Riu Merengue: The Good, Bad and Ungle

My husband and I arrived at Riu Merengue in Puerto Plata, Dominican on Feb 24th for a 2 week vacation and I wanted to fly home on Feb 26. The hotel was advertised as a 4.5 star but I would give it a 3 or under. The Good - My husband had a birthday and they went out of their way to help with the celebrations. Our room was decorated, received a bottle of wine with dinner, received a bottle of mamawana and some coffee and had a special birthday cake. No time share hassles. I`m not sure if the h [... read more]otel was just not up to par for time shares or if the Riu chain doesn`t allow them to hassle customers. Every evening after dinner they had a band that played dancing music, very nice to enjoy with a special coffee. Our Nexus rep, Stanley, mentioned that we should move up an excursion we booked because the weather was going to change. We did move it up and had a great trip snorkeling. Also did the city tour which was very nice. The Bad - Buffet restaurant was very busy and several times we could not find a clean table to sit down and eat. They have 500 rooms and they don`t have the facilities to accommodate the numbers in their dining room. They had 2 al a carte restaurants which only served 100 guests per night so you had to line up early to get in. No reservations. Italian was awful and the steakhouse was just OK. Ran out of keg beer on February 27th which was a holiday so the staff was scrambling to get canned beer from everywhere. In the buffet restaurant they had bread that you could cut which was great, however, many people didn`t use the napkin to hold the bread when they were cutting it and of course the germs on their hands were spread across the entire loaf of bread. They did have butter, some places have switched to margarine so I was glad that they offered butter. The Ugly - our first room 1611 had cockroaches. I have been travelling to warm climates for 20 years and have never had any roaches in my rooms. The hotel sprayed the room (which we didn`t like due to the impact on the spray for humans.) We meet with the NeXus rep and wanted to know what it would cost to move resorts or to fly home. The sales office was closed because it was a Sunday and Monday was a holiday so the earliest we could talk to a sales rep was Tuesday. My husband demanded to talk to the hotel manager and we did get another room on the 2nd floor and did not see any roaches in our room after that. They advertise that they have internet in the lobby - they don`t. We had to go to one of their other hotels to get internet - the lobby was so busy with people trying to communicate with others that it was insane to find a place to sit and most people had to stand. If you have any reaction to smokers, don`t go to this hotel. There was smoking everywhere except the dining room. Lots and lots of smokers. The dining room had a lot of flies. I believe this was because they had place mats that were never wiped off. I watched how they cleaned the tables and they would wipe around the place mat. It was kind of sickening that we had to swat flies as we tried to eat.

