"This was our 6th visit to Iberostar Ciudad Blanca, and over the last 13 years we've stayed at Iberostar hotels all Majorca. For the last two years we visited Iberostar Cala Barca, but this year we wanted to return to Ciudad Blanca because it holds so many fantastic family memories for us.
There is still so much to love about this hotel. The location is superb, the beach is stunning, and it remains one of the best family hotels for young children. The majority of the staff are warm, welcoming and genuinely work hard to make your holiday special.
A special mention has to go to Chef Sadik in the main restaurant. He is an absolute credit to Iberostar. Amazingly, he remembers us every year we return and always goes above and beyond to make us feel welcome. It's people like Sadik who keep guests coming back year after year. I'd also like to recognise Angel in the main restaurant, who consistently provides excellent service with a smile.
I also want to highlight the animation team, who work incredibly hard year after year and are a huge part of what makes Ciudad Blanca special for families. This year's team, Casper, Fran & Nikolaj did a fantastic job keeping both children and adults entertained throughout our stay however not enough daily activities for age 13 upwards. Their energy, enthusiasm and interaction with guests were excellent and they deserve real recognition for the work they do.
However, after six visits I do feel Iberostar needs to continue investing in Ciudad Blanca rather than relying on its popularity. There are areas that have remained unchanged for years and it feels like opportunities are being missed.
The large area around Star Camp has been left as dead space for as long as I can remember years ago this was where the main stage was located and
bar. Whilst the new outdoor gym is a nice addition, the children's entertainment area still has the same ageing arcade machines and doesn't make the most of the huge amount of space available. Imagine what could be done with additional food trucks, more play areas or family activities. It feels like this part of the hotel is crying out for investment.
The food truck area is a perfect example of how the hotel has moved backwards rather than forwards. Years ago, this used to be a proper BBQ restaurant with seating overlooking the beach, which gave guests another enjoyable dining option and made fantastic use of the sea views. It was replaced by additional sun loungers and just one small food truck a few years ago.
For a hotel of this size, especially during peak summer holidays, it is crying out for more food-serving options. During our stay the one and only food truck regularly ran out of popcorn chicken, and the Chef Special Sandwich was almost always sold out. This simply should not be happening when the hotel is operating at full summer capacity. Long queues regularly built up around the food truck, clearly showing the demand for another food outlet, second food truck, or a reinstated beachside restaurant concept. With the amount of space available and the incredible beachfront location, Iberostar could create a much stronger daytime food and beverage experience for families.
The Playa Blanca Lounge Bar is another area that feels like it has so much untapped potential. Compared with the sports bar at Iberostar Cala Barca, it feels quite dull and lacks any real atmosphere. There are two pool tables, but one was out of order during our stay, and the dartboard had only two broken darts. There is very little music, with live entertainment taking place only on two evenings each week. Even something as simple as background music played at a slightly livelier volume would create a much better atmosphere for families. At Cala Barca, the sports bar had music, karaoke and entertainment most evenings, making it somewhere families genuinely wanted to spend time together after dinner. Ciudad Blanca has the space to create something similar, and it would make a huge difference to the evening experience.
Another small improvement would be replacing the misted snack display fridge behind the bar. It has been there for years and the cloudy glass makes the food look unappealing. Small details like this can have a surprisingly big impact on guests' perceptions.
The bar snacks themselves also need improving. I honestly hope I never see another bowl of peanuts! Compared with other Iberostar hotels, the snack offering is very limited. I also found it surprising that the hotel regularly ran out of potato crisps during the evenings, right in the middle of the busiest part of the summer season. For a hotel of this size and reputation, that really shouldn't happen.
One aspect that also stood out was the atmosphere late in the evening. On several occasions around 11:45pm, staff in the Playa Blanca bar were clearly trying to hurry guests into finishing their drinks, and cushions were being removed from the seating areas while people were still sitting and enjoying the bar. This created an uncomfortable feeling that the evening was being closed down before guests were ready to leave. Again, this is something we have not experienced at other Iberostar hotels we have stayed in, where the atmosphere has remained relaxed and welcoming until closing time.
Across all of the bars, Mahou beer is advertised as being available in bottles and gluten free, but whenever we asked for a bottle it often felt like the staff were reluctant to serve it. Almost every evening we were told "not many left". If bottled Mahou is part of the advertised drinks offering, then stock levels should be managed accordingly, especially when guests are paying a premium price to stay at the hotel. Consistency in the food and beverage offering is something we have experienced much better at other Iberostar properties.
The only member of staff who consistently disappointed us was the gentleman serving at the food truck, who unfortunately came across as quite miserable and rude. Thankfully, this was the exception rather than the rule, as almost everyone else was friendly and helpful throughout our stay.
Overall, Ciudad Blanca is still a wonderful hotel for young families and we will always have a soft spot for it. But Iberostar is a world-class hotel group, and with so many loyal guests returning year after year, I hope they don't become complacent.. My concern is that if the hotel doesn't continue to evolve and invest, it risks losing returning guests to other Iberostar properties that are constantly improving.
As a family of four, a 12-night stay at Ciudad Blanca during the July school holidays costs us around £8,000, and looking ahead to 2027 the cost is even higher. That's a significant investment for any family, which is why we naturally compare our experiences across different Iberostar hotels. Melia and Zafiro are really upping their game every year and offering a noticeably more premium experience than Ciudad Blanca.
Directly across the road from Ciudad Blanca is the Innside by Melia Alcudia, which I walked around several times during our stay. It is a very modern, stylish and trendy hotel. It doesn't offer all inclusive, only bed & breakfast or half board, but for the exact same 12-night period on half board it was around £3,000 cheaper than what we paid for Ciudad Blanca. That naturally raises the question: was I right to pay £3,000 more for the Ciudad Blanca experience this year?
To finish, I'd like to stress that this review is intended as constructive feedback, not criticism. It comes from the perspective of a family that has stayed at multiple Iberostar hotels across Mallorca, including Ciudad Blanca, Alcudia Park, Royal Cristina, Albufera and Cala Barca, and from guests who have remained loyal to the Iberostar brand for over 13 years.
Is Ciudad Blanca ever going to receive a full refurbishment? I have heard rumours about a refurbishment on each of my last three visits, and again I heard the same rumours this year. The green decor in the rooms feels very dated and is essentially the same style I remember from decades ago. Having stayed at Iberostar Royal Cristina and Iberostar Alcudia Park, their rooms are far more modern, stylish and premium in comparison.
Ciudad Blanca remains a fantastic hotel and one that holds a special place in our hearts. We simply want to see it continue to evolve. Small investments in the family entertainment areas, food and beverage offering, room refurbishment and evening atmosphere would make a huge difference and ensure the hotel continues to justify its premium price and keeps loyal guests returning for many years to come.
I genuinely hope this feedback is taken into consideration by the Ciudad Blanca senior leadership team as they begin planning improvements for next summer."
