Iberostar Selection Paraiso Lindo - All Inclusive

Customer Ratings & Reviews

TripAdvisor Traveler Rating

9539 reviews

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  Disappointing Services at Iberostar Paraiso Lindo

  I rarely leave negative reviews, but unfortunately this stay has been extremely disappointing. I arrived in Mexico yesterday with my three children as a graduation gift trip, and while check-in was smooth and easy, the experience has steadily declined since then. The first issue occurred immediately upon entering our room. The electrical panel was completely exposed. With the cover on top of the closet shelf (there was no way for me to place it on to properly secure it) I called maintenance upon check-in, called again the following morning before leaving for the day, and returned hours later to find it still had not been addressed. It ultimately took multiple calls before the issue was finally resolved. This is a safety and hazard concern, especially for children. Incredibly important for children with special needs. The second issue involved food safety concerns at the breakfast buffet. I personally witnessed an employee handling multiple pancakes with her bare hands while transferring them to a serving dish. I didn't see ANY food handlers wearing gloves AT ALL. I asked if she could use tongs instead. When she indicated she did not understand English, I pointed directly to the tongs and then grabbed them to mimic what she "should have" done. She looked at me, said "no," and continued. I immediately reported the incident to management because basic food handling and sanitation standards should not require guest intervention. The final incident was what pushed my frustration over the edge. My son and I were at the shopping area just this evening and I asked a golf cart driver if he could take us back to the Lindo hotel lobby . He simply refused and pointed in the direction of the hotel, telling us to walk. As a guest staying on the property, I found this interaction dismissive and unprofessional. In front of my child who truly was just excited about riding in the cart. Disappointing me is one thing, disappointing my child, by an unprofessional and rude worker, whose job is to drive around those staying at the resort...Can you say LIVID?! I brought these concerns to management/customer relations and was disappointed by the response. Rather than taking ownership of the service failures, I was offered a preferred restaurant reservation and I was also encouraged to speak with the restaurant manager myself. Neither of which interested me. It is not a guest's responsibility to train staff on customer service or proper sanitation practices. I am traveling with three children with special needs, which was documented in advance. We also experienced issues with room service through the app, as well as conversations via guest services just to get room service, all just to have the food arrive completely cold. Throughout this trip, I have spent far too much time addressing problems instead of enjoying a vacation and celebrating my children's graduation. For a resort marketed as a 4- to 5-star property, the level of service has fallen far short of expectations. I work hard for my money, and this vacation represented a significant investment for my family. Unfortunately, based on the repeated service failures and lack of meaningful resolution, I would not recommend this resort. I tried to leave early but unable due to flights. I will make the best of my remaining time here but I would NOT recommend.

  Jun 01, 2026
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  First time in Mexico with friends

  The activities were a fun time and Yulian is muy Bonita and Franco is very friendly and cool

  Jun 01, 2026
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  This resort is the definition of “pay more or suffer.”

  This resort is the definition of “pay more or suffer.” We spent thousands of dollars expecting a relaxing luxury vacation, but the reality was completely different. The entire resort is unbearably loud from morning to night. Music is blasting at the pools, near the restaurants, basically everywhere. If you actually want silence or a calm atmosphere, apparently that is reserved only for “premium” guests. The whole business model feels manipulative. They intentionally make the standard experience uncomfortable so people feel forced into buying premium packages. The difference in treatment between premium and regular guests is honestly embarrassing. If you are not premium, expect to feel invisible. Staff suddenly become much friendlier the moment they see a premium bracelet. Another huge annoyance: nonstop pressure to buy their membership program. They bother you around the pool, interrupt your vacation, and even call your room early in the morning trying to push you into attending their sales presentation. Then if you actually consider buying into their system, they suddenly tell you nothing is available unless reservations were made years ago.. Also disappointing: the alcohol selection for standard guests is terrible. Cheap drinks, weak cocktails, low-end beer options… while premium guests get access to better brands. In a Mexican resort, not even having proper popular Mexican beers available for everyone is crazy. The property itself has potential and could have been amazing, but management completely destroys the experience with constant money grabs and endless upselling. Instead of feeling welcomed, you feel like a walking wallet the entire time.

  May 21, 2026
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  Iberostar Paraiso Lindo was one of the most frustrating hotel experiences I’ve ever had.

