Featured Reviews


Frequently mentioned in reviews: hotel (59) great (27) pool (26) room (23) staff (22) good (21) beach (19) stay (19) clean (17) pools (17)
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  • 4/5 Amanda D. 10 months ago on Google
    The rooms seems to be a little dated and older but clean and well kept. The property is very large. Sometimes the grounds around pool area would seem dirty by the end of the day. Especially the self serve soda drinks area. The pool towel exchange didn’t seem convenient. The beach was a hike away especially with kids but we loved the beach and enjoyed it many times. We never had a problem getting chairs or cabana. The beach bar restaurant would get super busy at times. Parking is across the street. The kid’s entertainment was great we never used kids club but seemed they lacked things for older kids to do 7-12yrs. The food was fine and always something to eat and drink when needed. Good variety kids were always happy. We waited a long time at least an hour for luggage help at least 1hr The pool area didn’t always feel too busy but everyday at least once it felt super busy. And people would leave towels on chairs all day and never come back to them We went into cadiz a few times about 30 min to the harbor. Took a boat out twice and it was amazing kids and adults loved the water I also found the stay a little expensive for one room for the week, but we would go back
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 2/5 Jack H. 8 months ago on Google
    Having booked our family holiday very last minute this year we wanted something/somewhere that we had been before so we booked the Riu Chiclana. This was our 4th time staying here but I have to say I’ve come home slightly disappointed this time. Il start with the positives - The reception staff and cleaners are always respectful and welcoming each day. The cleaning of our room was faultless. I do however believe this place has let its high standards slip over the last 12 months. Firstly on all my other visits there was a huge variety of food that’s not the case anymore unfortunately, with the same stuff being served up every day and night. The cleaning around the pool areas during the day was non existent especially around the self service drink areas. I also witnessed a young child go to the toilet around one pool area, when I mentioned this to staff they didn’t care. I’ve been to other hotels before where this has happened and that pool area has been closed for up to 24 hours. We didn’t use the pools again after seeing it and the disregard for it. Bar staff can be very rude at times and seem to favour their own Spanish crowd. I got a very racist undertone from some areas this time waiting in line again again only to be ignored. I can only put this down to me being English. For the price this cost us this year I’m extremely disappointed as this was a family hotspot for us many times. I’ve even recommended it many times something I will no longer be doing. I’ve stayed in Riu hotels before all lovely especially the ones in Cape Verde but this experience has seriously questioned my choices in the future. Very disappointing
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 2/5 Maria M. 9 months ago on Google
    I had the unfortunate experience of spending six nights at this all-inclusive hotel with my husband and brother, and I must say it was one of the worst stays I have ever encountered. From the moment we arrived, it was evident that this establishment fell far short of meeting the expectations of a quality hotel. One of the most disappointing aspects was the quality of the food offered. There are simply not enough words to describe the mediocrity of the dishes served. The meals were bland, uninspired, and extremely repetitive. During lunches and dinners, it felt like we were trapped in a monotonous cycle of tasteless meals. And just when we thought the situation couldn’t get any worse, the snack options consisted solely of subpar burgers and hot dogs. It was as if variety and quality were foreign concepts in this place. Furthermore, the lack of options for dining outside of regular hours was a nightmare. After a long day of