The Eurostars Grand Cayacoa: Was, a good resort

This was our 5th visit. Nine months ago this resort changed owners, What a huge difference. We booked 2 weeks.Five days in we wanted to go home. Westjet said we would lose our second week and we would have to pay a further $900. to fly back to Toronto. Pathetic. They had a toilet paper shortage, Our balcony door failed to lock until repaired. Three days in our safe needed to be fixed. An employee told us the resort was at a 20% occupancy. We always tipped employee as a local business owner sai [... read more]d employees earn $10. or $11.a day. Twice we walked 2 kilometres in to town. About 150 oil burning 35 year old 150 cc motor bikes flying around the small town.ONE OF THOSE DRIVERS HELD THE HANDLEBARS WITH ONE HAND and a 18 month old child with the other. A business owner said if you don't fit in as a resident you pay triple to buy anything. Inside of the resort is a tiny store. To buy a dollar store.88 cent chocolate bar is $9. American, $12. Canadian. Now let's get to the bar. No name booze. If you want a vodka and orange juice you give you TANG or some watered down sugared substitute. Or a 4% no name tap draft. On the beach they don't have time to wash the plastic cups, but usually rince them. The food is also a treat. When they serve their small cooked chicken they chop them into small pieces and you end up with splinters of bones. I became satisfied with any form of potatoes and any meat. The guests complain about every day the meals are the same.Twice in 2 weeks they made about 2 litres or less of rice pudding. when it's gone it's gone It was common to lose out on mango and why. There are hundreds of mango trees. Speciality restaurants, there are 2. When we ate there they only permitted 6 couples in all night. Wifi was spotty and we had issues watching Fifa. There is no sports bar. Getting towels was an issue. Some employees try to be nice ,others put their back to you when you walk near them.

The Eurostars Grand Cayacoa: Beautiful view and memorable service

I really enjoyed the cliffside view. It was so beautiful in the morning. The resort is very well organized, great food at buffet with variety. One day it was not so good, but the rest of the week it kept getting better and tastier. May be a shipment was delayed when we arrived? The staff were friendly and warm. Amazing and thanks to staff my experience was so much more special. They genuinely cared about my experiences at the resort and helped promptly. I would recommend to 40+ if you're look [... read more]ing for a quiet escape. Rooms looked dated but bed was incredibly comfortable. Although there is good entertainment, it is the typical one hour show, so bring some dancing shoes if you want to stay after and dance with your special someone. There is a fairly large entertainment area with a raised audience deck for viewing comfort, tons of lounge space around as well. I also liked the beach. It is small but that's what I liked about it. It felt like a hidden spot away from the business of most Samana beaches. I'd recommend going on an excursion or several, to enjoy the many beautiful scenic spots available. I'll probably go back sometime but I will book several excursions to see more of Samana. Shout out to Vanessa, Felix, Alexander, Carolina, and many more for such an amazing experience. You are truly appreciated ❤️

Bahia Principe Explore La Romana: Amazing resort

clean, good foods, big rooms, lots of wellness activities, large pool, clean children’s pool, good location, prompt check in and check out, many bars and snack bars, early coffee, safe to walk early in the morning and evening

VH Gran Ventana Beach Resort: Amazing resort

The hotel was excellent—our room was very clean and the beds were extremely comfortable. The buffet and restaurants were fantastic, offering a wide variety of fresh food and drinks. Every day featured different meals, which made dining exciting throughout our stay.

JOIA Bavaro by Iberostar: Amazing resort

This resort had great food, great amenities and really friendly staff. The resort was very clean and spacious with well thought design. The coffee shop was my favourite. The fully loaded gym and the casino were a bonus because we had access to the other Iberostar resorts through Joia. The only part I would say needs improvement is the entertainment during the day and night. The night shows felt very repetitive and nothing special. There was also no dock/live games/dancing/entertainment at the po [... read more]ol during the day.

Riu Republica: Good budget resort

We had a good time at the Riu Republica last week. Airport transfer took a while because there were so many drop offs and we only got to our Riu after almost 2 hours. Check in was pretty quick. However I’d like to point out that we were sharing a room with our daughter( 3 people) and the check in guy said they only had twin beds and those would be really small and cramped!! He suckered us into paying an extra US 130 for a king and single!! Totally our fault for falling for this and not trying to [... read more] check the room first!! Anyway just a heads up in case anyone else is in the same situation. The beds are big enough for 2. Room could need upgrades but when our AC leaked they came promptly to fix it. Bar was always full, room was cleaned, but sheets need to be changed. We were there for a week!! No complaints about the food or restaurants. Jerk hut was amazing!! Beach was great and we were very lucky to experience sargassum(mildly) on just one day. Pools were good, water park a lot of fun and service all round was very good. Staff were friendly and polite.

