BookIt.com Verified Traveler Pat Rosenthal from Burlington, Ontario

"Fabulous resort we just spent 2 weeks there and loved every minute. Service was amazing, food was terrific. Pool was about 10 degress too cold! Macao needs updating which is being done beginning April 2012. The resort has beatiful mahagony decor which I hope is not all removed during the renovation as it adds to the charm. I'd go back in a minute. This was my 5th visit to Punta Cana and I'd highly recomment this resort."

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"We were at the Riu Palace Macao Punta cana April 5 to april 12. We could not ask for a better more beautiful place to vacation. The food was great, we always found something we liked.The beach was awesome.Service & staff were number one.Rooms were very clean.We truly did have a great time here & will be surely going back. Can't wait."

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"A very clean place, lots of towels and always clean everywhere. The lbeach is large with lots of rooms to move around and enough chairs for everybody. Employees were very polite and courteous. The two buffets were excellent but with the poor quality of wine.

On the negative side on four restaurants a la carte there was at least one close every night and they were not full, why, because the food was not so good and the wine was like wine vinegar and that was the same wine all over the resort. For a five (5) stars resort the wine was of a POOR quality. Coffee maker was not working in the room, but they replace it as soon as we notify them, same with the hair dryer they came and fix it. Problem with the room key, a hassle all the time when it was time to unlock the room. Wanted 3 keys because we were three persons in the room and was able to get only two.

At the airport on our way back to Canada it was hell, we waited in line for ever an ever, peoples were very impatient and not courteous at all."

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"First off I want to say we travel every year and have been to riu palace in Cabo before it was great. This one is beautiful and very clean. But a few disappointments. The room was amazing, staff is wonderful especially the entertainment team Juan and Cesar. When we first got to the room the key to the room did not work. We spent about 30 minutes waiting to figure out what front desk would do then we finally got a different room. By the way they dont have key cards for the rooms. It's an actual very large key you have to carry around. Room service is a joke they have 3 things on the menu. Their nachos are like the ones you get at the pool or at the movies. Absolutely disgusting. The pool bar closes at 6 pm when it's like 100 degrees out they need to be opened late. You are told it's not safe to leave the resort. Theres not much else to do if pools close early. The electricity went out 2 times in the resort while we where their. They advertise 3 pools but you can only swim in 2. They advertise they have a jacuzzi buts it's closed. The staff does not speak english they can't understand anything you ask for. They advertise Pacha the club is free not the case they charge some nights. And there were prostitute in the club clearly picking up men staying at the resort. this club was not classy it was trashy. I guess they don't believe in having cash at front desk It was a mission to get singles for tips. The beach was nasty there was seaweed everywhere. The pool was a lot better. I actually found the senior manager of the resort and complained to her about these issues. She didn't apologize at all. She was being really stand off about the whole thing. The speciality restaurants were not that great. We enjoyed breakfast and dinner at the buffets. Lunch time was really not the good. They don't offer much variety as far as food for lunch. Cappuccino cafe is supposed to be opened 24 hours not the case it closes at 11 pm."

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"$10 bucks to wait in line in the worst organized airport in the world just to enter the country. About an hour and 1/2 wait to get through. $30 cab ride to resort if you negotitate. Must know Spanish because not one person in the resorts speak english! It says 5 star but was a 3 at it's very best day. I usually don't do these reviews but if I can help someone not waste there hard earned vacation money for what it is worth stay away from here!"

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"I thought overall the trip was wonderful! However, I was disappointed. I paid for an upgraded room, however, when we checked in the room we were in looked just like the cheaper room on the website. I thought it was 'run down' looking. Our fan was broken, drapes were ripped, just not of high quality. Other than that it was great."

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"Went for our honeymoon and it was wonderful! The hotel is a bit out of date and our room had a view of the construction next door were there building a new Riu..(which was disappointing)..but our room was a suite so that made up for it. I was told once the new hotel opens next door this one would be closed for a short time to do updates which it is in need of. But don't let that stop you from going to this resort--- There are 3 Riu's in this location which guests can use during their stay (except to sleep) they are right next to each other and easy to walk to (beach access). The shows were good...I never went to any of the restaurants, however the food in the banquet room was EXCELLENT, a different theme every night. The drinks were never ending!! The staff was awesome. Pool was small at this resort with no swim up bar, but there are pleanty of staff and they keep your glass full. As I said you can use any of the other Riu's at this location and they all offer different size pools with swim up bars. This hotel however has a bar hut right next to the beach which to us made up for the no swim up bar because we spent most of our time at the beach, and the beach here is BEAUTIFUL!!!!! and ROOM SERVICE ROCKED!!! I have been to a lot of places but for the money this was one is one of the best and I can't wait till the new Riu opens (DEC 2011) I will be there to see all the new features it is sure to offer!!!! Riu hotels are the only hotels for us!

TV reception was better than other RIUs we've stayed at (baseball finals). The wait people were at the same location day after day, unlike other RIUs in other countrys.

One word of caution, the water from the tap IS NOT POTABLE!!! There is a note above the sink that states this. If you like ice in your drinks, use the bottled water in your room refer and make your own. I ended up with some gastric problems. This is an understatement!

Bookit offered 'Standard' and 'Superior' rooms. Upon arrival RIU has 'Junior Suites' and 'Suites'. The difference is that a 'Suite has integrated lounge area and an extra TV, i.e. two room suite, one with a bed and the other with a table, chairs and a couch and a refer and TV. We paid for a 'Superior' room which is RIUs 'Suite'. They tried to put us in a Junior Suite (one room) and we objected and were put into a Suite. We had printed all the pictures that Bookit had on their web site and showed that we had booked a 'Superior' room. The reception desk stated they wanted to make us happy and we got the Suite, so make sure you bring all your paperwork with you (including pictures)."

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