Riu Bambu, Punta Cana ~ Discover room options, reviews & pricing

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About the Hotel

Playa Arena Gorda, Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

“The beach at Riu Bambu is fine and palm-lined.”view full review

Riu Bambu, a 3-star family hotel in Punta Cana with 24-hour all-inclusive service, offers swimming pools for children and adults directly on Arena Gorda beach surrounded by coconut palm trees and turquoise Caribbean waters.

Fully-Equipped Rooms

All 1000 rooms at Riu Bambu feature minibars, beverage dispensers, satellite TV, living rooms, and balconies or terraces overlooking the tropical surroundings. Guestrooms provide comforts such as heated floors, laptop-friendly workspaces, air conditioning, and free WiFi.

Diverse Dining Options

Authentic gastronomic experiences await in the Spanish, Italian, Asian, and Mexican restaurants, plus a steakhouse serving fine cuts of meat. Five bars including two swim-up bars and a lounge provide drinks and snacks throughout your stay.

Family-Friendly Entertainment

ClubHotel Riu Bambu provides free admission to Splash Water World with numerous aquatic attractions and a snack bar. RiuLand kids' club offers activities for children while teenagers between 13-17 enjoy the RIU4U program, and adults can access five swimming pools, entertainment shows, and the Pachá discotheque.

Beachfront Paradise Location

The hotel enjoys a beachfront location on Arena Gorda, featuring fine white sand and turquoise water just 30 km from Punta Cana. Guests can take excursions to nearby attractions including Marinarium Marine Park, Higüey sugarcane fields, Altos de Chavón, and Saona Island.

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Price and Room Availability Calendar

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Getting around

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City Centre

Punta Cana 20.3 km

Airports

Punta Cana (PUJ) 27.1 km

La Romana International (LRM) 90.4 km

Facilities

The hotel offers amenities for your comfortable stay and unforgettable experiences

Fantastic Steakhouse Experience

“During my stay at Riu Bambu, I had the pleasure of dining at the steakhouse, and it was a highlight of my culinary experience. The steak was massive and cooked to perfection. Despite a minor hiccup with the cold fries, the overall quality of the food was excellent, and I wished I could have dined there more than once.” view full review

Comfortable and Clean Rooms

“Our room was spacious and equipped with essential features like a mini bar, air conditioning, and tea and coffee making facilities. The housekeeping staff maintained cleanliness impeccably, and the added touch of fresh flowers scattered around the room was simply good.” view full review

Engaging Entertainment Options

“The entertainment at Riu Bambu was very engaging. I particularly appreciated the vibrant atmosphere around the pool bar, where there were fun games and live music, made our time there enjoyable. Ayjay from the entertainment team stood out with his lively personality, making our stay even more nice.” view full review

Great Pool Experience

“The pools at Riu Bambu were well-maintained and provided a great way to unwind. I loved spending time at the swim-up bar, where the lively music and cheerful atmosphere added to the fun. It was a perfect spot to relax while enjoying refreshing drinks.” view full review

General

Non-smoking property
Free Wi-Fi
Free parking
24-hour reception
Rooms/ Facilities for disabled
Luggage storage
Private beach
Lift
Currency exchange
ATM/Cash machine
Sundry/Convenience shop
Gift/Newsstand
Beauty salon

Sports & Fitness

Fitness centre
Kayaking
Tubing
Tennis court
Billiard tables

Services

Car hire
Laundry
Dry cleaning
Tours/Ticket assistance
Wedding services
Shops/Commercial services
Bell staff/Porter

Dining

Continental breakfast
Restaurant
Bar/ Lounge area
Free breakfast
Buffet breakfast

Children

Paid babysitting/ Child services
Children's pool
Water slides
Children's play area
Kids club
Game room

Spa & Leisure

Indoor swimming pool
Outdoor swimming pool
Beach towels
Sun loungers
Aqua park
Night club
Entertainment
BBQ facilities
Television in lobby
Spa & wellness centre
Sauna
Jacuzzi
Treatment room

