Riu Palace Macao Rating: 3.5 Pearls

Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

Volleyball

The 350-room Riu Palace Macao looks like a colonial mansion on steroids -- lunging lady statues, dark wood molding, and gold details along the front desk. But the grandiosity ends right about there. The Riu is a slightly above-average all-inclusive -- average food, average service, average rooms, and a better-than-average beach. But with more than a dozen locations spread out over Mexico, Aruba, the Bahamas, and the Dominican Republic, guests know what to expect, and the resort has gained a lot of loyalists who come back year after year.

The Macao is one of five Riu resorts in a single complex with a total of 2,500 rooms. There's little privacy to be had here. Given the size and scale of the property, plan to spend a lot of time hoofing from room to beach to lunch to beach to room to pool. The complex is like a self-contained city, and there's lots to do, whether it's kayaking, swimming, shopping, or playing tennis.

The Riu Palace Macao is a small -- and more expensive -- step up from the Barcelo Bavaro Palace. But the newer Majestic Elegance (it opened in late 2008) has a better fitness center. Still, food is equally bad at both places.

The front desk

Overall, the service is on par with most all-inclusives but not exceptional.When I called for extra towels, they arrived in 25 minutes, which is better than I experienced at the Majestic Elegance.

Check-in was fairly easy, and made better by a complimentary glass of fruit punch. You can tell the front desk staff has a script to follow: "Hello, Mr./Ms._______, welcome to the Riu. If I can be of any service to you during your stay, please don't hesitate to contact me." A porter helped me with my bags and I was at my room in about 15 minutes, no problems.

It's common to arrive at the buffet and have nowhere to sit because the empty tables have not been cleared. Even when I did find a cleared table, it almost always lacked silverware or glasses. Similarly, getting the attention of the wait staff isn't easy. I went through several whole meals without a water or a drink. This is not the case at the nearby Iberostar. Bartenders, at least, are routinely attentive and friendly.

View on a Larger Map

Punta Cana is located in the eastern tip of the Dominican Republic. There are no towns or action near the Riu resorts that would draw most guests off of the property -- and certainly nothing worth walking to. Guests looking for mild adventure will likely stroll the beach, where guests can view ... other all-inclusives.

The beach

The Riu complex is located along a choice stretch of Bavaro Beach, and guests can walk uninterrupted -- seemingly for miles -- past four Riu resorts. (The fifth, the Hotel Riu Naiboa, is set back from the water.) The sand is sugary soft, and the big turquoise waves are clear and warm.

While the spots directly in front of each hotel get pretty packed, it's easy enough to walk a little way and find less crowded spots. Nice little groves of palm trees scattered down the beach also provide shelter from the beating sun.

All of the resorts in the complex share a nice-size water-sports shack. As is the norm, windsurfing, kayaking, snorkeling, sailing, and boogie boarding are all available free of charge. There is also a shipwreck visible from the beach that's now popular for scuba diving. The Russian freighter known as the Astron ran aground on the way to Cuba.

The deck of the Superior Room

Whether it's the rocking chairs on the balcony, the mustard-colored arm chairs next to the bed, or the big dark wood paneling, the rooms look pretty dated, compared with the newer Majestic Elegance or even the Riu Punta Cana Palace in the same complex. The furnishings are pretty weathered -- or "beyond weathered," as one guest quipped -- and the balcony comes with rusty, chipped furniture.

The room is clean and has no noticeable odors, unlike some other Riu rooms, which reek of smoke. Nonsmoking rooms are available. Upgrading will get you a larger terrace, pool views, and/or an in-room Jacuzzi.

Like at almost all Riu resorts, the king bed is actually two full-size beds pushed together, with a big crease down the middle and separate bedsheets. The sheets are basic, and there are just two pillows per mattress. The cotton blanket is light, and the mattress sagged. There are much better beds at other resorts.

The liquor dispenser is stocked with Stolichnaya vodka, Brugal rum, and Gordon's gin -- better than at most all-inclusives, where the rooms only come with a few bottles of beer. Mixers are in the mini-fridge, along with five Brahma brand beers and some water and soda.

The bathroom is clean but basic. The shower is raised from the floor, which makes getting in and out slightly precarious for guests with mobility challenges. Also, the bathroom has a bidet, a uniquely European feature, and Lavarino Cosso products.

