Holiday Inn Resort Ixtapa All Inclusive

Getting an ocean-front walk-out room after booking a Garden view was the best part of the trip. The front desk upgraded us at the last minute. I liked the sound of the ocean hitting the shore all night, and Mary Lou in the Sports bar was one of our highlights. She was attentive for a few minutes after I fell on the steps in a quieter pool, hitting my shoulder blades and elbow. I slipped as soon as I put my foot down. The pools were a huge letdown: dirty, sandy on the bottom, and cloudy. The only one with a bar was full of kids, even though they weren't allowed inside the 6ft baracade, and there was hardly any space for adults. Pools closed at 8pm, the pool bar at 6, and the lobby bar didn't open until 6pm. The food was really good, but there were only 3 restraunts to choose from. Don't come here if you want Cilantro. We asked and asked but never recieved any. Our room AC wouldn't cool below 23°, about as warm as outside. I called three times, but the repairman fiddled with it and said it was done without making any difference. The toilet wouldn't flush either. The hotel was much too busy for us, and the staff didn't speak English very well. I thought a resort like The Holliday Inn would have bilingual staff. We've visited a few Mexican resorts and had no trouble communicating with Spanish-speaking staff, and we know a little Spanish. We'll NEVER come back.

The sunsets are as beautiful as they look in pictures, and the view from the Sports bar was breathtaking. We spent 10 days there, January 15-25, 2025, on El Palmar beach, and the location, food, and service were outstanding. The staff made us feel valued at every turn. Each morning, room service left a little extra touch, and Alfredo's towel creations were lovely. Cleofus at the towel station was a gem, always ready with upbeat conversation and stories. Carlos H and Aldolfo greeted us with drinks when we arrived, kept up the conversation, remembered what we liked, and suggested things to try at the pool and beach. Ernesto and Humberto kept our cups full and had another drink ready as ours got low. Captains Ignacio and Francisco and servers Rebecca, Lourdes, Carlos, Donaciano, Salvador, and the rest of the team gave us personal, attentive service every day. Chef Miguel and his team made delicious food at every meal. We had planned to try several places outside the resort, but the food there won us over. Marilu made watching the sunset each evening entertaining too. We never had to wait for service. The included photo shoot was a great surprise, and Adrian captured our sunset proposal beautifully. Alberico, the GM, does a phenomenal job, and his team at every level went above and beyond. Our whole trip felt magical thanks to the staff. We can’t wait to return with family and friends.

If you only speak English, be prepared for a hard time. The kids' activities and adult events are all in Spanish, which was difficult for my 12 year old twin boys. Staff were fantastic, and fiesta nights were awesome. Lunches were pretty lame, with very few options. The main restaurants had good food but little variety. Rooms were comfortable, the beach was nice, and the sunsets were incredible. I used to come here as a kid when it was The Presidente, and it was incredible then. I've stayed here 10 times over the years, and brought my boys on this recent trip. It saddened me to decide I likely won't return. There are other all-inclusive hotels that accommodate kids better. Most guests are nationals, as expected, but I'd say 99%. They were very rude to us, something I'd never experienced in Mexico before. This gringo family has stayed here for 30+ years. Theresa, a server, was beyond rude and yelled at my mom. The gift shop worker seemed to hate her job and showed strong disdain for Americans. It felt like a cattle-like turn-and-burn for nationals, nowhere near the wonderful El Presidente standards.

We went to the holliday inn hotel with friends to spend time at the beach. I think it's a good hotel for friends, with a larger pool and drink service, but the food isn't very good.