rachael,

I am a frequent visitor to the Dom Rep but have only stayed at the Iberostar Costa Dorada which is 5 mins in a taxi up the road from the 2 hotels you are talking about, both these resorts are on what is called a gated complex called the Playa Dorada Complex with quite a few resorts.Shopping Plaza with bars, restaurants,and shops.
Here is a map of the complex http://www.worldisround.com/articles/304320/photo186.html?photosize=large click on view full size image for a better look.

The beaches on the North Coast are not the Caribbean white sand it is more of a golden colour.
Photos for Gran Ventana here http://www.tripadvisor.com/LocationPhotos-g147290-d150764-Gran_Ventana_Beach_Resort-Puerto_Plata_Dominican_Republic.html#19938606
Photos for Holiday Village here http://www.tripadvisor.com/LocationPhotos-g147290-d269045-Holiday_Village_Golden_Beach-Puerto_Plata_Dominican_Republic.html

The locals both working in the resorts and outside are very happy and friendly people, you will have no problems getting on with them, we have made many friends with the Dominican people over the years we have been travelling there.
Here is a good site for info on tours, Martin comes highly recommended by many travellers including myself.

http://www.isairatours.com/tours.html

If you need anymore info I will be pleased to help you. We call the Dom Rep our second home.

Angie.

thats so helpful thank you. And thanks for the map, really useful. I am leaning towards the holiday village

They both look nice but I would love to find a resort on the caribbean side,just not sure what I am looking for. Lots to take in! Are you able to give me any pointers? Can you suggest any names of places I could start to look at

thanks again

The Caribbean side is really the South of the island the area of La Romana but it is very quiet and not much to do except laze on the beach at the resorts, alot of people go to Punta Cana for the beaches which is on the East Coast but that is also really a purpose built length of beach resorts, which are much more expensive than the North Coast and not that much to that side either just R&R.
Here is a map for Punta Cana but it is mind blowing at which hotel to choose for a first timer.
http://www.worldisround.com/articles/304320/photo247.html click on view full size image again to get a better view of all resorts.

If you need any more help just get in touch
Angie.

Don't forget to check the REVIEWS

Hi Angie, you have been so helpful thank you. I wonder do you (or anyone else reading) have any experience of Ocean Sands in Bavaro? I believe this is on the East, is this right? Would the sea be a little calmer here? More as I imagine a Caribbean destination?

Any thoughts on the hotel and Bavaro itself would be great. Thanks for your help, there is so much to take in!

Oh, also a more general question. We won't be able to afford a priviledge club that so many hotels seem to offer, I have never come across this before but I am new to AI, does this mean that lots that the hotels have to offer will be 'off limits'

thanks again and hope you dont mind the 20 questions!

Hi Rachael,

I have not had personal experience of Ocean Sands/Ocean Blue but friends of ours have stayed there.They are two resorts, one on each side of the pools sharing all the restaurants, bars, etc.Ocean Blue is on the right of the resort and Ocean Sands is on the left. each side has certain tour companies that book on one side or the other.
There is a little trolly that runs continually throughout the resort and stops at each villa for pick up and drop off, so if you do not wish to walk the resort, hitch a ride. There are about 20 rooms to each villa block.Here is a map of the resort.

http://www.worldisround.com/articles/304320/photo237.html as usual click on view full size image.

Yes you are correct it is the Bavaro area of Punta Cana, one area just goes into the other and yes its the East side of the Dominican Republic. This area is quite calm waters, as you say more like the Caribbean destination you imagine.

Just because you will not be taking the priviledge club nothing is off limits to you resort wise its just the priviledge club gets more extras.

Found photo of the resort here.http://www.dominican-republic-photos.com/dominican-republic/ocean-blue-ocean-sand-punta-cana-resort/resort/

Beach photos here.http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ReviewPhotos-g147293-d530406-r31730821-Ocean_Sand_Golf_Beach_Resort-Punta_Cana_Dominican_Republic.html#19716425
http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ReviewPhotos-g147293-d530406-r31730821-Ocean_Sand_Golf_Beach_Resort-Punta_Cana_Dominican_Republic.html#19716426

Anymore help just get in touch again,will help all I can.

Angie.

