Punta Cana Princess: Wonderful, friendly, relaxing

Fantastic resort. Staff were friendly, accommodating and relaxed. Everyone seemed to enjoy being there. Rooms were spacious and comfortable. The beach was perfect! Plenty of loungers and palapas for everyone. Very nice VIP area with Bali style sunbeds. Everything was clean and beautiful. The food was very good. The steak at Rio Grande was excellent. The most relaxed I've ever felt while on vacation.

Riu Republica: Unreal resort

This resort is truly awesome in so many ways. It is very large with lots of room for everything to help with overcrowding and offers something for everyone The food was top notch especially the main buffet and the Italian specialty restaurant. The beach was big and beautiful and there is plenty of pools for everyone to enjoy depending on your mood. Shows were great and there’s lots of great things to do. Overall, Riu Republica is a very good resort, very clean and surrounded by beautiful g [... read more]reenery and white beaches. 10/10 will go back.

Riu Palace Punta Cana: our hello and thanks for all of your employers.

hotel well organized clean and beautiful . suite cleaner were very polite and did a good job. dinning was a nice and good . employers who are serving in dinning area .after serving they gather at one place and making fun of each others and speaking loudly. while dinning room should be a little quite but they did a excellent serve .

VH Gran Ventana Beach Resort: Speechless

Amazing! My boyfriend and I are beyond speechless at how wonderful this resort was. This was our first time going away together and we were blown away. The food was excellent- a lot of options at the buffet and 3 restaurants on the resort as well. The staff are just amazing. By the second day they knew our names and our orders. They treated us like family. The entertainment crew was probably the best part of the trip. They are so energetic and truly care about the relationship with the guest at  [... read more]the resort. They say “come as a guest leave as family” and that couldn’t be more true. Thank you so much Gran Ventana we will definitely be back. A special thank you to Mini me, coccoloco69, Ray Ray and Juan Carlos you guys are amazing !

The Eurostars Grand Cayacoa: Love this resort

I absolutely love this resort, food was good, love the beach. The people and service was wonderful! I would definitely revisit this resort with my family and friends. Close to town and loved going shopping in town.

Playabachata Hotel: Good until weekend chaos arrived

We arrived on a tuesday with sunwing for a 2 week holiday. We were thrilled with our room location, the long quiet beach with many shady areas and the food in general. It was a quiet resort and not crowded but had many different nationalities mingling together. But our first weekend was a dominican holiday weekend so a 3 day holiday. I watched the buses arrive and could not believe my eyes. We had over 1500 extra persons from saturday to monday. The resort was in complete chaos and so over [... read more]whelmed. The pool, bars and eating places were wall to wall dominicans. Don't get me wrong I love dominicans but there were way too many extra people. The next weekend over 500 extra visitors.....again chaos, noise etc. This time our room block had people slamming doors, banging on doors and talking loudly till 2 AM. I opened my door to see what was going on and security was there trying to calm people down and get them in their rooms....did I mention I like quiet and to sleep at night? Now to be honest the resort was trying to accommodate it's international guests with earlier meal times etc etc but it was not a pleasant experience to be so over-run with so many. I would not return if this issue is not dealt with and I need to say I am used to carribean resorts inviting local guests into their resorts on weekend during low season. I usually enjoy having interaction with locals but this was so over the top. When I did complain to sunwing and management about the situations their "we are sorry" was just not enough. It really does grieve me to leave this feedback when we did enjoy the resort the rest of the time (non weekend). BUT I must be honest as I expect that from everyone who writes here about their experiences.

Riu Republica: Breath taking vacation

The resort was a 10 out of 10, the saff was very friendly and always busy cleaning , serving etc. The food was amazing in all resteraunts including the buffet. The beach was clean and not alot of pressure type sellers. Only minor complaint was the hard beds. Other than that the Riu Republicia was a great place and would go back. Thank you

Riu Republica: Good stay, not amazing

This is a beautiful resort, lovely grounds with many pool areas to suit your style. The beach is perfect with no rocks or seaweed to be seen, and you can walk for miles. The beach is hidden from the pool areas due to a high hill separating the two. The food was decent in the main buffet. Lots of options here and great service. We tried the steak house and had food that was either undercooked, or so overcooked that we could have started a hockey game with it. The Italian was decent food,  [... read more]however it is fully buffet with no dishes served. We also ate at the Spanish restaurant. Beef tasted delicious but I was violently ill about half an hour after. Entertainment was hot/cold. The neon party was out of this world. Top level entertainment, better than any stay I have had elsewhere. I didn't bus over to the other resort for the pink party, so can't comment on that. I found the staff would come out and dance around the pool and talk about the entertainment, but never did zumba or salsa by the pool. We checked the schedule and it said it was on the beach the next day, but spent the day at the beach and no activities happened there. Our room was lovely. We had paid for a triple room, but somehow they had booked us in a standard room for 3 people, even though we paid more for a triple. We ended up upgrading to a family suite with 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms and a shared patio and hallway area. Very nice room and ours was in a quiet area. (room 0178). Overall a very nice place. Alcohol is not top notch, but still a decent drink to be found everywhere. Swim up bar can get a little crazy when they start sliding people down the counter-tops, but there are many other pools close by if you don't enjoy that scene.

