VIK Hotel Arena Blanca: Lovely Resort

Aged resort which could do with some refurbishment but very clean for the most part. We did observe garbage not always picked up, bar cups seemed to be left everywhere and not picked up at end of day. Broken chair parts around the beach area not retrieved by staff. Food was quite good and plentiful but could benefit from stronger flavour and garlic especially missing from obvious dishes . Staff very courteous and willing to serve but not very excited to do so. Common rules were not being  [... read more]enforced by management at all. No valet to take our luggage to our room when we arrived at 11:30 at night was not appreciated and more than one reception Attendant for a large group of arrivals would certainly have been beneficial. We had to wait til the next morning for a safe key. No coffee pot in our room was disappointing. Water supply was great, toilet worked well, corridors are well lit -much appreciated.

Adults Only Club at Lopesan Costa Bavaro: Lopesan Costa Bavaro

The vacation was lovely, start to finish. Travel was easy, resort was beautiful, the food did not disappoint. If there was any negative, it would be the rooms are quite moist. Reading reviews before we went we brought some dry rid bags and it helped tremendously. We’re already missing the warm weather and the beautiful beach and pools!

Bahia Principe Escape Ambar: Wonderful Resort

This resort was the perfect size. Everything was easy to get to. The grounds are well taken care of. Lots of loungers around the pool. Beach was nice. Lots of restaurant choices. We would stay here again.

VIK Hotel Arena Blanca: Nice resort

This is an older hotel. Very clean rooms, lobby and restaurants. They were a little slow with picking up litter on the grounds in some areas (several plastic glasses on the lawn area in front of building 2 for 3 days. The grounds themselves are well maintained. Not sure of the capacity while we were there (March 25 to April 1) but there were not enough lounge chairs around the pool or in the beach for the number of people at the resort. That being said, there was no apparent attempt to enforce [... read more] rules regarding loungers at the pool or the beach. There would be towels placed on lounge chairs and no person on those loungers all day. Impression was that people “reserved” loungers at the pool and spent most of the day in other chairs on the beach. One lounger beside ours had a towel on it all day and no one came to claim it from 9:00 am til 5:00 pm when we went back to our room. The room was very clean with sufficient towels all week and good sized. Housekeeping did a great job. The bedspreads are very thin and we found it just too cold through the night with the air conditioning on. We requested extra blankets and we got nice heavy blankets the next day. There really is inadequate storage for 2 people in a room. One and a half shelves in the closet is all you get. No kettle or coffeemaker in the rooms. Hot water was sporadic at best but we managed with mostly warm. When we checked in it was after midnight, there were people from 3 flights arriving and one person attending to register everyone. There was also no porter to help with luggage. We had two flights of stairs to our room hauling heavy suitcases. We had to return to reception in the morning after nine when the manager was there for a lock for the safe and towel card. We went in the morning and were told that we had to go to the towel shack and there were no cards. The public washrooms were very clean but every one had at least one stall with the toilet seat on the floor beside the toilet all week. Restaurants were well kept and food was plentiful and good for the most part. The food at the buffet was not hot most of the time unless it was freshly prepared for you - pasta station, eggs/omelettes, and stir fry. The à la carte restaurants were offered on alternating days only and that was not clear in the brochure provided in the rooms. Not much entertainment in evenings but we were ok with that. There seemed to be only 1 or maybe 2 people doing activities around the pool. There was only a small portion of the pool that was shallow enough for water activities. Unusual. Most of the staff were pleasant and hardworking. Beverages were good. The snack bar was good. The weather was fabulous. The beach was quite nice in spite of some erosion but we found that to be the case at several other resorts in the area when going for walks up and down the beach. Overall we had a very nice week at this resort. I would recommend this resort to someone looking for a laid back quiet vacation. If you are looking for excitement with lots of activities this is not the place for you.

