Riu Palace Punta Cana-All Inclusive

Or, you can most likely get a lounge later, or move one to where you want it, just not the best location, until lounges become available.

I have been to over 50 countries and I have only a couple of issues regarding this location to warn you about.

They gave us a great room in a great location with respect to the pool and the main areas.

Taxi: Walk past all the people trying to grab you at the airport and ask for a cab.

Once our luggage was collected we made our way to the front of the airport, spoke to a taxi driver regarding a private driver to the resort, and in turn advised the tour operator that we wouldn’t be taking the tour bus.

The rooms were lovely, loads of room, huge bed, roomy bathroom with double sinks, private terrace and let's not forget the minibar with optics in the room!

It was an incredible suite that had a separate sitting room, bedroom, marble bathroom with separate walk-in shower and tub.

Replenished daily by the maids) Every room at the palace is a suite and therefore it has one side with the bed and then a couple steps going down with the couch and television.

The front lobby is fully enclosed and air conditioned, the room air conditioning is very good and the rooms all have ceiling fans over the bed.

The rooms were clean and yes, the beds are hard but after the unlimited drinks, perhaps its good not to know the difference between the floor and the bed!

For the evening meal we ate mainly in one of the a la carte restaurants; the food at the Sir Oscar Gourmet Restaurant was particularly good.

The Red wine in the Italian restaurant was much better than the wine in any of the other restaurants or at the bar.

You can also opt to eat breakfast and lunch at any of the other Riu resorts, and by gaining permission from the front desk, you may also try one of the other restaurants for dinner.

However, for lunch you had the choice between the beach bar and grill or walking back to the main buffet restaurant.

The Food--We were very pleased with the food, at both the main buffet restaurant and the specialty restaurants.

SERVICE- Poor, bar staff tended to dance around singing or fooling around whilst the worst service came from the reception & managers.

Except for the front desk staff and the “animation” (entertainment) staff, most employees speak very little English.

They also have these little niches off to the side of the pool that you can walk directly into from inside the pool that have Jacuzzi jets, seats and a little table for drinks.

The gym was very modern, the spa excellent.

Drinks: not watered down in the lobby bar at all, slightly at the pool bar.

Wireless internet would also be a nice perk.

Twice we tried to make a trip into Santo Domingo (4 hours from PC)through Apple Vacations and both times we go about 1/3 of the way there are were turned back due to strikes and rioting in the city.

The massage rooms were neat and clean and very peaceful.

The room was beautiful, the property was very clean, the service was great.

The pool, the room, the restaurant, the grounds and especially the beach were all spotless.

The grounds and our room were impeccably clean.

Our room was decent-sized and clean (could have been a lot more spacious, though.