Blue Bay Villas Doradas: Such a great resort

Recently spent 10 days at this resort Our original room was upon the third floor, which was hard for us to get to. They changed it for us right away. We had a beautiful room on the first floor with a nice little patio. The staff was wonderful everybody so happy so much fun pools were great. Food was great. I would have no trouble recommending this resort to anyone.

Blue Bay Villas Doradas: Good resort

This resort was good. The food , the pools, the beach, the cleanliness of the grounds and the entertainment was all very nice. The only disappointment was the room. It was so underpar. If the room was representative of the resort you would be very afraid. Good thing we had great weather so really only showered and slept in the room. I won't go back because of the room and it too bad because the rest of our vacation was really good. One other small complaint was twice a day you have to get out of [... read more] the main pool for them to play volleyball unless your playing.

Blue Bay Villas Doradas: Do not stay here! - Completely unsafe and numerous cases of extortion by management

I really wish I could say otherwise but I had a terrible experience at Blue Bay Villas in the Dominican Republic. This place is dangerous, falling apart, and I was extorted during my time here. Before you ignore this review please check all the positive reviews and notice they are all written in Spanish and translated to English. This tells me they were written by staff or locals to boost the overall score considering that 95% of all guests are from Canada and would never write a review in Spani [... read more]sh... During my stay, I was injured when the shower glass suddenly cracked in half, causing a deep cut to my arm that required stitches and a tetanus shot. I was given very basic medical attention and instead of offering any sort of compensation or even an apology for the faulty glass cutting me, the management called the police and forced me to pay for the damages. When I say forced, I mean 4 police officers arrived and I was told by management "if you don't pay for the broken shower glass you will be arrested and taken to jail". $200 CAD for this. This is blatant extortion like I've never seen before. I wasn’t the only guest that dealt with being extorted by management/police either. Another young man was forced to pay $100 USD after accidentally breaking a small plastic 12”x12” sign when he fell over and another $20 USD for a plastic cup that cracked when it hit the ground. Like that's a joke let's be honest. It’s very clear this resort is looking for any excuse to squeeze money out of guests. I traveled with 10 people (5 couples), and every single couple had to be moved to at least one new room during our 7-night stay due to serious safety issues. Some had to move three or more times! Safes not attached to the walls, no locks on doors, faulty key cards that randomly stopped working and broken wall sockets, making it unsafe to plug anything in. We learned that the resort was purchased a few years ago to be torn down for apartment buildings, and since then, it's clear that absolutely no money has been put into maintenance or guest safety. The owners are clearly just running it into the ground while scamming as much money from guests as possible. The only good thing about this place was the waiting staff, entertainment team, and bartenders. They were absolutely amazing—friendly, hardworking, and genuinely doing their best despite the awful conditions. It’s a shame they have to work under such corrupt and careless management. This place is a lawsuit waiting to happen. The management is corrupt, the resort is falling apart, and they are actively scamming guests while neglecting basic safety. Do yourself a favor and book anywhere else. There are plenty of better resorts in the Dominican Republic that actually prioritize safety and guest satisfaction. Overall, spend the extra couple hundred $ so that you can keep yourself and your family safe!

Blue Bay Villas Doradas: A fairly good resort

The grounds are beautiful. The walkways are not Conducive for wheelchairs. If you need a wheel chair do not go to this resort. Food is good in the buffet, but big line-ups for dinner. Beach club food is pretty awful. Rooms are very basic, not 3 star. However you only sleep in the room. Blue Bay Villas is strictly a resort. Doesn’t appear to be any local sightseeing there. The staff are very friendly. Some parts of the resort are tired and need renovating.

