My family and I have been to Punta Cana at least twenty times, and we have never stayed at a resort as terrible as this one. I don't know who would call this resort a 5 star hotel; Riu Bambu is anything but. We stayed at Riu Bambu for 11 days, from December 28 2007 through January 7 2008. The rooms were tiny and absolutely plain; there were no ocean or pool views. Apple Vacations, along with Riu Bambu information online and otherwise, advertises that they are an all-inclusive, 24-hour service resort. This is not true; this resort may be a 24-hour paradise for alcoholics because the bars are always open, but good luck trying to find a bite to eat after 11pm, and there are also times during the day where all restaurants are closed. The food in the restaurants is equivalent to that of a 2-star hotel. Even on New Years eve, there was nothing special in the restaurants or otherwise. There are two small pools in the resort, and they are very deep. There is no spa in this resort. I have never heard of any 5-star resort that doesnt have a spa, and only has one buffet restaurant and one other restaurant on the beach. The disco is a good ten or fifteen minute walk from the resort, and drinks are not included there. Also, you have to pay for food at the bar outside of the disco. There were also piles upon piles of cockaroaches crawling around the lobby and bar areas. The only good thing about this resort is the entertainment team; which was excellent. The shows were pretty good. If you are planning on booking a vacation in Punta Cana DO NOT go to this hotel. Go to another REAL 5-star hotel in Punta Cana.

Arrived at the hotel Christmas day for our first visit to the Caribbean booked through Thomsons. We were checked in whilst being served a cocktail, lovely and totally unexpected! The pool bar is excellent really nice to swim up and have a relaxing drink. The hotel is located on a large Riu complex with three other hotels the Riu Bambo is rated by Thomson a 4+ but two must have been a 5+. You could walk around the other complexes and use some of the facilities. There is a main buffet and two further pre-bookable restaurants (steak house and italian) all were lovely. Pleasent staff, clean and comfortable rooms. Located on a beautiful stretch of beach. We did see a couple getting married at the hotel and it looked lovely. The entertainment was not great but there was plenty going on in all the hotels. A great trip to do is the Marinarium where you can get to swim with Sharks (vegetarian ones apparently) and Stingrays (who have had their stings removed). It is very scary but a great experience no-one back home will believe you so take an underwater camera!

We stayed at the Riu Bambu from 31st Dec to 7th Jan 2008. The hotel rates itself as a 5*, thomson rate it as a 4*, I would say 3* max, the rooms 2*. The rooms need a good make over.
The food wasn;t labelled up correctly, so if your fussy you don;t know what you can and can;t eat! The staff could speak hardly any english, which is strange as most people there seemed to be american.
We had to change rooms due to the smell of sewerage.We also had to get the shower head changed due to it not working. We had to have a technican out to the TV aswell as the reception terrible, but they didnt fix it.
I wouldn;t go there again, I wouldn;' pay that much for it.
The did however think the entertainment team were fantastic, always had something going on to keep people busy and entertained

Booked through apple and would like to shoot them. MY experiences at these type of resorts are usually good. My wife and I are easy to please, just decent room and beach with food and drink and were good. But this cant be a 5 star, mold in rooms, tiny compared to others, no fitted sheets, thin blankets like scratchy wool and no ocean view and barely any pool view rooms. We compared the rooms at the taino and naiboa and they are the same, small block with bare essentials. I have stayed in punta cana and resorts like the Palladium are a true 5 star. The reason they call this a 5 star is the people staying here are giving this place better reviews than it deserves. Stay somewhere else and compare, or stay here and stay ignorant.... Next time I am booking direct with another resort rated by funjet or other travel booker. Apple Vacations you lost our twice yearly business, enough said.