Riu Republica - Adults Only - All Inclusive

Great hotel, good food, and amazing facilities. I had a great time and would recommend staying here. The problem was dealing with Dennis. My friend, who had booked months earlier, got sick and went straight to our new hotel, missing the tour. I came later to meet them in the lobby and check in. At security, Dennis wouldn’t let me through. I gave him the correct name the two rooms were booked under and explained what we’d booked, but he said there was only one room. Eventually he worked out there were two, then insisted my friend had booked both rooms just for himself, which made no sense at an all-inclusive resort. Luckily, a woman on the phone at the security gate understood that two rooms had been booked and probably weren’t for one person. At check-in I ran into Dennis again. After more frustration because he couldn’t search the booking by name and booking provider, he deliberately used his thumb to bend and try to damage the photo page of my passport. I took it back right away and straightened it, but you can still see the marks at the edges. I’ve never seen another hotel worker do that. He’s a liar who damages your belongings when you prove him wrong. He shouldn’t be working in a hotel. Be wary of dealing with him and ask for someone else if you can. Apart from that, it was a good hotel and worth the stay.

Mangu was our favorite breakfast spot, with fresh fruit and plenty of choice. We also really liked the “American country” restaurant: we walked straight in, and the food was above average for a resort. It was the only dinner we had that didn’t taste like frozen food warmed up. The steakhouse was a different story. You have to line up 1.5-2 hours before it opens to have a chance, and they turn people away even when seats appear to be available. The food isn’t good enough to justify such limited access, and the service was one of the worst restaurant experiences I’ve had. Other guests complain about it too, but I doubt it’ll change while demand stays high. The resort is a decent option for a first trip and for the price. The atmosphere is good, most staff are fairly friendly, and the beach workers were great. Edwin was our favorite; he spent lots of time with us. They’ll cater to you for $3-5/day. Our room was acceptable, though the in-room alcohol was very cheap, the fridge didn’t have the variety or quantity I’d prefer, and the air conditioning was weak in such a hot place. The TVs need upgrading too. The resort is clean overall, but the hallways need major work. The paint is worn and the lighting is poor, which might feel uncomfortable at night depending on the person. This place is very much geared toward partying. Alcohol is a big part of the experience, and there are lots of intoxicated guests at night, which is to be expected here. That isn’t necessarily bad, just the reality. I’d rate it 7.5/10. It’s good for first-timers and the price, though there’s plenty to improve when you’re still spending thousands.

The beach was beautiful and remarkably clean, and I loved swimming in the ocean and stargazing there at night. Pools and public areas were generally clean too, with plenty of pools to choose from. The spa was also lovely, and the bartenders were kind and fun. Drinks could usually be made as strong as you wanted. A little Spanish goes a long way. My main concerns were the food and the room. Meals ranged from mediocre to bad, and after worrying about the food I developed slight stomach problems and didn’t feel safe eating it. The shower pressure was awful, and the water rarely got warm, let alone hot. My room was fairly clean but clearly aging. I may have been lucky, but rooms near the water park seemed to have more consistent air conditioning. I saw some bugs in the main hotel lobby, so lower floors may have pest issues, though upper floors didn’t seem to. I’d read some harsh reviews a week before the trip and got pretty nervous. Some complaints seemed overblown, while others were true. I went for three nights and don’t regret it, but I’m also fine that I didn’t stay longer. There were guests stumbling around drunk, as expected at this resort, but it didn’t bother me much even though I’m not a big partier. Riu Republica seems like a good value, though I can’t see it as a five-star hotel. The room looked four-star but felt two-star, the food was poor, and the drinks were decent. It was an okay trip, and I did get to relax a bit, but I don’t think the value was especially good.

For the price, the resort is good. I had a king room with an ocean view, which helped make up for a room that was otherwise a bit underwhelming. The bed was somewhat hard and the pillows were flat. The restaurants were decent, especially the steakhouse and Indian restaurant. I’d really recommend the jerk chicken.