Riu Palace Tenerife

My Wife and I have stayed here several times and have always been happy with everything. But on this occasion, the mattress on our bed was sunken, so we asked for a topper, unfortunately this is not one topper that fits the bed, but two, that then hang over the edges by several inches, and of course the sheets do not fit. The food, there was a good variety on offer, but there were not always vegetables available to go with the meat joints. And at breakfast the eggs were very hit and miss, the poached eggs were placed in ramekins and were like bullets, fried eggs were either under cooked or like bullets. My Wife did try to talk to the manager regarding the food issue, but you could tell he was not interested. But funny enough when a couple of gentleman arrived in suits who were obviously to do with the hotel, everything changed for the better. We love Tenerife, but sadly maybe looking for alternative accommodation

Location is great - quiet end of Costa Adeje but a lovely walk along the boardwalk to a beautiful little shopping mall and some restaurants. Walk further on and there is a larger shopping centre (designer) and seats where you can sit and look out to sea.

Hotel and grounds are lovely. Inside buffet restaurant is very much old style Riu and is probably ready for a refurb but very spacious and clean. There is a large outside area where the views are beautiful. Sadly a lot of the tables overlooking the gardens and the sea seemed to be “reserved” by people who had the same table at breakfast and dinner every day. I got the impression that these were returning guests and the tables were saved by waiting staff. The food in the buffet restaurant is good - the same as most buffet food but loads of choice and well cooked and presented. The desserts are the little cakes that really all taste the same. It would be nice to see proper desserts rather than the little generic sponges and soft ice cream. It probably saved me from myself though so I shouldn’t complain! We did not eat at the other restaurants as we have eaten at other Krystal restaurants in other Riu’s and were not that impressed.

The staff are mostly lovely, reception staff were welcoming and cleaning staff very nice. Waiting staff were all polite, helpful and pleasant with the exception of one whom I won’t name who was actually quite rude. A female “chef” on the meat carving one night was also unpleasant. It was also a little challenging trying to get pre-dinner drinks in the bar by reception and we gave up on three occasions. It was not due to being busy, they were chatting and not paying attention to people wanting drinks.

Entertainment was OK, a good female singer one night but the World Cup was on so there was more interest in that.

Rooms were very comfortable and bathrooms large with great showers. Sheets were not changed and there was not the usual card on the bed to request. Regular changing of towels, even in the evenings, and our bed was turned down twice. Curtains drawn and bins emptied which is a nice touch, I think.

The grounds are lovely and extremely well maintained. We actually didn’t use the sunbeds and pools because, quite honestly, we couldn’t be bothered to walk around looking for two together that didn’t have towels on them. There is no enforcement of the rule of not saving sun beds so, of course, the usual game of let’s bag a sunbed and disappear until 4:00pm is rampant.

Drinks are plentiful at breakfast but water has to be paid for at dinner which I find ridiculous in a country where you can’t drink the water. I think it’s €3 a 500ml bottle so that soon mounts up! Riu you need to change this like you have with the decision not to charge for room safes. A very welcome change of policy which I am sure every guest appreciates.

One last thing, I always read Tripadvisor reviews prior to booking and continue to read them until I go. Shortly before our holiday I read a review from someone who said they had a lot of cockroaches in their room. This disturbed me!!! I am happy to report that I didn’t actually meet up with any cockroaches at all during our week away. Maybe that room was ground floor, I don’t know but we were safe on level 7.

We had a lovely week away A very comfortable hotel and one which I look forward to going back to.