I stayed at the Riu Taino from May 21-26, 2008 on the recommendation of friends, and here are the pros and cons:
Pros:
Beautiful beaches; efficient service; clean rooms; Bavarro Runners has great, fun excursions; the hotel has many activities that kept my husband occupied while I laid out; the spa had nice massages (could have been a bit better); fresh juice servied daily

Cons:
The hotel compound (including the casino) has NO ATM anywhere, so bring lots of cash!; the villa rooms are very old and run down, so only good for those on a budget; the hotel is very loud and not fit for people looking for a really relaxing vaca; Food - most of the food was served buffet style, and it was left out, and outdoors, for long periods of time. Nothing is made to order. That is very unhealthy! Even when trying to watch what I ate and drank, I still managed to catch an E-Coli bacterial infection as a result of the food at the Riu Taino. It's miserable and I'm still suffering through it. I would definitely go back to the Dominican, but never again to this resort!

We stayed at the RIU Taino from May 3-May 9 2008 for our five year anniversary. We had a great time because we are easy to please, but we will not return to a RIU again. This is a good hotel for the $$ we spent, but there were some problems.

The good:

The beach was beautiful. If you walk out of the hotel grounds on the beach and take a right the beach/sand is amazing when you get to certain areas. There was a lot of seaweed at and around the resort areas, but the hotel staff cleaned it up every morning and did a great job of keeping the beach cleaned up. There were plenty of loungers on the beach.

The maids kept our room very clean and the grounds were kept up very nice.

The food was good for the price.

The staff were very nice and spoke many languages. I was able to understand them all, but my husband had a hard time sometimes.

There was a VERY quiet and relaxing pool, although smaller, on the resort that was nice for those who did not want the busy/party atmosphere. We were always able to find loungers w/grass huts above them in this area. However, it was near impossible to find loungers in the larger pool w/the swim up bar unless you came early in the morning and reserved one.

The bad:

We did not have hot water for 5 of the 7 days we were there...not one RIU customer did in all the resorts in our zone. The manager was very nice, but did not compensate us for the lack of a much needed service. We were given information when we left on who to contact to get this issue resolved and have to contact corporate. In my opinion it should have been resolved when we checked out. People that booked w/travel agents were told to contact their travel agents that RIU could not do anything for them. In my opinion, that is not an acceptable way to do business.

There were some bugs in our room at times which was fine, that sort of thing is to be expected in return for the beautiful vegetation all around the resort. However, the one cockroach we in our room left me itching all night long.

My husband said some of the food he had was not very warm. I thought it was fine, but we didn't always eat the same items.

The food did get very repetitive. This would have been okay if we would have been able to book at any resort restaurant other than the Italian. Even the day we got up and watched the sun rise and ate breakfast at 7:30 am it was the only restaurant w/reservations left.

The most unacceptable thing for both of us was that they allowed vendors on the resort. When I say ON the resort I mean it. The Caribbean street is right beside the resort and offers services/goods to RIU customers and the public. There are vendors on this street...that is fine. However, in my opinion it is unacceptable to have vendors in the lobby and especially by the pool. They set up at the quiet pool one day and ruined the afternoon for us. We had to say no at least 5-6 times EACH before they stopped asking us to come to their booth every time we got up to go to the bathroom or refill our drinks. They were yelling across the pool at people to try to get them to come over. They were there almost every single day. Nothing like being hounded every single time you go to the bathroom, go to dinner, or go get a drink every afternoon while on vacation...inappropriate!!!

Tips:

Be prepared to have cash coming into the country. There are fees you have to pay as soon as you check in at the airport ($10pp). We were told there were fees ($20pp) to check out of the airport, but we did not have to pay anything.

Use the taxi service provided for you if you book through the website. It was nice not having to pay for a cab and knowing we would be taken care of. Jose, w/hotelbeds, was very helpful w/setting this up for us and offering us the excursions.

We left tips when we received good service...they work hard and they deserve it. However, tipping was not expected on the resort. I recommend taking small bills because it was sometimes hard to get change for larger bills if you do want to tip.

If you want a good margarita ask for Jose...they have it but you have to ask.

Myself, my fiance, and another couple decided to take a trip to the D.R, and since this was in our price range, we decided to go to the Riu Taino. It was our first trip ever, so we had no clue what to expect. Before I start let me just say that I now know that I need to do research on the resort before actually going.