Blue Bay Grand Esmeralda: GOOD VALUE WITH SOME SUBTLE IMPERFECTIONS

Just spent a week at the Blue Bay. Lots of good at this resort. Staff were all great. Grounds were well manicured and full of wildlife (even a deer!). Rooms were clean (ours needed to be remopped upon arrival as they clearly had been mopped with sticky water -- not a big deal). Air conditioning was fully functional, lots of hot water. Fridge was stocked with pop and beer and fresh bottled water daily. There are two centres of activity and accommodation here. Buildings 6,7, and 8 which are  [... read more]close to the main lobby and a quiet pool area; and the buildings close to the beach. It wasn't worth the extra to pay to be close to the beach; it was a short walk regardless and the quiet pool had a bar, restaurant, washroom and activity. The beach-area pool had lots of activity. If there was one issue it was the ocean; the sea bed didn't feel like sand, more like a paste (perhaps from settled algea or other sea weeds. plus there were rocks hidden in the bed -- bring water shoes). The waters by the beach had old doc structures and big sand bags to save sand so it wasn't exactly picturesque. Overall a decent resort -- quiet and a 50+ vide (although the beginning of reading week saw an influx of youth). Food was decent (although they couldn't cook a hot dog. I stepped behind the grill to cook my own hot dogs and burgers). Buffets had a good variety. Lots of great drinks mixed up, and an excellent coffee shop. Only 40 minutes to the airport which was great!

Blue Diamond Luxury Boutique Hotel: Enjoyable Nature-Focused Resort, Maintenance and Staffing Issues

Overall my partner and I enjoyed our week-long stay at Blue Diamond, however there were some issues with our stay that I feel are worth noting. For context, we spent 4 days relaxing at the resort and 2 days on full-day excursions that we booked through Viator. Pros - The resort is situated in lush jungle and mangroves, with beautiful gardens and a cenote on site. You can walk around and view the cenote whenever you like, but you have to book swimming in the cenote with the concierge at leas [... read more]t 24 hours in advance. Our swim in the cenote was cancelled due to rainy weather (nothing we're not used to in Vancouver!) but after seeing it, we didn't feel like we were missing out. We saw a lot of wildlife during our stay, including iguanas and other lizards, coatis, agoutis, raccoons, turtles, crocodiles, and many kinds of birds. We were warned that we may see snakes, but we did not come across any during our stay. There is an adorable and friendly cat that hangs around the lobby. - My partner and I found our Patio Junior Suite to be spacious, with a large bathroom, walk-in closet, and indoor and outdoor seating area. - The resort is small in comparison to others we've been to, which felt more intimate and made it easier to get to know the staff and other guests. - We really enjoyed the food, although I will note that we aren't picky and don't have any dietary restrictions. - The staff were very friendly and accommodating - any issues we encountered with service were not their fault but rather due to understaffing. - The beach was lovely and rarely busy. There was some seaweed in the water and on the beach, but not so much that it ruined the experience. We really enjoyed swimming at the beach and hardly went in the pools at all, although they were nice. It would have been nice to have a shower/rinsing area down by the beach. Cons - Almost all of the common area buildings/structures could benefit from some minor maintenance, while a few areas need major maintenance. For example, we often encountered plumbing issues with the washrooms near the pool area and many of the tables we were seated at at the restaurants were wobbly. The ramp from the pool area down to the beach was broken and taped off. In general, there is visible wear and tear on most of the furniture and amenities at the resort. - Regarding our room, there was also visible wear and tear on the furniture and amenities, nothing extreme but it did detract from the experience. Our bathroom had two showers, however the one with the spray handle didn't have sufficient pressure to use and the blinds on the shower windows, which were necessary as you could see into our bathroom from the public path outside our room, were rusting and difficult to use. On the second night of our stay, we received a call from reception that they were experiencing resort-wide issues with the air conditioning system. The staff apologized for the inconvenience, but couldn't give us any information about when they expected the issue to be resolved. We ended up not having any air conditioning in our room for about two days, after which it gradually increased and returned back to normal by the end of our stay. We also experienced issues with our room keycards not working 3 times throughout our stay and had to go to reception to replace them. - A new resort is being built next to this one, resulting in loud construction that can be heard from the pool and restaurant area. Luckily we could not hear anything from our room. - The resort, especially the restaurants and bars, seemed understaffed. While all of the staff were lovely and doing their best, we often had to wait a while (30-45+ mins) to place our order and receive our food. Many times we never received the drinks we ordered and either gave up, or had to order them again. Overall we enjoyed our stay, but I don't think we would return unless the maintenance and staffing issues are adequately addressed. I can imagine that this resort was excellent when it first opened, but it seems that the management is no longer prioritizing guest's overall experiences which is a shame, because the resort itself is beautiful.

