Holiday Reviews > Caribbean > Dominican Republic > Puerto Plata > Puerto Plata Hotels > Riu Mambo Clubhotel > Read Reviews
Riu Mambo Clubhotel ReviewsPage 1 2
| Board Basis: |
All Inclusive |
| Date of
Holiday: |
Apr 2006 |
| Tour
Operator: |
Thomas Cook |
| Submitted
By: |
Mrs J Cawston |
| Overall
Rating: |
8/10 |
| Comments: |
Very good Hotel, Food excellent in all three hotels, as your are on a complex. Beach fantastic.
The whole holiday you couldn't fault apart from the entertainment was a bit boring, just dance shows or miming to music. A few audience participation shows were very funny. We went on a couple of excursions, Monster Truck, river rafting and to the south of the island all of which I would recommend.
All in all a great place to relax and enjoy the sun, would definitely go again and I would recommend this place to all. Good value for money.
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| Board Basis: |
All Inclusive |
| Date of
Holiday: |
Feb 2006 |
| Tour
Operator: |
Thomson |
| Submitted
By: |
Mr DK King |
| Overall
Rating: |
9/10 |
| Comments: |
Me and my family stayed in the Mambo in February and it was the best holiday ever. The place was spotless, there was always somebody cleaning up, giving you hand wash, all the staff say hello, the rooms were clean, the food was good, the "Animation" team were absolutely fantastic (Pineapple and Julu Julu.)
I would definitely recommend it to anybody, absolutely fantastic. The only thing I was disappointed with was the Thomson rep, Thomson phone cards and the cabin crew on the flight were not friendly. It is definitely worth going but with another travel company.
There are a lot of Americans and Canadian guests staying there who demand a lot more than us English people so don't be put off by their reviews.
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| Board Basis: |
All Inclusive |
| Date of
Holiday: |
Jan 2006 |
| Tour
Operator: |
Thomson |
| Submitted
By: |
Miss S J Williams |
| Overall
Rating: |
9/10 |
| Comments: |
My partner and I went to the Riu Mambo straight after New Year this year and are getting all anxious again as it is 10 weeks till we go again! There is only one thing bad I could say about the holiday and that is the leg room on the plane. This was really awful considering the amount of time you spend on the plan.
Apart from this the holiday was the best we have ever had and I can’t really see us going anywhere else for a long time. The beach, food, staff and accommodation was 10/10 what else can you want? The pools were great and the setting for the accommodation was lovely. The rooms are set in trees and plantation and nothing is too far away.
The beaches were spotless with lots of shade if require it and on the occasions that you may have rain or wind as soon as daylight breaks everyone is busy sweeping up and clearing the beach, no one ever stops there. I just can't believe that anybody could be seriously negative about this hotel as I have read in other reviews it is nothing like what they said and I’m glad I took the chance to go after reading other disappointing reviews as we would never have had such a fantastic experience. So ignore all the rumours of tummy bugs etc they are normally picked up on the plane or people are not used to the food, climate etc.
There is simply no way you could catch anything due to poor hygiene, the kitchens are spotless, the maids sanitize anyone’s hands coming to and from the dining room, they are mopping the floors behind you as you walk and even cleaning the toilets after every use! So I’m sorry all of you that have been poorly it’s not a result of that hotel! This is a truly fantastic hotel and well worth the money!
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| Board Basis: |
All Inclusive |
| Date of
Holiday: |
Nov 2005 |
| Tour
Operator: |
Thomson |
| Submitted
By: |
Mrs J Merrison |
| Overall
Rating: |
3/10 |
| Comments: |
Seem overall a very nice place but both me and my partner went down with a illness which hit the resort quite badly I have never been so sick before this holiday was the worst we found out the Riu was shut down few months before through a virus of which was the same as we suffered and many more people did too.
Without going into to much detail it was very unpleasant didn’t know what was worse the sickness or the temp or the other end was laid up for well over third of our holiday not impressed with our tour operators as they are not interested wont be using them again.