Bahia Principe Explore Esmeralda: One of the best resorts in Punta Cana!!!

We had one of the best vacations in Punta Cana. Our four vacations there were in Luxury Principe Bahia Esmeralda, but this time we decided to switch to Majestic Mirage and conclusion is: next time we will go back to Bahia Esmeralda or Ambar. So great time that we had there nothing will replace. Service, food, restaurants, housekeeping, entertainment, you name more, everything was just outstanding. And speaking about agency, nothing can do better than Tripcentral.

Barcelo Bavaro Palace: Great resort to relax, not to party!

I was there for a week from November 4th, till November 11th. Low season, great price, we had to go to get that jacuzzi on the balcony. The thing is, there are tons of mosquitoes, which destroyed us! My wife didnt want to get in thw jacuzzi after that. Clean room, excellent food, lots of choices, you can reserve a restaurant every night! Pool is gigantic, lots of space, got to meet a lot of people. Service is great, dont forget to tip the hotel employees! Now, I like to dance, and the club there [... read more] is amazing, with a very good sound system, but, and it's a big but, the DJ plays the same songs 3 or 4 times a night, and it by blocks of genres. Lots of bachata and merengue, and latin vibes, which, in a tourist world, is good from time to time, but not 7 songs in a row. And did I say it was the same songs over and over, night after night...for a 5 star hotel, i've seen 3 and half star hotels in the dominican with a better party vibe. I dont think that they want to be a party hotel, even if they have the equipment for it, more of a family friendly vibe. Other than the club and the mosquitoes, everything was excellent, the beach is amazing and we really had a lot of fun drinking in the pool with the friends we made!

Riu Republica: Okay

Hotel was clean, food was good. Rooms were ok, half our outlets didn’t work beds were extremely uncomfortable and rooms were very loud in the morning with doors constantly slamming, balcony was Ontop of generators so very loud on balcony parties were fun service was good

Wyndham Alltra Samana: Great Potential - beautiful location, but service was lacking!

I had heard not to expect much in DR as far as food, better than Cuba but not as good as Mexico or Jamaica for example. I would say it was ok, but I admit I am a bit of a fussy eater ;) The grounds were beautiful, beach pretty nice, bits of seaweed that we only saw them attempting to clean up once in the week and they worked at they're own Dominican pace! The entertainment was terrible - I guess they tried but the worst I have seen! Also, if you wanted food between meals, good luck! Th [... read more]e main buffet was only open at meal times and the Beach BBQ buffet times were not posted, but the bugs around the salad and cold food made it not so appealing! We did eat chicken wings a couple times that were tasty though! Service was not great! Good luck getting a coffee cup or spoon and they don't speak hardly any english so even when you asked they didn't understand or even try and would just disappear. They really didn't serve at the table at all so I saved on tips where I generally would've tried to get into a section with someone who was good and tip every day! Water in your room was another thing, our room was good but the couple we travelled with had none for a couple days ..... you can't drink the tap water so this was an issue. Their phone didn't work, lamp wasn't plugged in because it didn't reach the outlet and they asked 3 times for an iron and a maid came in and put the hair dryer on the bathroom vanity and left without speaking??? Customs at the airport we were finger printed upon entry ..... that's a first! First and last trip to DR sorry to say but I had to try it!

Dreams Onyx Resort and Spa: Excellent Resort

Outstanding service at the Preferred Club - check in, pool, lounges, restaurants, towel service Nice beach - clean and maintained, plenty of beach chairs Pool - Room with private pool and bali bed was an extra touch, Preferred Club pool was excellent Hot Tub - not hot, only warm Restaurants - Buffet - excellent selection for breakfast and dinner. Italina -good. French and Steakhouse - mediocre, Japanese- poor

VH Gran Ventana Beach Resort: Great service

Hotel needs refreshing rooms are a bit dated and worn but where this hotel really shines is the staff and their service everyone has a smile and willingness to make our stay great. I would recommend booking preferred level as you get to go to a private area and get premium alcohol. It is a great place to hang out.

VH Gran Ventana Beach Resort: Still very good resort

5th trip and still very happy with staff, food, grounds, rooms and value. We will be returning in 2020 for our 50th wedding anniversary. My wife loves everything about the resort! The staff have become Facebook friends and keep in touçh with us throughout the year.

