Riu Mambo Clubhotel, Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic
Hotel Information
Recent Price: £121
Hotel Class:
Hotel Description:
The Riu Mambo Clubhotel is located in Puerto Plata, ideally set on the magnificent Maimon Bay beach, The Riu Mambo Clubhotel will thrill you with exciting activities and entertainment surrounded by the exceptional natural beauty of this area. loading...
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Riu Mambo Clubhotel Reviews
" great holday ..but "
Submitted By: poppyred
same time last year we went to the mambo and all had a great time we decided to go again this year what a difference a year makes ,the staff are all still lovely and friendly in every department rooms the same except we had to ask to have the mini bar restocked a few times ,the animatoin team are good but nowhere near as friendly as last year .BUT standards have dropped !!!!especially the entertaiment at night some nights it was like a kids party ,when the show finishes at 10.15 .people are not made to feel welcome to stay and have drinks,a singer sings in spanish for 1/2 hour nobody dances as there is nowhere to dance the bars were closing at 11.30 im sorry to say most people were very bored please could the manager tell us why the next hotel had the same entertainment followed by excellent singers that got everybody up dancing and in the holiday spirit??this was what it was like at the mambo last year !! also beware the germans have arrived in numbers this year and reserve sun beds at least 6 sunbeds for 3 people (3in shade and 3 in sun )and wont give them up even when reported to hotel and rep managers also start to reserve beds from 5.30am this is not fair to other holidaymakers.we found the hotel manager very un helpful especially when a child messed themselves in the baby pool was took to the poolside shower to be washed down the manager would not close the pool to be cleaned and refilled but just made the pool boy dissinfect the shower area !! most holidaymakers were disgusted,; many with children refused to let them back into the pool.apart from this we still had a good holiday even though we heavy rain for 5days solid .on leaving we were told the mambo manager was new to the hotel this year i hope he reads this and bring the hotel back up to the greatname and standards its had for the last few years.
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- Date of Holiday:Feb 2009
- Board Basis:All Inclusive
- Tour Operator:Thomas Cook
" Great time "
Submitted By: Scalliwag
We went to the Mambo for two weeks from 22nd Nov until 6th December. This is the second time we have been to this hotel and we enjoyed it just as much this time as the first time.
For me, the best thing about the Mambo is the staff. Everyone from reception,cleaners, gardeners, bar staff, restaurant staff are all so friendly and willing to please. So what if the rooms need a bit of an uplift and the shower water is always as hot as you would like! We had requested the same room as we had in 2006 and were lucky to get it-two strides and you are on the beach. We spent most of our days on the beach, the breeze is lovely and if you get too hot just pop under a palm tree :)
The food was great and the cleanliness was too. I would not hesitate to go back - in fact I would love to go for New Year 2009. The hotel had been beautifully decorated for Christmas
For me, the best thing about the Mambo is the staff. Everyone from reception,cleaners, gardeners, bar staff, restaurant staff are all so friendly and willing to please. So what if the rooms need a bit of an uplift and the shower water is always as hot as you would like! We had requested the same room as we had in 2006 and were lucky to get it-two strides and you are on the beach. We spent most of our days on the beach, the breeze is lovely and if you get too hot just pop under a palm tree :)
The food was great and the cleanliness was too. I would not hesitate to go back - in fact I would love to go for New Year 2009. The hotel had been beautifully decorated for Christmas
Good for: Beach
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- Date of Holiday:Nov 2008
- Board Basis:All Inclusive
- Tour Operator:Thomas Cook
" Well where to start, firstly my wife... "
Submitted By: Mr
Well where to start, firstly my wife and I had a great time better than we expected going on alot of the unjustified reviews we had read prior to depature.
1: The flight was okj leg room was fine but if your over 6ft your better of booking emergency exit seats or upgrade to premium. The meals were nothing special but they did break up the flight, in flight drinks were not free other than one supplied with your meal. The movies on the flight were outdated and not very good choice on our return flight the misus TV kept flicking on and of which was annoying when you wanna sleep. The cabin staff were ok too I had read that they were very unfriendly but they seemed ok to me and I have travelled on alot of different airlines. The only observation was on the outward journey one male hostess complained to a child about pressing the call button, which is in a stupid place (top of the arm rest).
2: The journey to the hotel was good and the reception at the hotel and initial brief were very good. The hotel and the staff are the best from all three hotels next year we will return there. The other two hotels seem to get over run with local over the weekends our hotel had them too but not as bad as the other two hotels. The staff were excellent they cant do enough for you the food was good but after two weeks does become samo samo. We suggest you take your own tea bags because the local one are nothing like ours here in UK. The brief we got the morning after arriving from Bev and Abi wes very detailed and well brought across, but I did feel it was a boring brief and lacked a little something but maybe thats me being picky.
