Reviews of Riviera Hotel, Benalmadena, Spain

This hotel was good, there didnt...

Overall Rating:

8/10

Board Basis:

Half Board

Date of Holiday:

Aug 2008

Tour Operator:

Portland Direct

Submitted By:

Mrs J A Chapman

Comments:

This hotel was good, there didnt seem to be a lot going on through the day tho, the evening entertainment ie the act coming on from 10 till 11pm what I saw was good but as it was only on for an hour and not a lot else we tended to go out, the best place for being entertained we found was Buzby's Fun Pub just over the road from the hotel as they have live entertainment each night from about 10pm until midnight or so which if you then wanted to stay they had kareoke until whenever oclock! If TV sports are your thing would recommend the Sand Bar with their HD TV and very good new hosts Carol and Tom.



To be truthful dont think the hotel is worth its 4 star status, more like 3+, if you go I suggest you ask for a high floor room as this hotel is on the side of a main road which is busy 24/7, we were on floor 6 of 8 so didnt have too much noise problem but people on the low floors were complaining of the noise and did hear people asking to move rooms because of it.



Nice area, we loved Fuengirola Zoo quite unbelieveable just on the high street, but inside the animals were kept in wonderful enclosures (not cages). Best trip was Gibralter, we did the Dolphin Discovery (fantastic saw loads of dolphins up very close) and the Rock Tour including see the Barbary Apes (hilarious), well worth the cost.



All in all we enjoyed our holiday very much, the area the hotel is in is good, beach good etc

We stayed here for the first...

Overall Rating:

9/10

Board Basis:

Half Board

Date of Holiday:

Aug 2008

Tour Operator:

Thomson

Submitted By:

Miss Ad Deacon

Comments:

We stayed here for the first time. Hotel was superb, food was lovely and different varieties every day. very clean, maid service daily, pool very clean. Good entertainment. Staff were very friendly and polite. The only bad thing was other people staying there. As we were a younger couple 0f 22 and 21 we did get some strange looks. The majority of people were older, some snobbiness from certain people which was unneccesary. There were some lovely people dont get me wrong. Quite frustrating as people get up very early to get best sun beds and leave towels on. But apart from that we had a brill time.

I have been to this hotel on two...

Overall Rating:

10/10

Board Basis:

Half Board

Date of Holiday:

Sep 2008

Tour Operator:

Thomson

Submitted By:

Mrs P A Harris

Comments:

I have been to this hotel on two other occasions and found eveything perfect. Helpful and polite staff, food excellent, also the entertainment very, very good, and the whole Hotel very clean. I shall be going back there for my third time very soon and looking forward to it very much. I recommended it to some friends and now nine of them will be coming too.

We loved the hotel the food was...

Overall Rating:

10/10

Board Basis:

Half Board

Date of Holiday:

Jul 2008

Tour Operator:

Thomson

Submitted By:

Mr JD Davids

Comments:

We loved the hotel the food was fantastic and the room was brilliant. The only problem was that the beds were of poor quality. Everything else was very good.



Would go again!!

we have just come back from our...

Overall Rating:

8/10

Board Basis:

Half Board

Date of Holiday:

Jul 2008

Tour Operator:

Thomson

Submitted By:

Miss J Moor

Comments:

we have just come back from our weeks stay in the riviera hotel.I thought this was a nice hotel ,and in a excellant position for shops and all night bars such as the 24hr square and marina ,which in previous years we have had long walks to reach.The only faults we can give are the hotel entertainment was not good as focused on older people and bit cheesy.the other faults are the sunbeds, as we were told no one was allowed to reserve these,well each mornin all were takin but no one to be seen!!also the pool did not have a warning of deep water in the middle!so for non swimmers,not good!!also the food let us down a little as previous stays in 3 star hotels in this area had proved better with a different selection each day.The breakfast did not one day serve "chorros",which considering is spanish was quite a surprise . The fry up did not look appertising,the waiter staff i thought were very serious compared to other spanish hotels which was unusual ,and i really hated being told where to sit each day.I can not fault thomsons as every time we have used them they have been brilliant.The balcony we had was worst one ever with a view of mini golf and that was all we could see as on 2nd floor.We were not fortunate to get a better view as the hotel was full so we acceped this.the hotel security we thought was very good as doors closed in early hours and we were soon let in after being checked through cctv.The maid service was good and early.We still enjoyed our stay and would consider staying here again,as on the whole was a nice hotel in a good location and although next to a busy road,well come on ur on holiday who cares.

