Riu Costa del Sol

Went for a 4 night break in the sun to relax, and that’s just what we did. Everything was great and as expected. Lovely clean pool areas with plenty of sun beds, although they are right next to each other. Lovely kids splash area with sun beds and shade. Varied food choice with main buffet and speciality options on rotation. Tried Spanish (all buffet) and Italian (served main buffet starter/dessert) not massive choice on the menu but could always just have buffet for your main, which I wish I had as the mushroom lasagne was a little bland and my partners fish was not cooked too well and potatoes rock hard. But no big deal Drinks were really good and had plenty of choice including pink gin. Got 2 cocktails which were not good at all but rest were fine and decent measures. Self service soft drinks wine and beer at the pool areas which was great and still available at night, so we sat by the pool where the entertainment was and could just grab ourselves something Only watched one show which was a magic style show and was great. The rest was not to our taste (70s etc) but the entertainment area was always packed and they do a great job Rooms adequate, walk in shower, lots of wardrobe space and coat hangers which was nice. Our room looked over the 2 smaller pools Location wise there are shops and seafront local cuisine restaurants right outside and down the long promenade (which was different to what we are used to in Caribbean etc) but nice to be able to just walk out and have everything close by. Didn’t venture into Torremolinos centre which is uphill but did walk on the promenade about half an hour before you come to benalmadena Overall a great stay with the usual riu feel and facilities

Stayed for a week from 7th July. Hotel spotless as ever, room in block two, forth floor very nice, good views. Food, not bad for a Riu club hotel. The main buffet I didn’t like ,too spread out and busy, only ate there once, preferring the Andalusia restaurant which you could book whenever you wanted also open at nine for breakfast. Drinks, two types of beer, cruzcampo 4.8,percent and lemon flavoured, refreshing drink but only around 2 percent. Only spirit we drank was the Spanish pink gin and tonic which was fair. Entertainment, the one main venue is nowhere big enough, could do with some kind of entertainment at one of the other bars. Although the animation team put on a decent show in the evening, they showed very little interest when running the afternoon games. After staying at over twenty Riu hotels I have never seen the animation team with a tip box like they had here. Location, good for the train station, but too isolated for much else. All in all a good clean Riu club hotel but now feel I’ve got use to the Riu palaces and see this as a down grade. If the right deal was on offer, then I wouldn’t have a problem coming here again.

This hotel is very well managed. Immaculate in every way. Rooms ground and restaurant and pools all spectacular. Entertainment is very good. Not the normal boring stuff. Every night people were looking for seats do get there early.