"We stayed at Iberostar Waves Herceg Novi as a couple for 10 nights in June 2026. All I can say is this place is absolute perfection! The staff, the views, the cleanliness throughout, the food, the entertainment.... We really didn't want to leave! Our full review is below, but if you want a summary then we would say if you're looking for a spotless hotel with excellent facilities, welcoming feel, wonderful staff, great buffet offering at every meal and breathtaking views then we are sure you will love it. The hotel is on a hill so there are a lot of steps, so could be an issue for anyone who struggles with mobility, however buggies are available and there are lifts in the accommodation buildings. This is a beautiful, welcoming and laidback hotel with plenty of games and evening entertainment providing a great balance of relaxation and things to do. If you're after a buzzing nightlife on your doorstep, look elsewhere.
RECEPTION
Upon arrival, the exterior of the reception building is very modest, however as soon as you are greeted by the welcoming reception team, this is forgotten. We were checked in very quickly and shown to our room, our luggage carried for us.
ROOM
Our room (1505) was large and bright with a balcony giving expansive views across the gorgeous bay. It was spotlessly clean when we arrived and kept that way throughout our stay. We had one minor problem with the plug sticking in the bathroom sink which, after informing reception, was immediately resolved.
DINING
The restaurant is a large buffet-style restaurant with a really wide selection of foods at each meal. There was plenty of choice - we are far from fussy eaters but I would imagine there's something for even the fussiest! We loved trying a wide range of local and international dishes, and enjoyed the themed nights which included seafood, Italian, Asian and Mexican. My partner particularly enjoyed the variety of meats and fish cooked on the grill, while I ate lots of salads and local stews. Soft drinks, wine and lager are available on tap, as well as bottles of wine and fizz from a fridge. The staff are very attentive but not intrusive, and are always smiling and welcoming. Occasionally they can be a little quick at clearing plates, however this only happened at peak times when the restaurant was busier.
POOL
The pool area was lovely with lots of comfortable beds around the pool and overlooking the bay. There was never an issue for us getting beds. Like everywhere else, this area was kept spotlessly clean, and the pool bar staff regularly came around collecting empty (reusable plastic) glasses.
BEACH
The beach has loungers and its own toilet facilities and bar, which offers snacks at lunchtime. We tended to spend our days by the pool or in the Old Town across the bay so didn't really use these facilities.
BARS
There are three bars at the hotel. One by the pool which is open all day and has soft drinks and lager on tap, and also serves a wide range of cocktails and spirits. Next to this was a snack truck serving ice cream, waffles and crepes every afternoon. The rooftop bar opens at 7pm and was perfect for pre-dinner drinks watching the sunset. The bar staff there deserve special mention for their attentiveness and friendly nature. There was also an indoor bar on the floor beneath the restaurant, however we never used this.
ENTERTAINMENT
The animation team at this hotel are exceptional. We have stayed at an Iberostar before where the entertainment was fabulous and so we were expecting similar. The entertainment here was more laid back than the other Iberostar we have visited, which we personally preferred, but the staff were no less attentive, welcoming and hardworking. They quickly got to know people and would chat each morning and afternoon. Everyone was invited to every activity (these included pilates, aqua aerobics, darts, bingo, water polo, water volleyball, archery, rifle shooting, etc) but there was never any pressure to take part in anything and none of the activities impeded on our relaxation. The evening shows at the beach stage varied from an orchestra playing modern songs everyone knew, to a dance show performed by the staff, live musicians, and every Friday the white party (beach disco). Special mention to Omar, Adam and Mickey who were really friendly and always smiling.
HERCEG NOVI
From the beach at the hotel you can get a little boat across to Herceg Novi for 15euros return (which you can use as many times in a day as you like). The town is beautiful with the old town a maze of narrow alleyways and gorgeous squares clustered on the hill behind the fort. There are a lot of steps which could be an issue for those with mobility issues, however it is one of the most stunning and welcoming places we have visited and so if you can cope with the steps, definitely visit. We also visited both forts which take 30-40 minutes each to wander around. We visited the town a couple of mornings and also a couple of evenings. Our favourite place was Bellavista Square which has a couple of bars and restaurants and a shop along with a beautiful Orthodox church in its centre - listening to the bells ringing for the 7pm service with a glass of wine in hand as the sun was starting to set is something I will never forget. Along the bay runs the newer part of town with a selection of bars, restaurants and souvenir shops which made a lovely walk with beautiful views.
BOAT TOURS
If you want to see more of Boka Bay, there is a lady at the top of the steps which lead down to the restaurant who works for the local boat company and who is very helpful. We booked a trip through her to Perast and Kotor and really enjoyed it, although if you're wanting to explore Kotor properly you probably need to book something else because we only had an hour and a half there.
In summary, we highly recommend this hotel for its atmosphere, staff, location, views and food, and definitely suggest visiting Herceg Novi because of its laidback beauty. We loved this holiday and we will definitely be returning."
