My partner and i stayed at the Riu Papayas for 5 nights in november and had a great time. The reception was well looked after and the gentleman very polite and helpful, we were checked in and on the way to our room within 5 minutes. The room was not the biggest but very clean and tidy with a larger than usual balcony. There is a safety deposit box in the room which costs 12euro a week. The restraunt was brilliant, the choice of food was plentiful and very tasty, all the staff that we came across were very nice and polite. The pool area is large with a lot of sunbeds. If i had to pick a downside to this hotel it would be that it is 95% German but most of these are nice people, all in all we had a lovely stay and are looking at going back to this hotel again next year.

I have been to Playa del Ingles before but this was our first time at the Riu Papayas. Our stay got off to a great start, we had booked half board and we arrived from the airport tired and hungry just as the dinner service was coming to an end. The resturant manager kept the service open for us to get some food, whilst reception kept our luggage secure. Although at dinner gents are expected to wear trousers or jeans we arrived in shorts but they made an exception for us.

When we arrived at our room we had a poorish view the balcony, but we were not overly bothered about this. The staff on reception, maids, waiting and bar staff are very friendly and helpful, but not overly attentive which in my mind is a good thing.

During our stay the hotel was predominently occupied by Germans. I was staying with my partner and being a same sex couple we got a few glances which you come to expect, but there was nothing more than that. However, many Germans during breakfast and dinner find it acceptable to charge around expecting people to move out of their way, look miserable at you and generally be rude and verbose. Despite signs around the pool stating that hotel staff will remove towels from unoccupied sunlounges before 10am and that reserving sunloungers was not allowed many did this and would think it acceptable to reserve a sunlounger before breakfast, have breakfast then leave the hotel until early afternoon to start sun bathing and swimming.

All in all, hotel very good, and would go again, but go during the school holidays where there are more likely to be more UK holiday makers.

We picked up this hotel checking some reviews and following RIU's opinion.

Generally I would say hotel is quite old, in good shape but everything is quite old.
Furnitures in room are old with this typical "old furniture" smell.
Room was quite small for 3 of us (me, wife and kid of 9 years old).

The worst thing was faulty air conditioning. It simply doesn't cool down air producing only noise. I flagged it to reception but hotel technician could not fix it during our stay.
Maybe it was too old to be fixed :)

Swimming pool was nice, not so deep around 1.5 m but quite wide.
Bar at swimming pool serves only drinks, getting some snacks during lunch is impossible - you need to go outside hotel to get food.

Food in restaurant was a little bit tasteless. I think because of old people visiting this hotel but was annoying. Everything was without herbs and spices.
Also no information about food , no stickers near plates, nothing. So if you have some allergy you need to be very careful and try to predict what it is .
Lack of vegetables, so vegetarians cannot survive in this hotel.

Location of hotel is not so good. Noisy street from one side, entrance is hidden "at the back of hotel". Room with view to swimming pool and garden is nice idea to have some rest in the night. Beach is around 1.5 km. They have some free bus service which is going to beach every 30 min.
Be careful - google map shows this hotel in wrong place on the map :))

My kid spotted cockroach in the public toilet near reception.
I haven't seen any in the room.

A week in the sun at the Papayas left us refreshed and pleased. Going from 27 degrees one day to minus 3 the next showed how good it had been. The hotel went a long way to making our stay so good, but there are reservations which people may need to take into account.
First the good parts. This was our 11th different Riu including 4 palaces, and without doubt the best quality evening food we have had. The range was good, the presentation attractive and the taste of the roasts unbelievable. Breakfast was as usual more continental than British, but still enjoyable. The staff were all very helpful -my wife needs medicine to be kept frozen, and once the initial difficulties with explaining were overcome, was treated royally- and always pleasant and cheerful. The layout was for us superb, the garden side was quiet, well furnished, allowing seats in the sun or shade at all times of day, and comfortable. We could sit on the balcony at night and listen to the entertainment, though those more energetic could dance at the poolside bar area where the band was. The room was a bit stuffy at times, but generally with the balcony door open very comfy. No air con. as others have said, but in November not much need.
Now the other parts. The "outer" sides of the hotel would be noisy, the main road at the front, the side street with bars and cafes and the Riu Waikiki next door could be loud and annoy light sleepers. The hotel is a way from the beach (horrible, full of sunworshippers, illustrates why Palya del Ingles has such a bad reputation) but easily accessible if you don't mind walking. The local shops are not good, and the CCs further in are awful- the Kasbah especially well worth being avoided unless you like bars, eateries and noise. Best bet is the Yumbo, about 10 minutes away, though that isn't great. Definite lack of snack bars for a small lunch, everyone seems to think you need a 3 course meal, but after a good breakfast, very few places to get a sandwich etc. recommend the little German bar at the beach plaza - Wurst, bread and a large wheat beer 5.50 euros
There are 2 other things to bear in mind. We were the only Brits in the hotel, no problem as the largely German clientele were polite and friendly. We were embarrassed by not being able to reply to them in their own language. And around the place you will see lots of Gays, equally non probmatical, though if you object to seeing men walking alolng holding hands the resort is not for you. For us it was not as much bother as the touts at the beach and the Yumbo, who with their xenophobic comments gave British people a bad name.
So, that's it. We would go back if it were not for the surroundingarea, but we certainly enjoyed our stay.