Dominican Republic Hotels

• melosh
• Reviews: 390

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On the Waterfront: My choice, although I couldn't stay here

When I arrived in Sosua during Semana Santa, all the hotels were full for the weekend. I found a nice little hotel for a single night but I checked a bunch of the hotels. The most attractive for a group visit for me was on the Atlantic Ocean. The On The Waterfront has a reputation of not being expensive but I could never verify the price with the staff. It was full. The beach down in front of the hotel is not private but it is difficult to get onto without going through the hotel or swimming in from the ocean. There are apparently 30 single and double rooms with some standing alone like little cabins. The whole grounds looked beautiful. The open air restaurant has a great view.

• Opinion of Price: less expensive than average
• Address: Calle Dr. Rosen, 1
• Related to: Budget Travel
• Written July 6, 2006

Atlantic beach at Sosua

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• razorbladekiss
• Reviews: 12

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Lifestyles vitalis garden resort: Sun and Sand

Our stay here was off to a good start the night we got there... The workers were nice and friendly but as the time went on it got worse and worse... Now dont get me wrong, we had a good time despite some iggnorance on the part of some sales ppl trying to sell u on things on the grounds. The gronds were great and very well kept up and the pools were fine and the beach was great as well... and teh catering ppl at the resterunts were wonderful, but the sales people on the grounds were just too much. made our stay there unplesent..

Unique Quality: The grouds amde for some great phots.... iw as happy with this.

• Opinion of Price: less expensive than average
• Related to: Beaches, Budget Travel, Family Travel
• Written May 24, 2006

Accomadation was in these cute huts

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• Arial_27
• Reviews: 303

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• Samscalling
• Reviews: 35

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Paraiso Del Sol, Cabarete: Don't believe everything you read...

Before we went to the Dom Rep - I was worried. Seriously worried. Trip Advisor had so many bad reviews - how could all those people be wrong?

We thought the rooms were fine......they don’t look amazing at first, but once you’ve seen what people in the Dominican Republic have – they’re great. They could be more modern – the furniture is wooden which makes it look a little old, but you’ve got a fridge, 2 double beds, air conditioning and a nice bathroom…..this is a poor country…..and we found our room was great. They’re kept really clean – the maids came everyday, gave us clean towels and mopped the floor, tidied up etc – I’ve stayed in better rooms which weren’t kept nearly as clean! We were overlooking a smaller pool, and had no problems whatsoever with noise.

The Animation Team provide the entertainment both at the day and night, and they do a great job. The entertainment at night was good – quite cheesy but we enjoyed it. They get people up on stage everynight, but again, I didn’t wanna go up and said no and they didn’t push you at all. They’re always smiling and making sure you have a good time despite the long hours they obviously work!

There’s lots of choice with the food and everynight they have a theme – like Oriental night, German night, French night, etc……couldn’t complain about the quality of the food & there was lots of choice. There’s two main buffet restaurants, one which has candlelit tables which is nice, one which is near the pool so it’s good for when you’re having a pool day, and one Italian a la Carte.

You can exchange money at a place over the road from the hotel, it’s better rates than at the hotel. You can’t miss it, they have a big board with the rates which are exactly the same as you’ll get in Cabarete. On the beach, we never had a problem getting a sunlounger and there were plenty of mini palm trees which acted as umberellas. If you walk to Cabarete along the beach, it’s about 40-50 minutes. We got a taxi back which cost us 10US dollars for the two of us.

Unique Quality: The entertainment team are fantastic!
Huge pool & lots of sunloungers
Direct access to a gorgeous beach
Massive buffet selection
Rooms cleaned daily to high standard
2 other smaller pools

I'd definitely recommend this hotel!

