We visited the Riu Palace during half term and took our 16 year old son. We chose the hotel for it's position on the beach as my husband and son are keen windsurfers. However, there was a "wind drought" for the week we were there and they didn't get to do any, but they did body surf which they thoroughly enjoyed.
We arrived at the hotel around 11.30pm and were given a very lukewarm welcome, no sign of a refreshing drink or snacks! The porter went off with our bags while we completed our check-in and we had to find our own way to our room. The room was very clean, if a little cramped with the 3rd bed in but we didn't mind as we spend very little time in the room anyway. However, the mattresses were so hard we did not sleep well. We have a firm mattress at home but this was the hardest bed I have ever slept on.
The pool area is very well kept and the pool clean but the Germans seem to think that if they have a sun bed one day, it is automatically theirs for their stay and I think they keep towels on them permanently! The average age of the guests must have been in the 70's and there were very few children and teenagers there for saying it was half-term.
As mentioned in previous reviews, there is a 2 sitting system in the buffet at night for evening meal and you are given a table for the duration of your stay (breakfast is free seating). On our first night we had not been allocated a table or a time (apparently this should have been done at check-in) but they found us a table anyway (the dining area does seat over 800 people). Winter times for meals were 6pm and 8pm. As we had started at 6pm we had to stick to that time for the week and this really annoyed me. I don't like to follow strict regimented timings on holiday, I go away to get away from being tied down and in every other hotel I have stayed in that provide buffet meals, you can arrive for your meal at any time during the advertised serving hours. As this seemed to work for breakfast, I cannot understand why they cannot do it for dinner. I think it suits the German's ordered way of life, but it caused me stress especially queuing at food stations and the Germans pushing in and not letting you get out of the way when you have got your food. However, I must say that the food was of a very good standard.
On the whole this was a good hotel for a winter break but I wouldn't like to stay for longer than 1 week. The beach was fantastic but the island has very little more to offer apart from the sunshine, although it is quieter than the other Canary Islands, all of which we have visited. I wouldn't go back to this hotel with my son. I can recommend the food, pool and cleanliness, the staff on the whole were professional and helpful but a little aloof, and it's location is very good.
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