VH Gran Ventana Beach Resort: Amazing place.

Very good location staff very friendly.Food was excellent.Room not very fancy but comfortable and clean.A lots of fun for the children. Entertainment was ok every evening was different show also entertaining for the children too. Ji

Bahia Principe Escape Ambar: Customer service

Rooms are not actually clean, I noticed a stain on the bed sheets had my room cleaned the next day all the cleaner did was make the bed and did not change the sheets. Was given a towel with feces stain on it and shower dirty.

El Beso Adults Only at Ocean El Faro: Pretty good, very big

Ocean el Faro el beso (adults only area) was very nice and very large, with multiple pool, lounge and bar areas. The day time entertainment was fun, but because there were so many areas, it sometimes felt like we were missing out on other areas of the resort. The Sports bar could use some snacks, the carts could be more frequent. The food was what we expected and the bar staff was a bit slow but very kind. The lazy river was a super fun addition to the resort!

Sunscape Dominicus La Romana: Under construction

Hotel is currently under going some rebuilding after a fire so there was alot of construction noise. My room was directly beside the buffet and a construction area so there was a lot of noise. One night I was woken up at 3am and kept awake until 5am. On the weekend they open the resort to locals and that really changed the overall experience. It was extremely busy and loud. So by the weekend, there was construction noise, long lines and extremely loud music. The resort staff was pleasant and roo [... read more]m was cleaned everyday. I had been to this resort previously in 2019 and was pleased overall with my stay. Had I known there was construction taking place and there would be constant hammering, electric saw, etc… I likely would not have stayed there again. I appreciate the hotel went through the fire, then COVID and cannot shut down completely, overall it was too noisy for me.

Marien Puerto Plata Hotel: Price was right

The resort itself was nice the beaches were not very clean there was lots of garbage on the beach, I would rate it 3.0 star, the “ocean view” rooms seemed run down and out dated, the food was not the greatest, the Mexican la cart was the best all week, the staff was super nice, it did get quite busy on the weekends as they let the local residents come and use the facilities and seemed like the vacationers got pushed to the side, I would not recommend this resort

Viva Heavens by Wyndham: Awesome Trip

Spent 7 relaxing days at this beautiful resort. The staff were amazing, food was great, rooms were clean! Beautiful beach walks every morning. Definitely recommended. Hoping to return before it turns into a family resort :)

Occidental Punta Cana: Ok resort

The grounds were well kept. The resort is nice. The staff not friendly and not much English. Saying that there was 2 bartenders at the main lobby that were great. And the poolbar was good.The food was terrible. Buffet was cold, oriental al a carter was nasty. Food tasted terrible. The steak house was good . Service was great until we finished eating the steak and sat for 25 -35 minutes waiting for the dishes to be cleared. Then the table collapsed on 2 of us. Then they came to ask if we were  [... read more]ready for dessert. Would not recommend this resort!

Bahia Principe Explore Punta Cana: Beach is gone!!!

Staying: Dec 2 - Dec 16, 2022, Villa 04 Hotel is dated (it was built around 2001-2004) and while everything was working in mine room it was "on borderline" - toilet flash was requiring "special" handling ,otherwise it could stuck and water will flow for ever. Shower was on the brink to be broken. Light in bathroom ( 2 of them) broken during mine stay but surprisingly they were fixed in 20 min (normal 20 min ,not "Dominican" (if you know what I'm talking about :) ) . Also air conditioner  [... read more]broke - not stopped completely but start losing/dropping water to extend that it practically flooded my room so I had to spend 20 min removing it from the floor with towels (it was 2 am so I didn't called service ). I turned it off and called service first things in the morning and when I returned from the beach around 4 pm it was back in full working mode. Minifridge "refreshing" not happening unless you completely emptied it so if you want beer or soft drink for spare remove it from fridge. Worst part was beach - not hotel problem - some natural disaster happens during first week of Dec 2022 and ocean "claimed/eat" literally half of the beach (first row of palm umbrellas were flooded and gone, volleyball playground completely gone ). It is third week of December and still there are no good beach. Remaining beach area is overcrowded /overfilled with lounges - merely not enough space to accommodate number of people staying at this hotel. I'm a beach person so for me it was disaster - pools are OK but VERY busy - TOO many people. Bars: 3 stars , while service is OK (but also not very good) - drinks are not - there are no premium drinks and even if you want cocktails based on tomato juice - at the best you can get them first hour from opening - after that - most likely tomato juice or clamato are gone. But what is worse - at all bars and even almost every restaurant /buffets - you cannot get simple club soda - most of personal doesn't speak English and doesn't know what is "club soda" is so remember Spanish term they will understand "agua con gas" (not even "agua carbonatada") - but still most places say - no - we don't have it. As well you cannot get it in minifridge Food: nothing "amazing" but you will not die from hunger for sure - and best part you can get it almost 24 hours (there are nigh snack bar at the beach - but no alcohol drinks) Good part about resort: they have pretty good night disco club but it opens at 11:30pm so you need kill some time before you can get here. Design of the disco /music and even service at the bar is amazing. While close to 2am you will start notice smell from toilets iside disco due to luck of cleaning - but you have to realize that place is packed from the moment it opens to last minute - so be prepare for some "side effects" Shows at resort looks a little bit amature (while girls' are beautiful and boys are strong) but still enjoyable. There are another "live" music show at the central plaza (common place where is disco and casino is) - and Surprisingly there are very good especially "rock band" which plays (some nights) with their interpretations/remix of latest (and not) hits - so I recommend and good part here as well - waitress service - so you don't need to get up and get drinks by yourself - keep tipping and you will have non stop coming of your favorite drinks (after second tip they were bringing me mine drink without me even asking - but still don't forget to tip) So overall - stay was good. Will I return? Most likely - no