Blue Bay Grand Esmeralda: 2 star resort at best

We were very disappointed in our stay at blue bay. Alcohol was water down and the food was horrible the buffet was better than all the restaurants other than the Italian was ok. No night life. If you wanted a chair on the beach or pool you need to get up at 6am or you won’t get one.. Friends we went with had no air conditioning and it took them 3 days to switch rooms. Beds are very uncomfortable We will never stay there again

Blue Bay Grand Esmeralda: 3 stars max

Deffienetly not a 5 star resort. No pool bars, no shade, can't get a lounge chair unless ur awake at 5am. Food was always cold. Waited in line for 25 minuites a day for pasta. Not very many options. Wouldn't let us check in 1 hour early to our room. Checkout took 1 hours in line.

Blue Diamond Luxury Boutique Hotel: Not a 5 star

While the grounds, the staff and the food is good, I would not rate the Blue Diamond resort a five star, nor would I call it a Hidden Gem. There are serious maintenance issues here that need addressing before it could be restored to its former glory. Number one; the room air conditioning did not work for our entire trip. We called the concierge 4 times, and they sent maintenance people each time, pretending to fix it but the room was always sweltering! This was not unusual as we spoke to othe [... read more]r guests who also had various mechanical issues in their rooms too. Some had no air conditioning, some had no hot water. We also had a major leak in our bathroom sink which made the bathrooom floor very slippery and dangerous. That did not get resolved. Our patio room was very spacious and had loungers and a plunge pool, however you had to call to get the plunge pool filled with freezing cold water, only to have it drain out. This was because all that was holding in the water was a rag. The decking at the pool area and steps to the beach is full of decayed boards and rusty nails sticking up. While the food is good and the servers are good, neither restaurant is air conditioned. We were not happy to be charged $20USD for room service delivery after arriving 9 hours late thanks to Sunwing. There was also a “special menu” for each dinner. The prices were outrageous, but what “all inclusive” charges for steaks, seafood and wine?? All inclusive should be all inclusive. This resort is not. The beach was lovely and the staff worked tirelessly to clean up the seaweed, but there were only 9 beach umbrellas for the entire beach. Not nearly enough and no additional shade was to be found. The resort is nestled in nature and the grounds are well kept but don’t book this resort if you have mobility issues with very long walks or stairs. It’s probably over 1km from one end to the other on a rough cobblestone path. Golf carts are available but the wait can be long and tips are expected. Some tips are deserved by hard working friendly staff but some tips are expected for services that should be included. We enjoyed our visit but we would not return nor recommend. Would not recommend Sunwing at all.

Blue Bay Grand Esmeralda: Memorable family vacation

Fun family vacation with grandbabies (3 and 7 months). Surf was rough this week so we did not swim in the ocean but did play in the sand. The pools were great for the littles. We attended the kids club with older child, there were sufficient staff to children ratio. We did not leave our child there, but she enjoyed the other kids and facilities. The dining rooms offered good variety of quality foods, staff very attentive and friendly. We travelled with a vegan and gluten free and she always ate  [... read more]well (including specialty Mexican restaurant). We only attended one show this week due to littles, it was quite good. Our room was made up every day and fridge well stocked with beverages. We arrived late Tuesday, we had a beautiful welcome tray of fruits and a bottle of wine. On the downside adult male in our party and the toddler both got sick final day, best guess is Norovirus (vomiting and diarrhea). My recommendation to this is to go back to hand sani at entrances to dining areas (reduces but does not eliminate the viral load). I travel well stocked with gravol, immodium and gatorade powder, so mitigated gastro disaster

