Hotel Riu Palace Macao - Adults Only - All Inclusive

Our recent stay at this RIU property in Punta Cana was unfortunately one of the most disappointing experiences we've had with the brand, which is especially frustrating given that we are loyal RIU guests who have stayed at their resorts more than 10 times around the world. We paid for Elite Club Oceanfront upgrade, expecting an elevated experience. Upon arrival, we accidentally checked in at the regular desk because the Elite Club chick-in signage was not clear. We were initially given a very small room with 2 double beds which was not what we booked. At the very least we expected a King bed and an oceanfront view, as that is what we paid for. After going back to the front desk and expressing our concerns, the staff did correct the situation and moved us to a swim-out room. While this was appreciated, it still did not include the ocean view we paid for. Housekeeping throughout the week was inconsistent. Dirty dishes were left in the room, and the snack and mini fridge were not restocked until we specifically asked for it to be addressed. The dishes were there our entire stay. Another major issue throughout the resort was the amount of smoking and vaping. Cigarette butts were everywhere - including floating in the pools and scattered around the common areas. For a resort environment, this was extremely unpleasant and poorly managed. Maintenance and cleanliness also seemed to be lacking. One of the busiest public restrooms in the resort only had one working faucet. Dining was also disappointing overall. The only consistently excellent food we experienced was at the Elite Club restaurant, which truly stood out. Unfortunately, most of the other dining options were subpar. At the Japanese restaurant, we waited for over an hour and had only received part of our meal. What we did receive was cold and unpleasant. After waiting that long, we decided to leave. Additional frustrations included very unreliable Wifi throughout the resort and a complete lack of communication from Destination Services regarding our departure transportation, which created unnecessary stress at the end of the trip. Overall, this was one of the worst RIU stays we have experienced. As longtime guests who have visited several RIU resorts, we expected much more in terms of maintenance, service, and overall experience. Unfortunately based on this stay, we would not return to this property. We may be looking for a new brand altogether.

We ended up at this hotel after another trip was cancelled (due to the war in the middle east). So this was very last minute (we booked 2 days before!) and as a result, hadn't had chance to do much prior research. I wanted somewhere warm and relaxing for my 40th birthday and somewhere I could switch off. I'm pleased to say it was the exact holiday I needed and although unplanned, I loved every minute. We are already looking at coming back next year :) I'll go through each part below. Location Amazing location on a stunning beach. I'd say the beach was my favourite part. Although it's very windy which means you can't always swim in the sea/snorkel etc as the sea is quite rough. The wind is nice though as it keeps the heat bearable. The hotel has a private part to the beach which is set back from the main beach, meaning you don't get pestered by sellers etc and it's quiter (the main beach is quite busy). You also get the bar staff coming up and asking if you want drinks as you lounge by the beach, just amazing service - especially from Luis :) We found there were always loungers available on the beach, less so by the pool though. Hotel grounds The grounds were beautuful and clean, it's evident that the staff work very hard to keep the hotel looking nice. It's a well oiled machine! There are always people cleaning and fixing things, it's actually seriously impressive. There are three pools and one with a swim up pool bar. It was difficult to get a place to sit by the pools unless you got there early, the pool area was less relaxing than the beach area however later in the day it was pretty chilled. The pool bar got quite rowdy, some days there was a dj and pool party type vibe. I did enjoy the pool bar on a few occassions but wouldn't want to sit by it all day as it was quite loud - not relaxing. The thing is though you can choose what you want to do. If you want to party/drink you can, if you want to chill with a book on the beach you can and its genuinely quiet and relaxing. I think it has something for everyone and nothing is forced on you. Food Food was amazing. I liked the fact that you didnt have to pre book restaurants as that took any stress away. All the restaurants we tried were great, as well as the buffet restuarant. Lots of variety and great quality food. The cocktails too were great, although the wine I don't think was great quality. TIP - The coffee in the coffee shop was also lovely and nicer than what you get at breakfast. Service I'd say the staff are the highlight of this hotel. They all work very hard and are very friendly. Nothing is too much trouble. I just dont think you get service like this in the UK! For example, if you are sitting in the lobby having a drink, you never have an empty glass. Plates are cleared straight away, you are constantly being asked if you would like another drink etc. We did tip the staff whilst we were there, although you don't have to and its never forced on you. But I think they do such a good job then it's well deserved. On my birthday, I came back to my room and found ballons, my bed decorated with flowers and a happy birthday note and gift from the hotel, and i never even told them it was my birthday! We also booked a romantic meal on the beach one night and came back to rose petals all ovrer the floor and bed! It's things like this that make the service special. Weather It was so warm which I loved, although quite cloudy most days. This is my perfect climate though, not too hot (in March) just lovely and warm! We did get rain most days but it was more short showers that didnt affect anything. One minute is was heavy rain, the next minute it had stopped and you wouldn't even know it had rained! It rained quite heavy overnight one night (the night of our romantic meal and birthday night), the rain meant we had to come inside which was disappoiting but can't be helped. It was still a special experience, with the staff making you feel like a celebrity! I'm sure this is just the nature of the caribbean weather!! Room So the room was a junior suite with balcony. It was very large with two huge beds, a mini bar and nice size bathroom and balcony. I have to say the room looked lovely and was very cool with a fan and aircon so it was easy to sleep. Our room was quiet as well as it was looking over the back of the hotel I think, so you couldn't hear the noise from entertainment etc. I think the pool facing rooms would be much noiser. The only downside is it did have a very strong musty smell which I really didnt like when we first arrived. However after a couple of days of us leaving the balcony door slightly open, that seemed to improve. There were also a few things where the room seemed a bit tired, like discolouration/rusting on the light fittings, one of the sinks was a bit wobbly, the toilet was a bit stained, the main showerhead didnt work. I think it's the small things that if they were tweaked slightly, the room would be perfect. I think the room could benefit from a bit of an updating on these areas (room 2084). However it was very clean and comfortable (the beds were so comfy!) and I'm sure there are more modern rooms at the hotel. Overall though we had a fantastic holiday and are already looking to come back next year. Muchas gracias :)

