Accommodations are spacious - a canopied king or two queen beds, rattan sofa and chair. All have balconies and some patios even sport a hammock. A large Jacuzzi tub for two separates the sleeping area from the dressing area. Amenities include A/C, coffee maker, minibar, safe, ceiling fans, a basket of toiletries, 24-hour limited room service, and turndown service.

Garden view rooms are more quiet since all other rooms face the pool that runs the length of the resort. The gardens are lovely with ponds, fountains and flowers. Many ground floor rooms have direct access to the pool, but third floor rooms have the advantage of a cathedral ceiling and more privacy. The junior suites are my favorite.

The pool never feels crowded since it meanders through the property and palapas, floaties, and lounges are always available. The large swim-up bar is usually a busy place.

Seven restaurants offer a variety of foods with limited menus. The food is tasty, but not gourmet -- typical of a cruise or large all-inclusive. All restaurants are a la carte except for the breakfast and lunch buffet. If the weather is cooperative two nights of barbecue on the beach are planned with table cloths, glassware, and candles!! The A/C continental restaurant (reservations needed) has fine service, gourmet food, and a piano player. Dining here is leisurely. The Italian restaurant serves individual pizzas all day and the pastas are quite good. Our least favorites were the Mexican and Chinese. The Mexican food was bland and the service at the Chinese restaurant was much too fast. The food was very salty, but the pre-made sushi was good. Breakfast was served buffet style with omelets made to order, a fruit shake station and a self-serve mimosa or bloody mary station. Two open-air palapas overlooking the pool and the ocean grilled meats and fish for lunch and dinner.

Evening entertainment is quite good, at least entertaining, but not Broadway -- musical groups, magic shows, karaoke, dance shows, and the like, with some audience participation. The disco has a great sound system and is open until almost dawn.

A beautiful quiet spa, a few shops, free internet cafe, a watersports cabana, and a variety of excursions offered by the tour operators will keep you as busy as want on your vacation.

For a relaxing few days far away from it all, Secrets Excellence is one of the best choices, not only in Punta Cana, but in the Caribbean.

Having lunch here feels as though you may be in Tahiti -- gentle breezes -- your table overlooks the dunes and you see the tops of the beach palapas and the ocean beyond. Could also give you the feeling of a European cafe on the Mediterranean with folks strolling by hand in hand.

The grill menu features, shrimp, lobster, calamari, grouper, tuna, clams, salmon or veggies. Whatever the fishermen have brought in, since it changes almost daily. Service is attentive, portions are generous and well plated and best of all the food is so tasty.

Full bar service is available and a seafood patty with mustard sauce is served as soon as you are seated. Soup, a salad bar and desert bar with a "make your own" sundaes station complete the menu.

This is an all-inclusive resort so there is no charge to dine here. The above figure is my estimate of the cost at a seaside casual restaurant in the Northeast.

It was our favorite lunch place but also very enjoyable at night when flickering candlelight makes it so romantic.

Reservations can only be made from 3-5pm daily. If the times are not convenient for that particular day, you will be given a reservation for the next day at your choice of time.

The service is leisurely and formal but enjoyable since a pianist provides background music. Men are required to wear long pants and collared shirts -- these well dressed people and the music create a "supper club" atmosphere.

Lobster bisque and hearts of palm salad were savored bite by bite. The loin of lamb was tender and cooked to perfection. The accompanying brandy and rosemary sauce . . . superb!! Veal steak should have been ordered "rare" . . . but the sauce and few small vegetables were excellent. The chateaubriand and filet with peppercorn sauce are both outstanding.

Desserts were good, but not spectacular. A better choice would be to sit outside in the courtyard under the stars and sip a specialty coffee with liquor and whipped cream while listening to the evening entertainment.

In addition to the "free" wines that are included, you are also offered a wine list of "better" wines at a charge of $25 to $35 bottle. We didn't feel the need to splurge.

Do make sure to call early for your reservation -- there is no one to answer calls made after 5pm. You don't want to miss this dining experience.

A casual lunch menu has choices of 1/2 pound beef burgers (very popular), veggie burgers, fajitas, quesidillas, shish-Kebab(delicious and tender) wings and ribs complemented by a self-serve salad and dessert bar.

Flickering candlelight and tablecloths transforms the mood of the steak house at night. You are also entertained by the music that drifts over from the evening entertainment in the nearby square.

Five types of US Choice steaks are grilled to order in addition to pork and chicken - all come with different vegetables and a choice of sauces. Steaks are large and cooked to perfection which is not common at large or all-inclusive resorts.

Wine by the bottle, cold Presidente, and a full service bar are included - I guessed at the comparable price in the US.

Seven four-story buildings in a horse-shoe shape sit back about 100 yards from a beautiful soft sandy two mile cove of a beach. Most rooms have some oceanview but none are oceanfront since the beach is lined with lots of palm trees and the resort is built perpendicular to it. The main lobby is quite ornate and formal. Check-in for groups (Apple Vacations) takes place in the piano bar seated at cocktail tables. A cool drink of your choice is offered. Rooms are pre-assigned and you are given ONE bulky metal key for the room and a big metal lock for the safe. A little old-fashioned in this age of technology. We were enjoying the beach by noontime.

The main lobby building is two stories - the entrance level has a couple of shops - sundries and jewelry - a car rental, excursion desk. The sports bar with 15 to 20 TVs has Internet access for $8 an hour, pool tables and 24 hour self-serve snacks. From the ornate piano bar, a curved stairway takes you to the outdoor fountains, five restaurants, a showroom and an outdoor plaza used for early evening entertainment.

Fountains, manicured lawns and tiled walkways lead you toward the pools and beach beyond. All rooms have balconies, Jacuzzi tubs and a step-down living area. The minibar is replenished daily with sodas and beer and liquor dispensers have Brugal Rum, Gordon's Gin, Stoli Vodka and Brandy.

The pool and beach area have daily planned activities, a swim-up bar, regular bar with wrought-iron tables and a buffet restaurant beachside that becomes a Steak House at night.

The beachside Spa is adjacent to "Colonial Village" a small shopping area. A gym, beauty salon, massage rooms and a thalassotherapy room surround an open-air fountain area. Separate men and women's shower, steam and sauna rooms merge to a co-ed relaxing area with lounges, Jacuzzi pools with fountains and open window areas to catch the ocean breezes and sounds. Treatments are moderately priced for a resort - $60 for a 50-minute massage - $40 for a facial.

The staff are pleasant, speak some English and are eager to please. The resort is very clean, the pools immaculate, the beach beautiful, and the water warm. RIU focuses on catering to Europeans. Americans can enjoy this resort if they are not expecting "Four Season's" type service. Meals are served at a fast pace, cuts of meat different than we are accustomed to - no room service - beds comfortable but not "plush". Think of RIU as comparable to a moderate, mass market cruise ship rather than a 5-star resort and you'll enjoy your vacation.