  Iberostar Paraiso Lindo was one of the most frustrating hotel experiences I’ve ever had. First of all, you cannot rest in this hotel unless you pay even MORE money for their “premium” access. We paid around $3,500 for the week thinking we were booking a relaxing vacation. Wrong. The entire hotel blasts music everywhere all day long, and the only quiet areas are reserved for premium guests. I literally went to reception asking where we could finally relax in peace, and they told me the only solution was to pay an extra $70 PER DAY to access the quiet zone. That honestly feels like a scam. You already spend thousands of dollars, and once you arrive they pressure you to upgrade for basic comfort. Everything is designed to make non-premium guests feel like second-class customers. Employees clearly treat premium members better while regular guests get ignored or disrespected. The upselling never stops. They even harass you at the pool and call your room at 7:00 AM trying to drag you into their sales seminar to push their Iberostar membership/subscription. And once you buy into it? Suddenly there’s “never any availability anywhere” unless you booked two years in advance. Convenient. Even basic things are absurdly overpriced. Want two inflatable pool donuts? That’ll be $100 USD. Completely ridiculous. And for a resort in Mexico, they don’t even properly serve the main Mexican beers unless you’re premium. Non-premium guests get cheap low-quality alcohol and watered-down drinks instead. The place itself could actually be beautiful, but the management completely ruins the experience by trying to squeeze money out of you every two minutes. Everything feels engineered to frustrate guests into paying more.

  May 21, 2026
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  Really liked this resort, other than the traveler's diarrhea

  About us: Family of 5 with elementary school-age children, traveling with another family of 4 with elementary school-age children. We wanted something that was going to be "in the middle" in terms of cost and experience - not super-fancy/super-expensive, but also not bargain basement. Location: It was a big resort on a beach. Other than that, I have no idea where I was. But the beach was nice compared to others I've been to in Riviera Maya. I liked having everything you could imagine relatively close by, from the beach, to the pools and restaurants, to an on-site golf course. Atmosphere: It was a mix of families and young adult spring breakers. But we never felt overwhelmed or offended by the young singles. The facility is absolutely stunning. The decor in the common areas was gorgeous, and everything felt clean and modern. Music was a reasonable volume everywhere. Rooms: We had a family suite, which was really just two connecting rooms. This worked well for our family. The rooms were well-appointed with nice bathrooms and furniture. We did not have any mechanical issues. Service: Everyone we met was friendly and helpful. The only negative would be the attempt to get us to a timeshare presentation. We were solicited for this maybe 3 or 4 times, with the most aggressive being from the concierge in the hotel lobby. We went for help with booking restaurant reservations for our large party and ended up getting pressured to attend a presentation. We balked because I have zero interest and am on vacation and don't want to waste my time, and the offers kept getting bigger and bigger (eventually two rounds of golf, two spa massages, and I think we few hundred dollars on top), but we still were not very interested. We were promised she would contact us about the restaurant reservations, but never heard anything back. Food: This is where the review gets interesting. Before I talk about the taste or selection of food, I must first talk about food safety. Clearly there are different standards here than what we would expect in the USA. Hot and cold food alike is left to die on the non-temperature-controlled buffet for hours on end. I'm talking raw fish, deli meats, cooked foods, you name it. Often times, you would see a cold surface under the buffet platters, but the platters would be elevated well above them, rendering them useless. And, whaddayaknow, on Day 3, I got travelers diarrhea. I was out of commission for a full day and my stomach not back to normal for over a week. I basically did not eat anything for the last few days of our trip. I was very careful about only drinking safe water, so there is little doubt that I simply got unlucky and ate the wrong thing on the buffet. If you travel here, I would strongly advise to only eat things on the bugget that are clearly being temperature controlled properly or that are being prepared right before you (such as pizzas, pastas, made-to-order omelets and tacos, etc.). Outside of that, I would say that the food was slightly above-average. Buffet selection was pretty good, but restaurant menus and execution was pretty poor. Buffet labelling was horrible - almost everything mislabeled and allergen disclosures clearly wrong on many and could not be trusted. Amenities: Absolutely loved everything water-related. Great main pool. Kids spent hours in the wave pool (be sure to watch your kids - just a single lifeguard who is not paying much attention). Beach was great, with good sized waves, plenty of seating, and food and drinks available. Kids loved the water slides, and I enjoyed the lazy river. I don't understand why these amenities are not more widely advertised by the resort. The camp program seemed really good, with great scheduling and communication, but my kids weren't too into it (which was probably more about them then the camp). I played the golf course which was one of the hardest I've ever played in my life, with impossibly sloped fairways and crazy elevated greens. Entertainment: We went to most of the nightly shows. The kids enjoyed being in the pre-shows as well, which didn't require rehearsing earlier in the day (just show up 30 minutes prior). Some were better than others, but overall it was a solid cast. Logistics: I was impressed with the logistics overall. A million golf carts zooming by all the time to deliver towels, food, supplies, you name it. The shuttle system is a bit confusing at first (not all the listed routes actually operate), so take a minute to look in the app and understand what shuttles actually run and to where. Truth be told, unless you have mobility problems or the shuttle happens to be exactly where you are, it's almost always faster to just walk. Bottom line: Had it not been for the traveler's diarrhea, I think I would have really, really liked this resort. I still did like it, which says something considering how miserable I was for much of the trip. I don't think that it needs to be a fait accompli that some people will get sick when travelling to Mexico; they really need to address food safety. If you are looking for a big resort with all the amenities and a slightly upscale feel for your family, I would recommend this resort (just be careful at the buffet)!

  May 18, 2026