Riu Buenavista

This was our third stay at the Riu Buenavista, and we'll definitely be returning. The hotel is always spotlessly tidy and the staff genuinely could not do enough for you. We were allocated a fourth-floor room overlooking the pool with a sea view — we didn't ask for this and I'm only a Classic Riu member, so no upgrade was involved and we hadn't requested any particular room type at booking. We went out of school term time, so it wasn't overly busy, but if you want a front-row spot at the infinity pool, you'll need to get up early. My one real bugbear is other guests' lack of respect for the smoking rules. There are designated smoking areas, but plenty of people ignore them — walking out onto your balcony to the smell of your neighbour's cigarette is horrible. You know you're not allowed to smoke on the balcony, but apparently rules don't apply to everyone. Food was great — I'm a picky eater and always found something to eat. Drinks were plentiful. I've seen a few reviews complaining about queuing, but you're at an all-inclusive hotel — what do you expect? The Riu party is always fun and worth getting involved in; ten minutes of bouncing around does the soul good. Away from the hotel, my wife and I visited the Hard Rock Hotel — lovely, with the 16th floor great for a chilled vibe and a fantastic view. Prices are what you'd expect from Hard Rock (we paid €21 for a beer and a cocktail), but there's a band in reception at 10pm that's fantastic. We also had dinner at Mumbai Masala, a great Indian just across from the Hard Rock. If you're into sport, Britannia Bar has plenty of screens, and Eldon's is a cute little bar worth a visit too. Would I come back again? You can count on it!

First of all, I would like to point out that my review is absolutely not intended to criticize the hotel, but rather to highlight a few aspects that, in my opinion, could still be improved. I am also looking at my stay from the perspective of a graduate in Tourism and Recreation. The hotel itself made a very good impression on me. It is modern, aesthetically pleasing and very well designed in terms of its infrastructure. A definite advantage is the range of facilities for guests with disabilities, which make moving around the property much easier and more comfortable. Regarding cleanliness, the experience was mixed. The common areas were clean, tidy, and pleasant; I particularly liked the lovely scent in the bathrooms and the lobby. Unfortunately, there were a few minor issues in the room and the dining area. We found hair left by previous guests on a blanket taken from the closet. Although the blanket was replaced after we reported the matter, we unfortunately found hair on the new one as well. Additionally, we encountered improperly washed dishes in the dining area. I hope this was merely an isolated incident and not indicative of the hotel's general cleanliness standards. One of the biggest advantages of the room was the ocean view – it was truly breathtaking. The two sinks in the bathroom are also a great feature, as is the possibility of connecting two rooms into one studio. This is a particularly convenient solution when travelling with friends or family. The animation team also deserves a lot of praise. The evening entertainment was prepared to a very good standard, and the signature Friday Riu Party was definitely a highlight! The dancers’ costumes, face painting, decorations and photo backdrops created a fantastic atmosphere and made the event really enjoyable and memorable. The evening entertainment itself could perhaps be a little longer, although I understand that this is most likely due to the location where it takes place and the need to ensure the comfort of guests who want to relax and go to bed earlier. From that perspective, I completely understand the decision. As for the drinks – definitely a plus. They were very good and there was a satisfying variety to choose from. The biggest disappointment for me was the food in the main restaurant. I found the breakfasts good, with enough variety for everyone to find something they enjoy. Unfortunately, lunch and dinner were noticeably weaker. The food was quite repetitive, and the quality of some of the products left something to be desired. The meat, in particular, was often very tough. In my opinion, this is an area that could definitely use some improvement, especially since food and beverage service is such an important part of the overall guest experience, particularly in a hotel that also aims to meet the expectations of more demanding guests. A little tip for future guests – if you are looking for really good food, I definitely recommend trying the Italian à la carte restaurant. This was where I enjoyed the food the most. Another downside is the lack of fans in the lobby. During the day, it can get really hot in this area, so additional ventilation or fans would definitely improve the comfort of guests using the common areas. Despite these comments, I remember my stay positively. I see this review primarily as constructive feedback, because it is often these small details that can turn a very good hotel into a place that guests will genuinely want to return to.

