Hotel details

Simply amazing

Students Oct 4, 2009

Would recommend to a friend!

Everything was great ...

the best resort in punta cana

world travelor Sep 28, 2009

Would recommend to a friend!

the resort looks like a palace and you are treated like royalty immediately upon arrival. ...

What is the definition of a non smoking

Maria del Mar Sep 11, 2009

I had requested a non smoking room due to asthma and severe allergies. The hotel's idea of a non smoking room was using tons ... of Fabrees until you can not breath. We had to open the windows to let the room aired out. The manegement told us that the hotel does not have non smoking rooms. Additionally it took about four hours for us to get a room; most rooms had the same strong mold smell and the air condition did not work well. I email Orbitz and recieved no response.

Honeymoon Stay

RockBottoM Aug 23, 2009

Would recommend to a friend!

We were here for a honeymoon stay for 10 days. The food and service was remarkable. The beach is very nice. We have an ... ocean view with a jacuzzi on the 2nd level. (you need to request this at check-in and ask them very nicely). The room service was OK at best. WARNING: Do not use their phone for outgoing calls, they will charge you like crazy when you check out. I used last then 1 hr of outgoing call, total cost US $20 phone card + $32 for the phone itself. That is plain robbery, it costs about a dollar per minute to call back US.

Beautiful Resort

RLJ Aug 22, 2009

Would recommend to a friend!

The thing about Punta Cana is there isn't much to see. It is a very poor place. Most people stick to the resorts because you ... don't want to go wandering off into town. This isn't a bad thing as long as there are things to do at the resort. The Riu Palace Punta Cana is beautiful and the staff is great. During the day you can sit by the pool, swim up to the bar,head down to the beach, or take part in daily activities( pool games, darts, volleyball, horseshoes, etc. There are also non-motorized water sports included as well, but the catch is you need to schedule these each day. They can fill up quickly. Once the evening hits there is less to do. The pool closes at 7. There is a show from 9:45-10:30, and that's about it. The Disco(Pacha) is down the road by the Riu Macao, not here at the Riu Palace. Then there is the so called Casino. At the resort this is actually a off the sports bar comprimising of about 10 slot machines and a roulette table. There is a Casino at the Riu Macao. but there is not much to see there either about 30 machines maybe 3 tables. So nightly entertainment is lacking. There needs to be more to do in the resort itself. As for food. There is the buffet that runs breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Good food but you'll be sick of it by day 3 because it is the same everyday. There are about 5 restaurants you can have dinner at but they are not all open each night and once again you have to make reservations daily. First seating at 6:30 second at 9. Reservations have to be made by 9am because they fill up quickly and then your stuck at the buffet for the same meal you ate the day before. There is also 24 hour room service, but this list is small: veggie or club sandwich, nachos, a plate of fruit, salad, or chocolate cake. I would stick the to salads because the sandwiches are filled with well bread. The snack-bar is also open 24-7. They have nachos, burgers, hot dogs, ham sandwiches and fruit available in one cooler throughout the day. The drinks are pretty good. There is a selection of resort drinks, but you can find a bartendor or two that can make a few other things. Coffee is great. There are machines that dispense Nescafe coffee(expresso, latte, etc) - very good. All in all the resort is a really nice place to be. They just need to spruce up the night life and change up the buffet a little and the place will be great.

Great Beach

Pursehag Aug 16, 2009

Would recommend to a friend!

they had great service, great food. but the room was musty smelling. ...

A Great Vacation

trekbiker62 Aug 13, 2009

Would recommend to a friend!

A wonderful vacation spot. A truly international clientel adds to the enjoyment. The beach is beautiful and the hotel grounds ... are spectacular. The only problem is an ineffective air conditioning system. August in the Dominican Republic is hot and humid (go figure). The room airconditioning is marginal at best. The rooms feel damp and the smell of mold and mildew can be overwhelming. The restaurants were not air conditioned (or mininimally air conditioned). Aside from air conditioning problems, the place is great. A beautiful resort in a beautiful location with a friendly helpful staff.

Don't Waste Your Money

Less Than Satisfied Aug 3, 2009

I stayed at the Riu Palace in Punta Cana because my friend was getting married on the resort. It honestly was the worst ... vacation I have ever had. From the day I got there I had severe stomach issues (without even drinking the local water) from the drinks and food from the resort. The restaurants and food were much less than spectacular for the resort as well. I asked for a first floor room (and brought a doctors note with me due to physical limitations) and was given a 2nd floor room. Half the time the maid forgot to leave me fresh towels after cleaning the room and I had to call to the front desk to have them delievered. At one point my room safe broke and would not open. It took 2 hours to have someone sent to try and fix it. The pool area was dirty most of the time with the other vacationers leaving their cigarette butts and trash around and in the pool. On the beach, the resort allows the locals to come and try to sell you packages for parasailing, scuba diving, etc. and it becomes quite annoying if you're trying to relax. Many of my friends who have been to Punta Cana have said that they never experienced that on their resorts beach area. It is a very beautiful island and the beaches are wonderful. However if you are looking around for resorts to stay at on the island, I would look elsewhere.

Beautiful resort with great staff

CROnCRO Jul 30, 2009

Would recommend to a friend!

This was our honeymoon trip. It was amazing. The grounds and gardens were kept up, the pool area, and beach were beautiful ... as well. We went in the middle of July so it was pretty humid there. The only complaint I have, if I even have one, is that our room wouldn't be cleaned until almost 3 or 4 in the afternoon. But we were at the pool, or beach most of the time anyway, so it's a very minor complaint.

first all inclusive vacation, great week

J&P Jul 29, 2009

Would recommend to a friend!

