Marien Puerto Plata Hotel: Extremely clean and friendly

Would go back in a minute. Just with more friends. Awesome spot. So friendly and accommodating Great value beautiful beaches and the food was great and plentiful rooms were large plenty of cold drinks. Night life was fair and quiet

Riu Merengue: great spot to vacation

resort clean and well maintained.....beautiful gardens, clean beach, clean washrooms even on beach, good food and great service........this was our second time at this resort and we enjoyed just as much this time as the first

Marien Puerto Plata Hotel: Great Relaxing Resort

We had an absolutley great time. When we got there I mentioned that I wanted a king bed, and got it including beach front rooms which we were't suppose to get. which was an added bonus. The pool was great and so was the beach, the food at first we thought was a little so so, but as the week went on we had lots to eat and never got hungary. We would definilty recommend this hotel to anybody, and would consider going back. The staff was friendly and very entertaining.

Marien Puerto Plata Hotel: Fantastic Vacation

Our hotel was exactly what we wanted. Clean and our balcony was a beach view..perfect. The staff were amazing. We loved the layout of the resort. 2-storey buildings and lots of green walking space. The pool and restaurants all within a few steps of our room.

Sunscape Puerto Plata: Good solid 4*

Grounds very well kept. Clean resort. Nice size so you are able to find your way around. Food was your basic buffet food. Good, no one in our party got sick. Buffet is not set up very good. Gets a little conjested especially on the week-end when the locals come.Brazalian and Italian a la carte were excellent. Mexican was okay. Didn't try the other ones. Rooms were very spacious. Outdated but very clean. Always had hot water. Air conditioning worked great. Mini bar refilled every day. Beach was b [... read more]eautiful. Nice wide beach with shade if you like. Pools were nice.

Cofresi Palm Beach and Spa Resort: Make sure your in good shape to clump steps.

The resort overall was okay at first we got stuck in small room wasn't very nice first night, the next morning we woke up to find cock roach I. Room so that was enough of that we went to front desk and staff was very helpful and understanding. Got moved that day to really nice room and that solved that. If your looking for nice beach this is not the place to go the beach is very small and not well maintained at one end smelt like sewer water running into the bay, beach also not raked up. The bea [... read more]ch is a zero in my books. Food average or below a little but can find something to eat.

Paradise Playa Dorada: Outstnding

This place is great, I have been traveling to this hotel for 20 years now. Upgrades have been done over the years, and I must say that they have done a excellent job. Rooms and housecleaning staff excellent Pool is always clean and warm, with a nice swim up bar The grounds are perfectly manicured and maintained daily 2 restaurants that are ocean view. Perfect view to eat your meals

Marien Puerto Plata Hotel: Amazing resort!

Our stay at Be Live was amazing! We had lots of fun thanks to the awesome animation team (mosquito, hector, Alberto, to name a few). The grounds and rooms were always clean. I would definetly go back again! Thank you for a great vacation.

Sunscape Puerto Plata: wonderful resort

The check in was smooth and very quick. The rooms were very large and spacious. When we were there it was windy the beach was great on the days it was to windy but the pool was awesome and the entertainment staff were wonderful. Would definitely go back.

Sunscape Puerto Plata: Lovely holiday!

I just came back from the Barcelo, I travelled July 16-23 2013. I was a bit nervous having read all the reviews and honestly, there is a bit of truth in ALL of them but you just have to figure out what you are willing to tolerate. We went in the low season and I encourage travelling then...any resort or place in general that is really crowded is always uncomfortable. I had no issues finding a lounger by the pool or beach in fact several were unoccupied and unreserved. That was great. It was easi [... read more]er to get a reservation in the restaurant you wanted, the buffet wasn't crowded either. We did go Club Premium just based on the reviews...having experienced it, I'm not sure its worth the added cost. Our shower and safe were hard to figure out, our room was big but the lighting was quite poor. (Again, lighting not an issue since I only used my room to sleep in.) A premium upgrade in north america vs dominican doesn't equate to what you think so reconsider that. The resort in general is lovely- the perfect size, very clean, 2 larger pools. The beach was actually really nice...I used it quite a bit.The buffet was actually really good...it does vary every night so ppl who say it doesn't are mistaken. The alcoholic drinks were great, they really don't hold back or dilute them which is nice. Ask for a bahama mama if you're in premium..so good! I travelled with my sister but wound up forming a group of 7 in total and I really think the group of ppl made the trip the gem it was. The resort was good but the company you have outweighs where you are....that goes for life in general I guess. I did 2 excursions- Paradise Island and the Freestyle Catamaran. I would HIGHLY RECOMMEND both esp Paradise Island. It was the most GORGEOUS place I have ever been and it was so inexpensive. The island is just this white sandbar with some huts on it and they have unlimited rum and fresh fruit and snorkelling for free. The snorkelling is actually really great, they have some beautiful coral and fish around there. The water is crystal clear and the sand pure white silk. It was phenomenal. You feel like you're in the Maldives! The catamaran was really relaxing, you're on a boat for a few hours and you stop at 2 different points to swim and snorkel. Pack that sunblock, you will burn on that trip. For both excursions, I found the infamous Felix on the beach...as he likes to joke that is his office. He is a man of his word and all the reviews about him are right...book with him, we did 2 and he gave us a deal. Its quite cheaper vs through the hotel. Both were great and we had no issues. Find Felix. My only major complaint with this resort is that on weekends, they open it up to locals for a cheaper price so the resort is flooded with all these locals and now you are fighting for a lounger or a drink at the swim up bar. Due to the huge influx of ppl, the resort is dirtier (the pool especially) and it was cramped and uncomfortable. They are fairly rude and I got knocked into a few times in the pool without any apologizes. Doesn't cost anything for manners. That is truly my only complaint with this resort. Everyone was friendly, met some great friends, had lots to eat and drink and got a nice tan. For the price of this resort, I'd do it but because of the locals on weekends rule...I would probably opt for a more exclusive resort next time around. Enjoy your trip if you go...the resort itself is great and you can't go wrong but like I said, there are little truths in all the reviews and if you're nervous..pay the extra $300 and go to Punta Cana to put your mind at ease. ENJOY! And go to Paradise Island!! :)

