Riu Bambu All Inclusive

Great place for relaxation-

We go to Punta Cana every year and stay at different hotels. I read the reviews and many had negative comments, needless to say I have none. The people were awesome can’t do enought to make your stay pleasant and rewarding. The selection of food was also great and the food was very good. The beds in fact were a little hard, but my husband and I like it that way. Definitely will go back. Liked the area, the people and of course the beach was paradise.

Nice destination, but hotel needs work

Stayed in August 2009: The staff were very friendly and the overall look of the hotel was impressive. A few problems, however, marred the enjoyment. We were grateful that our room had a ceiling fan because the air conditioner didn’t work well at all. Three trips by maintenance didn’t improve the problem. We were offered another room but it was no better. The shower was a challenge to use as the water only came out at a small trickle. I’ve heard that this hotel is scheduled to undergo renovations in 2010 and I hope that these problem are rectified. I look forward to seeing what they do with the place!

Traveler's tip

Stay at the all-inclusives in Punta Cana if you have no intention of sight-seeing. Some destinations take time to get to them which results in leaving your hotel very early in the morning. The sights were worth it!

Great place, great value

Great place to vacation as a couple or with your family, kids. Property/rooms well maintained. Fun entertainment staff with activitied throughout the day. Nightly shows are fun to watch. Food is good, not gourmet, but good...and a really great value for the rates they charge...

Second visit in two years and would recommend to others

The staff is very friendly and accommodating. Always smiling and make an effort to remember your face and likes. Could use a few new beach towels.

Value for the money

While this resort is not a 5 star, in fact far from it, the staff aim to please and make your stay as comfortable as possible. The rooms are simple, nothing fancy, however we did not book this resort for the rooms. The beach on the other hand was everything we expected. Crystal blue water; cool, fine white sand and ample lounge chairs. The food was basic and there were enough choices to please even the most discriminating eater. Overall, for the price paid, it met my expectations.

I would stay here again

Riu Bambu was a great place to stay. Food and drinks were excellent. My only complaint is they only offer 1 key per room. So if I went one directions and my husband the other I had to make sure we could find each other to get back into room. Beach was very clean and finding a place to sit was not hard. All of the employees were very nice but did not speak alot of English.

Horrible Experience

Negatives: #1 FOOD- I wasn’t expecting much at all, but 95% of the buffet food was inedible, I refused to eat it. What is a vacation if you can’t eat? The restaurants served slightly edible food, but they refused to let us eat at the nicer places because we were part of the Bambu, and you cannot leave the hotel grounds because it is VERY unsafe! I was stuck eating crappy pizza for 8 meals straight cause it was the only thing I could stomach. HORRIBLE! #2 LIQUOR - they make their own booze and add flavor and call it rum or vodka. After 2 days I didn’t want to drink, and I love to drink. The 1 type of beer didn’t taste good either. #3 - ROOMS - I did not sleep for 3 nights the beds were so bad. The blanket was a curtain, the smell of mildew never went away, the toilet tank ran loud all night, the toilet also overflowed. #4 ATM - it was 1/2 hour walk away. Positives: Friendly staff, gorgeous beach, great casino. I played Texas Hold em every night. However, the negatives far outshadow the positives. If you can’t eat, enjoy a drink, or sleep a wink, it doesn’t matter how nice the beach is or how good the casino is. The vacation was a major bust! Do not go.

Traveler's tip

Do not go to all-inclusive Riu Bambu.

CAN’T WAIT TO GO BACK

The staff was super friendly kids had a great time.

Beds need an upgrade

The atmosphere was great. However..the beds have to be upgraded!! they were way too hard and definitely need to get some new pillows!! other than that ...the people were great, friendly, helpful always a lot of fun!! kid friendly!! they also need to get a better a/c system!

