I agree with hatethesnow. We also just returned from the Iberostar Paraiso Beach and I, my husband and our two daughters, 15 and 17 loved it and want to go back. (We're already starting to save!) I'll post a review when I have more time in the next couple of weeks. It'll be from Toronto, Ontario. We had a very, very positive experience.

lovinPV,

Di you need to get two rooms or were you and your husband able to share a room with your two children?

Hatethesnow......I'm thrilled to hear that you had a positive visit! We have also been to the Paraiso DelMar and Beach resorts and just love them!!! Our kids are 10 and 13 and can't wait to go again, just too much to do. Yes we will be back! :-)

Just curious, did you e-mail in advance to request a room? We did and got an upgrade for us and our friends ( that is not what I asked for, but was a great treat!!) Kim.........

Hi!

So glad you had a good time. I got back Feb 11th and I can't wait to go back. I think about it often and really miss being there.

I actually just returned from the Ib. Paraiso Beach, with my husband and two girls, both 12. We also loved it! This was our second time visiting, we went to the Ib. Paraiso Del Mar last year, and of course, decided to come back this year. I was very surprised because when we came and were getting a room at the reception, we got a junior suite, instead of our regular standard suite, for no extra cost. The room was #3032, and was right on the beach. I'm not sure if it turned out to be such a good thing....

Anyway, the vacation was great!! The girls (my daughter, and her best friend) really loved it, they were never bored! I definitely want to return to this Ib. resort next year!

Please post a review. We leave on April 8th with our two children ages 13 and 9. How was the ocean? Was it rough or could you swim? Did the Star Friends include your kids with the activities going on? Did you use the kids club and how was it? Thanks for the room number because we want to be near the ocean. Did you go over to the Convention Center? Is it a nice walk or do you need to take the trolly as some have posted. Please post something there are a lot of negative things being said. We have stayed at the Tucan before but wanted something closer to the airport so we chose the delmar. thanks any info would be great!!!!

LuvYaPlaya,

You say you are staying at the Del Mar. On the Del Mar side building ten is right on the beach , but it is all Jr. Suites and cost more. Building eleven also has Jr. Suites, but I think it also has some standard rooms.

For great info on this resort, go to:

www.iberostar-board.com/boards/index.php

Schmerl: We got two rooms next to each other because our kids now both pay the adult rate. In fact, we got exactly what I had requested when I e-mailed the resort about a week before we got there. But that wasn't what the man at the check-in desk wanted to give us. I think he was trying to give the rooms allocated to us to someone else, but when I pressed the issue he said to go away for something to eat and he'd see what he could do. When we arrived back at the desk, he had our rooms -- one with two queen beds and one with a king bed in building 35, third floor, overlooking the pool/waterfall. Exactly my request. It all seemed rather odd. They never guarantee they'll give you what you want, but they'll try to accommodate you.

We did go over to the Commercial (not Convention -- that's a different, beautiful, building) Centre several times. The teen disco is there, but when we took our girls to it on the first night it there was nobody there. They tried again on several other nights and it was the same story. Too bad, because they said it was a very "cool" looking disco. All of the teens we met would venture over there, declare it dead, and go hang out in the Lindo lobby. Oh, well. I really would encourage everyone to go to shop, eat at the tapas, taco, crepe, ice cream and hamburger stands at the Commercial Centre. I don't know what the adult disco is like, because that's not our scene. But the resort really should promote the Centre more because we saw very few people there. My daughters and I made use of it one day by getting mani-pedis at the lovely spa. I hope the place doesn't close because of lack of interest. But most guests just don't seem to know about it. We mentioned that to the Beach/Del Mar P.R. woman, Loreto Lazo, and she gave me a little pamphlet that was supposed to be included in our info package when we arrived but was not!

To answer another question, the waves were substantial, but 9 and 11 year olds should have fun playing in them if they're cautious and stay in relatively shallow water with adult supervision. My husband went further out that I did because he's a better swimmer and said there's quite an undertow. All in all, it's a great place for a vacation!

It's great to hear all the great reviews! We are going to del mar with our 1 1/2year old son., next week.This is our first" hot" family trip.Do you have any pointers or tip for going with children? thanks .. Boston

I did not go with children, but everyone who has says to bring your child's favorite snacks. There is plenty of food at the resort, but not much in the way of "snack food". Also bring a light weight umbrella stroller and some pool toys.