activities, we had no choice but to resort to those lousy burgers and hot dogs, a pathetic offering for a hotel that claims to be all-inclusive. There were no healthy alternatives or substantial meals available, which was simply unacceptable. And as if the discomfort wasn’t enough, we were hit with the nightly shut-off of the air conditioning. The unbearable heat made it impossible to sleep and rest properly. How can a hotel overlook such a basic aspect as the thermal comfort of its guests? It was evident that guest well-being was not a priority. Furthermore, the lack of evening entertainment was astonishing. There was absolutely nothing to do after dinner. No activities, no shows, not even pleasant background music. The eerie silence that hung over the hotel was disconcerting. The absence of any form of entertainment was a clear display of neglect on the part of the management. To make matters worse, we discovered that the hotel’s discotheque, which theoretically could offer some form of nighttime fun, was closed. How can one have a discotheque on the premises, yet keep it off-limits to guests? It was simply unacceptable and an insult to those who were expecting some sort of evening amusement. Additionally, the room malfunctions added to our frustration. The safe and telephone simply did not work. Dealing with such basic failures was extremely inconvenient and demonstrated a lack of maintenance and care by the hotel staff. The only thing I can salvage from this disastrous experience is the friendliness of a few select staff members we encountered. They were polite and helpful, which provided a glimmer of relief amidst the numerous shortcomings and disappointments. Furthermore, I must mention the issue with the housekeeping staff. They would clean the rooms using cleaning vinegar, which left behind an overwhelming and unpleasant odor. The strong smell of vinegar permeated the entire room, making it nearly impossible to enjoy a comfortable and fresh environment. In summary, this all-inclusive hotel was a colossal letdown. The lack of tasty and varied food, the absence of options outside regular hours, the nighttime air conditioning shutdowns, the lack of decent evening entertainment, the closed disco, the poor-quality concentrated juices, and the room malfunctions were just a few of the countless flaws that tarnished our stay. It’s difficult to find words to express how deeply disappointed we were with this experience. I strongly recommend avoiding this hotel and seeking out more worthy and satisfying alternatives. Overall, if you’re not a family with lots of young kids, stay very far away from this hotel. Even then, everything here is designed to make you feel uncomfortable and eat and drink as little as possible, such as turning the AC off after 7PM (which leaves you eating in 35 degree heat, presumably to save money), to the terrible music selection at the pool bar and the overall very poor quality food. Oh, and the NOISE of children screaming and dishes breaking every 2 minutes is deafening.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Hannah C. 8 months ago on Google
    Rooms, service and location all excellent. We had a brilliant stay at this all inclusive hotel right next to the beach. The hotel and rooms throughout were spotless. Restaurants had a good variety on some nights but did feel a bit samey towards the end of the week, so we went out. Riu party on a Friday was AMAZING, but the other evenings entertainment was nowhere near as good. Very multicultural and family friendly, but also an adults only pool and bar. So there really is something for everyone. Towels and water also included which is a bonus. Score would have been a 5 if the food had more variety and the entertainment was overall a bit better. But still recommend this hotel!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Sharoon S. 11 months ago on Google
    We had our stay from 12 to 19 May 2023. Three buffet a day, 4 pools, splash pad, kids pools, ball pits, coffee and water dispensers around and entertainment, helpful staff. All great. We would visit again in the future. I wish they had at least 1 pool deeper than 1.1m and at least one heated outdoor pool.

