Dreams Onyx Resort and Spa: Good for families

Dreams Onyx was a great place to go with the family. Brought my two little ones (10m and 2.5 yrs). Pros: -Cribs are availablec*see cons -Rooms were clean -Beach was nice -Not overcrowded, rarely couldn't get seating where we wanted -Food was good overall -Staff were awesome overall, very friendly and professional/helpful -High chairs were generally available, only once did we have an issue getting two at a specialty restaurant -Most events end fairly early, great for families -Adults [... read more] have access to Breathless next door, we did not go but for those with older children it may be nice to get away. Very short walk away, almost wandered into it by accident. -The resort overall was very clean Cons: -The crib mattresses need to be replaced. They are flat/breaking. Instead they pad it up with a blanket and a top sheet. We ended up taking them out and wrapping the sheet better so that it didn't tangle up with the kids. -The rooms, while clean, could use some updating. Sliding doors that didn't work, caulking that needs to be redone (leaking shower into the room, fixed with a towel for example), hinges need to be removed and cleaned etc. -While room service was available, it was very hard to get a hold of them and then you have a fairly long wait (45-60 min is what it says). The wait wouldn't be much of an issue if it didn't take a long time to even get in contact with room service. We gave up trying. -Our first floor sliding door lock was barely attached. -Swim ups aren't really swim up. They are swim close? Check the pic to see what I mean. Other: -Currently constructions going on the lot next door, opposite side of breathless. Sliding doors kept the noise out, but wasn't the nicest for sitting outside while the kids napped. Might be best to get a room not on that side for the time being. Final thoughts: I think the cons overall are pretty minor things that don't detract from the place as a whole too much. I would recommend it to families without hesitation.

Barcelo Bavaro Beach: Great stay - just a few minor issues

My wife and I just got back from Bavaro Beach. A very enjoyable stay, great restaurants, great beach and an excellent golf course. What we liked the most was the breeze off the ocean which made it feel cooler! Helped on the golf course too. Try the French, Japanese and Seafood restaurants…La Comedie, Kyoto and Coral. Plus several others like Santa Fe, Dolce Vita Chez Gourmet. Service was basically good although it took over a week for the drain in our tub to be fixed. And communica [... read more]tion was an issue at the Pro Shop as was their clothing inventory. Not much of a selection in terms of sizes. I would have bought stuff but they did not have any XL sizes. We would love to go back.

Live Aqua Beach Resort Punta Cana: Great food

Food was great which is the main thing. For the price we paid, it isn’t a five star resort. Lots of little things missing. For example, no welcome drink, hydrotherapy very small, drinks watered down, strawberry drinks gross, no Coors Light at bars, no theatre shows except for fire show outside, only one bag of chips in room, service at pools slow, service at main lobby bar very slow, had to pay for Bali beds at pool, etc.

Bahia Principe Grand Bavaro: Bahia compound of 7 resorts in Punta Cana is not recommended

I DO NOT RECOMMEND HERE 2.5 star 3 at most The bad - wifi works 35% of the time and slow,can be upgraded for $, but it won’t improve - Food is always cold at the buffets/ under cooked and burnt even when they first open - Short staffed/ rude - Taking over 2hrs at the à la carts restaurants - Can only pick 3 a la cart restaurants - Staff can’t speak English - Pools cold - Staff doesn’t seam happy at all - Live wires out in the open - Things In disrepair - Room keys quit [... read more] working and taking 45 minutes to get new ones - Room had a lot of water in it from the ac, took 2 try’s to fix - Bugs are really really bad at night no matter where you are, you will get eaten alive - Service is really really slow The good - There are some good staff/ really nice and fun, only found 6 - Room was always clean - Food at a la carte restaurants really good - Golf carts to take you to places From all of the people I have talked to this is one of the worst spots that they have been to, but you can go for your self and see it first hand, but I wouldn’t recommend it. If you see good reviews it’s either they were payed or it was there first one The Bahia chain is amazing. I loved all the Bahia resorts in other parts of the Dominican as well as in Mexico. My all time favourite resort ever is the Bahia Pincipe luxury runaway bay Jamaica that we went to 2 months prior to the Bahia compound in Punta Cana. We have been to 9 Bahia resorts. This resort compound was severely disappointing. It had the potential to be so much better. Hot food and the property sprayed for insects would have made a world of difference.

