Playabachata Hotel: Great resort but needs some changes

Resort was good but them need to get rid of the constant non stop super loud techno Spanish music piunding minute after minute. It was ingrained in my head, couldn't even hear my headphones with my own music..and on top of that all day even at night up to 3 am.. Only thing it would make me not want to go back.

Senator Puerto Plata Hotel: Good resort for the value

Overall I rated the hotel a 7. The buffet was ok. Japanese and steakhouse were good, but Italian restaurant, Grappa was disappointing. I’m Italian so I’m more critical on Italian food. The rooms were nice and clean. The resort had a lot of Canadians but there was no Canadian sports channel like TSN or Sportsnet. It was all US sports channels; henceforth I missed the hockey games.

Iberostar Waves Costa Dorada: Good food, old resort, still nice.

It's an older resort, and it shows. Very nicely landscaped grounds, otherwise a dated resort. My 7th Iberostar, and definitively not the best. - Grounds: The lobby and courtyard area are the best for relaxing or enjoying the nightlife - Rooms: Plain, and functional. Our first room was terrible, nothing worked, and the washroom pumbling was bubling, very dangerous! - Layout: A lot of walking for such a small resort. Narrow paths and switchbacks a very annoying - Pool: Nice layout, a bi [... read more]t dated, and needed much more cleaning of debris, dead bugs and feathers - Beach: a typical wavy Dominican beach, with sometimes rough seas, and often closed by the lifeguard. However it's the only quiet spot if you are looking for this. - Bars: long waits at every bar, even if you just want to get a glass of water - 10 minutes; you have to bring your own water bottles, which is not a good thing on vacation / resort. - Food: The buffet was very good. The restaurants can be skipped. You have to line up to get a spot, you cannot reseve 2 of the 3 restaurants, and the Japanese isn't worth reserving. - Staff: The staff is friendly, but don't offer much service. - Other: The New years party was well done, the resort really tries to entertain it's guests with special events! Overall a pleasant experience, marred by lots of small annyances that should not happen at a '5-star', or iberostar resort, especially at these extremely high prices. Still much better than all the other resorts in the area.

VH Gran Ventana Beach Resort: Small Resort

Overall it was a good small resort with some deficiencies. Sitting area in lobby for families was very small. !3 people could rarely find a place to sit and play cards after supper. Room were very clean and room service was excellent. Beach was very nice. Although there were not many swiming pools, but existing ones were clean. There was not enough variety of drinks and the provided one were not strong at all. Pina colada drink were almost water. The coconut slushy was almost water. Mojitos were [... read more] limited due to lack of fresh mint. The major issue was in buffet. Food selections were good. Almost every time we were there, nobody was there to find us a table for 13 guests. If we found one ourselves, it was not cleaned up from previous guests at that table. Shortage of server was obvious. For breakfast, after finding a table and sitting, we asked for Coffee, Most of the time it was served when our breakfast was done. Servers were not trained to serve coffee, water, wine. Most of the time it was overflowing and pouring on the table cloth.

Casa Marina Reef Resort: Bang for your buck

Although this resort is dated, it is well kept. The food was good and plentiful. The location is awesome. The beach is just fine. As for the the downfalls, the staff, smiles aren't coming easy although they should be free. The service at the bar is slow. The cleaning lady had more smiles and did a very good job. The resort needs to purchase more pool chairs. The staff should not bother people for a massage.

Iberostar Waves Costa Dorada: Amazing Resort!

This was a beautiful hotel with nice rooms, tons of activities, good food and friendly, fun staff. I was impressed by the gluten-free options available. Not all are visible, so you have to ask. When I asked if they had gluten-free pizza, they made me my own custom-made pizza, which was really good! My only complaint is that the rooms were really cold and when we lowered the air conditioner the bathroom ceiling would drip a lot.

VH Gran Ventana Beach Resort: It was Ok !!

If you are looking for 4.5 to 5 star facility, this is NOT the right resort although their website says its 4.5 star plus. The service was ok. Rooms are smaller than what it shows in picture. we had water drainage problems in washroom. The staff at front desk may listen to your complaint if they are available which in most of the cases , NOT as they always ask you to wait for Supervisor. Beach was clean so for us the most likable place was beach. Swimming pool is small too and there is [... read more] only one swimming pool so you will see all the crowd there. Their website says non-motor water activities are available for resort guest but there was nothing available. there is no playground for kids although it mentioned on their website. Kids Club was nice. Buffet food was nice. Entertainment activities in daytime and every night was nice too. For Dinner Restaurant - not much options available as most of items on their restaurants menu was available in buffet. One bad experience for us was on their Beach side restaurant - One day when we went for lunch around 3 PM (That restaurant opens till 5PM), there was no Pizza available. One of our friend asked cook if he can make as there was stuff available. he said he will make it. after 15 mins we check no pizza was in oven nor at serving tray. I asked again can you make pizza , the other guy said ok. again 15 mins went by no one was making Pizza. Then I had to inform server - she went and requested the cook to make Pizza and I can see there was some arguments between them. You are in service industry - If you have raw material available and if your restaurant hours are still Open - it is your duty to serve your customer. Since we had kids with us - they wanted to eat Pizza otherwise we would have been ok with other food options.

