Just got back from a lovely week at this Riu hotel and wonder if some people go on holiday just to find faults!!!!
We had a lovely time in spite of the weather which hasnt been good in this area for a few weeks. We had three days of rain but didnt let it spoil our holiday.
The hotel is very welcoming, spacious and clean. The staff are all friendly and this is in spite of quite a number of guests never using the words please or thank you.
The food was very good with plenty of choices for breakfast - cereals, continental, full breakfasts with lovely bacon, scrambled, fried or boiled eggs. The bread selection was lovely and fresh with plenty of different choices. One strange thing was cold sprouts on the continental section one morning (but thankfully noone forced you to eat them like my mum did when we were young LOL) If you take coffe with your breakfast you need to pick up a 'flask' near the breads and take it to your table, otherwise the teas and decaf ar at the far end of the restaurant.
At lunch and dinner on AI you help yourself to beer, wine or soft drinks and there were always two soups to choose from. Then salad bar and choice of meats or fish on the hot selection, a good selection of sweets, fresh fruit, ice cream and a selection with cheese and biscuits.
At night you need to choose your sitting at 6.30 or 8.15 but can easily swap if you wish. The head waiter allocates you a table for the duration of you holiday but only for the evening meal. At the evening meal there is a carvery in addition to the servery meals where we had beef, pork, turkey, gammon and some wonderful fish.
Like others we were not mpressed with the entertainment but we just treat it as background noise. The bar staff were very efficient and provided local versions of most drinks.
The only thing missing from this hotel is an inside pool which would have been a bonus for us because of the weather.
Outside the hotel we had trips to Malaga and Fuengirola on the train which is about a 10 min walk from the hotel. Turn right out of the hotel up to the roundabout then right again. The station La Colina is on the left. Both trips 1.95 each way and the machine on the station gives change. Press the screen at the bottom left to bring up English then it says Adult single or to the right is the Adult return but its not in English for some reason. Keep you ticket to get out of the staion at your destination. These trains are soptless
We also had a leasurely walk to Benalmadena and back one day along the promenade and it is really worth a visit.
Also as you walk along the seafront pass the dolphin roundabout and the next one then look out for a shop called Ali Babas and go up this narrow street to find lots of little shops on the streets that head up to the main town.
So after reading this if you decide to book I hope you will enjoy yourselves, we certainly did.

Just got back from the Costa Lago, second time here, went last year and had a wonderful week with brilliant weather, this time round the weather was not all that good but we still had a great week. All the staff are very friendly and helpful and always greet you with a smile :-) hotel is very clean, food is of a good standard, always found plenty of choice. Would still return for a winter break. Plenty of positive reviews which this hotel deserves. Enjoy

Just returned from a really enjoyable week in the Riu Costa Lago Hotel. From the minute we arrived we were made welcome and the whole hotel had a very relaxed and friendly atmosphere. The staff were excellent and nothing was too much trouble. The food was very good with a varied choice at each meal time so that there was something to suit all tastes. Our room was spotless and towels and bedding were changed regularly. Our rep was one of the best we have had on any of our holidays. Unfortunately the weather wasn't as kind as it could have been but nobody has any control over that and we definately made the most of the days when the sun did shine. The hotel is at the quiet end of the resort but the buses and trains are very regular and convenient, The entertainment left a bit to be desired but we went across the road to the Irish bar and thoroughly enjoyed the music and atmosphere there - well worth a visit. All in all we had a great time and would definately go back the this hotel.

It is nice to arrive at an Hotel to be met with a smile. It is even better to be greeted by a smile every time you approach the Reception. From the first moment we were treated as welcome guests and this did not diminish. The accommodation was faultless, clean, well serviced and comfortable. The restaurant offered a wide choice of food at each meal and the quality could not be bettered. Soft drinks, beer and decent wine was available on tap for 'all inclusive' guests. Two sittings at dinner worked well. If one needed to change sittings it was sorted without fuss. Poolside was well stocked with sunbeds and had decent but unheated pools. The poolside bar was still under construction (late!) when we were there but this should make things even better. Few downsides. The toilets are quite away from the bar ,one level lower!.Entertainment, although I acknowledge is difficult for mixed nationalities, was not very good and resulted in my group going accross the road on 3 nights out of 7 to the little Irish Bar for live entertainment. Acts ending at 10.30 pm will not keep guests in the bar. Is this a ploy to save on 'all inclusive' guests? No. I don't think they are that clever!