Hotel Riu Garoé Reviews

Feel guilty for not reviewing on my visit last year, but after out latest stay, I have to say this hotel is comfortable, immaculate and extremely well run. Room we checked into had issue with leaking shower, however, this was addressed immediately and enabled us to enjoy our 2 week break. Quiet location suits us and courtesy mini bus into town is great. We usually walked there and got the bus 'back up the hill'. Food quality, selection and quantity is excellent and as a fussy eater, I have to say I was happy anytime we ate in the hotel. This leads me to the only 'niggling criticism'. The hotel only operates a half board stay arrangement. Again, whilst emphasising the excellent food, I have to say that the main attraction for us in PDLC is the great selection of restaurants, thus, it was irritating to be paying for food in the hotel when we ate out every evening during our 2 week stay. Bed and breakfast would be a great alternative for us - manager comment would be welcome. Anyway, would we go back to the Garoe hotel? Absolutely - soon hopefully. And finally, I should highlight the excellent staff throughout the hotel, who could not be more helpful and accomodating. Special shout out for Ana Delia, a lovely lady who sorted out taxis and provided local info.

Everything excellent about this hotel it is quiet with good gardens and swimming pool. The room is very nice and clean with large shower The food is fantastic never had better The staff are very helpful This was the first time I have stayed at this hotel and will stay again

Everything about the hotel is great except one annoying thing... The day before your departure, the staff remove the bathrobes from your room, using the rideculous excuse that they have to be washed for the next guest. RIU,a billion dollar business, can't afford spare bathrobes, so all guests are looked at as thieves. Management should rethink this.

We spent Christmas/New Year 2022/3 here and enjoyed it so much as soon as we got home we booked to spend Christmas & New Year 2023/4 at the wonderful Riu Garoe. The reason why?? It is in a lovely location, on the outskirts of Puerto de la Cruz, overlooking the Orotava Valley, onwards to Mount Teide and south towards the cliffs and the Atlantic Ocean. It is just 500 metres from the Botanical Gardens, which are well worth a visit. Helpfully the hotel also has a regular mini-bus service into Puerto. The hotel is modern, in a "typical" Tenerife style, with nice and very comfortable furnishings. It is beautifully maintained and spotlessly clean throughout. Our room was an excellent size, well furnished, with a large bathroom and in a quiet spot, and very relaxing. Half board (breakfast and dinner) is offered at the buffet style restaurant, which is light and airy, with well spaced tables, providing a nice, calm ambience. The choice of foods are varied and suit all preferences and moods. The quality is first class, especially considering it is buffet style and the numbers catered for. All the above is facilitated by the exceptional staff who work so hard to create and maintain the outstanding relaxed atmosphere at the Riu Garoe. Without exception the staff are friendly, helpful and very professional. We would especially like to mention Natalie in the restaurant and Gustavo at the pool. The pool is well kept surrounded by small but lush gardens. The Christmas/New Year celebrations (gala dinner & dance with fire works) were a highlight and outstanding, making our holiday memorable. All in all we had a fantastic time on both our stays at the Riu Garoe, so much so as soon as we got home this year we booked to return in September. Grateful thanks to all at the Riu Garoe and see you again soon.

I travelled solo at the beginning of February and stayed in Room 129. It was perfect. Everything you could need for a very comfortable stay. The room was large, the bed very comfortable, plenty of storage space and spotlessly clean. The dining room was spacious and the food varied and plentiful. All of the outside areas were immaculate and the food and drinks at the pool bar were excellent and very reasonably priced. Every member of staff was helpful & smiling. The free shuttle bus was a real bonus and always ran on time. I enjoyed it so much I'm returning in 2 days time and once more looking forward to an enjoyable and relaxing week.

We had a great week with my wife in Riu Garoe. The room was spacious with a very nice bathroom, the food was excellent and the staff very helpful and professional. What struck me as slightly surprising - but very pleasant - was the punctuality of timetables etc. Most of the guests speak German, but for us it was no problem - most of the hotel personnel speak good English, too. There were virtually no children among the guests, so Riu Garoe is perhaps best suited for us over 50 or 60.

