Cal Brown
We stayed here for a very special family holiday last week and the hotel, staff and food was excellent.
I can't fault any aspects of the hotel, we each had excellent rooms, the staff were friendly and very accommodating.
My only criticism might be that they charge for the safe in the room, which isn't something I've experienced recently in hotels over the past 5-6 years or so, but at €3 a day, its not a huge issue.
The pool is absolutely huge, and that was a big plus for us, as the kids spent most of the day at the pool area and enjoyed the kids splash park during its opening hours.
The food in the hotel was great, with a good selection each night. We didn't have one night in our 1 week stay where the food was not enjoyable.
The prices for drinks and snacks at the hotel were very reasonable and its all premium alcohol they use, so its very good quality.
The nightly entertainment was ok, I think given it's location and perhaps the time of year we visited, the options for nightly entertainment were limited, but I'd have to say that the last night, where we 3 women sang motown songs, was by far the best night out of seven night stay.
I'd definitely return to this hotel, its such a magnificent building on the beach front and the staff and food definitely make the hotel a worthy visit and we were not disappointed.
We'd definitely consider staying here again and would highly recommend the hotel.
Vanda Vlčková
The building looks like a cute little castle.
It looks like the hotel is old but has been refurbished and the interior of the lobby looks spectacular!
We've been pleased with the mobile app where one can learn about all of the activities around the hotel as well as see expenses or provide feedback.
We've had a chance to stay at another Iberostar hotel, Royal Andaluz, prior to this and because of that, our expectations were high and we were slightly underwhelmed by the staff's attitude. They are working hard, but it seemed like the staff at Royal Andaluz was enjoying their work more :)
Pool area:
- the aqua fun pool for kids is located at a place that stays in the shadow in the morning and the water is super cold
- it's only allowed for height between 80 and 150 cm, so parents with toddlers are not invited, which is a bummer for toddlers who most probably won't go on a ride by themselves
- the strict regulation is not explained anywhere, the lifeguards only tell you to go away and that they are sorry, although there is no weight or capacity limit
- the area around the pool is extremely slippery and if one wants to get to the other side of the pool, for instance to play pingpong, go to the beach or simply go to the playground area, there is no other way than go very slowly on the wet and slippery floor
Food:
- freshly made smoothies in the morning!
- we've been pleased by having access to filtered water during the whole stay
- the variety of food changes, sometimes there seems to be lack of vegetables
- the food quality is rather average
- some veggies and fruits are very cold in the morning
- the restaurant seems to be understaffed, sometimes one chef was making steaks of three kinds in the evening or making eggs, pancakes, refilling scrambled eggs, making tortillas alongside all that in the morning. That must be very stressful for the staff and people must wait in lines
- the waiters must walk kilometres during one shift
- we had a couple issues with having a wrong price and items on the bill. The waiters were keen to help, the reception made up for the issue but one time they forgot to submit our claim and we had to double check the invoice to make sure it was corrected. I think the staff is keen to help overall, but they have so much to do that they simply sometimes forget to finish something.
Entertainment for kids:
- although there was some program for kids under 3, in reality it just meant the kids could join the older children, but the actual activity in the calendar started 30-40 minutes into the scheduled time
- sometimes it seemed like the staff couldn't handle so many kids who sometimes preferred playing on the playground instead of joining the games they didn't understand
- there is a minidisco every night, but it takes place during the dinner
- kids love the mascot Estrella, but I had a feeling Estrella showed up only to take pictures with the kids, and the staff wasn't very keen to having kids touch Estrella or give a high five which is probably more entertaining for them than just taking a picture. Instead, they rushed Estrella to go into the backstage. It was quite demotivating andade our little one sad as we had a better experience from a different Iberostar hotel.
Bob Bobby
Iberostar Waves Malaga Playa is one off our favorite hotels.
We visit this hotel for your years.
The staff is very friendly and during the years it feel like one big family.
The rooms are clean ,big enough and it's all quiet during the night to have a good sleep.
During our stays the rooms have been renovated so the bath with shower has been changed into a walk in shower which will be welcome for older people .
The buffets are excellent with fresh food enough variety and the staff will give you a warm welcome.
In the evening there are some shows like flamingo ,tenors and before kid disco.
The shows will be sometime outside or inside .
On the floors there are fresh water taps for free also near the pool.
The pool is very nice with a towel service and a pool bar.
Also there's a little kid water park what goes on from time to time and kids entertainment.
Also I am using the gym almost every year.
The gym isn't so big but enough equipment to do your excersises.
The Hotel is directly at the boulevard with enough restaurants like a Chinese Restaurant to eat and drink but in the after season some will be closed during the evening.
It's a quiet boulevard but excellent for older people ,young kids in a buggy to walk.
If you have a rent a car you could park your car for free safely next to the hotel on the big parking place .
Except on Monday there will be a nice market to visit .
For all kind off questions the reception will be there to help you.
For young people who likes a banana boat ride or disco and so one I would say it will be a no go.
It would be better for them to go to Fuengirola and so one to find more nightlife and so one.
A last word about the buffet area if you like to have a romantic or quiet breakfast or dinner you will be disappointed the restaurant area will be very big and crowded .
But overall during all our visits the 5 stars will be given by us straight away.
Alexandra Boscenco
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Amazing stay at Iberostar!
We had an All inclusive holiday for 2 weeks .
The food was delicious, and the people were so kind and welcoming. The entertainment team deserves 10 stars — they are truly the best! 🤩 Crazy Alex, Raquel, Elena, Paula, and the fun Ton made every day special with great activities for kids, constant smiles, and so much positive energy.
I really hope the manager sees how much joy they bring to guests and rewards them with a well-deserved bonus! 💫
Timmy Simons
We recently stayed at Iberostar Waves Malaga Playa and overall had a very pleasant experience.
One of the biggest positives is that the hotel is well prepared for guests with reduced mobility. There are reserved sunbeds by the pool and reserved seats in the restaurant for people with disabilities, and even a special chair at the pool that helps guests get safely into the water. The staff were always very helpful, and we really appreciated their attentiveness.
The animation team was a highlight of our stay. A special mention goes to Alex, who was not only very friendly but also incredibly funny, and to Angela, who was always kind and caring. They really made our holiday extra special. The evening shows were also of very good quality and a lot of fun.
The lifeguards kept a very close eye on everything at the pool – maybe a little too close at times, as they could be quite strict – but it’s clear they take safety seriously. In general, all staff members were very friendly and hardworking.
On the downside, the surrounding area has very little to see or do outside the hotel. We also found it disappointing that the minibar was not included in the all-inclusive package and came with an extra charge. At mealtimes there could be some waiting to enter the restaurant, and once inside it was often quite noisy. That said, the restaurant staff worked very hard and service was excellent.
Overall, we would rate the hotel 7/10. The facilities are very good, the staff is kind, and the entertainment team – especially Alex and Angela – added a wonderful touch to our holiday.
My Booking
