Riu Palace Tenerife

Customer Ratings & Reviews

TripAdvisor Traveler Rating

3252 reviews

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  Hotel Riu Palace- honest review

  We recently stayed at the Riu Palace in Tenerife and while the hotel has a few strong points — particularly the well-kept grounds and beachside location — overall, we felt it fell short of what you’d expect from a 5-star resort. The hotel grounds are lovely, with several pools to choose from and direct access to the beach, which made for relaxing strolls into town in the evenings. Sunbeds were always available, and the rooms were cleaned thoroughly each day by the hardworking housekeeping team. The food in the main restaurant was mostly very good with a nice amount of variety, though breakfast sausages tasted more like processed hot dogs and could be improved. Restaurant staff were polite and efficient, which we appreciated. That said, there were quite a few areas where the hotel just didn’t deliver the 5-star experience. Drinks are only included with breakfast, not dinner, even if you’re staying on a half-board basis. You can easily spend €10–15 per person on just one drink at dinner, and even a small bottle of water by the pool costs €3.45. We were surprised to find that bottled water in the rooms wasn’t complimentary either — most other 5-star hotels we’ve stayed in usually restock that for free. Because of the high prices, we found ourselves being cautious about ordering food or drinks during the day. It really would improve the overall experience if the hotel offered an all-inclusive option — it would make guests feel more relaxed and likely to enjoy what’s on offer, rather than constantly thinking about the cost. On top of that, when we received our final bill at checkout, there was no itemised breakdown. It only listed the locations where things were ordered — like “pool bar” or “lobby bar” — and the total cost, making it difficult to verify whether the charges were correct. We also booked four rooms, all on the ground floor, and unfortunately every room had issues with cockroaches at some point during the stay. This may be due to the location, but it’s worth being aware. If you’re staying on the ground floor, keep balcony doors closed, shake out your clothes before packing, and consider using repellent spray. Room amenities were minimal and definitely didn’t match a 5-star standard — no combs, toothbrushes, sewing kits, or slippers (though there were two bathrobes). Toiletries were limited to just shampoo and conditioner. The atmosphere overall is very quiet and clearly geared more toward an older crowd. There were no daytime activities or poolside entertainment, and we never saw the entertainment team until the evening. It was especially noticeable once more families and younger couples arrived for the Easter break — something a few other guests seemed unhappy about, despite the hotel not being adults-only. The location is fairly remote — about a 15–20 minute walk to the nearest shops and restaurants — so it’s not ideal if you have any mobility issues. It also would’ve been nice to have a welcoming area to relax in the evening, like a bar by the pool, but unfortunately the lighting outside is very dim and not very inviting after dark. Lastly, while restaurant service was good, the same can’t be said for the poolside staff. One incident really stood out: a member of staff walked past our sunbeds and spit phlegm on the floor — something you just wouldn’t expect at a hotel of this standard. In summary, while there were things we enjoyed — the beach access, the variety of pools, and the cleanliness — there were too many letdowns to justify the 5-star label. We’d rate it more as a 3 or 4-star at best. The hotel has potential, but it needs to rethink its pricing, amenities, and overall guest experience if it wants to compete with other true 5-star resorts.

  Apr 17, 2025
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  Classy hotel

  Just returned after a week at this hotel. This is a great hotel on the seafront with manicured gardens with an army of staff who seem to clean around the clock! We stayed on half board basis and the food choice and quality is excellent. The restaurant staff are very attentive and very efficient. I emailed ahead of time as we were going to celebrate my wife’s birthday while staying at the hotel. When we arrived we were told that they had upgraded our room due to the birthday and they also delivered wine to the room on the day of the birthday. I would highly recommend this hotel. One small negative is 15 Euros for WiFi for the week! A bit disappointing considering staying at this hotel is not inexpensive.

  Apr 16, 2025
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  Fourth stay in two years

  Love the RIU Palace Costa Adeje. Great buffet food, great rooms, great sun beds, good evening entertainment, great location. We’ll be back again.

  Apr 14, 2025
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  Such a beautiful location

  My husband and I have stayed at this hotel now on numerous occasions. The hotel is beautifully situated and the walks away from the hotel along the sea front into Costa Adeje and beyond. The staff are amazing and nothing is too much trouble. The hotel food is very good and there's plenty to choose from. The rooms are a very good size and are well maintained. The rooms are serviced on a regular basis and the fridge restocked as required. Love this hotel.

  Apr 09, 2025
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  Another Perfect Stay

  This was our 8th visit to RIU Palace Tenerife and as always we had a fabulous time. The staff are a credit to the hotel and are always pleased to see returning customers. Food at both breakfast and dinner is exceptional as is the cleanliness of all areas including the rooms. We look forward to returning next year.

  Apr 08, 2025