Senator Puerto Plata Hotel: wonderful resort.

i thought everything was good about the resort was good except the food was a little under-par for my liking. the pools and beach were nice along with the drinks and service. very clean resort and all the staff were friendly as well, on the scale from 1-10 i would give the resort a 8.

Bahia Principe Explore Punta Cana: 5 night stay at Grand Bahia Principe Punta Cana

Beautiful beach, lots of pools, trolleys around all the time, delicious food, lots of restaurants and shopping on resort. Try the mamajuana shots, guacamole and the tepanyaki reatraunt! Clean washrooms, lots of sand cleaning showers available and big rooms. 2 problems - 1: one night around 930 pm our lock to our room broke and it took 2 hours to resolve the issue. 2: on checkout day we called for the bell boy (being the first villa: 15 min walk from the front desk) to come collect our lugg [... read more]age. After 40 mins no one came, so we called again. A total of an hour later and still no one. We tried to get on a regular trolley with our luggage and were told to get off. We ended up walking our luggage up to check out. Good thing we set lots of extra time aside! The worst thing was we saw several empty bellboy vehicles driving around the complex as we walked up. A suggestion would be to have more activities at the pool involving music. I found the fun and excitement didn't get started until the water aerobics around 3/4 as the music was up and a lot of people joined in. Overall a great place to stay for vacation!

Casa Marina Reef Resort: Great Vacation!

Hotel is ok-ish, nothing crazy (old). Food is not great (ok, you'll survive) Drinks are great!! I want to talk about the beach... Waves are crazy most of the time and often they are "red flag" so you can't go in the water, if you think that you'll just go dip and get out... Good luck! It's great for "adventurers" we had a blast, even trying to get out of the water. But for people with small kids... Pool will be your best bet. Sun and booze = Great vaca!

Blau Natura Park Resort: Great Resort

My wife and I stayed at the Blau Natura Park Resort. It is a beautiful resort .The food was very good. We had the select room and it was worth the extra cost. The select rooms are very nice and placed near the beach and pool area.The Wi-Fi was good and could be used through-out the resort.The staff were very friendly and helpful. Many of the birds including the flamingos and peacocks can be hand fed.This resort gets a big thumbs up and we plan to return next year.

Riu Merengue: Funny Vacation

The check in was quick and fast. They brought us drinks when we arrived. Our room was close to the beach and buffet. They offered hand sanitizer all the time. Lots of traditional/authentic Dominican food. Friendly cleaning staff. Rooms were cleaned well. Our cleaning lady was the sweetest lady. We received bottled water every day. There's a cute veranda to dry your clothes. The grounds were well kept on our side. Pretty vegetation and very pretty colours of the buildings. You felt like you were  [... read more]in the caribbean. The entertainment was really good. Cheeky Monkey was the best! He has the best laugh in the world. Great music, dancing, and theatre performances. Lots of games for the kids. There were lots of beach chairs on the beach. The beach was usually quiet, no loud music. Great way to relax on the beach. They offered many activities like beach volleyball, stretching classes, bachata classes, darts, ping pong, etc. They offered fresh coconuts to drink on the beach. They had a beach party on our last night there. Cons-There were not many non-smoker areas. There was lots of seaweed on the beach. Needs a larger gym. But the Pros definitely outweigh the Cons. Will definitely go back! Had a great vacation!!

Bahia Principe Escape Aquamarine: Very relaxing and enjoyable stay

stayed April 12-19 (over Easter) BP resorts are well-oiled machines; cleanliness and physical beauty are their brand. The staff work tirelessly to keep everything from the grounds to the presentation of food looking picture perfect. They also try hard to create special experiences for their guests (e.g. sunset champagne party, gin and tonic bar, beach party, etc.). check-in: like other travellers, the construction situation caused us to be in a construction-facing room on our arrival night [... read more], but we were promptly switched to another room the next day. I felt like BP staff were genuinely trying to make the best of a bad situation. However, it would have been nice to be told this at check-in rather than have us return to the lobby. But since we were expecting a less than smooth check-in, we just rolled with it. Food: great variety (perhaps a bit too much at times as there appeared to be a lot of food waste), fresh, seasonal, tasty. Would have been great if the buffet food was a tad hotter, but it's a feat preparing so much food for so many people. Kudos to the staff for continuously filling our plates and glasses with such delicacies. A la cartes were fun. The apps at the Italian restaurant were particularly memorable -- so plentiful and delicious. I also enjoyed the desserts -- not the typical buffet butter tart/carrot cake/brownie fare, but unique, regionally inspired and not overly sweet desserts. Service: friendly and prompt; not the same standards that we expect in N.America, but considering the language barrier, the service was very good Tips for first-timers: bring your own thermal cups (good for your beer and the planet). The towel game is a real thing this time of year, however we were able to find beach spots in the shade by the time we switched from pool to beach mid-afternoon. The resort is not known for its entertainment (e.g. compared to the Hard Rock), but there is a night life -- head to the resort Village in the evening. The resort is big, but not impossible to get around. We jogged a nice 4 km loop most mornings. We tipped, but not all the time and did not feel that staff expected tips in exchange for service. Overall this resort will leave you happy, especially considering it is well below $2000 CAD. We will be back.

