Paradise Island

"I’m not quite sure where the paradise part of Paradise Island comes in, but after our stay, I can safely say it wasn’t where we were! Let’s start with the positives, because to be fair, there were some. The staff were lovely, friendly, always smiling and happy to help. The communal areas were also kept clean, and the bins were emptied every day. I never once saw overflowing bins, despite seeing this mentioned in other reviews, so credit where credit is due. The all-inclusive food had a great selection, with plenty of choice, so there was something for everyone. The problem? It was nearly always cold! And the wine? Absolutely terrible. It tasted more like petrol than something you’d actually want to drink. I’m no wine connoisseur, but it was terrible. Unfortunately, that’s where the paradise started to disappear. Our room cleaning was a let-down. The beds were made on 7 out of our 10 days, but the sink and surfaces didn’t appear to get wiped down, and the floor was never swept. Then there was the constant smell of weed around both the bar and the pool area. It seemed to follow you around, making it difficult to relax and enjoy these spaces. Between that, the smoking, and the behaviour of some guests, the atmosphere was far from the relaxing holiday environment we had hoped for. However, the biggest disappointment was the general atmosphere around the pool and the evening entertainment. Between poo in the pool, adults getting drunk, smoking, swearing at children and other guests, punch-ups, domestic arguments and drinks being thrown at each other, it often felt less like a family holiday resort and more like an episode of Jeremy Kyle: All-Inclusive Edition. One evening, things became so uncomfortable that once the lights came on, we were genuinely afraid to make eye contact with anyone. You know your holiday has taken a wrong turn when looking at someone feels like a potential invitation to a boxing match! The entertainment was another let-down. Out of all the evenings, only two really stood out, when there was a band and an outside singer. Those were genuinely enjoyable. The entertainment team seemed to try their best, but they often looked miserable, and you couldn’t help feeling they were doing two jobs: entertaining the guests and acting as security. That’s a lot to ask of anyone whose job title is supposed to include the word “entertainment”! I honestly have never stayed anywhere quite like this in my life. I’ve been on plenty of holidays, but I’ve never experienced such a combination of poor room cleaning, cold food, dreadful wine, the constant smell of weed and aggressive behaviour. It was an atmosphere that could make you feel uncomfortable simply sitting and trying to enjoy your evening. I want to stress that the staff we encountered were lovely, and the cleanliness of the communal areas deserves recognition. This isn’t a criticism of the people who were friendly and doing their jobs. It’s about the overall experience, the standard of room housekeeping, the food and drink quality, and the behaviour that seemed to overshadow what should have been a relaxing holiday. My final verdict: Paradise Island might have the name, but our experience was far from paradise. We went away looking for sunshine, relaxation, good food and a bit of entertainment. We got sunshine, a great food selection served at the temperature of a forgotten cup of tea, wine that could probably strip paint, a constant smell of weed, two good entertainment nights and what felt at times like a live episode of Britain’s Got No Holiday Etiquette. Sadly, I wouldn’t return. A holiday should leave you relaxed, refreshed and talking about the good memories, not wondering what on earth you’ve just witnessed. I’ve never been happier to come home from a holiday can safely say that has never been anything I’ve felt before."

"**Disappointing cleanliness and maintenance – would not return** My wife and I stayed at HL Paradise Island Aparthotel & Waterpark in Playa Blanca, Lanzarote, for seven nights in September 2026. Unfortunately, the overall standard of cleanliness, housekeeping and maintenance was extremely disappointing. On arrival, we discovered a large cockroach above the beds in our room. We reported this and the hotel attended to apply insect treatment. The apartment floors did not appear to be properly swept during our stay. Our bed linen was not changed until we requested it after four days, and on another occasion our towels were removed without replacements being left, meaning we had to visit reception ourselves. The kettle supplied in our room had substantial dark deposits inside. We requested a replacement, but the second kettle was also in poor condition, so we eventually purchased our own travel kettle. The microwave was visibly stained internally, the bathroom mirror frame was deteriorating, and our bedroom door would not close properly. Around the complex, we observed numerous cracked and chipped floor tiles, particularly around the children's Mini Disco area and swimming pool. My granddaughter, who was staying under a separate family booking, cut her knee while climbing out of the pool. We also noticed torn seating in the chill-out area and damaged steps around the complex. I appreciate that no holiday accommodation is perfect, and we understand that insects can occasionally be encountered in warmer climates. However, our concerns went far beyond one isolated incident. We took numerous photographs and video evidence of the conditions we encountered. We genuinely enjoyed Playa Blanca and would happily return to the resort, but we would not choose to stay at HL Paradise Island again. **My advice to anyone considering this complex is to look carefully at recent guest reviews, particularly regarding cleanliness, housekeeping and maintenance, before booking.**"

"Very disappointing stay at HL Paradise Island Staffing appears inadequate, and we have found the reception staff very rude and obnoxious when raising concerns. Basic problems have been met with an unhelpful attitude rather than any real effort to resolve them. Our room was supposed to be ready for check-in at 3pm, but it had not been cleaned and we could not get in until 6pm. The air conditioning does not work. Despite reporting it three times, we have simply been given a fan. A door is hanging off its hinges, and the electrical system keeps tripping. The food standard is poor, with food left sitting for long periods before being replaced. Drinks availability is frustrating too. One bar regularly does not have what we ask for, meaning we have to go to another bar to find different drinks. Cleanliness around the pool is also poor, with discarded cups and cigarette ends lying around. You also have to pay €15 for towel hire and can only exchange the towel twice during your stay. This feels particularly unreasonable given the other shortcomings. We have found Pascal dismissive when raising complaints, leaving us feeling that our concerns simply do not matter. Problems can happen at any hotel, but the response from staff and management has made an already disappointing stay worse. Based on our experience, I would not recommend this hotel."