Riu Chiclana

No complaints about anything. Hotel was was great. Rooms were spacious and very clean. Facilities were all good and so was evening entertainment. Don’t go there if you’re on a diet! The food was excellent, loads of it, varied and well presented.

Went as a family with our 4 year old , and was stunned! So clean everywhere, beautiful hotel, food was all so tasty and always available , drinks were good and lots of self service points for water , fizzy, juice and coffees. Beach is gorgeous!! And just a short walk from hotel beautiful sunsets each night from the beach. Restaurants all buffet but perfect!! Italian and spainish restaurant was our fav!! ( Spanish restaurant for breakfast was perfect as not many went there so was quite) Room had pool and sea view and was spacious. Comfy huge bed!! And again so clean! English kids channel on tv for little one. Kids area is brilliant all gated , splash park , soft play , play park , kids club and drinks self service , we just grabbed a coffee and sat whilst she played each day was perfect. Entertainment for kids was very Spanish , but in Spain so of course it would be and we embraced it, was fun! We didn't do to much of the entertainment side as loved spending the evening on the beach , but caught some of the production show and looked good. Lovely big stage and lots of seating and bars all around. One thing we didn't get told was how to find out what was going on each day. There is one board in the reception area to look at to find out about times of things going on which is a shame as if it was more advertised perhaps we would have got more involved with activities . All staff were lovely and helpful If you were like is literally going through lists of hotels and reviews trying to find a fantastic holiday i would absolutely recommend it! Never have we ever re visited a hotel as theres so much to explore and see but we may go back here one day.

We have just returned from our second visit to Riu Chiclana, having enjoyed a week here in September 2018 we decided to try 2 weeks and it did not disappoint. We should point out that this is not a holiday for anyone looking for a child-free environment, it is a family hotel. But as a result the hotel settles down around midnight so there is no loud music or loutish behaviour and this ensures you get a decent uninterrupted nights sleep. Upon arrival, following a straight forward well organised transfer we were warmly welcomed, luggage is kept in the lobby whilst you check in, with a sticker provided to let porters know where to take your bags so there is no lugging of suitcases. Your holiday commences from the minute the wristband is put on. Despite check-in officially being 2pm, we were checked in efficiently to our room which was ready and were able to locate and settle in well before midday. Having requested a Sea-View room (if possible) we were not disappointed. Rooms in the hotel are spacious and welcoming, exceptionally clean with a decent sized bathroom and a superb shower. Every morning, the lovely housekeeping ladies would offer a good morning and a smile with every room being cleaned and beds made. Clean towels were provided daily, and we looked forward to seeing what towel art would be left for us. With 5 pools to choose from you are spoilt for choice for a lounger, our favourite was the ‘fitness pool’ where daily activities took place. The toilets here were spotless and constantly cleaned. Our only negative would be the alcohol pumps at the poolside drink station, which made the area smell like vinegar early in the morning. There are numerous bars and outdoor seating areas so even when the hotel is really busy there are places to have a quiet coffee or beer in the sunshine or shade. The hotel is located very close to the beach, accessible through a locked gate to ensure only hotel guests enter back into the complex. The beach is accessed via quite a few stairs however it is well worth the effort of climbing back up as the beach is stunning. The sand stretches for miles, and we enjoyed 7am strolls along the beach enjoying the peace and tranquillity the Andalusian coast has to offer. As a fussy eater, there was never an issue when it came to meal time. We chose to eat in the main buffet restaurant, however there are other speciality restaurants offering a variety of cuisines. One of the reasons for our return visit was the variety of seafood that is offered during lunch and dinner, and we like the freedom of the long dining times. The restaurant staff, are friendly, exceptionally hard working and maintain a good service at busy times. Having visited Gibraltar last year as part of a TUI excursion, we decided to be a little braver and venture out to Cadiz ourselves using the public buses. This could not have been easier- boarding a bus just outside the hotel to Chiclana and another to Cadiz. We were surprised at how cheap this journey was with the bus from the hotel to Chiclana costing only €1.50 each. Leaving the best to last we have to mention the Riu Fit and Riu Fun team (animation team). Having enjoyed ourselves last year we threw ourselves into the Aquafit, Aquagym and AquaRiumba sessions, we felt during our first holiday here we were very British and held back and wished we had joined in sooner. Andres, Leo and a lad with tattoos (sorry can’t remember his name) did fantastic sessions and were incredibly friendly and good fun whilst being professional and encouraging. After days of spectating we finally plucked up the courage to also join in with the water polo, which not for the faint hearted is a fantastic workout and so much fun. Despite play being a tad physical as two women we did not feel intimidated or left out of play in a pool full of burly men. If you are prepared to give it, the other players really appreciate it and it’s a great way to socialise and have a laugh with other nationalities despite the language barrier. Special thanks to Robert, who managed to control the games when things got a little rough. Despite not having children with us, we enjoyed watching the RiuFun team entertain the U12 children with their own version of Water Polo in the ‘fitness pool’. Jesus was fantastic at getting the children all involved and we never saw him turn a child away unless they were under the age limit , and it looked like great fun. Canario is fabulous with all guests young and old. We enjoyed watching him throw himself into the foam party getting everyone involved, though he seemed to have more foam on him than any of the other members of the entertainment team. Evening entertainment is mostly in house, staying for two weeks we were able to experience the full range of shows. The Spanish sense of humour is slightly less PC than the British, however you cannot help but laugh. Jose (from Chiclana) is a natural comedian and whenever he was on the stage you couldn’t help but watch him. Robert is a fantastic performer and a highly skilled dancer, his performance as Michael Jackson is phenomenal and not to be missed. The shows have improved from our last visit, and the whole team do a great job on top of their daytime duties. After two weeks spent here, we begrudgingly returned home not without planning another visit for later in the season as well as plotting a return two week break for next year. We absolutely love this Hotel, its staff and location and feel we have discovered our little piece of paradise not too far from home. Thank you for making our holiday the best one yet.