and fauna. The beach itself is lovely, but sunbeds are permanently “reserved” with towels early in the morning, and no staff enforce any policy. Most days there was nowhere to sit unless you arrived very early, so we often ended up sitting directly on the sand. ⸻ Final Thoughts I am not an inexperienced traveller, nor am I unfamiliar with luxury hospitality. This resort simply does not deliver a true 5-star product or service. This Iberostar relies heavily on branding rather than execution. Guests are charged 5-star prices for a 4-star (at best) experience. I would not return and would not recommend this property, particularly to families with young children.

  Jan 24, 2026
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  We would happily go back

  My wife and I have been to 4 different Iberostar "all inclusives." All were enjoyable, but this was our best so far. All of our trips have been to the "lower level" Waves. At Paraiso, "Beach" and "Del Mar" are essentially different sides of the same resort, sharing the pool, beach, and restaurants. (They also have several higher priced resorts on the same Paraiso campus that you can walk around, but you can't use their restaurants and facilities.) There are a lot of things to like, especially for Iberostar's "lower level". First, everything is clean. There is no trash anywhere. Zero trash! There are ample employees to do the work, and all are friendly and seem in good spirits. I like resorts that take care of their people. The pool is really nice, and everything is family and child friendly. The beach is clean and well tended. The outdoor space reflects the area's jungle heritage, but again, well tended with interesting birds and wildlife. It is a wonderful space to walk around, especially during a winter escape. I will give a minor downvote to the theater entertainment overall, but we enjoyed the Mexican Dance show. Considering that this is Iberostar's lower level, it is quite well done. Plenty of elbow space in the rooms with a nice balcony and walk out. The food is good, though not necessarily a gourmet experience. Not always thrilling, but no really bad meals. The dinner buffett is comparable to a nice cruise ship. Among the specialty restaurants, the "mediterranean" and "brazilian" were our favorites. My wife and I would happily go back to this one. (Is there a higher recommendation?)

  Jan 22, 2026
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  A review for vegans and 3 year old toddlers

  We stayed at this all-inclusive resort for 5 days, and I want to share our experience specifically as vegan travelers and as parents of a 3-year-old. First, the vegan options were truly excellent. Almost every restaurant had something vegan, and the chefs were incredibly accommodating. At every buffet and meal, we spoke with the chefs and they consistently made us custom vegan dishes using tofu and Beyond Meat. Some highlights: corn tamales and tofu scramble for breakfast, Beyond burgers with vegan cheese, and lots of creative, tasty options throughout our stay. We felt very cared for as vegans, which is rare at all-inclusive resorts. Huge plus. Now, for families with toddlers—this resort is unfortunately not very 3-year-old friendly. The Kangaroo section (meant for under 4-year-olds) was pretty disappointing. The space felt very babyish and uninspiring, and the small pool didn’t really have anything for kids to play with. The Star Camp kids club is mostly for ages 4+, with only two short windows for younger kids: one at 12:30 PM for an hour (peak nap time) and another from 6:30–8:30 PM (peak dinner, bath, and bedtime). This made it nearly impossible for our 3-year-old to participate. We stayed in the Waves section of the resort, and while it’s nice, it’s definitely not ideal for toddlers. Another big downside: the pools were extremely cold. We visited during peak season, so it was surprising that none of the pools were heated or even slightly warmer. This made swimming much less enjoyable, especially for young kids. On the day we arrived, we were offered a tour of another part of the resort to see if an Iberostar membership would make sense for us. The tour lasted about two hours. In return, we received vouchers for two people to visit their “waterpark,” as well as vouchers to reserve two beds at the pool or on the beach. However, it’s hard to call it a true waterpark—there’s a lazy river and a few slides, but that’s about it. On top of that, it was very cold, which made it difficult to actually enjoy. One frustrating part of the tour was that they refused to share any pricing information until the very end, despite us asking earlier. We only found out at the absolute end that the memberships require a minimum 10-year commitment, which really only makes sense if you plan to visit one of their locations at least once every year on average. Another major frustration came at checkout. We were suddenly told there was a $15 tax that had never been mentioned to us beforehand. On top of that, we were told their American Express machine “wasn’t working” and that they don’t accept American Express—despite their materials and signage advertising that they do. This felt misleading and left a bad final impression after an otherwise pleasant stay. Overall, if you’re vegan, this resort does an amazing job with food and accommodations. But if you’re traveling with a toddler around age 3, I would think twice. It’s not well-designed for that age group, and between the cold pools, limited kid programming, sales-heavy membership tour, and surprise checkout issues, it made things more challenging than expected.

  Jan 21, 2026