We have just had a wonderful 10...

Overall Rating:

10/10

Board Basis:

Half Board

Date of Holiday:

Jun 2008

Tour Operator:

Thomson

Submitted By:

Mrs C Burrows

Comments:

We have just had a wonderful 10 days at the Hotel Riviera.We found all the staff very friendly and helpful and the food at both breakfast and evening meal really good with plenty of choice.The hotel was very clean and our room was cleaned every day no matter what time we went out and returned.The evening entertainment was varied from buddy holly to rod stewart impersanators and the dancers were very good too. The marina was only a short walk away and there was a good choice of boat trips which we enjoyed. Also sealife is worth a visit with plenty of fascinating creatures.We met people who had been returning year after year who spoke very highly of the hotel. It was our first time to benalmadena but we will be booking to go back to the Riviera next year.

We have just returned from the...

Overall Rating:

9/10

Board Basis:

Half Board

Date of Holiday:

Jun 2008

Tour Operator:

Portland Direct

Submitted By:

Dennis Winter

Comments:

We have just returned from the Riviera Hotel after another superb holiday at this hotel.

This is the sixth occasion we have been to this hotel and still consider it to be of the highest quality.

The food is varied and excellent with "show" cooking every night.

The daytime entertainment is only average but the evening entertainment is superb with "stars in your eyes " type entertainment.....during the two weeks we were there we saw take offs of Buddy Holly,Lionel Ritchie ,Rod Stewart, Tom Jones plus other entertainers such as comedians and an illusionist show.Only once did we have the flamenco dancers.

Outside the hotel I would recommend Buddys bar in the Plaza about 200 yards from the hotel.

There are 2 slight drawbacks to the hotel...1) it is near a noisy busy road and 2) some of the bar waiters are a bit miserable and for some reason they don't provide a waiter service during "happy hour"

Nevertheless we will be booking again next year for the seventh consecutive year

hAVE just been at the HOtel...

Overall Rating:

9/10

Board Basis:

Half Board

Date of Holiday:

May 2008

Tour Operator:

Booked Independently

Submitted By:

Mr Dj Warden

Comments:

hAVE just been at the HOtel Riviera in Benalmadena with my wife for a week and it was superb. Very relaxing with a great position the hotel gave us everything we needed. I have been coming to the costa del sol for a long time but have normally stayed in apartments. This time we fancied a change and opted for the 4star Hotel Riviera. Best decision we made! We had everything on our door step in the resort, but we didnt have to move if we didnt want to as the hotel food and facilities were superb.

Great holiday- would thoroughly reccommend it to anyone looking for a holiday on the Costa del Sol. We´ll be back!

we arrived on 19/5 /08 the room...

Overall Rating:

8/10

Board Basis:

Half Board

Date of Holiday:

May 2008

Tour Operator:

Thomson

Submitted By:

Mrs S White

Comments:

we arrived on 19/5 /08 the room we were given was two balconies away from main road with horrendous road works and overlooking car park with bulldozer and drill breaking up road. We asked to change and were told hotel full take it or leave it on contacting thomson hot line (no rep at hotel came twice a day) we were told we couldnt change because we would be in three bedded room and hotel would lose out as this is adults only hotel and 98per cent were couples this amazed us we were told to ask each day and left to it. When rep arrived we were treated in a patronising manner and told we could change if we upgraded and paid 105 euros more. As we came for a quiet holiday after my illness we dont drink and dont use sunbeds we paid. Hotel said we had not asked for quiet room although thomson agreed it was on their system and had been since booking. The notice given on arrival said welcome meeting next day (in our case Tuesday) we then found reps day off and meeting Wednesday. In that meeting we found the reasons we came to Spain for Granada and seville trips had been on Tues and Wed and we had missed them. On telling rep we might as well get next flight home she found us a trip to Granada on the Friday with another company but seville was off and that also meant my birthday trip ro Ronda on the Friday was now off. They had an obsession with Gibralter though. Out of four trips planned we got one and took a trip on thursday to Nerja which was good but not planned. Why did we get three different answers. We also found from other guests they wanted to change from those rooms and some in the past had but not charged. The Hotel itself was nice good position and the room was cleaned by nice friendly staff dining room and food were excellent

