We went to Riu Chicalana last year in Spain, so we knew what type of service to expect from Riu. The hotel had the same sort of lay out like the Spain hotel.

We were a bit worried before we went as we had found out that the hotel and the other 2 Riu's on the resort had been closed. I must say that Portland Direct where no help towards this at all. We basically got told that it was none of our business.

But saying all of this, the hotel had been re-opened, they were very high on cleanliness. After you had used the toilet staff would be in there wiping and cleaning it after you. They also where very high on the bacteria stuff that they made you put on your hands. This was after using the toilet and when entering the restaurant.

None of us was not ill once, not even with a slight bit of stomach upset. Although we had a rough idea that we might get something as you are bound to as it is a lot different from the U.K. So we was prepared. We took Pemto - Bismol which they sell out there anyway. We didn

We arrived at this hotel for a 2 week stay. When arrived the surroundings were absolutely fabulous and we thought we had landed in paradise.

Enjoyed our first day relaxing until the second day when my wife became unwell we then contacted the site doctor to be treated. On talking to other guests the day after we discovered there was an airborne virus present in this hotel. Over the next 4 days my wife had 12 lots of medication to combat this. The hotel management were very helpful and concerned they could not do enough as the place was permanently being cleaned but guests had to disinfect their hands at all times. By the 6th day our travel insurance brought us home one week early. I

When looking at the Riu Bachata, you need to look at it along with the Mambo and the Merengue as you are able to use the facilities at all three hotels. The only thing you are required to do is to take your evening meal at your hotel.

We were very wary of travelling due to the illness problems that had been widely reported from early in the year. On arrival, the hotel had precautions in place for the prevention of the spread of infection, and these were removed during our holiday but were put back into place when signs of the illness returned. Yes we were ill during our holiday but this would not stop us returning to this resort if we chose to (we just think there are too many places to visit to return to the same place twice!

We were on an allocation on arrival at the Riu Resorts and while we would have been happy to have been at any of the hotels we were more than happy to be at the Bachata, this is the newest of the 3. We went on an all inclusive basis, which for me and my son was obviously quite an expensive option as I had to pay adult price for him.

Upon arrival at the hotels you were greeted by very friendly reception staff, a cold drink and a very quick check in. We were even shown to our rooms by the Manager of the hotel who you will see during your stay quite a lot! Our luggage was delivered to our rooms by the porters.

We were lucky enough to have a view of the sea and beach at the sports beach. These blocks are furthest from the restaurants/bars but still only a couple of minutes away and it meant you did not get the noise. It takes about 10 minutes (longer with kids!) to walk from this end to the Mambo at the far end, but there is a wonderful walkway behind the beach which links all of the hotels.

The rooms are spacious, 2 queen size beds, plenty of cupboard, wardrobe and drawer space and a large spacious bathroom with bath and shower over with some of the best water pressure I have ever had!! The bathroom also had a hairdryer! We also never had a problem with hot water although we did endure a power cut which meant you couldn't see in the bathroom as there was no natural light.

The rooms had a balcony with chairs, sliding doors/mossie guards (shame there was no lighting to be able to sit out at night), excellent air conditioning and TV. Various channels including American/Spanish and Cartoon channels - even had BBC America...sport etc. No coffee making facilities but near to bars where coffee was served and you could go to restaurant in mornings and bring back jugs of coffee.

Rooms were cleaned daily, sheets changed daily also and towels were, if you left them in your bath. The staff work endlessly cleaning through the resort from early in the morning, from the housekeeping staff, through to the gardeners and general maintenance people also, our building was scrubbed on the outside also during a stay, even the roof was scrubbed! You cannot fault the cleanliness of the hotel, the gardens are beautifully kept, restaurants, bars etc are the same. Even the beach is raked every morning picking up leaves etc

You have an excellent choice of where and what to eat and if there was any criticism of the food it would be that we struggled to find alternative things for the little one to eat (age 4 and fussy). But if kids like pizza, meat etc then there is lots of choice. But breakfast had a wide choice of cooked items, freshly cooked omelettes (cooked to order in front of you), cereals, breads, cakes, as well as continental foods with salads, meats and cheese...free flowing coffee, etc and wonderful blended juices of banana melons etc.

For lunch you could dine in the main restaurant or at the snack bar by the pool...excellent fries! And at the Bachata free flowing Whippy ice cream - ice cream available at all of the hotels but whippy only at the Bachata! For dinner you must dine at your hotel, but there was always an excellent selection of meat, vegetables, salads, cheeses etc By far the best food was on the Mexican themed night - the ribs were to die for and some of the best we have ever eaten. You could also book for the a la carte restaurant either Mediterranean or steakhouse, but we didn't use these and stuck with the buffet.

