Reviewers Rating: 
Excellent
My husband and I have just returned from two weeks at the RIU Merengue (Feb.19-March 5), and we loved it, and wanted to share some details.
Okay, in some semblance of order - we landed late (around 10:30 pm) and the airport, customs and transfer to the bus was so easy. Be wary of the porters - they do try to kidnap your luggage from you - and the bus is about 50 feet from the front of the airport. Unless you're carting a huge Steamer trunk - you don't need them - or the $5.00 U.S. they expect for each bag! The hotel staff were wonderful - absolutely the easiest check-in process ever! We were first handed a lovely drink in a champagne glass, we gave the reception staff our name, they handed over our room key, safe key, towel cards and a form to complete and return the next day. A maid escorted us to our room - our luggage arrived moments later - and we were registered and in our rooms in less than 15 minutes! Wonderful!! They also directed us to an area that had been kept open for us to get some food.
The rooms were great - a little disconcerting to find that the beds don't stay together(they're on wheels) - the alternatives (for a couple of slightly industrial-sized people) either to sleep on one 3/4 bed, or bring a couple of bungie-cords and tie the bed legs together. (Wish I'd thought of that!) Bar fridge was stocked all the time, that was really nice. We were in 1624, just far enough from the action and noise up front, without a long hike to the restaurants and beach.
Our first day was a little cloudy - we had 3 days of less than perfect weather out of 14 - those are pretty good odds. We spent the cloudy days on the beach anyway, didn't interfere at all - my theory is that although the sun is behind the clouds - we can still see it - so it can still see us - hence there is tanning going on!
The resort is beautiful - the beach was the absolute highlight (and the great, cold draft beer!). The food was plentiful, very good - with an awesome selection - there was something for everyone, every night. I was very happy to find smoked salmon on the salad buffet one night, and the carpacchio was excellent. Pork dishes were excellent, but the beef was often a bit tough. Pasta was as good as anything I've had in our own "Little Italy", and I very much appreciated the opportunity to heat up or "garlic up" my pasta with the flavoured oils at the pasta station. Breakfast was wonderful - made to order omelettes, all kinds of breakfast goodies and our personal weakness (can you hear your arteries slamming shut?) - fried cheese.
We never did use the pool area - we found it a bit crowded, and the chairs were always reserved with people's towels very early in the morning. We preferred the beach.
Our one excursion was the Monster Truck Safari - thanks so much to Giovanni and his partners - we had an incredible day. Great fun, great Cuba Libres - and really an opportunity to see the countryside and the people in their own environment. Somewhat sobering - hard to believe they exist on an annual income that is one-third of what we paid for our trip. Giovanni was wonderful, articulate, excellent English - he taught us more in one day about the history, geography, politics and people of the Dominican Republic that we would have learned in two weeks - and he managed to make it fun and interesting! Lots of laughs, many splashes into the river with the truck. It was a wonderful adventure.
I could go on at length, but here are the highlights (and a little disappointment):
#1 absolutely - the staff at RIU Merengue - friendly, helpful - always a smile. Our room was always spotless. From the front desk staff to the bartenders to the gardeners - can't say enough about the service and friendliness.
The beach is incredible - lots of room, many chairs. Bring beach shoes. Wal-Mart has them, very inexpensive. My husband still sustained a small scratch from the coral reef - and he was inside the swim barriers - be careful!
Drinks are great - love the draft beer too! Bring an insulated mug - preferably one with a lid that you can close - often the beach is windy, and the sand blows around. The bar staff quickly got accustomed to our 22 oz. mugs - even our curious habit of putting some ice into our beer. (We did see one guest drinking out of a child's sand pail - that was odd!)
Bring a gallon of sunscreen - very hot sun - and if you run out, you will have to purchase some for the princely sum of $30. - $40. Canadian dollars. (ouch - that hurts more than the sunburn!)
Bring pencils, pens, candy, Band-Aids, Q-Tips, notepads, hair ornaments, etc. for the staff and for the children if you go visit the schools. I spent a paltry $20.00 at the Dollar store and brought enough to leave something every day for our maid and also to take along on the Monster Truck Tour. Hardly takes any room in your luggage, and it is much appreciated.
Bring face cloths - none are available at the hotel. There are no hair dryers in the rooms, but I did see some people get them from the front desk - with a deposit. I brought my own, and a converter, but my hair dryer plugged right in.
Shorts are perfectly okay in the dining room for dinner now for the men. I e-mailed the hotel before we left, and they confirmed that this rule changed on January 1, 2002. Lots less to pack!
Thanks to RIU Merengue - it was a fabulous trip, we will be back!
Nancy & Rob, Windsor, Ontario, Canada
Nancy
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