Catalonia Royal La Romana: Underwhelmed

Good resort layout, nice beach however impossible to find beach chairs (even 7am!). Rooms are ok but bedding needs updating (pillows hard with weird stuffing). Food - very elaborate menus but execution quite poor (a grade above Cuba). Staff friendly and helpful.

Bahia Principe Explore La Romana: It was better before Covid

The food was of a much better quality, as well as the booze they used to serve pre covid. It was my second time at this resort and I was shocked by the difference in quality before and after the rona.

Riu Republica: Amazing party resort

Love the resort, if you are looking for a party, there is one to be found every night. Friendly happy people everywhere we went, made lots of new friends, frienfly staff, grounds and rooms were clean, food was not the best, but found something to my likes everyday. Pool party's were amazing !! You must try the jerk chicken on the beach :) I would definitely recommend this resort for anyone who's looking to have fun at a resonable price.

Riu Republica: Dirty, run down,

The grounds are beautiful and well kept with the exception of the beach. There is so much seaweed on the beach it seems like they’ve given up on maintaining it as there was literally more seaweed than sand. Water was extremely rough everyday and absolutely not safe to go into and I’m a good swimmer. Red flags everyday - disappointing. Staff and food were hit or miss. Good thing about the size of the resort is many food options although the quality is mediocre with the exception of the  [... read more]jerk chicken near the beach which was fantastic. Rooms are VERY basic. We literally were given a bed sheet (1) and 2 very flat pillows. We had to request blankets and pillows but took a few days to get everything. 1 plug in the room and a usb charger. Our usb was broken and didn’t get fixed although we sent in 2 maintenance requests. Party pool is disgustingly dirty. Pool water is below the skimmer level so it gets nasty. Drinks were fantastic and bartenders were knowledgeable and friendly.

Occidental Punta Cana: not a 5 star

The Occidental is a very nice resort. The grounds were very well kept and the rooms were very clean and nice. That is about the only good thing about this resort. The service was not great and the food was mediocre at best. The beach only has a few palm trees for shade but it was very nice. The service at the beach bar was very slow as well. The service at the pool bar was very good tho and a few gentlemen at the lobby bar were great as well but thats about it. I will not go back to this  [... read more]resort. Also the website says 20km from the airport but took us an hour to get to the resort.

TRS Cap Cana Hotel: Great time!

Absolutely loved this Resort. Can't say enough about the amazing staff. They would do anything for you. From your butler, the wait staff, the maintenance staff, the bartenders. Everyone was wonderful! The food exceeded our expectations. Best filet mignon I've had in ages. The Resort is on the small side, which we loved. It was very quiet and relaxing. So if you're looking for a party, this Resort is not for you. We were aware that the resort was hit hard by Hurricane Fiona, but that did not affe [... read more]ct our wonderful stay. They are working very hard to fix all the damage by the hurricane . There are things that need a little TLC, but nothing we can't look past. The beach is pretty much non-existent, but we knew that before. So that was fine as we are more pool people. If anyone has anything negative to say about this Resort, then all I can say is they are extremely picky and high maintenance.

Riu Republica: Amazing Party Resort!