There are plenty of excersions to go on we did the cable car trip which was a full day out starting at 07.30 returning 18.00. Also we did the mega truck trip which was ok but if you have a bad back may not be advised the horse riding was fun although the horses have a mind of their own and look alittle bored and under feed. We paid $20 each to go on a disco trip with the animation team to Coco bongo this included travel, entrance and a free drink (which was like juice). The whole thing was a waist of time the music isn't like our clubs and we ended up waiting 2 hours over the pickup time because one German guest wanted to get friendly with a local. We left her there in the end as she is a grown woman so if your offered the disco trip tuesdays and fridays We suggest you decline, but thats up to you be warned.
3: There were plenty of sun loungers both around the pool and at the beach, due to german guest sometimes the prime spots did get reserved even though it states no reserving using towels. But in all even at 08.00 we got a good location on the pool. A good sun block is advised as the sun there is very strong we saw many milk white people going staright in the sun coconut oil in had and within an hour burnt to crisp lobsta style lol. The second beach is behind the barchetta hotel and to be honest was lovely and very quiet hardly anyone uses it as there are no facilities and everyone wants the get there monies worth with the all inclusive. We went there for a morning the water is lovely no waves on it at all and there is plenty of shade to be had if you get hungry the barchetta isn't that far away to get food and drink.
4: There is so much to write about this place but alot of it has already been covered by others just i feel alot of the negetive stuff is incorrect maybe because some people are expecting far too much. For example I couldn't find any rocky beach only the reef in the water far right to the hotel and the water was although not clear like in the south i was able to see the bottom. the sands are not white that I do agree on but they are clean and if you want white sands dont complain goto the south instead.
And last of all it still amazes me how people rush at the airport to get their suitcases i was surprized to see both our cases come of first on the way out, the down side to that was we had to wait for the other guests for our coach. Going back its like a sheep pen cattle being hearded through check-in and for every Kg over you will pay £8 so be warned.
All in all we had a great holiday and we hope you have as good if not better one than us, we will return next year.
1: The flight was okj leg room was fine but if your over 6ft your better of booking emergency exit seats or upgrade to premium. The meals were nothing special but they did break up the flight, in flight drinks were not free other than one supplied with your meal. The movies on the flight were outdated and not very good choice on our return flight the misus TV kept flicking on and of which was annoying when you wanna sleep. The cabin staff were ok too I had read that they were very unfriendly but they seemed ok to me and I have travelled on alot of different airlines. The only observation was on the outward journey one male hostess complained to a child about pressing the call button, which is in a stupid place (top of the arm rest).
2: The journey to the hotel was good and the reception at the hotel and initial brief were very good. The hotel and the staff are the best from all three hotels next year we will return there. The other two hotels seem to get over run with local over the weekends our hotel had them too but not as bad as the other two hotels. The staff were excellent they cant do enough for you the food was good but after two weeks does become samo samo. We suggest you take your own tea bags because the local one are nothing like ours here in UK. The brief we got the morning after arriving from Bev and Abi wes very detailed and well brought across, but I did feel it was a boring brief and lacked a little something but maybe thats me being picky.
There are plenty of excersions to go on we did the cable car trip which was a full day out starting at 07.30 returning 18.00. Also we did the mega truck trip which was ok but if you have a bad back may not be advised the horse riding was fun although the horses have a mind of their own and look alittle bored and under feed. We paid $20 each to go on a disco trip with the animation team to Coco bongo this included travel, entrance and a free drink (which was like juice). The whole thing was a waist of time the music isn't like our clubs and we ended up waiting 2 hours over the pickup time because one German guest wanted to get friendly with a local. We left her there in the end as she is a grown woman so if your offered the disco trip tuesdays and fridays We suggest you decline, but thats up to you be warned.
3: There were plenty of sun loungers both around the pool and at the beach, due to german guest sometimes the prime spots did get reserved even though it states no reserving using towels. But in all even at 08.00 we got a good location on the pool. A good sun block is advised as the sun there is very strong we saw many milk white people going staright in the sun coconut oil in had and within an hour burnt to crisp lobsta style lol. The second beach is behind the barchetta hotel and to be honest was lovely and very quiet hardly anyone uses it as there are no facilities and everyone wants the get there monies worth with the all inclusive. We went there for a morning the water is lovely no waves on it at all and there is plenty of shade to be had if you get hungry the barchetta isn't that far away to get food and drink.
4: There is so much to write about this place but alot of it has already been covered by others just i feel alot of the negetive stuff is incorrect maybe because some people are expecting far too much. For example I couldn't find any rocky beach only the reef in the water far right to the hotel and the water was although not clear like in the south i was able to see the bottom. the sands are not white that I do agree on but they are clean and if you want white sands dont complain goto the south instead.
