Riu Waikiki Hotel

I've been to Gran Canaria twice and stayed in Riu Waikiki both times. I absolutely loved it! The hotel is walking distance from anything and everything. The meals were fabulous with tons of selection. We had the same waiter every evening who by the middle of the week knew exactly what we liked to drink and had it ready for us at every meal. We felt completely welcomed and looked after. The hotel had guests from all over the world-and it was amazing to hear all the different languages. The first time I went was with a German family and the second time I went with my Canadian sister and both times I felt that both English and German as well as other languages were very well understood and equally respected among staff. There are so many opportunities to do sightseeing and activities as well as just laze on the beach. A wonderful experience! I can't wait to go back again!

1 reader found this review helpful

My husband and I stayed at the Riu Waikiki for 7 nights from 17th November, and we can firmly say that this is one of the worst hotels we have stayed in. On arrival we were greeted by 5 towers which were not brilliant white as portrayed in the Thomas Cook brochure - all paint was flaking off. We were also met by an equally shabby reception area, although the staff were very helpful.
We then walked through into the extremely cramped main hotel area, to see nothing but Germans, all staring at us like we had no right to be there, or had 3 heads! The hotel was meant for Germans only, and this was reflected at breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The food was well cooked but repetitive. The entertainment was also all in German, and quite frankly, pathetic. The entertainment took place in a shabby room in the basement of the hotel; it smelled strange and resembled a working men’s' club!
We then went to our room after a drink or two, to find a very small and boiling hot room. The air conditioning is really missed. There was also one power socket in the whole room, and that was in the bathroom - not safe at all. The view was also terrible - another hotel tower, and a motorway. It was so noisy and not relaxing at all.
Around the pool sunbathing was impossible - the entire area was in the shade due to the imposing hotel buildings.
Playa Del Ingles is also a total dump - just like Blackpool, only 50 times worse.
The rest of Gran Canaria is OK at best - not a patch on the lovely Lanzarote.
To sum up, the hotel felt like a prison, and we will not return to the hotel, or Gran Canaria.

Enjoyed the holiday but as per other comments the hotel is geared towards Germans. Despite the no towels on sunbeds notice it still happened and when we mentioned it was told nothing could be done about it.
Food was very repetitive although fresh. Breakfasts were not very appetising only had bacon once during the 7 days the rest of the week was geared towards Germans.
Did not stay at the hotel at night as could not put up with the noisy Germans and they stare at you all the time as if you should not be there.
Plus points the maid was absolutely marvellous could not fault the room cleaning or any other staff they were all very willing to help.
Carlos the daytime entertainment man was great really got the day going with his routines.
Would not go to this particular hotel again but it has not put us off trying other Rui hotels.

We are a group of 7 adults 1 teenager and a 2&3 year old:
We went with Thomas Cook, I’ve always been with 1st choice, I would not go with Thomas Cook again, we only saw our rep once and barely turned up when supposed to.
The trips weren’t up to much either; give me 1st choice any day. We always saw 1st choice reps around.
The hotel was very clean, so were our rooms kept clean. No matter what time we got up our room was always cleaned, rooms were very nice with fans which we kept on all night, staff were very friendly and always happy to help, most staff spoke about 6 languages.
Food was very nice and cooked well, but it was a lot of the same every day so we got a bit bored with it and ate out a few times, there should of been more of a variation each day, there was always plenty of food all day long, lunch inside was the best we really enjoyed that, outside was the same everyday.
Deserts were great though our waitress was malena she was a treasure very kind and always had a smile on her face, what a wonderful lady she is.
All drink was free including cocktails but needed a few for them to make you merry, your ok if you like gin, whisky, vodka, beer that sort of thing, but I only like the sweet drinks, like alki pops, arches, baileys. None of that sort of thing.
We were also told kids would be aloud lollies ice cream all day when we booked it, they only could have ice cream at meal time there was no lollies at all. This was a bit disappointing.
Entertainment: the kids entertainment at night was about half an hour which we didn’t feel was long enough, some night time adult entertainment wasn’t so good, so we went to the Yumbo centre a lot, yes and spent a lot of money on booze, it was dear in pubs with entertainment, but the entertainment was wicked.
Yumbo is a must a night its wicked, visit Rickeys bar drag queen acts, karaoke, you must have a strong head though they do pick on you, just give as good back.
The weather was hot everyday so take plenty of cream, bus services and taxies were great and not to expensive. Porta rico is a must if you like a nice calm beach.
We did paragliding great fun a must to. Red cow near Yumbo a must for pizza and English food, roast and a cuppa tea.
Overall we had a great holiday and our hotel was great, we will come back another year, thank rui waikiki for a great hotel.

