Riu Costa del Sol

We have just returned from 2 weeks at this hotel, it is a lovely hotel which is kept spotlessly clean, the rooms are big with really comfortable beds, with ample storage space. The safe is complimentary and you also get the use of pool towels. We opted for a partial sea view which overlooked the infinity pool. You could always get sun beds it didn’t matter what time we went to pool we always managed to get 2 together. The aqua aerobics was really popular. My only negative for this hotel was the evening entertainment although the entertainment team put in a lot of effort all the singing was mimed, and on a Saturday night I wouldn’t of expected to see a dance competition for the guests as a form of entertainment for the evening show. In my opinion I think the hotel should bring artists in for the evening entertainment.

We stayed here for 11 nights at the end of Aug/beg of September as a party of 8 and were really impressed. Although on check-in it was very busy, the Receptionist that dealt with us could see my aunt was very tired so moved us away from the counter to the seating area to complete the process which I was very grateful for and impressed by. We had e-mailed ahead asking for a low floor room for my aunt and uncle and again were very pleased when all of us were allocated ground floors rooms, next door to each other. As we were early, only two were ready but they had allocated these to our parents and aunt and uncle so they could go into their rooms immediately. This great service really set the tone of the holiday for us. We found all the staff incredibly helpful and polite. Our rooms were at the back of the complex in between two pools and near the Jardin de Lola bar. The rooms were lovely; spacious with plenty of storage space and had a safe and fridge in the room. Safe was complimentary. The bathroom and patio were also a good size with toiletries in the bathroom and a drying rack on the patio. They were kept spotlessly clean and cleaned every day. We used the pool outside our rooms and never struggled to get sunbeds together at any time of day even for all 8 of us. Again the pool area was lovely and clean and the pool temperature was beautiful. We only used the pool overlooking the beach at the foam party but all the pools were a great temperature. The food in all restaurants was great. We preferred the Maria Sardina restaurant for lunch and dinner as it was smaller and less frenetic but did use the main restaurant for breakfast (lovely to watch the sunrise) and some evenings. We also visited the Italian restaurant once during our stay. The choice of food was very good in all restaurants, although it could have been changed more frequently in the Maria Sardina but was always delicious and hot, being replenished very frequently. We only watched one show as wasn't keen on the entertainment being indoors and theatre style so used the Jardin de Lola bar which was outside and laid back with a guitarist/singer twice during our stay, who was great and it would have been brilliant if they had more laid back entertainment there more regularly. The bar staff here were great, encouraging us to practice our Spanish. You also got olives and peanuts which was another nice touch. Outside of the hotel, the promenade is literally across the road and you can walk for ages along it in both directions. There are lots of lovely chiringuitos along there with shops, bars, tapas bars and restaurants too. There is also a taxi rank outside the hotel which we used quite a lot and there were always taxis available. All in all, this hotel is in a great location with good food, great service, fabulous staff and spotlessly clean and I would thoroughly recommend it.