Holiday World Riwo Hotel.

Just returned after 5 nights at the RIWO, 2 adults and 10 year old, having had an enjoyable break. If I could 3.5 stars then I would. But 3 would be harsh, so it gets 4. Like anywhere, there are improvements that could be made, but there are lots of positives. I genuinely can't believe some of the one-star reviews, and much of their content is just factually wrong. Starting with the bad stuff... The beds have a hard mattress and are just not good enough by modern standards. Bonnell spring mattress, a little creaky and not very comfortable. The noise. The door to all the rooms face inwards and over the main hotel foyer. Most surfaces are hard marble, so the music from the bar and the knocks/scrapes of chairs moving around does echo around. Add shouting/screaming kids into the mix running up and down the corridor without parents in sight, then it's noisy up until about 10.30/11pm. And nearly every sound can be heard through the walls, so not good if you have noisy neighbors. Of course this is only an issue if you want to go to bed relatively early; we tend to be early to bed and early to rise, but if you're the opposite then this won't be such an issue. The evening entertainment is very dated. Single singer each night, and the type of 'turn' found in any social club. The indoor entertainment area is currently undergoing some restoration work too, so looks drab (think they are getting ready to install a computer gaming room in May, which would be a welcome addition to the offering). We stayed midweek, and I do think they offer better acts on Friday and Saturday nights to be fair. And now the good stuff... All the staff were incredibly helpful and polite, and work very hard. Plates in the dining hall cleared away really quickly, drinks at the bar served with a smile etc. The hotel is impeccably clean too. The food was very nice and there was lots of choice. Themed evening meals included American, Mexican and Arabian. Sometimes dishes were luke-warm, but it wasn't often and is the symptom of any buffet. Anyone who can't find anything they like to eat seriously need to change their diet! The beach club (a large multi-pool and sports area) is shared by the three Holiday World hotels and is great. We went in April and getting a lounger was no problem at all, although in the height of summer I could see it being tricky. A full buffet offering at the beach club is certainly a plus, and again the staff there were really friendly. Yes none of the pools are heated, but very few pools in Spain/Portugal are heated. Once you're in, it's fine and didn't stop us going in every day. Lots of reviews moan about the location, but surely guests know the location and can look on Google maps to see what's around before booking? Plus there wouldn't be space for a huge beach club if the complex was set in the main resort centres. There is a bus stop at the bottom of the hill, and the 120 runs from Torremolinos to Fuengirola for €1.70 for a single journey. W

Just WOW my first holiday abroad in 10 yesterday first for the kids and my parents. We were all inclusive which was so bloody worth it and the choices of food were fabulous. Im pretty sure Cade (8) has turned into ice cream lol. We had my mums and my sons birthday and the staff arranged cake for them and sang happy birthday. Johana who is usually on the desk at the restaurant was the best so welcoming friendly and couldn't do enough for us we missed her days she wasn't there. All the staff were brilliant and great with the kids. The rooms Junior suites were fantastic sizes with amazing views from the balcony. The hotel was very clean and we had house keeping daily. Nothing was too much trouble. The kids loved the pool and the park and that they could help themselves to the food and drinks when the wanted.

I am currently staying here now. If you would like a good night sleep and cooked meat do not stay here I advise against it! I am pregnant and sleeping on a rock hard mattress I have been given mattress toppers for both beds and still very very hard I wake up every morning with back pain. The meat everyday is raw the chicken sausages please check your food I'm so scared eating the meat due to it giving me and my unborn baby food poising. The sun beds are flat and so not lift so uncomfortable not a good place at all if your pregnant the chairs in the pool are damaged so when you lay on them your leg skin gets trapped on the broken plastic. The playground is a hazard the entire slide area swings side to side and is located right next to the bar area where people smoke the entertainment is in the same bar cramped and nowhere to sit. The bar has automatic doors so children and family are breathing in smoke. The staff are not friendly or welcoming you don't get a hello the only place open after breakfast for a drink is the poolside and if you pay all inclusive no point as your not really all inclusive. You pay for popcornz slush , crisps and ice coffee. Snacks by the pool are left overs from the morning. This hotel is so dated and not worth the money at all. I wish I never booked and spent my money here! Going home with back pain due to this holiday is ridiculous. There is no food here for children. They advertise pictures of the sister hotels on this one you need to get a shuttle down that runs every ten mins as on a hill. You can use the sister hotels and pools if all inclusive can only get your drinks from sister hotels from 9pm. Entertainment is appealing. Nothing for kids to do here no food for kids apart from chips/fries food is always cold. please book elsewhere. I highly recommend estival torrequebrada I have stayed there before the service is amazing beds soft and comfortable and the food Is cooked location easy and lovely.

This is our third trip to benalmadena but our first to holiday village. Goods: We had a select suite. It was lovely. The bonus of being a select customer is a dedicated lounge, a special area in the dining room and a special seating area in the swimming pool area. Plus you can use the spa for an hour each day and can have a 60 minute session at the spa area at the apartments. We didn't struggle with the food. There is a different theme each might, Asian, Mexican, American, Spanish. There is also fresh juices as you walk in to the dining area, Fridays nights was fluorescent pink! You also as a select customer get a little 'nibble' on your table to try at each meal. Some were a little interesting and were avoided ! My husband doesn't eat fish so I had to taste most of them first! The beech club is lovely and includes lunch and unlimited drinks. Plenty to do for all ages. The select lounge gives you a private area to have a soft drink and pastrys if you want some The hotel was spotless and the dining staff were lovely. There is a bus every 10 minutes between 10 & 6 to take you up and down the hill! Bads: The entertainment seemed lacking, you can go to any hotel in the complex however we didn't go to them. There only seems to be one bar and the children's disco consisted of the same 3 songs. They don't measure drinks, which I'm sure for most are a good thing! But I don't drink a great deal so the first drink is got i had to get a glass of lemonade just to try and make it drinkable! The hill- the bus is a God send but you wouldn't want to go to the hotel at the bottom of the hill in an evening and have to walk back up it after a few drinks! Other tips: The hotel can ring a taxi for you of you don't want to venture to the main road for a bus. Uber was €11-13 to benalmadena and €8-9 to fuengerola. The bus from fuengerola was €1.75 for a single and then if it's before 6pm you can jump on the hotel bus to get you back up to the top.

Has soon as you pull up outside it puts a smile on your face and when you enter it as lovely hotel lobby with great reception staff especially “Luis” who helped out on a couple of queries . Hotel is kept well maintained and all staff maids /restaurant & animation team all polite and helpful. Food is nice (Breakfast the best for me ). Nice size one bedroom apartment

M Buena atención en recepción y restaurante. Dos cositas que podrían mejorar: primero la cama se bamboleaba, se movía y sonaba al moverme; luego en la cena del sábado 26 de abril me comí unas rodajas de pulpo del buffet que estaban crudas, le avisé a la encargada y avisó a cocina y retiraron la bandeja, pero me causó malestar estomacal todo el domingo pero luego se pasó.