Bahia Principe Explore El Portillo: Great vacation, great resort

The check-in process was fast. The grounds are well maintained and our room was fine. The room needed a little TLC but nothing major and really nothing I would complain about. The pools were very nice but sometimes a little warm. The beach was nice and calm, clean with some fish visible near the rock/coral while snorkelling. The buffet food was very good with lots of selection. It gets boring after sometime but that happens at all-inclusive buffets. We ate at the Brazilian, Gourmet, Italian and  [... read more]Fish Market ala carte restaurants … No complaints. All very good food and service. The liquor was not brand name but mixed drinks were still good. The lines at some bars were long and slow. More bars or more bartenders would help. The serving glasses are very small … recommend that you bring your own Yeti or similar larger container. The entertainment was ok. The Circus Show and Pirate Show were very good. My 8 year old granddaughter had a great time and liked the water park. My biggest complaint is the number of people smoking everywhere we went (except at the buffet and restaurants). Coming from Canada where smoking is so restricted, it was very unpleasant. They should have designated smoking areas. I would still recommend this resort.

Bahia Principe Explore Legend: Amazing destination

The resort was what we wanted for a family trip and our kids had fun. From the meals to the water park. The kids activities and the castle display. Everything was just perfect for the whole trip. Cheers

Secrets Tides Punta Cana: Wonderful staff!

All of the staff couldn’t have been more helpful, accommodating and welcoming. Everyone was incredibly cheerful. The resort is gorgeous, brand new and state of the art. Because the resort is brand new it was only about 1/3 full and they seemed to have as many staff as guests. Unfortunately, they have a few wrinkles to iron out. Many of the staff don’t speak English which makes it quite difficult to communicate with them. The furniture in the lobby area is almost unusable, the seating is so deep  [... read more]that it forces you to sit on the front edge of the sofas and you can’t lean back. A very poor design. Bartenders in the lobby bar are not trained and had difficulty preparing cocktails. Pool temperature was too cool to enjoy and the pool area needs more shady areas. Buffet food was very good, well prepared, fresh and a good variety. We even had half lobsters one evening at the buffet! The staff in the buffet need more training. We would have to ask repeatedly (usually at least 4 times) for cappuccinos or mimosas every morning before receiving them. It seems as if the staff offload to another staff member and another without anyone following through in the order. Both the Italian and Mexican restaurants were very good. Unfortunately, the Seaside Grill and Oceana were extremely poor. My husband suffered with food poisoning for 36 hours after eating at the Oceana and our steaks from the Seaside Grill were well over cooked while the potato and veggies on the plate were cold. Not edible! Service was very poor in both of these restaurants. The main courses were served on top of the dirty appetizer dishes on the table and wine was poured reaching in front of each of us. Definitely staff require more fine dining training if they want to call themselves a 5* resort. This resort has a lot of potential with some tweaking in certain areas and additional training.

Riu Palace Punta Cana: Beautiful Resort

Nothing bad to say about this resort --- staff very friendly; food excellent ( if you dislike the food here, then you have a problem ); rooms clean and bar fridge replenished daily; disregard the negative reviews;; this was our second time at this resort in as many years --- would definitely go back again;; can't go wrong with a Riu resort...only negative I have to say has nothing to do with the resort --- main pool --- people sitting on the stairs to pool entrance and many do not move and al [... read more]so this is a pool and not a football field--lots of younger people throwing balls and some hitting people---they should put a stop to this.

Viva Tangerine by Wyndham: Good first All-Inclusive trip !

Very small resort but that was perfect for our family. The wind is amazing because it was so hot when we were there so it made it nice to do things. Locals are extremely friendly and felt safe leaving the resort. Our room was clean but in a bad location - above the kitchen so it smelt not so good. If you get room 3309 or 3308 - ask for a new room. Overall for our first trip it was a good beginner vacation. I would give it 3.5/5. If you are looking for a budget friendly resort - try this pla [... read more]ce out !!

Melia Caribe Beach Resort: Absolutely a Beautiful resort

The grounds were absoltely amazing. Food was awesome. Rooms georgous, very comfortable beds. Showers are extremely slippery, no hand bars for support while showering. This is a huge resort, not recommended for anyone with mobility issues. A lot of walking. The trains that pick you up to take you throughout the resort are not very unreliable, therefore lots of walking to get to the buffet, your room, the pool and beach etc.

