Amy Adejokun
Section editor
The Riu Taino offers all the facilities and services for a pleasant stay with your family in the seaside resort of Punta Cana. It has pleasant architecture and a beautiful beach in a huge complex.
This hotel review is a translation from the French by the agency Traductéo.
Riu Palace Bavaro - © Carlos Rodrigues / EASYVOYAGE
Riu Palace Bavaro - © Carlos Rodrigues / EASYVOYAGE
The hotel is situated directly on the beach of Arena Gorda, north of Cabeza de Toro and the Dominican village El Cortecito, in Punta Cana, the epicentre of tourism in the Dominican Republic on the eastern coast, stretching on 25 miles of fine sand. La Calle Caribeña and its series of shops and Dominican crafts is about 330 feet away. It takes about half an hour by car from the international airport in Punta Cana (22 miles) and three hours and a half to reach the capital. The town of Higüey and its famous historical basilica is 30 miles (1 hour drive) away.
A total of 360 rooms are scattered in small bungalows each housing four rooms. All of the rooms comfortable and have air conditioning (centrally regulated), a ceiling fan, a mini-bar, satellite TV, a safe, telephone (direct telephone for international dialling), a balcony with an anti-mosquito net, a hair dryer. But the overall setting is a little too dark, and the decor has slightly garish colours.
Located in the heart of a palm grove of 270 ft², the hotel club opened in 1991 and is composed of 90 (!) charming small bungalows all painted white, in colonial style, scattered like mushrooms in a maze of flowery alleys. The winding paths could quickly turn into a maze, but with the aid of signs and a strong memory, you can manage to move around. A "twin" hotel to the Riu Melao, located to the right, and the Riu Bambu, a few strides to the west, are also composed of bungalows, the Taino is located in the middle of a huge complex. It is composed of five hotels in total. Its floral and wood decoration and its beautiful lagoons with an aquatic bar at the poolside place it a class higher than the Melao. However, its size (double) makes it lose a little of the perceived conviviality.
The customers of the Taino are accommodated on the all inclusive formula and do not have access to all restaurants in the resort... attention, the following information is important! A total of six restaurants are available.
Restaurants, instructions for use:
The Taino hotel has a main buffet, Las Arecas, which serves both international and local cuisine for all three meals of the day (dress code in the evening). The food is good, not exceptional. A snack bar near the swimming pool provides continental breakfast and a snack in the afternoon and in the evening. In addition, a pizzeria at the end of the Caribbean Street is located near the beach.
Moreover, the hotel's guests have access to restaurants and snacks at three other hotels in the resort: the Melao, Bambu and Naiboa. You can dine in any of the four main buffets.
However, in the evening the Taino has two restaurants that serve a la carte, but you need a reservation: a grill and a Mediterranean restaurant are located behind the reception. The restaurants are shared with two neighbouring hotels (Naiboa and Melao). The only inconvenience: large restaurants, away from the centre of the hotel. You will be pleased if you like grand architectures.
However, all bars are included in the service (except those of the disco bar and the Riu Palace Macao, the hotel neighbouring Taino), in addition to those at the Taino hotel: the aquabar in the beautiful lagoon swimming pool and, nearby the lounge bar of La Fiesta. And you can visit a total of 9 bars...
The Renova Spa has a Jacuzzi, a sauna, four massage rooms where products from the Mary Cohr cosmetic brand (Paris) are used, and a beauty salon.
The hotel club enjoys the magnificent beach of Arena Gorda: a wide band of white fine sand, lined with palm trees and turquoise waters. It offers deckchairs in a quiet setting. The sailing club is hosted on the beach at the nearby hotel, the Melao. The advantage: the sound of the boat engines remains far away. The only incovenience is that you have to walk for several minutes, some 165 feet...
The Riu Taino is one of the five hotels in this huge resort located on the fabulous beach of Arena Gorda, near the small Dominican village, El Cortecito. But this resort represents a real village whose main street is called Calle Caribeña - a succession of typical buildings in bright colours. This street offers a lot of souvenirs and services: billiards, photos, massages, travel agencies, paintings, jewellery and handicrafts. This hotel offers high prices because of the swarming resorts in the region of Punta Cana. There is a disco bar "El Pacha", popular in the region. The animation is the major highlight of this hotel; you won't get bored.
The clients of the Taino hotel have access to some restaurants and bars throughout the resort, at certain times... You may really need instructions for use. You can ask for explanations at the reception.
sauna, massage, stretching, spa, beauty salon, wellness, keep fit, Turkish bath
football, tennis, sailing, canoe, aerobics, bums and tums, aqua gym, water-polo, gym, kayak, golf, horse riding, beach volley, paddle boats, dance, fitness, step, surfing, archery, volleyball, sports, windsurfing
The Riu Bambu is a world class hotel and quite large, given the number of its rooms ( 560 in all ). A safe bet in terms of comfort and facilities.
This hotel review is a translation from the French by the agency Traductéo.
