Riu Costa Del Sol

Customer Ratings & Reviews

TripAdvisor Traveler Rating

8361 reviews

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  Two sides to every story…

  Where to start? Pros and cons? Two sides to every story? The hotel itself is fine, copious amounts of food or drink available 24/7. All manner of breakfasts are catered for and I defy anyone not to get something they like. The same applies to lunch and dinner in the evening. There are four pools, the main one is near the main road and looks out toward the beach and sea beyond. (There is a gated entrance which you can use to access the road and beach). Inland and behind this pool, is a bar, stage and restaurants. Next there is a small walk to the reception/check-in building and main entrance. Beyond that, is pool #2, and a bar. Behind this is the 3rd pool, and tiny baby pool #4. This is also where you will find Pepe’s food, and a towel station (you can only change your towels between 4-6pm). Leading from this area is to another bar at the end of the resort and the gym/spa is off to the left. Despite what you might get told, there is no quiet pool. Each pool is very busy (and noisy). Sun-seekers regularly get up between 7-8am to bag the best loungers. We didn’t normally get down until about 9am, but usually found a lounger available. However, the pools are open until 7pm, and after about 5pm, people tend to leave, and it is less busy. Our room was in the block near the 2nd and 3rd pools, facing outside and to the east. It was adequate. Two wide single beds pushed together, made our bed. The mattress was firm, but that was alright by me. A TV hung on the wall, but we hardly used it. Coffee making facilities, but again, we hardly used them. Cupboard/drawers/wardrobe space (hangers) was all limited, and not quite enough for two people, for two weeks. However, we survived. Horses would regularly trot up the narrow road early in the morning outside our room, which accompany the screeching of the Monk Parakeets nesting in trees opposite our room. The bathroom, had a wide sink and walk-in shower, plus toilet and bidet. There was hand soap and shower gel, plus a hairdryer. The staff and entertainment team are brilliant and amazing….working from morning until late at night. But there are two sides, as I said, to each story. And this is where all the ‘buts’ start..because there are a lot of things that need repairing or issues….A LOT. Our Room ‘buts’: * Door handle to balcony is loose. * Cupboard door that hides the the fridge needs adjusting. * New bracket on vertical shower rail (shower head keeps slipping down). * Shower gel was never topped up, and we ran out before our two weeks were up. * We left our wet towels hanging up to dry, which were folded up, so never dried properly, and smelled mouldy by the time we returned to our room. Restaurant ‘buts’: * Sitting outside either at the Sardina or main buffet restaurant you run a gauntlet against birds who mug you for your food, if you so much as turn your back. * Be wary of flies on food or around the self-service drinks (wine). * The breakfast muesli is anything BUT. It’s a mixture of oats, fruit, cornflakes and other children’s cereals. * There are two types of bacon, but both are either chewy and crispy, or just chewy. * The food labelling is hit and miss, sometimes it’s like a child has run wild and mixed them all up on purpose. * The food serving implements are often mixed up, so food is often transferred from one food to another. If you have any food intolerances, take care. * In the main buffet restaurant, the chairs scrape noisily on the floor, and rubber feet would be a good idea, because the noise is INCESSANT, and this makes it nigh on impossible to chat if you have hearing loss. In and around the Pools ‘buts’: * There are a lot of broken parasols. A LOT. * At the far end of the resort, between the baby pool and bar/gym, there are some very outdated and tired loungers. They need replacing. * The sign say no diving…people ignored this. * The sign says no ball games…people ignored this. * The sign says no inflatables….guess what…this too was ignored. General ‘buts’: * This is supposedly a non-smoking resort. The reality is that people smoke and vape wherever they please. On balconies, on loungers, anywhere they want. * Not all staff are happy-smiley…etc. Some are glum, abrupt, rude…and you feel like you are always in their way. * Some loungers are VERY close together in places, which makes it difficult to rotate your lounger to follow the sun. We’ve been to five different RIU resorts now, this for me, unfortunately, would rank at the bottom. If you like, fun, lively, kids everywhere, smoke, birds eating your food, seagulls attacking other smaller birds, or you (for your food), noise…constant noise…did I say noise?…then you will likely be okay here. But, for me, too much is in need of repair and the owners are too focused on turnover of customers, to improve the quality of the resort.

