just come back from a great holiday at the riu mambo hotel smallest of three hotels together all 3 just as good as each other. you can use all amenities of all 3 hotels except for evening meal. all 3 have a little something different mambo has the beach bar,merengue has 24hr snackbar,&the bachata has the 24hr bar &casino 5min walk from hotel to hotel 1 long sandy beach plenty of sun loungers safe clean water to swim in plenty of activities happen on beach every day. same around swimming pool animation team absoulutly brilliant, hardworking, friendly team. always trying to keep everyone happy.same goes for all hotel staff. good drinks served by friendly barstaff. rooms spacious cleaned with fresh towels everyday not done until afternoons sometimes, fridge filled every 2 days beer,water ,7up,coke & soda. optics filled when empty rum,gin,bacardi. food in main restaurant ok plenty of choice not many fish dishes they have special nights like doninican & mexican food nights try and get in the steakhouse or italian restaurants but you heve to book quick at 10o`clock outside the main restaurant you only have 5-10 mins. evening entertainment some good some only average, animation team keep you entertained with some amazing dancing bars stop serving at midnight after that you can go to pacha nightclub till 2 & then up to 24hr bar. overall had a great holiday met great friends

We had a great 5 night stay and wish we could have stayed longer.

Here are the pluses:
-Animacion team - Very energetic and friendly (when do they sleep?)
-Use of the other two resorts
-Beach - not as rocky as expected
-Water Sports - We used the paddle boat and had lots of fun
-Number of bars - We never had to walk more than 20 feet for alcohol, even on the beach
-People watching
-Staff - Very friendly and helpful
-Cleanliness - Resort is very clean, along with dining areas
-Food - Lots of it and pretty tasty

Cons:
-Musty pillows - I think this has more to do with being in the tropics, but still
-Breakfast availability - My girlfriend and I are late risers and would have liked to get hot breakfast past 10. Just us though.
-TV - only a couple of english channels but you don't go on vacation to watch TV, do you?
-Hot dining hall - aside from the pillows, this is my major complaint. The dining hall was like a sauna. Try to get close to a window.

We went on two excursions:
-ATV - An absolute blast. We rode through sugar cane fields in the mud and water and then stopped a couple of times for bathroom breaks. One of the stops had a bunch of art, jewelry, and tobacco; don't worry about bringing a bunch of money, they will negotiate the price with you and then the guide will get the money at your resort. Very important, BRING OLD CLOTHES AND SHOES. Water shoes work well.
-Paradise Island - Great time snorkeling. The boat ride is really fun and the food was good too, especially the fried eggplant. Take lots of sunscreen and be prepared for a long ride back over bumpy roads.

Here are some tips:
-Stay at the Mambo or the Merengue, you can use all three resorts except for dinner.
-If you want to have a more quiet dinner try the steakhouse or Italian restaurant. I liked the rib eye (not really much of one but it was tasty). The food isn't stellar but it's cooler in temp and quiet.
-Bring lots of sunscreen
-Take several swimsuits as it is hard to dry things in the tropics
-Take it easy on the sugar drinks
-If you are American, take advantage of drinking Pepsi made with actual sugar, you will never want to drink the corn syrup ones after that.
-Bring small bills for tips - these people don't make much
-Relax and enjoy yourself
-If you don't like the strength of the drinks, simply fill up an old pop bottle with rum from the room and mix in more, works great for the beach as it doesn't look as ghetto ;)
-Bring more sunscreen, you're in the Tropics!

All in all, we had a great time and would definitely go Riu again. I like to go to different places so I would try a different one but I wouldn't be sad to visit Mambo again.

my partner and me have just returned from the mambo it was the best holiday ive ever had from the animation team who were brilliant to cleaners everyone was so cheerful and helpful 10 out of 10 we will be back next year thanks x

I enjoyed my stay at RIU Mambo with my boyfriend and another couple. Overall, for the price, it is an ubeatable deal. I wasn't impressed with the rooms but the towel art and our housekeeper made it better. If you are Dominican, don't expect to find yuca, guineitos, or mangu every day. I was a little upset that most of the food was Americanized. Don't try the Italian or Steakhouse restaurants, you will have better options at the buffet. The reception desk were very helpful and always friendly. We went on the four-wheeler excursion and had a FANTASTIC time. Everyone should do that excursion. They take you to a nearby town where you are able to visit a tabacco factory (handmade cigars samples were given), as well as other places along the way. There are AMAZING views on the tour-that was perhaps the best part of our 6-day stay at RIU Mambo. The access to the other hotels is a great plus--because we can see how great RIU Mambo's Animacion team really is. The waiters are friendly and very attentive to your needs. I recommend the hotel for someone who is looking to relax by the beach and the pool.