Is the RIU PALACE MACAO really a 5* resort?

I know the resort and the area but I have not toured it or stayed there. 5 1/2 stars? I wonder what the scale they use. 5 stars as I am familar with it means EVERY little detail is beyond perfect, approaching extaordinary. As you can see, they are using a system different than what most people think of when they hear a "star" rating, since 5 is as good as it gets and is rarely awarded.

Jim Hinsch JimHinsch@CSI.COM

Jim,

Have you seen the Conde Nast's Traveller Dec. 99 issue? They have their annual top 100 voted by their readers. In the Caribbean category, the usual resorts appear again. Not that I disagree with the fact that the ones listed are indeed legendary (i.e. LDB/Caneel, Malliouhana, ect.). Who designates these stars in the US? Is it the AAA assoc.? What about the Chateau Relais list? Only Virgin Gorda's Biras Creek made it on that list.

regards, Natasha

I don't know where the original "star" rating concept came from. Nowadays, very two-bit organization gives out a rating. As any travel agent will tell you, ratings vary widely amonst the raters and need to be considered suspiciously. Even trip reports about the some property, posted here on the web, vary from "it's the best" to "it's the worst, never again." That's why the reports that go on to give details and say why are the best. I may not care that the front desk doesn't followup to see that service requests were completed or that the red wine selection at the buffet was limited.

I remember sitting next to a couple from Belgium at the Bavaro Beach Palace. They were very disappointed with the 5-star rated resort. They told me that in Belgium, if one visits a place and everything is perfect, they are awarded 1 star and it goes up from there, and that only 2 restaurants in the entire country have ever been awarded 5 stars. In his mind, the resort deserved 0 stars. While I think that might be a little overkill, I'd like 5 stars to be the limit and should be applied only, as I said earlier, when every detail is beyond perfect, approaching extraordinary.

To be honest, I've receive higher quality service, attention to detail, and concern for a happy customer from a visit to McDonalds Hamburgers and Motel 6 in the USA than some "5 star rated" resorts. It seems a lot of people in the Dominican Republic think an awesome looking lobby, a big pool, and white table cloths mean the property should get 5 stars.

It continues to baffle me how a resort can, with good conscience, rate one of their restaurants as 5 stars, yet allow guests to sit through half of their meal waiting for their drinks to arrive or never having had somebody pass by the table to see if everything is all right.

I think it is worse to raise an expectation and not deliver than to have never placed the expectation to begin with. I can easily live with what I've experienced vactioning in the Dominican Republic. It's great. Just don't lie to me telling me it's something it isn't.

Jim Hinsch JimHinsch@CSI.COM

You can have all the luxurious grounds, beautiful pools, great beaches, marble interior etc, but when service is a foreign concept, it’s hard to give anyplace a high rating.

The highest rating I would give to any hotel in the Dr, based on European or US standards would be to the El Embacjador (not certain of spelling)and that would be a 3 1/2.

The Ritz Carlton is the Only Hotel in NYC to receive a 5 star (Michelin) and NYC has some wonderful properties that rate on 3-4

Just back from Riu Taino Punta Cana the Palace Macao is really a 5 star hotel it's the first time of all inclusive.

And as far as know from working with hotels in different areas... there are no five stars in the D.R. This does not mean that there no good hotels though....