Iberostar Waves Costa Dorada reviews

TripAdvisor Traveler Rating

4.5 Excellent

  • Cleanliness 4.5
  • Location 4.5
  • Rooms 4.0
  • Service 4.5
  • Value 4.5

9900 TripAdvisor reviews

TripAdvisor users rated this property 3 out of 5

Pool and beach cleanup needed

Cheryl F on Feb 13, 2025

This property is in dire need of some maintenance or upgrades. The grounds are kept very nice but the pool has a lot of damage and was very dirty when we were there. I don’t know if their filtering system was working as there was so much bird poop, garbage and debris in it all the time. Garbage also washes up on the beach right out front and isn’t picked up enough. If you walk down away from this resort the beach area is much nicer. The staff were very friendly and helpful. The food was decent and rooms were kept clean. They need to address the issues with the pool and beach area for a more pleasant stay.

TripAdvisor users rated this property 5 out of 5

Great trip. We will be back!

Cindy B on Feb 12, 2025

I will admit I was reluctant having only been to Mexico previously, but the increase price for Mexico had us looking for other options. I had always heard mixed reviews about DR. But I must say, we had a fantastic trip. The Iberostar Waves Costa Doroda is now one of my favourite holidays. Mostly, the staff is amazing. They are always in a great mood and you often see them singing and dancing. Even the guys cleaning the beach! The DM vibe is much more relaxed than Mexico where you often feel pushed through. Whether in the buffet or ala carte, you often see the chefs coming out and talking to people and to ask how the meal was. They love to hear the feedback. Also something I found amazing was how conscious the resort is about the ecosystem. They don’t provide any disposable cups, straws or bottled water. They have glass containers in the room and various refill stations throughout the resort. Needless to say, the resort was always clean and refreshing. The food was good for the price and drinks were much better than Mexico. The only negative I have with DR vs Mexico is that the weather can be unpredictable. We had periods of rain almost everyday but on the plus side, this is why the DR is so lush and beautiful. No doubt we will be back!

TripAdvisor users rated this property 1 out of 5

GO SOMEWHERE ELSE!!!!!

Robyn G on Feb 11, 2025

Our family trip started great! Ended with serious illness and just wanting out!! We arrived to a decent room and comfy bed… pool is okay and towels were always available. But the layout sucks and it’s crowded with chairs and has many tripping hazard’s. Service- some of the bartenders were great!!! Some of them need to stay home and realize that they are in the service industry and if you don’t treat people nice you’re not getting a tip! Food- for the most part there are lots of options… diarrhea and vomiting to occur after consumption is very likely!!!!!! We had 2 out of 5 become violently ill.. to the point we almost called the ambulance in the middle of the night for our 17yr old. My husband got it too and due to our departure they made him lay in the lobby with a plastic bag to vomit in!!! We meet numerous families and groups who were in the same boat… another family of 5 had one sick every day. Another couple heard me talking on the phone and came up to tell me they came with a group of 70 (all over the age of 60 and very well travelled) 45 in that group got sick!!! Some had to go to the hospital for dehydration!! Beach- dirty and gross!!!!! Full of weeds in the water and washed up… they don’t even try to clean them up. One day we walked to the point to get confirmation that it was really cows we were seeing!!! WTH!!!!!! There is very little to do for kids… like they advertise they don’t want March breakers…. Clearly they don’t want kids and it shows by what the have available at all times!!!! If your thinking of here stop now!!!!!!! Spend the extra money and go somewhere else!!! We trusted the IBEROSTAR name bc we have gone to them all over but this place is a health concern!!! We have never seen and heard of so many people getting very ill!!! I feel for the older people and couple with younger children bc they also don’t give a crap when you get sick!!!

TripAdvisor users rated this property 3 out of 5

Cheap, OK hotel but beware of food poisoning

Rebecca R (Toronto, Canada) on Feb 08, 2025

I found a super cheap, last minute deal so took my two kids to the Iberostar Waves for an extra long weekend. Hotel is relatively small, 1 large pool, 1 buffet and 3 restaurants (2 of which are reservation only, which are hard to get) - good enough for a long weekend but I wouldn't want to stay here for a week. The hotel is showing signs of age, worn furniture, peeling paint, shabby lounge chairs etc., but the staff try to keep it clean. The beach was very nice and there is an orchid garden which was lovely. My biggest concern and disappointment was around food quality and safety particularly at the buffet. Food would sit out for hours, staff did not use proper food handling techniques and general cleanliness of the kitchen and dining areas was very problematic. I instructed my kids on what foods to avoid, but we still ended up with moderate GI distress, although not as bad as several other guests I spoke to who had severe food poisoning. So - ok for a cheap short getaway, as long as you don't have underlying health issues and are careful with what you eat.

TripAdvisor users rated this property 3 out of 5

If you're planning a stay, be prepared for these mixed experiences

l_Mr-Clean_l (Montreal, Canada) on Feb 08, 2025

During our stay at Iberostar Costa Dorada, we experienced a mix of positive and negative aspects that made for a rather varied vacation. Positive Points: • Cleanliness and Maintenance: The resort itself is kept clean, which was quite impressive and added to the overall appeal. However, it's worth noting that the resort did show signs of age, with peeling paint on the walls and significant water infiltration when it rained, which somewhat diminished the experience. • Staff: The staff members were polite and very helpful, always ensuring that guests' needs were met promptly and efficiently. • Rooms: The rooms were updated, clean, and comfortable. The bed provided a good night's sleep, and the air conditioning was one of the best we've encountered in a Caribbean resort, which was a refreshing relief from the heat. • Availability of Beach Chairs: There were plenty of chairs available at the beach, so finding a spot to relax wasn't an issue. Negative Points: • Alcohol Quality: One notable downside was that the resort seemed to use cheaper alcohol unless specifically requested otherwise, such as Brugal. This was a bit disappointing for those who appreciate a good-quality drink. • A la Carte Restaurants: The resort offers only three a la carte restaurants: an Italian, a Japanese (which requires reservations), and a Mexican that operates on a first-come-first-serve basis. This limited variety was somewhat underwhelming. • Swimming Pool: The most concerning issue was the condition of the swimming pool. It was filled with bird droppings, and on a couple of days, there was brown foam in one corner and an unpleasant odor emanating from the water. This was a significant drawback and quite off-putting. • Beach Water Quality: While there were plenty of chairs at the beach, it's worth mentioning that the water quality was poor. Although this isn't the resort's fault, it did affect the overall beach experience. Overall, while Iberostar Costa Dorada has its merits in terms of cleanliness, staff friendliness, and room comfort, there are certain aspects that need improvement, particularly concerning the pool and the variety and quality of the amenities. If you're planning a stay, be prepared for these mixed experiences.

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