And last of all it still amazes me how people rush at the airport to get their suitcases i was surprized to see both our cases come of first on the way out, the down side to that was we had to wait for the other guests for our coach. Going back its like a sheep pen cattle being hearded through check-in and for every Kg over you will pay £8 so be warned.
All in all we had a great holiday and we hope you have as good if not better one than us, we will return next year.
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- Date of Holiday:Aug 2008
- Board Basis:All Inclusive
- Tour Operator:Thomas Cook
" We have just returned from the Mambo... "
Submitted By: Mr J Sewell
We have just returned from the Mambo and had a great holiday.
Although most of the comments we would make have been covered by other reviewers, I would summarise as follows.....
Pro's:
The Dominican people are friendly, happy and helpful, from the passport inspector through to the hotel staff, everyone was wonderful.
The Mambo is very clean and has a great position, right on the beach. (This is definately the best of the 3 hotels in the complex).
The entertainment staff work incredibly hard and whilst some of the shows are a little cheesey, you cannot fault the hard work and enthusiasm.
Our 6 year old was unsure of the Kid's club, but Steffen was wonderful and we hardly saw her!!
We did 3 trips - Freestyle Catamaran - This was a very relaxing and fun trip. The crew kept us entertained all day and we made a couple of great snorkeling stops.
Paradise Island - We found this a long day, but the island is lovely and Renzo, our tour guide was fab!
Ocean World - We did the dolphin encounter, which was great, but if we revisited, would definately do the sea lion encounter. There is plenty of things to do, and the food and drink are reasonable considering they had a captive audience.
Talk of reserving a sun bed at 5am is rubbish!! If you want to sit in a particular place then you may need to reserve a bed early, but otherwise there is plenty of choice.
Con's:
We are both Bacardi drinkers and were slightly concerned when we realised that all drink is locally produced. However, we drank "bacardi and diet" all fortnight and whilst it wasn't particularly strong, was perfectly acceptable!! (Special mention to Tito and Judith on the bar staff).
The air con in the room was just about ok - however, it was very, very hot whilst we were there so it did at least feel abit cooler than outside!
Whilst we thought the beach was great, if you go to the Mambo expecting a "Bounty advert", you will be disappointed.
Overall:
The atmosphere is great, the people are wonderful and everything is there for you.
You can participate in as much as you want, or just sit back and enjoy the sunshine.
If you have children, there is plenty to keep them occupied and happy.
For late teens, it may not be lively enough, but for a couple with a 6 year old, it was fab!!
Although most of the comments we would make have been covered by other reviewers, I would summarise as follows.....
Pro's:
The Dominican people are friendly, happy and helpful, from the passport inspector through to the hotel staff, everyone was wonderful.
The Mambo is very clean and has a great position, right on the beach. (This is definately the best of the 3 hotels in the complex).
The entertainment staff work incredibly hard and whilst some of the shows are a little cheesey, you cannot fault the hard work and enthusiasm.
Our 6 year old was unsure of the Kid's club, but Steffen was wonderful and we hardly saw her!!
We did 3 trips - Freestyle Catamaran - This was a very relaxing and fun trip. The crew kept us entertained all day and we made a couple of great snorkeling stops.
Paradise Island - We found this a long day, but the island is lovely and Renzo, our tour guide was fab!
Ocean World - We did the dolphin encounter, which was great, but if we revisited, would definately do the sea lion encounter. There is plenty of things to do, and the food and drink are reasonable considering they had a captive audience.
Talk of reserving a sun bed at 5am is rubbish!! If you want to sit in a particular place then you may need to reserve a bed early, but otherwise there is plenty of choice.
Con's:
We are both Bacardi drinkers and were slightly concerned when we realised that all drink is locally produced. However, we drank "bacardi and diet" all fortnight and whilst it wasn't particularly strong, was perfectly acceptable!! (Special mention to Tito and Judith on the bar staff).
The air con in the room was just about ok - however, it was very, very hot whilst we were there so it did at least feel abit cooler than outside!
Whilst we thought the beach was great, if you go to the Mambo expecting a "Bounty advert", you will be disappointed.
Overall:
The atmosphere is great, the people are wonderful and everything is there for you.
You can participate in as much as you want, or just sit back and enjoy the sunshine.
If you have children, there is plenty to keep them occupied and happy.
For late teens, it may not be lively enough, but for a couple with a 6 year old, it was fab!!
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- Date of Holiday:Aug 2008
- Board Basis:All Inclusive
- Tour Operator:Portland Direct
" I pretty much agree with all the... "
Submitted By: Miss D Preira
I pretty much agree with all the comments written by various others but I really did not like the place at all.
I returned back yesterday and only went for a 1 week and am so glad it was only for 1 week.
I went with my partner and we are both mid 20's and to be honest it just wasn't FUN.
