Iberostar Royal Andalus resort review
A four-star family hotel in Southern Spain - the Iberostar Royal Andalus is a fabulous family hotel with a wealth of sporting facilities set on a spectacularly beautiful beach, in the heart of Andalusia and 35 mins south of Cadiz.
By Mumsnet HQ | Last updated Dec 20, 2023
The Verdict - 9/10
This hotel is a kids paradise but unusually, this doesn’t mean compromises for the adults. First up the location is amazing, set as it is overlooking the Atlantic ocean on a long stretch of golden sand. But what sets the Royal Andalus apart is its brilliant service. The staff are wonderfully friendly and genuinely seem to love kids. All-inclusive is not for everyone but there’s no doubt it makes for a stress-free holiday, aided and abetted by the spa, pools and sunshine of course!
Location - 9/10
La Barossa beach - an award-winning 5km stretch of fine sand on the Atlantic Ocean - lies at the bottom of the hotel gardens, with direct access along a wooden path. The hotel has its own beach club with umbrellas and loungers.
The nearest town, Chiclana de la Frontera isn’t particularly scenic but there are lots of pretty nearby towns well worth a visit if you have a car - like Vejer de la frontera (go for a wander around the town and have lunch or dinner in El Jardín del Califa o La Judería which are both fab). Cadiz, with its beautiful old town and stunning port is 35 min drive away for those looking for more action
Jerez is the nearest airport - 45 min drive from the hotel. RyanAir flies direct from London Stansted, Gibraltar and Seville Airports are both 1.5 hours away.
Accommodation - 9/10
The rooms are modern and comfortable but not huge - we had two adjoining twin rooms which was ideal for families with children. You can choose from Sea-View, Beach-View and Garden-View and all the rooms have a generous-sized terrace balcony.
On arrival, you’ll be given a wristband at reception, which contains your room key. You keep this on throughout your stay (think festival vibe) which, once we’d got over our bemusement, turned out to be an excellent innovation - no worrying about forgetting the key each time you leave the room.
Activities for adults and kids - 10/10
There are three outdoor pools surrounded by loungers a-plenty to enable you to soak up the sun, whilst the kids play on the Viking boat, three-headed dragon, water slides, two water cannons and a waterfall.
The spa is excellent - and includes a beautiful pool, sauna, Turkish bath and relaxation area with all of the usual spa treatments available. The hotel offers a novel “Chic and Child” spa experience whereby you and your child can get a massage or manicure at the same time. My seven-year-old loved it!
And if it’s a round of golf you’re after, you will find the Novo Sancti Peri Golf course (designed by Seve Ballesteros himself) a short five minute walk away. There are also 11 tennis courts and six padel tennis courts.
And there’s an excellent kids club for 4-12 year olds which runs twice a day. Different fun activities are scheduled every session but what really sets it apart from many other kids clubs is it one where the adults in charge genuinely seem to love children.
Food and drink - 9/10
There are two restaurants on site as well as a cafe which has coffee and cakes available when the restaurants are closed. The Manolete is a restaurant specialising in fresh fish and the gastronomy of Andalusia and Cádiz.
The Al-Andalus Restaurant Buffet restaurant caters for the (majority) all-inclusive guests. It has a wide selection of food available at every meal - starters, fresh fish and meat cooked to order, a vast selection of breads, local produce, desserts and cheeses. And an ice cream station which proved particularly popular with my seven year old. The restaurant runs different themes on different nights and Asian night which included a wide selection of sushi went down very well with our party.
Value for money - 9/10
For a four star hotel its all inclusive breaks represent excellent value for money.
When to go
We went in October Half Term when it was quieter but had a little rain. Summer is safer, but even with the rain we had a most enjoyable time. In off-peak seasons a family of four can stay in family side sea view room for £145 per night (all-inclusive), but rates get pricier in the holiday season.
Where to book
For bookings and more information, visit the Iberostar website.