ClubHotel Riu Merengue

Just got back on the 1st of October after our first visit to the Dominican and we really loved it. The room was good and the staff were very friendly, they were so friendly that we celebrated my wifes birthday on three seperate days, because they couldn't remember which day it was on. Three cards and five presents were sent from reception. The buffet restaurant had a wonderful choice of food and the Italian and Steakhouse food were good. The fillet steak in each was to die for. As for the trips, we booked through the First Choice reps Antonio and Beliza, who were very helpful. The first week we went on the Freestyle catamaran, what a beautiful day. The crew were funny and made it a very enjoyable day. The second week we went to Ocean World and did the dolphin swim it was out of this world and it wasn't very busy, so we were able to do all the shows. On the middle Sunday of our holiday we did the white water rafting, you must try this, at 53 it was an adrenalin rush for both the wife and myself. We wouldn't have done the white water rafting if it hadn't been for the locals, because we just had to get away from the complex on the second weekend, their behaviour is ignorant. At approximately dinner time on Friday this flock of starlings start to descend on the complex, we named them starlings, because they never shut up till the moment they all left on Sunday afternoon. Every entertainment was overrun by them and on the second Saturday afternoon we couldn't get no where to sit in the poolside snack bar to eat. Every table had mother with a small child and belongings sat there all afternoon, while dad was off with the other kids. The evening meal was no better in the La Roka restaurant. A lot of people we spoke to said they felt second class at the weekends and even the staff said they hated it when the locals arrived. This was a new experience for us and on the whole we couldn't fault the Merengue or it's sister hotels, but for the one big BUT, the locals. ( if I go again, I'm taking ear plugs !).

My wife and I have just returned from our fifth trip to this hotel having been there in 2004,5,6,and 8.
We were there for the first two weeks of June 2011.

It is still a very good hotel and new visitors will find little to complain about.
All Staff areas and food standards remain good.
Bar staff in particular are excellent.
However people returning to the Merengue who have visited before may a little surprised to find that there are no longer optics in the rooms, that the safe now costs 3 USD per day and the a la cart restaurants are pretty much a self service deal.
The animation team still work very hard but have obviously been subjected to economic cuts as where there used to be around 10 to 12 on the team there seems to be only 5 or 6. The RIU rating of 5* is overstated in our view as it is now more 3.5*.

3 readers found this review helpful

What can I say but it was one of the best holidays I have ever been on. This was not my first trip to the Dominican Republic but by far the best so far. The staff were absoulutely brilliant, nothing was too much trouble. I do agree about the behaviour of the nationals of Dom Rep who visit on the weekends but that is no reflection on the staff. I would recommend the Merengue to any one who wants to try this amazing island

This was our first trip and our last to the riu merengue in the dominican republic!The start being the flight,leg room ok the width of the seats being very uncomfortably narrow!The rooms were comfortable but tired,as were the comunal areas.
The weekends were a nightmare with the locals turning up in their hundreds,the litter and noise levels rose ten fold and the swimming pool and surrounding area was unuseable due to their lack of consideration and general aggressive rude nature.This attitude continude into the Dining areas and bars,this is the only time i have ever been glad for a weekend to finish!The same went for the staff,who were brilliant they couldnt be anymore helpful or appologetic.
The drinks were plentyful but so watered down you would never get done for drink driving!Overall beaches good,grounds good,staff good the rest needs real looking at.

3 readers found this review helpful

Having came back from this hotel i would not return, staff are very friendly and helpful but the hotel is in need of being updated. Out of the two weeks we were there the pool was shut on a number of times due to locals visiting at weekends and allowing the children to mess in the pool, which as the weather was not so good the sea was also closed for swimming. Also there was some very large rats that had the run of the grounds around the bar and kitchens. Having said this the staff were all very friendly and did try very hard with a uphill task.