The Mega Trucks and Katamarang were great but I was getting a bit miffed about having to donate loads of money to the poor when most of the locals had better cars than us!! Obviously there are poor areas everywhere... does that mean that the london tourbus should start driving past all the homeless in London and get the tourists too donate vast quatities of money and sweets???
Also, I found the Staff within the complex down right rude!! When I asked a question I did not expect them to give the answer to my partner.. do they still operate in the 1950's!!!
And the lack of English spoken by the Staff when asking a question was disgraceful. I know its rude to expect other countries to speak English but hang on a minute this was an English resort with a lot of Germans whom communicate in English.
Now this leads me onto my final point!!! ... The locals..I don't know if this was because the school periods had also finished on the island but the hotel was completely invaded by the local Dominicans... and boy are they RUDE!!!! This was the view shared by others within the resort and in no way am I being Racist (I am an English Black Woman) it literally was a case of them and us. The stares being thrown and blantant talking about you in Spanish was bang out of order!!!!!!!!
I'm not completely knocking the place the Hotel was very clean.. thats all I can say positively.. sorry.
Oh and those Air Stewardess are getting more and more polite!!!.. NOT!!
If I was too ever visit the Island again... I would consisder the South side.
I returned back yesterday and only went for a 1 week and am so glad it was only for 1 week.
I went with my partner and we are both mid 20's and to be honest it just wasn't FUN.
The Mega Trucks and Katamarang were great but I was getting a bit miffed about having to donate loads of money to the poor when most of the locals had better cars than us!! Obviously there are poor areas everywhere... does that mean that the london tourbus should start driving past all the homeless in London and get the tourists too donate vast quatities of money and sweets???
Also, I found the Staff within the complex down right rude!! When I asked a question I did not expect them to give the answer to my partner.. do they still operate in the 1950's!!!
And the lack of English spoken by the Staff when asking a question was disgraceful. I know its rude to expect other countries to speak English but hang on a minute this was an English resort with a lot of Germans whom communicate in English.
Now this leads me onto my final point!!! ... The locals..I don't know if this was because the school periods had also finished on the island but the hotel was completely invaded by the local Dominicans... and boy are they RUDE!!!! This was the view shared by others within the resort and in no way am I being Racist (I am an English Black Woman) it literally was a case of them and us. The stares being thrown and blantant talking about you in Spanish was bang out of order!!!!!!!!
I'm not completely knocking the place the Hotel was very clean.. thats all I can say positively.. sorry.
Oh and those Air Stewardess are getting more and more polite!!!.. NOT!!
If I was too ever visit the Island again... I would consisder the South side.
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- Date of Holiday:Jul 2008
- Board Basis:All Inclusive
- Tour Operator:Thomas Cook
" Just returned from a fantastic time... "
Submitted By: Mrs C Thornhill
Just returned from a fantastic time at Riu Mambo, after reading other reviews thought I would add mine.
Good points: Very friendly hotel, from guests to staff, smaller of the three but that didnt matter. Beach sandy and not at all rocky although some people did have water socks on. Sheltered from wind, shade could be found under trees. Not bothered by hawkers. Beach bar(Merengue/Bachata havent got one) which was a bonus due to the heat. The whole site was clean and the gardens were well tended. All the bar staff went out of their way to make you feel welcome and remembered who you were.
No problem at all with our room, it was kept really clean and tidy, there was no hairdryer but these could be hired (refundable deposit). Ladies be warned GHDs do not work but reps have stylers from America that can be purchased not as good but were a life saver for me. Thoroughly relaxed time you could join in with activiies if you wanted but not pressured at all. We spent a lazy 2 weeks lying in the sun. Beach party on the last night was fantastic really good time.
Animation team were really great and evening entertainment as good as I have seen elsewhere.
You can use all the facilities of the other two hotels but have to have your evening meal in the hotel you are staying in.
More choice of drinks in the Bachata and these also were stronger!
Only disappointment were the 'speciality restaurants' as these were not up to the same standard as other Riu hotels we have stayed in.
All in all one of the best holidays we have had and will certainly return in the future.
Good points: Very friendly hotel, from guests to staff, smaller of the three but that didnt matter. Beach sandy and not at all rocky although some people did have water socks on. Sheltered from wind, shade could be found under trees. Not bothered by hawkers. Beach bar(Merengue/Bachata havent got one) which was a bonus due to the heat. The whole site was clean and the gardens were well tended. All the bar staff went out of their way to make you feel welcome and remembered who you were.
No problem at all with our room, it was kept really clean and tidy, there was no hairdryer but these could be hired (refundable deposit). Ladies be warned GHDs do not work but reps have stylers from America that can be purchased not as good but were a life saver for me. Thoroughly relaxed time you could join in with activiies if you wanted but not pressured at all. We spent a lazy 2 weeks lying in the sun. Beach party on the last night was fantastic really good time.
