Blue Bay Villas Doradas: A great place to just relax

Keep in mind this is a 4 start Dominican rating, if you go knowing what that star offers, you will not have too many unexpected surprises. The hotel entrance is very welcoming and so are the staff. Everyone there is very friendly, and they all provide service with a smile. The buffet restaurant offers something for everyone with good quality food, the breakfast omelette bar was a big hit. There are 3 a la carte restaurants and I would rate them in this order: the Asian restaurant is first, then  [... read more]the seafood restaurant, and lastly the steakhouse. You have to pay for wifi, I bought $25 for 25 hours, which was enough for 2 people. The umbrellas at pool were a hot commodity, people would come out at 6:30 a, put there towel on a chair beside the umbrella and leave for 2 or 3 hours, the hotel says not to do this, but nobody seem to stop them. The pool area could be a little cleaner, but I have seen worse. The beach was nice and there was always a place to sit when we went down. The Gym is like a small home gym with only 4 pieces of equipment; a treadmill, elliptical, and a bike along with some free weights (some were missing). The animation team are very entertaining and energetic and of course friendly. If you are looking for a vacation to kick back, sit in the sun, relax, drink, eat,dance and/or relax, then this is the place for you!.

VH Gran Ventana Beach Resort: Definitely would recommend to a friend.

While not perfect. the resort gets high marks in our main key areas: Excellent beach best in area, cleanest and cleaned every day, well maintained rooms (some older and some recently renovated) and facilities, cleanliness and food options where the 3 specialty restaurants along with the buffet and Ocean grill never once made us think of eating off site during our two week stay. We were part of a group of 13 for a wedding and the bride was extremely pleased with everything and the general consens [... read more]us was very positive. The only minor blemishes was room allocations where an uncle and 2 nephews were given a one bed (king) room and one excursion which failed to mention close to 6 hours of bus travel when you add the 1.5 hours to pick up tourists from all of the resorts before starting the posted 1.5 hours to get there. There are extra charges for the use of the safe and better Wi-Fi; free Wi-Fi performance ranged from adequate to unusable depending on the time of day (both not significant in our minds). The resort was a very short 20 minute bus ride from the airport.

Marien Puerto Plata Hotel: Great Resort

Great Resort with Great Staff Different theme every evening for buffet..great selection all the amenities of a larger resort but on a smaller scale, which made it convenient..5 min walk to everything since hotel is on a smaller scale, able to meet other quests and interact, made great friends Beach wasn't the best but great activities and a great snack bar, to enjoy a drink and watch Staff where very friendly without being pushy Great value

Marien Puerto Plata Hotel: Beautiful Resort!!

The resort is simply beautiful! The scenery is stunning from the palm trees gently swaying in the Caribbean breeze, to the majestic mountains as a back drop, to the beautiful endless beaches. The staff are helpful and friendly, from the front desk, to the rooms maids, maintenance staff, waiters and waitresses, and entertainment crew. There was always something to join in on, with lots of fun made by the entertainment staff. The rooms were clean and sufficient, one of the most comfortable beds I  [... read more]have had thus far at any resort. The food was great, also the best of any resort I have visited so far. We travelled with a group of eleven. Two 14 years old. one 16, two 18 and the rest of us in our 40's. A great time was had by all!!! Highly recommend this resort.

Cofresi Palm Beach and Spa Resort: Great resort

The resort is very nice and calm., The meals were very good and there was a good variety. Great events, BBQ on the beac;h nice pools.Staff very nice. The rooms could be renovated. but always clean. I would go back any time.

Cofresi Palm Beach and Spa Resort: Awesome Time

Confresi Palm Beach and Spa Resort was fantastic. Kids club staff were amazing. Food was fresh and prepared in front of you, the motto of the staff was "we work for you" and they did not disappoint. Drinks were free flowing and the facility was better than expected. The highlight of the week was definitely the welcome party under the stars with world class entertainment and a full fireworks display. A perfect repreive from the seemingly endless winter.

Cofresi Palm Beach and Spa Resort: Mediocre resort!!!