Riu Merengue: Simply Amazing!!!

We have been going to the RIU Mambo every year for the past 11 years. My husband and I loved it from the first time we arrived and because of that, we continue to come back. We loved the fact that the "Mambo" was quieter and more quaint than the Merengue and Batchata however loved the opportunity to visit the other two. All the employees from washroom duty to the animation team, to grounds keeper, to pool maintenance, to maid service, to the bartenders, to the chefs/servers, to front desk to Hot [... read more]el Manager etc. are absolutely wonderful!!! The hotel is kept very clean, the grounds are well manicured, and the food is delicious! Everyone is very friendly, helpful, polite and always smiling while still doing a fantastic job even in the extreme heat! Although it has been renamed to the "Merengue", it will always be the "Mambo" to me. Sadly, my husband passed away 2 years ago but I will always continue to go to the "Mambo" to visit with my Riu Mambo "Family" because he would want me to!!!

Marien Puerto Plata Hotel: Beautiful resort

Everything was good and clean. The weather is not guarantied cause we got rain almost everyday and not much to do in the resort. If you like to just relax its the perfect resort to go. The food was excellent.

Bahia Principe Grand San Juan: Great trip.

Hotel wasn't quite as nice as I thought, but for the price it was wonderful. The bed was a little hard for me and the water was barely warm at times, but the staff, the food and the surroundings were lovely. The pool was great and you had 2 choices of which pool to use; a quiet one and the larger group one. Would point out that we ended up buying a timeshare which I'm still not convinced was a great idea, soooo, if you don't want one, don't bother wasting your time at the presentation, although  [... read more]they do give you a nice gift.

Riu Merengue: RESORT OK

BEDS WERE HORRABLE, THERE IS NO BEACH AND THE BEACH THAT IS THERE FULL OF ROCKS AND SHORT, ITS TAKES A FEW MINUTES TO WALK THE BEACH BACK AND FORTH, I AM A BEACH PERSON AND I SPEND MORE TIME AT THE POOL THAN THE BEACH WHAT DOES THAT TELL YOU, FOOD NOT BAD

Viva Tangerine by Wyndham: Amazing for kids

I travelled with my 1 1/2yr old and he has an amazing time. They have a play area with swings and a slide along with colouring and crafts. They have staff that are so friendly and always keeping the kids occupied with fun and games. at nighttime before the real shows they have a little dance party for the kids, so much fun they absolutely love it. The beach is less than 2min walk from the pool/resort. Food was good. Great variety. The staff is what makes it so awesome. They are so sweet and nice [... read more]. would definitely go back!