Animation team were really great and evening entertainment as good as I have seen elsewhere.
You can use all the facilities of the other two hotels but have to have your evening meal in the hotel you are staying in.
More choice of drinks in the Bachata and these also were stronger!
Only disappointment were the 'speciality restaurants' as these were not up to the same standard as other Riu hotels we have stayed in.
All in all one of the best holidays we have had and will certainly return in the future.
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- Date of Holiday:Jun 2008
- Board Basis:All Inclusive
- Tour Operator:Thomas Cook
" The Hotel is very nice and close to... "
Submitted By: Ms J Jones
The Hotel is very nice and close to the beach.More chance of a sunbed on the beach than by the pool unless you want to get up at 5am. The Hotel and grounds were immaculate but our room could have done with a freshen up. The bathroom had no ventilation so everytime you showered the steam had nowhere to go. The room became quite damp and the bedding and pillows always smelled mouldy. The staff are very friendly but I got the impression if you tip regularly you get alot more for your money. The Mambo is the smaller of the three hotels in the complex, so if it is a bit of piece and quiet you need then this is the one. The complex is out in the middle of nowhere so if you want to explore you will need to go on an organised trip or take a taxi. The animation team are superb. They tend to leave you alone if you are on the beach but it can get very noisey by the pool in the day with the activities. Not alot there for teenagers and the watersport activities are not great. There is not much equipment and due to the wind on the North of the island, they are regularly out of use. In the two weeks we we there they were only used for three days as the sea was too rough. Not too rough to swim in though or to feed the fish with bread rolls. There are some good trips. Mega trucks is superb and the trip to Ocean World to swim with Dolphins was great. Beware of the men in white polo shirts there as they are time share reps. Freestyle catarmaran was great fun, but avoid the trip into Puerto Plata as this was a waste of a day and money. The trip ends in Sosua at the flea market which was very unpleasant.Would not recommend anyone to fly with Thomas Cook. Their aircraft was so cramped and their cabin staff are damm right rude as was the resort rep. The meals are very poor considering you have to pay extra for these and unless you want to face the wrath of the stewardesses, don't ask for extra milk.
Overall a very relaxing holiday. We would return to the Dominican Republic but not necessarily to the North of the island.
Overall a very relaxing holiday. We would return to the Dominican Republic but not necessarily to the North of the island.
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- Date of Holiday:Apr 2008
- Board Basis:All Inclusive
- Tour Operator:Thomas Cook
" I left the riu mambo on the 13th of... "
Submitted By: Miss G Bakewell
I left the riu mambo on the 13th of march 2008. This was my second time in 3 months visiting.
I went for 2 weeks both times and loved every moment of it.
The animation staff were amazing! loved every single one of them.
(froggie, chicken legs, salami, pineapple head, bossy boots, La chary aka dj joan, lemar, hula hula, janet jackson and everyone else).
They make you feel so welcome and are always offering activities for all the guests to do if they wish too.
These activities vary, plenty to suit everyone.
Theres step up aerobics, water aerobics, soccer, valley ball, water polo, dancing lessons, spanish lessons, ping pong tournaments, random competitions and much much more.
The bar staff are great especially lisandro, tito, sr. diaz who was a favourite of ours and pedro the manager who couldn't do enough for you.
Ive been back two days and i'd go back in an hour. Its never boring. I mean don't get me wrong its not perfect and we found the reception staff quite ignorant but everything apart from that and the food which was nice but was repeated a lot was great.
We did the cable cars last time and shopping in puerto plata with a guide which was booked through reception and found it really good. It cost us like $40 for the taxi and whatever tip we wanted to give the guide which was brilliant for how much we did. We visited the rum factory (brugal) which was interesting and then went on to visit cigar factories which were also good.
This time we took part in trail blazing and intended to go to ocean world but ended up enjoying half a day of horse back riding cowboy style (trail blazing) that we ended up going twice in the 2 weeks! Thank you to Alex and all the staff there.
I can not praise the staff at riu mambo enough, they are definitely what makes the place. I will definitely be returning either later on in the year or next year.
Oh and by the way there was 8 of us that went. All different ages & all loved it.
children, teenagers, middle aged & elderly.. it really is ideal for families to have a great time at a great resort!
I went for 2 weeks both times and loved every moment of it.
The animation staff were amazing! loved every single one of them.
(froggie, chicken legs, salami, pineapple head, bossy boots, La chary aka dj joan, lemar, hula hula, janet jackson and everyone else).
They make you feel so welcome and are always offering activities for all the guests to do if they wish too.
These activities vary, plenty to suit everyone.
Theres step up aerobics, water aerobics, soccer, valley ball, water polo, dancing lessons, spanish lessons, ping pong tournaments, random competitions and much much more.
The bar staff are great especially lisandro, tito, sr. diaz who was a favourite of ours and pedro the manager who couldn't do enough for you.
