This is my first review and I will try to be objectional as possible.

Riu Bambu is part of a Riu complex including two palace hotels, the Riu Naiboa and the Riu Taino. Checkin at the hotel was fast 5/5 we were shown to our room and the porter took our bags. The room was clean and tidy with a need for updating the furniture because handles were always coming off but nothing serious. There was a minibar with the usual rum,gin and vodka with a good supply of soft drinks, mixers and beer nice and cold in the fridge for when we arrived. Our room was on the ground floor and I felt safe leaving stuff on the balcony as the balconys were surrounded with bushes 8ft deep. The bathrooms were quite small with a very slippy bath - put a hand towl in the bath to make it safer when you shower. Drinking water is provided in a plastic bottle for drinking and brushing your teeth. Bedding and towels were changed on a daily basis. The down sIde was that they were having serious problems with hot water and we had to have cold showers fors for 4 days with the water very tempremental for the rest of the holiday right up to when we left yesterday ranging from low temp to not enough pressure to get any water out of the shower head and I am afraid cold showers dont do it for me, it doesnt get the lotion off, This really did put a damper on the holiday as it was really hard to get info from either the thomson rep or an answer from hotel staff all we were told was 'its being delt with'. Oh and for what its worth the water problems were for the WHOLE complex including the two palace hotels as well. I did have to commend the Thomson German reps they recognised that there was a problem and proactivley kept their customers updated and arranged for their clients to be compensated for the inconvenience.

Food: There are 2 restaurants The Colonial which is a little more formal but it was still acceptable for Tshirts and shorts to be worn for all sittings so you dont need to do the formal thing by getting dressed up. The Mamajun is less formal and you can go in wearing swimwear during the day and at evening it is used for the steak grill and the Italian which have to be booked first thing in the morning. I never went any of these but from people I spoke to, their opinions varied so you will have to make your own mind up. If you do want to book a meal I would recomend the Caribe restaurant which is the only restaurant you can use from any of the palace hotels. You can access any of the other hotel bars, snack bars and restaurants but they all serve the same food. The menu is rotated on a weekly basis and becomes a bit repetative after a while but I would give it 4/5.

Pool: Great except at weekends. The pool can get a little rowdy at weekends as there seems to be more people who use the resort at weekends and they can be quite loud. The pool is sunny and shaded with a jacuzzi part and a great pool bar, avoid the middle of the pool at the end of the day as all the debris from trees falling in the pool (seeds and leaves) and dead flies tended to float there due to the filtration set up in the pool. Service at the bar was average but if you want to be served quicker tip the guy $5-10 at the start of your hol and they will look after you. DONT order a mojito (drink with fresh mint leaves) as they dont wash the mint and they include the root often with a bit of soil still on so I would definatley give this cocktail a miss. Beach towels are replaced daily in exchange for for the towel card provided but dont put them on a bed and leave them if you go to the beach, some people had theirs nicked and there was a possibility of being charged $20 if you didnt hand your towel card into reception when you left 4/5.

Beach: Well what can I say - perfection. Beautiful white sandy beach with soft rolling surf and plenty of beds for sunbathing 5/5.

Entertainment: This is average with score of 3.5/5. The guys are brill and wait till you meet sexy belly. I have never met anyone with such an infectious smile and humerous personality. The girls tend not to be as enthusiastic with the exception of Ebony and the girl with short blonde hair but when you see what thet do I dont suppose I blame them. The team in the Taino were good so it was worth the walk up there.

Ther are lots of trips available and if you look on the thomson website under extras you can get a bit more info including prices but if you are going to do any thing do the trip to Sanoa, its a long day but well worth it. It starts with a coach trip to the artist village then you walk (300 yes 300 steps) down to the paddle boat where you are served drinks. Then you get onto the speed boat where you stop off and paddle in the wist high water with fresh fruit and more drink then back on the speed boat to Sanoa where we had a BBQ and time to snorkle and swim. Then we got on a catamaran for party and drinks and then the bus back - wonderful day 5/5.