Elegant, spotless hotel, lovely rooms and very efficient staff. Stayed post TUI cruise, for four nights. We originally had room 121 which was over the kitchens. The room itself was fabulous, view of the garden (complete with birdsong in the morning), good sized bathroom etc but we are used to no noise at home so asked to move which was arranged the next morning with no hassle apart from having to pack and unpack again. (Noise was not heard during the night) We moved to 210 - happy with room and balcony which had distant sea view. Hotel is very relaxing and quiet to the point of little atmosphere. It was a bit of a culture shock after a cruise! There’s not even background music in the pool bar. The first night we went to the bar pre (late) dinner and it was nearly empty. Many of the guests like the peace and quiet I expect, for us it was a little bit too quiet! If you need to chill it may well be perfect. The guests are mainly German and the hotel is very much geared to that market. We actually enjoyed the change. Food was very good served in pleasant dining room which was fairly informal. Dinner had two sittings which was annoying as from day 2 we were tied to a 6.15pm meal if we ate in the hotel. Lots of food choice. Breakfast was excellent although the coffee was awful. Housekeeping excellent. You can have a coffee/tea tray in your room but need to ask reception. Many guests were friendly - but unfortunately our German is poor so communication was a bit embarrassing but if you speak the language you’d enjoy it The hotel is in a residential area, close to some bars etc and the amazing botanical gardens. A walk to town takes about 30min downhill - taxi back is very cheap! There is also a shuttle bus. TITSA bus stops are nearby. We had mild weather in March but not as warm as it would have been in the south. We like the cooler temperatures but if you need beach weather perhaps research weather for when you are travelling. The pool area is relatively small but pool is a good size and heated. Good sun beds too and no shortage of them! Gardens are nice but a seating area was unfortunately used by smokers. Beautiful trees on site though. Staff are outstanding, more efficient than fun but professional. Would definitely recommend as long as you feel comfortable with few Brits at the hotel, are up for something different and like/need peace and quiet!

We were delighted to return for our 3rd stay at Riu Garoe. Excellent hotel with lovely gardens and pool area. Staff, as always, are friendly and professional, particularly the bar staff and Gustav in the pool area. Never any problem getting sun beds or parasol. Food quality and selection for breakfast and dinner are excellent. Very comfortable rooms with good sized balcony. Cleaning staff do an excellent job and always greet you when you pass by. Only criticism is the evening entertainment which can be a bit repetitive with different singers performing the same songs! However, overall a great stay, highly recommend and look forward to our next stay.

We stayed at the hotel for the last week in February when the weather was cloudy and windy. The cold wind blew straight down the main corridor of the hotel and most people were having to wear their jackets which they travelled in to walk about indoors. (I would recommend not asking for a sea view balcony as that’s the direction the wind comes from.) The only public toilets were near the bar and pool which were at the opposite end of the hotel and a floor up from the restaurant. The staff were very good and the pool area looked very nice although it was hardly used while we were there. We were surprised that lunch was only served between 1pm and 3pm – at the pool bar. There are two sittings for dinner – 6.15pm and 8.30pm – so it might be worth booking in advance of your holiday if you prefer the earlier time.

We visited the hotel on 29th September for a week. The hotel was lovely we holiday regularly in quality hotels including many other Rui hotels but this one was absolutely spotless in all areas of the hotel with really friendly helpful staff. The pool area is spacious and even though we did not go on the sunbeds until 9.30am and after there were always loads of beds available and no one saved them until they were using them. The only thing I would advise is taking a spare beach towel the hotel ones are quite small and don’t cover the mattress on the sunbed. Food was lovely plenty of choice. We were half board and you are allocated a table in the restaurant that is yours throughout your stay which works well so no scrabbling for a table. Drinks were reasonably priced and there is a happy hour from 5.30pm till 6.30pm which was popular The cocktails were some of the best I have tasted. There is a small shop to get water and a news paper two minutes away and a larger one five minutes walk opposite the botanical gardens which were worth a visit and only cost 3 euros. We were in room 326 which over looked the back of the hotel but was lovely and cool in the late afternoon which was needed as we were getting temperatures of over 30 degrees. There was shower gel available and tea and coffee making facilities. Evening entertainment is very low key, singers or pianist so a couple of nights we went into the old square in Peurto del a Cruz beautiful area with shops, bars and many had guitarists playing, really nice and only costs about 6 euros in a taxi. We will defiantly return to this lovely hotel we did not want to leave.

This is a great small hotel. Staff friendly, food pretty good and the place is spotlessly clean. The entertainment was..not our thing. It might not be for everyone, we are in our early 60s and were probably the youngest there. The dining room, to be honest, looked like there had been a mass break out from a care home, mostly Germans. One thing I think stinks in a RUI hotel is having to pay 2 euros a day for use of the safe, it's not exactly a cheap hotel, but it's cheap trick having to pay for what in every other RUI I've been to it's free. All said, top marks and we'd definitely go back.