This resort was definitely one of my favourites! The resort has lots of entertainment and activities, it’s very clean overall and the buffet is delicious. There is a variety of à la carte restaurants which include Spanish, Italian, Indian, Asian and Japanese foods. The service is top tier and the workers on the resort are very kind. The rooms were clean and semi modern but I will say that the beds need an upgrade. They were hard as a rock. The beach was beautiful and the views [... read more] were amazing. It is important to note that depending on the time of year you visit there may be a lot of seaweed along the beach front. I would recommend this resort to anyone that is looking to party.

The Eurostars Grand Cayacoa: Relaxing & Beautiful Resort

A 40-minute drive from Samana Airport to the Hotel. Stunning views from this beautiful resort. The staff was very accommodating, personable, and professional. Ample buffet choices. Fresh juices daily & plenty of fresh fruit. Egg and pasta stations to order personal choices. The buffet food was always lukewarm. If you like your food hot, a microwave is located beside the egg station. The hotel, public washrooms, and swimming pool were very clean. Staff was always in public areas, clean [... read more]ing. The Beach is very short. Ample beach beds and shade from umbrellas and trees. Seaview Room - The washroom and vanity were on the smaller side. The room and balcony are a good size, with lots of cupboards and a safe is included. The room was well sound-proofed. Music at the pool and at the nightly entertainment area was very loud. Request a quiet room when booking and many of the rooms were close to the outdoor nightly entertainment area where loud music played until 10:30-11 pm most evenings. Coffee and tea are located in the lounge area beside the bar. .

Bahia Principe Explore Esmeralda: Beautiful grounds

Terrible food in the buffet Waiting for clean plates, line up every morning at omelette station. Coffee machines broken Entertainment sucked. Not a five star resort. I would not recommend Esmeralda to anyone. The grounds were beautiful and lovely beach

Riu Palace Bavaro: Great Resort, Beautiful Beach and Friendly Staff!

My boyfriend and I stayed here from October 15th-22nd 2022 for our first trip. We appreciated the intake process where the lounge offered food and drinks while we waited to be checked into our room. After a long flight the snacks were much appreciated. We were introduced to our butler Victor Alexis upon arrival and given his contact information once we checked in. Having the ability to contact him with our questions, reservation requests, and seeing his daily messages about the schedules and men [... read more]us of the day made our stay very comfortable. He was very attentive and friendly when seeing him on resort. Room: We booked the Mirage Club Sky View Suite with Rooftop Jacuzzi and were not disappointed. Being part of the Mirage Club meant we were in the adult only section with just a 2 minute walk from the beach. Our rooftop looked out over the Seaside restaurant and bar, the pool and the beach. The room had air conditioning and our mini fridge was constantly stocked. We were also left extra waters beside on our bedside tables which were much appreciated after late nights. Housekeeping was amazing and kept everything very clean. We never ran out of towels or cleaning products. Our club access also included access to the adults only lounge which stocked drinks, alcohol, a variety of snacks and fruit all day. It was a great addition to the regular food offerings this resort had. Food: The food options were endless. The buffet was great for breakfast offering variations of eggs, pancakes, crepes, meats, etc. They had lots of fresh fruit and fruit juices along with yogurt and other dairy products. As someone with celiac disease navigating buffets can be difficult. They had clearly marked gluten free muffins, sourdough, and croissants as well as an omelette station that was great for avoiding cross contamination. For the most part the buffet is very straight forward regarding what is and isn't gluten free. Most of the staff that was knowledgeable about gluten free food worked in the restaurants not the buffet. The staff in the French and Italian restaurants were great with recommending gluten free options during both of our first dinner visits. There was some confusion at the Italian (lunch) and French restaurants (2nd dinner visit) so just make sure you double check with a knowledgeable staff member. It can help to have a spanish description of gluten free food saved on your phone. The Kabuki restaurant was awesome for making sure the food was gluten free! They used gluten free soy sauce and made sure to keep the cooking area and food separate from the usual food they had cooking. It was a great experience. We typically went to the Seaside buffet for lunch which offered both traditional dishes from the Dominican as well as fresh salads, fruit, and seafood. This buffet was a bit harder to navigate so be sure to find an employee that knows gluten free food to guide you through it. There was also a coffee shop open most of the days that offered great food and speciality drinks. Entertainment: There was always something going on during the day or at night to keep you busy. There were lots of activities in some of the pools as well as beach activities. The nightly shows featured popular music and impressive acrobatics. I recommend getting a seat early if you're looking forward to a particular show. They also had entertainment in the courtyard area that was easier to drop in on before or after dinner. We even picked up a painting from one of the performers. Beach: The beach was great! There were some days with seaweed and some days without. They did make an effort to keep it clean as best they could. There are a lot of people trying to sell things on the beach which can be helpful if you're looking for souvenirs but is a bit overwhelming. Most of the sellers are polite and move on if you are not interested. There were lots of chairs but be sure to try and to get a bali bed early in the day if you want to spend any time on one. The drink service on the beach was a plus. Bars: The piano bar is a perfect place to go for fancy drinks. Antony at the lobby bar was amazing! He always had drinks ready when he saw us coming and had his own speciality drinks when we weren't sure what to order. The seaside bar is the best place to grab drinks when you are on the beach. The ladies there are very friendly. Rafi was also awesome at the Tiki bar if you're spending the day in the pool. If you're part of the Mirage Club make sure to visit the exclusive bars beside your lounge or in your pools which are less busy. Check out: Check out process was quick an easy. Our bags were picked up while we went to breakfast and loaded onto the shuttle for us as we left. Overall we had a great experience and will be returning hopefully to see the same staff members that made the trip memorable.

