Latest Reviews for Dominican Republic

What can i say a fantastic hotel great food entertainment staff out of this world we are going back in two years for two weeks but this time taking the children can't wait.

ok we went to ppv on 08.10.2008 and can only say we had a fantstic time. the acomadation is fine, you only sleep there after all. the food was very good with plenty of choice. the only down side is no baked beans for breakfast, the animation team pictured are fantastic, willy, popeye, kojak, peter flow, salami and jasmin. there was 11 in our group age 10 to 45 and we all enjoyed the holiday and everyone joined in everything.

october is out of season so there was only about 50 people in the complex which can acomadate 900. dont get excursions from the rep, go to the shopping complex the rep will charge you $90 for scubering at the complex it's $42 and the same for any excursions.

while on the beech you can use kiyaks snorkeles and bodyboards plus there is a snack bar which dose drinks and food, though the food is 11am till 2pm there is a type of golf cart that takes you to the beech and back it runs just about every 10 mins and you still get the animation team down there getting you to do competions.

take plenty of bite cream as your legs get eaten not sure if its moses or what but everyone gets bit except my missis.

we did scuba diving $42 each, paradise island, waterfall and horse riding $20 each for 2 and 1/2 hours not bad:)

time from airport is about 20 mins, dont forget it costs $10 to get in and $20 to get back out and it must be dollars, we did not know and had to go and change some £ at the airport, be careful as there are people waiting to carry your bags for youand then want paying £4 but after you get your bags its about 30 feet to the reps also on the way back they try but this time its 20 feet to checkin.

recomend this place and will be going back.

This is a quiet resort with the main attraction being a 'pueblo' type development owned and operated by the hotel. There are a few other local shops (incidentally rather a lot of pharmacies for some reason) but very little in the way of restaurants/bars etc. so there's not much in the way of a break from the hotel. Another problem is the local self-employed 'guides' who attach themselves to you to 'help you and show you around' then expect to be paid - watch out for these guys!!

The beach is a scrappy, untidy little place and suffers from a problem after heavy rains. The rains further inland wash a lot of alluvial mud out of the river mouth into the sea which turns the clear water into a chocolate brown soup - swimming not recommended!

With sympathetic development this could turn into a nice little town, but at the moment there is very little to attract one except for the Tuesday (the day the cruise ships visit) flea market.

A lovely building on a very good cliff top site. All the expected facilities are present, but our recent stay was blighted by management issues, namely: cold food at the buffet restaurant, indifferent food quality at the speciality restaurants, rank water in the swimming pool leading to many cases of ear infections, poor response to problems with plumbing, air con etc., and worst of all a total debacle when there was a hotel fire.

The circumstances were complicated but in short the hotel management decided to leave guests asleep during a hotel fire, disable the fire and smoke alarm systems, chose not to involve the official Dominican fire department and generally took a very laissez-faire attitude to it all. This is despite the corridors being filled with acrid smoke - guests had to breathe through dampened towels and stumble around at 0300 hours looking for the fire exits! Many guests demanded (and got) a change of hotel as a result but were told quite categorically that the tour operator (First Choice) would not be making any compensation payments...... Well done, First Choice.... a great P.R. move........ In fact we were asked to sign a document which proved to be a very comprehensive disclaimer, surrendering all our rights to make any complaint or claim on any party as a result.... Needless to say nobody in their right mind would fall for such a shabby trick and the 'Customer Services' officer was told in no uncertain terms what she could do with the document.

In all then, this is a really well designed hotel in a prime location which has the potential to be a great holiday destination. It only needs the hotel management to wake up and realise that they are dealing with Europeans who expect a certain standard.

ALL INC, EVEN NIGHTCLUB AND KARAOKE BAR IT WAS THE BEST I COULD'VE ASKED FOR

2 Single girls away on holiday, and what an amazing time we had! Its not just a couples and a family place it was a mixture of everything and it was amazing, I will be definitely re booking this one.

when its too hot lying by the pool the beach is ideal. plenty of beds and always a nice breeze.water is lovely and warm.

just returned from best holiday ever.hotel fab, staff very helpful and friendly.Would suit all ages something for everyone.Entertainment staff great fun especially mickey mouse.Would go back tomorrow.

we didnt actually see much of Playa Dorada as our main aim was relaxing on the beach which we did very well!!!

