Beautiful beach

Had an enjoyable stay at Playabachata. Pros: - beautiful, spacious resort with many areas for sitting and walking - beautiful, sandy beach with opportunity to walk the shore - nice pool area - well kept grounds - fairly comfortable rooms - some desk staff and buffet staff very efficient and helpful - wide variety of decent food at buffet - variety of activities/entertainment throughout the day and night - evening shows were usually good - variety of activities for children throughou [... read more]t the day and evening - a number of bars in different locations Cons: - if room is close to main stage area, dj's chatter over the music is loud until about1:00 a.m. - on some days, towels taken from room in the morning (one dirty towel was left) and clean towels were not provided until much later in the afternoon or evening (towels are sent off site to be laundered) - in the case of heavy rain, no umbrellas are provided and the only way to get to the buffet, restaurants or bars is to walk outside - booking the a la carte restaurants was unnecessarily tedious - we arrived Thursday evening and when we attempted to book, we were told we couldn't book until Sunday; guests had to line up early in the morning to book; we could only book one slot at each of the two restaurants; time slots we wanted were not available even though we got there early (many other resorts allow a simple phone call to the restaurant to book and there is no limit) - some entertainment staff's interactions with guests were inappropriate and made some guests feel uncomfortable - some buffet staff were far from helpful... borderline rude - some days clean beach towels were not available for the entire day

Beautiful resort

I would love to return in this resort and I wish to stay longer to enjoy more the pool and the beach to walk on the shore with my hubby, the foods are amazing there were so many choices but actually I loved them all. I always start my meal with fruits then the main dishes then finished with fruits and cakes.. drinks and alcohol are amazing I worst drink margarita here and I love it...

Not a good resort

My wife and I have cpap machines only one outlet beside the bed had to find an extension cord took me awhile. The rooms were moldy the house keeping was good. My wife has mobility issues and they put us quite a distance from pool and restaurants, we asked for a closer room but that didn't happen. Getting in and out of the pool was a challenging task for everyone.

Great resort!

Great beach, fabulous entertainment, food was as expected, could do with more a la cartes for such a large resort. Rooms are dated but clean, needed some maintenance on my patio door, difficult to open & close. WiFi was terrible.

Very old Resort needs some freashing up!

We stayed at the resort for 7 days the bathroom was full of mold Our friends we went with their room was infested with ants I came home with a sinus infection do to the mold as well as bites all over my body And I wasn't even on the beach I went on vacation with my walker We were not put very close to the main building at all I struggled with all the walking We were lodged away from the pool and festivities even though we asked to be close as the resort was aware of my walker when we boo [... read more]ked our stay Only the 1 pool had a ramp to enter the pool whitch was far away from our room the other pool had ladders to get in and out but the ladders were very hard to get in and out of as they were straight up and down and the first step was too far from the pool edge The food was very repetitive lots of pasta but not very much of a selection Staff was very friendly and attentive In my opinion the resort needs alot of TLC and is not Handicap accessible this should be addressed as soon as possible

Could be better!

The beach is good , but not everyone has enough sun loungers, many are broken. The food is excellent, but the service is poor - you can wait for hours for a waiter with coffee, the reception staff do not want to solve the problems of guests. There was no electricity and hot water in the room for two days. We vacationed here in January 2024 and were disappointed