• Opinion of Price: about average
• Address: Cabarete
• Related to: Romantic Travel and Honeymoons, Backpacking, Budget Travel
• Written March 23, 2006

The main pool area

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• ScubaCat
• Reviews: 70

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Riu Tiano: Different - But pleased

The Riu hotel chain is very similar to the Palace hotels in Mexico. You can stay at one & play at all the others, which is exactly what we did! We had a blast checking out all the different Riu hotels along the beach & found out that we were staying in a mid priced Riu hotel...which I thought was fantastic for the price! Riu hotels run for the very budget minded to very expensive upper class, with marble bathrooms & floors. After the similarity of staying at 1 & playing at the rest, the similarites end there. The Riu hotels are partnered with their German counterparts and their resturants are german based food. It takes a while to get used to and you learn eventually what to eat & what not to eat. The hotel staff is wonderful & very friendly, whatever you need....will be in your room when you return from your adventures outside. The rooms and grounds are clean & well kept. The beach is clean & Riu offers loungers to sun in. Because there is not a lot to do in Punta Cana, the Riu hotels offer a mini city or man made road to individual unique shops to stroll around in at night and everyone is invited to the Casino. The name of this little area is called Carribean Street. All in all I was very pleased with this hotel chain & would stay there again.

Unique Quality: I really liked the idea of staying at one & playing at all the others. For the Riu Tiano the views were not that great considering how the buildings were layed out, but you did have a balcony in order to view the grounds and palm trees. Hubby & I had a blast one morning watching 1 of the caretakers removing coconuts from the trees. He notice us watching & posed at the top of the tree for a picture. It's very interesting how they climb the tree's in order to get to the top. This gentleman even gave us a coconut cut open in order for us to drink from. Very nice guy, he told us that they have to go around to all the coconut trees every few days to pick the coconuts so they didn't fall from the trees naturally and bonk guests in the head. I have to say the beach is this hotels best feature, although I did love the little bungalows and how the eating establishment was layed out. The resturant was outside and you could eat & watch the beach along with receiving a wonderful breeze. The pool wasn't bad either although it was fairly run of the mill, other than you could get drinks at the bar by the pool. One of the Riu hotels had their bar IN the pool. Now that was a fun afternoon.

• Opinion of Price: less expensive than average
• Address: Playa Arena Gorda, Punta Cana
• Phone: Teléfono: (1809)221-2290
• Website: http://www.riu.com/index.php
• Related to: Beaches, Water Sports, Budget Travel
• Written March 11, 2006

The Rio Pool

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• Bobist
• Reviews: 1

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• raenorthern
• Reviews: 35

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Allegro Jack Tar Puerto Plata: Jak Tar

The hotel is nice and clean no problems what so ever. the double room was the size of an suite by europes standards and had two king size beds in it. Throughout the day there numerous land and non motorised sports depending on how energetic you were. At night we found the bar area too noisy and used the next door apartment bars as a retreat. At night time other than the hotel entertainment or quiet drinksin the other bar there wa a lot to do. There were the usual all inclusive restuarants where you had to book in advance. The seafood one was nice down by the waters edge. There is a managers cocktail party down by the pool every two weeks. There are fantastic beach (playa Dorado) walks during day light hours ( I wouldn't venture on to it at night, there are armed gurds around to kkep an eye on you if you do at night) The problem is there is alot of poverty and the five star hotels throw it bacj in their faces. Overall ok for a relax by the ppol, swim in sea and hot weather. At the end of the resort is the golf club

• Opinion of Price: about average
• Related to: Spa and Resort
• Written March 8, 2006

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• grovier
• Reviews: 222

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Casa Marina Bay: In Las Galeras

A "little" hotel for the country, with only 250 rooms and suites.
Situated on a little beach, with many palmtrees and grass just near the sea.
Rooms are comfortable, even if its never really clean.
But...its cheap and filled by an international-european and dominican- "clientele".
All included, so its OK for drinks, but someone are drunk all the day...

Unique Quality: The site, wich is totally different of Punta Cana in a preserved area.