Tips: Bring plenty of sun lotion if you are coming from the uk get P20 from the airport its £20 a bottle but one bottle will last two people a week and once its on you dont need to reapply no matter how many times you go in water brill stuff if you get prickly heat. If you can get them bring citronella bands to wear on your ankles to keep the mossys away better than the spray and you can get two bands from Asda for £1.80 (I would use one on each wrist and ankles) and citronella tea lights for when you sit out side having a drink. If you like your nibbles take nuts and choc as these are quite expensive to buy. If you are going to tip do so at the begining of the hol and you will be well looked after. Take more than one pair of sun glasses. Fill a form out at reception for the Rui Classic card this will give you discounts at several retailers and extra internet time on the resort. At night time its HOT so be ready for it take lots of natrual fibres to wear it makes it more comfy. Get your duty free from home as the airport only has a small shop and doesnt stock a lot. If you can afford it get a taxi to the airport we had to wait 3 hrs in the departure lounge - a long time with not a lot to kill the time. Eat before you get to the airport the food is not very nice.

Sorry it has been so long but I have tried to give as much info as possible and you can email with any questions you might have and I will try and help you out as much as I can.

Happy Hols

We stayed @ Riu Bambu May 1 - May 8 with kids age 7 and 9.

HOTEL: nice layout, pools and beach are very close by. Lots of palms with great shade, many bars

ROOM: cheap, old stile; hard, uncomfortable mattress, bad pillows, short sheets, which hardly cover mattresses.

HOT WATER: not sure, if it is common, but we had 3 days with no hot water.

BEACH: beautiful, clean, blue sea, white sand, lots of room in a shade under palms.

SWIMMING POOLS: very nice, quiet deep for small children, nice swim bar.

KIDS CLUB: only open 9:30-12:00 and 15:30-17:00. Kids have lots of activities and sport games. There is a tiny kiddy swimming pool as well.

BUFFET: food is a good quality , but not a huge variety. Not good for meat lovers (only 2-3 kind of meat during dinner); not much seafood as well.

ENTERTAINMENT: great, people are working very hard during the day as well as @ night shows.

IN GENERAL: we had a great, relaxing vacation. Hotel is a 4 star level.

Our group of eight checked into the Bambu April 26th for a Spring Break week. This was my second trip to Punta Cana and it was better than the first! For all of you who spend your vacation taking pictures of peeling paint and mold in corners....too bad for you! I don't think I have ever stayed in a hotel in the US that is as clean or strives as hard to please as the RIU's. This is my third RIU stay and I will continue to go RIU!
All the staff were eager to please us and we were very happy to let them know we appreciated their efforts! (TIPS!) They work eleven days straight then get three days off. For the most part they don't see their families for eleven days! If you take the bus from the airport you get a glimpse at the living conditions for the average Dominican!
I read one reviewer who said there were reports of theft....personally we didn't hear any such thing and if it is true it was probably another tourist who did it!
I would recommend for the party people like my group that you bring insulated cups for the beach.
We did one excursion on the Kon Tiki party boat. It was a blast!!
The best dinners were the two nights we ate at the Caribe Grill.
Don't miss the street party on Thursday night.
It is your vacation so you should enjoy! If you spend it nit picking shame on you!

We just got back from a week at the Riu Bambu, April 26-May 3rd, a group of 4 couples. I had been reading previous reviews, and I wasn't sure what to expect, but I must say I was pleasantly surprised. We had a speedy check-in and were even able to get all of our rooms in one building, which was great! The rooms are alittle outdated and small, but they were always clean, and everything was in working order. We asked for extra pillows and blankets, and got them right away. The food was okay, and there was always plenty of variety, but breakfast was my favorite meal. Make sure you make reservations for dinner at the Caribe Grill because the food is really good...but make your reservations by about 7:15am, otherwise you will miss out. They book very quick. We also tried the Steakhouse resturant, but wasn't very impressed with that. The wait staff, bartenders, and the animacion team work very hard and do such a great job. If you tip them, they work even harder for you, which we gave small tips all week, even to the maids! The beaches were beautiful, and there were always plenty of lounge chairs and shade. I won't say this place is perfect, but I found very few negatives to mention. I can only say, that I hope you enjoy this tropical paradise, as much as I did! Don't forget to visit the Carribean Street festival, on Thursday night, its alot of fun.