Grand Old Dame!!

We were there in Feb 2015 for two weeks. This is a wonderful old resort, getting a bit long in the tooth but that is it`s charm. The staff are absolutely wonderful and attentive and treated us with great respect. The grounds are beautifully kept and the rooms and public areas are very clean. The rooms and dining room need an update but it would be a shame to redo the the whole resort. The beach is one of the best and the service at the beach and pool was wonderful. Great place to relax and peopl [... read more]e watch. No complaints about the food or drink. Would definitely go again.

Not the best....

Just returned from Riu Palace PC. Flights going and coming with Sunwing were both delayed on departure and arrival. Arrived at resort, had reserved a superior junior suite (absolutely no difference from the junior suite inside the room). I would have assumed the location in the resort made the difference re: superior, but no. Had to negotiate/$$ to get a better location closer to the beach. There are no views of the ocean from any room so if that is a priority, not the place for you. Excited so [... read more] we immediately went from the room to the beach. Last minute decided to put valuables in the safe in both rooms (had 2 rooms). Good thing we did!! Came back about 2 hrs later and luggage in both rooms had been rifled through. I reported this to the front desk. They said the manager would call. Waited. Called again and they put me through to security. Security said they would have the manager call. Still waiting for that..... Bad start! Food- A la cartes no good. Buffet excellent and they change it up each day. Steak house (restaurant by the ocean) serves lunch buffet which is nice. One of us became quite ill, both ends and thought it was likely the food. Who knows, could be a combination of sun, food, alcohol. Clientele in the 70's or families with young children. Very few if any university age group. Even not too many 30, 40, 50 year olds. Riu Bambu next door a much more exciting group and better shows. Beach staff were very good and entertaining. A big shout out to Franklin, Gasolina and the yeyeyeye girl!! You guys are great! The beach is beautiful. We went on an afternoon snorkeling trip through the beach guys related to the Riu, $39 per person and well worth it! The bathroom in one of our rooms was flooded twice by the room above. The water came pouring in both times through the bathroom roof. When we got angry with them they fixed it properly the second time. Just a hassle. The front desk staff are less than helpful, don't really care. They make promises but don't follow through. This is not in the best interest of the resort and wanting people to return. If you have not travelled much or been to all inclusive, you would likely think this hotel is great. We have traveled a fair bit and I would not rate this hotel as a 5 star. There are much better places to go and get your mney's worth. We will not return.

GREAT VACATION.

Went with a group of 5 from Jan.31 to Mar.7 Everything was perfect.Weather in the 30 degree range,food was excellent.The RIU complex was nice,able to visit other sister hotels.Plus the beach was great and able to walk for as long as you wanted.I recommend this hotel to anyone.

Great Resort

The hotel is beautiful, clean and very close to the beach. The staff were excellent with us and we would stay again! All reviews you read is always based on the individual, I feel people are extremely picky and complain to much when posting a review. Massage on the beach was amazing . Book your stay you won't be disappointed!

Beautiful 1st tropical vacation resort

I am 52 years old & finally got to go on my "very first" tropical vacation. I got remarried in October 2014 & this was our honeymoon celebration. What an amazing resort to choose! Riu Palace Punta Cana was beautiful. The staff were all so friendly, helpful and kind whether it be by the pool, restaurants, buffets, room service. We never had one rude person. Always treated with respect. Also the daily entertainment for vacationers to participate in was so much fun and I sure won't forget Coco Loco [... read more]. He sure got everyone involved. The best part was the nightly music in the courtyard. It sure put me in my happy place. "Thank You Riu Punta Cana" for making my first tropical vacation a memorable.

Amazing clean resort

We had a wonderful time. The accommodations and the clean grounds were beautiful.The staff were extremely friendly and helpful. The food at the buffets was excellent and the restaurants were also good. Thanks for a great week.

