Hotel Riu Papayas

“Fabulous holiday”

Well!! What an amazing hotel. The food was fabulous, the hotel is clean and nothing is out of place. The staff super friendly and added bonus 24hours all inclusive. No need to reserve sun beds as plenty of them. Meaning extra lie in in the mornings. We went to the Asian restaurant but much prefer... more

Well!! What an amazing hotel. The food was fabulous, the hotel is clean and nothing is out of place. The staff super friendly and added bonus 24hours all inclusive. No need to reserve sun beds as plenty of them. Meaning extra lie in in the mornings. We went to the Asian restaurant but much preferred the buffet restaurant but that was just my opinion. My favourite ice cream is now coconut ice cream! It’s a must to try. The rooms are big and lots of storage space. Air con in rooms and is super cold. If In need of support anytime of day someone is around. Beach ten minutes walk away. Aqua aerobics we loved and day time entertainment is good. Always something to do. Evening entertainment some nights not much on but we enjoyed playing lots of uno on these nights. The dance show by entertainment team was spectacular. We had late flight home and use of communal showers was available, all lovely and clean. No need to pay extra to keep room for few more hours. I will definitely be returning to this hotel.

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“Special and amazing place”

Well, what can I say about this hotel?!Absolutely amazing from the minute we got off the coach to the minute we was picked up. We had an amazing time! We had a late flight into Gran Canaria and was welcomed at reception. The receptionist was very helpful spending time explaining everything we ne... more

Well, what can I say about this hotel?!Absolutely amazing from the minute we got off the coach to the minute we was picked up. We had an amazing time! We had a late flight into Gran Canaria and was welcomed at reception. The receptionist was very helpful spending time explaining everything we needed to know about the hotel. We were also offered to have a snack in the restaurant which was very welcoming after a long day travelling much needed food for us and our 11 year old. We got into the room and it was immaculate, there was plenty of space to hang and put your clothes away. The bathroom was huge and all very well decorated and super clean. A huge thank you to the cleaners who cleaned, made our beds and changed our towels daily. They went out their way to make sure the rooms are kept clean. We woke up the following morning to breakfast what can I say so much on offer at breakfast, lunch and dinner. Our 11 year old hasn’t eaten that well on any holiday there is something for everyone. I had duck, lamb and pork on separate days carved by a chef. The waiters, chefs and waitresses are a compliment to this hotel going over and beyond making sure your experience is everything. They gave you coffee, water and cleared your plates away when required working hard also for the next meal times. The pool and the entertainment staff are amazing. The pool is good size, you are allowed floats and ball games at one end which is fair enough so it accommodates for all. Plenty of loungers and plenty of movement around the pool I read some reviews saying the walkways are too tight but we found it fine. The entertainment staff are a pleasure and a huge assist to the hotel working hard to keep Everyone pleased. Enough for all ages to get involved, they have plenty going on all day, but let you be if you just want to sunbathe. A special thank you to Fernandez who made our lad feel welcome and a holiday he will remember he was great with all making all smile and welcome, but all the staff are amazing in the team. The pool bar staff are also friendly and kind lots to drinks on offer and never had to queue more than two people for a drink. Think the drinks dispensers help it’s help-yourself which with allows children to go and get their drinks when needed. All in all a brilliant hotel well done Riu we will one day return as lots of special memories made at this fabulous hotel. Didn’t want to leave.

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“Well above average”

Very nice hotel. The food is really worthy of special mention; the main restaurant is definitely one of the best we have experienced for this type of family all inclusive. Additionally there are two speciality restaurants which are included in the all inclusive and which have a different feel and... more

Very nice hotel. The food is really worthy of special mention; the main restaurant is definitely one of the best we have experienced for this type of family all inclusive. Additionally there are two speciality restaurants which are included in the all inclusive and which have a different feel and are also excellent. All the staff were incredibly friendly and professional, they really made the stay pleasurable. The nearby beach is lovely with miles of yellow sand to walk along. It’s a pleasant 10 minute walk to get there, we never used the free bus but that is an option if you need it. The area itself Playa del Ingles has a slightly run down feel, perhaps a legacy of COVID with quite a lot of shops and businesses boarded up, but there was still plenty to see and do and perhaps this will improve over time or even later in the season. The hotel itself is quite busy and big, there were a lot of guests and yet we never had to queue or wait for anything, probably because there are so many facilities and it is so well run. There are literally hundreds of sunbeds so you will have no trouble getting one, although they are quite closely packed in so you might be very near other families. There is supposedly a ‘strict’ rule that you can’t reserve sunbeds, but it is not enforced so all the beds near the pool will have towels on them by early morning. If you want a bed by the pool you will need an early alarm clock. It would be great if the hotel enforced its non-reservation rule by politely removing and folding the towels of the early reservers as some hotels do to discourage this behaviour. I need to mention the cleanliness, this is by far the cleanest hotel we have ever stayed at. There is an army of friendly and efficient cleaners who immediately pounce on anything that is out of place, either in the room or around the hotel. They seemed genuinely upset on the two occasions we didn’t want our room cleaned so I had to appease them by accepting fresh towels for the bathroom. Honestly all staff were very friendly and eager to please, the hotel management should write a book on staff motivation, they have done a marvellous job in getting everybody motivated and performing highly. One last point, the hotel is very international; whatever your nationality you will be in the minority. Personally I like this and prefer it to being surrounded by people from my own country when on holiday abroad. All in all a very pleasant stay and highly recommended.

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“Good quality with friendly staff and relaxed vibe.”

First impressions most certainly count and the welcome we received from Guiseppe on reception set the tone for a wonderful stay in this hotel. For an all inclusive hotel I was most impressed with the variety and quality of the food and drinks available, with soft drinks, tea, coffee and beer all ... more

First impressions most certainly count and the welcome we received from Guiseppe on reception set the tone for a wonderful stay in this hotel. For an all inclusive hotel I was most impressed with the variety and quality of the food and drinks available, with soft drinks, tea, coffee and beer all freely available to self serve with all other drinks available from friendly bar staff. The vibe around the hotel is relaxed and exceptionally clean with no one leaving empty glasses or plates lying around. Rooms also very clean, with small fridge and tea and coffee making facilities which you can replenish from one of the bars along with bottles of water. Plenty of sun beds with uninterrupted sun on both of the roof top solariums and even though there was the usual people putting towels out at 7am there were still enough sun beds for everyone and we had no problems getting one after 11am. I enjoyed both of the themed restaurants which you reserve a table by using the Riu app, and plenty of choice in the main restaurant as well. The security guards on the main gate were very pleasant and did not allow anyone in who did not have a wrist band and was welcomed especially as we visited during the last few days of the festival where thousands of people descended on the resort. I would certainly recommend and consider a return visit. Only one small gripe was the rooms at the back of the hotel most on a main road and right next to the generators, so take ear plugs unless you want to pay the extra for a garden view room, which I feel would also have a certain amount of noise level as they overlook the restaurants as well. This however did not detract from a very enjoyable stay in what is one of the most welcoming hotels I have stayed at.

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