Sunscape Coco Punta Cana: Overcrowded

I just wanted to say our travel agent was great to deal with! I found the resort itself very overcrowded. I liked our room, building #4. It was a central location to the pool, beach and lobby. Pool & beach were nice but very overcrowded & you had to get up & claim a lounge chair by 6am. If you waited until 7am you were scrambling. There was variety of food but mid level. Sometime the buffet would seat you other times not. It was very confusing. One morning the smaller buffet restaurant ran out  [... read more]of coffee. Kept saying 5 mins, an hour later still no coffee. Coffee bar had huge line ups and only 2 staff. Staff itself were very pleasant but I felt they were understaffed. I feel it is because of overflow of Cuba resorts being closed. Some of the bars did not have vodka, some days the bars did not have beer. You’d have to go from bar to bar to find a drink you wanted. Bartenders were excellent. I found the à la carte restaurants were very slow to get drinks and food out. For the most part I had a great vacation. I did like the resort it was a good size. Just too busy for my liking. My husband & I will stick with the luxury resorts.

Emotions by Hodelpa Puerto Plata: We will definitely be back!

This hotel was great. The food was excellent and there was always enough for everyone and even my picky eaters found stuff to eat. The room was okay. When we checked in initially the room was not cleaned properly. I called reception and less than 5 minutes later 4 people came into the room to clean up. The AC worked perfectly. The rooms were also cleaned everyday. The pools were great. The pool and beach bar served nice drinks all day. The coffee shop also had coffee, hot chocolates and pastries [... read more] all day. The beach was stunning and very clean( they actually sweep off the seaweed every morning). The three restaurants were great and I liked the Dominican one(Oregano) was our favourite and we visited twice during our stay. I liked dressing up to go to the restaurants. ALl the staff we met were friendly and looked like they loved their jobs. We took a day trip downtown to see the sites and it cost 40$ in total. Our guide, Angel was great. They will try to sell you the Elite collections and I would advice you just get the meeting over with. They will stop bothering you afterwards. We did get coupons for massages and photoshoots and gifts for the kids from attending. You just have to be firm with what you want. In all it was a good vacation and resort. We will surely be going back!

Barcelo Bavaro Palace: Beautiful Resort

The hotel was always beautifully kept and the staff were friendly and accommodating. We were there for a business retreat with a large group and they catered well to our needs. The AV staff did an incredible job with all the media at our 3 day convention. The space was above our expectations and the setup was done in a timely process. The food was great.... however Strikers bar could be improved with their choice of food. It was our first night at the resort when we went there to eat. We were mi [... read more]ldly disappointed to see the same menu 2 days in a row, with mediocre American food choices. Granted, we understand that it's a bar, but we were hoping to experience a mix of other food choices. We didn't realize that the Miramar Buffet was open at that time, which we much preferred for eating. The a la carte restaurants were top notch! The beach was wavy & choppy late in the afternoon and brought in seaweed along the shore, so the water wasn't as clear. However, it was cleared away every morning. The cleaning staff were friendly, happy, and did an amazing job! We asked to replenish our coffee, tea and water a couple of times and they delivered them right away. Just know that if you take the train it's every 15 minutes....bear in mind that's island time! That service was great, too. Thankful for it shuttling us to and from the convention center. So handy!

Paradisus Grand Cana: Perfect 5 Star

Beautiful and clean. Many good and beverage options. Perfect for families, couples or bachelor/bachelorettes. Friendly and helpful staff. Positivity everywhere. We went for a special occasion birthday and the concierge was a huge help in making the trip even more special.

Iberostar Waves Costa Dorada: Perfect Resort!

Lived up to it's name & reputation. The service was excellent and very professional. Friendly staff throughout and the housekeepers were very attentive. The optimal size - great beach with lots of shade, close to bar, lunch buffet & restrooms. Self-serve pop machine with ice dispenser at beach, with soccer nets and a volleyball area. The surf was gentle and sand was fine; there was some sargassum but only in a small area. Rooms were clean and in good repair, with both local electrical outlets an [... read more]d U.S./Canada plugs as well. Main buffet restaurant always stocked with plentiful choices, lots of fresh seafood with great selection of salad veggies, sweets, breads, and condiments. Next time we come to Puerto Plata we'll be looking here first!

