Holiday Inn Resort Ixtapa All-inclusive By IHG
Ixtapa, MXFamily friendly
Our take
Beachfront family-friendly all-inclusive resort with swim-up bar in Ixtapa
- 431 rooms
- 3 dining venues listed
- ~15 min from ZIH
No ResortFinder markup. We just do the work.
Resort facts & overview
- Location
- Ixtapa, MX
- Audience
- Family friendly
- Brand
- Independent
- Rooms
- 431
- Dining listed
- 3 venues
- Airport
- ZIH
- Transfer
- ~15 min
Why travelers love it
“Beachfront family-friendly all-inclusive resort with swim-up bar in Ixtapa”
This longtime Ixtapa favorite (formerly the El Presidente) sits directly on El Palmar Beach with arguably the best sunset views in town and a famously warm, attentive staff. It's dated and the clientele is overwhelmingly Mexican nationals, so English speakers should expect Spanish-language entertainment and a more local feel — that's part of the charm for some, a drawback for others.
Food & drink
MixedBuffet-forward dining with tasty Mexican highlights, but only one à la carte restaurant and limited variety leave repeat visitors wanting more.
high confidence
What you'll enjoy
- Baja tacos at the fish snack bar
- Mexican Night is a standout
- Fresh vegetables and healthy options
- Buffet execution is solid
Heads up
- Only one à la carte restaurant
- À la carte food resembles the buffet
- Long lines and reservation hassle for specialty dining
Dining overview
Dining centers on the Frutas y Flores buffet (open for all three meals with rotating themes) and La Terraza for à la carte dinners with a menu that rotates every two weeks. La Isla, the covered beachside venue, mainly handles events and weddings. Guests praise the buffets and service but note variety can feel limited over a longer stay.
3 documented dining venues
Frutas y Flores
international buffet for breakfast, lunch and dinner, poolside
La Terraza
open-air à la carte dinner with a rotating chef's menu
La Isla
covered beachside venue used mainly for weddings and events
Counts and access can vary by source and room tier.
Food & drink photos
Food & drink photos
Beach
StrongEl Palmar delivers a genuinely beautiful stretch of Pacific sand with legendary sunsets, and attentive beach service like Adolfo makes lounger days easy.
high confidence
What you'll enjoy
- Wide El Palmar beach right on property
- Spectacular sunsets
- Attentive beach loungers service
- Walkable to Ixtapa centro
Heads up
- Occasional friction over saved umbrellas and loungers
- Pacific surf, not calm swim-up conditions
Wide clean soft‑sand stretch of El Palmar beach with chairs, umbrellas and towel service; drink service not offered and occasional aggressive vendors
Pools
MixedPools please families with a fun kids section, but adults get squeezed: the only pool bar sits amid the kids' zone and water clarity has slipped.
high confidence
What you'll enjoy
- Fun, well-loved kids pool
- Swim-up bar on property
- Pleasant pool setting overall
Heads up
- Only pool with a bar is overrun by children
- Water reported cloudy with sand at the bottom
- Little dedicated adult pool space
Two outdoor pools (one large curved pool) open roughly 8 AM–8 PM, including a swim‑up bar; no waterpark or slides
Photo: Tripadvisor
Rooms & suites
431 roomsAll 431 rooms have private balconies and ocean or pool views, with the better-rated angles facing the bay. Furnishings are clean and comfortable but unmistakably dated, and several recent guests have flagged underpowered air conditioning and the occasional musty smell.
Standard Room
Base category with either one king or two double beds and a private balcony facing the ocean or the resort grounds. Furnishings are clean but visibly dated, and guests have flagged underpowered air conditioning and occasional musty smells.
Includes
- +private balcony
- +coffee maker
- +in-room safe
- +bath amenities
One Bedroom Suite
Separate bedroom layout with a king bed, suited to couples wanting more space than the standard room. Same dated finishes as the rest of the property.
Includes
- +king bed
- +separate living area
- +private balcony
- +coffee maker
Suite
Family-oriented suite with a king bed plus a bunk-bed configuration, sleeping parents and kids in the same unit. Balcony with ocean or pool view depending on placement.
Includes
- +king bed
- +bunk bed for kids
- +private balcony
- +coffee maker
Room details here are AI-assisted, compiled from the resort's own website and public sources. Categories and names change often — confirm the exact room when you book.
Room photos
What’s included
StrongPriced honestly for a dated but well-kept property; you get a great beachfront location and warm staff, though weak AC and thin à la carte options undercut the sticker price for some.
high confidence
What you'll enjoy
- Unbeatable location by beach and Ixtapa centro
- Loyal staff who remember returning guests
- IHG points and Premier perks work here
- Fair price for the tier
Heads up
- Feels expensive relative to what's delivered
- AC issues in many rooms
- Limited restaurant variety for an all-inclusive
Package inclusions and upgrade access have not been collected yet. Confirm them for your room and dates when booking.