Dreams Onyx Resort and Spa: good 3 star resort

We recently stayed at the Dreams Onyx Resort and Spa for two weeks in mid-May, and unfortunately, the experience fell short of our expectations. On the positive side, the pools were cleaned daily, most of the staff were friendly (especially when tipped), the à la carte restaurants were well-maintained and clean, and the property offers an easy, accessible walk between the two resorts. However, there were several significant drawbacks. The lobby felt sterile, lacking any ambiance or music.  [... read more]The buffet food was consistently bland and repetitive. At the à la carte restaurants, we felt constantly rushed throughout our meals. While the pool surfaces were cleaned, the skimmers never functioned properly, leaving bugs and debris floating in the water all day. Furthermore, tipping felt mandatory for even the smallest service, such as receiving a bottle of water. The service regarding pool chairs was particularly frustrating. Butlers would reserve chairs for guests who never showed up; despite rules stating that staff should clear unattended towels, this was never enforced, even when other guests made direct requests. It was also disheartening to see that butlers could be easily bribed; other guests openly bragged about paying $200 to receive "preferred" treatment without actually booking a preferred room. We spoke with several other families from Europe who were there during our stay, and we all agreed that we would not return or recommend this resort.

Bahia Principe Escape Ambar: Excellent resort

Everything was impeccable.........................................the grounds, the pool, the restaurants, the unbelievable service for all of our fourteen guests. All the staff were incredible. We renewed our 50th anniversary vows under the gazebo and the wedding planner Eddiana wwas outstanding and the officiator was absolutely INCREDIBLE!!!!! We would highly recommend this resort to everybody.

Viva Heavens by Wyndham: Very good overall.

Good hotel, nice beach. The food was very good and the staff are friendly and engaging. Beach lacked a bit of shade. Rooms were not bad, lacked a bit of furniture. Would definately strongly consider returning.

Playabachata Hotel: Disappointed!!!

Beach and food is the only positive about this resort. Internet was terrible as it was only available at the lobby. Rooms are dated, tub/shower was tight and on one of the days brown water was coming out of the shower. It took them a day and a half to fix it. The air conditioner in our room could use service as it was blowing cool air rather than cold air. However, what made this stay real uneasy and disappointing was the staff. Many of the staff looked unhappy, miserable and unfriendly; some we [... read more]re flat out rude. We did not feel welcomed at this resort so I would not recommend this place to anyone I know.

Iberostar Waves Dominicana: Another Great Stay

This was our second stay at this resort (the first was 3 years ago), and overall we had a great experience both times. The staff were very friendly and hardworking. Communication could sometimes be challenging as many staff members spoke limited English, and we speak very little Spanish, but everyone was always kind and helpful. The food was decent overall. We mostly ate at the à la carte restaurants, which could be a bit hit or miss. The French restaurant was our favourite. We also discov [... read more]ered the beach restaurant partway through our trip and ended up going there several times. The BBQ was excellent and probably the best food we had during our stay. Lunches by the beach were also very good, especially the burgers and steaks. The fresh pineapple was amazing, and the drinks were consistently great. Our room was comfortable and well-maintained. We did find a cockroach on the first day, but given the tropical climate, it can be expected. The beach was one of the highlights. There was very little seaweed compared to neighbouring resorts, and after walking along the beach to check out other properties, we felt our section was easily one of the nicest. Finding a lounge chair could sometimes be difficult later in the day, but if you went early, it wasn't a problem. The gym deserves special mention. It's one of the best resort gyms we've seen, with modern equipment and plenty of variety for a good workout. We also thought the night entertainment was well done! Overall, we really enjoyed our stay and would happily return again.

Senator Puerto Plata Hotel: Surprisingly great!

The hotel was a great value. The hotel was clean, and our room was large, with a very comfortable bed. The main lobby was spacious and modern. Food was very good with lots of fresh options at the buffet for every meal. There is a beautiful amphitheater for the evening entertainment .. but the entertainment was poor, at best. The beach was lovely, and ideal to walk over to the souvenier shops to do a little shopping.

Playabachata Hotel: Mediocre at best...