Marien Puerto Plata Hotel: Not amazed

Recently spent 7 days at Be Live with a 4 year old and a senior. Overall, good features for kids and people with disabilities (pool, kids food...)but nothing amazing. Food was average, service average, rooms average....seems like a great resort once but time has made it worn in a unimpressive. Close to the airport, about 40min total. Our bus dropped off at about 6 hotels and ours was last. Check-in takes forever. Make sure you run to the front desk first!! They were overbooked when we went.  [... read more]Common issue apparently. After check-in they give you a ride in a golf cart to your room. When we got to ours, after taking 15-20min to check in we had no room keys and only 1 towel card. Luckily the guys who brought us to our room went back to get them because it was 11pm, it's a huge property and we had no idea where to go. Love the layout of the property. It's like a giant circle and the pool's in the middle. There are 3 bridges over the pool so you can take shortcuts depending on where you have to go. there are 9 buildings with rooms. I read reviews that said one was better than the other but they're each close to something. You'll have to walk a lot no matter where you stay. The rooms were average. Nothing special to them. There was a leak in the ceiling that started our 2nd day. We told the front desk but no one ever came. Then it became 3 leaks...and we just learned to adapt. Our phone was buzzing for no reason. Had to unplug it for the week. Cleaning staff were great. No issues. Super friendly to us. Especially my son. Buffet food was average. The best part was the options. They have a lot of stations for different foods. Fresh omelettes, pancakes, churro, grilled fish and chicken, pasta... On different nights there was someone carving legs of lamb or roast beef. There was a theme each night but the food rarely matched the theme. But we never left hungry. There's something for everyone. There's even a kids-only area where they Serve all kid friendly food...that ended up saving me for a lot of meals. Ths servers in the buffet wouldn't give you the time of day until you tip. The first day no one would bring us drinks, you couldn't get anyone's attention. As soon as we left a tip we had smiling service, drinks right away, the server knew our order. HUGE difference. And you could see it at other tables. One table would get their own jug of coffee and the next table couldn't even get a coffee. Tried the Mexican a la carte. Big disappointment. Brazilian I heard was great but we dicidely not to try it after being disappointed already. The pool was great. It's one big pool that goes off into 3 different areas. One has all the entertainment going on, one is quieter, and the other is has a volleyball net. You can swim under the bridge to go into each area. They all start level and gradually get deeper. Great for kids and people with disabilities. Lots of shallow area for the little ones. Pool entertainment was good. But they'd play a game or two then that was it for the day. Pretty quiet the rest of the day. Nighttime they always had some sort of show. All pretty decent. I saw a movie playing in the theatre once in my whole stay...wish they had move of that. Even if it's just for the kids. There are plenty of stores onsite to shop at. There's a flea market about a 15min walk down the beach that the hotel pretends not to know about. You'll see guys with blue shirts on walking up and down the beach. They'll take you to the market to the booths they work for. First, you have to be good at negotiations if you want to shop there. Second, they work for one of 10 booths. They'll try to pressure you into buying from one spot. But they can do negotiations for any of them so don't feel like you can't shop around. I had no safety issues going there. If you spend a lot of time on the beach you'll know all the guys working there pretty quick. Worth the walk for something to do for the day.

Casa Marina Reef Resort: Great vacation regardless

The famous line "you get what you pay for" comes to mind when reviewing Casa Marina. We loved the property, the views especially as well as the overall cleanliness. The food is fairly good with a good variety. Wine with dinner is hard to find and has to be completely watered down! The staff can't compete with the genuine friendliness of Cuba and really should smile abit, not sure they like their tourists in Sosua. Unfortunately, they have a very small reception area so their are always lineups a [... read more]nd checking in is a long wait before you get to your rooms(in our case, 3 hours) The rooms are tired and many have broken tiles, tubs, locks and A/C. It really needs a complete overhaul and with such a gorgeous property overlooking the ocean, it would be worth it. We are so over the whole issue of people saving beach chairs in the early morning and even stacking them on the decks of their rooms and holding chairs all day with their beach towels even when they leave for most of the day...Frustrating!!!! Also very noisy all night long!! but it was spring break so our mistake!

Marien Puerto Plata Hotel: Everything we expected and more!

This was our first trip to the Dominican, and it will not be our last. Upon arrival while waiting to check in, we were treated to a tropical drink. Check in was quick and we were brought to our room in no time. The room was beautiful. Large, clean and fresh. The resort was easy to get around and well maintained, the beach was clean (many reviews complained about the state of the beach). What people need to realize is that beyond this resort is an old resort that is no longer open. If you walk to [... read more] that area, the beach is not maintained. The Buffet had a great selection of food each day. Jeanette was our main waitress. She was fantastic. Friendly, cheerful and always ready to help. Franko (the pasta man) made perfect pasta to order. By the third day, he would take our plates and make it exactly as we liked it without needing to ask. We didn't partake in any of the al a cartes (Mexican, Mediterranean, and Brazilian) as we were happy with the buffet. The staff was friendly. Patelina was our housekeeper. So sweet! She kept our room spotless and our towels and mini fridge well stocked each day. There were many excursions on offer that would fit any budget and interest. Melvin set us up with the waterfalls trip. What an experience!! I suggest this to anyone who enjoys water slides. (Natural water slides that you go down as you descend from the falls). There was always security on the beach which kept the vendors from disturbing us. Even when we spoke with the vendors, they were respectful and not pushy. They took no for an answer while remaining friendly. The pool is huge and super clean. The bars were well placed and the bartenders were funny and generous with the drinks. Although the weather didn't fully cooperate (rainy the last three days), it was a fantastic trip. This resort was perfect. Great value. It was much better than we expected for what we paid. We are already planning our next trip!!! Thanks to Lisa Selig for all she did to make this such a refreshing trip!