Room features

Air conditioning
In-room safe
Mini-bar
Tea and coffee facilities

Bathroom

Hair dryer

Media

Cable/ Satellite television

Location

Playa Arena Gorda, Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

Map view

Playa Arena Gorda, Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

City landmarks

Landmark

Splash Water Park

900 m

Landmark

Pasha

710 m

Theatre

Tropicana theatre

770 m

Landmark

Plaza Punta Cana

830 m

Beach

Arena Gorda Beach

1.6 km

Amusement Park

Splash Water World

870 m

Landmark

Astron

950 m

Landmark

La Mascarita

960 m

Landmark

Obelisk

1.0 km

Landmark

DC6

1.0 km

Golf Course

Punta Blanca Golf Club

2.1 km

Landmark

Iberostar Golf Course

3.1 km

Amusement Park

Splash Parque Aquatico

1.6 km

Shopping Area

Punta Blanca

3.8 km

Golf Course

Cana Bay Golf Course

2.7 km

Beach

Arena Blanca Beach

2.5 km

Landmark

White Sands Golf Course

2.5 km

Night club

ORO Nightclub

2.7 km

Landmark

Playa Princess

2.8 km

Landmark

Cave Oleg Bat House

3.4 km

Landmark

Casino Diamante Punta Cana Grand

3.2 km

Casino

Princess Tower Casino Punta Cana

3.7 km

Landmark

Mangu Disco

3.8 km

Night club

Legacy Disco Club

3.6 km

Landmark

Avalon

3.7 km

Landmark

Cortecito Beach

4.1 km

Landmark

Splash Park

4.3 km

Night club

Under the Club

3.9 km

Mall

Taxi Bavaro Punta Cana

4.1 km

Landmark

Tatos Palm Beach

4.2 km

Nearby

Av. Estados Unidos

Splash Water Park

900 m

Restaurants

Restaurant Garden Grill

1.5 km

Carretera El Macao - Arena Gorda Grand Baya Principe

Reviews and Ratings

Feedback from previous guests about their experience.

Oliver

United States, March 2025

7.0/10

I had a mixed experience at Riu Bambu. The beach was fantastic, with plenty of clean spots under palm trees, but the service and dining left much to be desired. The rooms seemed outdated and poorly maintained, and the overall atmosphere felt more like a budget resort than a premium experience.

Rooms

5.0

The rooms were nice and spacious, but my shower drain was blocked and I struggled with standing water every day. It felt like the maintenance could be improved significantly.

Service

5.0

Most of the staff were friendly and hardworking, but there were times when it felt like we were ignored, especially in the specialty restaurants, which was quite disappointing.

Location

7.0

The hotel is located on a lovely palm-lined beach, which was definitely a highlight. However, the gated complex setup meant I couldn't easily explore beyond the hotel grounds.

Dining

5.0

The dining options were hit or miss. While the Colonial restaurant offered decent food, many other eateries felt repetitive and at times I felt restricted by restaurant policies concerning food taken from them.

Facilities

6.0

Facilities like the pools were great, but I noted that there was no visible security or lifeguard presence, which made me feel a bit uneasy about safety at the beach.

Alan

United States, March 2025

7.4/10

I had a great time at Riu Bambu, where the staff was welcoming and attentive. However, there were some issues with disorganization at meal times, and my room could have used a better view. Overall, I'd recommend it especially for families! 🌴🍹

Rooms

6.0

My Deluxe room was comfortable but had a balcony that overlooked the adjacent hotel, which wasn't ideal. The shower was nice, but the layout with the basins in the bedroom felt a little odd. It could improve on privacy aspects.

Service

9.0

The staff were friendly and always willing to help. I particularly appreciated the breakfast team, especially Fraser, who really made an effort to make our mornings enjoyable.

