I've read quite a few responses on the Iberostar Lindo about their cold pools. Do you think this will be a problem in the beginning of April?

Anyone?

Or how about this? Has anyone been down in April or has just gotten back from Playa Del Carmen and can report on the pool temp at any resort down there (since most if not all pools down there are not heated). Thanks!

I was at the Lindo Feb 21-28, 2005. The pools are huge and not heated. If you have nice weather, which we did , the pool temperture is OK. I would say the pool temperture was about 75 degrees. The air temp when we were there was about 88 and sunny so the cool pool felt refreshing. However, if you get cooler weather and rain or clouds , I think the pool would be uncomfortable. Hopefully you will get great weather and the pool temp will be fine. Personally, I think they should heat at least one of the pools , especially since they do not heat the "hot" tub. The hot tub is in the middle of the pool and you have to swim through the cool pool to get to it. The resort is beautiful and our room was very nice. However, I had a lot of trouble getting dinner reservations at the a la carte restaurants. Maybe this was worse because it was President's Week and the hotel was 100% full. I have seen similiar complaints on Tripadvisor. Overall, the resort is very nice just don't expect a heated pool. Good luck with your dinner reservations. Have a great trip.

Did you make your dinner reservations the first day you arrived? I know they won't let you make reservations prior to arrival. Which restaurants do you recommend? When you were down there, did you go swimming in the ocean? How was the ocean
temperature?

I went to reserve the restaurants before I even went to my room. I made my dinner reservations while my family waited in the room for the bell person to bring the luggage to the room. I was quite disappointed that everything I suggested was booked. At one point, I said I will take any restaurant for Monday eve that was available and the conceirge said there was nothing at all available.That night, on the way to the buffet, we passed the Italian and the Oriental and they were Empty. We eventually got some dinner reservations but only after speaking to management. If you encounter this problem just insist on speaking to a manager. At first they will say there is nothing they can do, just politely insist. If you are not there on a busy vacation week this may not be a problem. It was a huge problem during President's Week.Also, I arrived on a Monday. I spoke with some people who arrived on Saturday and booked more than one restaurant per night. Some people don't mind eating the buffet every night. I overheard the conceirge tell some families nothing was available all week and that was OK with them. One of the reasons I chose this resort is the number of a la carte restaurants which are supposed to be available to Lindo guests. My husband and did not enjoy the Italian. Not awful but not good ,either. The Japanese was excellent. The coconut shrimp appetizer at the Cajun was great, a meal in itself. The entree at the Cajun was just Ok. The service at the Cajun was great. The waitress made me a flaming Mexican coffee. We tipped her because she was did a great job. We had to eat at the Cajun at 9pm, which was inconvenient with kids. I had to feed the kids first at the buffet and they just ate dessert while my husband and I ate.The fish was disappointing, dry and overcooked. The ocean water is beautiful ,warmer than the pool. There were waves but they were just enough to make it fun. The beach is gorgeous with plenty of chairs and shade. There is a nice grill by the beach which serves burgers , hot dogs and chicken. The nights we could not get dinner reservations we ate in Playa del Carmen which was great. The hotel runs a free shuttle. we took a cab back to the hotel for $18. The hotel has a lot to offer despite its drawbacks , I am sure you will enjoy it.

Thanks for the information. On the flight down, we'll make a list of where we want to eat and then right when we get there, I'll make the reservations. Seems kinda stressful, for a vacation...to have to worry about where you're going to eat the entire week! But knowing it up front, at least we'll be prepared. Did you eat at any other resort or did you stick with the Lindo?

We were there last spring break in late March. It was warm temps. out and we found the pools to be fine. The lazy river type set-up was warm because it had less water in it. Our early teenage daughters loved the pools.

The Japanese restaurant was next door at the Paraiso beach. We also tried the steak restaurant at the Mayan. The steak restaurant was pretty good as long as you order steak,not fish. The Japanese was my favorite.