Riu hotels in Dominican Rep...
Discussion
... anyone been to one? If so, your views would be appreciated.
I've been to a couple of great ones in Mexico, but that's off the cards now! So thinking about Dominican for a hol in 6 weeks time. Do they compare favourably?
P.S. I know this will get moved, but hopefully not too soon as there are about 3 people looking in the other section..
I've been to a couple of great ones in Mexico, but that's off the cards now! So thinking about Dominican for a hol in 6 weeks time. Do they compare favourably?
P.S. I know this will get moved, but hopefully not too soon as there are about 3 people looking in the other section..
Have no personal experience of Riu hotels but you can read reviews for hotels/resorts all over the world here. I always use it before I travel anywhere. www.tripadvisor.co.uk
RSGulp said:
Have no personal experience of Riu hotels but you can read reviews for hotels/resorts all over the world here. I always use it before I travel anywhere. www.tripadvisor.co.uk
Thanks - was looking at the last night as well. I don't know why, but I feel I trust the PH'ers more! I wonder how many of the good reviews on there are written by the hotel themselves!Last stayed in a Riu hotel in Dom about 5 years ago. It was just after their had been a spate of norovirus occuring so we were somewhat nervous. However everything was fine and we enjoyed our stay. Of course things may well have changed in the last 5 years but we had no probs with the resort.
Romanymagic said:
Last stayed in a Riu hotel in Dom about 5 years ago. It was just after their had been a spate of norovirus occuring so we were somewhat nervous. However everything was fine and we enjoyed our stay. Of course things may well have changed in the last 5 years but we had no probs with the resort.
Thanks - which one did you stay in? Romanymagic said:
Last stayed in a Riu hotel in Dom about 5 years ago. It was just after their had been a spate of norovirus occuring so we were somewhat nervous. However everything was fine and we enjoyed our stay. Of course things may well have changed in the last 5 years but we had no probs with the resort.
That sounds just like me when I went there I stayed at "ClubHotel Riu Bachata"phil1979 said:
The Fly Fisher said:
Been to Dominican Republic and it was the worst holiday I never had. Maybe best you don't ask my advice......
Tell me more2. It's very poor outside the ridiculous holiday camps
3. Not much to do/see other than sit on your arse eating and drinking
That enough?
The Fly Fisher said:
phil1979 said:
The Fly Fisher said:
Been to Dominican Republic and it was the worst holiday I never had. Maybe best you don't ask my advice......
Tell me more2. It's very poor outside the ridiculous holiday camps
3. Not much to do/see other than sit on your arse eating and drinking
That enough?
phil1979 said:
Romanymagic said:
Last stayed in a Riu hotel in Dom about 5 years ago. It was just after their had been a spate of norovirus occuring so we were somewhat nervous. However everything was fine and we enjoyed our stay. Of course things may well have changed in the last 5 years but we had no probs with the resort.
Thanks - which one did you stay in? The country is very poor and ruled over by El Presidente who is not overly keen on investing in infrastructure, although he does have his own brand of lager. Car Washes are actually places to pick up a prositute of choice (and an STD of no choice). Most locals live in shacks and roadside huts and will tend to have dinner tied up outside (goat) or wandering around aimlessly (cockerals/chickens). If it has wheels and an engine then it will be used for travelling. we witnessed a vw beetles with no panels but driven along anyway, two mopeds welded together with 8 people sitting in and on top of. a tractor with a v8 engine, thrumming along on standard car tyres and rims. It has a very mad max look about the place.
My wife and I were somewhat shocked on arrival at the airport in Dominican Republic. Everything is very basic and when we went to our coach were somewhat alarmed to find that it had been fitted (as had all the coaches and trucks) with ram bars front and back, steel mesh screens over the windows and your luggage travels in a two wheeled trailer behind (in case of raids the raiders go after the trailer rather than the passengers).
Traffic lights in Dom are more guideline that actually referred to by drivers and everyone has a liberal approach to driving including our coach driver overtaking on a blind corner up hill directly into the path of a Mack truck coming down the hill, made for an interesting journey to the resort.
Having said that once we were in the resort it is everything you would expect. Palm trees, verdant green grass everywhere, very clean and backs onto the beach itself with the obligatory white sands.
Having now travelled extensively around the Carribean I tend to prefer Barbados, Grand Turk and Antigua.
There are quite a few Rui Hotels in the Dominican Republic. The better ones are those on the north coast flying into Punta Cana.
Both the Rui Palace hotels there are good but there isn't much around the surrounding area, it's a good place for couples and holding hands togetherness with a nice long beach to walk along. I think you may be able to go whale watching farther along the cost to the west depending on the time of year.