Unfortunately, the room assigned to us has *visible black mold and a strong odor*, creating a clear health concern and an environment that is not acceptable for any guest, particularly within a premium room category. This issue was reported to resort management this evening. While the team has agreed to move us tomorrow, we were informed that no alternative room was available tonight, which means we are expected to *spend the night in a room with visible mold present*. Additionally, the room location and view are among the least desirable on the property, which is inconsistent with the premium Elite Club experience we specifically paid for. When we raised these concerns, the only gesture offered was *room decorations*, which unfortunately does not appropriately address a health and safety concern of this nature.

Beautiful hotel, good food and excellent service. The hotel was well maintained and rooms well serviced. The evening entertainment was good on the whole, daytime could be a little loud. The negatives were that we had a huge shower cubicle in our room but the ceiling shower did not work and the wall shower was extremely poor - you had to hug the wall to get wet. The pigeons on the balcony were annoying as they were noisy and dirty. The room was noisy at night so an early night was out of order! I think the biggest negative was the noise - there were so many noisy American and Canadian guests that just liked to shout all the time and never left the pool with the swim up bar!

This was my 3rd try at Punta Cana and although the best of them, came away fairly disappointed. Since booking several months prior, I watched and/or read just about every review, so had really high hopes. Booked Sunwing which became WestJet flight and was fine. Plane seating a little tight but I survived. PUJ airport ok but a little confusing finding the correct transportation, but again I survived. Close to 5 pm on Sunday arriving at resort, check in with Rodrigo was excellent however at 5pm, our room not ready??? Came back about 5:30 and it was. Grounds, room, pool, beach all very nice and well maintained. 1 problem, in room safe locked on arrival, so I couldn't use it. Reported it to front desk 3 times, and on RIU app 5 times over 3 days and only by dumb luck of me trying different codes every day, it opened on Tuesday!! Nobody from the resort ever came. At least I could use it now. Reviews talked of plenty of sun beds available without "saving" them at 6 am.... Not true. People would leave their things there and be gone all day! 99% of staff from front desk, to servers, to cleaners, bar staff and entertainment were very pleasant, friendly, and helpful!!! But there was the other handful who weren't. And they became the noticeable ones because of the miserable demeanor. Not the best job probably, but I bet there is someone else who would appreciate it! And whether you don't like tipping or not .. TIP!! They absolutely appreciate it! Food. Biggest disappointment yet! Reviews praised it. Must have been an off week! Breakfast buffet was the best meal. However with that being said nothing was ever hot if supposed to be or cold if it was supposed to be... Almost room temp. For some reason, every piece of meat from hot dog (?) , burgers, steak, chicken was just beyond well done and dry. Volare, Italian, was the best of the a la carte restaurants... Steaks at steakhouse so tough, they were hard to cut! Or and well done (requested not well). Krystal short ribs good... A friend loved the red snapper there. Did not even try Asian due to menu. All in all not a good food week and that's coming from one who's been to dozens of all inclusives. Nightly entertainment pretty bad. Singers just singing with a recording like high class karaoke. Diva show good. Violin soloist great! At the close, although we made the best of it, enjoyed what we could but probably won't return. Sorry RIU

Great Experience But not Excellent. Minor tweaks would make it stellar. #1 Handicap Assability is poor. We were there with a friend in a wheelchair. They had no Handicap rooms available. Cobblestone trails make it hard to push. Also no handicap access to the beach. It would be nice if RIU would build beach platforms for wheel chairs. Right on the sand. With enough room for 6 wheel chairs and chairs for their partners. The food was excellent, along with the rooms and service. Entertainment was also Great. We stayed in an Elite room with a pool which is worth the upgrade. The gift was sub par, cheap cup, a bag and a $5 bottle of sparkling wine. The appetizers in the Elite restaurant were terrible however, the surf and turf was superb. #2 Laundry, 48 hour turnaround. The property could put a laundry room in with 10 machines $5 / load and make a fortune. That would allow guest to wash at their leisure. Keep it open 24/7. Most guest stay a week and don't need laundry services till their 5th day. Entertainment was great, nice shows. It would have been great to see some Stand- Up Comedians. Doing two shows in English and Spanish. RIU could certainly get a contract with a Comedy Circuit to provide Comedians to all of their Properties. We will definitely be Back and had a Wonderful stay.