  • 1/5 Andrii F. 7 months ago on Google
    The swimming pools have more than one person per square meter at almost all times and the staff are tragically unhelpful. Rooms smell of mould and I will be very surprised if I don’t return home with some sort of fungus given the hygiene levels. The beach is very good, but good luck enjoying it seeing as there are no sun beds or any other amenities provided by the hotel. Overall, I feel very sorry for the poor souls who end up here.

  • 1/5 Maria K. 7 months ago on Google
    Worst value for money. The rooms are spacious but not very clean - our bathroom had some signs of mould appearing and we had lots of fruit flies impossible to get rid off. The pools are packed, impossible to swim there, with kids screaming and jumping everywhere (even in the adult only pool). Adult only pool is very small and under 1m deep! All beverages (alcoholic and non-alcoholic) are very mediocre and there is no option to purchase anything. The beach is amazing but the hotel does not provide any plank beds - you have to use the towel. You cannot change the towels more than one per day. The entertainment is dull and short. The food is not great either. The buffet seems more like a food court in a mall. The restaurants are a bit better, but some were fully booked. The worse resort I’ve ever stayed in. Just a total waste of money.

  • 5/5 marcus s. 6 months ago on Google
    This holiday was jam packed with fun. The pool areas are fantastic with a lot of choice (5 in total). The pool bar was a nice touch. The service from ALL was fantastic, super friendly and nothing seemed too much. The rooms were spacious with comfy beds and modern and the rooms were made up each day. The food was also brilliant with lots of choice. We found the location to be ideal, a 2 minute walk from the hotel to a lovely beach stretching miles with beach bars every few hundred meters or so. The Riu team and entertainment provided great fun each day with aqua gym, water volley ball and more. We made use of the tennis courts and boules most mornings and used the spa twice for 2 really relaxing and reasonable priced massages (€35 for 30 minute relax massage). The games room does come at an additional cost, most games were €1 with the pool at €2 however this didn't seem much with the value of the holiday overall. Thoroughly impressed with this hotel and we will definitely be returning.

  • 5/5 Tanya C. 6 months ago on Google
    Lovely Hotel, we had a really good week. All meals were great lots of choice and all very tasty, great bars especially the pool bar a great way to cool down and chat to friends while having a couple of cocktails. Nice rooms but on 3 floors with no lifts so maybe ask for ground floor if mobility not good.

  • 5/5 João P. 7 months ago on Google
    Great place for families! The Hotel is top quality, the pools use salt for water sanitation. Food is top quality! Looking forward to go back!

  • 4/5 William V. 8 months ago on Google
    Overall great hotel, the food for an all inclusive hotel is very good, lots to choose from and good quality. The hotel is on one of the best beaches in Spain. Only complaint was that the pools were very crowded and the tea and coffee facilities in the room aren’t up to much.

  • 5/5 Richard G. 7 months ago on Google
    All round great hotel, service is awesome, all the hotel staff are very friendly and accommodating, customer service is exceptional. I was really surprised how good the Wi-Fi and internet was, however on my stay there’s was a fault for 48hrs. The only thing I’d say they could do better on is the food, but still overall it was pretty good, massive selection so you can always find something you want. I don’t get why they can’t cook the bacon for a few more minutes 😂 Loads of stuff always going on, kids were very entertained! It’s got a beach which is beautiful and also got some good bars and stuff going on. I’d recommend this hotel, especially for a family.

  • 3/5 Jane P. 9 months ago on Google
    We are currently staying at the Riu chiclana ..arrived Friday 23rd June.. After many years of using 4 star RIU hotels in many different locations the RIU CHICLANA is the worst iv ever visited ! This hotel is a 4 star plus family hotel and iv been to adults only and family resorts with my grandchildren and we have never experienced anything like this....the hotel reception was manic when we arrived hundreds of people trying to check in at once ... they have 5 swimming pools every one of them is packed solid...hundreds of sunbeds but the noise is so awful you cannot relax and the pools are full.. they have lots of loud music at times when the aerobics start. . restaurant today sunday was absolutely manic ! Hundreds of people ...queueing at every station ...you have to find a table yourself unless the doormen are there .. They had the RIU NEON PARTY Friday night starts off as a kids party at 7pm but the music was deafening for young babies and toddlers..it continued to midnight ....we had gone completely deaf after an hour... at moment the hotel is obviously full... lots of local spanish families....we were told this is normal on weekends and will quieten down so fingers crossed 🤞 Not sure why they do not have a quiet adults only area for people that do not want to be around noise all the time... The buffet is very good..so far but ambience no...soo noisy you cannot enjoy your meal.. the themed restaurants are average.. big bonus is the beautiful beach as we go there every morning and its direct access from the hotel..so nice to get away from the manic atmosphere.. rooms are good...complex is lovely well kept grounds ... great location.. staff are very good and working their hardest to manage the volume of guests.. TUI rep Sandra has been very helpful 👏.. Would definitely not book this hotel again ....too big too noisy...for us at the moment its like BUTLINS in Spain but we hope the remaining days of our holiday will improve by Friday when we leave ..update today Monday 26th...absolute chaos queuing to get into the restaurant for lunch ! Most afternoons by 4pm the pool areas are very messy on 3 separate occasions the self service drinks area had nothing left in the dispensers so even though we were all inclusive there were no drinks to be had...we tried ordering the cocktails at the bar they were absolutely disgusting and the bar staff made it by chucking ice into a nutra bullet and pouring a coloured liquid on top from a plastic bottle and blending it...my friend ordered baileys it was a very watered down version...the barcardi and coke had a bitter after taste.. the only thing that was decent was the lager ..no red wine .. only white or rose .. personally we did not take advantage of the all inclusive as we never saw any snacks crisps or ice cream available during the day..lunchtimes around the pool there were long queues for the greasy chips hotdogs and weird looking burgers etc but it left the pool areas in a terrible mess.. cups.. plates and wasted food left lying around on the floor .. never any staff by the self serve.. I was still staying in the hotel when the Riu manager replied to my initial review saying so sorry you HAD a bad experience ..I still had 4 days to go ..I would definitely never do all inclusive 4 star again ..you get cheap alcohol and the standards drop dramatically..also i would never go to such a massive hotel resort either .we also tried our free 1 hour in the spa it was not worth it . ..very basic and the shower by the jacuzzi wasn't working ....the ice bath was warm ..would definitely give this hotel a miss if you are looking for a relaxing holiday ...if you love Butlins then you will love it ...

