Hotel Riu Costa del Sol - All Inclusive

The rooms are lovely, clean and practical, and the staff were cheerful and lovely throughout. We also ate and drank out much more often this year than on previous visits. Still, after three month-long stays in as many years, we’ve decided we won’t return, even though we love the location. Next winter we’ll try another Riu hotel, but definitely not all-inclusive. We came back because the package and hotel had seemed such good value. This time, though, things felt samey. The food was okay but repetitive, and the Italian restaurant has had the same menu for three years. We skipped the entertainment because we’d seen it all before. We’d absolutely recommend Riu Costa del Sol to others, but we need a change.

I stayed in a family room and it was lovely: there was a small separate TV room with a sofa, a huge shower, and the toilet was in its own room, which was handy for a family. The room had a balcony, and the apartment blocks all seemed nice, most with sunny balconies and chairs. There’s a great choice of restaurants, pools and bars, with self-serve wine, beer and juice in a few bars and in the restaurant. The food was great, and I ate in all the restaurants. Staff were friendly, and I’ve no complaints. The beach is across the road, with shops, bars and restaurants nearby. I had a bus transfer to and from the hotel, about 35 minutes each way. I’d definitely return, and suggest downloading the RIU app for information.

We only ended up at the Riu Costa because Rui Nautilus was closed for renovation. We like it there and wouldn’t come back to the Rui Costa. Coming straight from the Riu Monica in Nerja, it felt a bit like going from heaven to hell. This hotel is smart enough, but it’s massively overcrowded, very noisy, and full of kids and people intent on eating as much as possible. It’s not so much the hotel’s fault as the sheer number of people. The rooms are spacious and nice, with a good shower room and sinks for two, though the towels are small. Having two speciality restaurants makes dining okay, but one visit to the main restaurant was enough for us. Separate adult-only spaces, especially an adult-only dining room, could help people relax. The hotel is big enough to make that possible.

We had a great week here. The hotel and rooms were spacious, the staff really helpful, and the whole place was kept immaculate. Food and drinks were excellent, and the all-inclusive service ran for a full 24 hours, unlike many places in Europe that stop at 11pm. It’s right on the beach, which suited us perfectly. We’d highly recommend it and will return.