Hotel Villas Paraiso

Hotel Villas Paraiso is a fairly standard budget property for this part of Mexico, though it's not without its charms. The hotel has a relaxed and laid-back vibe and centers around a massive pool terrace. During our visit, guests were lounging and sunbathing by the pool throughout the day, or coming to and from nearby Playa el Palmar. The hotel does cater to long-term travelers, so many guests stay for several months, though don't expect self-catering amenities. The poolside restaurant, Restaurante Villas Paraiso, is a popular destination for locals and travelers in the area, staying busy for breakfast and dinner. There's a small social scene at the bar at night, with many locals hanging out and mingling, but there isn’t too much noise heard in the rooms. Otherwise, expect to see mostly tourist couples and families here, both domestic and international. 

Situated on a quiet residential corner, Hotel Villas Paraiso is within easy walking distance of the restaurants and shops in downtown Ixtapa. It's a 15-minute walk or four-minute drive to the white sands of Playa el Palmar. Ixtapa is a pedestrian city with plenty of wide sidewalks and crosswalks, so renting a car isn’t necessary for most guests. The Ciclopista (bike path) is a four-minute walk from the hotel and is several miles long. Zihuatanejo is a 25-minute drive from the hotel, and features popular restaurants, traditional Mexican food stalls, and a bustling market. The quiet sands of Playa la Ropa are a 20-minute drive away from the hotel. For stunning views of Zihuatanejo Bay, the restaurants and popular boardwalk of Paseo del Pescador are also 20 minutes away by car. Budget 30 minutes to reach the airport by car.

All 96 rooms at the Hotel Villas Paraiso are spacious and simple -- if not downright basic. Each includes a living room and separate bedroom. The bedrooms come with two double beds, dressers, and tube TVs. The living areas are spacious, with two couches and a casual counter bar with black stools. The white, purple, and black hues don't do much style-wise and there's almost no artwork of which to speak. You should expect some wear and tear, including scratches and scuff marks. Amenities are the definition of spartan, including air-conditioning, full refrigerators, and tube TVs. Some features -- including the air-conditioning -- aren't always reliable. We also noted smokey smells in some rooms. There's some tableware in the kitchen area, but there's nothing with which to cook a meal, so it seems superfluous. The front porches are a nice extra, and feature white plastic tables and chairs with lovely views of the serene garden and pool. There's ostensibly free Wi-Fi, but it doesn't work well in the rooms. Bathrooms are moderately sized and include stall showers, a few towels, and bar soap. There's a decent amount of counter space for stowing your own bath products.

Hotel Villas Paraiso has a massive pool terrace that's the center of the property, making it easily accessible to most of the rooms. The pool has plenty of heavy wooden lounge chairs and is surrounded by lovely tropical flowers. A small children’s pool is situated adjacent to the main pool. The hotel is serviced by the open-air Restaurante Villas Paraiso, which is a popular destination for locals and guests. The restaurant doesn’t have a set menu, but serves a traditional Mexican fare with fresh produce from the markets for all three meals. It also has a full bar. A few parking places are available at the entrance drive of the hotel, but there is also plenty of free street parking on offer as well. Wi-Fi is free in the common areas, but spotty to nonexistent in the rooms.