Vista Sol Punta Cana: Chewed alive by bed bugs and bitch slapped at Vista Sol

My husband and I loved many things about the resort, the beach is beautiful. The grounds are immaculate . We enjoyed all the animals. Our Junior suite was very spacious and we enjoyed the beautiful view from our balcony. The not so desirable qualities of Vista Sol resort. We found some but not all staff rude. Which I feel is poor management there should be more supervision to see what areas are having the problems. No service at the buffet. Long coffee and juice lineups. The smoking ar [... read more]eas were right next to all the areas of the non smokers, lobby area, Buffet, beach so you may breath in alot of secod hand smoke. Our bed in our Junior Suite was large but so hard and uncomfortable with 2 sheets and a worn out thin blanket. The towels were rough and worn out. The fridge didnt keep our beverages cold. The air conditioning didnt seem to be working properly. The worst part is which we thought were mosquito bites were actually bed bug bites. I went to my physician the day after I returned home and he confirmed bed bug bites. My husband and I had over 100 bites between us. I seen many other people on the resort with the same bites! Sorry to say they are not mosquitoes! The resort has so many pros but the cons outweigh and win. We wont be returning to Vista Sol

Secrets Tides Punta Cana: Amazing New Resort

This new resort by Secrets is exquisite. The rooms were well appointed. Housekeeping was excellent. Lots of room around the pools with plenty of loungers in sun and shade. Beach was beautiful with lots of seating. Great expanse of sand. Food was excellent from the buffet to the a la cartes. Entertainment was great with lots of variety. Plenty to do during the day and evening.

VH Gran Ventana Beach Resort: Good resort

Hotel was good food was great very enjoyable grounds were nice pool was good but needs more music around it staff was very nice Service in the morning for coffee could use improvement Overall we had a great time and trip.

VH Gran Ventana Beach Resort: Average place

The hotel is in the good stretch of the beach. The room was spacious and AC worked really well. The internet was non existent and only working sporadically in the lobby. The bathrooms are old and need major overhaul. Our bathtub cracked while my son was showering. I had informed them on day two but nobody showed up until the day we were checking out.

Playabachata Hotel: DO NOT GO HERE!! YOU WILL BE SORELY DISSAPOINTED

My family and I stayed here from Mar 6th-13th in rooms 1362, 63, and 67. We were very excited about our vacation, but upon reaching the property, we were met with disappointments after disappointments. Here's my list of disappointments... 1. There is no wifi on the property (except in the lobby area where the quality was less than acceptable). I had no plans to roam when on vacation but gladly had to do so in order to provide wifi to my teenage daughters 2. The rooms were very dated an [... read more]d although they were cleaned daily, they didn't feel homey: we never received a good night's sleep because the beds were old with soft mattress and pillows and a plastic cover on the mattress with tears that were piercing your skin as you get in and out of bed. There were hardly any clean towels to use, whether in the rooms or on the beach/pool, as they were always running out of towels. The sheets were never changed for the entire week. 3. No iron in the rooms 4. The food was terrible - My teenage daughters stopped going for meals after day 2 of being at the resort. The food is often either too salty or just tasteless, no flavor. I couldn't believe there was a resort in the Caribbean that couldn't prepare a decent meal. We didn't enjoy going for meals, we ate only because we had to. It is heartbreaking to be on vacation and counting down the days to leave. PROS: 1. If you lose your stuff, it is highly like that you will get it back. My hubby lost his wallet on the beach and it was returned to him. 2. The entertainment by the pool in the daytime as well as nighttime entertainment can be fun. 3. The staff members are friendly. 4. Activities (paid)outside of the hotel are very enjoyable: City tour, Dune buggy, ocean world. In spite of these pros listed, I would NEVER return to this resport because my dissasapointments were far greater.

VH Gran Ventana Beach Resort: Gran Ventana

We went as a group of 6 and were very pleased. Staff were great, grounds were great, food was great, easy access to the beach, it was all good. Would happily go again. My only criticism is the outdoor evening shows that were much too loud and went late. I think they should finish at 10 p.m. out of respect for babies and seniors.

Princess Family Club Bavaro: Good resort - especially for the price

We stayed in the family club. Rooms were cute (especially bunk beds for kids) but a little small. Food was generally quite good. Not Mexico but much much better than Cuba. Beach and ocean were amazing- clear water and lots of waves. Entertainment was lacking if like that sort of thing. Overall good resort for what we paid.