In my rooms, the balcony looked across to another Riu resort -- it's almost impossible to not see another Riu from any room in this massive, five-resort complex. Two dividers separate the balconies, so there's no way you can see your neighbor, but you'll still likely to hear them.

The TV was a small, basic model with no DVD player. There was no iPod docking station either.

The pool

There's a big pool, and kids seemed to love the built-in fountains. But by 10 a.m., it's likely that most of the lounge chairs are taken. During the day the activity staff lead a class of aqua aerobics. There's no swim-up bar, but there is a bar right next to the pool.

The clay tennis courts look worn, but they're usable. The lobby has free Wi-Fi.

The Riu Palace Macao has the only casino

Evening entertainment

Staff members put on various shows that change each week. The shows, like all D.R. all-inclusive evening entertainment shows, usually include some dancing, some lip-synching, and some audience participation. The shows are kid-friendly.

During the day, an activity staff hosts various activities like archery and water polo. There's no dance club on-site, but the Pacha nightclub is a short walk away on Caribbean Street. But drinks at Pacha are not included in the all-inclusive package.

Archery

This is a decent pick for families. Aside from the typical kids' club, the activities staff also hosts a range of activities during the day like archery in addition to water-sports activities like kayaking and snorkeling. The beach is big, and the water is calm, so it's an OK place for kids to swim as well. There's also a kids' pool.

There are plenty of places to eat with kid-friendly food like pizza, hot dogs, fries, etc.

Rooms are generally clean but very worn. The furniture is chipped and shows signs of its age.

The Riu Palace Macao is a huge resort, so things like empty glasses by the pool are inevitable (though this is all cleaned up by the following day). At the buffets, tables are often left uncleared long after diners leave. This makes finding a clean place to eat somewhat difficult during lunch.

Pizza at La Mediterraneo

The food at the Riu is pretty typical of most all-inclusives in the Dominican Republic, which is to say, not great.

At the buffet, the food is often not labeled, so it can be tricky to figure out what exactly you're eating.

For lunch, in addition to the main buffet, guests can also dine at the Internacional, a poolside buffet snack bar. Like most resorts, it serves hot dogs, pizza, salad, and rice, all of which looked like they had been sitting out for some time.

For dinner, guests at the Macao also have access to all the restaurants at the other neighboring Riu hotels like the Hotel Riu Palace Punta Cana, Hotel Riu Naiboa, and the ClubHotel Riu Bambu. Though the themes change from one restaurant to another, the quality is all about the same.

Some of the a la carte restaurants may require a reservation. Check with the concierge to be sure.

La Bodega, a Brazilian restaurant in the adjacent Riu Punta Cana hotel, is a crowd favorite. Here, waiters bring skewers of assorted grilled meats to the table before cutting slices for guests. And there's always 24-hour room service as well.

Name-brand liquor like Stolichnaya vodka is available at the bars. Rooms also come stocked with name-brand booze.

The beachfront wedding decorations

• Wedding Size: Up to 300 people; two to three weddings held per day

• Extra Fees: Day passes for non-hotel guests range from $50 to $100, depending on time of year; $100 fee for each outside vendor. At least 80 percent of the wedding guests must stay at the hotel.

• Wedding Packages: The Classic Package costs $995 ($1,150 for a civil ceremony) and includes a wedding coordinator, a bouquet and a boutonniere, decorations, recorded music during the ceremony, a wedding cake, sparkling wine, and a "semiprivate" dinner in one of the resorts a la carte restaurants. The Classic Package covers 15 guests; $10 extra for each additional person. However, the basic package is free if your wedding party books more than five rooms.

• Ceremony Location: Under a gazebo or on the beach

• Photographers: Packages range from $415 for 30 4-by-6 prints in an album with a CD.

• Music: Options range from $450 for a DJ for three hours to $1,100 for a five-person band for three hours.

• Food: Dinner and drinks are included as part of the package, but appetizers cost an extra $16 to $18 per person. No specialty menus (kosher, vegan, or gluten free).

• Cakes: From $250 for 20 people to $650 for 100 people

• Spa Treatments: The spa offers massages, facials, and hair and nail treatments; 10 percent discount for the bride and groom.

• Honeymoon Suite: Newlyweds usually book a Superior Room.

• Airport Transportation: No airport shuttle or free transportation service; 30-minute, $40 taxi ride to the Punta Cana International Airport.