Riu Tikida Beach

Currently staying at hotel and many things need changing .its easy to see as guest who are returning get better treatment. Meals tables kept for them at lunch time you try and get table outside and water and half filled glasses of wine and your told someone sitting there when they are not. Therefore you are sent inside. Drinks round pool you have to beg staff for drinks when again people are brought drinks without asking. The entertainment is awful its like a Saturday afternoon care home acts with singers who cant sing and the reps just acting like fools without being professional. Overall the hotel is clean but needs a refit the towels in rooms are thin Food wise the ala carta restaurant offers you in a shot glass cold mashed potato and only has 70% of the menu available with the main buffet at lunch is the same thing each day. The cocktails are iced drinks with no taste. Riu hotels need to improve this hotel and be aware the high score is from an older group who return yearly with the average age group being over 70 So if you looking for a non flash basic experience with no wow factor book !!!!

We stayed for 4 nights at the end of our holiday. We chose it because it's adults-only and we wanted somewhere quiet and chilled.

We knew we were moving from the 5-star Riu Tikida Palace to a 4-star hotel, so didn't expect the Beach to be the same standard. But, we felt the difference was more than 1 star.

The good: The internal areas and outdoor bar area are beautiful. The hotel design is lovely and has gorgeous gardens.

Our room was spotless and the housekeeping staff did a fab job. Our issues with the room are the age and condition of things, not than cleanliness.

We had a lovely meal in the separate restaurant. The food was excellent and the staff were wonderful – friendly and attentive.

The buffet food was really good, plenty of choice and some lovely dishes. Unfortunately, the buffets were let down by guest behaviour.

The rooms: The rooms are dated and need refurbishment. Our shower tray didn't drain properly. The aircon had a strong chemical smell, so we didn't use it and the vent dripped water. The ceiling fan wobbled so much that we didn't feel safe using it.

The towels were small and thin and there were no bathrobes. Toiletries were very basic – hand soap and an all-in-one hair and shower gel, with no separate shampoo, conditioner or body lotion.

The pool area: This was our biggest disappointment. The pool is beautiful, but there isn't much space around it for loungers and they're reserved very early. The loungers are old and the cushions were very dirty and mildewed. We covered them with our own towels and the pool towels provided.

The paving around the pool needs attention. It's heavily stained, with rust marks and bird droppings. To be fair, staff jet-washed it every morning, but much of the staining is beyond removal.

There are lovely areas of green lawn around which seem underused. We think some could be developed into additional sunbathing areas, creating less "sardine-ing" around the pool and giving more chance to find a lounger without having to reserve one very early.

Guest behaviour: Some of our frustrations were not the hotel's fault. The buffets could be quite chaotic, with some guests repeatedly pushing in front of people already queuing at the different food stations. Serving spoons and tongs were also frequently not used for their intended dish.

The dessert section in particular could become absolute carnage, with cream, chocolate and mousse smeared across the serving dishes, tongs, cakes and jellies!

Tables and floors were usually covered with dropped food. On one occasion we sat at a table which was being cleared and were given place mats which appeared to have been wiped but were still dirty. The staff were constantly working around this, but there is only so much they can do when other guests aren't considerate.

The restaurant: The separate restaurant was great. The food was excellent and the staff were lovely.

Our only criticism was that the four courses were served within about an hour. We felt very rushed and, as we don't eat quickly, we left with indigestion. Slowing the service down would make a big difference.

Drinks: Drinks were OK overall, although wine glasses served with meals were very small and top-ups weren't offered. The beer tasted watery compared to the same brand we'd had elsewhere during our trip. The cocktails tasted like children's sherbet.

The staff: Despite all the above, the staff were so friendly and helpful. We can understand why there are so many loyal returning guests. The warmth of the staff is a big part of the hotel's appeal.

Overall: We don't regret choosing Tikida Beach. The adults-only environment was exactly what we wanted for the end of our holiday, and the hotel has a lovely relaxing atmosphere, beautiful public areas, good food and genuinely lovely, hardworking staff.

However, having stayed at the Tikida Palace beforehand, we found the difference in condition and facilities much greater than we had expected from a one-star drop.

A lovely hotel with lovely people, but one that feels ready for a refresh.