Location

10.0

The setting of the hotel was stunning, positioned beautifully on a long palm-lined beach. It felt safe at all times, and exploring the area was a delight.

Dining

6.0

While there was a large variety of food, I felt that the dining experience could have been better organized. Food often ran out, and slow refills were a common issue. However, I always found something to eat.

Facilities

7.0

The pools were clean and enjoyable with ample space, though the noise could be a bit overwhelming if you wanted quiet relaxation. I didn't use the shops much, as I found them overpriced.

Jeff

United States, March 2025

7.4/10

I recently spent two weeks at Riu Bambu, and honestly, it was pretty disappointing. While I appreciated some friendly staff and a few decent meals at the specialty restaurants, the overall experience wasn't up to par. The room situation and cleanliness really let things down, and the food options were often lackluster.

Rooms

5.0

The rooms were initially disappointing. I had to switch rooms due to a mouldy mattress, and the cleanliness was lacking overall, with mildew painted over in my room.

Service

5.0

Some staff were friendly, especially at the steakhouse and the bar, but there was a lack of attentiveness in the dining areas. I felt frustrated with how inconsistent the service could be.

Location

6.0

The resort has a nice location, with easy beach access and a good variety of specialty restaurants. However, the overall quality didn't meet the five-star expectations I had.

Dining

5.0

The food overall was hit or miss. While the steakhouse was excellent, other dining options didn't impress. The buffet felt subpar with frequent issues like questionable freshness of food.

Facilities

5.0

Facilities were adequate but not luxurious. I also found the entertainment lacking, and general cleanliness around the resort left much to be desired.

Colin

United States, February 2025

5.4/10

I had a fun time at Riu Bambu, especially with the entertainment and family activities. The room was nice, but there were some issues with service and dining that detracted a bit from my experience. Overall, it was a solid trip for a family vacation, but it didn't fully live up to the five-star expectations.

Rooms

6.0

The room was lovely, especially since I had paid for a deluxe option, but it was located quite far from the amenities. It would have been great if they could have accommodated my request for a closer room due to mobility issues.

Service

5.0

The check-in was smooth, but I missed a warm welcome drink. Some staff, especially during breakfast and lunch, could be quite rude, while others were really good, particularly in the steakhouse.

Location

7.0

The resort is set on a beautiful beach, perfect for long walks and relaxation, but the lack of bellboys to help with transportation across the massive grounds was a bit inconvenient.

Dining

5.0

Dining options were plentiful with many specialty restaurants, but there was a lack of labeling for vegetarian options, which made choosing meals tricky for me as a vegetarian.

Facilities

6.0

The resort had a variety of fun facilities, including a water park for kids, but I found some areas, like the pool, could have been cleaner, and there weren't enough shaded spots on the beach.

Jesse

United States, November 2024

5.0/10

I just returned from a week at Riu Bambu, and my experience was mixed. While I loved the beautiful beach and enjoyed some friendly staff interactions, I faced several issues that impacted my stay. The dining experience was particularly challenging, especially with the chaos caused by weekend locals. Overall, it was a decent trip, but not one I'd rush to repeat.

Rooms

5.0

The room was away from the restaurant and beach, which made it quiet, but it suffered from cleanliness issues like a blocked shower drain. Unfortunately, despite reporting it daily, nothing was fixed.

Service

5.0

Check-in was smooth and the main restaurant staff were attentive. However, I felt that the overall greeting and luggage assistance could be improved, given the hotel's rating.

Location

6.0

The hotel's location was nice, but I encountered cleanliness issues, including mould in some areas. The beautiful beach was a highlight, but the main pool area felt crowded.

Dining

5.0

The food was hit or miss; there were highlights like the steakhouse, but overall, it felt repetitive and sometimes poorly managed, especially on weekends when locals overpopulated the dining halls.

Facilities

5.0

The amenities were decent, but the cleaning of the pools was quite lacking. I often noticed debris floating around, which was disappointing for what's advertised as a luxury resort.