All inclusive included the bars as well....great choice of cocktails and it did include the mini bars in the rooms which included optics of vodka, brandy, rum and whisky, the fridge included soda, tonic, Pepsi and diet Pepsi and bottled water. Bars were topped up every other day, although it was easy to get extras if you needed it.

We did eat lunch at the bar at the Mambo and in the Mambo restaurant a couple of times and while the food was good, there was not as much selection as there was at the Bachata and the setting was not as nice either.

The hotel is located about 9km from Puerto Plata, it is easy to get into the main town by taxi, which if there is a group of you is the cheapest way to travel. While at the hotel we went on several trips which we booked through the tour rep as it was cheaper for just my son and I...We went on the Monster Truck Safari, 6 wheeler amphibious cars, Puerto Plata City tour (included rum factory, amber museum, jewellery factory, Cable car), trip to Sosua beach and a memorable trip to Ocean World to swim with the dolphins. We found it a relief to be able to get off the resort for a change and to see the country we were visiting.

One thing you will not fault is the excellent levels of service from the staff, they are the friendliest people I have ever met, always a "Hola" and a smile from everyone you see. I think in the whole 2 weeks we only came across 2 people who were the exception to this rule.

The hotel staff were always friendly and smiling. We tipped the maid who cleaned our rooms and came back to find towels in shapes of snakes, elephants etc, and we always had a table saved for us for dinner with an excellent waiter. Angel really was excellent and my little boy loved him. The staff cannot do enough for you and there was no problem having requests carried out and were always followed up. Even getting clean bedding at 3am when we were ill during the night was not a problem.

Unfortunately during our stay we met, and used, the services of the resort doctor, but even there the nurses and the doctor were friendly. Note though that you are required to pay up front for medical treatment from the doctor and claim it from insurance when you return home. They even drive you to a cash point if you have no money to pay!

This was the only downside to our holiday, but know that you can get ill anywhere, but it does put a dampener on a holiday and makes it difficult when you pay for an all inclusive holiday but cannot eat or drink the things on offer

The animacion teams work endlessly from early in the morning to late at night, and while the entertainment in the evening will bring memories of Butlins, what they lack in professionalism they certainly make up for in enthusiasm. Some excellent dancing though, especially of local dances of Merengue etc. Kids have their own mini clubs at each of the 3 hotels, although we were at the Bachata we did tend to use the kids facilities at the Mambo more. It was friendlier and activities were better, also the kid

I went to the Rui Bachata last November. It was really nice and the rooms were really big in size. You get optics in your room which are replenished everyday!!!!

The food wasn't brilliant, put everybody doesn't like the same food!!!! So others did enjoy it in my group I guess I'm just fussy.

The grounds at this hotel are massive and very well kept. It may be in a small resort however you can use the 2 sister hotel Mambo and Merengue.

I think I would go back to this hotel cause it was really nice and definitely worth the money.

ENJOY.

Riu Bachata is very nice. Among three Riu resorts I would say Bachata is the best in Puerta Plata. It is also new. The downside is the beach, it is beautiful, but in the morning there is no sun, just the shade from trees, and a lot of rocks in the water. My parents just came back from Coral Marien by Hilton and said that the water was great, no rocks either.

We have visited the Caribbean many times but never Dominican republic. We expected lovely friendly base like we had on visits to Jamaica.

We stayed Rui Bacata, not realising just how close the other two Rui hotels were, also not knowing that all their guests preferred our pool (because of swim up bar). As you can imagine it can become very crowded. Yes the hotel is beautiful and it has every luxury you could wish for, but luxury accom isn't everything! We felt it had no soul.

Also what the brochure fails to tell you is that they allow the locals in and they don't seem to limit the amount of people they let in, although some locals are lovely, there are others that take all the sunbeds, are incredibly loud and rude.

Also when it comes to evening meal in the buffet restaurant, they think there's no reason to queue like the rest of us and just proceed to the front of the queue.

We were unfortunate to have a couple of locals staying in rooms above us for the night, what a racket, they don't go to bed just party all night and I mean all night as we saw them the following day checking out and it looked like they had emptied the mini bar and optics!!! So if you wish for a peaceful comfortable base to explore then there are better places that don't cost the earth and you are safe to explore on your own ...

If you like to experience what different cultures are like, and your a couple or a group of adults only, then try Club Ambiance Jamaica all I can say is brill!!!!