Cofresi Palm Beach and Spa Resort: Good time!

I really enjoyed my stay in Cofresi Palm Beach resort. I loved the variety of options we had for dinner, from the many buffet options to the many restaurant options. The workers and everyone was so friendly.

Casa Marina Sosua Trademark by Wyndham All Inclusive: Nice resort, poor room

The Casa Marina Beach grounds themselves were nice, well kept and enjoyable. The jacuzzis built into the reef walls with waves crashing around them certainly was a highlight. The food was decent, not exceptional, but certainly not bad. I can't comment on the a la cartes, since the 90 minute wait to book them didn't seem worth it to me. My room on the other hand, was poor. It was disappointing for me, but would be a deal-breaker for many. I asked to be moved from my first room since it had nei [... read more]ther a patio or balcony and overlooked the air circulation system. I had requested a king-size bed but realized that was merely a request, so told the front desk that was no big deal. After being toyed with by the front desk for the day -- three separate trips at appointed times -- I was moved to a room with a balcony. Unfortunately, the paint came off one your hands if your rested them on the railing, the door locked automatically from the inside with no handle to get back in, the blackout curtains were in terrible shape, worn through and had three fist-size holes in them, letting the light stream on through. But the worst part was there was no hot water. For the entire week. I thought the Easter Weekend might have played a role with the large number of people staying at the resort. But there was still no hot water on the Monday and Tuesday after. The staff, other than the front desk, were efficient and pleasant. If you are lucky enough to get a good room, with hot water, and don't mind waiting to book the restaurants, you'll likely enjoy the resort. If not, I'm not so sure. A few other notes, the safe is $20 CDN per week, the wifi $40 and the umbrellas on the beach $3 per use -- I think. I didn't use one. As for the wifi, I heard it didn't work in the rooms -- my room was a 10 minute walk from the front desk. I just went out the back exit and got beer or coffee at the bar back there and used its free wifi. Felt better giving the money to them than the resort. Also, just as an FYI, the resort beach was red flagged -- and rightfully so -- all but one day during the stay. There is an exceptional beach on the reef side of the resort, Alicia Beach, and it was swimmable most days. As was Sosua Beach, which is about a 5 minute walk away. There are some nice spots to sit and have a drink or coffee while watching the wonderful waves come crashing in.

Bahia Principe Explore Esmeralda: Excellent Resort, people, service, facilities, beach and food!!!!

We've been to Cuba and Mexico, and this surpassed both!!! I was extremely pleased with the resort. My wife and I will be back and likely more than once in the future. I have never experienced such good service, and the place was excellent. we did not venture far form the Esmeralda since we like things close. the beach was great and the service and food was impeccable. A 5+ for us. Language was a slight issue but I learned beaucoup d'espagniol at our stay so that's on us as much as on them :)

Bahia Principe Grand San Juan: Hotel Grand Bahi Principe San Juan

A very nice hotel. Very clean with comfortable beds. Our suite was very close to the beach where we spent most of our mornings and afternoons. The staff was very pleasant. The meals were good at the buffet. Excellent food at the restaurants. Thanks so much for booking this resort. Cindy Manser.

Paradise Playa Dorada: Relaxing after they got our room correct

I really liked the resort, I liked the buffet restaurant and how it overlooked the beautiful ocean. I liked the room when the front desk finally gave us the room that we paid for and ordered opposed to putting us on the 4th floor which I requested ground or second floor because of my disability. Then they put us in a kingsize small room that was for single occupant and I had to share a bed with my daughter. After yelling at the front desk and involving both the Air Transat reps, they finally g [... read more]ot our room correct. That was over 2 days later. Hence, they kept saying come back in 10 minutes and then they would say at the front desk to come back 10 minutes. That was beyond frustrating and very unprofessional of the front desk. On the positive, the beach was nice and the ocean and the food was good. I would definitely go back to this resort if they got our room correct. The staff at the restaurant and bars were really great.