Playabachata Hotel: Avoid Playabachata Puerto Plata Hotel!

Arrived late night. Receptionist was the slowest worker in the worlds. Imagine arriving late night with super tired kids and a receptionist takes 30mins per person(!) to check in. When my turn came in, receptionist said that we only have one room and not 2. After arguing for 15 mins and showing all the confirmation letters he seems to find second room. He gave us rooms in separate towers, keeping us away from our kids. We had no option but to take it. The rooms were terrible, ceiling was leaking [... read more] into the bed, electricity went off several times during the night, meaning no AC, no hot water in the room, no WiFi in the rooms, rooms were smelling so bad, overall room condition was too old and uncomfortable. Most terrifying thing was that we there was no way to communicate with our kids in case of emergency as they stayed in different building, no telephones, no internet, no electricity. All concerns were reported to hotel reception as well as Sunwing rep. IF YOU ARE READING THIS, and you think of visiting this place, keep in mind all the issues I have reported above and remember that NO ONE WILL HELP YOU TO RESOLVE YOUR ISSUES, hotel will say that they are fully booked, Sunwing will say sorry and that’s it. This hotel nowhere near 4.5 stars as advertised, it’s maximum 2 stars (which uses mechanical keys for room and safe boxes ). I had to pay more and upgrade to their other hotel which is next to it, called Senator Hotel and Resorts. I would highly recommend booking there and pay some extra, instead of ruining your vacation and staying at Playabachata! As for me, we would most definitely not be booking with Sunwing and Tripcentral in the future and won’t be recommending it to friends and family either.

Iberostar Waves Costa Dorada: Great value

Ocean was not aqua blue, buffet was edible but not top quality, rooms are very clean, use the blow dryer to dry your sheets because it’s damp! Service was great, nice gym, peaceful place. Eat right at 6PM when the buffet opens.

Casa Marina Reef Resort: A good reasonably priced resort with nice beach's available

Over all we would give the hotel a good review. We have been going there about 6 years now, this year for 18 days & have found staff & services quite good. Quality & varity of food was very good except for their roast beef which was available most days. I had thought of requesting to talk with the cook to find out what there tenderizing process was as it turned the meat soft & mushy even though ccooked perfectly. This room had on some days a strong septic odour. {room 1012} We think  [... read more]it came when the air came on & the stopper in the sink rattled when flushing the toilet??????

Marien Puerto Plata Hotel: Do not pay for upgrades

The resort is very nice well laid out, the staff is great and the food at the specialty restaurants is great. The rooms were clean but no wifi. Do not pay for superior adults only or the VIP because the only thing it’s good for is the VIP lounge. Reservation are not needed at any of the restaurants The adults only has children every weekend and although they say room amenities wifi there is only wifi in common areas and the VIP lounge. On the weekends the locals take over and the management [... read more] does nothing to help the staff in controlling their activities.

VH Gran Ventana Beach Resort: Not great but ok

Hotel was not in great shape. Ceiling leaked water all day every day. Outlets did not work so couldn't charge phones. No fan in bathroom. No mirror in main room. Seemed over crowded with one main pool. Staff were great however.

Blue Bay Villas Doradas: Okay resort-probably wouldn’t return

This resort was very tired. We had to go to the front desk twice just to get a hairdryer. That’s a pretty basic item that’s supposed to be included. We were with a large group and several of our rooms leaked when it rained. They don’t even address that issue. There were toilet flushing issues and hot water issues. The air conditioning worked very well though! You had to be a VIP to get bacon after 8:00. You also had to ask for it. Why not put it out for all to have some. Just serve it on fewer  [... read more]days. The only real perk was the staff. Most of the staff were great, especially the animation team.

Iberostar Waves Costa Dorada: Resort was great, well maintained as to be expected

Everything was maintained very well. Good food and the a la carte restaurants were very good good. Ocean was rough a few days but nothing the resort could do about that.overall highly recommend to anyone

VH Gran Ventana Beach Resort: Wonderful Time !!