Ive been back two days and i'd go back in an hour. Its never boring. I mean don't get me wrong its not perfect and we found the reception staff quite ignorant but everything apart from that and the food which was nice but was repeated a lot was great.
We did the cable cars last time and shopping in puerto plata with a guide which was booked through reception and found it really good. It cost us like $40 for the taxi and whatever tip we wanted to give the guide which was brilliant for how much we did. We visited the rum factory (brugal) which was interesting and then went on to visit cigar factories which were also good.
This time we took part in trail blazing and intended to go to ocean world but ended up enjoying half a day of horse back riding cowboy style (trail blazing) that we ended up going twice in the 2 weeks! Thank you to Alex and all the staff there.
I can not praise the staff at riu mambo enough, they are definitely what makes the place. I will definitely be returning either later on in the year or next year.
Oh and by the way there was 8 of us that went. All different ages & all loved it.
children, teenagers, middle aged & elderly.. it really is ideal for families to have a great time at a great resort!
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- Date of Holiday:Mar 2008
- Board Basis:All Inclusive
- Tour Operator:Thomson
" just returned from 2 weeks of total... "
Submitted By: Other Deb/nick
just returned from 2 weeks of total relaxation at the riu mambo, hotel was good, food good ,rooms basic but ok ( you only need your room to sleep in !)animation team was great ,not pushy loo k out for BOSSY BOOTS,JANET JACKSON,LAMAR,PINEAPPLE HEAD,CHICKEN LEGS ,CHERRI AND FROGGI, these guys are great, the best out of all 3 hotels by the end of your hol they feel like your family.our group consisted of 4 adults aged between 45--62 we made some great friends had great fun and came home happy and suntanned .Our holiday was what we made made it with a little help from everyone concerned with the Riu Mambo Hotel ,we will return again.
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- Date of Holiday:Feb 2008
- Board Basis:All Inclusive
- Tour Operator:Thomas Cook
" My partner and I enjoyed a 2 week all... "
Submitted By: Miss C Rodger
My partner and I enjoyed a 2 week all inclusive stay at the Riu Mambo Hotel Puerto Plata in November 2006. The Riu Mambo is part of 3 interconnecting hotels, Riu Bachata and Riu Merengue are the other 2 hotels.
Thomson, our Tour operator picked us up from the airport with a coach bus and took us to the hotel. The check-in process was quick, which was a blessing as after an 8 hour plane journey we couldn't wait to get back to our room to freshen up!
Our room was clean and had adequate cupboards for clothing. The bathroom was a good size and we also had a small terrace area.
The 3 hotels are all interconnecting and you can make full use of the all of the facilities in all 3 of the hotels, including the pools and beach areas.
The pools were clean and always busy. We usually went to the beach, which was beautiful, and not overcrowded.
The food was lovely, the breakfast lunch and dinner all offered a large selection of tasty foods. In the main buffet restaurant every night was themed. We enjoyed Mexican night the most, but they were all great.
The animation staff were really fantastic, and while we were too shy to participate we really enjoyed watching the various events and shows. They were extremely hard working, from morning exercise on the beach to poolside games at lunch to the evening stage, they were always cheerful and full of energy.
All in all we had a great time. The resort is not overly large so it maintains a cosy feel, the beach, restaurants, and reception are all only a short walk away from the accommodation areas.
The overall quality of the service was excellent, everyone was very friendly and helpful.
Thomson, our Tour operator picked us up from the airport with a coach bus and took us to the hotel. The check-in process was quick, which was a blessing as after an 8 hour plane journey we couldn't wait to get back to our room to freshen up!
Our room was clean and had adequate cupboards for clothing. The bathroom was a good size and we also had a small terrace area.
The 3 hotels are all interconnecting and you can make full use of the all of the facilities in all 3 of the hotels, including the pools and beach areas.
The pools were clean and always busy. We usually went to the beach, which was beautiful, and not overcrowded.
The food was lovely, the breakfast lunch and dinner all offered a large selection of tasty foods. In the main buffet restaurant every night was themed. We enjoyed Mexican night the most, but they were all great.
The animation staff were really fantastic, and while we were too shy to participate we really enjoyed watching the various events and shows. They were extremely hard working, from morning exercise on the beach to poolside games at lunch to the evening stage, they were always cheerful and full of energy.
All in all we had a great time. The resort is not overly large so it maintains a cosy feel, the beach, restaurants, and reception are all only a short walk away from the accommodation areas.
The overall quality of the service was excellent, everyone was very friendly and helpful.
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- Date of Holiday:Nov 2006
- Board Basis:All Inclusive
- Tour Operator:Thomson
" The Riu Mambo is one of three hotels... "
Submitted By: Miss KP Kelly
The Riu Mambo is one of three hotels within the complex. Compared to the other two hotels it is possibly a little quieter however still lively with entertainment.