The sight of British adults fighting over sunbeds and rushing out at 7.00am to put belongings on beds was unbelievable. From the Balcony I saw a bully actually tipping a man off a sunbed and throwing his clothes and his orange in the air. The management stated they would remove towels but they didnt. Many guests complained about this.The Park was very nice and the open top bus was good as it helped to know the area, the promenade to the Marina was very nice. No rep on coach from airport and no rep on arrival none on departure coach. Malaga airport a building site and drop off on reurn was a long way from check in rep just pointed way and we were left to it. This was our first trip to Spain especially to see Granada and Alhambra and this is now our last and our last with thomson.

well where do i start. This...

Overall Rating:

4/10

Board Basis:

Half Board

Date of Holiday:

May 2008

Tour Operator:

Thomson

Submitted By:

Mrs Lh Froggett

Comments:

well where do i start. This hotel boasts 4 stars, im not sure why this is. it is not better than any 3 star i have stayed in before. Dont get me wrong its clean and the rooms are large enough, the view is lovely from the pool balcony. The thing that lets this hotel down is the food and management. The food is the same day in and day out, by the 3rd night of our stay we started eating out, even the smell of dinner cooking made you want to gag!

As for the management, well to mention the words frosty and unhelpful is an understatement. On our 3rd day by the pool we were just lazing there soaking up the sun when we felt what we thought were a few spots of rain. To cut a long story short they were in fact spots of bleach from somewhere up the balconies, landed on our clothes and left bleached spots on them. Ruined. We showed the reception and they took them to show the manager later. That evening we spoke to our thomson rep,Linda, who more or less said it was a hotel matter and nothing to do with her, well we hadnt bought any tours off her, she was less than interested.

We waited 2 days and no one had been to us, so we went to reception again and was told to go back the next morning. So we did, to be told that it was a guest that had washed her husbands pants out with bleach and shook them over the balcony, oh and their maids dont use bleach, so we were to take it up with the guests involved and the hotel was having nothing to do with it. We were gob smacked, we argued that we were not going to 'have it out' with a couple of old age pensioners, who needed to wash underwear out with bleach, and upset their holiday. We argued that we were also guests of the hotel and surely they should cover the cost of our clothes as a gesture of goodwill. but the were having none of it, and the rep just, looked the other way.

So we came away feeling very defated, we were the innocent party but no one was interested. Needless to say the we are in the process of writing to the hotel chain and Thomson, not for the money but for someone just to hold their hands up and say sorry!!

Love this hotel to bits , have...

Overall Rating:

10/10

Board Basis:

Half Board

Date of Holiday:

Jul 2007

Tour Operator:

Thomson

Submitted By:

lanzarote1960

Comments:

Love this hotel to bits , have been before and will return year after year, the hotel is clean and friendley, the food is brilliant, the rooms are clean and lovely views, they have a beautiful bathroom with shower and bath, the location is second to none, just outside the back gate is the fantastic beach, there are sunbeds with cushions, lazed there all day!!! The the hotel entertainment is varied, the pool is packed with people, we never got a sun bed at all, the elderly guests, get up at the crack of dawn and put towels on the beds, so not much chance of ever getting one, we will return year after year to this fantastic hotel.

We stayed at the Riviera for 28...

Overall Rating:

9/10

Board Basis:

Half Board

Date of Holiday:

Jan 2008

Tour Operator:

Thomson

Submitted By:

Mr J B

Comments:

We stayed at the Riviera for 28 nights from mid Jan to mid Feb, and had a great time.

The hotel is run exclusively for Thomson bookings and is therefore 100% British. An added bonus was that there were no children allowed in the hotel. Most of the guests were of the 55+-age range, so I’m not sure it would have suited younger people, particularly if they do not like ballroom dancing, which is done on some afternoons and some evenings during the winter months.

The Hotel has a great location about 5 minutes walk from the Marina. It is situated on a busy road, which is great for shops, bus stops etc, but does mean that there is some road noise at the front of the hotel.