For the whole week, we could smell sulfur / sewer in the 300 housing area, sometimes it was overwhelming. The food / buffets were terrific, lots of choices for breakfast, lunch and supper. We found it very difficult to book a supper in the Blue Lagoon Seafood Rest which is the one restaurant that we wanted to try while at the resort. The beach was beautiful, but later in the afternoon there was an unusual amount of seaweed that would float in with the tide. The pools and bars were awesome. Since [... read more] the resort is built into a side of a hill, there are stairs to go everywhere. To go from our room to the main pool / lobby area, there were 40 steps, way too many for some in our group. The staff were very friendly and they loved their jobs. I'm not sure if I would recommend this hotel or not ... it was a beautiful resort ... if the smell was looked after and if you didn't mind so many stairs, then yes, it would be an ideal place to go.

Senator Puerto Plata Hotel: Bachata was good

Riiu Bachata was enjoyable, clean and well run resort. We would rate it 3.5 - 4 stars at most, not the 5 they have on the sign. We were not dis allusioned about this, as we only had expectations as high as the price we paid. that being said we thought the value was good. They work hard at keeping the resort clean. The rooms were noisy and hallway traffic noise easily came into the rooms. The room keys were annoying and entry card wrist bands would have been very nice ( we had these at the Great  [... read more]Wolf Lodge ) . This would require some updating by the resort. If you wanted to book an a la carte retraurant you had to get up early every day to do this. Other guests were annoying by reserving lounges early in the morning and not showing up till later to occupy the better spots around the pool. The Cruise ship terminal for Carnival cruise lines was under construction next door with boats expected in October. Rumors have it that cruisers can get a 6 hour pass to access the resort. I wouldn't look forward competing with cruise people as we'll as resort people. Lastly they had limited supply of kayaks which made spontaneous use of them impossible. A few more plastic boats for a resort this size would be nice. Overall we had a good trip. We will not return to this resort next time because there are so many others to try.

VH Gran Ventana Beach Resort: Clean and friendly too! Good snorkeling too.

In short version is we LOVED IT! VERY pleased and we would not only recommend VH Gran Ventana, Puerto Plata but will go again if nothing else catches our eye next year. Without considering the low cost, it was a great spot. When you factor in the low cost, it is a gem. Clean, clean, clean. Friendly staff. Great food. Quiet. Great beach. Small enough that nothing seems “far away”… … It deserves better than the 4-star rating. It wouldn’t make a 5 star cut mainly because of minor things,  [... read more]I think. Long version: The bathroom was a bit dated, but spotlessly clean. So if shiny taps and a perfect tub are a concern, you might have a few complaints. The common areas are spacious and airy and we were amazed at how well maintained they all were (seriously, if you told me they had just shut down and renovated the week before, I’d believe it.) The staff were extremely friendly and helpful with the occasional need for international sign language.  The beach is very nice with tons of shaded areas (we did not have to sit in the sun once unless we chose to and never went out early to “reserve” a spot). There is lots of coral to explore. Sadly it is in pretty rough shape with very little active growth but there are still quite a few fish attracted to it. Not bad for a short walk and your snorkeling! The reef provides some protection. We had pretty big winds and I swam on yellow flag days with no concerns. Although I am a strong swimmer, it didn’t matter as I was not buffeted at all (using a little common sense about going out too far on those days of course). The food at the buffet was great with lots of variety and the a la carte restaurants were delicious (wine was better there). The wait to sit at the buffet was minimal at worst. More often than not, we walked in and sat down right away. The entertainment was a bit lame for us, but you know what? They had a crowd every night.  The service at the buffet was about the only thing that stood out as lacking. And what a minor thing. Waiting for a glass of water or a coffee could go on forever. But both were readily available on the buffet a few feet away. Most times plates wouldn’t be cleared or maybe a glass would be missing when set… … But once we got a few waiters nicely tipped we didn’t wait for wine or drinks often. 

Cofresi Palm Beach and Spa Resort: Great Time!!

The Cofresi is a wonderful place to relax and have fun. The staff are very friendly and most helpful, especially at the Cheers bar!! Hector, the towel person, was wonderful. He played games with the children as he handed out the towels. Rooms are bright and kept very clean. The food in all the specialty restaurants was excellent. Two concerns ... if you are senior the steps might be a problem but there is a shuttle. ...a bit too much advertising to purchase a condo by Lifestyles.

