Lifestyle Tropical Beach Resort: Terrible Resort

I unfortunately do not have a good review of this resort. They are so focused on their “members” the rest of the resort fails. Food was some of the worst we have had at a resort. We have travelled all over the Caribbean and that includes that Cubas food is a smidge better than what was experienced. The rooms are very outdated and have no storage for your clothes, our toilet leaked from the bottom all over the floors (made our room smell like pee), the smell of sewage was very bad especially on t [... read more]he shuttle between the different restaurants. The beach was not clean, nice or inviting, garbage, and the seaweed was very bad on beach and in the water. You couldn’t tell if you were going to step on rocks or break an ankle falling into a little valley. Had to go down and get a bed/chair by 7:30 am or none left. Their reservation for restaurants was the worst i have ever seen. Had to go 3 days in a row to for them to keep telling us the system resets. We finally got reservations only to be in 2 places at once and only found out when arrived at the Italian Restaurant and it was VIP only which was weird because we were considered VIP but apparently not the right kind of VIP. Even offered them $20 American to let us in and they said no. Entertainment was great until they had hard stops so people will go watch the dumb shows that they put on. If you can see the people are having fun you don’t stop but not here no matter how many people are having fun. AND to top it all off everyone in our party got sick, not just one every single one of. It was so horrible. We had prepared for all of this as we have travelled a million times. But this was unstoppable we could not get better. Almost kicked me off of the flight because I was still throwing up. The other thing that was annoying were the small cold pools by our beds and the beach, the parents let the kids use them as a fun playing pool even if adults were sitting in them to cool off. They have children’s pools but parents didn’t care. No lobby so there was no entertainment in the evening after dinner to sit and have a drink and watch. We left money in the fridge to see if they would refill our beer must not have even opened the fridge cause money still there. Also with 2 people in each room we only received 1 beer and one Pepsi. Let’s not forget the peacocks, excited to see them but at night they were VERY loud and would wake us up or keep us up. This is the worst trip ever and I/we will never go back to puerto Plata. If I could give a zero rating I would.

Playabachata Hotel: Fantastic Holiday

This was one of the most clean resorts that I have ever stayed at. There is someone cleaning at every public area in the resort which includes pools, lobby, restaurants, bars, and restrooms. The staff were all hard working and friendly. It was busy but there were multiple people available to provide service. The rooms need an upgrade in the washroom. The toilets and showers should be replaced. The food and drinks were all fresh and tasty and plenty of variety. The ala carte system needs to be c [... read more]hanged. I waited an hour in line to book. It was impossible to find a chair at the pool until 4pm when most people head back to their rooms to get ready for dinner. Guests head to the pool before 8am to reserve multiple chairs. I was in a group of four and we struggled to find two chairs to share. I think that I would enjoy this resort much more if it wasn't completely full as it was during our vacation.

Emotions by Hodelpa Puerto Plata: Not worth the money

I recently stayed at this hotel and overall I’d rate it a 2/5. Pros The hotel is very clean. Staff are constantly picking up garbage and maintaining the green spaces which really stands out. They even spray the walkways early in the morning so there aren’t many ants around. Cleanliness here is honestly one of the best I’ve seen. The beach is also beautiful and definitely one of the highlights of the stay. However, there are quite a few downsides. Cons A big issue is the constant pr [... read more]essure from salespeople pushing “elite” upgrades. It feels excessive. Made you want to avoid the main pool and beach so you dint have to deal woth them. I personally upgraded my room and it was a complete waste of money it didn’t add any real value or anything extra to my trip. For an “all-inclusive” resort there are a lot of extra charges. Only 3 out of the 6 restaurants are included as à la carte. The others cost extra and even within those restaurants many menu items are what you get at least once in your buffet. It’s not like other resorts where all restaurants are included and only premium items cost extra... here, it feels like almost everything is an upcharge. The food is mediocre overall. It’s not terrible and there’s always something you can eat but it’s nothing special. In my opinion the buffet was actually better than the à la carte restaurants. The pools are very crowded and you need to be careful with your towels. If you lose one you’re charged but we were never given towel cards to begin with which was frustrating when our towels were taken. Also people will take towels off chairs even if you’re using them which isn’t the hotel’s fault but still adds to the blah experience. Booking a tee time for golf is nearly impossible. It doesn’t seem like the hotel promotes it or puts much effort into helping guests access it. There is a small mall nearby which is nice for picking up souvenirs. The hotel itself feels older and refurbished, and honestly it seems like it may need another update soon. That said the staff are clearly doing their best with what they have. If you are gojng to take anything out of this review it is this!  ****If you’re booking excursions... be cautious. The one I chose was heavily embellished compared to what was actually delivered. I’d recommend talking to other guests who have already gone on them before booking.**** Overall breakdown: 1 point for cleanliness 1 point for the beach 1 point because the food is not terrible and gives everyone a option to eat. But between the extra costs(being my biggest pet peeve of this place), lack of value in upgrades, communication barriers-very basic English and the overall experience....it feels overpriced for what you get.