Decent resort

Me & my partner came to playabachata & we were disappointed in the customer service we received, the front staff is somewhat helpful, the rules for the buffet are ridiculous, you were not allowed to wear a tank top in the buffet..WE ARE IN A TROPICAL PLACE & it was a help yourself style so why that was even a rule was just stupid, Meanwhile other men & women were wearing tank tops and were allowed in, discrimination at its finest for being gay, when I confronted the lady at the buffet she prete [... read more]nded to not speak English prior to speaking English to me just a few minutes before, power was constantly going out, bar staff made me feel extremely uncomfortable staring and whispering and laughing while pointing at me & my partner, staff wasn’t willing to take us seriously when we filed a complaint and Instead of getting management to come speak to us they made us go find them, which we never were able to because any staff that we asked for help didn’t speak English, staff wouldn’t restock stuff in our room unless you left a tip (which we did most days but on the days we didn’t they didn’t give us anything, just a made bed) they didn’t sweep or actually clean anything, just made the bed with the sheets we were sleeping in all week, there were stains on my pillow case, bathtub paint was chipping and coming off on our feet, they tell us that the coffee shop & pizza place are included in our stay, but there are certain things on the menu that only senator people can have in the coffee shop, although the night staff gave us whatever we wanted, the lady who works in the morning is miserable & they need an attitude check and also need to learn to smile and say have a great day, not say “that coffee is only for senator, next” and then proceeds to ignore you when you ask for something else, although I was able to get caramel machiatto’s during the day so the lady doesn’t even know her own menu, because those drinks were for only senator as well LOL. Beach was pretty. Excursion’s were fun!, drinks were way too strong, A/C BARELY works in the room, buffet was okay for the most part, I suggest you bring your own ketchup because they rarely have it available. I’d give this resort a 3 out of 5 stars, 4 stars is extremely generous. Wifi only works in the lobby and that’s rare as well…they played the same music for a week straight no variety at all, it took three calls for them to finally fix the leaking faucet under our bathroom sink, room smelt very musky and moldy, last two days of our trip, my throat hurt & my breathing was off (I believe due to the mold in the room) We will come back to the Dominican but definitely not this resort.

Playabachata Resort DR

This is older hotel but generally well maintained. The selling point is a beautiful beach. Plenty of space for everyone launch chairs you do not have to fight for. There are palm trees and other trees, so you can choose if you want full sun, semi-shade or shade. If you like walks on the beach, there is a nice stretch to enjoy. Food not super but there is always something to choose from. I was not impressed with the desserts, but it was belter for my waist line :) You don't have a choice o [... read more]f the room when you arrive but the staff is prepared to change your room, as they are aware that some of the rooms are not adequate. Reception staff not very friendly, some of them pretend not to see you. some of them are not very nice in their opinions about the guests, not being aware that some of the guests do speak fluent Spanish even if it is their not native language. Some of the comments were absolutely inappropriate, lucky for the reception staff they were not addressed towards me or my daughter. Sunwing representative looked like he did not want to be there and was not helpful at all, he was even trying to lie to me that DR no longer offer online check up, instead explaining that hotel internet is to weak to open the page. But ask guys from the guests services, they will help you, they are very nice and helpful. Also Paula, manager of guest services, super friendly and helpful. This resort seems like a party place, so if you are planning to sleep at night ask for a room far from the party center. The store at the resort is heavily overpriced. And one more thing, this resort's currency exchange from US dollar to Canadian is 1.75!!!! so get your US dollars before you will come, because you will look at the huge surprise. Actually not just the hotel, as at the airport you either pay departure tax of $US 20 or $CAN35, do it is DR exchange rate I bought the trip for a good price last minute and it was worth the price. If I will get similar deal, I would come back again

