Riu Palace Macao All Inclusive Adults Only

This was our first stay at the RIU and, overall, we had a good holiday, although there were a few disappointments that stopped it from being a perfect experience. When we checked in, I specifically requested a high-floor room overlooking the pool as we were celebrating our first wedding anniversary. Diamond, who checked us in, was friendly and helpful, gave us our key cards and explained where our room was. However, when we arrived, it was the opposite of what we’d requested, and we had been given two separate beds, which wasn’t quite the romantic start we’d hoped for. After a long flight and transfer we were exhausted, but we still went back to reception to ask if we could change rooms. Diamond was excellent and arranged for us to move the following day, as nothing was available that evening. While we really appreciated this, it did mean spending part of our second day packing, checking out and waiting until 3pm for our new room, which took away some of our holiday time. Our new room was lovely, and the view was exactly what we’d hoped for. The only downside was that it overlooked the theatre, so the evening entertainment was quite loud. If you’re someone who likes an early night or is looking for a very peaceful holiday, it’s worth bearing in mind. Most nights the entertainment finished around 11pm, but on Saturday it carried on until around 4am because of a particularly lively crowd staying at the hotel. The air conditioning also made an occasional ticking noise, which affected our sleep at times. We also found it difficult to contact reception by phone. Whenever we called from our room, nobody answered, so we had to go downstairs whenever we needed assistance. It wasn’t a major issue, but it would have been much more convenient if calls had been answered. The hotel has three pools, including one advertised as the quiet pool. While it was calmer than the others, you could still hear music and activities from nearby, so it wasn’t quite as peaceful as we expected. The main pool with the swim-up bar had a very different atmosphere. It felt more like a beach club than a hotel pool, with loud music and a party vibe throughout the day. It also seemed to cater mainly towards a younger crowd, which just wasn’t really our kind of scene. We also noticed that the water in this pool wasn’t always as clean as we would have expected, so we chose to spend most of our time elsewhere. As with many resorts, getting a sunbed after around 8:30am was difficult, which we understand is simply first come, first served. However, I did witness one guest tipping a pool attendant to reserve one of the premium pool beds for him. The attendant happily saved it, and when the guest arrived, even said, “Same time tomorrow?” That didn’t feel particularly fair to everyone else who was waiting for a bed. The biggest positive of the hotel was without a doubt the staff. Everyone, from housekeeping to the bar and restaurant teams, worked incredibly hard and were always friendly and welcoming. The drinks selection was excellent, and we especially loved the coffee from Capuchino. The buffet had plenty of choice, the fresh fruit at breakfast was delicious, and the Japanese restaurant was our favourite meal of the holiday. A special thank you also to the TUI reps, especially Honeydi and Aymen. They were incredibly helpful, provided us with more useful information about the hotel than we received at reception, and helped us book Coco Bongo, which was one of the highlights of our trip. The Dominican Republic is a beautiful country, and we’ll definitely be back. Although there are a few areas where the hotel could improve, particularly with room allocation, answering reception calls, noise management, and fairer sunbed practices, we still had a lovely holiday overall. We’d happily return to the RIU, especially knowing what to expect, and would recommend it to anyone looking for a lively resort with fantastic staff, great food and drinks, and a beautiful beach.

1• Experience with all-inclusive resort, both me and my wife liked immense. Amazing hotel and the resort space as well, from pool, events and rooms. We visited the Isla catalina and we loved it, we couldn’t go to the island Saona and we regret it. I highly recommend this destination and this hotel for those who like this style of travel.

Beautiful Karla in entertainment made each day fun and exciting. She was always smiling. She’s a compliment to the team.