VH Gran Ventana Beach Resort: Had a great time

Staff was excellente. They kept people entertained around the pool, at the beach and at night during shows. The food at the 3 a la cart restaurants were excellent. Cons: The mattresses in rooms are like sleeping on a sheet of plywood. The beach bar could use a face lift and more seating around the bar. Although it is buffet food, the food overall was good but at times not hot enough. But most importantly the resort needs to make "Presidente Light" available to quest's around the resort rather t [... read more]han the 2 cans they leave in your room.

Blue Bay Villas Doradas: Beautiful Resort

The foliage was the best part. Special lighting, textiles and accents made this resort feel luxurious. Lost a beach bag with camera, cell phone and wallet.. all was returned home two weeks after trip!

Bahia Principe Grand San Juan: Great people.

The weather, food and the staff were great. Had a couple problems with our room. Reserved a ground floor, renovated room (because I have a disability) and they gave us a 2nd floor room. Changed to a lower level. Room was dirty and small. (b9 section) the outlets were unsafe. Could not charge my electronics. Changed rooms again the next day because there were 3 of us in a room, looking for bigger and closer due to disability. Got moved to B2 section. It's exactly the same room. Two small beds and [... read more] floors were dirty. Our room had ants in it. Especially the bathroom. Got a few bites in the beds. It was a bit gross! Other than than the size of the rooms and cleanliness, had a great time. The staff could learn a bit more English. It was difficult to communicate with the bartenders. Also the security could have been a bit more strict with college kids. Very loud and obnoxious all hours of the night. All in all. I still had fun and the food was great.

Sunscape Puerto Plata: Good time!

Very clean & well maintained resort. Food was good all though not kept hot enough in the buffet. We stayed in Club Premium section which was awesome! Would return for another holiday next year. Great staff!

Cofresi Palm Beach and Spa Resort: Ok resort for the money paid

We stayed at the Cofresi in puerta plata from feb 27-March 6 The resort was very large with adjoining sister resorts - if you don't enjoy stairs , this resort isn't for you Our whole week staying there we only had 1 day where we were able to take a warm shower- we called constantly about this issue and the maintenance people were good to TRY and fix it but with no avail Coffee- if you like to have coffee/ good luck / if the buffet restaurant wasn't open there was no way to get a coffee anywhere  [... read more]- they should really have a coffee bar in the lobby VIP- if you were not one of these preferred vacationers then you were basically worthless... They try to sell you one of these time share packages and when we declined ( we were brought to one of the other sister resorts ) they were not even going to bring us back to our own resort - my husband had to basically get upset and they finally drove us back Food was good/ beach was ok- lots of seaweed - cleanliness was good. Service was ok - employees are not overly friendly Overall it was ok- don't think we will return there agsin

Blue Bay Villas Doradas: Amazing Time, Amazing Dining Staff

Although we had a few glitches upon arrival and for the first few days, mostly with the desk staff regarding our room (we were to get a balcony) and safe (it didn't work for 3 days), overall we are very happy to say we were MORE THAN PLEASED with the staff in the dining room, in particular Pedro Hernandez who went over and above the call of duty to make our holiday, dinners and evenings stand out. Always a smile, always accommodating. He is an exceptional person who made our stay most enjoyable! [... read more]!! Thank you Pedro, we are happy to call you friend, hope all is well with you & your family and looking forward to seeing you real soon. We would also like to thank Carlos for his attentiveness. As well as all the other staff, an all around great bunch. ;0)! The food was always quite good and a wide variety to choose from. We were very impressed with the selection and freshness. We enjoyed our lunches at the beach restaurant, very yummy chicken. We also enjoyed our A La Carte dining experience at the Chinese Restaurant & look forward to trying the other A La Carte restaurants on our next visit. The entertainment/activity staff were also very friendly and fun to watch. We enjoyed their enthusiasm and presentation of various activities. The New Year's Eve dinner, show and music were absolutely amazing as were the fireworks. We danced the night away on the beach until 3:00 am. with no shortage of bubbly. Sam and I experienced our best New Year's Eve ever. Thank you for such a wonderful evening & great memories. The bar staff was always very accommodating and most were very friendly as well, always keeping us smiling and never dry lol. The swim up bar and beach bar staff were especially friendly. The beach was great as was the water. Every day we walked along the beach visiting neighbouring resorts and noticed that ours', Blue Bay, was the nicest beach of all. The staff on the beach were always accommodating, always finding us chairs if we couldn't find one. The only drawback was the constant popping up of peddlers on the beach selling things, we would be approached at least 10 times a day. The resort itself was very clean and well maintained. The pool area was very nice and the pool was always kept clean. The rooms were neat and tidied daily. On a few days however we did not get fresh face cloths/towels, soap and shampoo. Overall, we would definitely recommend this resort to our friends and we would like to come back ourselves. We are thinking however that we would like to look at a Villa, if not a Villa definitely insist on a room with a balcony with less stairs. We enjoyed our stay immensely, met some great new friends. Thanks again Pedro, Carlos and the rest of the staff for a great week. Cheers, Jocelyne & Sam

