RIU Monica - Adults Only

"We’ve just returned from our 4th visit to the Riu Monica - there’s not much to add to the mostly positive reviews below, or my previous reviews! The hotel is top notch and rightly deserves the plaudits it receives. From the moment you arrive in reception, where you’re greeted by the wonderful Ana Marie and Nico, and a lovely refreshing and welcome glass of Cava, you are looked after superbly. The whole hotel from the bedrooms, public rooms, gardens and swimming pool areas are superb and immaculately maintained and serviced. The bedrooms are large and spacious with really comfortable beds, mini fridge, safe, plenty of wardrobe space and a lovely bathroom with a super walk in shower. Towels are changed as and when required and the rooms are kept immaculate by housekeeping. We had a room on the 5th floor with lovely views from our balcony out towards Torrox and the surrounding mountains. The main restaurant was extremely well run and the food was excellent both at breakfast and dinner. Plenty of choice with lots of live cooking by the chefs, including Bertello and head chef Jose. Service was spot on by all the staff and all superbly managed by Manuel, Antonio and Jose Luis. We did not use the Ole restaurant which you need to pre book at reception. Well done everyone. We love the bar at the Monica, and it was great to hear and see that Rodrigo had been promoted. He’s such an asset to the hotel. Jose, Mario and Vicente provide great bar service and the whole team are brilliant. There is nightly entertainment in the bar and this was pretty good. The gardens and swimming pool areas are immaculately kept and there were plenty of sunbeds and shades available. Beach towels are provided on check in, and can be changed as and when required at reception. Sadly some guests ‘reserve’ sunbeds and then disappear for hours. I realise it’s a difficult issue to police but I don’t understand why the hotel hasn’t addressed the problem. It’s been going on for a long time and is highlighted by many in their reviews. I particularly like the option of being by a pool and having facilities but literally just across from the beach and the lovely Med, when a dip is called for. The biggest asset the hotel has is its staff. Without fail they do a great job with the sole aim of making your stay special. There are too many to name all individually but it was great to be looked after by Maria, Lola, David, and Alfredo. So another fabulous stay at arguably our favourite holiday hotel, and indeed hotel chain. We’ll be back next year, without fail! Can’t say fairer than that!!"

"Nice hotel with great location, walking distance to the Balcone de Europa. Good breakfast buffet and dinner, but RIU Monica is such a poor hotel that does not offer free water with dinner; (for a small bottle of water they charge 2.75 euros) it is necessary to ask a few times for tap water, which they serve you warm straight from the faucet. I visited many RIU hotels, but this one is well below my expectations."

"First visit to this RIU. The hotel is in a great position on the seafront. All the staff were very friendly and very efficient. Food was excellent and very well cooked. The dining experience was good. Water is about €3 a bottle. The Ole specialty restaurant was a little disappointing and the menu’s changed. There are 2 small supermarkets across the road from the hotel entrance. It is about a 10 minute walk into Nerja centre with lots of shops and restaurants. The hotel is very clean and our cleaner was very thorough. The hotel is quite far from the airport. It was 40 to 45 minutes by private transfer to the hotel. Unfortunately, it took 2 hours by TUI coach transfer return to Malaga airport which was partly due to traffic."