PROS
- very quick checkin, bell boys very helpful - they met you as soon as you got off the bus and took your luggage where-ever it needed to go.
-all staff was very friendly and kind, especially the bartenders
-room was clean - everything worked the way it was suppose to
-mini-bar in room was stocked daily. if you tipped the staff that was refilling, you could have whatever you wanted (i.e. switch the beer for pepsi)
-the beach was gorgeous! there were plenty of loungers to go around so we didn't have to wait for anyone to leave
-the main pool was awesome - located right off the reception and between 2 of the restaurants (one being outdoors so you didn't have to change if you wanted something to eat)
-breakfast was really good, had lots to choose from and always hot

CONS
-food wasn't the best, and very repetitive. Some thing were very questionable as to what they were....
-nightly entertainment wasn't the greatest. There were always shoes, but some of them really sucked
-having to check out at 11am really sucked considering our bus wasn't scheduled to pick us up until 6pm
-be careful when booking activities. We had booked quite a few with someone who represented the agency we went with, and one of them was cancelled and you'd think that someone would show up at the meeting area to tell you this so you don't wait around for an hour or more .. but no. We eventually got the hint and went back to the resort. We did get our money back tho!! Also, we had booked horseback riding and we waited an extra 45 minutes only to find out by a different person that was scheduling trips that our rep didn't even schedule a pickup for us for the horseback riding.
-while trying to relaxing on the beach, we contantly got harrassed by people trying to sell necklaces and bracelets which were WAYYY too expensive (but you could haggle them tho)
-the disco would open at 10pm, but it wouldn't actually get going until around 2am and you had to pay for your own drinks, when we were told that our drinks would be included...

The other thing that really sucked was when we first arrived at the hotel, we can at the tail end of Tropical Storm Noah? (i think that's what it was called) so it poured for 3 days non stop - but the hotel obviously couldn't control this, so we dealt with it. Next time we'll do our hurricane research, that's for sure!! lol

All and all it was an alright time. I personally wouldn't go back. There wasn't much to do and we didn't want to go off the resort on our own because it looked very sketchy (i know it's a 3rd world country, but I just didn't feel safe)

Hola. Just returned from a 7 night stay at the Riu Taino...this was our Second visit to the Taino...previously have stayed at the Bambu, LTI and Occidential while in Punta CAna.

First off let me mention we are not high mantenance people...we seek from a vacation: A clean, secure hotel, GREAT beach is a must, and good food...oh...and good, cold drinks! If you are looking for 300 percale sheets and fluffy comforters w/ turn down service do NOT book here. The resort is "dated' as far as room decor, and their linens have seen a better day. However the maids had that room sparkling each day, the fridge (yes, it was even cold) was stocked every other day. We wanted more water , and more Beer (rather than club soda etc...) left a few bucks and got plenty!!! The grounds are incredibly clean...and the fauna very lush and pretty! The tall palms...ahhhhhhhh.....beautiful. Like a postcard!

Remember...the doors, and window have to be completly SHUT in order for the air to work in your room.

Bring washclothes if you are partial to using them...they are not stocked in the room. I bought a stack from the dollar store and left them behind at the end.

The food....ok...I am a PICKY eater and I found way more than enough to eat! Seriously...there were alot of choices at the buffet everything was hot and replenished very quickly. There is pasta (variety of sauce choices) or Pizza (probably 5 to choose from each time) for those really hard up w/ the food choices. Every night there was a least one or two choices of each: Pork, Chicken, Fish, Beef!! Three veggies choices and then two or three potato choices! A huge fresh cheese bar and fresh fruit bar! So many choices. If nothing else a person can grab cheese, fresh bread and a variety of lunch meats and build a sub sandwich. Every night there must have been 20 dessert choices and if they weren't enough there was an ice cream cooler where you could scoop your own and build your own sundae.

Beach...as always ...outstanding. I did find that there were way more Scuba Caribe guys bugging us to "book with them" while on the beach than on prior trips here...they were nice enough guys and took "no thanks" nicely but one no sooner left and here came another.....

take a walk down to the Bambu and hang out for awhile it's got a cool vibe. They also have shows at night. We aren't much for "shows" , even tho they are all hard workers...just not our bag...but it is available should you have an interest.

