Riu Buenavista Hotel

After an enjoyable stay last year, me and my partner decided to return - and what a disappointment. When we were shown our room we were met with a slight smell of damp which was coming from a corner of the room which was so wet the paint came away on my fingers with ants scurrying along it. After an out of place attempt at humour and bizarre conversation with receltiin, we were finally moved to a far better room.

The entertainment most evenings either consisted of the same young man singing the same songs or the animation team lazily attempting to mouth the lyrics to music they really could have leant beforehand seeing as they must have done it a hundred times before. The Queen tribute and magician was the best out of the lot, but we couldn't help thinking RIU could make more of an effort in this area instead of passing off Butlins level cabaret to their guests.

The security entrance gate at the back of the hotel was broken during the last half of our stay meaning anybody could walk in, and considering there have been various thefts on site this really something that should have priority in high season when we went.

The Italian restaurant was far better this year, but The Grill (which the waiters were always pressing the guests to attend most days), was an absolute disaster on the last day... with no gambas (prawns), which are the main reason people go. The Asian restaurant on the other hand is always worth visiting and my favourite.

The cleaners and waiters do a fantastic job (except one young kid who was openly defiant to the supervisor in front of the guests on more than one occasion and should have been given his cards a long time ago.

Lastly, the day before we left, my girlfriend noticed that the milk she was using for her coffee at breakfast was off. It had obviously been opened, left to go warm, then closed and reused again. At any time during a holiday this is an essential factor that needs more attention.

We have decided that twice is now more than enough, and next year will try Lanzarote instead.

Had an amazing 9 days staying at Riu Buenavista. It was our first time staying at Riu hotels but I’ll definitely be returning to one of their hotels in the future.

Upon our arrival we got a free upgrade to an interconnecting family room with a sea view which was fantastic. Definitely the best hotel room I’ve ever stayed in. So spacious, clean and quiet. The air conditioning was also very good which was great to cool off after a day in the sun.

The hotel is in the perfect spot - away from all the busy part of Las Americas but still close to all the excursions in Adeje which was just a 30 minute journey away on the 471 bus (that picks you up frequently outside the Hard Rock hotel which is just a 5 minute walk away from the hotel).

The hotel has 5 pools. However, they are quite crowded because they are small compared to other pools at different resorts I’ve stayed in. It is also quite difficult to get a sun lounger in the shade as these all get reserved by people putting their towels out early. We always managed to get a sun lounger but usually in the sun as there were none left. It would be nice if all the loungers had a shade/umbrella. There is also a small beach which has beautifully clear, warm waters. However, this is very stoney so if you are looking for a sandy beach you may need to visit Adeje one day. The promenade along the seafront just outside the hotel is amazing for keen runners like myself as it is beautiful to run along in the morning before it gets too hot.

The food was exceptional. All the individual restaurants were delicious along with the main buffet. There was something for everyone whether it was pizza, pasta, a huge range of fish and meats, salad etc… I would especially recommend the Asian restaurant as this had all cuisines (Thai, curry, sushi, noodles) in one which was delicious. I would have loved for there to be more traditional Spanish dishes in the main buffet or in a separate restaurant as I love trying the traditional food when I visit a country. There was paella on some days but it would have been nice to try more of it.

Overall, this hotel is definitely worth visiting and excellent value for money. All the staff were very friendly. I can’t understand the negative reviews. Thank you to all the staff at Riu Buenavista.