RIU Palace Maspalomas

This was our first visit back to the Riu Palace Maspalomas for a few years, and I have to say we still really enjoy staying here.

The hotel is spotlessly clean, the pool area is lovely, and the staff are genuinely friendly and welcoming. We had requested the same room we stayed in on our previous visit, and we were delighted that this was accommodated. A special mention goes to Anna Rosa, our room attendant, who did an excellent job throughout our stay.

The breakfast buffet was very good, with plenty of choice. The only disappointment was the tea and coffee. The coffee was much too strong for our taste, while the tea never seemed strong enough. We asked for a latte on a couple of occasions, but unfortunately never seemed to receive one.

The evening buffet was probably the weakest part of the hotel. While there was a reasonable selection, we found some of the dishes lacked flavour and the menu became quite repetitive over our week stay.

We also enjoyed a meal in the Oasis Restaurant. Daniel, the head waiter, was outstanding. He took the time to speak with guests and made everyone feel welcome. The young waitress working with him was also excellent. Unfortunately, another waiter appeared rather uninterested—a smile and a more welcoming attitude would have made a big difference.

It was great to see the new sunbed cushions and parasols around the pool. However, it was disappointing that several of the parasol covers were already torn and didn’t appear to have been repaired or replaced.

As with many hotels, there were the inevitable “sunbed reservers,” although thankfully there were always plenty of beds available. Personally, I think allocating sunbeds on arrival would be a fairer system.

Overall, this is still a lovely hotel and one we enjoy returning to. However, I don’t quite feel it meets the standard of a true five-star hotel. There are a number of small details that, taken together, make a difference.

The biggest disappointment was the lack of complimentary drinking water in the rooms. In my opinion, providing a couple of bottles of water each day should be standard in a five-star hotel. Alternatively, a water station on each floor with reusable carafes would be an excellent and environmentally friendly solution.

Despite these points, we had a very enjoyable stay, and with a few small improvements, this hotel could easily live up to its five-star rating.

Excellent hotel, great food, always clean, lovely pools, great staff (especially wonderful Esther and Denisse in the restaurant). The only slight disappointment was the quality of the evening entertainment but overall excellent experience.