Blue Bay Villas Doradas: Decent and mostly enjoyable week

My husband, adult son and I just returned from this resort on Mar 16/26. Overall, we had a very nice week. The good Food and food variety were very good at the buffet. Selections were hot, tasty, and abundant. Although we stayed away from the fresh salad options, the items looked very fresh and clean. The fruit was also fresh, ripe and delicious. We booked both the Italian and Steak House specialty restaurants and both were outstanding with good quality and nice size portions. The Animati [... read more]on team was fantastic. All of them were high energy, friendly, and engaging. The nightly shows were good too, some were hilarious. The staff, in general, was wonderful. The 3 pools were very nicely maintained, and the poolside bars were well-stocked. Need improvement This is an older resort, and it shows in many places. The villas definitely need an upgrade or major overhaul. They are very dated, furniture and doors, shelves are sticky from being painted over and over instead of sanded and properly painted or replaced. Tile grout on floor is cracked or stained and just looks very unattractive. Several guests mentioned plumbing issues, room keys and / or door locks not working. Our bathroom floor wasn't cleaned, swept or washed all week, or maybe even prior to our arrival because there was a crumb or something on the floor behind the door when we got there and it was still there when we left. The bathroom mirror also wasn't cleaned regularly. Unfortunately, for me, these were deal breakers for leaving a tip. I just felt grossed out seeing the same grime and dirt every day. WIFI is hit and miss. In this day and age, reliable and fast WIFI is a non-negotiable at any resort. It was almost nonexistent in the villas further away, and sometimes even in the lobby or pool area. It took me a couple hours to finally complete airline check-in before our flight. I tried in the room and out by the lobby. Very frustrating. It would not be an expensive fix to install extenders by each block of villas. Another problem, which is quite major, is that 95% of the pool longers are in need of repair or replacement. Although the chair frames were good, the fabric itself was ripped and falling apart. When you sit on one of these chairs, you literally get hit on the head because the rip causes the back rest to whip forward. As the week wore on, there were fewer and fewer chairs available, mostly because the broken ones had to be removed as they just didn't work. We spoke to several return guests who mentioned they would not be coming back to this resport. It's a shame because it has great potential but really needs updates. At best, this resort is more a 3 to 3 1/2 star in its current state

Iberostar Waves Costa Dorada: Great value at this resort close to Airport and shopping

My granddaughter and I recently stayed at the Iberostar Waves Resort in Puerta Plata. All staff were very friendly; the front desk immediately saw to two of my concerns - I wanted a flatter pillow plus our room safe needed resetting. I am very particular about food. The food at the main and beach buffets was fantastic - I had made to order omelets in the morning and at night they put a steak or other meat on the grill for you if you wanted. There was also seafood, even smoked salmon in the [... read more] morning. I am lactose intolerant and they catered to people with food allergies. They had soy, almond and oat milk plus gluten free bread and low gluten bread. They even had a low sugar desert area. Deserts were five star and they often had a chocolate fountain with fruit kabobs for dipping. Three a la carte restaurants were very good. They cooked paella or seafood in a large caldron outside every day. I loved that. Plus they had a stage at the beach for beach night or excercising. I loved the hotel lobby and the adjoining large bar/coffee shop/seating area. There were shops to browse in plus a general/tourist store. The resort had a plaza with a huge fountain and seating at tables. It reminded me of the outdoor plazas in Europe and I am sure that the fountain was quite old. The bricks around the fountain looked quite old so maybe they moved the fountain from an old town. People played cards during the day and after supper listened or danced to the small band at the village plaza. There was a huge theatre with a show every night. There were lots of activities at the resort - from bingo, outdoor chess, ping pong, spa, gym plus the swimming pools. They even had a enclosed area for young children. We were there from March 10 to 17th and I picked Puerta Plata (instead of Punta Cana) to avoid the seaweed on the beaches. Unfortunately there was seaweed on the beach but there was always a fairly large beach area to get into the water. Water was warm. The resort felt like home and I am looking forward to going back to the Iberostar Waves resort next year.