Ocean Blue and Sand: Different vibe - quieter, more relaxing

Resort was nice. Small compared with the big hotels. It looks more like a small village, with all the restaurants side by side, and the little shops, the building for indoor games (bowling, pool table, ping pong, board games etc ...). Beach area is nice too and you can swim without the need of water shoes. Service is very good, whether at the bar or main office. I will go there again. Now, for the not so good part (it's just me being picky). I would pick a different room location. We had a "g [... read more]arden view" and the only garden we got was some bushes, but the worst is it backed onto a service road. Pretty hard if you want a lazy morning in your room. Also, it seemed that our room was due for a pesticide control. We only learned about it when we were all unpacked. Better planning next time? Food is very decent at the buffet, with a large variety. Not very impressed with the specialty restaurants though. I also think think they can do a better job at the buffet to clean and set up the tables. .

Cofresi Palm Beach and Spa Resort: Disappointing stay at Cofresi!

We booked a 7-day all-inclusive vacation stay with my girlfriend at Puerto Plata's Cofresi Palm Beach Resort through TripCentral. It was an all-inclusive, SUPERIOR ROOM with Airport-Hotel Transfers included. After consistent delays from the get-go, we checked into our assigned room and immediately noticed several serious issues related to cleanliness, maintenance, and overall room condition. The room lacked in multiple key areas: 1. Ventilation System – Unsanitary and Poorly Maintained The  [... read more]air vents are visibly covered in dust build-up, mould and dark residue, resulting from a lack of proper cleaning over an extended period. This raised concerns in us about air quality, hygiene, and potential health risks. Additionally, the ventilation system is noticeably loud, impacting our sleep and overall stay in the room. 2. Bathroom – Lack of Cleanliness The shower curtain, faucet, and tub are stained and visibly dirty, also containing visible dark spots and marks that suggest mould or mildew. This indicates the bathroom has not been properly cleaned or maintained before our arrival, which is unacceptable for a newly checked-in room. The room also did not come with any of the standard issued towels and washing equipment, like body and hair wash. 3. Door and Structural Condition – Damaged Fixtures The door frame near the handle is cracked and visibly damaged, showing clear signs of wear and lack of repair. While the front door was able to be locked, the door on our balcony was not, making it very easy to step in and out of the room. This not only reflects poor maintenance standards but also raises concerns about safety and security. 4. Overall Room Condition The room appeared outdated, poorly maintained, and not properly prepared for new guests or anyone, for that matter. These types of rooms should not be given out to anyone. Multiple elements (ventilation, bathroom cleanliness, structural damage) collectively indicate a systemic lack of upkeep rather than an isolated issue. Given the above issues, we confronted the staff of the resort and were sent from one department to another with no help and forced to stay in the room for a night longer than we should've cause the resort was fully booked, although that was a lie, as they had options available with an extra cost ($). That is totally unacceptable, and the false information provided by the resort staff is clear misinformation which they knew about. After switching us into a different room almost two full days into our trip, we got sent to another part of the resort with the same room level but better room conditions. While the rooms were suitable for newcomers, there were quite a few problems with these units as well. The front doors in the new room broke down quite often, causing us to travel to the lobby on a consistent basis to have a technician come and replace our keys or the key entrance fobs to the room. While this is not a major issue, the neighbours around the room were. In this section of the resort, there were a lot of mentally unstable residents banging and kicking things around throughout the whole day and night. Oftentimes, we couldn't get any sleep from the shouting and kicking of objects. We called the front desk and security on multiple occasions during our time there, getting no answer on most nights, with some nights a singular security guard coming to do a routine check-up on the unstable residents. It was a chaotic and stressful time for the whole duration of the trip. We filed a formal complaint with the SunWing representative who was available on the scene, but besides switching us out of the initial unsuitable room, he was not of much help. The staff around the resort did not seem to really care about any of these issues and were quite dismissive with their actions and tones. After all these issues, all we got as an apology was a fruit bowl and a cheap bottle of champagne sent to the room, which we couldn't consume cause of the stomach flu we caught from eating at their buffet. Hope this review helps a family or an individual in their booking decision with Cofresi and similar resorts around the area. For the amount of money being asked, I would rather book at a totally different region or a different part of the country altogether.