Dated place with poor service

From the moment we arrived in Friday it was a bad experience. After traveling since 3 am, we faced a long line up at check in, only to be told our rooms weren't ready and to come back at 3. We were tired and hungry and just wanted to sit down and eat but we're accosted by an agent wanting to connect with us. This person would go on to hound us every day, cutting us off at the pass when we would leave our rooms to head to breakfast. After eating we eventually were given our rooms. This was  [... read more]a family vacation, with 3 of our children accompanying us and we found we were in separate buildings. On arriving in our room we found there were no towels, the phone wasn't working, and there was no wifi. We headed to the beach to make the most of the rest of the day, only to be told there were no more beach towels. At the beach there were no lounge chairs, it was very crowded and chairs were either occupied or “reserved” with towels. Saturday morning when we went to get a table in the restaurant a male employee waived us over to his section. A female employee started yelling at him about needing to show respect to her and she told ua to sit in her area. She tossed the coffee saucers on the table and didn’t bring us any milk or spoons. We faced the same problem trying to find chairs at the beach right after breakfast, eventually finding two broken chairs to use. When we went to find out more about the advertised “endless water sports, from windsurfing, kayaking, pedal boats, snorkeling equipment...and a diving test at the pool. All of these non-motorized sports are included.” we learned the windsurfing required a paid lesson and insurance fee, there are no paddle boats, and the kayaks and snorkeling equipment require a $25 usd deposit - cash only. We had been given 2 bottles of water when we arrived and the kids had drank theirs. They called reception earlier in the day and asked for the water to be restocked but nothing was done. After dinner we went to reception to ask and were brusquely told they didn't have any and to come back later. When I asked when they said to ask at the bar - who redirected us to reception. The rooms are dated, with rattan furniture, dirty tubs, and aged faucets. The cushions in the lobby are stained and some are ripped. Sunday night we kept our beach towels and Monday morning came to the beach around 8 to secure chairs. The kids were able to use the snorkeling equipment and a boogie board with a $25 usd cash deposit each. Using the kayaks only required a waiver. There is still a shortage of beach chairs but at least the restaurant isn't overrun with locals. Nothing against locals but the place shouldn't overbook. Staff continue to be disgruntled and unfriendly. The guy who had been attached to us seems to have disappeared since we didn't sign on to the timeshare. Tuesday-Thursday the beach was much less busy, and we found some wait staff who actually appreciated tips. No complaints about the food, lots of variety every day. Skipping ahead to departure day on Friday. Three staff hanging around at the desk talking to each other rather than welcoming us to the desk. During the checkout process another guest approached and asked if her bags could be stored. The staff directly in front of her said in Spanish to the other one “can't she see I'm busy.” Then the other one started speaking poorly of the guest, complaining that she had asked to change her room to be closer to her friend. Staff don't realize I understand what they say and they are quite rude about the guests. Playabachata has very mixed reviews for a good reason - every day is hit or miss with the customer service. If you book here know that you are taking your chances.

Great hotel with lots to see and do

Travelled with two kids and another group of friends. Never felt bored. Resort is constantly being cleaned. Lots of great food options. The resort is huge. Plenty to see and do. Be sure to visit the "old half" of the resort, as the restaurant and bars and less busy. And walk over to common area shared with Senator resort. Beaches are good. Workers are all friendly.

Great Resort

Clean, well maintained, rooms a little outdated but clean. Food was very good and lots of variety. Staff was always helpful. Beach was a little rough the time we were there but you could still have fun.

Group Vacation

I did not select this resort for my vacation , it was selected by a friend of a friend , and we were all to meet at the resort. The group had a fantastic time. the grounds of the resort are well maintained and I can only speak of the room we were finally given as there was an initial hiccup as we had requested a Superior room with 2 beds ( of course we were given a Superior room , with 1 bed ) adjusted the next day . had a great view of the beach. food while not spectacular was edible and plenti [... read more]ful, if you went hungry , it was your choice . the staff was great , and tried to accommodate whenever possible. the grounds did seem to be showing there age as some wear and tear on the pool and loungers . Quality of the loungers was impressive . overall we went to spend time with our friends , old and new !!

Terrible

Big roaches in my room Ac broken for 2 nights 32 degrees and climbing during the day Ac only get too about 20 degrees even though your thermostat says way colder. Pretty sure I got heat exhaustion I threw up for 3 days straight and the best the hotel had to offer me was a fan from the front desk to blow on my face. Upgrades to the senator was 80USD a night. Locals are the only ones who open up the whole hotel, hotel staff ignores foreigners orders at the bar while the locals are there. if yo [... read more]u did not speak Spanish bar staff didn’t want to serve you as quick as the locals really don’t know why when we are the ones tipping them. Buffets had no ac or in closed spaces with cooled air while you have a hot kitchen sitting inside the buffet area serving food which meant birds and animals were in the food eating where everyone is supposed to be getting food. I witnessed a bird eating cake on the cold tables while nobody was watching and had a gentleman almost eat the same piece of cake the bird was eating before I stopped him. The al la carts had no ac and were only opened when the local people arrived for the weekend. Monday- Friday al la carts dinners were served in the Buffett part served as al la cart with a menu . WHILE HAVING MOSQUITOES BITE YOU EVERY “restaurant” YOU WENT TOO Clothes were stolen off balcony senator had vegetarian protein options but didn’t make it to playa bachata. Senator hotel customers came to our buffets to eat all our food and drink our alcohol and some nights we wouldn’t have tequila or some types of rum because they’ve come over and drank most of it and went back to senator. Images online show Pools are closed that are closed from Monday to Saturday it’s only until the locals come in for their own “vacation” do they open up 2/3 pools and open THEY CLOSE THE POOL AT 6PM!? False advertisement all the way through and through for this trip. DO NOT COME HERE! IT IS NOT WORTH IT! YOU WILL GET HEAT EXHAUSTION JUST EATING LUNCH. If you have asthma DO NOT COME HERE. There is no cool place to breathe air other than in your room if it even works. YOURE BETTER OFF SPENDING YOUR MONEY TO GO TO SENATOR. DONT BOOK HERE

