Any holiday is whatever you make it, i.e. the more you put in, the more you get out.
Any organisation is only as good as its staff, and this is where RIU excel.

On balance the Mambo would be classed as a 4 star in Europe, but this is not Europe!
In Europe we have rules such as carpeted rooms, indoor pools, etc that grade the hotels, I am sure that the friendliness of the staff does not count for much in the rating system, maybe we need to change. On the basis of the staff alone the Mambo warrants its 5 star rating, they are fantastic, so friendly, have time for you, are always smiling and are always willing to please. There are too many to name so I won

A group of 12 of us went out for my daughters wedding nothing was to much trouble and everybody was so helpfull.

The hotel was spotless and well equipped, with air conditioning and a large ceiling fan. There was plenty of places to eat and the food was excellent allways loads to choose from.

Only left resort twice during the week to do excursions which again were brilliant. The hotel staff were always happy and polite nothing was too much trouble.

The shows in the evening were very good and the street party in Caribean Sreet was excellent. I would visit this resort again without a doubt.

Was on a Riu AI selection with Thomson and was allocated this hotel, normally don't do these but work for Thomson and know about excellent standards of Riu hotels.

The welcome we received more than made up for the fact it was pouring down and we were given a drink as we checked in. Check in was extremely easy and well done.

Room was fantastic have travelled a fair bit and was very happy with this, two queen size beds and a well stocked fridge with cola and water etc also had our own optics cabinet with vodka rum brandy etc!

Was travelling with a vegan which is always a challenge but he always found something to eat every night no problem, and the food in general was always very well laid out and of a good standard. Unfortunately the sickness did strike me and had me in bed for 2 days but I saw the resort doctor who treated me and had me on my feet straight within a day. I believe this was down to the huge numbers of people I saw not washing hands after using the toilets (mainly American).

Beach was fantastic, quite rough at times but still swimmable and nice and warm too. Plenty of sunbeds here, though the Mambo is the only hotel of the three (Merengu and Bachata also) to have a beach bar which we were glad for.

We did the freestyle catamaran trip while were there which was a lot of fun, a bit choppy and that made a couple of people feel a bit ill, but a great day, if you can get on freestyle one the crew were great, best part was snorkeling with the fish and feeding them great! The trips here looked a lot of fun but take a good few hundred for you as they are expensive but talking to people who'd been on more well worth it.

The Thomson rep Gemma was a very nice girl too always friendly and about regularly to help if needed.

Only real downsides were at times the Dominicans can be a bit overly hungry for tips especially porters at the airport they were asking for 10 - 20 dollars for 30 seconds work so keep a tight hold of your case and tell them to get off firmly. Pay the 20 dollars for the airport though if in a couple they let no under 16s in there and you get 4 alcoholic drinks included and unlimited soft drinks and snack and sandwiches which we thought was worth it.

Am already pricing up a return trip here for same time next year as had a great time and looking forward to going back.

Me and my boyfriend have just come back from the Riu Mambo, Puerto Plata in the Dominican Republic (30th Aug to 14 Sept).

Its one of the best holidays we have ever had. The hotels are so clean from top to bottom.

The food was all brilliant - in the main buffet restaurant they had alot of themed nights, italian, mexican and you always got a cocktail of some kind to have with your meal when you went for dinner. We found 6:30ish (the first sitting) was best as it was quieter and it got really hot in there when it was full.

The snack bar was also very good - alot of the food is the same each day (like hot dogs, burgers etc) but it was all so nice it didn't really matter and the salads are all gorgeous!! (if you like salad that it). You can always eat in the main buffet one anyway if you want a change at dinner.

We never went to the Steak or Meditteranean as the buffet restaurant was so nice every night. The food is really the same in all the hotels as we went to the Bachata and Merengue as well then stuck to our own Hotel.

The rooms are all very nice with two great big beds, nice bathroom, air conditioning and a big ceiling fan which is great so the rooms are always cool which is nice when its so hot there. There are optics as well gin, vodka, rum and brandy and plenty of pepsi and water and beer in the mini bars which are restocked every 2 days and its all free (its great).

The beach there was really lovely with plenty of shaded areas and palm trees, the pool does tend to get crowded in season so we preferred the beach buts only 1 minute walk anyway!!! The Riu Mambo is the only one to have a beach bar on the beach we walked all the way along the beach and did not see one!!! so we are glad we stayed at the Mambo. The kids clubs looked really great as well if you have children as there is plenty for them to do also and the entertainment staff were the best and love all the children there. The entertainment staff were wicked, No-No, Mosquito, Lemer, Hula Hula Man, Jimmy and all the rest we got with them all and you get to know them if you play all the games which we found really fun.

There are many trips to do and I recommend the Monster Trucks - you go out into the real Dominican and see a childrens school and how they live and go into someone's house as well you can take things for the children as well (we wished we had know before we went) - its a real eye opener but well worth it and you get plenty to drink mainly rum and coke and rum and coke (there is water, pop etc as well) and you get your dinner later on and stop by a river which is really nice and have a swim.

The entertainment on a night is mainly shows and they have disco for the kids before that. The Grease Show and Michael Jackson show were the best so watch them if you go. The nighclub there is mainly full of Dominican's but they are friendly and its nice and cold in there if you are hot. The Carribean Street Party they have is excellent on the Carribbean Street so I recommend that as well.

We will definitely go back again just not in September as we found it very hot on a night apart from that it was fantastic!!!!

Our first visit to the Caribbean and wow! We have already priced up to go back next year to the RIU Mambo .

We worried about the illness we had read about, but none of us were ill and people that we spoke to were all fine and well at all three hotels.

The complex is immaculate and they work 24 hours a day to keep it that way.

Everything was brilliant. My two fussy eaters found something to eat every night as did hubby and myself, infact too much to choose from and think we have both piled a few pounds on.

The complex was child friendly and my two, 7 and 4 even went to the bar and got their own drinks. They loved the kids disco every night even though it was the same songs!

I would recommend this complex to anybody.

Go and enjoy, we did.

This hotel was very good for children, the food was excellent, we had a suite right on the beach front, the childrens club was realy good and the hotel staff were very friendly. Entertainment was excellent.