Majestic Colonial Punta Cana Beach Resort: enjoyed out stay

This was our third time at the Colonial. We have always stayed in the swim up on the club side which is adults only. First room they gave us was on the third floor. Many people we spoke to the room category they paid for and booked was most often not available until the next day. We were compensated with a 25 minutes massage at the spa. Our butler Wensky was non existant after the second day. I sent him messages on the whatsaap to no avail. Thankfully this was our third time so we basiclly knew [... read more] where to go to get the assistance we needed. The staff we approached were so very helpful. Carlos and Flor the beach activity people did a good job of making it fun in the sun for us. Everywhere you looked the staff were smiling and very professional. We had no issues even thinking about covid. We wore masks on the plane but at the resort there was always someone to greet you before meals with hand sanitizer. Because our butler bailed on us we were able to tip other staff more.Even our gardener. We took down almost a full carry on of candies, lip balm and chocolates. The staff loved it. Breakfast we had always at the buffet for omlettes. Bacon was a hit and miss for availability. Not to sure why. The Japanese we went to once. It was entertaining but not like it had been in the past. The soya sauce they give you has a high salt content and can ruin the flavors. Try to avoid that. The restaraunt on the beach was not open for breakfast but had a buffet pretty much the same as the buffet at the main end of the resort for lunch with really good hand made burgers on the grill. The cook on the grill cracked a smile finally when we surprised him with a tip. The watermelon was so sweet and fresh. Kinda funny how that was something I looked forward to every meal. We ate a couple of times at the Rodeo on the beach. There are many new staff that have never worked in this type of atmosphere before so as a tourist your patience is a must. Some people were very rude to the staff and it is totally not called for. Don,t you remember your first job? I had the beef tenderloin and shrimp. It was not a big steak but very tasty and tender. The Rodeo is an open air place and on the other side of the space is the seafood place. We ordered the lobster and were dissapointed due to the fact it is not the same lobster we harvest in Canada. We used room service once and had the chicken tenders and french fries. They were better than I expected. Apparently the Colonial is slated for renos in 2023. Not sure when exacly just something we were told. The waves in the ocean are to be respected. I got knocked off of my feet while standing on the shore and ended up down the beach in front of the next hotel. The flag was red but the undertow was strong. All in all it was a very relaxing vacation. Our room was spacious and the lady who cleaned our room was so sweet. She was an older lady , I wish I had of caught her name. We didn't have our room made up every day.Our fridge was filled with what we used and the guy who took care of that remembered what to leave and what not to leave. For the first time we took a damp rid bag and hung it in the closet where our clothes were. I was surprised how well it worked. The humidity is high naturally and it took that out of our clothes. Felix and Francisco are butlers but they take the meaning of service and helpfulness to a new level,and they weren't even our butlers.They are the best. With the price of vacations going up we would like to return to this resort but it's time to start exploring our own Country.

Bahia Principe Escape Ambar: not a 5 star resort 3.5 at best.Very disappointed.

Grounds were nice.Had a swim up suite which we loved!Food was not very good 2.5 out of 5.Service was very hit and miss 2 out of 5.Room service was terrible.Premiun alchohol not available after 4 days we stayed for 12.Only served local alchohol which i can get at any resort.Overall the swim up suite and the weather saved are vacation.Would not return to this resort.Defitnitly not worth the money.Also air conditioning did not work for first 7 days!