Joia El Mirador by Iberostar

anne carlin

We have visited this hotel for several years and have celebrated many special occasions as it is a very special place to spend time with family. My daughter joined us this year and was very excited to return again. Outstanding staff, too many to mention, who make you feel so welcome. Would recommend to anyone who wanted to spend a quiet relaxing time in high quality surroundings. The breakfast is outstanding, cocktails outstanding and the staff are both professional and create a happy environment. The quality of the bedroom suite is so comfortable and serviced by the staff so well. A home away from home with wonderful weather and excellent local amenities within the vicinity of the hotel. A truly outstanding hotel made more special by the people who work in this hotel. Thank you. Anne & Paul

Phil enjoying life.

What more can I say that has not been said in previous reviews. We have stayed many times here and love everything about the hotel and location. The staff are amazing , I won't mention names as they are all wonderful and would not want to miss anyone out, however I must thank Tiziana the assistant manager for making sure we are looked after. Everyone from arrival at reception, the pool guys cleaners , waiters and bar staff could not be better. The food also is great, breakfasts and dinner cater for all tastes. Also it is in a lovely location, just a short walk to the beach and sea, plus the promenade in one direction and the lovely village La Caleta in the other. I could go on, but lastly I'd just like to say thank you and keep it up and we will be back next year.

Rebecca Sandor

This is our 4th JOIA we've visited, however I'm finding this review is a bit tricky to write—it really depends on what you’re looking for in a vacation, and whether you lean more American or European in your travel style. If you are looking to spend a small fortune to nap by a pretty pool, this place might be for you. Starting with the pros: The hotel is beautiful and in a fantastic location. We booked the second-lowest room tier and were pleasantly surprised—it was spacious, clean, and included a walk-in closet, a huge bathroom, a living room, and a massive porch with two loungers and a sofa. The pool and grounds are stunning, full of greenery and flowers, perched on a hillside with views of the beach and coastal mountains. Just below the hotel is a small shopping center with restaurants that lead to a boardwalk filled with shops and eateries. It’s lively, walkable, and feels very safe. As for the OK parts: The food was decent. Both breakfast and dinner buffets offered a variety of options, so you’ll find something you like. Breakfast was pretty consistent, while dinner changed nightly with themed menus. Some nights were amazingly delicious while others were okay. Dinner also included pre-plated dishes served at your table (depending on your room type), which was a nice touch. The staff were friendly and helpful, though not as pampering as what you might find at Caribbean Iberostars (maybe due to American vs. European vacation vibes). For example, if you want to sunbathe on the lawn, you’ll need to find a spot and ask someone to bring out lounge chairs—they were not already set up. Another example is we poured our own drinks at breakfast and dinner. This does not both us and we are capable to do that, but it was something that we noticed as with visiting other Iberostars, their staff jokingly scolds you for that because “you’re on vacation!” and are supposed to relax. Lastly the cons - The beach. To start, the beach is beautiful. There are two beaches nearby: one with brown sand and one with black volcanic sand. Both are soft, clean, and have calm, clear waves. But the water is freezing, so save your swim for the hottest part of the day. The downside? The beach is public. El Mirador doesn’t have a private section for guests, so if you want to lounge, you’ll need to rent chairs and umbrellas. The price is another con. Your booking includes the room, hotel amenities (pool, small gym, lobby, game room), and breakfast. You can upgrade to half-board for dinner, but drinks aren’t included—even bottled water, which is free in your room but not at dinner. This means you need to pay for lunch and any drinks you have through the day which can add up. Regarding the clientele, if you're looking for a slightly lively crowd, this may not be your scene. But if you enjoy peace, quiet, and sleeping, you’ll fit right in.

Marion & Phillip Owens

An unsurpassable 5 star experience from the moment you arrive. Whilst the location, rooms, facilities and decor are all excellent the most important star of all is the staff - ranging from quietly efficient gardeners and cleaners to everyone involved with a very warm reception, to the great poolside team and of course the brilliant team of people in the bar and restaurants - all led by the lovely assistant director Tiziana. No wonder so many customers keep returning time and time again.

Michael Fisher

Lovely 9 night stay with friendly and helpful staff. Rooms and grounds were kept clean and our sea facing room had mainly been renovated. The only disappointment was the bathroom which badly needed updating (when did you last see an ashtray next to the toilet?) Breakfasts were superb with excellent choices of cold meats, fruit and hot food and even a proper toaster. Plenty of sun beds to go around and mattresses, covers and towels were supplied. We were only B&B and there were plenty of excellent restaurants within about 1km in either direction. One highlight of our stay was the violin playing at breakfast by Dorina Gavrilita.