Needs a good updating!

We arrived at the Riu Merengue on a Monday afternoon and upon entering our room, all we could smell was must and mildew. The bathroom ceiling had been previously patched from some former damage and the mold was starting to come through again. The smell was awful and I have allergies. We went to the front desk immediately and said we couldn't stay in there. They told us they couldn't get us another room until Thursday. Then they said someone was moving out of their room early Tuesday, so we c [... read more]ould have that one when it was checked out. What really bothered me was they wanted us out of our original musty room early so they could clean it for someone else. Should musty and moldy rooms not be blocked off so they can be properly fixed before someone else has to spend a week there? The beds were so old and hard that we could barely sleep in them. They should have been discarded a long time ago. I know you aren't in your room much on vacation but if you wanted to watch TV, all the rooms still have a 20 inch RCA tube television. There were so many little things that we weren't happy with either. We've stayed at the Riu Montego Bay and we loved it. I don't know how this resort could possibly be placed in the same category or rating. The fridge in our Montego Bay room was stocked with twice as many items as it was in Merengue. The saving grace for the Merengue was the staff. They were so friendly and hard working. The grounds were impeccable. I am so disappointed that Riu doesn't deem it necessary to update the Merengue. My opinion of Riu has gone straight downhill. If we ran into these types of things in a cheap resort it wouldn't be surprising.

Above Average

We were there the week of Jan 10-17 weather was rainy and cool which is out of our control. The resort was at full capacity which made getting chairs by the pool impossible if you weren't out saving them by 7:30 am. Stormy weather also caused excessive sea weed on the beach all week which wasn't dealt with in a timely manner. We had 5 rooms booked with our group and the problem we had was we were all split up all over the property and they wouldn't move us closer together for 3 days. Buffets.  [... read more]Breakfast was standard fare along with lunch. Dinner seemed the same as lunch, chicken, pasta, pizza, pork, fish and beef. There was only one themed night which was Mexican and it was good. No shrimp or other types of shelled fish. Went to the Italian restaurant which took way to long and food was OK. Doesn't sound like a good review but weather had a lot to do with our unhappiness.

Riu Merenge - Nice location and good food but......

Overall this hotel is decent. We did have some issues the first day with room location - they relocated us when we asked....but the new room had serious A/C issues which was a bit of a comical farce trying to get fixed...so we ended up going back to the initial room that night just so we could sleep in a cool room. The evening Manager said he was going to write a report....which truly was not helpful to us at all. We ended up staying in that original room the full week as I didn't want to wast [... read more]e time changing rooms again. Note to large families/groups travelling together: please remember there are other guests that have also paid money to enjoy a holiday and you need to be respectful of everyone's right to their holiday. Groups of unsupervised children running amok yelling and screaming at all hours, loud "conversations" between rooms and in hallways and "group togetherness" late at night is not ok...it's downright rude. Hot water was good...sometimes had to let it run a while before it heated up but once it was there it was super hot. Nice to have a room fridge with some water and soda, etc. in it. They won't refill your fridge if you aren't there to answer the knock so you might have to chase them down as it's not the room maid that does it. I thought the in-room liquor dispensers were overkill and not needed. Nice touch of an umbrella in each room for those evening sporadic showers. We really had no issues with the property or location. The food ranged from ok to some very good dishes. The staff were lovely when you made the effort to treat them as human beings and make eye contact, speak to them and ...oh yes...actually leave them a tip . I was appalled at the way the many guests from Eastern Europe treated the staff as if they were ghosts. Not friendly towards other guests either. They need to work on their social skills. I'm thankful everyday that the majority of Canadians have such good manners and are kind, pleasant and respectful people. It was a nice sized beach to walk on ...it's a lovely walk up to the gazebo on the cliff at the Riu Bacchata where you can see the cruise ships when they are in. It was very cool to watch the ships depart from behind the cliff and into the open ocean ...and see them disappear into the distance while you were sitting on the beach! We are beach people and didn't use the pool all week so can't comment on that. Entertainment was quite sporadic. Some nights it was terrific...others it was just plain odd. The Merenge has two sections - make sure you check out the offerings of both stages before you commit to watching a show - they varied greatly in quality. Down sides of this resort : 1) lack of clarity in the water. I hoped to snorkel from the beach but could not all week due to the murkiness 2) everything sold is priced in U.S.$....when you asked for the conversion to Dominican currency the price jumped 3) very expensive excursions A few years ago we stayed at a Bahia Principe in Samana and I would return there before this hotel/area of DR.

