Hotel Riu Monica 4*

Both myself and my wife have just Returned from another fantastic holiday in This hotel, and can on say again our stay was second to none, THANKS VERY MUCH FOR EVERYTHING YOU PROVIDED FOR US ,FROM CHECK IN ,CATERING STAFF,AND HOUSE KEEPING, THANK YOU ,looking forward to seeing you again in 27,mick and liz from IRELAND 🇮🇪.

The hotel itself is stunning, with beautifully maintained gardens and immaculate rooms in a location close to the town centre. Housekeeping deserves special praise, as the rooms were consistently clean and well maintained throughout our stay. Unfortunately, several aspects of the experience failed to live up to the hotel's four-star reputation. While the buffet food was generally of a good standard, the restaurant often felt chaotic and crowded, resembling a busy school canteen rather than a relaxed dining environment. The atmosphere was frequently affected by inconsiderate behaviour from some guests. We found the snack bar particularly disappointing. Rather than offering simple lunchtime options such as sandwiches, baguettes, wraps and salads, the menu consisted mainly of larger, more elaborate meals. Many guests, including ourselves, would have appreciated lighter choices before the main evening meal. The cocktail bar also seems underutilised. Opening earlier and increasing staffing levels would allow guests to enjoy pre-dinner drinks on site, rather than heading to the bars across the road. Access around the hotel can be challenging. Reaching the pool area from our second-floor room required the use of two separate lifts and felt unnecessarily complicated. This could be especially problematic for guests with mobility issues, particularly given the age profile of many visitors. The sunbed situation was the usual holiday scramble, with many guests reserving loungers early in the morning. Fortunately, we were always able to find somewhere to sit eventually. One particularly frustrating issue was the number of guests using mobile phones on speaker mode around the pool, in public areas and even in the restaurant. Listening to other people's conversations is intrusive and detracts from what should be a relaxing atmosphere. Although the hotel is attractive and well maintained, we found the overall service disappointing. Aside from the excellent cleaning staff, who remained friendly and hardworking despite challenging conditions, many other staff members came across as uninterested, unhelpful and occasionally impolite. For a RIU hotel the facilities felt rather basic. There were no bathrobes provided, beds were made up with sheets only rather than lightweight summer duvets, and many of the bathroom towels appeared old, worn and no longer absorbent. Overall, we do not feel this hotel lives up to the four-star rating or the glowing reviews that led us to book. While the hotel is undoubtedly beautiful, the shortcomings in service, facilities and atmosphere mean that we would not choose to return.