The Paraiso de la Bonita brings a very different experience to the Riviera Maya. With 90 rooms this is not a small property, and at first we were surprised by the "over 16s only" policy. Visiting the resort however, we think that this is justified - if only to protect the lavish furnishings that include items collected by the owners during their extensive world travels.

Each guest accommodation is an opulent suite, with a large living room opening out onto a generously sized terrace, plus a separate bedroom and a vast bathroom. The suites are furnished in one of six designs, and we showcase each on the site so that you can request your favorite when you reserve.

Service at the hotel is excellent (we particularly like the way that the staff are also friendly and polite to one another) and the restaurants serve very high quality cuisine with a good choice of menus. At breakfast, a newspaper from your home country is delivered to your table, another nice touch.

We were slightly disappointed that the size and the layout of the hotel is fairly conventional, and that there is some seaweed in the ocean at this point of the coast (although the beach itself is beautiful).

The Paraiso de la Bonita also boasts an incredible spa - including the first Thalassotherapy center in Mexico and only the second in Latin America.

In our opinion this is one of the resort's major advantages and is a worthy attraction in its own right. The equipment and facilities at the spa are unparalleled, including hydro massage tubs, high pressure jet showers and an outdoor warm-water hydrotherapy pool. Guaranteed to leave you feeling like a new person!