Blue Bay Villas Doradas: Awesome resort and area

Although this an older resort showing it's age it's still a great place. The food was great in the buffet for all meals, the ala carte restaurants are delicious,our favorite was the Chinese. The pools are clean and the beach area has plenty of chairs and shade. The entertainment crew worked hard and put on great shows and fun activities. We will definitely return one day.

Blue Bay Villas Doradas: Not worth it

Run down accommodations Hardest bed I ever had Same food into small of a buffet Lines up to get in To get food Only thing I loved was the beach and the kind workers at this resort Management needs over hall and simply things that just make sense need to be addressed

Blue Diamond Luxury Boutique Hotel: Nice location, but

The food was great. Everything is à la carte. Only 2 restaurants. We had to call reception to get bathroom amenities. The plunge pool had to be filled daily because the drain was plugged with a rag. We had to ask for it to be filled daily. Beach towels went quickly. The bathrooms at the Aquamarina restaurant need to be updated. Our backyard patio was lovely. The beach did not have enough lounge chairs. The bikes need to be replaced. The resort is tired and needs a do over.

Blue Bay Grand Esmeralda: Okay resort

Not enough beach chairs for half the resort at either pool. One bartender at each bar so the lines were ridiculous. Night entertainment was fun and kept the crowd happy. Coffee bar doesn't open until 10: 00 am. Huge resort with little to no shuttle services to the beach. So if you can't walk long distances forget this place.

Blue Bay Grand Esmeralda: Good service/staff

Great staff and service. Food was good. Entertainment staff were great, but shows at night were too late of a start. Beach sucked, we went end of January/first of February, the beach water was super murky and was usually red or yellow flagged. Pool water always seemed kind of murky and gross as well, I ended up with swimmers ear on our second to last day. Rooms were alright minus the beds that were rock hard and could def use some tlc. Our second night there one of the ceiling fan blades fle [... read more]w off in the middle of the night and whacked the wall above the bed my kids were sleeping in. Thankfully it didn’t hit anyone. They fixed it by cutting off the broken part and glueing it back in which made the fan unusable, the whole thing would shake if you turned it on. My kids had a puking contest through the entire night halfway through our trip, we’re assuming it was something they ate, but that could happen anywhere. Lagoon 10 mins down the beach was gorgeous!

Blue Bay Grand Esmeralda: Good resort, but....

Overall we had a good time in the resort. We enjoyed the beach, room, pool area and grounds. Food and drinks were decent. Entertainment and service were okey. It would not take much to take this place from okey to very good, but it seems like the resort is focused more on Members Club- Circle One clients than regular clients, which probably make 90-95% of the profits for this resort. It was very disappointing to hear that lack of beach and pool chairs was a selling point to attract more people t [... read more]o join the privileged club. "If you join the club you don't have to worry about not having a lounge chair on the beach, regular people have to get up early to be able to have a chair, for you its always available." This is not right, every paying client should have access to a comfortable lounger to enjoy the beach or pool. Yes, we had to wake up early to reserve chairs and could not relax and sleep in. So many people had to lay on the sand , or they just walked away from the beach upset, because there was not enough chairs. Management needs to look after all customers, not only privileged club members. For that reason I will not recommend this resort to family or friends.

Blue Bay Villas Doradas: Decent...but with some real flaws

Grounds....well maintained Main building and restaurants are nice Pools and bars are good Beach is excellent... though a few more Palapas would be helpful. Food was good. A la cartes very good. Entertainment is subpar. Very little live music. Rooms...the biggest problem. They are small, poorly laid out, few drawers, weak showers and in need of maintenance.