Waste of Money

Our first of three rooms had two twin beds pushed together as opposed to the king size bed we had booked, it was like sleeping over at the girlfriends house when I was a teenager. The second room smelled of mildewed basement and old socks and finally the third room's air-conditioning didn't work. At this point we gave up on getting a decent room. The water and the beach were dirty and while at the beach we were constantly accosted by people trying to braid hair or sell tours not associated with  [... read more]the hotel. The food was mediocre when it wasn't bad, and the service at the ala-carte was horrendous. The pool area hasn't been updated since the mid seventies. If a refund and leaving early(as in the day after arrival) had been a option, we'd have left immediately. Never to return. Spend your money else-where.

Great vacation

We just got back from a week away. I was traveling with my 3 boy - 13,11,9. They had the BEST time ever. The staff was amazing. Always happy, and so friendly. There was always something to do. The hotel was nice, they kept it clean. They were really quick to take care of anything you needed. The staff is what made this trip so amazing. Mel

Good time away

All in all this hotel was good and we did have a nice time together as a family. I was happy with the cleanliness of the resort and the facilities, the rooms were done every day and very clean, there were plenty of chairs at each pool (and options for pools) and the beach whether you wanted sun or shade, the buffet had a good variety and plenty of space to accommodate the 6 of us eating together and because you could go throughout the resorts you could pick which show if any you wanted to see t [... read more]hat night. There were activities throughout the day if you wanted to partake. The things I was disappointed in was that there were only 2 restaurants at the Merengue that you could choose from and there were no reservations, you had to line up at 6:00 each night is you wanted to go. The other things was the service at some of the bars was not very friendly and only 1 bar in all three places was open 24 hours. Otherwise any other bars only opened at 10:00 am. The biggest complaint was the quality of the alcohol. You have dispensers in each room but the alcohol was watered down and tasted awful. Also they only restock beer in your fridge every other day and only 2 tiny Coors Light. I have been to other resorts in the Dominican and the alcohol was much better everywhere else.

Not a four star resort

The best thing I can say about this resort is that there are no time share vultures to avoid. The rooms are small, but the balconies are quite roomy, however a working toilet would have been nice. We made a number of calls to get it fixed and were assured they would send someone, no one ever arrived. In the end my husband had to fix it himself. On day three of our vacation we lost hot water, were kept being told it would be fixed soon, when we checked out four days later there was still no hot [... read more] water. The air conditioning also didn't work properly. Some days it worked other days not so much. The service was inconsistent at best. The housekeeping staff did and excellent job and some of the wait staff were very good, however overall the impression you get is one of indifference from most staff. The front desk staff is the worst, they couldn't care less if you have a complaint and have no real intention of doing anything to rectify your problem. Calling this a four star resort is outrageous. Four star resorts have clocks and irons and coffee makers in the rooms. They also have working plumbing. The food was edible if a bit on the monotonous side, the same thing at every meal with very little variation. They say reservations are not needed for the restaurants, but good luck getting in. We were turned away, despite there being empty tables, at the steakhouse by Sandy (who seemed to be the head waiter). He was downright rude. There are much better resorts in Puerto Plata, take our advice and book anywhere else but at the Rui Merengue.

Beautiful Resort

We found our overall stay amazing. The hotel was clean and the staff and servers were very friendly and quick. The food was really good and the entertainment was always great to see. We did have rain everyday, but no one can predict the weather when booking a trip but we still got our sunny days and a great tan.

Great R&R!!

