Hotel Riu Touareg - All Inclusive

So nervous after reading reviews but nothing to worry about! Yes hotel is in need of an upgrade which is happening next year but overall was a great hotel. Did 10 nights, me my husband and 8 month old baby. 8th to 18th December. Upgraded to a family suite which I would recommend, size wise it’s perfect. Beds are super kings if not bigger, firm and comfy (and no bed bugs) travel cot provided was great. Never had a bad meal in the Restaurant although towards the end of our holiday you could tell more people had arrived as it was sooo busy and they couldn’t cook the meat quick enough, some of the pork was being served raw because they were rushing which was a shame because we had some really lovely meals. We went to the Boa Vista and Italian and both really good food. Went to all three pools, main pool, children’s and infinity and all great. Could always get a subbed even when we went to the pool late at like 11am it was never an issue. Lack of toilets I would agree with other reviews, having to leave the restaurant and walk right across to other side of the hotel to use the loo is bit silly. Staff were all amazing, every single person we came into contact with were all smiles and making a fuss of our baby and making him smile! Entertainment was great. It’s hotel entertainment so don’t expect much but there were some really good evenings. The kids club is for 30 minutes each day 6.30pm and they play the same songs every day for 30 minutes, for a family friendly hotel they could mix it up abit. Anyway, overall it was a great holiday, you get what you pay for and for the money it was really good. For us a 5* platinum as Tui sells it as it needs a refurb which is happening but also the little things like pool service, drinks other than water in the room fridge and the additional restaurants not to be self service. Otherwise all great, worth the money had a fabulous time!

2nd visit to this hotel (1st in December) . Pretty much what we expected except for the main restaurant during the evening meal. Wow!!! It was absolute chaos. Too many people for such a small space. Queues for food, which constantly ran out, were awful. Felt really uncomfortable at times. This in turn led to tepid food once back at the table. Didn't rate our visit very highly this time. Won't be back.

You will probably have a great time, it's very good. So the only things worth mentioning are the small negative points. There are flies. The main restaurant inside is actually pretty good but outside the flies can be a bit annoying. There are mosquitos, they bit me but not my partner, to her clear glee. Outside of the hotel there is just bare scrub, no lush vegetation and no walks. But, the sand is soft like snow, the food is better than good and the mega complex is safe. There are security guards, but they were always busy on their phones. Go and have a great time. And before I forget, the sea is apparently lethal, do not swim, no joke.

Its a nice hotel, phone in the room was broken, bathroom eater features were broken but that can be to be expected due to its tropical location. Food has been amazing, no complaints. Travelled with my 14 year old, at that age with not much todo, soccer was cancelled everyday they refused to run it despite them asking so entertainment was a bit low. The evening shows were entertaining just a bit let down by the day time activities no interest to host what the children wanted so was let down by that. Told different things one day yes, another no so wasted time as it never happened and teen was disappointed.

When we arrived everything looked OK. On day 2 our mini bar was restocked with soft drinks (wife does not drink alcohol) . I mentioned that there was a piece of wood floating in the whiskey on or drinks dispenser, I was advised that these are changed every 48hrs so it will be changed on day 3 of our holiday.. Day 4 at 12.20 using the RIU App my wife requests the mini bar to be restocked with soft drinks, at 18.10 they message to say its completed. After food we go to reception and they explain that message will happen because that team had gone home even though they had not stocked all the mini fridges but he will get a manager onto it first thing in the morning. I spoke to reception on day 5 at lunch time and was assured it would be sorted. Again nothing. Today day 6 I again speak to Ivo at reception and a Bar manager is called over to sort the issue he writes down a room number ending In 6 ours ends in 9 as he was looking at the key upside down. When i tried to explain he said leave it with me i will sort it.i tried again to explain about the room number but I was dismissed by the bar manger again and told dont worry I'm sorting it. It isn't sorted and I guess its because he wrote down the wrong room number. I have shown the video of the wood in the whiskey every time I've spoken to someone at reception , they always seem shocked but no one seems to own the issue. How often are these optics cleaned?, and there is a lot of dust in the drinks dispenser. We were on a lower level and there was a few bugs in the room but this cant be blamed on anyone but nothing was attempted to stop or prevent them when we mentioned this at reception. We stayed here 7 years ago and it was awesome but this place needs to get back to where it was. I've paid for adult only but didn't get all the benefits. Felt like I was at faulty towers at times. All bar staff , waiters/waitresses and cleaners are superb but its let down by a poor structure and processes behind the scene Seems like hard work to get something you have paid for. This would be a 3 star resort if everything worked as it should, but it doesn't, this is nowhere near a 5star resort. We have now checked out and Ivo gave me a thumbs up, i called him over and again explained that nothing was sorted yesterday his response was i will put something on your booking ( i doubt it) so you can contact TUI. Breakfast on checkout day was toast for both of us as the food hygiene once again was a little concerning. Would i come back ? NO based on this experience. I did not talk to the onsite reps as the general consensus around the site was that they were useless and never sort anything so i went direct to the hotel reception. Maybe it isn't the Reps its the Resort!

