Thanks for that Kazee. I guess we might take a couple of towels of our own just in case we lose the card.
We're off in 4 weeks!! Can't wait!!
My husband is a bit of an exercise freak and loves running. Can anyone advise us which is the best way to run if he goes along the beach? I heard there was a little market one way but can't remember which. Also, would he be able to get onto the golf course and run there? Alternatively I think there is a small gym at the hotel, any ideas of opening times as he's a bit of an early bird?He's taken some lovely photos of the sun rising on previous holidays and I've promised myself I'll join him at least once this year.
I've just e-mailed the hotel requesting adjacent rooms as my daughter and her friend will be with us. Do you think I will get a reply?
So many questions!! I'm beginning to get excited now!!
Any info gratefully read................

Hi

I returned last week from my 2nd visit to this hotel...

I'd recomend taking your own towel...
I'd say if your hubby enters the beach and turns left, the beach is great there Although right is also fine The market was left... but it's a haggle, "come into my shop" type flee market!

The beach has recently been cleaned up and is now beautiful!

Don't know about the gym or golf course I'm afraid!

I emailed them this year, to ask for a ground floor room, didn't get a reply but got the room we asked for!

Any more qs let me know
I'll be writing my review pretty shortly!

Welcome back Dramaqueen did you have a good time? and was the weather kind to you. Also did you find things had changed with going the following year. As you know we went in January and had a fab time although the weather was not so kind for the first four days.
Will you be going back next year

Kazee

Hey Kazee:

Weather was amazing! 110 degrees on some days! We had rain for one day and most nights which was fine (as we had the bar for shelter!)

Things had changed, some for the better others not as such, nothing major! Only real thing was that we missed Jimmy, who left last christmas! But the new beach and the fact that Enrique is pretty high up now compensated!

We're planning a return trip for christmas 2008... I promised mum we'd go to cuba next summer so I suppose I'll have to make that sacrifice (BTW I love cuba as well!!!)

You thinking of ever going back to the GV? They treat their returning guests as royalty!

Dramaqueen read your pm

Kazee

Can anyone tell me how I would be able to email the Gran Ventana directly. My partner and I went in 2005 and are going again in October, but I'd like to request to be in the same block again!

Many thanks

REVIEW:

Good points:

FOOD: Tasted good, decent range of meals and all cooked safely. We had no problems with tummy bugs during our stay.

CLEANLINESS: Brilliantly clean! If a staff member dropped a glass it would be cleared up straight away.

WEATHER: Very hot; temperatures were high even for the Caribbean, dawn-til-dusk sun. What more could you ask for?

BEACH: Lovely sandy beach! The hotel hires out equipment for snorkling (for no extra charge) and there are plenty of fish about.

STAFF: Really friendly, hard working staff who made you feel welcome.

Bad points:

POOL: The pool is surrounded by palm trees so the pool began to get a little bitty. On one day during the holiday the pool was drained and cleaned which made a big distance. Well clorinated and the staff used nets to try and keep the bits or bark away. Swim up bar; did the people drinking always wait until they went to the toilet?

REP: We were with Thomas Cook and I didn't really rate the rep. The COSMOS rep was much more helpful.

OTHER POINTS:

FACILITIES: Being a comparatively smaller complex facilities seemed limited. There was enough, just, but at night the area around the pool was pretty dark and there wasn't anywhere to sit and play cards etc. unless you sat in the lobby. Liked the pool bar at night time.

ENTERTAINMENT: This was okay. Wasn't outstanding, wasn't rubbish. Wasn't much going on in the day time and they only had a few songs to play during the day. The staff themselves were brilliant, I just think they were restricted in terms of equipment and space.

BEACH SAILSPERSONS: The beach is a public beach, so watch out for people approaching you trying to sell stuff. This can get annoying, but it's also chance to get a real bargain! My brother got some very cheap sunglasses and my mum and sister bought some very nice jewelry at a good price.

DOMINICAN PEOPLE: Always worth a mention! The Dominicans are so good natured! Do their best to make you feel welcome both inside and outside the hotel.

TRIPS: Don't pay extra for the "VIP" Paradise Island; you'll be wasting your money. Pay for the normal Paradise Island if you fancy it and you'll have a good time! Dominican Discovery is fantastic and I'd recommend this above all others! Ocean World is worth a visit also.

METEOR SHOWER: We were lucky enough to see a meteor shower one night. This was really special!

Welcome to HT Up The Iron!