All rooms have a sea view. One side of the hotel gets morning sun, with views over the pool & marina. The other side of the hotel has sun from about 11am and looks out towards the west.

The rooms are fine, typically Spanish hotel type, but have everything you need. Another bonus with the guests being all-British is that the TV has a good selection of English channels, including BBC1 & ITV3.

There is an internal lift from the reception down to the outside promenade, which makes it very easy for anyone less mobile to get down onto the long flat promenade on the sea front.

Food in the hotel was excellent, again probably because they are catering for an all-british clientele, and ran on a two-week cycle, with a gala dinner once a week…as good as anywhere we have ever stayed, and has something to suit everyone. We did not hear anyone complaining about the food for the whole time of our stay.

Entertainment was also good by Spanish standards. Sure, there is the usual flamenco show once a week, but generally the entertainment was above average with some good singers & comedians. I good indication of the quality of the entertainment was the fact that lots of people came in from outside, because ours was better than the stuff going on in their hotel. The management try to stop this, and on several nights stopped outsiders coming in before 9pm, particularly on the 3 nights a week when there was a happy hour between 7.30 – 8.30.

We have read in some reports that the staff were not helpful or polite, but from our experience everyone was fine, and very friendly.

To sum up:

Food….great!, could not be faulted.

Entertainment….very good, compared to the usual Spanish hotel.

Rooms…Again good, but you need to decide it you want sun in the morning or afternoon.

Position….good, although some guests might not like the fact that there is some traffic noise.



Would we go again….defiantly yes!!

What a beautiful hotel, cannot...

Overall Rating:

10/10

Board Basis:

Half Board

Date of Holiday:

Jan 2008

Tour Operator:

Thomson

Submitted By:

Mrs P James

Comments:

What a beautiful hotel, cannot fault it!! The room was excellent with beautiful views.The staff were helpful and very friendly.Anyone who criticises this hotel must be very hard to please.The food was fantastic, excellent choice, well cooked and a terrific range of dishes. Even a CHAMPAGNE BREAKFAST....what more can you ask.Fully deserved of 10 out of 10.Will definately return.!!

Just returned from a 10 day...

Overall Rating:

8/10

Board Basis:

Half Board

Date of Holiday:

Dec 2007

Tour Operator:

Portland Direct

Submitted By:

Mrs F Cook

Comments:

Just returned from a 10 day Christmas holiday at the Riviera. The hotel is nice but is somewhat dated.



The food and choice was excellent and could not be faulted. The hotel did appear to be full of mainly couples aged 70 or over but maybe that is the time of year. It did all seem to be a little bit geared around sequence dancing, afternoon tea dances and I felt personally that if you didn't dance you didn't really belong there.



The entertainment was good on most nights two dancing nights which were a bit boring flamenco etc. but the other acts we had good singers and a comedian. Hotel could really do with a commissionaire on the door as one night a lady guest had her handbag stolen from inside the hotel bar by some Spanish people so this definitely needs to be tightened up on.



All in all a good holiday but it is definitely geared for the older sequence dancing generation.

Stopped at the Riviera...

Overall Rating:

9/10

Board Basis:

Half Board

Date of Holiday:

Dec 2007

Tour Operator:

Thomson

Submitted By:

frank

Comments:

Stopped at the Riviera Benalmadena 16 Dec 23 Dec 07.



This was a reduced Thomson holiday on the internet, waited two days before booking, got a fairly good bargain reduced to 155pp



Hotel was extremely well positioned, down the lift to the sea front, thats better. The weather did ruin it but the hotel did not skimp on heating.



Rooms very comfortable, cleaned daily and very warm as it was rather a wet nasty week, the whole of the staff was just great, always a smile, always cheerful.



The dining room staff where a pleasure to be served by absolutely nothing to much trouble, buffet meals, plenty to go at, could not falter.



Entertainment nightly the best I’ve seen as usually you get the repeat parrots, flamenco.ect not at the Riviera, would definitely recommend to anyone, if you can go as and when check the internet watch the reductions, as the holiday gets nearing departure.



PS free tea/coffees in the afternoons was offered if you wanted to take it up.