7 readers found this review helpful

Myself, husband and 2 teenage kids have just come back from a 2 week stay at Riu merengue. To put all your minds at rest from reading some of the (not so good) reviews this was the best holiday i have ever been on. The hotel was spotless clean with plenty of staff everywhere in hotel constantly cleaning floors rooms bars restaurant reception pool beach toilets. We had 2 double rooms with very large balcony, private facilities mini bar tv and air con. The maid was in every day and did some amazing towel art. The mini bar was stocked every other day i did leave 100 pesos (just under £2) every other day so a few extra beers were put in the fridge. The food was delicious in the restaurant a vast choice of soup, salads,meat, fish, pasta, vegetables and dessert. Several times a week they had theme nights Italian, Chinese, Dominican cuisine. In the snack bar was salads, sandwiches, hot dogs, pizza chips you cant go hungry and are spoilt for choice. They werent strict with the a la carte steak house we ate there 4 times i would definately reccommend the rib eye. excellent entertainment staff Rocky, Spagetti, mini mouse, mosquito they kept us entertained with fantastic shows and games 7 days and nights a week. Jane our first choice rep was fantastic on call for any info or questions very professional and approachable we went on fiesta night with her which took us round Puerto plata tour even went to a voodoo shop then back to the ranch for dominican party and delicious 5 course meal a definate must at just over £100 for all 4 of us. We also went to ocean world and swam with dolphins unforgettable. Back at the hotel we were spoilt for choice at the bar cocktails, long, short drinks beer wine you name it bar staff very attentive. The pool was cleaned every day and the beach was just tropical. When the locals came at the week end .... yes the hotel seemed noisier but they kept themselves to themselves they are all proffessionals from the city who love the week end break if you dont want the noise book your trips for the saturday. We met some fantastic friends and as i said it was the holiday of a life time we will definatley be going back see for yourself do not let bad reviews put you off this holiday.

3 readers found this review helpful

This was our first time holidaying in the Dom Rep, we went with another family who had been twice before to the Riu Merengue and so we thought it would be a great experience, how wrong we were!, I cannot fault the staff at all, they do a fantastic job in entertaining the holidaymakers and the restaurent staff work extremely hard for what little they get paid, sadly the thing that spolit it for us was the fact at the weekends we were inundated by a deluge of locals who come to stay, the noise levels go up 10 fold, they are rude, aggresive, with no care and consideration for others, they litter everywhere which is a shame as its their country, they overtake the restaurents and pile up their plates and then dont eat the food, they are also very rude to the waiters which is a shame to see,
We were not warned about this event at weekends when we booked the holday and i would reccommend that First Choice add this to their brochure as many tourists felt that they could not stay in the hotel at weekends and therefore had to pay extra to go out for the day!!! So Much for All Inclusive. I will not be returning to the Riu Merengue and i feel that many others feel the same way too, apart from all that our rep Vicky was very helpful and obviously felt very embarressed at the whole affair.

3 readers found this review helpful

My fiance and i have just returned from riu merengue after a two week stay, we loved the setting of the hotel, the beach and sea are gorgeous, you can just relax for hours, parts of the sea are a little rocky but the entrance into the sea is mainly sandy. The rooms are basic and do require a more modern bathroom, but ok, it takes a while for the air con to get going, but when it does it really works, so we just left ours on for the whole two weeks. it is a little outdated too, thats why i think it takes a while to kick in. The staff are extremely friendly and the rooms are cleaned everyday to a high standard. The only problems we recieved were the quality of the food. Although it could be said there was a large variety of foods, the qualit let it down, fatty meats, bad sauces, overcooking, poor quality ingredients and repitition. It is also true that the locals are let in to the hotel every weekend, the first weekend we were there they were noticeable but not overcrowded, however the second weekend, there were a lot of them, very noisy, rude and do takeover the pool area. also on the beach they seemed to crowd the best areas of the seafront making lots of noise and leaving litter around, which did really annoy me, because it is their own country they are littering. I was ill a few times during the holiday, at first it was due to the mallaria tablets, however towards the end of the holiday i became quite ill, and even more so on the return journey, i do believe i either ate something dodgy that morning at the hotel or more likely the plane journey, i have been ill since returning early yesterday morning, Overall we loved the resort surroundings and found the staff friendly, but do believe you get what you pay for and the food was a massive let down. Also a lot of the fruit and salad has sliding doors which many of the guests just did not use, and then wondered why they got ill. With an open snack bar many flys can obviously get in and many guests for some dumb reason didnt think to close the doors on the servers. However for a good value holiday in pleasant surroundings the hotel is great but be warned that the food is not great and maybe plan excursions for the weekends or put up with it. also paradise island and the buggys are absolutely brilliant excursions. Also the thomson flight was horrendous, the seats are not comfortable to sleep in, it is very tight, although plenty of leg room i would recommend the wider seats in premium class if you want to get some sleep.

1 reader found this review helpful

6th visit feb 2010, never again,lot,s people ill vomiting me and husband included {1st time ever at this hotel} told by some staff they had also been ill!! room,s hot air con now past it,load,s local,s came for long weekend,s and took over pushed to front in every thing and on the whole menacing and very rude,food gone down cold and lots less choice than in past,i will miss the wonderful staff at this hotel but this year even they couldnt tempt us back,

1 reader found this review helpful

What a wonderful holiday! Spent 14 days at this complex The food was excellent, the staff were obliging and most helpful. Excellent beach for swimming and snorkeling In fact the only dissapointment we had was having to get on the plane to fly home.
Will be returning next year for sure.