Iberostar Waves Costa Dorada: Awesome resort

Two sisters went and we felt very safe The food was really good and lots of selection Really enjoyed the weekend Beach BBQ Our room overlooked the pool Best view ever ...even could see and hear the ocean The Staff were lovely ... went out of there way to help you Nelson the server was tops ...always made sure we had a great spot to sit for our Breakfast and Dinners Japanese dinner was so entertaining and delicious Entertainment at night ... you wouldn't want to miss.. live band e [... read more]ach night Great spot for walking the beach everyday Also liked the short trip to the Airport

Cofresi Palm Beach and Spa Resort: Amazing Resort!!

We just came back from the Cofresi Palm Beach and Spa Resort and we can't wait to go back. The service was phenomenal, the food was amazing and the grounds were so well kept. See you next year as this is going to be our annual destination!!

Blue Bay Villas Doradas: Great little resort

The room was one of the nicer ones I've had in the carribean. It was very clean and the service is fantastic. The food is pretty good, not awesome, but pretty good. The pools are nice and the beach is clean and very nice. This beach has waves, which I absolutely love! On occasion you had to wait for a clean towel, but not for very long. The resort its is very clean and quite beautiful. It's a smaller, quieter place which was exactly what I was looking for. That said, there is dancing and ent [... read more]ertainment that goes on each evening, so there's always something to do. There is no free internet at all at this resort and you also have to pay for the safe. But it's worth it!

Lifestyle Tropical Beach Resort: Tired Resort

The resort is in need of a total upgrade. The rooms are old, and musty. YOu have to pay to rent a safe in your room, and the keys are so old, ours broke the first time we tried to use it. We took it back to the front desk and they scotch taped it. The resort lacks places to sit, especially at the bar areas and entertainment areas. If you are not a member, you cannot use all the restaurants, bars, or beaches. We had to go to the lobby every morning to book the restaurant that we wanted to dine  [... read more]in for that day only, and we got whatever was left over after the members had booked theirs. We needed two wristbands to wear at all times, one for the all inclusive, and one for the transportation to get to parts of the resort. The resort brings in guests by helicopter which lands on the property, but after having 5 helicopters a day land, it gets pretty irritating and loud. However, the food was excellent, and the staff were very friendly and helpful. The entertainment at the resort ended at 9pm, then you had to take transportation to the Colosseum to continue with more entertainment. Since the resort is a time share, salesmen are bugging you from the minute you walk in, till the day you leave to go for a tour, to buy or to come with them to show you the time share properties. We were on vacation, and we do not want to be bothered by this, but they always hung out to the exit of the buffet, and chased you down every time! Our frig in the room was never stocked the whole week we were there, we had to leave a note for them to leave us water on our second day. On our first day, the room was not even cleaned. They came around 5pm and asked if we wanted it done then, while we were getting ready to go for dinner.

Iberostar Waves Costa Dorada: Great time at the Iberostar

Overall we were impressed with this resort- beautiful beach, well kept grounds, everything was laid out very well, and the little touches such as the soft serve ice cream machine and popcorn machine at the pool buffet did not go unnoticed. The entertainment staff here is the best I have seen in 6 years of traveling south. The only downfalls were the food (felt like I was always struggling to find something to eat and usually settled on pizza or pasta with salad) and the vendors that walked the  [... read more]beach and pool area and were kind of aggressive.