Stayed from the 25th June till 9th July overall was impressed with the hotel.
There was a lot of Germans as per previous reviews, on the whole though they didn’t bother us - although they did tend to stare at my girlfriend at night when she wore a skirt, which could be very off putting.
The rooms were very clean and had maid service each day. We were lucky enough to have a pool view, as rooms that are not facing the pool are overlooking car parks.
The buffet was good if not a bit repetitive - every day there was pork for lunch and dinner! The restaurant has two sittings one at 6.30 and one at 8.30 you are assigned which one you go to on arrival; however, if it doesn't suit it is easily changed.
The hotel is situated in an ideal are in between the 3 main centres but enough out the way enough not to be affected by noise.
Entertainment was good and the chief entertainer Carlos did a great job of getting people involved - although if you did not want to take part there was still plenty of space for sunbathing.
Overall I enjoyed my stay and I would go back.

A great winter holiday. The food was fantastic and there was loads to choose from. Came home half a stone heavier after just a week!
Rooms were cleaned every day and an excellent service provided. Entertainment every night, although it got a little boring after a few nights. Kids club on every night as well as during the day. Sports/activities also available for the grownups during the day.
When the weather was a little poor, they put an alternative on indoor instead. Well organised and friendly staff. Weather was a bit hit and miss, had a few very wet days but still much better than being in England!
Would recommend!

Agree with everyone only good if you are German.
A lot of old people here. No night entertainment unless you count the same woman droning on each night.
The hotel was very nice but you could not stay there all day.
The TV only had one English Channel the rest were surprisingly German!
Would never go back there again.

What can I say; this hotel is great as long as you are German.
Don’t book this hotel if you are easy offended, because they have not changed at all, totally ignorant in every way.
The hotel isn’t to bad overall, the room was cleaned every day, the entertainment was very average.
As for your room TV out of the 20 channels only one was in English, that was sky news.
Food was a plenty if not a little bland, you can drink as much as you like.
I would go back to the resort again, but I'm afraid I won’t be booking this hotel.

Well on the whole this is a lovely hotel although anyone staying here should be aware of a few things don’t go with Direct you only see the rep when you arrive and she really does not give a stuff.
The hotel says it has air conditioning which it does not well not at any point in our stay did it work the food is plentiful but after a few days you will be bored of it as it is for the most part very, very bland plus points are the gardens they are lovely staff quite pleasant but be aware this hotel seems geared to Germans and i got the impression English were not particularly welcome.
We have been to GC many times and will continue to go as we always have a lot of fun the Yumbo is a good laugh and I would recommend you to hire a car and explore the island away from tourist areas it really is a beautiful place. In summary find a better place to stay there are many of them this hotel will be a disappointment.

Just returned from a week at the Riu Waikiki. Very pleasantly surprised. The room was fairly spacious, 3 of us sharing, and very clean. Nice view of mountains, pool and sea from our small balcony.
Food was fantastic. Loads of it, very fresh. Drink and snacks on tap all day. The hot is all prepared in front of you in the restaurant. Entertainment was not too bad (though kiddies club did not encourage our 9 year old to join in) aqua gym, water polo, tennis, football punctuated the day. The evening entertainment was good too if you stayed in. Lots to do in the surrounding locality. Big complaint however is the pool area. Big pool, very clean but quite cold.
Not enough room around the pool to sunbathe. Sun beds which are complimentary, are tightly packed next to one another, and despite the no reserving a bed policy, many did and so if you were not one of these you could find yourself without anywhere to sunbathe. Also at this time of year large areas of the poolside do not get sun until mid to late morning and then other areas lose the sun at about 3 in the afternoon.
We found this was a good time to get the complimentary bus to the beach and go for a stroll along its length to the dunes, lovely. Beware if you are not a smoker, lots of them about here.