VH Gran Ventana Beach Resort: We will stay there again.

The beach is amazing...no rocks and very little weeds. However, it is very windy. The dining room staff is efficient and organized, and the dining room is very clean. Food is excellent. The resort staff is friendly, and they seem to love their job. The resort and beach is very well maintained. The rooms are small and could use a second mirror. The air conditioner is efficient, but it leaks, and there's always water on the floor.

Hyatt Vivid Punta Cana: A solid good

Had a great vacation, definitely upgrade to club. Rooms were clean, amazing bed, could use updating. The food and service were amazing. The major complaint was the running of the bulls first thing in the morning to get loungers, I mean before 7am . Our agent Nicolle Kirk from tripcentral was amazing to book with

Hyatt Zilara Cap Cana: First Class

Everything about this resort was awesome. The atmosphere with oool staff, bartenders and security is friendly and relaxed. The little hand gesture covering their hearts that says ‘thank you for coming here’ was a nice touch. They are schooling their cooks and some restaurant staff so minor hiccups occurred but were corrected once discussed. Awesome!

Caribe Deluxe Princess: Amazing get away in the sun

Hi Beth As you are aware this was our 4th time same resort. So once again it was amazing as always. Great people great food and fantastic weather. 2 weeks was the perfect amount of time! Having you as our travel agent was also the best. You were always available to help plan and support when needed. Things ran very smoothly under your direction. Thank you! We look forward to our next vacation having you once again looking after us. Great Job Beth. Cheers!

Bahia Principe Explore Punta Cana: Large resort

The grounds were well kept and rooms were clean and spacious. Disappointed we didn't get king bed just two doubles which were comfortable. Food and drinks plentiful and lots of variety available. The staff was courteous. We were locked out of our room due to low battery and it looks three times returning to lobby for staff to fix it. I insisted on someone coming back to room..other than that it was a good holiday.

Melia Caribe Beach Resort: Great family resort

This hotel is a great resort for families. There are lots of activities for the kids. The entertainment music was too loud though. The rooms if not staying at the level are nice but dated. The grounds were well maintained. The pool was cleaned daily. They do mention they have 6 pools, however if you are not staying at the level there is only the main pool and the kids splash pool you can swim in. The spa was very nice and staff are certified massage therapist. Hotel staff were all very nice and  [... read more]tried their best speaking English. The beaches were beautiful with little to no seaweed. The food at the Al a carte restaurants were excellent. The food at the two buffets were very good however the food that is kept under the heat lamps were always cold. Location is excellent , 20 min from airport.

Grand Palladium Punta Cana: Great resort

This resort was awesome. Grounds food and staff were all 5 star. A few minor issues in room made them maybe a 4 star. Pretty hard to beat Punta Cana beach. Transat experience could definitely be better but at least if didn’t affect us once on resort. Entertainment was fun and diverse. Use palladium hotel group app to its potential. Let us know where and when to be.

Viva Heavens by Wyndham: You can tell between 3.5 to 4.0 star

They should have more covered spaces in order to avoid the rainy weather, room’s air conditions renovation ( noisy ) . Restaurants are clean however food quality must be ameliorated. Very generous and very nice staff…I take this opportunity to recommend the reception supervisor ( Miguel ) for his customer service professional skills…He made our stay enjoyable…

Occidental Caribe: Worst Resort

This was my first time at this resort which was highly recommended by people who have gone in past, some of them where there at the same time I was. The rooms were not clean, I had hair in the bathtub (not mine). Coffee machine as well as TV not working reported and never fixed. After reporting the poor maintenance of the cleaning staff, upon my return that night to my room in my entrance was a patio table and chair that blocked the entrance (my patio furniture was on my balcony). Day 4 the bath [... read more]room ceiling was leaking, after a very well deserved complaining at the front desk finally got one competent clerk to change room, upon arriving in the room the bathroom floor was flooded from a leaking ceiling, TV still not working but at least this room was clean. I would never recommend this resort to anyone.