Lifestyle Tropical Beach Resort: Terrible

The food is worse than Cuba. It was unbearable. The rooms need service all the time. Not enough lounge chairs so you are constantly looking for one or standing around . No coffee unless the restaurant is open (at 7am). No activities for kids. No entertainment.

Playabachata Hotel: Loved this resort

Very clean with lots of staff working hard to keep it that way. Beautiful grounds, loved all the trees. Enjoyed being able to share space with the Senator and the ability to walk the stretch of the beach. We liked the Tropical ave and ability to get cappuccinos and ice cream. Also being able to pick up Senators wifi in that area. Loved the constant breeze that didn’t allow for mosquitoes or flys. Liked the beach, had no sargassum and we were able to swim in the sea. Would have been nice to have  [... read more]steps into pool as opposed to ladders.

Playabachata Hotel: Playabachata

The Dominican Republic is a beautiful country. Our experience at this resort was terrible. Both my brother and I got food poisoning. Buffets seemed to have "recycled" or left over dishes. Food handling and sanitation was sub-par. The rooms were outdated, with amenities either missing or broken. Our room door did not lock properly and there were problems with the room key. Our mini fridge never worked and when we asked for a replacement or room change, we were told no. Staff catered to those who  [... read more]tipped the most and often allowed local citizens in the bar areas. The fellow Canadians that we met made an incredibly disappointing resort experience, one that we will always remember. Good times were shared and memories were made. Highly disappointed with Playabachata.

Senator Puerto Plata Hotel: Not great

Food was not great We were not pleased with dated rooms Too far of a walk to the main lobby ..not enough umbrellas for loungers Over all not a 4 star No phones to call front desk Would probably not return to resort

Senator Puerto Plata Hotel: Not great

Food was not great We were not pleased with dated rooms Too far of a walk to the main lobby ..not enough umbrellas for loungers Over all not a 4 star No phones to call front desk Would probably not return to resort

Viva Tangerine by Wyndham: Meh..

This hotel left a lot to be desired. Unlike a lot of all-inclusive resorts, I found this one needing so much more than it offered. The restrictions were insane (can’t swap a beach towel out before noon, no alcohol before 10, only two hour timespan that beach volleyball was allowed, etc…) which was quite irritating. The food was not great at all except in the Mexican and Italian restaurants - which are impossible to get into because the resorts holds more people that it can host. Thankfully, th [... read more]e beach is gorgeous and there are some amazing views and stops along the beach.

Blue Bay Villas Doradas: OK resort

Overall a nice spot, friendly staff. I was in a villa that was very dated, the stool under the desk was rotten as well as the headboard where it touched the floor. The tile floor had quite a few marks in it, bathroom was recently updated and was very nice. Convenient to the golf course directly across the street!

Blue Bay Villas Doradas: Great place to chill

Resort was small but accommodating and relaxing. Clean rooms and good food. Staff was friendly and helpful. It’s not a party place so if that’s your vibe you probably won’t enjoy it. They did have entertainment each evening and activities during the day. Great place if you want to relax. Beach was cleaned every morning of debris. Buffet dinner had a theme each evening. Only one bartender per bar so a bit of a wait at times. Overall had a great vacation!

