I am looking for a good place to stay with 4 couples. (ages 40-50)We are looking for a good beach, nice food, some fun at night. Also, want good service.
i am looking at excellence riviera cancun or iberostar paraiso maya?
Some posts say good things, some say bad.
At minimum can someone tell which is the best beach area?

Both of those places are very nice. Excellence is adults only. IB Maya is not.
Look into the Royal Playa del Carmen. It is adults only and right in Playa. Great service and food and just a walk down the street for shops and nightlife.

I agree on the Royal Playa del Carmen. We just returned a few weeks ago. We've been to several AI's and The Royal was the best. Rooms are nice, food and service good. 5th Avenue is just down the street unlike many properties in which you'll have to take a cab. Lots of things to see and do off property.

We love secrets capri (dont know if that's what it's called anymore). Adults only and great food and service.

The beach was great. There were no other resorts to the right. Although that was in 2005. Could have changed by now. It was $20 cab ride into PDC though.

Peace, Greenie

Are the beaches good at these places. I am the planner for the group and if i get a bad beach I'll have 7 mad people.

I thought The Royal's beach was fine. Don't except beaches like in Turks & Caicos or Grand Cayman and you won't be dissapointed. Many hotels on the Riviera Maya their beaches have been washed away and contain seaweed due to the many storms and hurricanes they've had over the past 2 years.

Cancun beaches on the Caribbean side are kinda rough. You'll need to find a hotel on the lagoon side. I personally would avoid Cancun between Christmas and the end of April unless you really like the college age party scene.

If your interested I have pics of The Royal's beach at:
http://community.webshots.com/user/kvrlvn

Also look on Trip Advisor for the hotels your interested in. That site has several pictures and well as reviews.

Still called Secrets Capri. Still great.

Both the IB Maya and the Royal Playa del Carmen have great beaches.