Blue Bay Villas Doradas: Use your own judgement

Staff: The staff are generally friendly and helpful. A special thanks to Empress for being a great guide. However, some individuals try to push their own interests, steering guests toward their friends for tours. It’s up to visitors to use their judgment when choosing who to rely on. Transportation: One major concern is the hotel’s association with a dishonest taxi service. Despite Uber being available and safe in the Dominican Republic (as confirmed by my experience and discussions with ot [... read more]hers), the hotel discourages its use. Instead, they promote their own taxi service, which operates as a "taxi cartel" charging nearly 15 times the Uber fare. For example, I booked an Uber to go downtown for DOP 175 (approximately CAD 4). However, a hotel-affiliated taxi driver picked up my ride and demanded USD 30, claiming Uber underpays them. I refused, exited the vehicle, and rebooked an Uber just outside the hotel, where I successfully completed my trip for the original fare. According to an Uber driver, this scam is common—they accept Uber rides near the hotel, then demand extra money, leading guests to believe Uber is unreliable and pushing them toward overpriced taxis. The hotel appears complicit, with staff even recommending their taxis over Uber. I have escalated this issue with Uber, and they assured me they would investigate. For alternative transport, if you're comfortable driving, consider renting a car from Alamo or National, which offer rentals for as little as CAD 45 and provide pick-up directly from the hotel lobby. Unsurprisingly, the hotel does not promote this option. Food & Drinks: The food is average and lacks variety, especially in fruits and juices. At breakfast, the juice selection was limited to a single option each day. That said, the buffet staff were fantastic. Among the à la carte restaurants, the Italian restaurant stood out as the best. Regarding drinks, if you enjoy fruity and sweet cocktails, you’ll be fine. However, for premium spirits like whiskey on the rocks, expect to pay USD 6 per shot of JW Black or USD 80+ per bottle. If you’re particular about your drinks, I recommend taking a taxi into town to purchase a bottle at a more reasonable price. Rooms: Room quality varies. The hotel, nearly 40 years old, is in serious need of maintenance. Many rooms have peeling paint, broken TVs, and non-functional phones. However, since most people don’t spend much time in their rooms, these issues might not be deal-breakers. Entertainment & Atmosphere: The entertainment crew is great, and many guests speak highly of them. However, the hotel lacks a proper sports bar. The only option is a small, poorly maintained black-and-white-themed sports bar in the lobby, equipped with outdated 32” TVs—one of which is so broken that the LEDs are fully visible. Again, maintenance is clearly lacking. Another thing to note is that the hotel mostly attracts an older crowd. It seems more suited for retirees than younger travelers or families looking for an active and vibrant atmosphere. If you’re looking for a lively resort with a mix of age groups, this might not be the best choice. Location & Beach: The beach is beautiful, with nice water, but not the best I’ve seen. I’d rate it a 7/10. A common issue at this and many other resorts is chair hogging. Guests place towels on chairs early in the morning and don’t return for hours. Unfortunately, the hotel does a poor job of enforcing a two-hour no-show policy for removing abandoned towels. Final Thoughts: While the hotel has some positives, particularly its staff and entertainment team, it suffers from poor maintenance, lack of variety in food and drinks, a dishonest transportation system, and an older crowd demographic. If you plan to stay here, be aware of the taxi scam, consider alternative transportation, and manage your expectations regarding the facilities and overall vibe. It’s a quiet, relaxed place—ideal for older guests, but not the best choice if you’re looking for a lively and modern resort experience.

Blue Bay Villas Doradas: Great little resort

Hotel was a bit dated, but the food was great. Especially the Chinese restaurant & bechamel sauce at the buffet. Entertainment was nice and close access to the beach. Everyone was very friendly. Would come back. Great value for dollar.

Blue Bay Villas Doradas: Outdated

The only thing good about this resort is that it is clean. This resort is in very poor condition. High pressure sales for a membership. There is a lot of alcohol that is not included and considered premium.