This was our first all inclusive resort vacation. It worked out great, once we got past the initial language barrier. We took ... a tour through the country side which was more of a tourist trap then a tour, so I would not do that again. The resort itself was perfect, less the poor A/C in the room, it was very well managed with superior servive. We spent most of our day on the beach (preferred the beach over the pool) and the evenings in the square enjoying the shows with a drink in each hand!

Wonderful Getaway

Agape Jul 22, 2009

Would recommend to a friend!

I'm a beach person and I found the beach quite enjoyable. The water by the beach was not the most pristine I have encountered ... in the Caribbean (Cayman, Anguila and the Bahamas, among others are better). There was a fair amount of sea weed floating on the surface, but the water temperature was delightful. It was cold enough to refresh you after lounging in the hot sun, but not so cold that it was uncomfortable. I found the food to range between very good and excellent, especially in the main buffet dining hall. There was a large variety of fruits, vegetables, soups, salads, meats and side dishes consisiting of various cuisines and nationalities. The hotel staff was very friendly and tried to be accomodating with all of our requests. On the negative side, the room air conditioning was sub par. There was little or no air conditioning in the physical fitness center, which made a vigorous workout for a person in his late fifies a risky proposition. Also, when I asked the front desk to convert some Travelers' checks to US currency, they either couldn't or wouldn't. I think it may have been the latter.

Riu Palace - NOT ALL SAID TO BEEEEEE

Karen Jul 20, 2009

Overall my experience with great, because we made it happen with the people we meet at the resort. The experience with the ... staff is extremely hard when you don't speak their's and they don't speak your language. Wash cloths were NOT provided, the A/C did not work 5 out of 7 days and the restaurants you have to go in person between 8:00/10:30 to make reservations for dinner. Can not make over telephone. Food was not all that good for a 5 star hotel. Again, overall we did enjoy, but will not return.

WILL NOT RETURN

GIRLINPARADISE Jul 9, 2009

STAFF DID NOT PROVIDE WASH CLOTHS,BAD SERVICE AT THE BUFFET,SOME STAFF LAZY,WE DID NOT TIP AFTER THE 2ND DAY,ROOMS WHERE SO ... MUSTY,IF YOU HAVE ALLERGIES ,YOU SHOUD NOT GO ,IT TAKES YOUR BREATH AWAY,HOUSE KEEPING ONLY SPRAYED ROOM 2 TIMES OUT OF 10 DAYS , BEDS ARE VERY HARD ,BEACH SERVICE WAS GOOD,BEACH VERY NICE ,WILL NOT RETURN ,WILL GO BACK TO MEXICO NEXT YEAR ,SERVICE IS ALWAYS EXCELLANT THERE!

Relaxing but not Fantastic

Traveling Dad Jul 9, 2009

Would recommend to a friend!

This was my 3rd RIU experience (Agadir, Morrocco and Ocho Rio, Jamaica). Though this hotel was much larger and more ... attractive than the others, it did not have the "relax we got it" feel that the others did. The atitude of the staff in Punta Cana made me feel as if I owed them something all the time. As if asking for a drink was a bother to them. I dont want to seem totally negative, overall the vacation was ok, but it simply did not compare to the prior experience. I probably wont return to this location due to the smoking, language barrier with staff and overall staff attitude.

fantastic family getway

[@] Jul 9, 2009

Would recommend to a friend!

people were very friendly ***** the food was good if you were not a vegan,I would like to have a section where vegetarian can ... go an eat freely have soy milk and soy meats if that could be accomplish this resort I will gave ******.

"Great group trip"

Cohen1708 Jul 3, 2009

Would recommend to a friend!

Great place to stay, staff was friendly eager to get any thing you needed,even before you ask for it. I know we were in a ... foregin country, but it would have been a perfect "10" if some of the show was in English. The Restaurants were very good, except the Brizalian,the food, servers, and Matire D was lacking the charm of all the other Restaurants on property. Overall the staff is amazing, [...], [...], front desk supervisor, and the pregant bar supervisor, sorry forgot there names was the "Best".

Unbeatable location

Serg Jun 29, 2009

Would recommend to a friend!

The hotel staff is very friendly and the beach is amazing. ...

Riu Palace, Punta Cana D.R.

Mombo Jun 28, 2009

Musty odor penetrated everything - haven't been able to get it out of clothes or suitcases despite several washings, lysol ... and airing our in the Florida sun for 4 days.same food on menu everyday - boring and not much variety. nothing for kids or teens to do.

Beautiful location but lacks service

Nutmeg Jun 23, 2009

Would recommend to a friend!

The hotel itself is just as beautiful as the pictures show. However, there are some aspects which could be improved. 1. ... Hotel cleanliness - the rooms were not cleaned thoroughly and sometimes towels would not be replenished. The outside walks were not swept thoroughly and there would often be debris lying around. 2. The pool side bar would close at 5 p.m. which was entirely too early. People would just start leaving the beach and could not enjoy an outdoor drink. 3. There were no umbrellas provided at the beach and people would take up spaces under palm trees very early in the morning by putting their towels on chairs. It was very difficult to get any shade from the sun. 4. The check in process was horrible. We had our Orbitz confirmation printed out but it did not have a hotel voucher attached to it. They would not let us check in without a printed hotel voucher. We asked "Don't you know who is staying in your resort?" They replied that it is not their responsibility and made us pay $6 for 1/2 use of the internet and $1 to print the voucher. When we brought back the printed voucher, they had our names all along on a list. It was infuriating thay they played such games! Other than the minor setbacks, the food was excellent, waiters provided great service, and the entertainment crew worked hard to make everyone's stay enjoyable.

Riu Place is good place for resting time

Mankarious Jun 21, 2009

Would recommend to a friend!

This is our third time in the same hotel, the food this time was good, previously was excellent,the crowds was also better ... before. In general it was a very good vacation.