Coral Costa Caribe: Fantastic Resort

Excellent food, great service (although very little knowledge of English). Wonderful beaches!! Spectacular Al A Carts. The night shows were disappointing but I didn’t go there for that so didn’t care. Would go again

VH Gran Ventana Beach Resort: Would Not Go Back

I think the 4 star rating is a stretch but we did enjoyed our stay, this despite the room being quite awful. We walked into a flood on the floor from the bar fridge (a very rusted fridge), no coffee maker & a safe key that didn't work. The pool area was nice but on one day a large group of people from a cruise ship arrived causing over crowding, it also caused delays in the dinning area. Towels were a problem in both the room & at the pool, with long enough delays that I doubt they have su [... read more]fficient stock of both sorts. The food was fine but always had long line ups, to book for one of the featured restaurants you had to join a long line at 8am to try and book for the following two evenings. We would not go back.

Grand Bavaro Princess: Grand Bávaro Princess

Excellent location, great staff, super clean rooms and beautiful grounds Large spacious rooms, very clean Beach front and large pool as well Family section also available with lots after activities We feel very safe and always have a great vacation here Highly recommend it We’ve been back 7 times!!

Sunscape Coco Punta Cana: Nice Resort but could have better service

The grounds, beach and pools are all very nice and clean. If you want a Lounge chair in the shade be prepared to go put a towel out by 6:30am. The food was ok but not great. Sometimes it could have been warmer. The service was inconsistent. Some servers were very friendly and attentive but many times we were left hoping someone would come by to refill drinks or remove plates etc.

Cofresi Palm Beach and Spa Resort: Older resort with some issues

Hotel grounds are very large. Many hills and stairs. Rooms need upgrading. Not enough chairs on the beach or pools. Party of 5 people on our stay. Everyone got sick for a day or so. Staff are hit or miss.

Lopesan Costa Bavaro Resort: Nice resort

Clean,large, 2 good restaurants. Buffet food was always cold even when first opened. Nice sports bar. Beach and pools were great. The people working the bars weren’t very happy at times or personable. Even when you gave them nice tips, they didn’t seem to respond. Little disappointed that you couldn’t find a restaurant to eat at between 4 and 6 PM. All the buffets opened at 6:30 besides the American restaurant which had awful food.

Sunscape Coco Punta Cana: Nice resort

The resort is clean and nice. We enjoyed our stay. I did find it under staffed. Our rooms were not cleaned till very late in the day. Our fridge didn’t get stalked properly. Towel shortage and pool lounge chairs and beach chairs were an issue with not enough for the amount of people.

Occidental Caribe: Great place!

The resort is clean and tidy. The grounds are kept in good condition. Any debris from high wind/rain is immediatly cleaned up. The staff are very friendly and helpful . The food is greatand lots of it, the variety is amazing. The speciality resturants serve great dishes that taste fantastic. The rooms are clean and neat and restocked every day. A fabulous time.

Coral Costa Caribe: Lovely Resort

The resort grounds were lovely and well kept, many cute kitties around so do not forget to bring treats. Yellow canaries gather in a tree close to the main pool every dusk and sing all together an amazing sound. The room are cleaned very well but we did have to check our patios sliding door to ensure the cleaners had locked it properly. The food was extremely good. Our favourite restaurants were the Tex Mex and the Mediterranean. The buffet has various choices so you will not go hungr [... read more]y. The beach was amazing and the water mostly calm. Great snorkeling near the rocks in the Sea. The only down side was our flight landed and departed in Punta Cana which is an hour and a half drive to or from the resort and the airline WestJet had approximately 6 flights departing close to one another so we were in a baggage line up leaving for 3 hours and all these flights were delayed.because of over 1,000 people trying to check their bags. We will be back but not with that airline.