Acuarium Resort Hotel

Italian Get-Away

This is an Italian RCI condo with Italian upper management who live on the premises. 90% of the hotel is RCI, although non-RCI people can also stay here. The other 10% are apartments owned by Italians. The posted rates were $70 for one person, $90 for two and $120 for four for a one bedroom apartment (US$). The RCI rates were $60/night for the same type of apartment (any number of people). The two bedroom apartments were more expensive. We were here as Space Available for military or retired military (or "charity" as the RCI rep, put it). We paid about $40/night.

There was a night guard in the front lobby and a notice which said "No Armas de Fuego" on one door. On the other door it said that it was an automatic door in 4 languages. It wasn't--unless you count that someone would open the door for you if it was locked, as it was at night. There was also a guard with a rifle sitting at the back entrance behind the building on the other side of the hot tub courtyard.

On the ground floor in addition to the pool in the middle with loungers and tables, there was a TV lounge, a bar, and a restaurant between the pool and the other courtyard. There were maps on the walls of Hispanola and the main cities on the island..

Our room was on the second level which we could access by stairs on two corners of the pool courtyard. No elevators.

We could get the 'meal plan' (which was just breakfast and lunch) for $22/person a night, which we did although Bob thought at first that we would go out some nights to eat. He changed his mind though because there were no places to walk to even if it had been comfortable or safe to do so and by the time we got a taxi to and from, there would have been no savings.

Unfortunately they charged us in pesos instead of charging it in US$ which cost us extra money on the exchange rate each time. Bob says the national coin of the realm is the $20 bill (US).

We had to buy all drinks (water, tea, wine etc) and pay for them separately as drinks were not included in the dinner price.

Unique Quality: In our one bedroom apartment, on each side of the entrance was a double door (wood doors) closet, one of which had a safe in it (which we didn't use). The side opposite the door had the bathroom and a narrow kitchen. The living room was on the kitchen side and the bedroom was on the bathroom side. The floors throughout were of some artificial marble material-tiles of about 20" on a side where the pattern repeated. The maid swept or mopped the floor each day, made the bed and supplied fresh towels.

The bedroom had a queen bed (no blankets), a dresser with mirror, two night tables with table lamps and two wicker chairs with cushions. One night table also had the phone. The AC unit was high up in the wall and controlled with a remote. The living room had a TV which got cable including some American channels (some with Spanish subtitles) and some local or Spanish channels. There were two couches which I think could be beds, a coffee table and an eating table with four wooden chairs.

The bathroom was open to the outdoors through cement blocks with holes in them at the top of the shower. There was a toilet, there was a mirror and several wooden shelves. Bars of hand soap were also supplied and Bob thought it was a bit aggressive - he got some in his eyes and it made his eyes smart.

The shower was in an alcove and the head could be removed and held in the hand. There was enough hot and cold water for a good shower. We got two towels and a bathmat. No hand towels or washcloths. If you wanted a beach towel you made a $10 deposit and if you lost the towel, you paid $20 more. This towel was slate blue and much bigger and thicker than the bath towels.

The kitchen had an under the counter refrigerator, a four burner gas stove top (with no directions or matches) but no oven, a counter top microwave, a stainless sink and drain board in a pink molded plastic countertop, and various dishes and pots and pans. No dish towels, or dish soap to clean the dishes with.

• Opinion of Price: about average
• Related to: Historical Travel, Spa and Resort, Seniors

Acuarium Resort Hotel Photo: Pool from steps to our apartment on the 2nd floor

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