  Jun 06, 2026
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  Fab family holiday and a bit of something for everyone

  Fourth time at this hotel and still as good as ever. I genuinely can't think of one thing to complain about. The hotel is only 10 minutes from the airport and looks directly on to the beach and is in a really nice location. Check in is smooth and efficient with helpful and knowledgeable staff. The hotel is large and is split over several blocks but no matter which one we've stayed in they're all great, the building nearest the main large pool can be a bit noisy at night with the entertainment but it all quietens down around 11pm. The swimming pools are lovely and clean with great sun loungers and a clean pool towel every day if you want one. There are plenty of activities and fun to be had around the pool and we were always lucky and found loungers no matter what time of day. The restaurants are lovely and completely spotless and have a fab selection of food for breakfast, lunch and dinner. You can choose to dine in or eat outside on the terrace.The staff in the restaurant are also brilliant and helpful. There's are several bars with the top bar showing some form of entertainment every night and a kids disco which our little one loved but can be quite noisy as expected but the other 2 are peaceful and quiet if it's a chilled night and a chat your looking for. We found the beds to be comfortable along with the air con and a ceiling fan. We had a lovely stay and will definitely be back. Check-out was also super quick and straightforward. Overall I'd ignore any bad reviews and just go book it

  Jun 04, 2026
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  Excellent hotel in a great location

  This is an excellent hotel in a great position, across the road from a clean, sandy beach. It is a short 10-15 minute transfer from the airport. The check in process was very quick and our room, on the 8th floor had a lovely view across to the sea. The room was spotlessly clean with a comfortable bed, lovely hot shower and plenty of storage plus tea and coffee making facilities. Having read several bad reviews concerning the food, we were unsure what to expect. We found the food to be perfectly acceptable, especially in the Spanish restaurant for breakfast and lunch as it was less busy. We ate four times in the Italian restaurant for dinner and really enjoyed the food there. As an all inclusive hotel catering for guests of all ages and tastes, we found the food to be of a very high standard. The hotel has different activities going on during the day and the evening entertainment seemed to be well received, although we preferred a quiet drink inside the reception area where there is plenty of seating. We have stayed at many Riu hotels and this would definitely be one that we will return to.

  Jun 02, 2026
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  First family holiday

  Our third and probably last visit for a while Lovely hotel for our first trip away as a three instead of a 2. The hotel put a baby bath and crib in the room prior to our arrival. Hotel pools were clean and well looked after. A few beds were a bit iffy round the small pool but apart from that no complaints. Some really tasty food on offer for breakfast/ lunch and dinner. Drinks just as good although the cocktails were now from a blender machine that dropped pre mix in along with ice and provided a slush drink.

  Jun 01, 2026
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  Adult family fun had

  Only 15 minutes transfer. Speedy check in especially if you have the riu class app and then you can check yourselves in a week earlier Rooms are clean and we had a side sea view over the pool. Maids are excellent and even do towel art! You are given towel cards on check in that you can collect from 10am and change 4pm-6pm There are three pools we used the main pool at the front of the hotel looking over the promenade. The road separating the hotel and beach is not very busy. Aquafit at 12 noon then we had a saxophonist one afternoon round the pool Main restaurant had plenty of choice we had a vegetarian with us and they always had full plates. Italian is lovely with buffet starters and dessert but choice of four options for mains. Spanish restaurant similar to main restaurant. Both can be booked on app or at reception. Bottled water available at reception bar Breakfast great choice we weakened the coffee down with additional hot water and milk. Wine is lovely and an added gem lemon Cruz campo. 20 minutes walk to torremolinos centre. Lots of predominantly fish restaurants on the beach front . Beach is extremely clean 7euros a sunbed on the beach. Water sports on beach 10 minutes to the left of the hotel. We also did crazy golf on torremolinos front 7euros each for 18 holes Entertainment is typical of all inclusive Elvis , abba , karaoke! We were a family of Oaps, parents and older children 18-27 and we all enjoyed it.

  Jun 01, 2026