HOTEL RIU TOUAREG ^{* * * * *}

Leider sehr oft "Rote Flagge" am Meer, so dass man nicht ins Meer kann

Hotel au bord de la plage. Le restaurant est très bon. Les chambres sont propres.
Nous avons passé un super séjour.

Das Hotel ist sehr schön und auch ein großes Lob an die Angestellten die zu unseren Urlaub und auch Erholung beigetragen haben. Natürlich gibt es auch dort kleine Mängel aber das ist jammern auf sehr hohem Niveau.

The Touareg is a fantastic hotel I'd have no hesitation in returning to. The architecture of the hotel is stunning, looking like a sandcastle rising out of the beach and feeling palatial. Its design is genius, making a sprawling hotel feel like anything but. The staff are what really puts the hotel above anywhere else I've ever stayed, being friendly, attentive and caring and genuinely looking like they enjoy their work. Normally I'd avoid anywhere that offers entertainment but I found myself getting sucked into the midday pool gym or aerobics on five of my seven days. Much effort also goes into the evening entertainment, though wherever you choose to sit in the evening around the main square (where you'll find the only bars that are open) you can't avoid it. So I'm afraid the evenings spent with my family were not as enjoyable as they could be since it was impossible to hold a conversation.
The bar staff were efficient and there was never much of a wait to get drinks. The local beer is good, though the red wine a little rough. Cocktails were enjoyable though a little restrictive - I couldn't get an espresso martini for example.
We ate evening meals in the main restaurant and our breakfast and lunch at the snack restaurant. Food was varied and generally good quality, though it often felt that cuts of meat were on the cheap side - steaks a little chewy, lamb chops rather light on meat versus bone and fat. There was plenty of choice and it was easy to overeat through wanting to try everything. Cooked breakfasts were passable though the sausages are not what a Brit expects to be served (think tinned hotdog sausages).
The hotel is isolated, though you can walk anticlockwise around the coast to a nice viewpoint and beach in a little bay beyond. Sadly swimming in the sea isn't possible. The beach is fine white sand and the sea an inviting azure blue but the waves are huge, breaking close to the shore and I felt sorry for the lifeguards having to supervise people who'd, in no uncertain terms, been told not to swim.
Instead we opted to swim lengths in the infinity pool at 7am though it didn't officially open until 9am. However during the day this pool is full of children and lilos and the edges rather tightly packed with sunbeds to be comfortable. Sunbeds around the central pools felt more spaced out and comfortable, while the sunbeds on the beach were more spacious still and shaded, if you wanted, by palm trees. The pool edge bar is fantastic and it's easy to spend an afternoon sitting waist high in water drinking cocktails without ever having to leave the pool.
The room was comfortable and lovely and cool. It was tastefully if cheaply furnished but had everything we could need. The balcony was large and we were lucky to have a partial sea view. But even if your room looks across at other rooms, the building is beautiful to look at and you have inner courtyard gardens in-between. Three 1.5 litre bottles of water were left for us by room service each day. The safe in the wardrobe was great to keep valuables secure and the blackout blinds ensured the room was pitch black at night if desired.
I'm really nit picking in the few shortcomings as, on the whole, it was a fantastically relaxing and fun holiday and I'd be delighted to return.

If I could add more stars for service I would do. The people that work there could not do not for you if they tried. The hotel is pristine and the food is amazing. The beach is stunning but quite feisty, if there is a red flag I would advise you observe it. An amazing holiday, really recommend