  • 2/5 Craig W. 11 months ago on Google
    Having been part of the Riu Club partner scheme for many years and using the Riu brand of hotels for some time I must say I found this hotel quite disappointing. The restaurants were poor, the main buffet the food was repeated at various stations, the specialty restaurants were the reservations were needed literally had the same food as the main buffet which was again very poor. The pool bars were not staffed as per the opening and closing times, the drinks quality and selection in all bars were really poor. Entertainment wise again really poor all round, this is not to say the staff were not good they really did try but it was below average and we expected more, the kids were bored and wanted to go back to the room within 20mins. The white night was exceptional and would highly recommend that but unfortunately that was all that we found good. The hotel is really isolated and there’s nothing about so your stuck there for the duration so if your it enjoying your experience there’s no options outside of the hotel to pass time. Pools were clean and pleasant rooms were clean and pleasant. In terms of comparison to the other Riu Hotels this is below par and I wouldn’t recommend this unfortunately.

  • 5/5 Corrine w. 10 months ago on Google
    A beautiful hotel with great staff, entertainment was good for families of all ages. Buffet style breakfast lunch and dinner, husband did have one instance of not cooked meat inside, did leave him poorly but we still loved our stay!! Rooms clean and comfortable, pools to suit all ages.

  • 5/5 Helen S. 1 year ago on Google
    The hotel was spotless, so clean and tidy. The facilities were fantastic, great for everyone, food was delicious and so much variety. Its very picturesque. Staff friendly and they make you very welcome. Fresh towels daily for the pool, maid service tidy room daily, you can't find fault...we had a great holiday definitely recommend to anyone thinking of booking.

  • 5/5 pam h. 10 months ago on Google
    Great place to stay. 4 pools plus swim up bar. Kids club and play area. Grounds well kept and clean. Rooms cleaned every day. Great variety if food. Staff very friendly and obliging. Plenty of sun beds. Overall a very enjoyable holiday destination.x

  • 5/5 Samuel P. 11 months ago on Google
    We had a marvelous stay with our family at Hotel Riu Chiclana. From the moment we arrived, we were greeted with warmth and hospitality by the friendly staff. The hotel's beautiful architecture and scenic surroundings immediately captivated us. Our family room was spacious, comfortable, and well-appointed. It had all the amenities we needed for a pleasant stay. The beds were cozy, and the room was kept impeccably clean throughout our visit. We also appreciated the lovely view from our balcony, which added to the overall charm of our experience. The dining options at the hotel were exceptional. The buffet offered a wide variety of delicious dishes that catered to different tastes and dietary preferences. The quality of the food was outstanding, and we enjoyed trying different specialties each day. The restaurant staff was attentive and made sure we had a delightful dining experience. The hotel's facilities were impressive and perfect for a family vacation. The pools were fantastic, and our kids had a great time splashing around and making new friends. The entertainment team organized engaging activities and shows that kept everyone entertained throughout the day. The children's club was a hit with our little ones, and they eagerly participated in the fun-filled programs. The staff at Hotel Riu Chiclana truly made our stay memorable. They went above and beyond to ensure that all our needs were met and that we felt like valued guests. Their friendliness, professionalism, and genuine care made us feel welcome and at home. In conclusion, our family had a wonderful stay at Hotel Riu Chiclana. We highly recommend it to anyone seeking a remarkable vacation experience. We would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to the entire hotel team for making our stay truly exceptional. We look forward to returning in the future!