VH Gran Ventana Beach Resort: 5th visit to VH Gran Ventana

This resort never ceases to amaze! We have been here as a couple three times and twice as a family (kids 14 & 5). The staff are always friendly and very welcoming. It's always a great feeling when the staff remember you after not seeing you for a year. The food was great once again and the resort is always very clean. We have and always will recommend VH to anyone who's looking to take a trip to the Dominican Republic. Sincerely: Matt, Becky, Caleb and Rayna

Lifestyle Tropical Beach Resort: Amazing Time

My husband and I stayed at Lifestyle Tropical Beach Resort. we had amazing time they had given us building 6 which was one of the best ones. The room and the decor was a bit out dated but always clean, fridge was stock up as well as extra towels. its always good to know your house keeper and also good to tip them. Bring lots of tip money !!! I was lucky that I can speak Spanish we where able to communicate with the staff in the resort. They charge $20 for a safe lock key for the week First day [... read more] you will see staff at breakfast inviting you to show you the resort. Its all about getting you to join the VIP club which is time sharing !!! .We took two day trips, one was 1/2 day to visit the town the other one was extreme water falls..I highly recommend this one.

Casa Marina Reef Resort: Third time at this resort and it doesn't disappoint

This resort gives you a bang for your buck. Beautiful grounds and pools. Food was quite good. We were there from Feb 23rd - March 9th (late and into 10th). We are already planning on going back again next year. It is a 3.5 star resort and I think that's mainly because the rooms are just a little dated, but who stays in their rooms anyways. Beds were comfortable and showers had warm to hot water. I will post a review on Trip Advisor as well, just so management can see a few little thi [... read more]ngs, like putting some WD-40 into the tracks of their sliding doors - they are so hard to pull open. We went to Luigi's a la carte 3 times and really enjoyed it as well. I rate this a 4. Oh, and another good thing is that this hotel complex is only 15 mins from the airport and you can also leave the resort and hit sort of downtown Sosua in 5 mins. to get wine, etc. (sorry, but the wine down here is just so awful)

Bahia Principe Grand San Juan: A super Resort, Excellent Holiday

This is a wonderful resort and we have been going there for over ten years.. The staff is so friendly and treat you as family. There are activities going on all the time to keep people interested and happy. Good shows every night. great access to beaches, pool and shops. The restaurants have wonderful food and great service. I have recommended this resort to many people who have all loved it.

Bahia Principe Grand San Juan: Beautiful resort

The resort was really nice. Rooms were very clean and staff were great. The beach was always ruff, they have tried to control this by placing large breakers in the ocean. The pools were ok. The one bad thing was no water pressure in either of the bathrooms we had. We were a long way from the main buffet (1.5Km). Any side trips you want to take are 2 -3 hrs away. We didn't do any for that reason. The drive to and from the airport could have been better with the attendants passing on some info  [... read more]from the island.

Casa Marina Reef Resort: Casa Marina Delight

Casa Marina Resort is a pleasure to stay at! This was my fourth trip to this resort with family and friends (9) and we are planning a fifth. The room was always clean when we came back from our day out, water and pop was replenished daily. There is a different show nightly, some of which are quite entertaining! The staff is very friendly, buffets are plentiful, you will not go hungry. There are a few people I would especially like to mention---Luisa Beard who works the breakfast buffet near the [... read more] reception area, she always has a smile that just made my day even better. Luisa always provides exceptional service! Harold Vargas, luggage handler---he gets you to your room quickly so you can begin enjoying the resort almost from the minute you check in. Outside of the lobby of the resort there are tour guides you can hire if you want a private or different tour from what the resort offers. For the last four years we have had the pleasure of having Pablo Luciano as our tour guide. Great experience every time! I have recommended this resort to many people and will continue to do so. We are hoping to have a group of twenty for our next visit! I almost forgot, pools and beach and cold pools are awesome!

