ClubHotel Riu Merengue Rating: 2.5 Pearls

Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic

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The pool

The Riu hotel chain seems to be taking over the entire Caribbean (and even Florida), due in large part to its cheap rates and fun atmosphere. Based in Spain, the resort is most popular with Europeans and specifically English, German, and French travelers. There were not many Americans when I visited – but this is typical of anywhere in the Dominican Republic. With this clientele comes a little more style, some topless sunbathing on the beach, and loads of cigarette smoking.

A friendly and energetic entertainment staff keeps the semi-inebriated guests conscious throughout the day, rousing the passed-out masses from their chaise lounge slumbers with impromptu games of water polo and dance routines. When night rolls around, guests are entertained with various stage shows. These inevitably include dancing, music, and more dancing. Beer and alcohol flow freely, and everyone seems to be having a really good time. There's a carefree vibe, and the super-friendly staff works hard to keep that vibe alive.

Three Riu Resorts coexist in a single complex: the Riu Mambo, Riu Bachata, and Riu Merengue. The hotels share a long beach, and guests can use amenities at each hotel.

The front desk

I encountered some of the nicest staff members anywhere in the Caribbean. Service overall was very friendly -- they’re constantly fist-bumping guests. The entire staff seemed like they were enjoying themselves -- at times more than the guests.

All bartenders were incredibly friendly and quick to refill drinks. Tips go a long way, too. If the service isn't quick enough, just drop a dollar after each drink and watch the bartenders become superheroes.

When I called the front desk for more towels, they arrived in about 10 minutes. But it did take a few tries to get through to the front desk. No answer the first three times I called.

Note: Like anywhere in the D.R., do not leave anything outside your door. I left my wet flip-flops, and they were gone the next day. When I called the front desk, they said they would make a note of it. I also left an umbrella outside our room, and it was also gone in the morning.

View on a Larger Map

The Riu is located in the small town of Cofresi, a 35-minute $45 taxi ride from the airport.

It's a sleepy town with little beyond a smattering of hotels, the expansive (though less pristine) Cofresi Beach, and the Ocean World Adventure park, one of the North Coast's most popular tourist destinations. The area is a mostly barren stretch of low-rise timeshares and small public greens that host the occasional stickball contest. While a casino and the Canadian-owned Chris & Mady's restaurant draw sizable crowds, a relative lack of activity drives nightlife-seeking tourists 15 minutes east to Puerto Plata and the Playa Dorada complex.

The beach

The beach, right in front of the hotel, was pretty packed with lounge chairs and passed-out guests. Less crowded spots, however, can be found in between the three Riu hotels.

Some TripAdvisor reviewers recommended swimming with sandals or water shoes. I agree. The sand is pretty rough and mostly made from broken coral. While it's easy to walk out into the water, it quickly gives way to a large reef. I didn't want to venture out too far for fear of cutting my feet on the coral (and because I didn't want to destroy the reef). The water is warm and not too choppy. There are also changing rooms and outdoor showers on the beach.

The water sports station sits on the border between the Riu Mambo and Merengue properties. It offers windsurfing, sunfish sailing, kayaks, wave runners, and deep-sea fishing.

The Standard Room

All rooms at the Riu properties are smoking rooms. My first impression: This place smells like an ashtray. After a not-so-rigorous test, I found the source of the smoke smell to be the A.C. The smell improved when I opened up the sliding glass door and turned off the A.C., but when I turned it on again, it smelled like smoke was being blown out of it.

Other than the smell, the room was clean and comfortable. There was wicker furniture, and the “ king bed” was really just two full-size beds pushed together, each set up with separate sheets. Strange, but it's the norm at the Riu resorts.

Like at all Riu properties, there’s a mini-bar partially stocked with a few beers, some Pepsi, tonic, and soda. Unlike any other resort, it also has four hard booze options above the mini-bar. The bottles are set upside down and have single-serving shot mechanisms attached.

The TV is an old 20-inch RCA. Most of the channels don't come in clearly, or the pictures come in but not the sound. My remote worked, but there only seemed to be one English channel at any given time. There was also a clock radio but no place to plug in an iPod.

The A.C. doesn't work when the sliding door is open, and the outlets are Euro/U.S.-style. Most plugs, like those on a cell phone charger, do not fit in the outlet.

The balcony is large but not very private. Because the buildings are clustered so close together, balconies are only a few meters from one another.

The kids club

The gym is horrible -- ratty old carpet, decrepit stationary bikes, and rusty free weights. It remained empty throughout my stay. Many guests entered with iPods in hand but rolled their eyes and left once they saw the machines. Worse still, hotel policy states that one must make a reservation to use the gym.

Three tennis courts sit by the main entrance to the Riu complex. The Riu Mambo shares the courts with the Merengue. The courts, however, are a 10-minute walk from most rooms.

The Renova Spa, the gym, and the casino are located on Caribbean Street, a stretch of pastel-colored shops and stands between the Riu Merengue and Bacchata. The Renova Spa’s reception area held modern wicker furniture and the scent of cinnamon candles. The small complex had many facilities, including several teeny massage rooms and a sauna.

The hotel stages a performance each night on the main stage at the Merangue. During our stay, the actors/lip-synchers performed “Grease” to a packed house. After the show, the entertainment staff danced with audience members on stage. Most guests enjoyed the performances, and there was a mix of young singles and couples milling about.

The El Millon Casino was a single, dimly lit room with a few faded felt tables. It contained a number of noisy slot machines, a three-card poker table, and $5 minimum blackjack. A modest bar in the corner went unstaffed most of the day.

My room was incredibly clean, minus the rank odor of smoke. When I first got to my room, it had just been cleaned and the cleaning product was still drying on the floor. It left a slippery waxy layer behind. The bathroom was equally clean, and the Riu towels were soft.

The hotel’s grounds were well manicured and tended to by a team of hotel staff. Leaves were swept off the walkways, trees were relieved of unwieldy branches, and gardens were weeded. Bungalow walls were kept stainless. (The rain didn't hurt.)

The restaurants, especially the buffet, were tidy. Cleaning crews showed a great passion for mopping spills, bussing tables, and taking away dirty dishes.

Macumba buffet

The buffets are just OK -- typical of most Dominican all-inclusives, which have some of the worst food in the Caribbean. At lunch it was difficult to find a place to sit.

The breakfast buffet is really limited -- cereal, fruit, sliced meats, cheese, and bread. For dinner, there are a lot of pasta and starch options as well as some cheese plates. Vegetarian options are limited to one large vat of vegetarian stew and the salad bar. There is a beer tap, which was nice. There are also three taps of wine (rose, white, and red) of the cheapest, jug-wine vintage.