Bahia Principe Grand Bavaro: Bahaia Esmeralda

The resort was beautiful, one of the nicest kept resorts we have stayed at. The beach was well maintained, and they had some hard working guys raking the beach all day long - it was the nicest part of the whole beach. The entertainment staff were great, with lots of fun stuff going on. The rooms and resort were clean as well. Now the bad stuff. The food was ok, the beach BBQs were great. The buffet was the same every day and the food was just ok. The restaurants were great, but hard to  [... read more]book into. Most of the wait staff were very friendly, but not the kitchen staff. The bars were understaffed, and the bartenders were not friendly. The hotel lobby staff, and most other staff were NOT friendly at all - in some case down right rude! This is not the case at other DR resorts we have been to. The rooms were clean, but the maid service was terrible - and our maid was absolutely rude to us. We actually complained - first time we have ever had to do this. The overall resort is large and hard to figure out the trolley system - don't ask someone for directions unless you don't mind a dirty look - again staff are not friendly or helpful. Finally, if you want a spot on the beach you had better get down there around 5:30 am!

Bahia Principe Explore El Portillo: Beautiful beach!

The beaches at this resort are stunning! You can walk for miles on the bright white sand, admiring views of the turquoise waters, boats and kite surfers. The reefs were easy to access and fishes were plentiful. Much of the coral is dead due to high silt levels but still lots of neat things to see. Food was great. Lots of choices at the buffet and the a la cartes were a a visual and culinary delight. Rooms were comfortable. Staff always had friendly smiles.

Excellence El Carmen: Excellence El Carmen - A true 5 star resort

The Excellence El Carmen was wonderful. The resort was exceptionally clean and well cared for. Our room (terrace suite with plunge pool) was spacious and comfortable. The rain shower was fabulous. No hot water issues and great water pressure. The service was the best that I have ever seen at any resort. Room Service was fantastic when we ordered. We met some wonderful people (other guests) at this resort as well. The staff were friendly, helpful and a lot of fun. We received the same le [... read more]vel of service whether we tipped or not. The evening shows were the most professional compared to any resort we stayed at. Even though we did not partake in the Excellence Club, both my husband and myself felt nothing lacking. We had one meal that was not very good (Grill House). My husband's steak was exceptionally rare, but the restaurant was very busy and had a birthday party going on at the same time. Talking to other guests, they had a wonderful meal when they went, so we just put it down to an exceptionally busy night. It in no way affected our overall opinion of the resort. We are looking forward to going again for our 10th anniversary. This is a 5 star plus resort in our opinion.

Bahia Principe Explore Punta Cana: The Grand Bahai Principe Puta Cana is an amazing resort

The grounds, the room, the restaurants, the pools, the beach, the people were all fantastic. We loved it there, although it is so big and many of the buildings look similar so it is easy to get lost the first day or two. There are always trollies that you can hitch a ride on to get down to the beach or back up to the lobby where the buffet is located. We only had a few issues. When we arrived they couldn't find our envelope with our bracelet, room key, towel cards, etc. so it took about an hour  [... read more]to get checked in. We also had two lights in our room that didn't work and we called down three times during our stay to ask to have the bulbs switched and it didn't happen, even though we were told that they would send someone to fix it. Sometimes it was difficult to find someone who spoke English who could help us, but overall we had a great week there!

Bahia Principe Escape Ambar: Luxury Bahia Principe Ambar Green

It's a beautiful resort, we where there last year but at the Punta Cana. We wanted to go back because we loved it and the food was delicious, the staff is friendly.. The only thing that bothered me; is I asked for a room on the top floor away from the noise and got the bottom floor and couldn't sit outside to enjoy a relaxing drink before bed with all of the construction outside our patio door everyday/night. It's great new resorts are being built but it does put a damper on your vacation with a [... read more]ll the construction going on.

Royalton Splash Punta Cana: Made memories at Memories.

Had a blast at this resort. The entertainment staff was awesome, the service was incredible. The Beach was heavenly.(Bavaro Beach). Will definitely recommend this to families, groups of friends or even singles. I will be back to the Dominican soon....

