Riu Monica

This was our second visit to the Riu Monica, having first come 3 years ago in late summer. On that occasion, we were very impressed, particularly with the quality of food which is why we came back. However, this will now be our last visit as things have definitely gone downhill. The food is now very average hotel fare. Whilst there is relatively good choice, it is very repetitive. We were there for 2 weeks, and the food was very much the same most days. There were a number of other things that detracted from the overall experience, which no longer felt four star. For example, the wooden stirrers instead of teaspoons and the creamer sachets instead of milk on the hospitality tray felt more like a 3 start budget hotel line than a good 4 star. The towels in the room are shocking. They are thin, they feel old and they are an unpleasant brown colour. The sun beds are not comfortable and are packed in around the pool area. In terms of staff, the housekeeping did a great job. We also found the staff in the restaurant to be very friendly and helpful and the Maitre d's, in particular made an effort to make you feel welcome. Not so the reception staff, who were quite hit-and-miss. I had a problem which I mentioned to reception and was met with tital rudeness. When I complained to the management, the response was little better. This remains a reasonable hotel in a good location but I am sure that you can now do better and can look elsewhere.

We selected the Riu Monica principally because it is adults only, and booked a junior suite. The location is excellent, fairly close to the Balcon and with many restaurants and facilities in the immediate area. The hotel is extremely clean, and our room maintained to a high standard. Dinner service in the main restaurant is buffet service, and the standard of food available exceptionally high. Drinks orders are taken at the table - very speedy service for both ordering and delivery. There were a few disappointments. Our large patio did not have any shade, and did not have any sunbeds - only a couple of rather uncomfortable chairs. The pool area is very crowded although we did manage to find sunbeds and shade on the one occasion we tried. The aircon in our room struggled, and although we called out maintenance, it only ever dropped the room temperature by 3-4 degrees. The lowest it reached was 23C, even with the curtains pulled. We were told in no uncertain terms that no fans were available. Our other main issue was the bed. We prefer a double, whereas all that was available in our room category despite our specific request was two singles pushed together, separate sheets on each. On balance, we will go back to this hotel on our next visit to Nerja, but it could be so much better with a few tweaks.

Very nice hotel, but a couple of issues. The good Hotel is spotless and housekeeping is excellent, well done them. Drink prices very reasonable Food very good with plenty of choice Reception staff very good and helpful. Not so good Towels in bathroom need upgrading Coffee in rooms need milk not those crème sachets, they are horrible with only wooden sticks instead of spoons to stir. Restaurant- and this is my own personal recommendation, I am disabled and only 4 ft 11in so struggled to see what was typed on the labels above the food dishes so avoided many dishes as I didn’t know what they contained, HOTEL, Please take this on board and make the food labels more clearer, we are not all tall and not all have good eyesight. Overall This is a lovely hotel in a lovely area, Nerja is beautiful, Service we found overall very good and staff friendly. Would I return to this hotel - yes

My views on Riu Monica. Whilst there are some good points, there are bad ones too. Good: 1. Very clean, housekeeping do a great job 2. Food, good choice for breakfast and dinner 3. Pool bar prices, very reasonable Bad: and my opinion 1. Sun loungers, hotel needs to get a grip on this, its utterly ridiculous. No one wants to get up at silly o'clock when on holiday. Guests really need to look at themselves and think how selfish they are On arrival in the trip advisor reviews, hotel states we tell all guests not to reserve loungers, well, they never told us. So guess no one us informed. 2. Pool, in the bar no straws. Not what you see in other hotels. Sun Loungers the most uncomfortable I've ever used. 3. Bedrooms, little wooden sticks to stir hot drinks, why no spoons, is it because saves on washing up or penny pinching, not what you expect in a Riu 4 star hotel 4. Staff, whilst not unfriendly, they're not particularly friendly either, other than a good morning/evening no other interaction. 5. Pool area, not enough umbrellas per loungers, as mentioned in point 1, any there are there they are taken by the early morning rush 6. Whilst nothing can be done about it, the opposite side of the hotel looks drab, dirty and, unwelcoming on arrival. Very built up around it too. Yes probably lots in area, but not my choice. Would I return, no, I assumed being a Riu hotel it would have impressed me, but sadly, no. I'll stick to the Iberostar chain for my next holiday.

What a place! This hotel is first class in every way from the location to the staff and everything in-between. Spotlessly clean, big rooms, great food and friendly guests I would return in a heartbeat If I had to say anything negative its only about the horrible brown towels in the rooms they do lower the standard slightly