Riu Costa Del Sol

Great hotel, our third visit and we will return. Great location, right opposite the beach. Can’t fault any of the staff for their attitude, politeness, helpfulness and efficiency. All of the hotel is kept very clean and rooms are cleaned daily. Great choice of food, always several meat options and several fish dishes, great salad selections and the chefs are cooking behind the counters so replenishment is fast and food is freshly cooked. Can get a sunbed anytime, (maybe not on the pool edge as some guests do insist on putting towels out early) and lots of spots in sun or shade. Entertainment varied, sports bar that shows key sporting events. Several bars so no long queues and beer, wine and soft drinks available in self service area. Would highly recommend the upgrade to a partial view room .

My partner and I have stayed at many Riu hotels worldwide over the years. Although I understand the distinctions between Riu, Club Riu and Riu Palace properties, the gap in standards at this hotel was surprisingly wide. It was not all bad, so I will begin with the positives. Check-in was quick, although there was no porter; staff did, however, take our bags to the room, which was helpful because my partner and I are both disabled. Our room was fantastic: we had booked a junior suite with a full sea view, and that was exactly what we received. I was disappointed, though, to find only one bottle of water in the fridge. Even the more basic Riu hotels we have visited usually provide something extra, such as soft drinks or a welcome drink. The hotel was impeccably clean from reception to the rooms, with all areas spotless and cleaned constantly. The bar staff were excellent, serving the correct drinks promptly, with no long waits or queues. The pool areas were similarly uncrowded, and there was no real shortage of sun loungers, despite seeing guests place towels on them at 5 a.m. from our balcony. Of the three main pools, the largest hosted games and loud music throughout the day, which seemed unusual given that most guests appeared to be in their mid-to-late sixties. The other two were designated quiet pools, although this was not always enforced; one day, guests played volleyball in one without staff intervening. The in-house entertainment was excellent. Although a couple of shows were not to our taste, they were perfectly adequate. The highlights were The Lion King and the Broadway and West End show, both performed and choreographed by the in-house team, who also created the costumes. They were outstanding, and I would happily have paid to see them. We were disappointed on the final Saturday, however, when an external duo we had been looking forward to did not appear. The evening became karaoke instead, with no explanation. My main concerns were the restaurant and the food. As a disabled traveller, I had arranged for a mobility scooter from an external company. Each time I entered the main restaurant, I used it to collect my food, parked it discreetly and walked the remaining 10 to 15 feet to our table with a stick. On our first evening, I realised I had forgotten a spoon and politely asked a member of staff for one. The response was abrupt: “It’s a buffet—help yourself.” This was surprising because we were seated in the clearly marked disabled section. Drinks were also self-service, which would have been acceptable if applied consistently; however, staff regularly served wine and water to Spanish guests. The food itself was bland and tasteless. I am not a fussy eater and, having travelled widely, will try almost anything once. Yet basic staples such as rice and pasta were repeatedly overcooked, watery and lacking flavour, and on some days they seemed to be the only options. It became a standing joke with my partner that lunch was always pasta and rice; had I wanted a celebrity-jungle diet, I would have applied for the show. In conclusion, would we stay at a Riu hotel again? Yes—we have enjoyed many fantastic holidays at Riu properties worldwide. However, based on this experience, we would not return to a Club Riu or standard Riu hotel, as their standards appear to have declined beyond recognition.