VH Gran Ventana Beach Resort: Amazing Staff

I must say this is an excellent value for your money. Beautiful clean grounds, good food and amazing staff. Shout to our housekeeper Lidia in the Catalina building on the ground floor. She is just an amazing person so kind a friendly and always a smile on her face. Andrea and Nicholas at the pool bar are exceptional people always smiling and supplying great service. Shout out to some of the workers that are behind the scenes that definitely deserve to be mentioned are this amazing lady with her  [... read more]pale blue hair clip that keeps the bathrooms clean. She was off a few days and the bathrooms were awful. She did a great job and a tip goes along way to let her know we appreciate her service. Alberto one of the grounds keepers sweeping up all those leaves around the pool. Always smiling and helpful. Full appreciation to the pool life guard Estaban who is always smiling a fist pump here and there and makes you feel welcome at the resort. I can't forget Solange who is always helpful . Rosa welcoming you into the buffet. Thank you to all of you above that made our 2 weeks stay so memorable. Because of you all we will be back.

Marien Puerto Plata Hotel: Marien hotel puerto playa

The pools were beautiful. Rooms clean but a bit dated. Food was good and entertainment team were great. Overall great 9 days stay and would return. Great place for adults and there were kids as well. Beach is ok. Chairs around pool in the shade are very limited.

VH Gran Ventana Beach Resort: Good place to vacation

The hotel is directly connected to a beautiful beach. We chose the Royal package so had a nice room, access to private beach area, lounge etc Staff were all great and we were impressed by the buffet, although huge the serving areas were plentiful, covered containers kept food warm, options abounded - beef from joint, pastas made to order etc 3 a la carte restaurants were also available plus a snack bar. There were both party areas and quiet areas with separate pools - only warning is that the [... read more] rooms are 3 stories and there are no elevators so if you have mobility issues ensure you stay on ground floor. The evening entertainment was average - the exception was live music from a wonderful singer.

Senator Puerto Plata Hotel: Nice resort good value.

Beautiful location and grounds are very well maintained. Real nice pool area with lots of loungers and great pool bar. We had a comfortable bed, lots of hot water and good shower.Room was nice and clean but showed some wear and a few maintenance issues. Entertainment was fair at best. Enjoyed our stay and would return

Blue Bay Villas Doradas: Dated, but, a Clean Resort

If you are a beach person, you will enjoy it here. It's a long beach, not too crowded and great for walking. Water is great for swimming. There is also a beach bar/ restaurant. Lots of chairs available too (reserving a chair is not allowed). The front desk staff seemed helpful, but it took us 5 days to get a working phone and 3 days to get blankets for our beds (cool at night). The rooms are dated, but they are clean. as are the grounds. The food is good, with an excellent variety. H [... read more]alf of the staff are happy and helpful, while the other half wouldn't smile if you paid them. We would rate this as a 4 star resort.

Casa Marina Sosua Trademark by Wyndham All Inclusive: Lovely vacation

The resort is so beautiful. The food was amazing. The pools were great and location at the beach was ideal. The staff are exemplary always friendly and helpful especially the staff in the buffet, the bartenders and housekeeping. We travelled as large group (10) the resort easily catered to the needs of all in our party. Including moving rooms for a member of our group with limited mobility so he didn’t have to climb 6 flights of stairs as there are no elevators. We purchased a deep sea f [... read more]ishing excursion at the resort that was a disaster. After my husband and son being sick for an hour (along with most others on the excursion) we asked the captain to turn around. We felt like we should have been told about the rough seas and given options to go on another day. It was very expensive for 4 of us to be on a hellish boat ride and not even fish. Some things were harder to navigate- kids club was impossible to find (we never did) as the front desk staff was not able or willing to help us. The evening entertainment is very late so was not family friendly. The al a carte reservation had long lines and available tables were not at times that our family could all enjoy. Guests services desk was limited- when there was someone there they were very helpful but if no one was there then you could not get any help and the front desk would refer you to guest services.

Playabachata Hotel: Did the trick

Food, staff, accommodation, beach, scenery were all great. Rules were not enforced. Such as, no smoking in the lobby area, or reserving chairs around the pool, even though there were signs, no rules were enforced, which created unnecessary tension between guests.