- Fuerteventura Holidays
- Costa Calma
- R2 Rio Calma Hotel
This modern hotel awaits its guests at just 350m from the nearest beach along the fabulous Costa Calma in the southern part of the Fuerteventura Island. Various shopping venues, restaurants and bars are located within 2 km, while the closest bus stop is just a 5-minute walk away. The venue itself provides everything needed for that long awaited vacation. Set amidst its beautiful gardens are 2 swimming pools that take care of that much needed respite in the warm summer months or a spot for a good morning swim, when the ocean waters are just a tad too chilly. For some extra pampering guests can give the spa and wellness centre a chance, while the in-house gym is perfect for those who want to maintain the workout routine. The onsite restaurants offer plenty of dining options that range from Canarian flavours, through traditional Spanish dishes to an international buffet.
I have stayed in hotels all over the world, ranging from modest properties to genuinely excellent 4- and 5-star hotels, and unfortunately Rio Calma falls a very long way short of what I would expect from a 4-star property.
There were so many things during our stay that made me question how this hotel can justify its 4-star rating.
Our first room was directly above the disco. We were told the music would finish at 11pm, but on our first night it continued until around 1am. Not exactly ideal when you've travelled to a hotel expecting to get some sleep. To be fair, the hotel did move us the following day, but we shouldn't have been put in a room in that location in the first place.
Even more concerning was the condition of the bedding. The sheets on the bed had visible stains which appeared to be blood spots. Whatever the cause, finding stained bedding in a hotel room is completely unacceptable and certainly not something I would expect from a 4-star hotel.
Then there is the €4 per night charge for the room safe. At a supposedly 4-star all-inclusive hotel, charging guests extra for something as basic as a room safe feels incredibly cheap.
The towels were another disappointment. Both the room towels and the pool/beach towels were thin, worn, small and well past the quality I would expect from a 4-star hotel. They certainly didn't feel remotely luxurious.
But the biggest disappointment was the food.
The restaurant offered a very limited selection, with far too much greasy, fried and overcooked food. Meat and fish were routinely overcooked and lacking in quality. One evening they served entrecôte steak which was so tough that eating it was genuinely like trying to eat the sole of a shoe.
Breakfast was equally underwhelming. At a 4-star hotel I expect a reasonable selection of fresh produce, yet we were presented with tinned pears and tinned orange segments. That says quite a lot about the standard of the food being offered.
The all-inclusive drinks were no better. The choice was extremely limited, including only one type of beer, and the wine served with dinner was quite honestly dreadful. Calling it wine is being generous — it was so poor it was practically battery acid in a glass.
What makes all of this particularly disappointing is that Rio Calma has the potential to be a lovely hotel. The building and surroundings give the impression of a much higher standard, but the actual experience simply doesn't live up to it.
Having stayed in numerous hotels around the world, I know that "4-star" doesn't necessarily mean luxury, but it should mean a consistent level of quality, cleanliness, comfort, food and service. Rio Calma simply didn't deliver that.
The staff did deal with our room move when we complained, which I appreciated, but that doesn't make up for the overall experience.
In my opinion, Rio Calma is trading heavily on its appearance and facilities while delivering a standard that is nowhere near what I would expect from a 4-star hotel.
Would I return? Absolutely not.
Would I recommend it? Based on our experience, no.
If you're booking this hotel because you expect a genuine 4-star all-inclusive experience, I would strongly suggest managing your expectations.
Great hotel and delicious food. Raul - best waiter we ever had! Kind, helpful and profesional.
We’ve just returned from a one-week stay at R2 Rio Costa Calma, travelling as a family of four — two adults and two teenagers — and we honestly had a fantastic time.
Firstly, this hotel is absolutely beautiful. We were completely blown away by the stunning pool area and grounds. The restaurant food was amazing, as was the snack bar, and the entertainment was very good, with lots of different variety each night.
The hotel staff were wonderful — very friendly, welcoming and helpful. I was a little confused when I read some reviews and comments about the staff being rude, as we did not experience this at all. Everyone we dealt with was nothing but helpful and friendly, from reception to the restaurant and bar staff.
A few things we thought might be useful for future guests:
• 🕺🏻 Every Wednesday evening there’s a wear white party at the pool bar. Was a fantastic night, not to be missed - not essential but if you want to be in the theme pack something white to wear!
There are only a couple of minor points, and neither affected our holiday in any way.:
The bars could get extremely busy, with sometimes only two people serving, resulting in very long queues, particularly for cocktails. The staff work incredibly hard, so we think adding extra staff during busy evening periods would make a big difference and better accommodate the number of guests.
We also felt that the evening entertainment starting at 10pm was quite late. A 9pm start would, in our opinion, be much more preferable for many guests.
Other than those very minor points, we honestly find it difficult to think of anything else that needs changing or improving.
This hotel is absolutely stunning. We had a wonderful stay and would definitely recommend it — don’t hesitate to book!
Just be aware that Costa Calma itself is very quiet, with relatively few shops and restaurants, so if you’re looking for a lively resort with lots going on, this probably isn’t the place for you.
However, if you’re looking for a relaxing break in beautiful surroundings, with a gorgeous pool, great food, friendly staff and a lovely atmosphere, then you’ve found the right place.
We would happily return! ❤️
The stuff is really nice and professional. Food is fresh and the whole experience is excellent. 5 star at least. Especially the waiter Raul. Very cheerful, helpful and outgoing :)
Definitely recommend it
We had an amazing time at the R2 Rio Calma restaurant. We were there on a full board basis and wow! The breakfast, lunch and dinner was extensive and there was such variety. The staff were so lovely and welcoming. We spent a week and the food was delicious, cooked beautifully and with such care. We had such positive interactions with Raul, Rodrigo, Miguel, Nerea, William and so much more. Alongside the food, the cleaning staff were amazing and efficient. And an amazing time was had during the day and at night with the various activities and 10 o’clock disco. Some names that stand out are Gianni, Vivian, Joao and Iona. Thank you to all for making our holiday that much more special! <3
