A kid friendly hotel Mallorca - Iberostar Waves Alcudia Park
Since living in London for about a month now, I was looking to where we could do a little family getaway and my kids and I were really wanting to go to a beach so I started looking for places we fly direct from London (unlimited possibilities LOL) but then I remembered I had some points with IHG so I looked up where could I use IHG points, and I came across the Iberostar Waves Alcudia Park in Mallorca (you might also see the island spelled Majorca). There are lots of Iberostar hotels on the island and around the world! When searching on the site, they even tell you which ones are “Ideal for families”.
If you don’t know of Mallorca, you are in for quite a treat! I've come to learn that when most Americans think of a European vacation they think of Italy, France or Greece and not many are as familiar with this destination. Mallorca is an island in the Mediterranean Sea, off the eastern coast of Spain. It's the largest of the Balearic Islands, which also includes Ibiza, Menorca, and Formentera. Mallorca is one of the most popular destinations for Europeans, but specifically with people from the UK and Germany.
We flew from London to Palma (only commercial airport on the island) on a direct flight that only about 1hr and 50min. Upon arriving, we got our rental and made the hour drive to our resort on the northern side of the island near Alcúdia.
Checking in/Lobby:
Upon arriving, we walked in the lobby and were greeted by the friendliest staff who took our bags and directed us to the desk. In the main area they had a kids place area that my 3 year old LOVED. I would say it’s a great toddler playground area with a ride on horse, small slide, little play kitchen and more. See below! I had to drag him out of this area but this was the greatest touch for when parents are checking in because you can still see your children.
We did end up booking something called Star Prestige so we were actually guided to another part of the hotel where we checked in that is only for Star Prestige. This is where they explained the property to us, gave us details of when the buffet and restaurants were open and how to find the kids activities.
ONE OF THE COOLEST THINGS THIS HOTEL DID:
Upon check-in they give you wristbands (yes, they are water proof) and they are your room key! They do not give you physical room keys, the bands not only open your room but they can we used to order food as some of the food trucks and grab and locations. If you have the all-inclusive option they just scan it. I would assume if you do not you can pay this way. I thought this was genius!!!! Not only did my kids have a room key at all times, they could open the doors themselves without loosing the key.
Benefits of Star Prestige:
-Access to the Star Prestige rooftop with multiple pools
-Star Prestige reception/seperate elevator to get to your room
-Star Prestige lounge with small snacks, sandwiches and drinks and beer and wine
All-Inclusive Option:
We opted to do the all-inclusive option. I was bring my mom and sister with me and I knew it made sense for us personally.
If you think you are going to want to get to explore the island and go to dinners or lunches somewhere else, the all-inclusive option might not be for you. When we were booking, the option for all-inclusive (including all alcohol) was only about $50 more a day per person.
Only thing I will mention that we did see happen at the resort is that if you don’t get the all-inclusive your kids might be confused why all the other kids are just going up to get ice cream or getting a soda or juice at the bar and they can’t. The hotel also puts out food and drinks in the afternoon for the all-inclusive guests and I personally saw I guy and his son just going to get some food thinking it was for everyone and the staff had to stop him because he did not have the correct color wrist band and he was confused.
The pools:
Main Pool - everyone has access to
This is a huge Lagoon-Style pool surrounded by sun loungers and palm trees, providing a perfect spot for relaxation and sunbathing. The deepest this pool went was about 5ft. Also, a smaller splash area for toddlers in the entrance of this pool.
Connected to this main pool there is a toddler/baby area where they have a shallow area slides and shallow areas, ensuring safe and fun water play.
The main pool also had 4 slides:
-A small double slide for kids 4 and under
-3 “bigger” slides that my 7 and 9 year went down multiple times every day. By the last day even my 3 year old was going down the one open bigger slide with no problems as long as I caught him at the end. The water at the end of the slides is only about 2 ft deep so it wouldn’t be a problem if I wasn’t there to catch him but he is still not ready to go fully underwater and not be scared.
Indoor Pool - everyone has access to
Guests can also enjoy a small heated indoor pool, offering a comfortable swimming experience regardless of the weather. My kids did go in here a few times in the early morning when it was still a little chilly.
Rooftop pool - only for Star Prestige
For those opting for the Star Prestige rooms, there's exclusive access to a rooftop area featuring a pool or hot tub, along with a sun terrace equipped with Balinese beds, providing a more private and upscale pool experience.
The Resort Grounds:
The resort was so beautiful and was set right on the beach, and surrounded a huge pool. They had so many other small details that made it not only family friendly but kid-oriented. My 2 older kids loved being able to go play ping pong as my mom, sister and I finished up our dinner or drinks and we could see them through the glass of the restaurant.
Other games and kid area the resort had:
Ping pong
Pool table
Air Hockey
Small ride on cars
Huge Playground area in the sand - connected to where the kids could get gelato and crepes.
Small toddler fenced in playhouses that had fake grass for kids to crawl around on
The Beach:
Directly connected to the pool bar deck is the stairs to the beach. It is a 1 minute walk from the pool and you can be in the ocean. The water was so clear we actually bought snorkels and went snorkeling. The water is shallow - about 2ft for the first 500ft of the sea.
On the beach they have chair and umbrella rentals (this is not through the hotel, it is apart of the city beach so they come around for you to pay in euros).