This is my third time at Gran Ventana. Enjoyed my stay completely, the people there at the hotel are wonderful, especially Andrea who works the pool bar. She is always friendly and always has a smile for the customers. She has an ability to remember previous customers and always has a hug for them. She now has a coffee machine. which makes all the different types, I was able to get my morning cappuccino there, that was a great idea. If there was one thing that I could say, it would make a wor [... read more]ld of difference, it would be to have towels at the quiet pool and the young woman who works the desk could do the same thing with taking the room number and giving out a towel, you wouldn’t need more than maybe a dozen or two at her station. It would save having to walk all the way to the towel bar on the other side of the hotel and back again to the pool. This is an extremely clean Resort, the staff seem to be always cleaning something. The food there is still fabulous and they have such a variety every night. I would recommend this resort highly for families or couples … they go above and beyond to try to make your stay that much better. I will be returning there probably in early spring !

VH Gran Ventana Beach Resort: Overall Great Resort - Family Friendly

When we arrived at the hotel, they told us that our request for a ground floor room were never received by our travel agent. We have a young baby with a stroller and they told us that no ground floor rooms were available (and there are no elevators in the buildings). They had no record of us asking for a ground floor room, king bed, and crib; so we were quite unhappy when we first arrived. The second day of our trip the hotel was able to move us to a first floor King bed room. Food at the ho [... read more]tel was great; always plenty of options. Most of the staff are extremely friendly and welcoming. The entertainment staff were also very friendly. We like how the day time music isn't overpowering; so that you are able to enjoy some quiet at the pool. The beach and beach bar were also fantastic. Our two complaints are: people are constantly smoking in 'common' areas - around the pool, by the restaurants, etc. They are supposed to smoke in designated smoking areas, but quite a few people were smoking wherever they wanted. We had to tell staff numerous times to ask them to stop smoking beside us and our baby. Our second complaint is the night time shows are extremely loud (they seem to crank the bass very high). You can hear it in almost every room that is in the buildings near the pool. If you are a light sleeper, just keep this in mind. Overall, a great trip. Weather was great with a few showers sprinkled here and there. Staff are kind and welcoming and food is plentiful. I'd return to this resort again but next time I am going to call them to ensure they receive my request for a first floor room!

Iberostar Waves Costa Dorada: Excellent Vacation at Iberostar Waves Costa Dorada

Stayed for 15 days at this resort December 1-16. We have been here around 12 times since 2018. The Oceanview room is very nice if in building 1 but building 5 is located beside condos being built and is quite noisy. Our a/c broke in our original room in building 5 and they moved us to another room in building 1. It was wonderful to have a quiet room. Food is quite good and they theme the nights so it isn’t totally the same thing each night. Domingo is the server we have had since we started comi [... read more]ng to the resort and he is amazing. Manuel is a customer service representative and he too is wonderful and so helpful. Only complaint we have is the bar staff in the lobby bar are not very good. If you tip them good then they serve you as soon as they see you and everyone else can try to get served if you’re lucky. Thus unfortunately has been going on since we first vacationed at this resort. This definitely needs to be improved! The beach was quite dirty with areas of garbage this year more so than any other time we have been there. Likely it is garbage being washed ashore but considering tourism is their main source of revenue, it would be beneficial if they could take care of this. Perhaps it is because of the many storms that washed garbage into the ocean but the aftermath needs to be taken care of for health reasons. All in all we had a great vacation and are already planning our return in February 2025!

Viva Heavens by Wyndham: Ok place

Very small resort. Food was good. A few cons. No coffee until 7 30 am. Room supplies coffee makers but maybe get 2 small cups. If you are an early riser than no coffee available till buffet opens and no cappuccino until pool bar decides to start. Cafe does not open until 9 which makes no sense. No alcohol until 10am. I had a room in building 6 and the first 2 days bathroom floor was always wet. Could not find leak turns out floor was sweating because of a/c. Went away don't know why. Bar staff [... read more] at times did not look interested to serve especially in the morning. Pros are the food and a la carte. Pool was adequate. Grounds are clean. Beach seems ok. I would not go back. Seems slow pace and too small for me.

Senator Puerto Plata Hotel: Needs some tlc

I would rate this resort a 3.5 star. Staff is very helpful and friendly. Rooms were clean, food not the greatest but lots of choices. The pool and pool area is in need of repair (paint is peeling in the pools and the lawn beds are in rough shape). There were 4 umbrellas available for the whole pool deck.

VH Gran Ventana Beach Resort: Amazing resort

The hotel is good some rooms need update .we travels toghether with my Daughter and a 8month old baby we emails the hotel and requested a ground floor rooms no elevator at this hotel and this was the third time at this resort when we arrived Mr martinis put on the second floor i told him that we need a ground floor he. Said the hotel had no more rooms he was very rude has no manners shoul not be working at this hotel. Maybe you could find a job tending. Animals at a farm .but thanks to .Solange  [... read more]she put us on the ground floor the next day. Despite all that we had a good time and good good very good steak at the itilian restaurant i recommend you call the hotel with requests