The Iberostar is a hotel offering an "all inclusive" service. Nothing will be lacking. And even if it is not the case, its neighbour and "twin", the Iberostar Punta Cana, will give it a hand!
This hotel review is a translation from the French by the agency Traductéo.
The sister hotel of the Iberostar Dominicana, the Iberostar Punta Cana is quieter. A favourite in Punta Cana.
This hotel review is a translation from the French by the agency Traductéo.
This is an unusual place for Punta Cana, where most of the resorts that take over the area of Bavaro are giant and overflowing with facilities. The Stanza Mare is a friendly-sized aparthotel standing along the peaceful little beach of Los Corales. The facilities are limited to a large swimming pool in the middle of a tropical garden and an à la carte restaurant. You will have plenty of room in one of the vast apartments equipped with a kitchen.
This hotel review is a translation from the French by the agency Traductéo.
The Gran Bahia Principe Punta Cana offers all the facilities and services necessary for a pleasant family stay on the paradisiacal coast of Punta Cana. It has colonial architecture and a magnificent beach in a huge complex, with an all-inclusive 24h/24 package.
This hotel review is a translation from the French by the agency Traductéo.
The Gran Bahia Principe Bavaro offers all the facilities and services necessary for a pleasant family stay on the paradisiacal coast of Punta Cana. It has colonial architecture and a magnificent beach in a huge complex, with an all-inclusive 24h/24 package.
This hotel review is a translation from the French by the agency Traductéo.
The Gran Bahia Principe Ambar is the top-class part of the Gran Bahia Principe Bavaro, a vast resort offering all types of facilities and services for you to have a pleasant stay on the paradisiacal coast of Punta Cana. Quieter and less family-orientated than its two neighbours, it has colonial architecture and a magnificent beach, with a 24h/24 all-inclusive package. This is an ideal hotel for couples.
This hotel review is a translation from the French by the agency Traductéo.
Lively and welcoming in an ideal seaside setting, the Sunscape Punta Cana is neither too big nor too small. A true luxury for the region and one of the biggest resorts... This hotel is one of our favourites.
This hotel review is a translation from the French by the agency Traductéo.
Tortuga Bay: the name of this luxury boutique hotel immediately brings to mind the Caribbean, pirates, and the idea of escape. Branded a Leading Small Hotel of The World, this boutique hotel is a small enclave of serenity in the vast Punta Cana Resort and Club, a luxury resort located on the most beautiful beach on the east coast of the country, with 7 restaurants including 2 gourmet restaurants, a prestigious Six Senses spa, and three 18-hole golf courses, all situated in an ecological park of just under 1,500 acres that includes freshwater springs and rhinoceros iguanas.
This hotel review is a translation from the French by the agency Traductéo.
The Punta Cana Hotel was not wrong in its decision to move away from the beautiful Bavaro and its too many resorts. This hotel, built at the end of the 1980s will give you a chance to discover a superb environment.
This hotel review is a translation from the French by the agency Traductéo.
Nestled in an overcrowded place, the Sivory Punta Cana is an exceptional address for holidaymaking in the Dominican Republic and will delight couples seeking romance and serenity. Refined dining, exceptional service and ambiance of design will satisfy even the most demanding visitors.
This hotel review is a translation from the French by the agency Traductéo.
A veritable resort, this upmarket paradise certainly wins the award for luxury in Punta Cana! The exclusive section of the Paradisus Palma Real, The Reserve at Paradisus Palma Real Resort is set back from the exquisite Bavaro Beach, 10 minutes away, but that's its only flaw (there has to be at least one). Highlights include the spacious, maximum comfort apartments, equipped with a kitchen and a terrace with a whirlpool bath, the superb spa, the fully equipped kids club, the free Internet access, and the gastronomy, with a special mention for the Japanese restaurant. Of course, guests also have access to the facilities at the Paradisus Palma Real.
The Gran Bahia Principe Ambar is the top-class part of the Gran Bahia Principe Bavaro, a vast resort offering all types of facilities and services for you to have a pleasant stay on the paradisiacal coast of Punta Cana. Quieter and less family-orientated than its two neighbours, it has colonial architecture and a magnificent beach, with a 24h/24 all-inclusive package. This is an ideal hotel for couples.
This hotel review is a translation from the French by the agency Traductéo.
As one of the best hotels in Punta Cana, the Bavaro Palace is only a link in the huge hotel complex Barcelo. This is a destination for demanding and well-off holiday-makers.
This hotel review is a translation from the French by the agency Traductéo.
The Paradisus Palma Real is one of the most recent hotels in this touristic area and definitely one of the best. A member of the Leading Hotels of The World, this hotel represents the height of luxury. It offers gastronomy, a special service for children, a spotless beach, clean and tidy without the disorganised mass of deckchairs characteristic of almost all the hotels in Bavaro, this luxury hotel is quality guaranteed; an excellent comfortably sized hotel which is perfect for couples on their honey moon as well as for families.
This hotel review is a translation from the French by the agency Traductéo.