Room Upon entering the room, the first thing we noticed was a strong, musty smell. The room appeared unclean, the bathroom sink had a large crack, and the view was very disappointing — it overlooked the back of the hotel and directly faced rooms from the neighbouring property. We returned to reception and paid for an upgrade. The new suite’s highlight was undoubtedly the stunning sea view from the generous balcony — absolutely worth it. Food & Restaurants There are five different restaurants (including the Elite Club restaurant), all offering delicious food. However, the buffet truly stood out. The variety was incredible — I have never seen lobster and caviar offered at a buffet before. Elite Club guests also have access to a separate breakfast menu. On our first occasion ordering from the Elite Club breakfast menu, the food was beautifully presented and tasted excellent, just like in the pictures. However, on a second visit, we waited 45 minutes for the same dishes. After reminding the waiter, he apologised and the food arrived quickly — unfortunately, the quality was noticeably lower, as if it had been hastily assembled from buffet items. The same thing happened on another morning, so we eventually chose to stick with the buffet, which was consistently excellent. Hotel & Atmosphere Riu Palace Macao is a beautiful property with a modern, organic design style. Walking through the corridors felt elegant and comfortable. The restaurants were stylish, though the Elite Club restaurant occasionally lacked atmosphere. The Cuban bar was visually stunning, but the lingering musty smell slightly detracted from its charm. Staff & Service The staff were consistently friendly and welcoming. At times, we had to wait or gently remind waiters about drinks or coffee orders, but as the hotel was busy, this was understandable. Drinks Although we didn’t drink much alcohol, the cocktails we tried were tasty and clearly made with good-quality ingredients — especially those served in the Elite Club. Beach The beach was beautiful, and every morning a tractor cleaned away seaweed, which was great to see. If you want the best sunbeds, it’s worth getting up early, as they are taken quickly. Overall Despite the initial disappointment with our original room, we had a beautiful holiday and thoroughly enjoyed our stay. We would definitely consider staying with RIU hotels again.

Third stay in two years at this hotel. We visited many Riu's but this one is our favorite. Location is amazing directly on the beach, proporty not to big and the other riu hotels are walking distance. The food is good, buffet for every meal and the a la carte restaurants in the evening also really good ( it would be nice if they changed the menu's maybe twice a year ) drinks are good but the best thing at this hotel and a reason why we are coming back is the staff. We want to thank all of them to make our vacation amazing every time again. We didn't remember all the names but special thanks to: Wilfredo at reception, Adonis from the coffee shop, Pablo, Wilton and Jose from the pool bar, Alojandri from the cubano bar, Jose Juan and Alexander from the buffet/Italian and Luis at the beach! See you next time!

Our eleventh stay at the palace Macao. ALL the staff make this hotel so special. We have known a lot of the staff since our first stay and it is great to see them still at this hotel, working their way up the ladder. The food is fabulous. The beach area is lovely. The two swim pools are great. The swim up bar is not a swim up but more of a party pool. The swim up rooms seem to be marketed to USA and possibly CANADA but not the UK. Not missing much. Wouldn’t pay the extra for them or the elite element. Not needed in our opinion. Drinks are good. Top shelf readily served. Entertainment this year was not that good. We went to the Bambu next door and their entertainment was better. We completely relax when we are here and are so grateful for the hard work that is put in to enable us to do this. With the weather in the UK being so bad since we returned, if I had been retired we would have booked to go straight back!! Thank you especially to Pedro, Danny, Smarlin, Jose, Leonarda, Matteo, Francis, Diomedes, Santos and Wilfredo - thank you for resolving our room issue the first night. Smiles and welcomes from all staff very appreciated See you next year.

It’s definitely not a five star hotel let me start with a pool area. The swim up pool bar was dirty with pee people don’t get out and go to the bathroom I was in that pool one day and it was so bad other pools were ok the entertainment team were very rude and disrespectful they had a coconut feast on the beach my girl friend and I went to get a coconut we were told to come back at 4:00 we looked at the time it was 3:50 we walked away and came back and they kept telling us not yet mean while they were giving coconuts to employees at the hotel, and we saw some of the entertainment team, giving them to other people, and they refuse to give us two coconuts-we were very upset. We did not end up getting any coconuts.definitely the entertainment team were terrible!!!! I have never experienced that I have stayed at many RIUS and that was the worst! Beach was beautiful the only issue is they had no umbrellas so if you needed shade that was a problem they did have palm trees but that didn’t shade very much All the other servers at the buffet and coffee shop were nice ! We’re are room located was good BUT definitely needs to update very dirty needs a good paint in rooms and hallways and doors rooms were ok bathroom were ok ! Overall it was just ok would not stay again there are other RIUs much better!