​I usually stay in adult-only hotels with my partner, so visiting RIU Buenavista with a group of friends—where I stayed in a room on my own—was a bit of a different experience for me. Overall, it was a good stay. Every single staff member I came across was genuinely friendly, and I’m sharing some constructive feedback below to help future guests decide if this resort is right for them. ​The Highlight: The White Party ​What tipped my rating from a 3 to a solid 4 was the White Party—wow, what an incredible night! It doesn’t matter who you are, how old you are, or where you’re from, everyone was out on their feet, dancing and having a fantastic time together. With so much going on in the world right now, it was pure joy and lighthearted fun. ​A massive thank you to all the workers, singers, and dancers who put so much energy into it and made it a night to remember. It was easily the best night of fun I’ve had in a long time! ​Arrival & Check-in ​Smooth & Fast: My check-in was quick and seamless. I booked independently rather than through a package/TUI. ​Location & Taxi: The hotel is about a 20-minute drive from Tenerife South Airport (TFS), costing roughly €50 by taxi. On the way back to the airport ​Room & Comfort ​Cleanliness & Amenities: Staying in a room on my own, I found it clean and equipped with everything I needed. ​Shower: Good water pressure and reliable hot water every day. ​Bed: Very comfortable. ​Air Conditioning: When I arrived, the air con wasn’t working. Maintenance came and fixed it the same evening, but the unit still struggled to output cold air—even set to 18°C, the room temperature never dropped below 21°C. ​Sunbeds & Pool Area ​Availability: Plenty of sunbeds available, though they are arranged quite close together. ​Towel Reservation Issue: Towel reservations on sunbeds started as early as 6:00 AM. Hotels really need to get better at enforcing rules against saving beds. ​Comfort: Sunbeds are non-padded, which can get uncomfortable after a while. ​Food & Drinks ​Buffet & Service: All dining is buffet-style. The friendly staff are mainly there to clear tables rather than offer table service, so you miss that personal touch. The best way I can describe the restaurant operation is like aircraft turning around at a busy airport—efficient, fast, in-and-out, but high volume. ​Food Quality: Quality was okay overall with something to suit everyone, including lots of pork options. ​Drinks: Soft drinks and beer are available on self-serve taps, but the wine on tap isn't the best tasting and the cocktail list is quite limited. ​Gym Facilities ​Needs Expansion: The gym is very basic—only two treadmills (one doesn't incline - its broke) and no air conditioning, making it very hot to work out in. ​Suggestion: Scrapping the art room next door to expand the gym would be a great upgrade. The art room was never open during my stay and felt like a waste of space. ​Verdict ​All in all, a solid, enjoyable, no-frills stay anchored by a phenomenal entertainment night. Thank you for a great stay!

This isnt about the hotel but about the Riu white party on Friday nights. We stayed in Riu Tenerife palace, about 15 minutes away from this hotel, and were ferried in on a coach. ALL INCLUSIVE. Great night, the white party, but by half past 10 we were ready to leave. The night started and was looking fabulous, great music, great atmosphere, but then got repetitive. Ok yeh, repetitive beats and all that, but a 30 second intro of a classic song, and everyone singing, then drop to a beat that had nothing to do with the song - and repeat all night, got a little samey! The other - THE COLOURED WATER disguised as cocktails all over the bar. No alcohol in them whatsoever. No wonder there was a queue at the bar. Well, we have done it once but will leave our seats on the bus for others next time. Was ok and thanks for the party RIU, but we were a little disappointed.

We usually stay at the Bahia principe however the hotel is closed for 2026 for a total refurb. A friend is always enthusiastic about the Rui brand and so we booked a sea view room for a two week flop and drop holiday. We found the App really useful, not just for online check in but to book the specialist restaurants or find what is happing around the hotel. On arrival we were allocated room 117/2 which is on the block near the adult only pool. Spacious with all the necessary facilities - great that there was a kettle available for that morning coffee ( we bought our sachets with us) . You could tell that the room had been refurbished - good size bathroom with walk in shower , conditioner, shower gel and shampoo supplied . Our charging points didn’t work , but we had a small extension with us , so we were sorted . The room was cleaned spotlessly every day. The service received by the Rui team has been exceptional - there is a real pride of the hotel with the grounds being clean and tidy. There was some trepidation regarding the food , but we had no issues - breakfast and lunch at the Atlantico - wide range of food available . La Gomera bar is ideal to get a break from the run - I will miss their mojitos. We had dinner in the main buffet a number of times - again didn’t have a bad meal . Through the app we booked Mandalay ( our fav) Dolce Vita ( Italian ) and Grill ( our least fav- could have gone to Yaiza for same food) For a change we did have two meals out- Mumbai Masala ( near Hard Rock - excellent) . Liked the self serve wine, soft drinks and beer facility , and although the available cocktails are delivered by preset machine , quality was good ( staff will mix any drink you ask for ) . In the room there is a fridge and you can collect litre bottles of water from reception bar. Entertainment every night was varied and would appeal to most . White and Neon nights on Fridays were amazing even for OAP’s like us - great fun. Suggestion to the hotel - please put signs up by the water stations to stop people filling their water bottles direct from machine - a sure way of transfer of infections. It no big deal to fill your water with the plastic cups and fill your water bottle with these . It would also be appropriate that the entertainment team during the Karaoke competition cease their sexual innuendos - it wasn’t funny but offensive. Location wise it is quiet area , but you can get a bus 471 to Los Cristianos from the Rosa centre . We have certainly enjoyed our time at the Rui - appreciate that other guests might have had different experiences. But when we get home we will certainly book again for next September and enjoy the same.