We’ve just returned from a five-night stay at Iberostar Selection Playa de Palma in Mallorca, where we stayed in a Star Prestige room on an all-inclusive basis to celebrate our first wedding anniversary.

This is one of those hotels where I came away thinking two completely different things at the same time: the hotel itself was genuinely lovely, but the surrounding resort absolutely wasn’t for us.

 

First Impressions – Excellent Service From The Start

From the moment we arrived, the service was fantastic. As soon as we stepped out of the taxi, someone took our luggage and escorted us inside while another member of staff offered us a welcome drink at reception. Check-in was seamless, calm and efficient, and it immediately felt like a premium experience.

Because we’d booked a Star Prestige room, we also had access to the Star Prestige lounge area, which became one of our favourite parts of the hotel. There were always snacks and drinks available throughout the day, and it gave everything a much more relaxed, exclusive feel.

 

The hotel also made a huge effort for our anniversary. We arrived to swans made from towels on the bed, a bottle of cava and macarons waiting in the room, and throughout the stay there were little thoughtful surprises left for us almost every day. One afternoon we came back to miniature bottles of sangria, another evening more sweet treats appeared during turndown service. It’s little touches like that which really make a stay memorable.

 

The Star Prestige Rooftop Was The Highlight

Without question, the rooftop Star Prestige area was where we spent most of our time.

It has a gorgeous relaxed atmosphere with a plunge-style pool area designed more for cooling off than swimming, comfortable loungers and bar service throughout the day. It felt peaceful, stylish and very adults-only without being pretentious.

There is also a main pool downstairs, but honestly we rarely used it because the rooftop area was so much nicer.

Food & Drinks – Really Impressed

One thing I absolutely cannot fault was the food.

The buffet had an incredible amount of choice and everything felt fresh and well presented. Sometimes all-inclusive food can become repetitive after a few days, but we genuinely enjoyed every meal here.

The standout for us was Katagi Blue, the rooftop restaurant and bar. This was an absolutely gorgeous spot for sunset drinks and dinner with really chilled music and a lovely atmosphere. The food was excellent, and it clearly has a strong reputation because lots of non-hotel guests were coming in to eat there too.

 

One thing worth noting though is that this is a limited all-inclusive concept. Alcoholic drinks are only included during mealtimes. Outside of that, soft drinks are included but alcoholic drinks are chargeable.

 

For us personally, this really wasn’t an issue. We were perfectly happy having wine with meals and soft drinks during the day, and if we fancied something else we just paid for it. But if you’re someone who wants a fully unlimited all-inclusive drinks package all day long, then this probably isn’t the right hotel for you.

I think it completely depends on where alcohol sits on your priority list when you travel.

 

The Rooms – Comfortable But Not Very Private

This is probably my biggest criticism of the hotel itself.

The beds were huge and extremely comfortable, and overall the rooms were modern and stylish, but I really wasn’t a fan of the bathroom layout.

The shower and toilet are essentially part of the bedroom with only partial frosted glass for privacy. If you’re travelling as a couple, you can probably tolerate it, but even then I still think it’s nice to have a little bit of separation when getting ready or doing your skincare and makeup.

If you were travelling with friends, I honestly think the lack of privacy could become awkward.

 

The other frustrating thing was that the bathroom lights automatically came on when you go to the loo in the night and because it's 'in the bedroom' if one person got up it woke you both up. After a few nights that became quite irritating.

It wasn’t enough to ruin the stay, but it’s definitely something I think people should be aware of before booking.

 

The Spa & Service Were Outstanding

The spa was another really pleasant surprise.

Sometimes hotel spas can feel like more of a token extra, but this was a genuinely impressive wellness area with hot and cold plunge pools, saunas, steam rooms and proper relaxation spaces.

The service throughout the entire hotel was also excellent. Staff constantly checked whether we needed fresh towels or more drinks while sunbathing, evening turndown service was provided daily, and everyone seemed genuinely attentive without being intrusive.

It’s one of the reasons I’d absolutely stay with Iberostar again as a brand.

 

The Location – The Biggest Downside

The hotel itself feels calm, polished and upscale. But step outside and the atmosphere changes dramatically.

One evening we walked down towards the beach expecting a peaceful sunset stroll and instead found ourselves in what honestly felt like a completely different type of resort. The area was packed with loud bars, heavily intoxicated groups, hen and stag parties and crowds of very drunk young tourists. It felt far more like Magaluf back in my youth. It obviously depends entirely on what type of holiday you enjoy. Some people would probably love the nightlife atmosphere. But for us, it really wasn’t our scene at all. We quickly realised this was a hotel best enjoyed within the hotel itself.

 

If you’re happy spending most of your time relaxing at the resort, using the spa, rooftop areas and restaurants, or using taxis to explore other parts of Mallorca, then you’ll probably have a fantastic stay like we did.

But if you’re looking for somewhere with lovely evening walks and a charming surrounding resort atmosphere, this probably isn’t it.

Final Thoughts

Overall, this stay really was a tale of two halves.

The actual hotel experience was excellent: beautiful facilities, fantastic food, attentive service, a gorgeous rooftop area and lots of thoughtful luxury touches that made the stay feel special.

The surrounding area, however, just didn’t match the atmosphere of the hotel at all for us personally.

Would I stay at this specific hotel again? Possibly, but only knowing that I’d mostly remain within the resort itself.

Would I stay with Iberostar again? Absolutely. The brand itself genuinely impressed me and the service standards were excellent throughout.

If you choose this hotel knowing exactly what it offers — stylish adults-only relaxation inside the resort, but a lively party atmosphere outside — then I think you’ll have a much better idea of whether it’s the right fit for your type of holiday.

For more honest travel reviews and holiday advice:

📧 alex.collins@travelcounsellors.com

📞 01514528677

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