Playabachata Hotel: I would not recommend this resort

Zeus Puertas, General Manager Joe Carroll Local Guide·74 reviews·2 photos 2 weeks ago NEW Vacation | Family DO NOT GO HERE. The staff are rude and less than caring. We stayed in room 1275, the room from hell. As we opened the door the room was dirty. Hair and dirt on the floors and bed. I asked for a tumbler for the safe and was told they didn't … More 2 Playabachata Hotel (Owner) a week ago Dear Joe, Thank you for taking the time to share your review. We are disheartened to hear [... read more] about the issues you encountered during your stay. Cleanliness and guest satisfaction are our top priorities, and we take reports of unclean rooms and malfunctioning appliances seriously. We apologize for the inconvenience you experienced. Regarding the safety of guest belongings, our hotel prides itself on security, and we regret to hear of your concerns in this area. We strive to ensure a tranquil environment for our guests and are sorry if noise disturbances impacted your comfort. We are also committed to culinary excellence and are troubled by your dining experience. Our staff is trained to provide the highest level of hospitality and we are concerned by any reports of less than satisfactory service. We hope to have the opportunity to demonstrate the high standards we aim to deliver. Kind regards, Zeus Puertas, General Manager soma chroma 116 reviews·2 photos 4 days ago NEW COCKROACH ALERT! Stayed at this hotel till March 4 2024. While the staff, food and location are still superb there are COCKROACHES in the hotel. Big ones. I checked in and as I … More Playabachata Hotel (Owner) a month ago Dear Soma Chroma, Thank you for this positive review of your stay. We're thrilled to hear that our team made a lasting impression with their hospitality. It's wonderful that the flavors of our cuisine met your expectations and that our location enhanced your stay. The coffee plantation adjacent to our establishment is indeed a point of pride, offering a serene backdrop for our guests. We appreciate your loyalty in choosing to stay with us again. We look forward to welcoming you back on a future visit. Kind regards, Zeus Puertas, General Manager Asalee Saddler Johnson Local Guide·42 reviews·30 photos DO YOURSELF A FAVOR AND DO NOT BOOK!!!!! If I could give 0 star, I would. This hotel doesn't deserve 1 star; however, since I can't give 0, we'll just do 1 star. The room was musky when we arrived. The toilet makes an annoyingly long noise after flushing, the AC sounds like the roof is about to be lift off. The food is tasteless and the same thing every night. The juice and liquor is watered down. You get no towel if you don't go early nor do you get any lounge chair. The entertainment is no good and music is mostly Spanish. The housekeepers just barge in, no knocking before entering and they know little to no English. One walked in on me naked. The staff are miserable and unpleasant with the exception of a few. There is no iron nor ironboard in the room. The power outlets in the room doesn't work. We have to go to the lobby to find an outlet. There is no wifi in the rooms. Only the lobby area and it's very weak. The Concierge was deceitful about a welcome package and they tried to sell us a VIP package with their parent hotel. The concierge book our dinner under another guest's name. We were turned away twice from the restaurant and left embarrassed. After day two we were ready to leave. The remaining five days were hard. Imagine being on vacation and disgruntled. It was no fun! The hotel can do much better. It left a bad taste about Dom Republic. I won't be back ever!

Marien Puerto Plata Hotel: A view you can’t beat

We loved the vibe of this resort. The staff were all so kind and worked so hard. The rooms were nice and clean, we did fine the beds on the harder side. The food was great, you can always find something to eat! We really loved the snack bar. The drinks were fantastic. The entertainment was great. The beach is beautiful but the waves are intense, we spent most of our week in the sprawling pool. No complaints! You don’t have to walk far anywhere you go which is great. There are little st [... read more]ores on the resort where locals sell goods. They are quite aggressive and throughout the week we heard different people complain about how intense they could be. No gracias doesn’t always cut it! Go for the excursion to the cable car up the giant mountain. It’s amazing. Over all we loved our vacation at the Marien.

The Eurostars Grand Cayacoa: Very very good!

Everything was very good, delicious food, good service, good room, but a very small beach, I would go back there. The hotel was half full, so there were no problems with the beach,!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Viva Heavens by Wyndham: Overall Nice Resort But Needs Some Attention to Details

