Riu Buenavista

The hotel has a great location overlooking the sea, and the view from my room was definitely a highlight. The room itself was decent, but overall I felt the hotel was at the lower end of what I would expect from a 4-star property. The biggest disappointment was the food, with everything being buffet-style and no à la carte option available. I’m sure many guests are more than happy with the standard and style of the hotel, but personally, it wasn’t for me. The location and views are excellent, but I expected a little more from a 4-star experience.

My mum and I went on holiday purely to relax, and that is exactly what we did. We had a wonderful stay at this hotel and would definitely return in the future. The hotel is very big, but it’s so well spread out that it never felt like you were on top of each other. We’re early risers, so we were usually ready to go down for breakfast around 8:30am. On the way, we would reserve our sunbeds, which was never an issue. There were already lots of towels down, but there were also plenty of sunbeds available around the pool and even more a little further away. So, I don’t think there would have been any problem getting a sunbed later in the day either. There were also massive metal frames with canopies over them, so if you wanted some shade, there was plenty available without having to rely on a parasol. The food was delicious. We ate in the main buffet twice for our evening meal and also tried the Italian and Chinese restaurants, and everything was very nice. The Italian was slightly samey, with lots of pasta, but it was still tasty. The food was always being replenished and everything tasted fresh. My mum’s only complaint was that the plates were rarely warm, but she managed! 😊 The soft drinks on tap were all sugar-free, and there were branded beers as well as white, red and rosé wine. I also loved a Pina Colada! All of the staff were so friendly and welcoming. The hotel was incredibly clean and clearly very well maintained. We had only been checked in for about 12 hours when the cleaner was already deep-cleaning our room again — not that it needed it! It was lovely to see how well looked after everything was. There isn’t much surrounding the hotel within walking distance. There is a small shopping centre about a five-minute walk away, but it is up quite a steep hill, so it wouldn’t be ideal for anyone with mobility issues. Having said that, the hotel itself is quite hilly, but there are ramps everywhere and the paths gradually go down, so it didn’t feel too difficult — and that’s coming from someone who gets out of breath very quickly! It was actually a good way to work off all the food I’d eaten. 😂 We had a two-bedroom room, which worked perfectly for us as both rooms had air conditioning. My room was lovely and cool, while my mum’s room was like a sauna — exactly how she likes it! 😂 This actually worked really well for us when it came to sleeping. Both rooms also had a ceiling fan. When it came to checking out, we asked if it would be possible to keep our room later as our airport transfer wasn’t until late afternoon and check-out was at 12pm. We were told to phone back on the day to see if it was available. We were advised that it would be €11 per person, per hour, which we were happy to pay as we would have needed it for around three hours. Unfortunately, the room wasn’t available on the day. However, one of the shower rooms was, so we booked a 30-minute slot instead. This worked perfectly as we could enjoy the sunshine in the morning and then have a shower before heading to the airport. It was so worth it! The shower rooms were really spacious, with three individual showers and plenty of room. We were actually glad we didn’t end up paying the late check-out fee because this worked out perfectly for us. Overall, we absolutely loved our time at this hotel. There was genuinely nothing we could fault, and we had the best, most relaxing holiday. We would definitely return in the future!

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!