My boyfriend and I arrived on 18th Sept and departed on 2nd Oct. The weather was fantastic - it was really hot 90F+ everyday, until the last day or two but even still, the rain was an experience as it was a typical tropical down pour and didn't last all day.
The room was absolutely immaculate with a good air con system. The cleaner would come in every day and leave towels in the shapes of hearts or swans which was a nice surprise every day. The complex in general was extremely tidy and clean. I wouldn't say there were many insects about or flies, there are more in England than the Riu complex.
The evening entertainment was ok but it depends what you want, we wanted to make the most of our days so enjoyed a drink of a night then in bed by 11.00 to get up early. If you are a bit of a party animal you may not enjoy the evenings as much. The animation team arranged shows every evening which were entertaining but had a resemblance to butlins. A nightclub was available but played abit of dodgy music so we never stayed long! They did have a bonfire on the beach and a Caribbean party in Caribbean Street which was good.
In the daytime, the animation team regularly put on the club song and do their dance routine which is very catchy! They would also have activities during the day such as aqua aerobics, step aerobics, darts, Spanish lessons, Spanish dancing, and lots more. Some of this is nice to do when you’re not feeling tired.
All the staff work extremely hard and will do anything for you. There are staff standing at the entrance to the toilets and to the restaurant dispensing hand gel.
The food was good. Lots of salad and fruit as well as chips, pizzas and burgers. The restaurant of a night has all kinds to offer including a different meat carvery every night. The breakfast also has a wide range of foods - full English, cereal, salads and cheeses, omelettes, pancakes, doughnuts. The steakhouse and Italian had a limited menu although I enjoyed what I had. Lots of people weren't every keen.
There are many day trips available for you to go out and see more of the Dominican. We went to Ocean World. I loved it but some other people weren't very keen. Whilst we were there we did the dolphin and sea lion encounter, went snorkelling and seen the shows available. I liked it because you can interact with animals there rather than just look at them. Don't let any reps take you to promote their timeshares it’s a waste of time and they attract you by promising you freebies! We also went on the monster truck safari were we basically drove through a nearby village and seen how people live. If you go here take some things for the kids, anything cheap like sweets or pencil and papers, their little faces light up and its good as your driving past to throw a few sweets to them.
A few things to look out for:
Ladies - don't bother taking your straighteners! I was in tears when I realised the electricity is only 110v. Get some battery operated ones. The hairdryer will only buzz really and it will take you longer to dry your hair so plan ahead. I got my hair braided in the end.
Tips - We left tipping people till the end of the holiday. Just leave whatever you think is acceptable to you. You don't need to go overboard though but if you’re rich go for it because everyone does work hard. We tipped the cleaner (and I left some clothes) and a bar staff member who had served us throughout the holiday. We also tipped the guide on the monster trucks.
Watch out for people in the airport they will grab your stuff and carry it for you for tips so if you don't want that don't let them take it.
Be careful going out into Puerto Plata by yourself. We didn't do it because we were advised against it but we met one guy who went out and was hassled all the way by people begging or wanting him to buy things.
Overall the holiday was fantastic and we will definitely go back. If you are the type of person who doesn't like to be confined and likes to drink in different bars and restaurants think again about going to an all inclusive. But if you want a relaxing holiday in a hygienic environment in the sun definitely go. The pictures on other websites of the complex are so life-like!
My boyfriend and I arrived on 18th Sept and departed on 2nd Oct. The weather was fantastic - it was really hot 90F+ everyday, until the last day or two but even still, the rain was an experience as it was a typical tropical down pour and didn't last all day.
The room was absolutely immaculate with a good air con system. The cleaner would come in every day and leave towels in the shapes of hearts or swans which was a nice surprise every day. The complex in general was extremely tidy and clean. I wouldn't say there were many insects about or flies, there are more in England than the Riu complex.
The evening entertainment was ok but it depends what you want, we wanted to make the most of our days so enjoyed a drink of a night then in bed by 11.00 to get up early. If you are a bit of a party animal you may not enjoy the evenings as much. The animation team arranged shows every evening which were entertaining but had a resemblance to butlins. A nightclub was available but played abit of dodgy music so we never stayed long! They did have a bonfire on the beach and a Caribbean party in Caribbean Street which was good.
In the daytime, the animation team regularly put on the club song and do their dance routine which is very catchy! They would also have activities during the day such as aqua aerobics, step aerobics, darts, Spanish lessons, Spanish dancing, and lots more. Some of this is nice to do when you’re not feeling tired.
All the staff work extremely hard and will do anything for you. There are staff standing at the entrance to the toilets and to the restaurant dispensing hand gel.