Bahia Principe Grand San Juan: Sent to the Manager after 2 week stay

First and foremost I would like to thank you for the opportunity to communicate our thoughts and feelings directly to you. As you are aware this was our 3rd stay there and we were not dissatisfied with our visit overall. There were many positives and a few negatives that I will try to express in this note. I am a believer in the positive and will try to not only focus on that.. During our stay we at first were a bit saddened by the difference in the over all appearance of the resort. We had bee [... read more]n there in 2008 and returned in 2009 with a couple of our friends. At that point the resort was newer and things seemed to be better groomed and more pleasing to the eye. Age can do that and so can the amount of usage it gets and I could see that improvements are in the works. We had a couple of concerns with our room one being the air conditioning system which first did not work and later in the week it was dripping water onto the floor and it became soaked under our bed. Both of these were addressed right away and we thank you and staff for that. Our TV only worked for 15 minutes than would blink off and sometime shut completely down. This was not a real issue as we rarely used it. I would have much rather had a clock in the room, we had none with us because we left all our electric communication at home so we could just enjoy where we were. I would like to say thanks to the cleaner for our room who we met but were not really able to communicate with. She was also happy to great us and added the extra touches of decorations, flowers and excellent care she provided. I wish I spoke her language so we could tell her ourselves. When trying the Al-A-Carte we were expecting a bit different from the Italian in selection of Pasta dishes. The once we were there my dinner arrived with a beetle/bug in it and I had to send it back. It was replaced quickly but the replacement arrived with the pasta only half cooked. I tried to brave it but when the waiter noticed that I was not eating much he asked if he could try again with a different choice and I gratefully accepted his offer. This time it was good but my appetite was gone. I will say however the Minestrone Soup was delicious. We also tried the Mexican and were also disappointed with the main meal and left still hungry as we did not finish it. We went to the buffet for something else. We did eat the rest of the time in the Mediterranean where not only was the service tops but all the choices were delicious. The topper was the sit down and fully served meal as opposed to the self serve portions at the previous two. The facility was well furnished, decorated, and gave a feeling of dining out rather than a eating at a roadside restaurant. The Buffet served a great variety of choices and we were able to always find something there to eat. My only concern was the food seemed to be a bit too cold by the time we got it to a table and sat down. Often we ate omelets for breakfast and Pasta for lunch which were always hot. We do prefer hot food so this could be something just we would notice. The staff there were also polite funny and very professional. Thanks to Willy (pasta Prep), Elorna (door Greeter) with that big smile and laugh, Eddy (server) who operates at full pace plus an extra half always smiling while taking that extra second to brighten your day. We do understand the problems associated with March Breaks and the youth but if they were better supervised by older reps or additional security figures, in my opinion it would make the resort far more enjoyable for the more mature group of users who will likely be the return visitors. I do appreciate your attempts to separate them but it did seem to fall a bit short as many times we found ourselves not partaking in some things and even returning to our room to avoid the situations they created. We had drinks spilled on us, were pushed, elbowed, fallen on, insulted, had sand kick on us on and our seats at the beach, and other things we had to watch that never should have be happening between youth in public. I would like to say thank you to the entertainment staff, especially Alex who in my opinion the place would not be the same without. He was everywhere doing everything and always with such enthusiasm. If I had a need for a staff person to promote the have fun and be happy feeling I would steel him away in a wink as someone may try if word gets out. I would protect him as a highly valued asset if you can. The remaining others were also great. The bartenders were supper and very tolerant with the added pressures of the youth crowd and the increased work load they produced. I may have lost it more than once after hearing some of the comments and disrespect they received. Overall we did enjoy our stay and will likely at some point return for another vacation. We will likely try to arrange a time to avoid the youth take over but still fit it in around our anniversary. I want to say thank you very much for the bottle of Champagne which you so graciously had sent to us at the Mediterranean on Tuesday Evening. Again it is rewarding to see a person in your position out on the floor with the staff and guests taking a look instead of buried in the paperwork that comes with the job and normally consumes most in that position. Thank you and all your staff for helping us enjoy our 38th year of marriage at the resort

Sunscape Puerto Plata: Won't be going back

First of all, we enjoyed our trip. Just not the resort. The people were approachable and generally grateful for tips and gifts. The biggest sore point for us, was the peddlers bugging you on the beach and other off resort areas. I know they are trying to make a living, but I'm on vacation and I don't want to be harassed to buy something I said I don't want or need.

Iberostar Waves Costa Dorada: Unexpected great resort

We travel every winter to warm places, we have been to Puerto Plata in the past in 6 different hotels and expected a high level of comfort as this is the highest rated hotel in the area.We traveled with 3 other couples who had limited experience with all inclusives but own time shares in several US places, they all raved about the location, rooms, food, entertainment, everything was perfect and the best value for the money. We are booking holidays at Iberostar Hotels in Jamaica in November for a [... read more] wedding and back at this hotel in February.

Sunscape Puerto Plata: As expected

First impression..... Beautiful grounds. Layout of hotel was decent, easy too be around. Beautiful beach, but many vendors interrupting your day. Food was amazing with the best staff I have seen in a long time. Pool and daily entertainment was ok, get up early and layout your towel if you want a chair to lounge in. Nightly entertainment.... Great the first night but found the theme changed but the routine was the same night after night. Rooms were amazing. I say rooms because we asked to move af [... read more]ter the first night. Due to the fact we had a room facing the town and a local bar who played musoc till 4am local time. Guest services was below par, found that if you were not a premium guest your chances of booking tours through them was slim to none. Thank god for an amazing and wonderful travel agent who booked all our excursions for us. Overall it was an above average trip with your normal ups and downs. I would recommend this hotel, and I will return there next year.

Senator Puerto Plata Hotel: Vacation in the land of the sun

Resort was great, staff wonderful, beach was great for snorkelling although surf was rough and had a strong current. I would have liked to have seen lifeguards. Do not forget bug repellent as there were lots of Mosquitos and Sandfleas, I received some nasty bites which required a trip to the resort doctor. I guess the question ,"Would I return to this resort?", my answer.... In a heart beat! We had an awesome vacation, my complaint would be, even though it was 2 weeks, not long enough!