HL Paradise Island

Shocking Hygiene Standards, Filthy Mattresses, Leaking Air Conditioning and Poor Pool Maintenance – Avoid!

We have recently returned from a family holiday at Hotel Paradise in Lanzarote, and unfortunately, our experience was absolutely dreadful.

I feel compelled to share our experience because other families deserve to know what they could be letting themselves in for. I have numerous photographs and video footage to support the issues mentioned in this review.

Filthy mattresses with suspected blood and urine stains

One of the most disgusting things we discovered was the condition of the mattresses in our accommodation.

After removing the bedding, we found mattresses covered in unpleasant yellow and brown stains, some of which appeared to be urine and possibly blood.

The bedding itself was also stained.

Regardless of what caused these marks, mattresses in this condition should never be provided to paying guests, particularly families with young children.

The standard of hygiene was simply unacceptable.

Air conditioning leaking badly and complaints completely ignored

The air conditioning in two of our rooms was leaking badly.

We reported this to reception on the very first day of our holiday, yet despite informing the staff, nobody was sent to inspect or repair the problem throughout our stay.

To make matters worse, we all ended up suffering from chest infections during the holiday.

Although I cannot say for certain what caused the infections, the combination of leaking air conditioning, suspected mould and the general condition of the accommodation was extremely concerning.

What was particularly frustrating was the complete lack of action from hotel management after the problems had been reported.

Swimming pool being cleaned while children were swimming – video evidence

Another incident that really shocked us involved the children’s swimming pool.

We witnessed a member of staff, who appeared to be a lifeguard, standing in ankle-deep water around the bottom of the children’s slide, wearing rubber gloves and scrubbing the surfaces with what appeared to be a scouring pad.

This was taking place while children and other holidaymakers were still using the pool.

I have video footage clearly showing the member of staff working on the pool area while children were nearby.

Surely cleaning and maintenance of this nature should be carried out when the swimming pool is closed, rather than while young children are playing in the water?

It certainly did not inspire confidence in the hotel’s approach to hygiene and pool safety.

Strong smell of urine around the children’s play areas

Another extremely unpleasant issue was the strong smell of urine around the football playground and the bottom slide pool area.

The smell was particularly noticeable and gave us the impression that people may have been using these areas as a toilet overnight.

These are facilities designed for children and families, and the smell was absolutely disgusting.

The hotel should be ensuring these areas are properly inspected, cleaned and maintained.

Damaged accommodation and apparent black mould

The general condition of the accommodation was equally disappointing.

We found damaged doors, loose handles, deteriorating door frames, damaged flooring, worn furniture and poorly maintained fittings.

There was also what appeared to be black mould growing on a wall around an access panel.

The photographs show the extent of the deterioration.

This was not simply a case of a few minor cosmetic issues. The accommodation looked tired, neglected and in desperate need of proper maintenance and refurbishment.

When you combine these issues with the stained mattresses and leaking air conditioning, it raises serious questions about the standards being maintained throughout the hotel.

Customer service and maintenance were extremely disappointing

What made the experience even worse was the hotel’s failure to deal with the problems we actually reported.

We informed reception about the air conditioning on our very first day, and nobody came to investigate.

We were not expecting luxury or perfection. We were simply expecting reasonably clean accommodation, working facilities and a hotel that responds when guests report problems.

Unfortunately, even those basic expectations were not met.

Final thoughts – think very carefully before booking

We booked this holiday expecting an enjoyable family break in Lanzarote.

Instead, we encountered badly stained mattresses, leaking air conditioning, apparent mould, damaged accommodation, strong urine smells around children’s facilities and questionable swimming pool cleaning practices.

Our family also suffered chest infections during the holiday, which made the whole experience even more unpleasant.

I understand that hotels experience wear and tear, but there is a huge difference between normal wear and tear and what we encountered.

I have included photographs and video footage because I believe prospective guests should be able to see the actual conditions for themselves.

Hotels have a responsibility to provide clean, safe and properly maintained accommodation, particularly when catering for families with children.

Based on our experience, I would strongly advise other families to think very carefully before booking this hotel.

We certainly would not return, and I would not recommend it.

Lovely location playa blanca is fab with great restaurants and atmosphere. Unfortunately the hotel let it down. I seen the bad reviews but I overlooked them and gave it a chance. Have to say that I'm sorry I did. Hotel wasn't very clean and had a rough crowd staying there. Kids/Adult entertainment was shockingly bad. Pool area had cigarette butts everywhere and people and staff not cleaning up after themselves. Would highly recommend Lanzarote and playa blanca but avoid this hotel if possible. We made the best of it when we were there but wouldn't go there again.

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.