This hotel is lovely the staff,mangers even the garden lads.

You have only got to ask and any problems will be sorted . food well what can I say you would never be hungry.

I cannot fault this hotel in any way and thank you for the lovely rose which was left in our room.

This hotel is lovely the staff,mangers even the garden lads.

You have only got to ask and any problems will be sorted . food well what can I say you would never be hungry.

I cannot fault this hotel in any way and thank you for the lovely rose which was left in our room.

This was our first visit to Lanzarote so when choosing our hotel the name Riu inspired confidence as we have been using them for a number of years. Service was as usual first class. ClubHotel Riu Paraiso Lanzarote Resort at Playa de los Pocillos incorporates the former Riu Palace hotel and it is big! I am told that the site covers 16 acres.

Quick easy check in (I am a Gold Card holder which helps) and off to our rooms which fortunately was in the main building. After unpacking we took a walk around the grounds which are immaculately kept but confess we quickly got lost. There are plenty of sun beds in both parts and even with the early morning campers reserving (I am always amused that they faithfully stake their claim with towels and books even if it is raining) we had no problems. Everything takes part in the main building although there is a daytime bar and food in the old part over the bridge which links both sides.

The dining room is large and seemed busy at all times but the excellent staff quickly found tables for people. Breakfast was the usual fare but like so many places they have not mastered bacon, still very much under cooked. Other meals were the usual fare but again the usual problem of not being hot even when put out, thank god for the microwave at times. Personally I did not think the food was up to the standard of the other Riu hotels we have stayed in. There is/was a bonus though. There are two additional restaurants one Asian and the other Mexican which have limited seating and require booking. The food in these was both excellent and HOT.

The hotel suffers from one major drawback. The bar area is open fronted and the wind blowing through made it very cold, you needed to be well wrapped up. The bar was well staffed and they were quick and efficient so little waiting to be served. The animation team seemed to work hard all day if you wanted to join in – not me I am there for a rest but my wife did attend the keep fit classes. There is a gym (which is in the old part) which is small but we had to search for it.
For evening entertainment there is a theatre which seats 400 plus sat close together, this again suffers from the campers so you need to be in early to get a good seat. Live music for dancing after the shows but poorly attended as there is no bar in there and people drifted off. The shows themselves were both good and bad. The professional shows were good but I’m afraid the animation team contributions were merely adequate. I have written direct to Riu on this point as they same to use the same material at each of the Riu hotels we have visited and very dated. They do need to bring it up to date. One sketch show “Dinner for One” I have seen four times and it was not funny the first. Pity really there as some very talented people in the animation teams.

Out and about. We took a trip to Tenuis to the market which is big with over 400 stalls, many of course are the usual tourist stuff but some very nice craft stalls with a couple of art galleries. The market in Puerto del Carmen is on a Friday and the very good bus service is just a few yards (or metres if you like) from the hotel. The market is small with about 40 stalls but worth a visit as there are some nice bars and restaurants around. For us the bonus was the promenade which allowed for some very leisurely walks. Around 4 miles from the market which is in the old town to the hotel with plenty of bars and shops – walking the other way you can actually walk to the airport perimeter.

Will we go back? Possibly but not in February as that wind makes it too cold.