Casa Marina Sosua Trademark by Wyndham All Inclusive: Great Trip

Had a great time. Food was good. Enough choice for even picky eaters to find something to eat. Some rooms not renovated yet.we had a fully renovated room. So no complaints there. Snack bar open during the afternoon in between lunch and dinner. For the price we paid I have no complaints. Thanks Trip Central

Sunscape Puerto Plata: A Budget Friendly Vacation

Disclaimer: Staying during a “low” season, my experience might be different from when the “high” season kicks in. ----- Sunscape Puerto Plata is a solid 3.5-star hotel, on its way to becoming a 4-star resource. Overall, I had a pleasant stay; though there were some opportunities for improvement. THE GOOD 1) The beach is a selling point for this resort. The coast line is long, providing a good walking/jogging distance. The sandy beach is regularly cleaned and well-maintained. Ve [... read more]ry few seaweeds during my stay. The sunbeds are plenty, but no parasols, so seek shade under the trees (which is also plenty of). The water is crystal-clear. The entrance to the ocean is shallow with gradually deepening. There are several places for snorkeling (both pros and amateurs will find something suitable), with plenty of common fishes to spot on. Beware of sea urchins though, and please avoid stepping/walking on the coral/reef. 2) The room was spacious, with a modern touch. Cleaned well, not a single bug/insect spotted even once. Accommodations included in-room deposit box/safe, TV, an iron and ironing desk, hair dryer, and a mini-bar. 3) Most of the personnel is friendly enough, but I wanted to give special kudos to the bartender Dennis for going above and beyond to make sure our group had a pleasant stay. In all honesty, he deserves a bonus. THE NEUTRAL 1) The food was OK; though little variety. Often the main buffet was closed due to insufficient number of guests, so the breakfast and dinner would be relocated to another places (i.e. the theater). The à la carte restaurants did not require a reservation. Have been to jut one (the Argentina cuisine place), and it wasn’t anything more than a typical grill bar. Also, worth mentioning that all alcohol comes from the local producers. 2) Very little to do with the hotel itself, the weather was a mix. In the morning it was hot and calm, but approaching 2-3pm a wind would pick up, dropping the temperature down significantly. Since Puerto Plata is known to be the windiest side, there was no big surprise here. 3) When arriving at the hotel and during the stay, I have mentioned (casually) a few times it was my Birthday coming up. The lady at the registration desk made a note, but nothing came out of it. Yet, the next few days after my own Birthday passed, at least two other people’s Birthdays were celebrated with a cake and a song at the buffet. Perhaps, special accommodations had to be made upfront, but I found it inconsistent. THE BAD 1) While the hotel staff is friendly, they need training, especially the waiters. When ordering the drink, half of the time you will receive not what you have ordered, and another half of the time the order will never arrive. There was also an instance when a soup was spilled on the floor (I hope it was soup) and a few people slipped on it. The waiters, clearly seeing this, did not make any effort clean up the mess, nor to put up a “Wet Floor” sign. They just waited for the puddle to dry out naturally instead. 2) Being to many other places in Dominican Republic, including a hot-spot Punta Cana, I can honestly say that the vendors on the beach are the pushiest in Puerto Plana. They just don’t take “No” for an answer, and will continue bugging you over and over you several times a day every day. One guy went so far as asking for my Adidas slippers as a “free gift to his little son who has always dreamed of exact such slippers” (spoil alert: those were lady’s slippers :) ). He got rather aggressive when I declined, but staying firm is my best advice. ----- Lastly, a side note: dear parents of infants, if your child has crapped itself, it is NOT enough to take off the dirty diaper and set it on a dining table. Trying to enjoy a meal nearby while smelling child’s poop is DISGUSTING! Please, show some respect to other guests and take your kid away to clean him/her up properly. (Yes, those were Canadian parents).

Ocean El Faro: Nice resort, very basic food

Resort is nice, service is good but the food is very sub par. Not what we expected in a 5 star! Room was nice and clean and the pools are great. Staff and service is good, not a bad value over all for the money,

Ocean El Faro: Great potential

The hotel is beautiful. The staff are friendly and helpful. They have a variety of food selections and the buffet is great. Unfortunately the rooms that myself and friends were staying in appeared to have missed a few parts. One room had caulking in the sink that looked unprofessional. My room had a missing door handle to the shower. Housekeeping didn’t change my sheets all week, although it was requested. Room service is a 30-75 minute wait depending on when you order. When we arrived the [... read more] employee who shuttled is to our rooms stated he would pick us up for breakfast in the morning. We thought this was the hotel treating us as it was our friends birthday (which we mentioned during check in). Only to realize when we were picked up that it was a timeshare presentation where they wanted us to sit down for 1-2 hours listening to them tell us why we should book directly though them opposed to through travel agencies. Needless to say, we were not pleased as this was not what we came to the resort to do. Also when you are on the beach, expect to be bothered by several people trying to sell products to you. The lazy river had an ongoing current but isn’t as relaxing as expected, there is water pouring down every 5-10 minutes from a waterfall or bucket throughout the course. Also be sure to check the daily newsletter so you can be informed on what restaurants are opened and which are closed. They do not deliver the paper to you or have it throughout the resort for you to see, so sometimes you will have plans to go to a restaurant only for it to be closed.

Riu Republica: Fantastic Resort!

The Riu República was a fantastic Resort! The whole team put a lot of work into making it the best possible stay and brought a lot of energy to the events! Also the gardens were trimmed and kept in fantastic shape!