Casa Marina Sosua Trademark by Wyndham All Inclusive: Awesome Resort

First time in Dominican and very pleased with this resort. Grounds and view was spectacular, service and food was exceptional, room was good, basic, just what you needed though, and entertainment was a bonus. You could walk down town in a friendly safe atmosphere. Would return but do want to try other vacationing spots.

Bahia Principe Grand San Juan: Great value for the cost!

This resort was a great value for the cost. We paid approximately $875 each after redeeming $400 worth of airmiles. The grounds and rooms were immaculate, a little outdated but super clean. The staff were very kind and accommodating. The food at the buffet was average. They did ensure to change up the buffet menu with something a little different everyday. We attended three of the restaurants. We couldn't say enough about the Mediterranean restaurant. Beautiful atmosphere and incredible meal. De [... read more]pending on your taste, I found the food at the Italian restaurant far too salty (and I like salt). The Asian restaurant was average. The sushi was good but the meal didn't sit well with myself or my husband the next day. If I went back, I would book all three meals at the Mediterranean restaurant. This is a very lively fun resort. Lots of great entertainment by the pool staff. The beach was not very nice but we knew that when we booked it. The sand and water is dark but this is expected on the Atlantic side. We had a lot of fun at the Karaoke bar and Discotheque. Overall, great value for the price. If we were looking to book another cheap trip, we would definitely return.

Cofresi Palm Beach and Spa Resort: 4 star resort, but "good deal" rooms are 3 star

I have traveled over 10 times to different all-inclusive places in mexico, Cuba and Dominican. So here is a short impression: On the good side: true 4 star premises (mind you not 4.5), mature vegetation and landscaping and interesting cosy plazas and gardens. Good kid club - our 8 year old liked it and stayed there willingly almost every day. Users of Cofresi are allowed to go to the other hotels of the complex and use their pools and second buffet restaurant. Food it good, 4 star. On the not-s [... read more]o-good side: if you bought yourself a "good deal", you should be prepared that you will have the so called "standard" room which is a truly 3 star room. Those are small and very old furnished rooms circa 30 years old. Freshly painted though, but looking old, feeling old and the windows are not tight. And noisy because the air conditioners are very close to the doors especially on the first floor. So you are paying for what you get. Better buy their "junior" room, but that will cost a proper 4star price - so it's the decision for money. In the end I think still a good deal because you pay as for 3 star but get a 3-star room in a 4-star hotel otherwise. And you only sleep in the room, the rest of the day you do enjoy the 4-star facilities and food. The beach in Puerto Plata happens to be with dark muddy sand that is wet and doesn't feel like sand, more like ground. But it was interesting to visit the city and their cable car to the mountain top.

Sunscape Puerto Plata: Staff Friendly Resort with good food!

Nice Resort, very nice people, rooms were clean & comfortable. Beach was breezy & the sea was a little cool for my liking. I'm a beach girl & this trip will not have me visiting DR North Coast again in mid-March. Nightly entertainment could be improved, and the activity staff during the day didn't get you motivated to do to much, they preferred to mingle with the same guests for the 7 days I was there. Mostly couples & groups, not many singles. Overall good for R&R.