So much fun but HARD BEDS

This hotel was in a great location and had awesome activities to do for a great price (massages, parasailing, horseback, etc.). I suggest getting a massage EVERYDAY...or you might be forced to; the beds were painful. I’m not a picky person when it comes to beds but daggon, it hurt. The food, drink, and beach were great though and yes I would go back but I would bring an egg crate ;o)

Traveler's tip on recreational activities

AGAIN get the massages on the beach : they’re 20 bucks cheaper than the one done in the spa and it’s sooo gorgeous on the beach! Also if you’re thinking about going swimming with the dolphins (@ Manatee Park) be aware that the meeting point is OFF resort grounds and can get scary..I don’t suggest it.

Very nice.

We enjoyed our stay. The room was very comfortable and clean. The bed linens were not posh, but everything else was perfectly nice. The hotel staff is exceptionally nice, friendly, fun, and helpful. The food is fine -- something for everyone (except perhaps for those expecting the very finest of dining). We would certainly stay here again and recommend it to others.

Traveler's tip on dining

Be sure to get a reservation at the Caribe Grill -- while the food is fine, the atmosphere (right on the beach) is exquisite.

Very Disappointed!!

We didn’t expect to be staying at the Ritz Carlton, but for the money we spent we expected much better. The hotel was not kept up with very well. A raw sewage smell was present much of the time near the pool area. The rooms were uncomfortable, especially the beds. The food was below average and by the 5 night I couldn’t get my self to eat it anymore. The hotel staff were very friendly and attempted to please. The tennis courts, fitness facilities etc. were a joke. I would not at all recommend it.

Not really impressed with facilities, but......

Our first impression when we saw the room (we are a family of 6, so we booked two rooms)was: This is kind of depressing... It was not bad, but not for staying 10 nights: too dark, not well mantained. But, as when you go to a place like this your main goal is going to the beach, we gave them a second chance. Nevertheless, after being there for two nights we ask to be moved to another hotel of the same RIU complex (much nicer...) Anyway, the whole staff is very fiendly, the animation is OK , and the food is also good (if you like the buffet). Drinks: OK

Loved the people and the beach!

Hotel staff were lovely, food not so good but lots of it. Beds very hard & drinks just ok, but beach and the Dominican people are extraordinary

Traveler's tip on local attractions

Be sure to leave the hotel and take one of the Safari’s to the mountain - a different outlook on the DR. Take a sunset cruise - lots of laughs and fun.

our wedding and honeymoon

Took me a while to post this because it got buried in my list of things to do. Overall the hotel group is very nice, rooms and grounds and beach are absolutely phenomenal. Our party of 8 all had a great time. Included water excursions a little hard to arrange. Snorkel gear not available at all for kids because it was being used by the dive school which was rather disappointing. While they upgraded the part of our wedding party that arrived with us to a diff hotel, the part of our group that arrived a few days later was NOT accomodated. Making it absolutely RIDICULOUS to try to coordinate dinners together. That was the only VERY disappointing thing that happened is that we all didnt end up staying in the same hotel together which was VERY wrong of the hotel to do. Expedia was NO HELP when I called when they first were upgrading us and the lady disconnected. The actual Wedding coordinater was fantastic, the wedding was great and smooth. Hotel room was immaculate and staff was 95% extremely pleasant.

Traveler's tip

Travlers checks are not necessary and are much harder to barter with. The hotel was very reluctant to exhcange them as well. First time I used them in my travels because of the warnings posted and it was truly not necessary and rather a pain. If you go on the jeep safari, a really good time, buy plenty of bags of candy!

Good for family vacation

If you are looking for a good place to stay.. this is it.... good and very variated food, good night entertainment, it is really all inclusive once a week you get the same food that in the a la carte restaurants.... very nice staff... rooms very clean and they provide us with a bed for our baby without request it... it was already on the room. bar is open 24 hours food until 2 am.... Good place to rest.... I strongly recomend this hotel.

Traveler's tip on saving a few bucks

If you want to buy souvenirs take the bus to iguai for 3 dollars and you get everything half price.... very expensive inside the resort and in the airport.....