Very tired looking and in need of a referb. On our trip, we had 4 rooms in the first 2 days. There was something wrong / broken/ missing / work man replasting part of the room. This hotel was not a 5 star hotel. The safe stopped working and we had to wait 10 hours before someone came to look at it. By which time it started to work( probably the battery) but the guy just said its OK now . I asked if it stops tomorrow, what then, he just said don't worry about tomorrow. Some of the services were good and some not so. Reported to rep and hotel

We had to move rooms 4 times, as was room had faults with either the air conditioning, the TV, the bad smell and many other things. Our first room had the really bad smell coming up from the drain and looks like someone had tried to blow the room safe up. It was hanging of the wall and all the electrics inside were hanging out of the door. The staff were very good but we had to keep requesting for towels, blanket and a phone from the final room where everything seemed to work correctly. Oh, no TV remote so had to request one when we were waiting for the phone. The guy did say I've been trying to call you to see if everything was okay..... but just looked confused when we said we don't have a phone in the room. Food is a bit hit and miss. Some good some not so good

Had our Last stay Carbo verde at the Karamboa but IT was fully booked.So we decided to choose the RiuTouareg,otherwise we knew the Problems about the outdated rooms there.Our travel Agent didnt know about better chosing the adults only part for a small surcharge.So we run in the trap to rooms with sink blocked and No running water circumstances.Went to the very friendly Ivan at the reception after No results of a quick smart repait.changed the rooms in fast and Un complicated way to save our Holiday time.I mostly recommend this friendly Service.

Let's start with the positives. Food outstanding, plenty of choice for even the fussiest of us. Entertainment was ok and there for audience participation. The karaoke in the sports bar was great fun. The 2 restaurants serve wonderful tasty food and are worthy of a good rating. The hotel is enormous and there can be a long walk if you are pitched at the end of the hotels where the alleged revamped/ upgraded rooms are???? Where they get the rating of 5 star, I do not know. TUI should be brought to task for allowing this false representation to be continued. My room was an "upgrade", yet drawers without handles, leaking shower and broken furniture....some upgrade! Friends of ours showed us their room and it was worse than ours. Dirty shower curtain, extra small tv, furniture old and torn up, worthy of a 5 star , I'm sure. The reception staff are arrogant and fail to meet your needs and queries. I reported my safe being defunct and the battery failing many times yet no one came out for the whole 10 days and I was lucky that I was able to open it when needed. Sorry to say, this hotel is not adequately representing 5 star and would say it was 2 star at best. Will certainly not be returning here and is poor value for money.

Pools are cold, they do not have a heated pool as advertised this was the biggest let down. Food is normal for a all inclusive buffet something for everyone. Rooms are ok due to be refurbished next year so you'd expect wear and tear but overall nothing to worry about, it's a big resort block 6 is close to everything, no lifts, entertainment is standard like all other resorts, beach is big, sea is rough and cold you shouldn't really go in it. Pop on tap all day and night, no bottled water, alcohol is ok cocktails are hit and miss. Weather is ok sunny and warm but has been really cloudy blocking the sun coming out.