  • 5/5 Jackie S. 1 year ago on Google
    Absolutely perfect, excellent food and cleanliness. Easy reach of one of the most beautiful beaches. Thank you Costa de la Cruz

  • 3/5 Daniel T. 1 year ago on Google
    The location where the hotel is located is beautiful which we rate with 5 stars but the hotel itself didn't really match what we would have expected. The hotel is very huge with more than 800 rooms and this you can hear and feel every day. Who likes it, don't mind you can choose it. The rooms are ok, we had a family room with two seperated rooms. It was clean but some ants find their way inside. The hotel has the best rates for All inclusive compared to the hotels next to it. You can choose between different restaurants but we couldn't really see a big difference. Any food was served in buffet form so you can choose what you want. The choice was huge but not really of high quality anyhow we did not loose weight 😀.

  • 3/5 Arti W. 1 year ago on Google
    Had a 7 night stay here at the end of May 22. The location is great for the beautiful sandy beach and great beach bars. There wasn’t much else to do outside the hotel but we knew this before we went. The hotel itself is relatively clean, though most days by 3pm the softplay area was riddled with used empty glasses and food left by guests which was off putting. Kids absolutely loved it here as the pools were great as well as the softplay. They also enjoyed the daily disco. They also enjoyed the food at the buffet and they had plenty to choose from. Check in was manic with people everywhere so it wasn’t a great start. Once in the room (two bedroom room) it was pleasant and clean. Bathroom was clean and plenty of wardrobe space. No tea/ coffees in room. There are 5 pools so while the hotel was busy people where spread out so it wasn’t too noticeable. Plenty of loungers everywhere so you would definitely find a space. Pools themselves were kept clean and plenty of drinks stations about to keep hydrated. Quality of the soft drinks wasn’t great so stuck with water the majority of the time. There were 4 restaurants to choose from. All provide a buffet service. Two out of the four need to be booked for dinner. I would say that the food was pretty much the same everyday. It was ok, we didn’t go hungry but we were definitely bored of the food by day 4. Alcoholic cocktails were ok. The evening entertainment was a bit hit and miss. Some shows were great and some were just not. Some of the shows I would say were inappropriate for the younger children. There was one show each evening at the main stage and a live singer near one of the restaurants. I can’t comment on reception staff as I had no interaction with them but the cleaning staff and restaurant staff always had a smile on their face. Personally wouldn’t return but there were many who were returning for the 2nd/3rd/4th time.

  • 4/5 Donald D. 1 year ago on Google
    Great hotel to stay, booked a family room for 2 adults and a child. Staff were great and accomodating. Only problem I had was there were delays in replying to room requests made through their app and the request was closed without any contact with me.I requested an iron in the morning the request was closed at midnight as completed but I didn't get anything or talk to anyone about it. I ended up calling reception for an explanation the day after. Only marked down due to me comparing with Riu Playacar(RP) in Mexico which we visited this year. I expected a similar experience not identical but I was slightly underwhelmed due to the following: *restaurants in RP were open every day so you could have oriental buffet, Italian, Mexican, grill and regular buffet on any day *drinks were were well made and there was consistency no matter the bartender *you had the option to get branded alcohol on RP and non at this hotel *iron and board were not included in the room in Chiclana while in RP you got both. To get an iron you had to request one from reception and pay €20 deposit which was refundable but it had to be cash only and other currency was not acceptable. Mind you the reception to did make an exception for us so👍🏿. No ironing board was offered at all. Please note they offer a laundry service.