Grounds are very pretty and well-maintained. Pleasantly surprised and pleased that there were no bugs considering all the lush vegetation surrounding the grounds. Pool area is lovely, clean and close to everything. It's a smaller resort, so most of the restaurants, buffet, cafe and main bar are within walking distance of rooms, lobby and pool. A couple of the restaurants are further back, closer to the beach, but it is really only a 7-10 min walk, which is nothing compared to other larger res [... read more]orts. The beach was also really nice. There were very few vendors so there was not a constant barrage of people trying to sell. Also convenient is that there is a shopping plaza about 3 mins away, walking. You can get souvenirs, beach wear, little snacks, extra drinks, water in the little shops. Entertainment team was really good - they tried very hard to get participants to join the games. There were some very nice activities throughout the week: Canadian Day, International Women's Day, Coconut Water Day - different treats and drinks offered. Some improvements required: Dining The food at the buffet was, for the most part, very good, although sometimes repetitive, especially breakfast. One has to remember that these islands don't always receive or grow a large variety of products, so the repetition makes sense. They get creative with what they have. We suggest more variety in spreads though. For breakfast, the only spread for toast is butter. There should be some jam, peanut butter, honey, anything other than plain butter. On a positive note, the buffet restaurant was also open 11pm - 7am for snacks. This is a great idea because the shows end pretty late and one is often ready for a little snack before bed. There are only 4 specialty restaurants. We went to the Dominican and Mexican ones and were not really impressed. We cancelled our reservation for the fusion blend one and stuck to the buffet, where the food was much better with more choices. The snack/lunch restaurant by the beach was large but didn't have as much selection. The choices offered were still good though. Water The hotel provides 3 small bottles of water daily. Considering the tap water is not drinkable, 3 little bottles is nothing when you have to brush your teeth, rinse, wash retainers, etc. And this is for 2 people. Definitely not enough water for more than 2. We had to ask for an extra bottle every night. Eventually, on the 3rd day, we bought a large bottle of water at the shopping plaza which allowed us enough to take care of our necessities much better. Definitely need to improve this situation, because you don't want to ingest even a little bit of the tap water. Pool Area Pool lounge chairs are so-so. The cushions slip down when you're just sitting on the chairs. This was really annoying!! Hotel should really look at replacing these. Beds/Pillows Beds are comfortable, but the pillows are HORRIBLE!. May as well not have any as they flatten to pancakes. Our necks were quite sore by the end of the week. Entertainment Although the entertainment was very good, there were often delays getting started. We missed the last night's show that was supposed to start at 9:45. It was 10:15 and nothing had yet started and we needed to get up early for our flight, so we left. It seems that 9:45 is a suggestion; show starts closer to 10. This makes for an extremely long day in the heat for the animation team; this is very unfair and almost abusive. The whole "animation team" policy needs to be reviewed. Perhaps have one team for part of the day and another team for the latter part of the day. No one should have to work a 14-15 hr day every day (apparently, they get a day off every 15 days). Not acceptable. Cleanliness of Rooms Overall, our room was done fairly well every day, however the shower was definitely not cleaned because we saw the same things in the same spot on the shower floor every day all week. We also had to leave a note for the attendant to refill the however soap dispenser mid-stay, meaning she wasn't checking regularly. Transportation To/From Airport The drive/driver, promptness were fine, however the little bus is downright awful. There is a narrow aisle in the middle which hardly fits a small child to get through. All the adults had issues getting to a seat using this aisle. Then every other seat had a huge bump on the floor, so not only was it challenging to get to a seat in the narrow aisle, but it was impossible to sit comfortably in all the seats with these bumps. Surely, something more comfortable could be offered.

HM Bavaro Beach: Wonderful resort

We enjoyed this smaller resort so much. It was very clean and well kept. We had a lovely area with nice soft, clean loungers to lay on with a sun protector over us. Great service all over the resort. The staff was excellent! We were upgraded to an ocean front room which was such a great surprise. Breakfast was good every morning. Some mornings they were abit behind getting more food out. Great resort.

Paradisus Palma Real Golf and Spa Resort: Amazing resort and location, but some areas can be improved

Close to the Punta Cana airport, 25 minutes, amazing location on Bavaro beach with white sand but seaweed can be cleaned up earlier in the morning. Rooms and venues are stunning and very eco friendly but they need to work on their options for people with allergies. Being Celiac, we been to many locations that really go over and above with Gluten Free options and labelling of options on their menus and buffets. They had only one option for Gluten Free bread which was a large sub size bun, and  [... read more]the few items that showed Allergens at the buffet did not match the items below? They do ask if you have any allegies at the restaurants and mark it off on a small little piece of paper but when you sit down to order the staff would see the small paper and many times completely disregarded until I would push it in front of them, and felt that the staff did not take it seriously, which it is. Don't get me wrong, the food was amazing, but I had to stick to items with no sauces and more on the plain side just to be safe. I asked frequently, but only had a few limited GF dessert options. Mainly fresh fruit, which was amazing though. We paid for Adults only Reserve Swim up and two times we came back from golfing to find people in our reserved chairs. It wasn't their fault as there are no signs to indicate "reserved". Definitely a 5* high end resort but little changes can make it even better!!!

VH Gran Ventana Beach Resort: Great stay

Hotel was wonderful. Small easy to get around. Food was good, need more staff at buffet serving drinks. The rooms were dated but clean. The beach was absolutely beautiful. Not crowded, lots of trees and very peaceful. Waves were not too big even on windy days. Entertainment was minimal, shows in the evening were not too great. But we’re early risers so that was fine. Staff were friendlier the longer we were there. Our only complaints would be the smoking. So many people smoke and we’re not cons [... read more]iderate of others. My other complaint was with trip central. They were not organized at all with sending me trip information ect. I had made room requests which were not relayed to the hotel so they were not able to honour any of them because they were full. I had asked 3X for the room requests to be made but our agent did not follow through. It took multiple emails and calls to get all our travel information. I’ve never had this experience before booking with an agent. I would not book through them again.