Amenities & activities
Couples
StretchA family-forward property with limited adult refuge; the one adult pool bar has drawn complaints about pushy upselling, and romance takes a back seat to kid energy.
medium confidence
What you'll enjoy
- Beautiful sunsets from ocean-view balconies
- Beach walks along El Palmar
- Wedding-popular setting
Heads up
- Adult pool bar staff pushed bottle upsells
- Little adult-only space; kids dominate pools
- Dated rooms lack romance polish
Families
IdealThis is the resort's clear sweet spot: a dedicated kids pool, warm entertainment crew, and a wholesome family atmosphere that brings people back year after year.
high confidence
What you'll enjoy
- Dedicated children's pool
- Kids club with beloved animators like Somali
- Mexican Night snacks and show delight kids
- Safe, family-friendly vibe
Heads up
- Activities run primarily in Spanish
- Non-Spanish-speaking kids may struggle to follow along
Peace & Quiet
StrongDays feel calm and unhurried with sea sounds and sunsets, though nightlife is thin and some guests actually wish for more music and later hours.
high confidence
What you'll enjoy
- Tranquil beachfront mornings
- Low-key evenings after dinner
- Not a party resort
Heads up
- Weekend bus groups can bring chaos
- Pool bar closes early (around 8pm)
- Limited nightlife or late music
Includes fitness center, kids club, game room, evening shows, massage services (massage available but no full spa), business services, gift shop
Resort amenities
Spa, gym & activity photos
Photo: Tripadvisor
What guests say
High confidence251 reviews · through Nov 2026
Read all reviews on TripAdvisor ↗Google ↗
Guests praise the service, entertainment, location, and beach, while complaints focus on kids and families, rooms, and the pool, with the resort described as best for beach lovers, quiet relaxation, value, and families.
Consistently praised
Recurring complaints
Best suited for
What past guests say
“I have visited the resort several times and it has always been very comfortable; we have thoroughly enjoyed our stays.<br><br>I have the pleasure of meeting the General Manager, JP, who is extremely attentive and very kind. You can find him throughout the resort, making sure everyone feels at home.<br><br>His entire team goes out of their way to make you feel comfortable.<br><br>Everyone is very attentive, from Reception, Bellhops, Housekeepers, Captains, Waiters, and Maintenance. I greet...”
★★★★★
“Everything was great, clean and tidy. Thank you!”
★★★★☆
★★★★★
★★★★★
★★★★★
Latest reviews from Tripadvisor
Loaded live from Tripadvisor when you ask — the newest reviews and the current rating.
Ratings breakdown
Read all reviews on Google (7,867) ↗
Ask Rosie
Have a specific question about Holiday Inn Resort Ixtapa All-inclusive By IHG?
Rosie answers from this resort’s guest reviews and our research — with quotes.
Know before you book
- Property feels dated
- No full spa
- Beach vendors aggressive
- Occasional friction over saved umbrellas and loungers
Location
S/N Boulevard Paseo Ixtapa, Ixtapa Zihuatanejo, Guerrero, 40880, Mexico
View on Google Maps →What you should know
What to Know
This is an authentically Mexican all-inclusive where nearly all guests and activities are in Spanish, the property is dated, and a bit of planning pays off for à la carte dining and room comfort.
high confidence
What you'll enjoy
- Five-minute drive from the airport
- Right across from Ixtapa centro
- IHG Premier status gets orange wristband and line priority
- Housekeeping towel art is a daily delight
- Mexican Night on Saturdays is the highlight
Heads up
- Roughly 95% domestic Mexican clientele; activities in Spanish
- Rooms run dated with weak AC, some musty smells
- À la carte reservations require lining up days ahead
- Weekend bus groups create crowding
WATCH OUT: Seasonal heads-up
- June–October is rainy season on Mexico's Pacific coast with afternoon storms and higher humidity
- Pacific hurricane season runs June through November
- December–March is peak whale-watching season off Ixtapa
The airport (ZIH) is roughly a 15–20 minute drive, and the resort sits directly across from Ixtapa's main commercial strip, so you can easily walk to shops and restaurants. Most guests are Mexican nationals and the daily activities program runs in Spanish — fine for adults but kids who don't speak Spanish may struggle to follow along. Tipping in pesos or USD is appreciated, and changing money on-site has been hit or miss recently, so bring some pesos with you.
Good to know
- Programming, animation and kids' club activities run primarily in Spanish
- Property is on the Pacific — sunsets are spectacular but surf is stronger than Caribbean resorts
- IHG One Rewards Premier status earns an orange wristband for faster service
- Hotel is dated; guests repeatedly mention weak AC and occasional musty room odor
- Walking distance to Ixtapa's main shopping and restaurant strip
All photos
Photo: Tripadvisor
Ready?
No ResortFinder markup. We just do the work.
What we know
Everything below comes from data we collected: here's the inventory for this resort.Updated July 2026- Photos
- 82
- Review excerpts
- 20
- Dining venues
- 3
- Menus
- 1
- Room categories
- 3
- Videos
- 1
- Editorial lenses
- 8
We aggregate. We don't trap. Verify on any of these:
Where this data comes from
We tell you what we know, and what we don't.
- Last updated
- July 18, 2026
- Sources
- Official resort siteGoogle PlacesTripadvisorDirect resort mediaMenu documents
- Completeness
- 100%
Source collection snapshot
These collection totals can differ from the items available on this page. Video totals include screened results; the inventory above counts published tours.
- 89 photos
- 40 dining venues
- 1 menu doc
- 14 videos