Emotions by Hodelpa Puerto Plata: Trip to Hell

Where do I start. First day dirty rooms, no warm water, electricity, A/C and we paid for a Superior Room and after 3 days they moved us to a better room, but the same problem as above and we had to stay in this for two weeks. Food was always cold. Never had a hot coffee. Ran out of wine. Sewer smell in room. Leaky bathroom sink. Internet didn't work 80% of the time and would have to go to the Resort Lobby in order to connect. Clothes is still stinking due to A/C not working and getting so [... read more] damp. Tried to leave but Air Transit employee informed us there were no seats on any plane. We complained almost everyday and all they said was "we are working on it" I will never travel to there again. They seem to be saying it is only a 3 star Resort and I think it is an excuse they are using to get away with the state of their resort. The workers try their best to keep you happy but the resort has a long way to go before they get this a 3 Star. I will never book through Trip Central again. Oh yes, I also had to pay for my suitcase when I left Dominican..thanks Air Transat...that's what I call all inclusive. The amount of money we had to pay for this trip I am sure we could have gotten a 4 star Hotal that wasn't in HELL.

Viva Heavens by Wyndham: Great 2 week stay

We stayed at the resort for 2 weeks. Each year we visit a new resort, in a new area ever year for 2 weeks and out of all of the entertainment teams we have ever met in the past, I would have to say this one was most definitely the best! They were always on point and trying to get everyone involved, wether it was the foam party or the disco, they made a small resort extremely fun. I have to thank you to La Gata, you definitely made our trip fantastic! The resort was clean and well kept. Definitel [... read more]y request a room with a balcony (amnesia room). We enjoyed that you could order breakfast in bed, not many resorts offer that.

Casa Marina Reef Resort: Casa Marina Reef Resort

Everything was great. Special thanks to Casa Marina Staff Luisa Beard and Harold Vargas for their exceptional service. This was our forth time there and we'll be back next year. Kevin Dupuis at trip-central took great care us.

Cofresi Palm Beach and Spa Resort: Big resort small challenges

Great pools and lots of them. Never felt crowded. Food was typical all inclusive freshly made and repetitive. Our toilet kept breaking down, pillows were the worst ever. The room was spacious and extremely clean. There were "streams" flowing into the ocean and the smell was bad. Turns out it was grey water from what we figured was the sewage filtration system. If you don't like stairs this place is not for you.

VH Gran Ventana Beach Resort: How does this resort rate 4 stars?

We were told we were going to a 4 star resort and we were very disappointed when we got there. If it is a 3 star resort, I would be surprised. We were there from February 3 - 10, 2017. The a la carte restaurants were excellent but being restricted to one visit in each of the three for the whole week, we relied mainly on the buffet for our meals. While there appeared to be a great variety, a lot of it was not very appealing and it was very repetitive. We felt they were offering the dinners from t [... read more]he day before for breakfast and lunch. The buffet dining room was very disorganized and the staff in there was not very friendly or helpful. They each seemed to have their own jobs to do and were not willing to give us napkins if they were not the napkin person! The same with cutlery, water, wine. There are many staff members in there, but very poorly organized. The grounds themselves were OK. The pool was quite small but pleasant and I did my physio exercises in there everyday. The beach was nice but each day, it was a scramble to get decent loungers that we could move into the shade. A lot of the lounge chairs on the beach were broken or torn and no one seemed to be bothering about removing them. They were a safety hazard as far as I was concerned. Another safety concern was the fire alarm, which rang many times when we were in our room. One night it went off 4 times. We were not told what this alarm was and the first time we went rushing out into the hallway expecting to see people leaving the building, but no one was in sight. When we eventually asked about it, we were told it was the fire alarm and that someone must have been smoking in their room. I thought we should have been warned of this when we checked in. As it occurred so often, we just started ignoring it, but had there actually been a fire, it could have been very detrimental. A couple of stars amongst the staff were the ladies who cleaned our room each day. They were always smiling and friendly. Another bright star was a waitress named Andrea. She was very friendly and helpful. We definitely will not be returning to this resort.