Casa Marina Reef Resort: Great Trip for the Price

Just returned from a week at the Casa Marina Reef Resort. For the price, this is was a great all inclusive trip. It is rated 3-3 1/2 star and that is just what it is. Yes, the rooms are a bit dated and could use a few small amenities, such as a clock radio, but we did not go to enjoy the rooms, but rather the resort. I had called ahead and requested a pool view. We were put in building 9, room 921, and it was great! Second floor and at the end of the hallway, so just a skip down a set of s [... read more]tairs and to the pool, and one of the buffets was just behind it. If you are looking for a quieter area of the resort, this is it! Air conditioner did not work the first night and we were having an issue with the lock on the paito doors, however a quick check in at the front desk in the morning and our issues were quickly rectified within a very short time (came to find out the a/c was frozen, and the patio door actually had two locking doors). Rooms were cleaned daily, some days later than others, although the fridge was not always restocked with pop (not an issue for us). You are restocked with two bottles of water daily, and can always refill them at the bars. The bars were great, as were all the staff we encountered. Many of the staff may not have the greatest grasp of the English language, but remember you are on their turf, not the other way around, and we found everyone would try to help or answer any questions you had. Keep in mind one half of the resort is a 'reef' resort - means the waves will pound - we had red flags all but one of the days in this beach area, and it is not a resort issue. There are plenty of other beach areas to enjoy. Just a minute or two walk and you can be on the public beach. Food was fine, if you can't find plenty of food to satisfy yourself, you are either far too fussy or have VERY high expectations! The omelet station in the morning is fantastic! Typical breakfast choices are omelets (you choose the fillings), or eggs of your choice, lots of meats, breads/toast, cereal, fruit galore, smoothies, juices, tea/coffee, and many other options to choose from. Lunch and dinner were always great as well, somewhat repetitive, but still plenty to choose from, so you never had to have the same thing twice unless you wanted to. We were given six (6) certificates for a la carte restaurants and you had to go to the Ampitheatre the next morning to register for them. MAKE THIS A PRIORITY! We were there pretty much on time, and had 9 or 10 couples in front of us. By the time we were half way through the line up we were informed there were only openings for three of the restaurants on Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings (we registered on Tuesday morning!). Although we did not enjoy the seafood a la carte, that may have just been us. The Mexican and Italian a la cartes were great! We ventured to the beach market daily and enjoyed 'bartering' for our purchases. The beach market is adjacent to the boat launch area look for the steps leading down on your left - had a great real 'pina colada at 'Big Mama's' in the market, a must try - a real pina colada in a pineapple with rum. . . $4. each, and as we just wanted a small snack to share, shared 10 chicken wings for $5 and they were both absolutely delicious - and to boot, Big Mama gives you a small shoulder and arms massage as a welcome! Also, as you meander the streets toward the market, look for a small business type area called ORANGE - we (my sister-in-law and I) were able to enjoy a half hour massage for $10 each, and it was great. They will offer you one hour for $20, but quickly agreed to the half hour sessions. There are two other places to look out for along the way, a large convenience store (pint of rum at the resort store is $7, you can get two for $9 at the convenience store), along with many snacks and things you may have forgotten to bring with you at great prices. Most of the vendors have 95% of the same stuff, including lots of less than great jewellery, and I've bought my share, but if you want some higher end jewellery, keep an eye out for James Patrick's Silversmithy. My sister-in-law got a lovey 925 silver ring with a black stone (type escapes me at the moment) for $44. This the lower end of his stuff, but still high quality. And James is a gem and a gentleman himself! All in all, we had a great time, and would have no problem returning, but remember you get what you pay for, and we certainly felt we got our moneys worth at this resort! If you are expecting 5 star amenities at a 3 star price, go elsewhere because you will not have your expectations met here, but if you are not looking to spend a lot of money and open to three star amenities, this is the place for you. We paid (under $1,000/person, and were quite happy with our vacation. Something to keep in mind if you intend to bring small gifts or cash tips for staff - think about how many rooms the maids clean and how many tips they get - then think about the rest of the staff - the pool cleaners, grounds keepers, the cook at the omelet station, the waiters cleaning up behind you, etc. . . they deserve a tip every bit as much as the maids do, they work just as hard, but often are the ones most overlooked . . . If you go - enjoy! We certainly did! Oh, and it is only about a 15 minute bus ride from the airport!

Sunscape Coco Punta Cana: Great time!

The hotel grounds are beautifully laid out, the rooms are spacious and the staff are excellent. The food was good and the vip was well worth the extra cost. The beach and ocean was the most important of all and Punta Cana definitely delivered that !

Bahia Principe Explore Punta Cana: Resort starting to show its age

The rooms are starting to show it's age we were ten couples for a wedding every room had its problems refrigerators not working tubs plugs nut working jets not working some air conditioners not very cold. We have been to this resort five times every year getting worse if you want to go here upgrade to ambar or Esmeralda is a good choice