Nice place for a weeks vacation in the DR. While it was not the Ritz it certainly was worth the price we paid. Generally : Clean and well kept Hotel although rooms could do with a little update and refinish. Water pressure is iffy and failed a few times but a call to reception got it reasonably fixed within a couple of hours - However be prepared for a testy person at the other end of the line when you call in to follow up. Food : Merengue has only 2 dining areas - The Steak House, which was o [... read more]nly open for dinner once during the week we visited, and the Italian Restaurant which was turned into the only daily Buffet place. Food though was reasonably good (pan fried Mahe mahe and grouper were the best), accept at the pool side snack bar which only served the same fare every day - overcooked burgers (perhaps justified), pasta, fried /baked chicken, salad and fries until 6.00pm! Only problem in the dining area was flies! netting at the open windows would probably have helped. The Bachata (sister hotel next door) where you can also enjoy lunch but not dinner as part of the deal, did not appear to have this problem. Pool: Didn't step into it even once as we were there to enjoy the beach and the ocean!! so no comment. Beach: Nice and clean, although, expect the water to be choppy as it's on the Atlantic side. No shortage of beach chairs. Towels may be a problem occasionally. Sea sports: Not much to choose from. Lousy to non-existent snorkeling sites in the vicinity and if you Scuba you'll be disappointed. Service: Staff are generally friendly although you may cross the odd exception.

The Beach and Bartenders are nice...that's it

The hotel is old. You will get any actual key to open your door if you go with a friend they only give you one until you ask for another. The room had roaches crawling from the drain. The bathtub is small. The wifi is only avail in the lobby. Almost like a happy jail. The food meats like chicken/beef is undercooked cause they rush it. I ended up eating only fries for lunch and that was undercooked at times. I looked forward to breakfast getting a freshly made omelette ,I'm now I'm sick of omele [... read more]ttes and won't be having eggs for awhile. Italian fresh pasta night was very good. Flies are everywhere but on the beach I guess because it's an open concept it was a turn off for me after day 1. If you aren't a smoker like me you won't enjoy the lobby for wifi or the entertainment centre people light up like chimneys. The beach was my sanctuary. The sea bed is bit rocky and a rough under current. However, The sun is great and unlimited. Some of the staff don't seem to not give you the best service unless you tip them. It's 10 / hr US if you want a later check out if you have a later flight. Check out is 12pm if you leave at 6 that's 60 bucks US. The room is cut off to give more patio space meh. They should've use the upgrade to fix the drains and mold in the rooms. If you sunbathe at the beach you will be out of touch with the activities happening on the resort. There's a lot of older people that go there Enjoy your naps on the beach that's what's truly free and unlimited. Bring a lot of $1...American. Whoever is in charge upgrade the rooms! Pay your staff more so they don't rely so much on TIPS. I won't be back lesson learned pay the extra for a comfortable stay. Don't ignore this review this is the truth take it with a grain of salt. I'm glad I'm back home.

Great place

Perfect place for a vacation plenty to do room was clean and well stocked grounds were kept clean even though the weather wasn't good The nexus rep was exceptional went above and beyond with us would like the hotel to stop pumping the water out from beside pool bar to the ocean the smell was not good at all

Riu Merengue Dominican

On initial arrival to the resort I found the resort pleasant enough, room was clean and roomy for 2. As the week progressed we encountered several issues from late maid service (coming in from the beach and the maids just doing our room) to finding the room cleaned but no towels and having to literally chase down a maid to ask for towels. Each room had a stocked mini fridge and bar but the bottles were not refreshed when needed and phone calls had to be made to the front desk to have them replen [... read more]ished. The bar staff though working quickly to serve people were for the most part unfriendly to a couple of which were simply unpleasant and rude. As far as the food goes there was little change in the buffet daily. It became boring. The a la carte dinner offered was on a first come first serve basis and sat a limited number of people. One seating for a large number of people makes a very slow long dinner. It was about 45 minutes before we were offered a glass of wine. In general I was quite disappointed in the quality of the food. As I had heard very good reviews of other Riu resorts I was disappointed in this trip and will not be returning. I travel for this annual trip with a group of friends and although we do not demand 5 star resorts we do expect a pleasant atmosphere, clean accommodations and friendly staff which ensures a great vacation. There was an air of disenchantment among the staff. The main pool was often dirty and needed cleaning. This made me wonder if they were doing appropriate testing of the water. The entertainment was at times embarrassing for the people who agreed to participate in the on stage activities. Don't make you guests feel uncomfortable. Staff gyrating to music on the bridge over the pool is not entertainment. On the bus ride from the hotel on the way home the general consensus was that no one was returning to this resort and many stated they would not return to the Dominican at all. The week was quite rainy with only a couple sunny days, I think the hotel missed the opportunity to engage their guests by offering alternative activities to fill the rainy days. Not everyone wants to dance every day