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| Board Basis: |
All Inclusive |
| Date of
Holiday: |
Aug 2005 |
| Tour
Operator: |
Thomson |
| Submitted
By: |
LyndsayW |
| Overall
Rating: |
5/10 |
| Comments: |
This is advertised as a 5* resort. I would beg to differ. Due to a tsunami and a hurricane, my husband and I were stuck without a honeymoon days before we got married and as a third booking, made at the last minute, we ended up here.
After a 23 hour flight delay and a mix up re our room, we finally arrived in our suite. The honeymoon gifts were not waiting to greet us and the room was ok. There was no wow factor at all and not even a double/king size bed. The decorating in the bathroom was very tired and the tiles were tatty.
This was a supposed 5* resort who did not offer room service either.
The restaurant was a buffet and when not a gala night, was like a glorified school canteen.
There was plenty of choice of food but who knows how long it had been lying around; obviously too long as my husband a severe case of gastroenteritis during the second week.
There were children crawling out of the woodwork and especially at the weekends, it appeared that local families came to the poolside. The entertainment was targeted at the children until approx 9pm and then there was 45 mins or so for adults. As the resort of 3 hotels is 9km from the nearest town, you were very limited and couldn't really go anywhere.
The saving grace in this hotel was the staff. All members of staff were helpful and supportive, especially when my husband was so ill and I was naturally so worried.
We paid over £3000 for this holiday and it was not in any way worth it. I have stayed in much better 4* star hotels for much less money. I would not recommend this hotel.
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| Board Basis: |
All Inclusive |
| Date of
Holiday: |
Jul 2005 |
| Tour
Operator: |
Thomson |
| Submitted
By: |
Mrs V Sterry |
| Overall
Rating: |
10/10 |
| Comments: |
I’ve previously been to Sri Lanka and the Maldives, but I can honestly say that this holiday was the best I’ve ever been too.
The staff were absolutely Amazing, treating us like royalty. The accommodation really was first Class. The resort had and really fun atmosphere, it was so clean and tidy. There were 3 hotels in the complex of which we could use all the facilities, e.g. pools, bars, restaurants. They had their own sports beach, which was incredible we went Canoeing, which was great but wished we'd done wind surfing and jet skiing as well.
The trip out to Ocean World was so spectacular that I wish everyone could experience the close encounter with the Sea lions and tigers and dolphins and birds, snorkeling round a fabulous man made reef Made me feel like I was in a different world. I would like to tell you more. But this was the best holiday in the world. My dream is to go again If I could afford it. Despite having an Illness I felt like a normal person doing what everyone else done. It really was brilliant. From booking it to getting home after was magnificent.
I still can't stop talking about it. Thank you to everyone involved in giving me a holiday of a lifetime. -x-
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| Board Basis: |
All Inclusive |
| Date of
Holiday: |
Sep 2004 |
| Tour
Operator: |
Thomson |
| Submitted
By: |
vickim95 |
| Overall
Rating: |
10/10 |
| Comments: |
This hotel was absolutely fabulous, could not fault a single thing. You could not meet nicer people/staff and the animation team were great. You have the use of the other two sister hotels but really other than doing the excursions you are pretty much tied to staying within your complex. This is truly a holiday of a lifetime in paradise, everything you could wish for. Will definitely be back next year.
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| Board Basis: |
All Inclusive |
| Date of
Holiday: |
May 2004 |
| Tour
Operator: |
Thomas Cook |
| Submitted
By: |
Mr T Mearman |
| Overall
Rating: |
9/10 |
| Comments: |
My wife and I enjoyed a wonderful 2-week holiday at the Riu Mambo during the last fortnight in May '04. We had never been to the Caribbean before and this was our first all-inclusive vacation. We would recommend the Mambo to anyone, it is excellent value for money.
The resort is rather isolated from the nearest town of Puerta Plata, which is a ten to 15 minute drive away. However, you don’t really need to go outside of the resort because there are 3 hotels to enjoy and there’s always something going on to keep you occupied. The hotel accommodation is very good; the rooms are comfortable but not luxurious. The air conditioning works well, the beds are comfortable and the room maids keep everything spotlessly clean.