The food was good. Lots of salad and fruit as well as chips, pizzas and burgers. The restaurant of a night has all kinds to offer including a different meat carvery every night. The breakfast also has a wide range of foods - full English, cereal, salads and cheeses, omelettes, pancakes, doughnuts. The steakhouse and Italian had a limited menu although I enjoyed what I had. Lots of people weren't every keen.
There are many day trips available for you to go out and see more of the Dominican. We went to Ocean World. I loved it but some other people weren't very keen. Whilst we were there we did the dolphin and sea lion encounter, went snorkelling and seen the shows available. I liked it because you can interact with animals there rather than just look at them. Don't let any reps take you to promote their timeshares it’s a waste of time and they attract you by promising you freebies! We also went on the monster truck safari were we basically drove through a nearby village and seen how people live. If you go here take some things for the kids, anything cheap like sweets or pencil and papers, their little faces light up and its good as your driving past to throw a few sweets to them.
A few things to look out for:
Ladies - don't bother taking your straighteners! I was in tears when I realised the electricity is only 110v. Get some battery operated ones. The hairdryer will only buzz really and it will take you longer to dry your hair so plan ahead. I got my hair braided in the end.
Tips - We left tipping people till the end of the holiday. Just leave whatever you think is acceptable to you. You don't need to go overboard though but if you’re rich go for it because everyone does work hard. We tipped the cleaner (and I left some clothes) and a bar staff member who had served us throughout the holiday. We also tipped the guide on the monster trucks.
Watch out for people in the airport they will grab your stuff and carry it for you for tips so if you don't want that don't let them take it.
Be careful going out into Puerto Plata by yourself. We didn't do it because we were advised against it but we met one guy who went out and was hassled all the way by people begging or wanting him to buy things.
Overall the holiday was fantastic and we will definitely go back. If you are the type of person who doesn't like to be confined and likes to drink in different bars and restaurants think again about going to an all inclusive. But if you want a relaxing holiday in a hygienic environment in the sun definitely go. The pictures on other websites of the complex are so life-like!
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- Date of Holiday:Sep 2007
- Board Basis:All Inclusive
- Tour Operator:Direct Holidays
" Absolutely stunning resort, three... "
Submitted By: Mr HJ Davies
Absolutely stunning resort, three hotels in one effectively, Mambo, Meringue, and Bachata.
When we arrived there was some fuss over an outbreak of a stomach bug in the Bachata but we weren't at all affected by this.
Room was spacious with 2 - 3/4 beds and plenty of storage space. Kept clean and tidy by the janitorial staff who were a whizz with towel origami.
food was of a high quality throughout our 2 week stay. Only slight disappointment was the evening entertainment.
All together there were 5 swimming pools, 5 bars (including a pool bar) and a late night snack bar which comes in very handy if you eat early in the evening.
Would highly recommend for couples and families.
When we arrived there was some fuss over an outbreak of a stomach bug in the Bachata but we weren't at all affected by this.
Room was spacious with 2 - 3/4 beds and plenty of storage space. Kept clean and tidy by the janitorial staff who were a whizz with towel origami.
food was of a high quality throughout our 2 week stay. Only slight disappointment was the evening entertainment.
All together there were 5 swimming pools, 5 bars (including a pool bar) and a late night snack bar which comes in very handy if you eat early in the evening.
Would highly recommend for couples and families.
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- Date of Holiday:Jul 2006
- Board Basis:All Inclusive
- Tour Operator:Thomson
" Excellent hotel and resort. You can... "
Submitted By: Miss J Gentile
Excellent hotel and resort. You can eat and use the facilities of the other two hotels (Merringe and Bacchata) whenever you like.
Fab food and fab environment. Definitely want to go back as soon as possible. It was rated as a 4star by Thomson but we'd say definitely 4 possibly 5star. Couldn't fault the place.
Fab food and fab environment. Definitely want to go back as soon as possible. It was rated as a 4star by Thomson but we'd say definitely 4 possibly 5star. Couldn't fault the place.
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- Date of Holiday:Jun 2006
- Board Basis:All Inclusive
- Tour Operator:Thomson
" This is advertised as a 5* resort. I... "
Submitted By: LyndsayW
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.
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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- Date of Holiday:Aug 2005
- Board Basis:All Inclusive
- Tour Operator:Thomson
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The rooms were extremely spacious and immaculate, there was a wide range of food and drink.
We did find it difficult to get drunk in the first week, the cocktails and spirits are very weak but we went on red wine and tequila slammers and they did the trick.
I got stung one of the last days by a sea urchine, this was at the sea by Bachata Hotel, the sea there is very stoney and a perfect place for sea urchine to hide, I would recommend that swimming is done by the Mambo beach as the sea bed there is just sand.
When I got stung the staff were helpful and the Doctor didnt even take my insurance details.
An enjoyable time had by all, I would highly recommend.
Good for: Beach