Oh dear, what is happening at the RIU Garoe? We are RIU Loyalty card holders and have holidayed at the RIU Garoe as repeat & loyal customers in excess of 30+ visits over the last 16 years and known to all the long serving staff at the at the RIU Garoe. Indeed, it would be fair & appropriate to say the the staff treat us like returning family & vice versa which is very welcoming, special & appreciated by ourselves. We are also experienced & professional Airline/Aviation & Broadcast Media managers with experience in Change Management. Our previous reviews were always glowing with excellent & superb praise for the wonderful Hotel Director, Snr Luis Hernandez Garcia & prior to him, Snr Candido Figueroa. We also praised the marvellous, fabulous & hardworking staff/personnel, the hotel cleanliness, hotel facilities and the cuisine on offer. Indeed, our praise in those areas still rate 10/10, as experienced in our last & most recent visit in Jan 2024. However, during our recent 11 night visit in January 2024, we noticed within an hour of arriving at the RIU Garoe hotel that something was amiss & subtle changes were evident to ourselves as repeat & loyal guests. An example, the usually warm & friendly welcome, whilst polite was replaced by a more formal, cold & business like handshake as opposed to the usual warm family hug greeting! This perplexed us somewhat and we actually felt that we had upset someone or accidentally had said something wrong? As professional customer facing managers, trained in body language technique, we knew straight away that the manner we were greeted with on this occasion was vastly different from our previous arrival greetings. It wasn’t until the next morning at breakfast that it dawned on us that the customer focused, highly professional, wonderful & courteous, Hotel Director, Snr Luis Hernandez Garcia, loved, respected & adored by repeat & new guests alike was not there in his usual position at the restaurant entrance to greet & communicate with arriving guests, new and old. Naturally, we were surprised at his absence and asked the question of Garoe staff as to Snr Hernandez Garcia absence? Maybe he was ill or on holiday? Well, we were absolutely stunned and horrified to hear that the brilliant and highly professional Snr Luis Hernandez Garcia, had been replaced by a new Hotel Director, who was no where to be seen in the restaurant that morning! Obviously, we asked the question as to why the highly approachable, customer focused, highly regarded & thoroughly professional & successful, Snr Luis Hernandez Garcia had been replaced! We asked the reason for his replacement & when this occurred? We were amazed at the hesitance in the response we received from various respected and long standing RIU Garoe staff members! It appeared, to ourselves, as people persons and professional leaders in our own careers that the Garoe staff almost appeared hesitant, scared & even a little frightened to give us a direct answer!

This place is lovely. I am sure there are many lovely hotels on the island, but we shall not look for another hotel in Tenerife. If I could award six stars, I would. Accommodation, food, and staff are all great. Rather than repeat others’ reviews I'll give my own tips:- It's quiet here, being away from the centre. Mornings and evenings one hears the blackbirds as if in the countryside; at least from our room. (No 26, so facing NW.) View was partly obscured by a plant outside, but that gave us more privacy, so great all in all. It's a steep walk into town & back but there is a free hotel bus from Monday am to Saturday mid day. It runs to the large shopping centre. Go out of the hotel front door and turn right: there is a shop after about 100 m. Another c 300m and there's a shopping centre with a large supermarket (Tu Trébol) and a launderette on the floor above. There's also a nice cafe where you can get sandwiches to take away. It looks basic, but it’s fine and a lot of locals go there. Parking is difficult nearby, if you have a hire car, but I note there is a new area being laid out between the hotel and the church which MIGHT open soon as public parking. It's certainly needed. Public transport is good, frequent, and cheap; especially going SW towards Buenavista del Norte. There's a nice bar just a little walk from the hotel called Los Amigos. It is run by Germans and has that sort of food too, but it's good, and they speak English. The clientele at the hotel is mainly German but I like that as I am fluent in that language. My Spanish is OK too. Sorry if that sounds like boasting, but it's true. Fresh milk is almost unobtainable on the island as there is no dairy farming. One must make do with UHT. Rooms facing NW have a sea view but it's a long way away. In any case, the sea is empty there mostly. One can just about hear the surf. The advantage of a room like ours is that one is shaded from the afternoon sun. Those facing the Volcano have no shade. Whilst there, the January temperatures were higher than usual; 25C and more each day, so shade was welcome. Come and have a nice, relaxing stay. It's our third time.

I did not enjoy my stay at this hotel and these are the reasons. The demographic of this hotel is divided into three. Couples who are 65 and upwards, few couples in their mid-30s and the occasional family with teenaged kids or babies. The entertainment of this hotel was as spectacular as a wet firework. It was either a mediocre singer dressed as something from the 80s Eurovision Song contest. Or someone doing silly magic tricks. The pool area is rather small and you don’t get that exciting holiday vibe of people sitting, laying and chatting round the pool sunning themselves. After all how could you when everyone is quite frankly old. The hotel has an odd way of charging extra. The safe in your room is charged two euros per day. If you go half-board you are charged for your drinks at meal times and any other time. The other parts of the hotel are good. Food is good, rooms cleaned daily and the reception staff are friendly, helpful, well informed about the island and local area. The hotel is next three good and reasonably priced restaurants, a supermarket and the area and there is a minibus which gives you a free ride into the centre of town and back again. The beaches in the area are clean, well-resourced with places to change and shower and restaurants to eat. Not to mention the greatest plus the enigmatic black sand. The downside is they tend to be small and lack that balmy paradise feel to them feel to them.