  • 5/5 Diane E. 1 year ago on Google
    I have only given 3 stars on the location because my adult son is in a wheelchair and although there are slopes everywhere you can't help but have to go up hill! I must say the accessible room he had has been the best we'v ever had. I was able to push his wheelchair into the shower for him to transfer to the shower chair.

  • 5/5 Curtis H. 1 year ago on Google
    I stayed at this hotel for two weeks in August. We flew in with tui. Check in was good apart from them forgetting to give us a room key which they rectified and later rectified to work at the beach door to come in and out. On Saturday we met the rep for information on what the hotel has to offer, to let us know who the senior members of each department are and where to find them if you have any problems and for any trips that they offer and what they are. The pools are great all 4 main ones are the same 1.2m and there was no fighting over pool loungers. The swim up bar being adults only is a great place to get away from children and it was 0.90m. they had a towel hut to get new towels in the morning and the afternoon. The hotel is all digital so the bar menu is a qr code that you scan and opening times for everything is on the riu app from the app store. The drinks were all fresh apart from the chocolate milkshake that came in a bottle that they poured into a glass to drink. The hotel had a 24 hour bar, refill drink stations throughout the hotel and reception which was a nice edition to have. The food was fresh and delicious but can get repetitive meaning more or less the same every day apart from theme restaurants consisting of Italian grill and Andalusian cuisine. We never ate at the food station at the pool so cannot comment on what it was or what they had to offer. The hotel shop had great prices and they never overcharged on items. The games room looked great but more for children. We never went to the sports court and spa across from the hotel so cannot comment on that either. The hotel entertainment was very entertaining with loads of fitness and fun activities like water aerobics and bingo. The only downside was that one night of our two week stay was when they repeated one of the shows we saw on the previous week. They should do a karaoke show where people get up on stage and try to sing this would liven up the atmosphere more. The rooms were cleaned very well with a few days of towel art on the bed. The rooms need iron to iron clothes instead of going to reception to ask to borrow one and to bring it back with a time frame. The beach was lovely and clean for being a public beach but you do have to go down and up eighty stairs which can get tiresome.out was great as was the early breakfast we booked. We did get an ear water / infection halfway through the first week along with one of us getting a finger fracture from playing and throwing a ball in the pool. So We had to go to the pharmacy three times. Overall I would come back again and would highly recommend you stay here if you go with children and family.

  • 4/5 Ines K. 1 year ago on Google
    We had a nice stay at Riu Chiclana and we enjoyed that we didn't need to "reserve" any spots at the pool since we could always find one even later in the day. There are different kids pools and pools for adults, and the kids areas (also a playground) can be closed with gates, so the little ones don't get lost or escape easily. However, sometimes it hindered us from switching to another pool faster or even go to the restrooms real quick. Public restrooms were clean but lack accessibility for smaller kids (our two year old couldn't reach for the water to wash her hands, or the soap for example). Our hotel room and bathroom were nice although the bathroom smelled bad without anyone using it - this should definitely be fixed. Other than that, we were happy with the room and balcony. A plus would be elevators in the buildings but I guess there are buildings with elevators or even entrance for persons in wheelchairs (I noted that there are quite some families with kids or elders in wheelchairs and it's nice that the hotel offers special services). Cocktails and soft drinks were included (e.g. Mojito, Copacabana, Bailey's etc) and the buffets were all very good (no one ever felt sick during our stay which can be quite common). The personnel is very friendly and helpful. The access to the beach is through a stairway and the beach has really soft sand (I don't know however where to get to the beach with a stroller or wheelchair, that's a disadvantage). Everything put together, it was a really nice vacation for us with some points to improve for the hotel.

  • 4/5 Simon K. 1 year ago on Google
    Nice resort. Location is great (2 minutes to the beach.) All inclusive. Food generally pretty good, wine awful, fizzy lager OK. Rooms are clean and a good size. Cleaning staff and restaurant staff excellent, reception a bit inattentive and we had to chase a couple of things. On the whole a nice resort. 👌


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