Riu Merengue - Puerto Plata - Sickness?

[freda_c]

Hi there!Im due to go to DR rui merengue on 9th sept til 23rd flying from Glasgow.Im really worried about the sickness!My travel agent (thomas cook) is being NO HELP!

Firstly they changed my flight so I am now flying from Newcastle(far and difficult to get to from Glasgow!)Apparently they can do this so due to 'terms and booking conditions' so I am forced to acceot this change.

Due to the sickness I am really not keen to go to Dr at all.Thomas cook will not let me change my holiday to a riu hotel in mexico without extensive and expensive charges!They have no riu hotels in mexic avalible at the time.If I keep the booking in the same Thomas cook branch(so they will still get the money)I can go to the rui in mexico but will lose ALL the money I have paid for the full holiday!!!Can they get away with this?Please can any one help?I would really appreciate it thankyou!I cannot believe they are aware of this problem with sickness and will still allow customers to go!!

Also if I am stuck going to the DR can anyone update me on the sickness?Thankyou again!

[Gary F]

Hi freda. I have been to the Meringue, and can say without any fear that if there is any sickness at the hotel it will be a 'geographical' thing rather than any problems with the way the hotel is run. I had a fantastic holiday there, and with the usual cautions, you will too.

[MSwithaD]

Re Riu Merengue: Went there in March/April this year - family celebration. Wife, myself, daughter No.1 & partner, 14-days all inclusive (to celebrate my 60th birthday/retirement). We did not know that there was/had been a airborne virus prevalent at the 3 hotels that make up the Rio hotel complex - although it was known by our holiday company/and resident representative. Within 3 days of our holiday all 4 of us went down with it and stayed with us throughout the holiday period. Whether it still flourishes I don't know but please be warned. Take as much 'tummy' medicine as you can just in case - should you be unfortunate to fall ill there is a Doctor onsite, but treatment is very expensive. As for the resort(s) they are excellent with very good food and excellent facilities. The private beach is cleaned daily, white sandy beaches, but take care when bathing (can be a bit rocky in places, and it does get windy from time to time). You can use any of the resorts facilities, the staff are cheerful and accommodating. I have to say that apart from the sickness element, everything else was delightful. Accomodation is v. good and overall we found that the best facilities were at the Riu Bachata. Postscript: On our return we complained to Holiday Company - rec'd unsatisfactory reply - matter has been handed over to our solicitors and is ongoing.

[canarybird]

If its not too late to change then I thoroughly recommend Occidental Grand Flamenco, Puerto Plata, right in the centre of the Playa Dorada complex. Its spotless, food is good, lots of variety, excellent pool, nice beach and good entertainment. We had no sickness there.

must you?

[awayfaraway]

The Riu hotels had problems earlier on this year but after considerable pressure from Thomson they seem to have sorted the problems out and improved the quality of their food so you should be OK
Good luck
Scott

[Jennk]

I am also due to fly out to the Dominican Republic on the 26th of July to the Riu Bachata and I am very worried about illness reports! Apparently it was in the daily mail on Saturday and the hotel was shut for a week recently. Our tour operator are not very helpful either and say that the hotel has been given the all clear so if we cancel we will loose 90% of our money! I hope it has now been cleared up as I seem to have little choice but go or loose a lot of money!

Jen

[belinda]

hi
we booked to stay in the riu mambo in april 2005 traveling with a two year old and a eleven year old .in late december i found a site with reviews on this chain of hotels mainly consisting of canadians and american views and at that time they were stopping canadian flights on the runway for quarinting as you can imagine i rang THOMAS COOK straight away they informed me there was nothing to worry about!! i kept checking the site and kept reading about said ILLNESS ( at this point people were on drips/in hospital etc ) every month i rang thomas cook only to be told nothing to worry about :icon_grrs
we were flying out on the 2nd of april 2005 and leaving for the airport at 6.00am . i recieved a phone call @ 3pm on friday 1st april to tell me that the hotel was CLOSED we rushed to the agent and i am sorry to say i had a hissy fit to say the least !! needless to say we changed our hotel (again i had a hissy fit as they said the was only one choice of hotel to change to /they then gave us three to choose from) i didnt pay for any changes and actually got a refund (they didnt want to give me anything at first )
we went further down the island to playa dorada where no one was sick and when my daughter and i went horse riding in the hills the english rep told me that it was common knowledge about the 3 riu's having sickness and that it happened in canadian seaseon (our winter) and thats why thomas cook only knew in april
we also travelled back to dom rep in sept 2005 and stayed in sousa again there was no sickness there
i am shocked that this illness has been in these hotels for so long (they did close them down for two months i think to clean up ! )
all i can say to all the people booked is dont let your tour rep walk all over you and try and get forum evidence that the illness has been in that resort for so long
by the way we are going back to dom rep on the 18th sep this year as we loved the island/people/weather/food etc so dont let it put you off going there

[stargazer]

[QUOTE=belinda]hi
just thought would let you know that we went to the riu merengue in aug 05 and we had no problems whatsoever.we travelled with a 1 yr old and not one of us had this so called sickness bug that was taunting the rius. the only people that we heard saying that they were ill were the canadians ummhh bit weird as every english person we asked were just fine;) my parents have been back too this april 06 and they said they were fine too and they too had a fantastic time think it is a bit like chinese whispers
kind regards jo x:occasion1

[stephen01]

the booking terms and conditions (small print) is set to provide protection to tour operators and customers there should be a clause stating what happens if they change your booking this would normally include things like departure airport and normaly you would have the right to accept the change or transferr to another holiday but often tour operators t+c's differ so read yours.Contact citezens advise if want too i undrestand your plight traveling to newcastle the fact its 3 hours away is offputting but dont let it be its a good airport with a number of hotels and carparks offering good deals to travelers i regular use manchester airport even though i live in newcastle because of a bigger choice of destinations the flight out of newcastle this year is with monarch and they have been flying a modern airbus a 330 a good plane with tv in every head rest as for the dom rep north was there last year did not stay in the riu hotels stopped at the Iberostar Dominicana no illness reports top hotel lost to do food and drink excellent had seen reports on the illness before i travled and yes of coures you worry a bit if your un happy change hotels before you go but remember this you are visiting a developing country standards are high but not always as high as the uk watch what you drink and eat if unsure dont consume it tap water is not drinkable bottled provided in most hotel room ice and water in the hotel bars and restrants is normaly purified the tour op reps will advise all of this
and more a lot of ****** are made from coconut milk wich is a natural laxative so go easy on those hte heat can also make you unwell so and alcohol dehydrates the body so plenty of no alcoholic drinks in between
take some tummy upset tablets with you you may need them and they can be expensive in resort
personally i have not heard any reports on this matter from this hotel this year the riu group would not want this to be a ongoing problem and would have done all and more to prevent the situation there last year some say it was air bourn some water but remember what i sai about the water
finaly i have relative that have stayed there two years ago and they had the best holiday ever a very clean hotel but times change so check your options and decide quickly if your worried change hotels but listen to your own mine and go with that

[novio341]

i cannot believe what people are saying about this sickness bug i have been going to the Dr for 6 years and stayed at a number of hotels . My very best hotel was the RIU Merengue WOW how clean ,spectacular. Ihave been a very lucky lady and been all over the world and i would give my right arm to visit this hotel again ,Hey i even got married there ,oh and ive never been sick once! I also have four children 7,5,3,1