Iberostar Waves Club Cala Barca

The pool area was dirty and clearly needs a thorough deep clean. The lack of cleanliness made it unpleasant to use and took away from the overall experience. With better maintenance and regular cleaning, this area could be much more enjoyable for guests

We spent a week in early July with 2 adults and 2 teenagers in a central family room. Positives: the hotel layout and facilities are great, especially if you have a centrally located room. The on-site shops are well stocked and not too crazy priced. The food is the best AI food I have had, especially the desserts! I loved the eco-friendly touches that improved the experience - like edible spoons for the ice cream. Room access via the AI wrist bands was also so handy. Finally, every staff member we met was so lovely, in particular there was a lifeguard who was so attentive and very kindly corrected people who were diving where it wasn’t safe. I watched her correct people with a smile, in the scorching heat, all day, and not once did she look fed up. Wish I’d got her name to give her a shout out. The cleaners worked constantly to try to keep on top of things with so many people using all the facilities. Animation team were lovely too. Definitely recommend for families with younger children. Negatives: super busy at that time of year, which led to the main pool being crowded and feeling quite dirty. The main pool was also very warm, which meant it really wasn’t the refreshing experience you would hope for. Although our room was absolutely acceptable, the AC definitely doesn’t work as efficiently as you would expect for this level of hotel, and the drains tended to be a bit smelly. The AC in other parts of the hotel was very ineffective (possibly an eco-friendly principle but very uncomfortable in high summer). This is NOT a no-smoking hotel in practice. While there is generally no smoking indoors, the was a lot of smoking in public areas like the pools, food trucks, and entertainment areas. Very unpleasant when we had booked expecting a smoke free holiday. I think having designated smoking areas that are actually properly monitored would be better. Top tips: 1) take an insulated water bottle, you can get it filled with ice and filtered water at all the bars so you have cold water all day. 2) Cala Mondrago may be beautiful and within walking distance, but there were no working public toilets or showers, and nowhere to find shade on the beach, please don’t believe what Google says! 3) there are plenty of sun loungers at the hotel, but if you want to sit in a “prime” location near a pool you will need to be there at 9am.

We spent two weeks at Iberostar Cala Barca, which gave us enough time to really get to know the hotel, the staff, and the overall atmosphere. Overall, we had a very positive experience, and the biggest reason for that was the incredible people working there. This is definitely a family resort. If you're looking for a peaceful, adults-only style getaway, this probably isn't the best choice. However, if you're travelling with children, it's an excellent destination with plenty to keep the whole family entertained. The location is beautiful, right next to a natural park, with several small coves and beaches nearby that are worth exploring. The beach directly in front of the hotel is more of a small cove than a typical sandy beach. Unfortunately, there is quite a lot of seagrass, which makes walking into the water less enjoyable and can create an unpleasant smell. If spending your holiday on a beautiful beach is your priority, you may be disappointed. On the other hand, the cove offers plenty of natural shade, making it a comfortable spot for families with young children. The hotel itself is not brand new, but it's very well maintained. Throughout our stay, we constantly saw staff painting, repairing, gardening, and taking care of the grounds. The outdoor areas are attractive, clean, and clearly looked after with great attention. The rooms are probably the weakest part of the hotel. They are simple, functional, and would definitely benefit from a complete renovation. That said, if, like us, you spend most of your time outdoors enjoying the pools, restaurants, and activities, the rooms are perfectly adequate for a comfortable night's sleep. The food exceeded our expectations. The restaurants offered plenty of fresh, healthy options every day. What surprised us the most was the dessert selection. While the variety wasn't huge, the quality was excellent. This was honestly one of the best dessert selections we've experienced in an all-inclusive family resort. Although the resort is large and accommodates many guests, the number of pools, restaurants, and activity areas means people naturally spread out. Apart from the main buffet during peak meal times, the hotel never felt overcrowded. The absolute highlight of our holiday was Star Camp. Our children had an amazing time every single day. The activities were creative, engaging, and exceptionally well organised. The animation team deserves enormous credit - they are warm, energetic, genuinely caring, and have a remarkable ability to connect with children. They create an atmosphere where kids feel welcome, safe, and excited to come back every day. A special thank you goes to Dany, the entertainment manager. He is truly the heart and soul of this hotel. Friendly, professional, full of positive energy, and always making guests feel welcome, he has a rare talent for bringing people together. Quite simply, he is worth his weight in gold. Whatever the hotel is paying him, they should probably double it. After spending two weeks here, we can confidently say that the greatest strength of Iberostar Cala Barca is its people. Buildings can be renovated and rooms can be modernised, but a team like this is much harder to find. Their dedication, kindness, and enthusiasm made our holiday truly memorable.

Came here with family in 2025 and couldn’t fault it. When booking this year I had to upgrade to get a central location as family there and I was placed at the other end which would have been 10/15 minutes walk. Pool area needs a good deep clean as twigs and mud all over floor. Pool isn’t meant to open until 9 and was told this yet other families are in area not being asked to wait.

The reception looks lovely as you first walk in, but When we first entered our room I thought. ‘Oh no this is going to be awful ‘. Luckily I was mistaken and it ended up being lots of fun. Some of the cons for me were that It’s a big, very busy , commercial hotel with LOTS of children. Our room’s A/C wasn’t working and it was full of ants. There aren’t any À la carte options, only buffets , which would normally put me off. Our room is a bit dated and basic , but the family room is huge which was a plus. Another con is the room overlooks a car park and looks into the staffs accommodation. Seeing the staff on their breaks smoking, eating and in their pjs right outside our window wasn’t ideal. They work so hard and obviously deserve it, but the hotel needs to reconsider the layout of the grounds so the staff quarters are separate to the guest quarters. The food is solid, not amazing but good. You can find nice salads and lots of meats , fish etc. All of the dining places are buffets and a bit same-samey (except the Mexican) The main buffet is a very hectic and busy , but has the best variety. I’m not a fan of buffets but the kids loved it. Maybe a more upscale à la carte option could be added for a supplement charge for those who want it. After 3 days here ( our A/C and insect problem was quickly sorted by helpful staff). We are actually loving it. My kids are really enjoying the on-site football pitch and the games in the sports bar are great. I was able to upgrade my drink to grey goose in the sports bar for £4, which suited me as I don’t like house spirits. The huge tv screens in the sports bar were perfect for watching the World Cup matches. Even the Pilates and yoga classes are good quality, which is unusual for a big resort. . Both my kids agree this is their favourite hotel we have ever stayed at (and we travel a lot) (probably because of the ice cream and Fanta on demand lol). Also having padel courts included is a huge bonus as padel is very expensive in the UK and my boys age 8 and 10 love playing with us. The beach is small and not the cleanest because of the surrounding nature reserve, but the cliff jumping was so much fun and it felt exotic. If you’re looking for a relaxing, peaceful holiday or gourmet food, this place is not for you. If you are an active family who likes to do lots of sport and exercise and have decent food and a comfortable big 2-room family room; this is the one. (Don’t even think of coming here without kids you would be quickly annoyed ).