The Gran Ventana is faultless! I arrived back in the UK yesterday after a week there, and was so sad to be home. I went with a friend and we had the most fantastic time. The hotel itself is beautiful, and in a perfect setting, just 100 yards (if that) from the beach. The food is superb, and the al a carte restaurants are a must....there is no reason anyone should go hungry when staying here. The evening entertainment is hilarious and the animation team make the evening (as do their pert little bums!). We did venture outside of the hotel with some english people we met and some of the hotel boys, and found it to be safe. Coco Bongo's and Hemingways are a must for a good night. Coco Bongo's is the local disco so on a fri and sat night was packed, but still great fun, and you will get several dance lessons when you are there!!!! Overall this place scores 11/10 (the extra one is for the gorgeous hotel boys ;-)) To sum up, I WILL BE GOING BACK!!!!!!! i recommend this hotel highly

The best things to do while there are the monster truck, make sure you have pencils crayons and books for the children who are delightful. If you visit a school the teacher does not like them having sweets. Swimming with the dolphins was out of this world, it is a plane ride to get there and is also quite expensive but well worth it. If you like swimming with the sharks then the boat trip is also worth a visit.

When we arrived at Punta Cana airport it was in the 90's so very hot please remember this as you leave England, we were a bit stupid. The airport staff were very friendly once you had paid your money to enter the country. The drive to the hotel took 1hr in the oldest bus i have ever seen but you can't really expect anything else from a 3rd world country. Once we arrived at the hotel we were welcomed with a long cold drink which you needed after that journey. Check in was fairly quick and the porters take your luggage to your rooms, a few dollars makes them smile. The rooms are very basic,some of the rooms were being upgraded while we were there and they were lovely flat screen tv's and really comfy beds. The one we were in was in the main hotel and very dated also if you liked charmed you were fine (my grandaughter loved it). The staff are mostly quite friendly just with a couple of exceptions. Please be aware that if you have teenagers with you check what they are drinking as the young waiters are quite happy to give 14yr olds alcohol. The location of the hotel is ok if your happy to stay on the resort. The beach is lovely and the sea warm, there is not as much shade as you would expect. The pool area was very clean and plenty of sunbeds if you get there early, at the weekends it can get very loud and the pool packed as the dominicans all seem to come into the hotel. The food is a bit repetative or perhaps it was just me i dont't know. The evening entertainment is not the best but i have got to say the boys and girls work really hard and long hours, to please everyone. Overall we had a lovely relaxing holiday and would not hesitate to go back again.

Lovely relaxing 2 weeks break. No problem unwinding. Everything on hand to ensure time at hotel is enjoyed.

Just returned from fab holiday at this hotel. A couple of teething problems on arrival but very soon forgotten. Safety Deposit box charge which tour operator did not indicate and given 2 different room numbers. Sorted very quickly and upgraded to a junior suite. Beautiful gardens, nicely kept. Journey from Samana International Airport approx 1.45 hrs. Roads not very good, lots of potholes! Staff extremely friendly. Spanish speaking, not too much english spoken, but staff seem to know what you want! Nice pool, bit on the small side, but adequate for number of people at time of year, not sure how they'd cope with maximum numbers of visitors. Lovely sandy beach just a few steps from the hotel pool. Buffet style meals and 3 themed restaurants. Food in these 3 restaurants especially good. Kyaking, snorkelling. Beach aerobics and pool entertainment laid on by hard working animation team who then go on to provide Hotel's only entertainment at night. Bars close at 11:00pm and only form of entertainment after that time is small disco, situated on outer part of hotel complex. We saw very few numbers of guests using the disco. Again, not sure what it would be like mid-season. No good if you're looking for an exciting late night! Coffee making facilities only in hotel rooms, even though varieties of teas available. Pool area beds are very comfortable, albeit a few more sunshades wouldn't go amiss! Towels provided. Take plenty of mozzy creams as there's plenty around. Plenty of island tours provided by operators. All in all, very relaxing, nice for couples or groups of adults. Don't think it suitable for children - limited facilities.

Excellent, well secure and are able to walk between 2 or 3 different hotels. Close-by there is a small shopping mall and some local bars and restaurants. Do no use the cash machine they never seem to work and sometimes take the money from your account but you get no cash.

A very busy hotel, but suited us fine. My husband had recently retired and took myself our two sons and their girlfriends away as a treat and a treat it was. After a long delayed flight from Gatwick (6 hours) we arrived exhausted and fell into bed about midnight local time but to us it was the middle of the night. The boys stayed up, had a drink and hotdogs from the bar by the pool. As I said earlier very busy, lots of weddings specially on Valentines Day, a bit tacky some of them but wonderful to watch. How do these brides look so lovely in 40 degrees of heat ?? Anyway we did some lovely trips, swam with dolphins (not cheap) white water rafting, casino and all were excellent. The staff are brilliant, but lock up your daughters after midnight as when the entertainment finishes they all head for the local bar, where it seems their missions is to scrounge drinks off of the holidaymakers and make a beeline for the young ladies. Food and accommodation is excellent, something for everyone. The guys played golf at the club opposite while we sat by the pool. Not a hotel for someone who wants a quiet break as it is very hectic and noisy all of the time.