Riu Papayas

Hotel was great. Food was good. Housekeeping was great. Only problem was our family were at different ends off the corridors. Animation team were great but we had seen the shows last year and also the year before that. This needs to be changed as you can only watch it once of twice.

This is our third visit to The Papayas, and sadly it will most definitely be our last. I do not know what has happened in the last 3 years since our previous visit but unfortunately it is not for the good. Location - it is central for most things. If wanting to do excursions many pick ups are done from the Servatur Waikiki next door, which makes it easy to access the trips. Room - on arrival our room had several things wrong with it. The shelf under the sink was hanging off and the drawer was broken and fell on my finger when I tried to close it. These faults were reported on the APP, but I question who checked to see if the room was ok. I was also given sheets that were clearly not fit, there were holes in them. I cannot understand why anyone would put them on a guest bed. I left a note asking for them to be changed which they were, but these sheets should never have been in circulation. The atmosphere - was not the same as our previous experience. Whilst a few of the animation staff made an effort with us. My daughter is 15 and too old for the giga club, so there was absolutely nothing for her to do! She’s spent 2 weeks bored and watching tiktok videos on her phone. This was a gripe of another family with a 14 year old. The adult activities are too boisterous with lots of big men flexing their strength and for a 15 year old girl she just would not join in. The one activity we did both do was out of principle, one of the female entertainers went around the pool asking all the males to join in a football game. Not one single female was asked. So myself and another family noted this and eventually I said to my daughter let’s go play this. I asked the female if women and girls could play too and she looked shocked. Food - shocking! The quality and choice had significantly deteriorated, which was also noted by returning guests. On our last night the protein was pollock (for the 3rd day both lunch and tea) and hake. There was very little choice. The only day we all noticed a lot more attention to detail was when the general manager came and was in the restaurant, food was constantly being replenished and it was hot. Other than that it was poor, with food left under hot plates to go crispy or cold! Many evenings my daughter and I ended up getting food from elsewhere. I went on an all inclusive and lost weight! One evening, we were sat at a table when another couple pulled out a potty and allowed their 3/4 year old to do his business in the restaurant. This was reported and dealt with swiftly, but kind of epitomised the whole experience for us. That the place has gone downhill. The drinks were also not great, I’m not a big drinker at all so my daughter and I had either water, iced tea or lemon Fanta when the machines worked. Queues at the bar were massive on the rare occasions over the two weeks that I had an alcoholic drink, with different nationalities just ignoring queues and jumping in. Evening entertainment - 3 years ago we watched every show and enjoyed it. However, the shows have not changed only the entertainment staff. The routines have become dated and self-indulgent. There are clearly some incredible dancers on the team but there’s also more to entertaining a hotel full of guests than miming to Madonna. Riu Papayas really felt neglected in every aspect, and it pains me to say it! Attention to detail has gone! And we won’t be going back which upsets me as the last time we went my daughter cried all the way to the airport and some of the entertainment staff came to see us leave such were there involvement. That’s all gone and your returning guests are noticing and will not go back! I love Riu hotels, I love how modern they are but Riu Papayas it appears needs a lot of work done on the basics as to me it is no longer a 4star hotel.

Spent two weeks there. Couldn't fault anything really. Yeah you could say some of the food was the same for two weeks but good quality and plenty of choice to change your daily meals. And something to eat 24/7 if you wished. Not many hotels do that these days. We ate out only 4 times, just to try local restaurants really. Hotel bars fantastic. Every member of staff right through cleaners,reception, bar staff, gardeners, entertainment staff were professional, fast and efficient. They constantly cleaned everything. I even seen (before pool opened) fully clothed pool guys in the pool cleaning pool walls and hand rails! Incredible daily dedication to keep the place tidy. Free bus to the beach but even a taxi to the beach is only 4€. We had a great stay. Can't thank hotel riu papayas team enough. Didn't want to fly home.