Hi rachel,

I don't know whether you've booked yet but i've actually been to the Gran Ventana and booked it through First Choice, (although it was four years ago).

I had a great time the staff are all welcoming and friendly, and the rooms are of a good standard for the Dominican. The hotel, like most, is right on the beach which is beautiful but if you walk two minutes to your left you are suddenly exposed to an amazing strech of sand with palm trees (what you imagine from the carribean-even tho your not on the caribean side).

I thought the food was very good too, we were told not to go less than 4* as the food does tend to be poorer- and from my own experiences and that of friends i would say its true.

i went with my partner and i didn't expect many families to be there, however, i was shocked with the amount of children. i obviously can't commet on childrens activities but they all seemed to be having a good time. What is good is that the main pool is almost club shaped- tree circles with a bar in the middle-one of the circles is very, very shallow sloping very gently. this is not only good for small children but i tended to lie down in it and read (you still got a sun tan but it was a lot cooler).

The only bad bits were that towards the end of the day the pool got bits of leaves in - it wasn't dirty and cleaned everyday but it was a little annying. Also be careful in the rooms as the floors were tiled and became slippy if you had the ac on for long periods.

i hope that helps-i know trip advisor can be confusing. Even if you don't go to GV i would recommend the dom rep is good value and you will have a good time (i'm going punta cana next year) Like i said before tho try to go 4* plus if you can.

Thanks so much for taking the time to reply :-)

In the end after lots of helpful advice on here we decided that Punta Cana was for us and we are going on the 30th Sept. Am so excited!

thanks again, really kind of you

We went to Punta Cana in March and I have to say the beach was very good however we had a very strong onshore wind for the whole 13days and very mixed weather,but i have to say the hotel and staff were top class no complaints at all,we went to the Riu Palace Macao.

never been to dom rep can anyone advise first time this jan 2010

steve,

Which part of the Dom Rep are you going and to which resort.I love the place its like a second home to us.

Angie.

i havelooked at riomambo but night life looks quiet can you advise anywere

Yes the Riu complex is out of the way with nothing around the area. I would say look at resorts in the Playa Dorada Complex as you can then go out of resort at night without getting a taxi as the Playa Dorada Complex is gated with other resort hotels, bars, restaurants/cafes, shops, nightclubs and banking/money exchange facilities and also shopping outlets to buy your tours/trips from if you dont want to buy them from the guys on the beach.

Angie.

thanks angie i want to stay were the rooms are clean and the food is good what can you recommend

HI,
It really depends on what sort of nightlife you're looking for. If it's a partying sort of holiday, definitely steer away from the Riu complex but if you're after shows, late night drinks and an occasional visit to the disco the Mambo would suit you fine. We stayed at the Merengue (a good few years ago) which is one of the sister hotels of the Mambo - the other being the Bachata. We were 2 couples in our 40's and had a fabulous holiday there. I would certainly recommend it to anyone. It doesn't really matter which of the 3 hotels you stay in as you can use the facilities of all 3, providing you take your evening meal at your own hotel. We've had 3 Caribbean holidays to date with the Riu Merengue being our favourite. Good Luck in your choice.

thanks for that the merengie looks good

steve,

Blue Bay Villas is an adult only resort. Have a look at their website.

http://www.bluebayresorts.com/en/hotel/bluebay-villas-doradas.html

or a 5 minute taxi ride away from the Playa Dorada Complex is our hotel of choice is the Iberostar Costa Dorada, we have been to this hotel 6 times in all now.All because of the great food, clean rooms, lovely beach and beautiful large pool and well kept grounds and friendly staff. Here is their website.

http://www.iberostar.com/EN/Puerto-Plata-hotels/Iberostar-Costa-Dorada_3_62.html

Angie.

" I would say look at resorts in the Playa Dorada Complex as you can then go out of resort at night without getting a taxi as the Playa Dorada Complex is gated with other resort hotels, bars, restaurants/cafes, shops, nightclubs and banking/money exchange facilities"

Angie. we got a taxi down one night to this complex but saw none of these, where were they. I remember a cashpoint and maybe a shop but nothing else. We where also staying at the ICD

Was it not the Blue Bay where all the wife/partner swapping went on or am i getting mixed up with another hotel of a similar name.