Iberostar Waves Quetzal - All Inclusive

There were lots of wild animals around the grounds, including turtles, flamingos, agutis and even monkeys, and the sea had almost no seaweed. The entertainment team was good and had something going on most of the time, though the nighttime shows finished much earlier than at the hotel next door, Riu. We stayed seven nights from December 29, 2025, including New Year's Eve, and the hotel was absolutely crowded. There were lines for restaurants even at breakfast, and guests were fighting over the beach beds because there weren't nearly enough. There were plenty of food choices, but everything was so plain and characterless that none of the four of us could name a dish we liked. The drinks and cocktails also left a lot to be desired.

After the long trip from Australia 🇦🇺, we arrived to a resort buzzing with activity during the day. We had a large group of friends there for a wedding nearby. There are plenty of places to eat around the resort, and breakfast had an amazing facility and a great range of food. I especially liked the Japanese 🇯🇵 restaurant. Thanks to all the staff for the great service. The water fountains on each floor were a great idea, and we loved seeing the range of live animals around the place. The rooms are starting to look tired and are due for a revamp. We enjoyed the stay and I'd recommend visiting to relax.

The food was excellent, especially the delicious Italian dishes, and we really enjoyed the Japanese restaurant. The rooms were always very clean and well maintained, and the grounds around the hotel were beautiful and breathtaking. A big plus was that the beach seaweed was cleared every day. Service varied a lot. Some staff were friendly and helpful, while others were unpleasant, and tipping didn't always change that. I also felt the drinks depended on tips: with a tip they'd use better alcohol, but without one they'd use the cheapest options, which made the drinks almost undrinkable. The beach snack bar put us off eating there. The woman working there was particularly unfriendly and handled food with bare hands, which didn't meet proper hygiene standards. Reception staff were pushy about selling the loyalty program. We'd clearly said during online check-in that we weren't interested, but they kept bringing it up. Worse, staff came into our room under the pretense of “program benefits” and left champagne, bathrobes, slippers and hats even though we hadn't agreed to join.

We had a great 10-night holiday in block number 16, with a view of the Tulum Buffet and its water features. Nights were quiet after the Theatre productions ended around 10:30pm. On arrival, Jan was helpful, friendly and courteous, and gave us a map with directions around the resort. We both enjoyed the location, which is perfect for walking to playa del carmen from the resort. It felt very safe, the wildlife was great, and we'd highly recommend it.