VIK Hotel Arena Blanca: Ok Resort

We just spent 9 days at Vik hotel Arena Blanca. It was a group trip for a birthday. The hotel is is older and tired. Definitely needs some updates. Our room had very little air conditioning. The food was ok. Stir fry every night in the the buffet was the best and so was the chef working there. He was extremely nice and very helpful. Entertainment staff were great as well. As for the rest of the staff I found them not to be very friendly. Walking the beach was very nice.

Grand Sirenis Punta Cana Resort: Grand Sirenis PC Grand

Grand Sirenis is a clean pleasant resort with with an abundance of friendly staff. The rooms are clean and a good size but slightly dated. Food at the buffets had plenty of choices and specialty restaurants were tasty! Pools and beaches were clean easily accessible. If I ever go back to DR, it's possible I'd choose Grand Sirenis again!

VH Gran Ventana Beach Resort: Winter getaway

My husband & I spent two weeks at the Grand Ventana. We spent all of our time at the beach. The staff are very nice and helpful. I walked every morning for 1 1/2 hours on the beach both ways with another lady that I met at the resort. It’s very safe to do this and the DR has a military person posted outside the Playa Dorada area to ensure your safety. The ocean is really nice to swim in too. The rooms are nice but there’s no place to put your clothes. There are a few drawers and there’s shelves [... read more] in the closet. I pretty much left everything in my suitcase except for shoes and toiletries. Lidia was our maid and she was wonderful. Such a hard working, pleasant woman that made sure we were comfortable. The food in the main dining area was very good. We had something different to eat everyday. I never grew tired of the food. We had the Premium package which allowed us to book restaurant dining 3 times a week. We did this 3 times and weren’t disappointed. Also, there’s a premium lounge upstairs away from the crowds which is very nice. It tended to fill up just before dinner reservation times. Lastly, my husband had a bad fall the first evening of our vacation. The medical office looked right after him and he had X-rays at the hospital in Puerto Plata. This all went smoothly and unfortunately he had to use a wheel chair and crutches the entire trip. So he relaxed on a lounge chair everyday by the beach. The staff at the beach, Jose and Aqualino were a tremendous help with him. The pool area is very nice and quite busy with kids and family etc. I never spent any time there. They also have entertainment at night in the central area near the pool. All I can say is, if you have mobility issues be very careful approaching the lobby area. There are steps and ledges you need to watch for. I saw a few people trip and wipe out. This is a nice resort for families. If you’re looking for quiet time, the beach is the place to be.

Dreams Onyx Resort and Spa: Preferred Club not worth it for families

Very clean, a bit dated, food was ‘okay’ nothing to write home about. Bluewater Steak House was meh, Spice teppanyaki was fun, food was good, Barefoot Grill on the beach had great burgers for lunch and then the buffet had a decent assortment of foods for everyone. We stayed in a Preferred Club two Queen room with two kiddos (7&9). Room was clean and a bit run down. Didn’t meet our butler, Franklyn until day 4, he was worst we’ve ever come across in all our travels and didn’t benefit us at a [... read more]ll in any way. Preferred Club for families is a waste of money in our opinion. The PC pool area for families was a section of swim up rooms, about two dozen loungers and faced construction of a new hotel. The PC area to eat breakfast and lunch was FREEZING, had curtains to block you from seeing out and no outside seating (we always just sat at buffet). If you are adults and get PC, definitely see the value but definitely not for families. Activities were great for kids around pool area during the day, night kids disco where shows are held are geared for toddler-age 5/6 and that’s at 8. The night show starts at 9 and our faves were the fire show (incredible), white party (meh) and The Greatest Showman was also good! All other pools in middle of resort were good but cold, like freezing! Water Park you have to be 4’5 to order the black slides and the white drop slide, they had one slide for Littles. No chairs in the water park area just around the outside of the park (you couldn’t see in). Taco truck right outside the water park apparently was amazing and opens at 3 so we never made it over! It’s a 45 min cab ride over from airport and close to the end of the resorts. Beach was nice, darker sand and rougher water than Bavaro Beach where we normally stay.