• Opinion of Price: less expensive than average
• Related to: Beaches, Water Sports, Family Travel
• Written February 28, 2006

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• HawaiianKukiniNui
• Reviews: 18

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Iberostar Hacienda Dominicus: Dominican's Best Hotel

This is 5 star 498 guest room resort which is affordable, on the ocean front, a wide range of amenities, and out of the way from the hustle and bustle of city life. Iberostar Hacienda Dominicus provides an immense amount of space indoors and outdoors so guests, arriving from around the world never feel crowded.

An expansive central garden is flanked by colonnades, fountains, and pools. One pool holds flamingos whose pastel plumage and tranquil grace symbolize the resort's colors, design, and appeal. Surrounded by an immense sundeck furnished with padded lounge chairs and thatched shades, the enormous lagoon-style main pool provides ample room for undisturbed paddling. It contains a garden isle with a raised, 20-person, cool-water spa for social soaking. One end of the pool features a sloping "beach entry" that leads into a shallow toddlers' section. Adjacent to this pool is a round, 70-foot diameter "quiet pool." Nearby, a rectangular pool offers water games.

Twice weekly an orchestra accompanies ballroom dancing in the elegant, open-air Green Salon adjacent to the lobby. The salon mirrors the Hermitage Palace in St. Petersburg, Russia, down to details like a delicate metal-and-paint decorative band near the ceiling and immense chandeliers.

Additional Information
Iberostar will not, under any circumstances, allow Spring Breakers at their resorts. Therefore, only 2 adults maximum will be allowed in the same room March 1 - April 17. 3 night minimum stay required at this resort. La Romana International Airport is 15 minutes away. La Romana center (shopping, entertainment) - 30 minutes drive away.
Check in: 4 p.m.
Check out: 11 a.m.

Unique Quality: All-Inclusive Plan includes:
-Unlimited food and drink
-Dominican and imported alcoholic beverages and house wines
-Sparkling wines with meals, minibar water, beer, and soft drinks
-Non-motorized water-sports equipment, fitness and recreation facilities
-All resort activities and entertainments
-Health spa's steam room and hot and cool spas
-Supervised children's club (ages 4-12)
-Taxes and gratuities

Dining:
El Colonial Gourmet Restaurant- Gourmet a la carte dining. Reservations required. Men are required to wear a dress shirt, long pants (no jeans) and dress shoes.
El Ingenio Restaurant- Serving International cuisine, buffet style, for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Men are required to wear a shirt with sleeves, and proper footwear (no sandals). Bermuda shorts are allowed.
La Geisha Japanese Restaurant- An a la carte restaurant serving Japanese cuisine. Reservations required. Men are required to wear a dress shirt, long pants (no jeans) and dress shoes.
La Goleta Steak House- An a la carte Steak House. Reservations required. Men are required to wear a dress shirt, long pants (no jeans) and dress shoes.
La Hacienda Mexican Restaurant- An a la carte restaurant serving Mexican cuisine. Reservations required. Men are required to wear a dress shirt, long pants (no jeans) and dress shoes.

Amenities
5 Restaurants Activities/Tours Assistance Aerobics
Archery Bar/Lounge Billiards
Cable/Satellite TV Children's Activities Children's Pool
Fitness/Exercise Room Gift Shop Grocery Store
Internet Access ($) Jacuzzi Kids Club
Massage ($) Medical Services ($) Meeting Rooms
Nightclub Nightly Entertainment Safe Deposit Box
Sailing Scuba Diving ($) Swimming Pool(s)
Tennis Court(s) Volleyball Wedding Services
Windsurfing

Resort Highlights
Three Big Pools Immense Sundeck Kids Club
On Ocean Beach

Area Attractions
Shops/Shopping in Area
Golf Nearby
Snorkeling Nearby

• Opinion of Price: about average
• Address: Bayahibe Beach, La Romana, Dominican Republic
• Related to: Spa and Resort, Romantic Travel and Honeymoons, Beaches
• Written February 4, 2006

Iberostar Hacienda Dominicus

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