BAD RESORT

Hotel rooms are old. Everything is dirty and in my room, the toilet was leaking for some reason. The food wasn’t the best. Some food smells funny. Flies flying around the food so be careful of what you are eating. If you want good food, you are going to find it during excursions. If you are looking to party at this resort, are you out of luck since the resort is full of locals. Was there for 7 days and never saw people partying.

Amazing resort

The only problem was wifi. It was very slow in the lobby and we didn’t have wifi in rooms that made the communication very difficult. Every thing else was amazing! Staff very really good. Including more sport options for kids will be great for future.

Mediocre at best.

This resort is ok the food is very repetitive bland. Rooms are not as advertised in the pictures. they are run down. My air-condition made an awful racket the television didn't work at all I asked for it to be repaired and it wasn't done. The worst part was the rusting out bathtub that made me squeamish at the idea of using it the enamel was worn out to the end and it didn't feel very sanitary. The maid service was a hit and miss there were days the room just wasn't cleaned and days I had to go  [... read more]to the reception to ask for toilet paper and clean towels because they just didn't restock my room. the hotel itself is far from everything and the taxi rides to town are very costly. That leaves you relying on the entertainment at the hotel. The disco was closed since the start of covid and that left me with very little options for nightlife other than the 24 hour bar. A very boring place to be for 15 days. The hotel management and staff are as a general rule not willing to help you resolve any issues you have during your stay. The place is a tourist trap everything cost unreasonable prices and is non-refundable even in unforeseen circumstances like a leave due to illness ect. I can tell a very unsettling story about the hotel direction.

Nice location

The week was overall very nice, the buffet food was very good, we did have a few concerns. We could not get a'lacarte reservations due to 2h line ups every day to book them in the same line you book excursions and you have to book same day- it was very inconvenient there was no pool bar !! The rooms were very outdated, & no blankets on the beds only 1 top sheet - we did get a blanket sent down when we requested it. The shower was literally a drizzle, and the hot water was non-existent The  [... read more]pool side entertainment / activities were minimal - the night time shows were fantastic

Amazing resort

Beautiful and breath taking , beach was clean and the pool party was amazing. This was my 2nd time here in 2 months , will definitely recommend this resort to friends.staff was very pleasant , loved the free stuff on the avenue

Not for us. We won’t return.

The rooms we had were near a street and we heard motorcycles all night long. The balcony door wouldn’t close all the way. We didn’t get much sleep. Lots of ants in the bathroom. Pillows were very lumpy. Pics of the rooms on the website are nothing like the ones we had. Food wasn’t bad. A lot of the same thing every day. There was one beach lunch paella that was delicious. Loved the omelet station. Beach was nice. Some broken chairs but we didn’t have too much trouble finding somethin [... read more]g to lay on. I didn’t expect it to be so windy every day. Most of the staff were nice. You do get what you pay for and this was no 5 star hotel. We knew it wouldn’t be exceptional. Best part about the resort was the resort doctor, Dr. Carlos.

Decent resort for the price paid

This hotel was good, rooms were clean, food was decent. Pool was small with only ladders. They had 3 omelette stations every morning so no long lines and the food was pretty good throughout all meals. Lots of fresh fruit and baked goods. Beach was beautiful and the staff were very pleasant and always willing to help. If you don’t pay for a 5 star don’t expect a 5 star resort.