Ocean Blue and Sand: Very un Atmosphere

This trip was nothing short of a phenomenal experience. The ambiance of the resort was absolutely stunning, fun energy and created the perfect backdrop for a relaxing morning at the beach, dancing and games at the pool with Blue Team in the afternoon and evening food, entertainment and dancing. All to make it a very enjoyable vacation. Our room was spotless every day and the food was exceptional at the buffets. We tried the Route 66 and Italian restaurant and I highly recommend these two a la ca [... read more]rtes. The exceptional service provided by the staff truly set this resort apart. Every member of the team went above and beyond to ensure that our stay was comfortable and memorable and went above and beyond by teaching me Spanish and making me comfortable letting loose on the dance floor. The bartenders, in particular, were outstanding in their craft, and one individual, Julio Pio, stood out in making my groups experience truly unforgettable. Julio not only demonstrated exceptional bartending skills but also added an extra layer of entertainment to the experience. His enthusiastic chants and lively dances while crafting drinks brought a unique and joyful atmosphere to the bar. I wished he was at the pool cause his enthusiasm really amps me up. It's these personal touches that make a stay truly special and memorable. I was so impressed. We enjoyed his service so much that when we found out he was serving in Route 66 we decided that’s were we need to eat cause we knew he will make the experience better. Ramon and Leandrc Villalona we met at the buffet and they really stood out and impressed me by remembering me and teaching me in Spanish how to say “Whats up”. Then every time they saw me we chanted together and I felt like I was a part of their family. They truly made the experience fun and hope they get noticed for their outstanding work! I can confidently say that the dedication and passion of the Ocean Blue and Sand Punta Cana staff, exceeded my expectations. I highly recommend this resort to anyone seeking a perfect blend of beautiful ambiance, exceptional service, great food, affordable price and an unforgettable vacation experience. It truly deserves a solid 5-star rating.

Melia Caribe Beach Resort: Noisy resort

I found the noise level waaaaaaay too high. There was no escape unless you stayed in your room. Perhaps it would have been better had we upgraded. Only had access to main pool unless we upgraded. Very very family friendly! No kayaks or boogie boards for use. Vendors very tiresome. Food on buffet always room temp. Only got hot food if it was cooked in front of us. However if you didnt mind eating cold food it had great flavor. A la cartes were excellent. Had a difficult time getting receipts in [... read more] proper names. Booked and paid for snorkelling on a glass bottom boat - ended up being forced onto a party boat. 100% wouldnt have made that choice. Couldnt get refund, couldnt cancel. Massage at spa was great but very pricey. All credit card purchases had surcharge. Very friendly and helpful staff. Service was good throughout. Would recommend upgrading!

Barcelo Bavaro Palace: One of the best

There is no better resort in the DR for golf Food and service excellent Golf course is in resort, no travel required Excellent Casino Bavaro Beach needs no introduction Beautiful grounds and buildings Plenty of activities High quality rooms, very good maintenance Bars and restaurants 4* plus Massive buffet, always stocked Excellent pools and sports facilities, spa, gym Kids have their own play pool away from the adult pools And most of all the people are fantastic We go there eve [... read more]ry year and will soon change to twice a year