Is the RIU PALACE MACAO really a 5* resort?

i am currently booking a vacation through apple vacations to the riu palace macao ,is it really a nice resort ?.i am having trouble finding much info.on this resort ...has anybody stayed there who can give me some insight into what to expect? this is my first trip to DR any help is greatly appreciated!. Chris falaney@netscape.net

I have not stayed there but have toured the property. The rooms are medium-sized, pretty, but they are not suites. Feedback on the food is excellent, and the hotel's woodwork is precious. It is relatively small, so you don't get the mass tourism feeling so much. The beach is of the best. This hotel is mostly frequented by couples. Expect to have lots of time to enjoy each other's company. This is an excellent choice if relaxing is a priority. Summing up, yes, it is a nice resort. Don't expect much on shopping, and most tours will take a whole day.

It may really be 5 stars, but note that hotel star ratings in the Dominican Republic are very liberal and relative to other properties in the country. They have little parallel with the star rating system used to rate properties in the USA or around the world.

The organizations rating the hotels are local and are controlled by representatives of the hotels themselves, which is why these ratings are only good for comparing the properties to each other within the country.

When it comes to ratings in tour operator guidebooks, each tour operator has their own rating system. This will become clear to you when when comparing the same property offered by different tour companies, showing different ratings. Some rate on a scale of 1 to 4 symbols, others use 5. They also pick their own symbols. My Apple Tours guidebook rates using apples.

So, 5 stars generally would mean the hotel is among the best in the country. Does that mean it will measure up to the 5 star rated Ritz Carlton in NYC or Aspen. No it does not so don't expect it. You can get a better feeling about what to expect by reading individual property reviews.

Personally, most 5-star rated properties in the Dominican Republic would only get 2-3 stars from me, and only the beauty gets 5 stars. Then again, the price reflects that. You aren't going to get $300-500 a day service for $75, even in the Dominican Republic.

Jim Hinsch JimHinsch@CSI.COM

Jim I hate to say this but I do agree with you!!! From 4 years experience as destination representative in Puerto Plata, I have never seen a five star .... as our North American 5-star rating. Hotels showing or claiming 5 stars are really 3+ star... I would say very good ... and the best we can expect in the D.R.... at least on the north coast.... and for the readers... at 3+star hotel is highly recommended... Noelle

One fine summer's day I was walking through the Playa Dorada complex, when I came across a man standing on a latter with a paint brush in one hand and a can of red paint in the other.. I asked him Sir just how many stars are you going to paint on this hotels front gate? He looked at me and then he looked in his paint can and said that he thought he just might have enough paint left to make it a 5* True story..believe it or not!

Jim what about a guide such as Frommer's that has given a resort in the DR a 5 star rating? Do they actually go there?

I couldn't say one way or the other about how Frommer's comes up with their resort star ratings or whether they actually visit the place. I bet somewhere inside the Frommers guide they tell you about how they come up with their ratings and what they are supposed to mean.

If you tell me the name of the resort they gave 5 stars to, I may be able to give a personal opinion from my experiences relative to other resorts in the DR, the Caribbean, and around the world.

Jim Hinsch JimHinsch@CSI.COM

As the Riu Palace Macao isn't on an all-inclusive plan, reviews of it are almost non existent, as the majority of tourists chose to go all-inclusive. But generally, the Riu chain has an excellent reputation. The all-inclusive hotels in the chain have received very good reviews - you can probably find some in the resort database here, or try www.debbiesdominicantravel.com.

You can get more information on their own homepage - it is not that good: www.riuhotels.com, chose English for language and then chose the Dominican Republic.

Enjoy your trip,

Regards, Susanne

The Riu Palace did go all inclusive as of Nov. 1999. I am booked there for April 2000. I too am anxious for new trip reviews from people who have visited there recently.

Thankyou Jim we are going to the Capella Beach Resort (I think it was formerly called the Rennaisance somthing???) Do you know it Frommers gave it 5 and 1/2 * and our travl agent said it is good but I don't think she has ever been. It is in the Juan Dolio area. Thanks for your help. K