Iberostar Waves Malaga Playa

Kristina Walsh

Style over substance I think is the best placed description of this hotel. Our recent stay at Iberostar Waves Málaga Playa left much to be desired for, particularly for a resort of a grand brand like Iberostar. Minibar Mystery... The room’s minibar was empty throughout our stay, not even a bottle of water on arrival! For a property that claims premium all-inclusive service, charging for mini bar refill was somewhat cheeky. All-Inclusive… Until You Check Out!! Access to all-inclusive facilities was abruptly cut off the moment we checked out, despite still being on the premises. The all-inclusive bracelets were snapped off us albeit us staying on the premises only an hour after check out, which left such a bitter after-taste, made the whole experience feel transactional and not hospitable. Unsafe Pool Surface! The pool area was dangerously slippery. My child fell multiple time,at least a dozen! Wet floor signs were present, but unless one mastered teleportation, there was no safe way to navigate the area. The tiles should really be slip safe and not smooth like an ice rink. No preventative measures, no staff concern—just a hazard waiting to happen. Water Park.... The water park rules prohibit adults from accompanying children up to the slides. My child, excited but nervous, was left in tears. When I tried to support him, I was repeatedly whistled at by a lifeguard—as if I were misbehaving, rather than parenting. It was humiliating and deeply frustrating. Worse still, one child in our group fell on the steps and hit their head. The lifeguard didn’t notice—he was too busy policing adults near the slides to actually look out for the children using them. The resort may photograph well, but the reality is a rigid, impersonal experience that fails to meet the needs of traveling families. We expected warmth, flexibility, and relaxing holiday but all we got was a checklist of restrictions and rules. Won't be in a rush back...

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.

Rakan Aljumah

We stayed at Iberostar Málaga Playa to explore Torrox Costa and drive to nearby cities like Málaga and Granada. The location is beautiful, with a great beachfront walk full of food and activities. The breakfast and dinner buffets were excellent, with a wide variety. The pool snack bar was also convenient. But overall, the hotel is below 4-star standards. Rooms are outdated, with molds in the bathroom and uncomfortable, noisy beds. The safe had a daily fee. In-room service was unreliable—our requests for extra pillows and blankets were ignored. The pool is great for kids, but finding a sunbed is nearly impossible unless you rush early. My wife left a review about it, and the hotel bizarrely claimed she wasn’t a guest. Some staff were friendly (especially at the pool and restaurants), but others at reception seemed indifferent. Would I stay again? No. There are better options across southern Spain.

Evelyn Gale

I stayed at Iberostar in Malaga recently, it was incredible! The service was amazing with smiling staff and friendly entertainment team who included everyone in all the activities. The food was equally excellent with a variety of food and drink! The pool was a lovely temperature and was not overly crowded though there was a good amount of people. The activities and shows were all perfect from acrobats to violin to flamenco dancing and even a frozen show which were all incredible and well performed. We also managed to join in on a DJ night done by 2 wonderful people and a nice DJ. The people included us in all the dancing and guided us through all different dances which were really fun! The room was completely clean and we had a large room which was cleaned every day. Overall, this place is honestly perfect and I highly recommend it!

Rishalin Pillay

Nice hotel, it’s not a private beach. If you sit outside on the beach you have to pay €7 per lounge chair. If you walk down the promenade you will find cheaper seating. To use the safe in the room you have to pay a fee. If you take an apartment, you have to do your own dishes (no cleaning products provided). You also need to request a kettle as it’s not standard. If you come here during the holiday season, prepare to put towels on the pool chairs in the early hours of the morning - because people put their towels on the chairs and then leave it “booked” the entire day. Overall the place is nice, lots of activities for kids and adults to do at the resort. Grocery store not too far away.