They also have a beach volleyball court and other beach games for you to enjoy.
Kids Activities:
Some of the activities my kids did and LOVED:
-Foam party
-Water games (the star camp staff but a huge mat in the pool and kids and adults could run and jump off of it)
-Painting a bag they could keep
-Ride the bull
-Bounce house (my 3 year old loved this)
I joked around with my mom and sister that it almost felt like a “kids spring break”. They had so many fun and exciting activities for the kids to do that I didn't feel like I needed to constantly entertain my 7 and 9 year old. My 3 year old of course was a different story but he would play in the pool shallow water or in the sand with me sitting there for an hour and I will take that as a win!
Star Camp:
The star camp is designed so that children and teens aged from 4 to 17 always have something fun to do. They can play in the ball pit, go on an excursion, develop their creative side with crafts and learn alongside their new friends.
To be very clear your kid needs to be 4 years old for you to leave them in the star camp. Under 3 can visit the inside play place but must be with an adult the whole time.
There is an app that you download and you can sign your kids up to go for a few hours. You can also go down to the camp and sign them up. They have set hours you can leave your kids there during each day that you can see on the map and of course they make you sign your kids in and out for safety. They will take your kids to do fun excursions.
Nightly shows
The hotel hosts nightly shows featuring a variety of acts, including live music, themed performances, and interactive entertainment. Some of the shows we saw included, a magic show, characters dancing they called “Star Friends”, a fire performer, and a decades performance to music from the 90s. We love sitting there and having a night cap while watching the shows and my 7 year old, Grace even got pulled on stage to be a helper for the magic show and she was thrilled!!
The stage put on nightly performances. Around the hotel they had screens telling you what show was coming up for the week. The shows usually started around 9pm and went till about 10:30pm. FYI, they could be kind of loud, and I could hear the music from our room but we did have a room that faced the stage. Keep this in mind if you have little little kids or want your kids to go to bed early.
Why It's Ideal for Families with Children:
Kids' Programs: The hotel offers the Star Camp, an exciting program for kids divided by age: Monkey (4–7 years), Dolphin (8–12 years), and Eagle (13–17 years, available in July and August). Activities include arts and crafts, fun games, science experiments, and DJ lessons, keeping kids entertained and engaged.
Family-Friendly Rooms: Spacious family rooms and suites are designed for comfort, featuring separate living and sleeping areas, air conditioning, Wi-Fi, and balconies with pool or sea views. Superior family rooms are close to the restaurant and pool for easy access.
Beachfront Location with Safe Swimming: Located on Majorca's longest and safest beaches, the hotel has shallow, warm waters perfect for young swimmers. The sandy beach is smooth, not rocky, and close to water activities like paddleboarding and kayaking.
Dining Options: There are several places to eat, including a buffet restaurant, snack bars, and a sky bar, to satisfy different tastes. The all-inclusive plan lets families enjoy meals and snacks all day at no extra cost. My kids loved grabbing snacks or gelato by the pool, just showing their wristbands.
Entertainment and Activities for All Ages: The hotel has activities for everyone, including evening shows, live music, and sports like beach volleyball and bike rides. SPA Sensations offers adults a relaxing spot with a sauna, steam bath, and massages.
Proximity to Local Attractions: The hotel is close to many local sights. We explored daily, but you can also stay at the resort and find plenty to do. We rented a car for the hour drive from the airport because we wanted to see more of the island, and it was worth it! You can also use a bus or taxi if you prefer.
FAQ
Q: Is Mallorca actually kid friendly?
A: Yes!!! And this specific hotel is catered to kids. Not once did I feel like I was entertaining my kids and that is what really makes it a vacation for us both.
Q: Do we need a rental car?
A: Yes, unless you are staying in the area or city of Palma. We stayed about an hour from the airport and we knew we wanted to explore the old town of Alcudia and see more than just the resort.
Q: Should we plan to leave the resort?
A: If you decide on getting the rental car, then yes absolutely try to plan to see some other parts of the island. There is so much history and beautiful Cala’s (small beach coves) to see!
Q: How far is Iberostar Waves Alcudia Park from the beach?
A: The hotel has direct access to the beach.
Q: Where can we see the best sunset?
A: In Mallorca, the sunsets are best enjoyed on the western side of the island, as this is where the sun sets over the sea. But, you can find amazing spot all over the island. Some of the best spots to see a good sunset:
-Restaurant Nautilus (where we had the best sunset dinner on the edge of a cliff)
-Sa Foradada (West Mallorca, Deià)
-Cap De Formentor (northernmost viewpoint of Mallorca, on the Formentor peninsula)
-Sunset Lounge in Jumeriah Hotel and Spa
-Es Princep (rooftop bar)
Q: Does it get cold?
A: Yes, in the evenings after the sunset it can be a little chilly. We were here in the end of May and even during the day one day it way chill, especially with the winds. Make sure to pack a sweater or jacket for the nighttime and maybe even a pair of pants just in case!
Q: Where is Iberostar Waves Alcudia Park
A: Right near the town of Alcudia about a 20 min drive. Situated on the beach of Playa de Muro
Q: Is the All-Inclusive option really worth it?
A: For us, yes it was! When we booked it, it was only about $50 per person, per day for the option. I knew we wouldn’t eat out of our meals at the hotel but since it included drinks, alcohol and snacks also I felt it was 1000% worth it!