Horrible from the start

Although i was not excited about going to peurto plata i was looking forward to going to another RIU. Trip began with a horrible flight with turbulence and a bumpy landing. Upon landing we were told we were in samana. We had circled and could not land due to weather. We had to refuel and develop "new plan". Ended up getting to resort at 3:30 AM. From then on trip got worse. Horrible service. Very unfriendly staff. Room didn't get cleaned for 2 days! And when they did come it was at 5pm. We had  [... read more]to call numerous times to get our liquor filled after being there 4 days. Woke up to a cockroach in a cup beside my bed. The next day there was another one in my suitcase. Beach was littered with garbage and had pails hanging on wood sticks as garbage cans. Rained every day. Weather can not be controlled but service can. Food was the same every day. Waiters did not clean off tables. 2 a la cartes. Although not open everynight. No champagne!!! Definitely not the quality or service I expected from a RIU.

Not a happy experience

I traveled with a group of 10 people. The experience at this Hotel was not a good one. Just to mention, the pool was dirty, we ran out of water, you cannot drink their water. The rooms were not cleaned by 2 pm when we returned to are room. I did not find the service good, the people were not friendly. We called the front desk 6 times before are needs were attended to. We were told that because of the heavy rains, people's homes were flooded. The hotel needs to go to plan B when staffing becomes  [... read more]a problem. The guests need to be attended to. I have been told that the Rue is a great hotel chain. This one is not a five or four star in my opinion. I do not like to paint everyone with the same brush. The bartender Nana, And Samuel were very friendly and great at the job they do. They are an asset to your business. I found the attitude and mood of the staff in general not to be a happy one. The Dominican Republic is a beautiful Island. I was their 26 years ago when tourism in Pureto Platta was not very old. The experience then was very positive. The travel group, will not return.

Never again!

Everything about this hotel is subpar...the hotel was very dirty and food and services of very poor quality, staff were unpleasant and at times insulting when basic ammenities such as room cleaning and towels were requested, pool very dirty. The a la carte dining was first come first served not by reservation as advertised, adjoining casino at sister hotel though advertised has been closed for several years. We booked based on it being a Riu hotel and I have had great experiences with Riu all ov [... read more]er the world...this particular hotel does not live up to the RIU standards.

Good Resort for the value

The best part was the staff, the hotel itself needs some upgrades and the food could be better; however, our experience was fantastic, the beach and the pools were great!!! Very clean, organized and people really make an effort to serve you the best they can.

Great resort!

I've been to this resort 3 times and still love it! It is laid out nicely and you are able to view the beach & ocean from all three pools. Although it is an older resort, it is very clean. There are always maids in or close to all washrooms throughout the resort and keep them clean at all times. The food is great and deserts too! This resort is on its own in Amber Cove so you are free to walk the beach without being approached by vendors. It has a lovely shopping strip right on the resort, but y [... read more]ou can also walk to either end of the resort for a sample of local shopping.The staff are friendly and the grounds are kept lovely. I would like to see a better set-up for the a-la-cartes (you have to book them each day for the day you want to attend, so sometimes miss out), but other than that, there is nothing bad I can say about this resort!

Last minute and one of the best

Could not have asked for a better vacation. Flights were great and the staff were awsome. Cheeky monkey and the entertainment group kept the pool lively and the beach was awesome. Rooms clean and comfortable and the food was great. I loved that the salad bar was enclosed so everything was cold and fresh. Now the best was our waiter Willy who kept us laughing and entertained .

Great resort , nice people , excellent food

Booking through through trip central was very easy and CassandrA was very helpful. Our rooms were very good and as requested. The staff was great ! The resort was very clean and food was incredible. The only thing I wasn't impressed with the entertainment. There was no music playing throughout the day or early evening. After dinner was kids show and then the after show was geared only to and older crowd and I'm 48 . I was bored with it and felt sleepy and wanted to go to bed . Other than that we [... read more] had a wonderful time .

Very Relaxing Resort

The grounds at the Riu Merengue were Beautiful and well groomed.I loved all the wide cobblestone walkways to and from the dining and living areas,so easy to walk on and most were shaded.There was a Great variety of foods for all meals and dining areas were very tidy and wonderful ambiance.I liked the idea that we could dine at the Riu Bachata for lunch which we did on a couple of occasions ,just a short walking distance away.