A very beautiful resort

Anywhere along the Punta Cana beach is outstanding. The rooms are very clean, modern, colourful, made of local stone material and show very little wear. The maids were very hard working. Mosquitos seemed to like the bathrooms. Plumbing in the bathroom tubs and showers is poorly done. The grounds and gardens are picturesque. The building itself - bars, restaurants, patios and walk ways are very well cared for and impressive. The pool is very large and made of very colourful mosaic tiles, but some [... read more] tiles have come off creating a sharp edges that could cut your feet. The workers are very friendly and become even more friendly with a $1 tip. The buffet is very standard with other Riu hotels. There is tremendous variety but there is the constant problem of keeping things warm yet not dry the food out ie fish, beef, pork, shrimp. Careful of the sushi as a number of people were sick after eating this. The a la carte restaurants are good but seem to be more concerned with the presentation. The quality of the a la carte food is good but the quantity is lacking a bit if you are hungry. The steak house steak was very large but sadly very under cooked. Although not the hotel's problem or doing, transfer to and from the hotel to the airport was very frustrating and time consuming far beyond what it needs to be. A $40 taxi ride is well worth the price. The transfer agents certainly run on Dominican time. The Riu Bambu next door is a better bang for your buck. The rooms are not as nicely appointed, but how long are you in your room?

Riu Palace Punta Cana - Love it!

Just returned Dec.11 2014 ... seven days! Great Hotel... Beautiful Beach! This was a return holiday , we were there Mar. 2012 for a daughter's wedding! ( we actually witnessed two weddings under the gazebo @ the beach while we were there!) Love this resort, food was very good. Stick to the buffets, although you have options for onsite restaurants. They were just okay. The staff always kind & friendly. Daytime activities, if interested. But they did not hound you. Same staff returning for evening [... read more] activities to greet you! Evening activities were good, professional groups coming in to entertain. The evening layout is really neat, before & after dinner... you have a huge area to sit & listen to music... dancing. Service is EXCELLENT here. They serve you drinks... on you... as soon as your glass is empty! Beach is beautiful, lots of chairs! As well as the pool... but you know the rules! ...get down & reserve your favorite spot with towels! Very few vendors on beach bugging you! But there... if you want a hat, sunglasses, cigars or cheap jewelry ! shops on site for souvenirs, nice jewelry store in Lobby. Ten minute walk to Harrison's Caribbean Jewelry for higher end stuff ( 14kt yellow/white gold) ... I know ... cause it was my Birthday!!! Favorite staff ... for a second time in a row! RAUL ...he has been there eight years! As you walk into the main buffet area... Turn to your left ... far wall ... Raul & staff will look after you! Rooms were very nice, they will smell a little musty when you arrive. DON'T WORRY ... crank the fan & get the air on high for the whole week! Beds are hard... oh well ... lots of pillows! Fully stocked fridges every day, Only beer... Presidente! very good... Wine sucks here... I was bummed cause I LOVE wine.... white is drinkable, as long as it is really cold...I always kept a bottle in our fridge... they will give you a bottle anywhere... just ask... Lots of hot water & lots of fresh towels! Cleaning staff speak very little English. We were top floor ... facing the court ( I recommend this) I think we were 3109 ? Rooms kept very clean.... they are very handy with towel art!! All in all ... great trip .... but travelers ... wee bit of advice... You are on Holidays, these staff members ARE not your servants.... TIP .... I we took 120 one dollar bills .... We left $5 UNDER a pillow each day, and $1 INSIDE the fridge. Someone cleans your room ... another stocks your fridge daily. We tipped at the bars, restaurants... after you leave your table, after a meal... leave a buck or two!! They remember you... sit in the same areas The only rudeness we saw was from other TRAVELERS ... Great Place ... will return!

Very good!!!

The hotel was great loved it!!!. The staff were very accommodating. We arrived and were put in a room facing a brick wall. Went down to the desk and asked that our room be changed. With a very small fee that changed our room to face the garden. What at beautiful site.

Disappointed

We just returned from a 7 day stay at the Riu Palace Punta Cana Everything about this hotel was average at best. Food & restaurants were disappointing. The grounds were well kept. Both myself & husband got sick even though we used only bottled water for everything including brushing our teeth, as told when we arrived.

Not the Riu Palace experience I heard or expected

Resort was lovely. However the rooms were damp; slippery floors, sheets felt wet every night. Rooms are outdated and can use an upgrade. Disappointed that at the Disco you had to pay for drinks. This is a first. At check out no one helped with our bags or asked how was our stay.

Good resort but could easily be amazing!

Im writing on behalf of my parents and basing this review on everything they told me. The biggest concern was the elevator was broken, so if you stayed on the last floor...good luck. Everything else was what you paid for, it is what you make it. Also it seemed like a big party place.