FranS

My husband and I spent the first week of May at the Riu Palace Macao in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. We needed a few days on the beach and this was our first experience with an all-inclusive on DR. Here is a report.
The Island - It was a long drive from the Punta Cana airport. Lousy roads. Lots of speed bumps. First time we went to a Caribean Island and the ride from the airport to the hotel was not scenic. Very poor. You don't want to leave the hotel, no place to go, nothing to see.
Hotel First impressions - Beautiful hotel. Nice grounds. Asked front desk for an iron. None available. They lose points for not offering to get me one when available.
The room - Spotless, great bathroom (with a bidet). Clock radio didn't work. TV had CNN but no ABC, NBC, or CBS. We had asked for a king size bed. We got two full beds together with one headboard. This meant being crowded on one full, or far way from each other.
The drinking water - While the water in the restaurants was filtered, you could not drink tap water in your room. Each room had a stocked frig that included a gallon of water. You need to be careful and remember to use bottled water to brush your teeth.
The beach - Soft, clean, white sand. The water was clear and delightful. Palm trees. Gentle breeze. Everything you want.
The pool - Beautiful setting. Large, clean, fun pool. Loved it. Went to the pool after breakfast and had no trouble getting an umbrella. If you turn up later, you might be in the sun.
The restaurants - The food was surprisingly good for an all-inclusive. Not "gourmet" or fabulous but good. I liked the buffet better than the restaurants. The buffet was huge with a tremendous selection. The hot food station had chefs cooking. The food there was fresh and nothing sat too long. If you didn't want to take from the serving platters, you could get your eggs or piece of fish served right from one of the cook's pans to your plate.
The staff - Lots of staff. Hard working, pleasant, eager to get you a drink.
The casino - Slots, $5 and $10 blackjack tables, poker, roulette. Passed some time there.
The shows - Sometimes the music at the bar was fine, other times not so great. The shows in the night club were disappointing. I expected better and this was a big minus, especially since there was no place else to go.
The guests - About 50% were Germans. About 20% were French. About 15% were English speaking (Americans, Canadians, Brits). The rest were Spanish Speakers (Spain, Portugal, South America). While there were some young people, it was mostly an older crowd.
Excursions - There was a desk at the from that offered day trips. None appealed.
Conclusion - It was fine for a few days in the sun.

virginia

good report fran. thanks. it doesn't sound like i would like this riu very well, as i would not like to feel confined to the resort. glad you got the needed rest though.

FranS

Virginia:
Thanks for the nice reply.
Yes, sometimes you travel and sometimes you just want to relax on a beach. I did get a nice rest and that is what I was looking for. And, I neglected to say, the price was very cheap, so I can forgive some of the minuses, especially on a short trip. I now understand why the all-inclusives are so popular. Once we paid for the trip, we didn't have to pay for anything but tips and the casino. All the food (available all day) and all the drinks (soft and alcoholic) were included. And the Dominican beer and the bar cocktails were excellent.

owa

Fran, Thanks for an honest, balanced report---the good and the bad. I know what you mean about AI. My grandchildren love AI because they can have food and drinks all day. I'm not crazy about them, but then again, I've never lost weight at an AI.

Yes, the DR is a very poor country, but because it is such a cheap destination, it is very popular.

Thanks again, Owa

kfusto

Thanks FranS, your timing was great!

I personally do prefer AIs but this one had me wondering about all the things you pointed out. I was considering it for a honeymoon but it does not sound like it will meet our needs.

Looks like it is back to St. Lucia for us!

FranS

Kfusto:
Maybe it wouldn't be bad for a honeymoon. After all, the beach, pool and food were good. You can make your own entertainment. Best wishes.

kfusto

I like AIs but not in places where I cannot get out and explore; the thought of being confined just turns me off.

I am happy in Jamaica, St. Lucia and Antigua as these islands appeal to physically and offer lots of diversions not resort based.

Thanks.

tennisguy

Fran, thanks for your candid post. It made me think that we made a mistake -- we are booked for a week at the beginning of December. I am concerned that the place is so isolated, and that English speakers are a distinct minority. I thought I recalled that guests have the right to visit certain nearby resorts (owned by Riu?) for entertainment, etc. Is that correct? Did you see anyone playing tennis?