Iberostar Waves Club Cala Barca

“Great family resort”

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 … more

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.

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“Needs to be reworked”

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 o… more

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.

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“Overall a winner for active families.”

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… more

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 ).

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“Highly recommend for families”

Would recommend for families. Lots of lovely pools & facilities. Reception staff very friendly and welcoming. We stayed in room 5453 which was a perfect location