I did the parasail thru them (Scuba Caribe) on the beach for $45.00 US$...go first thing in the a.m. when it's nice and clear and sunny!! My pix turned out great. There was a gal on the boat that offered to do My pix for $20.00 (ten shots) and I pick up the disc and pay at the Scuba Caribe the next day. They were ok pix...better than nothing. Nothing special tho.

The front desk : very nice...Julio Igesis, Lucy and Deyaniara were wonderful (JoAnn the Front Desk Manager)....all great!!

We had our favorite little wait staff also....Breakfast and lunch Conan (super sweet) and in the evenings Ramon and David.

We found the staff to be warm and friendly...however yes, I did see some workers that were almost Aloof, and seemed to be bothered by simple, friendly requests for water, or coffee....who knows tho maybe they were having a bad day. We just focused on the ones that were great.

The wine...pretty average.

Reservations...we had no problems overall making dinner reservations. There was a guy sitting outside of the breakfast buffet taking down reservations.

Internet...suprisingly FAST!! The Internet is located right next to the front desk counter. They are open a good amount of hours like 10:00-10:00 or so...you basically purchase a calling card ...enter the five digit/letter code and use up your minutes. I was suprised how fast the internet was this year compared to last year. I paid I believe $6.00 for 30 minutes. The more you bought the cheaper it was ...this was plenty for me.

The vendors came on site two different nights and set up their wares. Expect to barter.

The Festival was on Carribean street on Thursday night. Colorful and lively.

The Hotel photographer goes around daily to the beach and pool w/ a different critter each day. A 5x7 photo is available for purchase after 5:00 p.m. for $7.00 per photo. We bought a few. Nice quality. Bit overpriced ..but hey...it's vacation.

There was live entertainment that rotated between the Riu Taino and the Riu Naioba. On the other nights there was a DJ playing music. Or you could catch Bingo or other games in the bar area right off the lobby. We were pretty much wiped out each evening so we listened to Musicka and hit the bed!

I got so relaxed sitting on the beach and reading that I forgot to book a massage...lol....but they are available both near the end of Carribean street on the beach or in the Spa on Carribean street.

We didn't hang out at the pool but on the beach and being our 5th to Punta Cana I didn't have a prob w/ the toplessness...what did bug me tho was there were a few guys that would troll a bit too often on the beach w/ their big, big, long, long lenses on their camera's and were busy each day taking way too many pix for my comfort level. Hey...we all snap a pix here and there to show back home how it "really is' on the beach ...but these guys just gave me the creeps!! yuck....If you are in Punta Cana doing the topless thing...you can pretty much expect you are going to end up on the internet from these clowns. Bad vibes...

Find your favorite bartender if you have a favorite drink.... it's funny how they each make a drink differently...lol...and make sure to ask for it w/ alcohol if it's coming out of the slushy type dispensers...they are made alcohol free....just ask...they will pour a generous shot.

We tend to get free Thermo/coffee mugs from various places throughout the year. We take our mugs (NO..they don't have to be the overpriced Bubba mugs...) and have them filled each time you head to the bar. Keeps the cold in, the bugs and sands out and saves from throwing out a million plastic little cups! At the end of our trip we pass it onto someone. This trip it was a guy walking down the beach selling necklaces. I did my bargaining and he kept admiring my glass....done!! It's yours! You would have thought I gave him a ten dollar bill. : ) These mugs come in handy each a.m. for grabbing a cup of joe from the table set up in the lobby about 6:00 a.m. and heading to the beach w/ fresh coffee.

No coffee makers in the rooms.

We requested robes due to the Weight restrictions on our luggage....we got them. Nice, big and fluffy ...delivered to our room for use while there. Nice touch!!

That's about it for what I can remember for now...if there is something specific you would like to know about feel free to PM (private message) me and I'll try to help if I can.



IF you are considering the Riu Taino ..I recommend it if :...you are an easy going person that likes a simple layout of a resort, a great beach, good cold drink, doesn't care much about the nightly entertainment shows...., not looking to be pampered... then this is a great spot...if you are on a special, romantic or once in a lifetime getaway and are looking for plush rooms, lobbies, shows etc...then this really isn't the resort for you...maybe upgrade to the Macao or the Palace. They looked very pretty and grand. MAybe someday we will stay there but for the price we got our trip for and the layout and ambiance of the place...we love the Taino.

Happy safe travels to all of you...don't forget to post your review upon return or even use the forum ...it really is helpful!! Cheers!!