The grounds, food, bar and beach were great. The rooms are VERY old and outdated and in desperate need of upgrading. The bathrooms in the lobby are stifling and the lights constantly flicker off while you are in there. Forget about enjoying the weekends as the locals flood the resort and are very rude and entitled. You will be shoved out of the way at any food source and forget about getting in the pool. The beach is decent so if you can go to the pool during the week when the locals aren't ther [... read more]e. The shows are decent but every night they spend 20 mins thanking every single person individually and its annoying. Overall, you get what you pay for.

VH Gran Ventana Beach Resort: Pleasant

We visited April 22-29. It was our third time to this hotel The room was very nice, perfect entertainment and we had fun. The quality of the food seemed to had gone down a bit from the last time we were there in 2023. I thought that the returning guests get a welcome back present ( we were given the special repeat guest bands) but that was it. I like it that this resort is small and compact and I would go back.

Serenade All Suites Adults Only Resort: Great stay at Serenade All Suites Adults Only Resort from 4-11 March 2026

We travelled to Serenade All Suites – Adults Only from March 4–11, 2026, booking through tripcentral with Sunwing as the provider and WestJet operating the flights. We chose premium economy, and the experience exceeded expectations — comfortable seating, great service, and very good food. The resort offers a beautiful, expansive beach that’s ideal for long walks, and several pools with different atmospheres, allowing guests to choose between quiet relaxation or a more energetic environment. D [... read more]ining was consistently enjoyable, with the steakhouse and Asian restaurant being highlights. Service throughout the resort was excellent. Staff at the coffee bar, piano bar, à la carte restaurants, and buffet were consistently warm, attentive, and welcoming. Our king bed, pool‑view suite was spacious and well‑equipped. The only design consideration is that the shower opens directly into the main room, which may not be ideal for all travel groups. Otherwise, the room met all expectations. Overall, this is a well‑run resort with great service, good food, and a beautiful beachfront. We would recommend it.

Ocean Blue and Sand: Perfect all around!

I stayed at the Ocean Blue and Sand once before about 8 years ago and my friend who I travelled with has been there 19 times. This is a very clean and friendly place to stay. They have renovated their rooms and are continually working to keep it fresh. The staff are so welcoming and many are still there15 years later. Especially enjoyed Mike’s Cafe where we met Benjamin and Christopher for our evening cappuccino. This Hotel is small and warm, compared to other resorts we have been to that [... read more] are too large and not as friendly.

Bahia Principe Escape Aquamarine: Bahia Principe Escape Aquamarine

This is a nice hotel. The room was great, not dated. Food was good even at the buffet restaurant. Beach was okay, except for the sea weeds. There was no problem getting a beach chair at the beach or the pool. The entertainment team was nice and the games were fun. The night shows were nice too.

Ocean El Faro: A good hotel!

Check in was quick and easy (but we were the only ones at the time). Everyone who worked there did a great job, people were friendly. Kids loved Jelly's kid club, the water park and the lazy river. Bring your own tubes or wait in line for a bit. Kids are picky eaters most meals they were able to find something, if not we went to Mike's Cafe and they were able to get yogurt and sandwiches. First resort that I found the a la cartes bland and nothing to write home about. I did like that there were [... read more] 3 you had to book a head if time and the rest you could just go to whenever, the cons of that were some restaurants were closed on certain days. Using the barcode they provide can help you plan meals accordingly thou. We much preferred the buffet to the a la cartes (this would not be typical for any hotel I've ever gone to). We were unable to go to the ocean because of the sea grass so that was a bummer. Would I go back to this hotel? Nothing draws me back or away to be honest. I probably wouldn't choose to go back just so I could go to other resorts, but nothing happened that wouldn't make me want to go back.

Bahia Principe Escape Bouganville: Beautiful vacation

I love this resort as my now number one resort and I have been to many. Cleanliness. Good food. Good room. Great service. Friendly staff. Love the entertainment team especially Miriam and the others. I will be coming back definitely next year with my big family. My grandmother is turning 92 next year and she would love the room location we stayed at close to the lobby. Think it’s building 52. Rooms 52114 and room 52115. But will need more rooms for more family members. Looking forward to coming  [... read more]back and seeing the people and enjoying this beautiful resort. Thank you

Viva Heavens by Wyndham: Needs work to be a 4 star

Beautiful grounds, food ok, drinks very disappointing, staff was average some just seemed miserable, requested king bed was given 2 queens on ground floor, room not very clean when we checked in, absolutely no where to store your clothes or hooks in bathroom