The Rui palace hotels are the best ones and as good as the one in Cancun. In Cancun there is more shopping and nightlife outside the hotel though.
Most people visiting the Dominican Republic and complain based on the experience of their particular hotel and don't really get around the island much.
Both the Rui Palace hotels there are good but there isn't much around the surrounding area, it's a good place for couples and holding hands togetherness with a nice long beach to walk along. I think you may be able to go whale watching farther along the cost to the west depending on the time of year.
The Rui palace hotels are the best ones and as good as the one in Cancun. In Cancun there is more shopping and nightlife outside the hotel though.
Most people visiting the Dominican Republic and complain based on the experience of their particular hotel and don't really get around the island much.
Edited by el stovey on Thursday 14th May 15:59
Thanks for the replies.
As it's a wind-down hol, sitting on a beach reading for 2 weeks is bliss for me! So the lack of outside activities is no problem.
I have been looking at the Riu Palace Macao, which has the better reviews of the 2 palaces in the area. May well book tomorrow.
As it's a wind-down hol, sitting on a beach reading for 2 weeks is bliss for me! So the lack of outside activities is no problem.
I have been looking at the Riu Palace Macao, which has the better reviews of the 2 palaces in the area. May well book tomorrow.
Edited by phil1979 on Thursday 14th May 16:03
phil1979 said:
I have been looking at the Riu Palace Macao, which has the better reviews of the 2 palaces in the area. May well book tomorrow.
I think the rui palace punta cana may be very slightly better than the Macau but there isn't much in it. From what I recall the pool was larger or there were more pools ( that kind of thing). I think the rui palace punta cana guests could walk in and use the Macao's facilities but not vice versa. As the hotels are all inclusive you may get a bit fed up of the food but there is a reasonable variety. Both hotels have the same beach and sea so there's little between them. If you want to go somewhere and sit on a nice beach for a few days then you'll be just fine there.
el stovey said:
phil1979 said:
I have been looking at the Riu Palace Macao, which has the better reviews of the 2 palaces in the area. May well book tomorrow.
I think the rui palace punta cana may be very slightly better than the Macau but there isn't much in it. From what I recall the pool was larger or there were more pools ( that kind of thing). I think the rui palace punta cana guests could walk in and use the Macao's facilities but not vice versa. As the hotels are all inclusive you may get a bit fed up of the food but there is a reasonable variety. Both hotels have the same beach and sea so there's little between them. If you want to go somewhere and sit on a nice beach for a few days then you'll be just fine there.
With the Riu chain, I think both Palace's guests can go to any other Riu hotel, expect the other Palace. In other words, only the people staying in each Palace can be seen in their own hotel.
I have been 3 times now, the first of which we did the "scared tourist" and heeded the warnings not to stray from the resort.
Tosh
Get off your arse and take a taxi to the local town,or book an excursion from the local trip vendors(they are all licensed and you will end up on the same bus as the people who pay 400% more for booking from the hotel and yourtour operator.)
It IS a poor country,but the people were genuinely friendly,and do seem to appreciate that the tourists bring money and jobs.it is a beautiful country,go and explore,relax about the security and have a great holiday.
All your answers here
http://www.debbiesdominicantravel.com/
Tosh
Get off your arse and take a taxi to the local town,or book an excursion from the local trip vendors(they are all licensed and you will end up on the same bus as the people who pay 400% more for booking from the hotel and yourtour operator.)
It IS a poor country,but the people were genuinely friendly,and do seem to appreciate that the tourists bring money and jobs.it is a beautiful country,go and explore,relax about the security and have a great holiday.
All your answers here
http://www.debbiesdominicantravel.com/
phil1979 said:
el stovey said:
phil1979 said:
I have been looking at the Riu Palace Macao, which has the better reviews of the 2 palaces in the area. May well book tomorrow.
I think the rui palace punta cana may be very slightly better than the Macau but there isn't much in it. From what I recall the pool was larger or there were more pools ( that kind of thing). I think the rui palace punta cana guests could walk in and use the Macao's facilities but not vice versa. As the hotels are all inclusive you may get a bit fed up of the food but there is a reasonable variety. Both hotels have the same beach and sea so there's little between them. If you want to go somewhere and sit on a nice beach for a few days then you'll be just fine there.
With the Riu chain, I think both Palace's guests can go to any other Riu hotel, expect the other Palace. In other words, only the people staying in each Palace can be seen in their own hotel.
As I said, the food can get a bit 'samey' after a while but that's going to be the same in most all inclusive places.
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