All the hotel staff are on very low wages so it helps to tip them early and throughout your stay, you will be rewarded with extra special service and a friendly smile. The bar staff appreciate it, if you try a little Spanish when ordering your drinks. The drinks are plentiful and excellent quality, even the local beer is very palatable.
We thought the meals were very good indeed with plenty of variety, 95% of the products are grown in the Dominican Republic. The service in the restaurant was also very good but the wine takes a little getting used to. The Dominican’s are not renowned for locally produced wine but the red was our favourite.
The restaurant is not air conditioned so it can get stiflingly hot sometimes. A table by a window is best, try giving the Maitre D a small tip when you arrive and this will help to get a good table by a window......
The local people are extremely friendly and the Animation team are truly fantastic. They organise all the activities in and around the pool, as well as the beach volleyball, boules and horseshoes. We found that getting involved every day in these activities helped us make lots of friends which made our stay so much more enjoyable.
There’s plenty of sun beds and shade, whether you prefer to relax by the poolside or on the beach. The Mambo is the only hotel of the 3 that has a bar on the beach.
There is entertainment in all of the 3 hotels in the evenings, which is provided by the Animation team. Sometimes the evening entertainment can be a little 'risqué' so be careful, especially if you have young children. In the evenings, it’s nice to go to the Marenge bar for drinks. They always have a cocktail of the day and they’re usually very colourful and tasty!
Some of the organised trips are very good but they tend to be quite expensive for what they are. I would recommend the Monster Truck Safari, which takes you into the remote villages on the island where you get a chance to see how the locals live. The people are so poor but his is one of the poorest countries on earth so prepare yourself for some amazing scenes. Be sure to take your camera and lots of sweeties and pencils for the children.
Be sure to take and use mosquito repellent, many of us got covered in insect bites around our hands, arms and ankles. There is a small parade of shops called Caribbean Street with a Pharmacy where you can get medicines but they are very expensive. There’s also an Internet cafe where you can check your emails.
I’d suggest you take plenty of single US dollars for tipping hotel staff, for the Internet cafe and for telephone calls home from the reception desk. Telephoning from your room can be quite expensive and don’t bother with your mobile, it won’t work once you’ve left the vicinity of the airport.
Have a look at some of our pictures at........ www.fotki.com/mackem
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| Board Basis: |
All Inclusive |
| Date of
Holiday: |
Mar 2004 |
| Tour
Operator: |
Thomas Cook |
| Submitted
By: |
Mr M Buet |
| Overall
Rating: |
9/10 |
| Comments: |
At this resort there are 3 RIU hotels on their own beach, the service and the food was excellent, you could eat breakfast and lunch at either the Mambo, Meringue or Bachata, however your evening meal must be eaten at your hotel. Facilities can be used at all 3 hotels. The other activities, kayaking, sailing etc, was on a separate part of the beach, which made it safe for everyone.
The speciality restaurant was good, but limited on choice.
There is plenty of room on the beach or around the pool, and there are more than enough sun loungers by the beach or by the pool. This is one of the best value for money hotels I have been to, any of the 3 hotels would be a good choice, the Bachata is the newest of the 3 and is a little more modern.
We have been twice and will definitely return again.
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| Board Basis: |
All Inclusive |
| Date of
Holiday: |
Dec 2003 |
| Tour
Operator: |
JMC Holidays |
| Submitted
By: |
rachellcooper |
| Overall
Rating: |
9/10 |
| Comments: |
I have stayed in the Mambo and 2 years previously I stayed in the Merengue. Both hotels were fantastic but the staff at the Mambo seemed more friendly and outgoing. The pool at the Mambo also didn’t seem to be as busy as at the Merengue. The pool bar at the Bachata is fantastic.
The gardens are well maintained in all hotels. I found that if you try using a little bit of Spanish with the staff in the hotels they seemed to talk to you more, which was nice. The view from the gazebo in the Bachata is fantastic. I’d love to go back again and stay at the Bachata just to see what the rooms are like. I think they should have built the accommodation at the Bachata like the Mambo and Meregue, as they do kind of stick out like a sore thumb as they’re higher but they still look nice.
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