Thank you for taking the time to post your review. I'd be grateful if you'd copy it HERE when you have a moment please

Thank you.

Pippy

P.S I too saw a meteor shower during my holiday! I was in Egypt a couple of weeks ago and saw a fabulous display during my last night there, Sunday 12th August.

Looking at going to Dominican Republic in July 2008. This hotel looks good, can anyone give me any info please.

transfer times
a/l times
excertations

i am going with husband and two children 11 and 8 years. a little concerned about flights in case they get bored as longest time they have been in the plane is 4 hrs.

Great hotel loved it but evening entertainment a bit naff though they do try. There are 2 blocks, the quiet block is away from the main building, very quiet, and the area around the pool can be shaded. Best get a room in the main block. The beach is lovely, but even though you feel you are not burning, you will be, so high factor SPF cream, min 30.

Transfer times if I recall was about 45 mins. Be careful leaving the airport, people try and grab your bags and take them to your coach and then ask for a tip. Some guys even stand by the coach, look like the coach driver, load your bags on to the coach then ask for a tip so be careful.

What does a/l times mean?

Excursions I think you mean...? I did monster trucks (amazing) and went to the water park to swim with dolphins and sealions. Think that Monster Trucks was something like £50 and the waterpark day with the swims about £90.

Who you flying with? We flew with Thomson. Its worth paying to sit in premium, leg room in economy is rubbish. We sat in premium and it was worth it. Wasnt bored, seat back tv's to watch. Going out I think was about 9 and half hours, coming back due to winds was only around 7. The airport in Dom Rep is actually quite nice, plenty of shops, clean toilets etc.

There are some really good reviews of this hotel, and the excursions if you do a search for Gran Ventana on the Tripadvisor website (including my review with photos).

Hotel reviews HERE

Pippy

Hello:

I've been to the Gran Ventana twice (2006 and 2007) absolutly love it!

If you have any questions let me know!

Seat pitch rubbish? on Thomson? we have 33" leg room in economy which is more than BA and Virgin and 37" in premium, I am not slim and can walk sideways between seats to cross the aisle!! you must have travelled before the upgrade!

As for the Gran Ventana I have been to this hotel 12 times (not through choice) and it is the worst hotel I have ever stopped at, loud music playing 24/7 the quiet pool is not quiet because all the parents that want a quiet experience bring their unruley children to it too. of the 12 times I have always come back with either mild or severe food poisening requiring dr's appointments on 2 occasions.

I could go on, but it is an expensive hotel but doesn't live up to its price. I am glad I do not have to stay at this hotel any longer.

Try the sister hotel, a lot more dignified affair

Victoria Golf and beach resort... or the Riu (bit further afield)

Everyone is different but I have stayed in 1star to 7 star hotels (yes the Burj Al Arab in Dubai) so have experienced all service levels and would not knock a 1 star hotel just because I have stayed in better for the sake of it. But I cannot beg anyone enough to stay in this hotel. I would not allow my dog to be kennelled here.

I can't believe the last post!!!!! My family and I went to the Gran Ventana last summer and had the holiday of our lives!! All I can say is that the writer of the last post must have been expecting a 6 star holiday. I suppose it is right to say that it is not a 5 star hotel but this is the Dominican Republic, not London or New York!! My friends call me a snob because I do like the nice things in life and even I couldn't find too much fault. OK, the rooms could do with up-dating but one block was in the process of this while we were there. The food in the buffet was quite acceptable but the A-la cartes were all outstanding with service second to none. The cleanliness was top notch and staff all very happy and friendly, and the beach.......paradise!! Please take the previous post with a pinch of salt and read all the other glowing reports. Have a good time!!

Please remember and respect that people's expectations and opinions differ

Pippy

Off to this complex from glasgow on the 3rd June 08..Karrie noted that one of the blocks was going thru an upgrade / refurb anyone know of the block name.? Also is it worth paying for prem seats or extra legroom seats both quite tall 6ft 3 and 5ft 10 i also noted that in the brochure it states a myt flight but on the website a tcook airlines was stated, i guess they both use the same airbus 330 with the notoriously poor 3-3-3 arrangements..? any comments about the flight or hotel will be most appreciated thanks

For aircraft/flight info please post HERE

Thanks.

Pippy

HI Jellybaby, The 3 blocks at the Gran Ventana are the Catalina and Saona buildings which are between the the main pool and the beach and some rooms have partial sea views, and the Beata building which is near the quiet pool sort of behind the main area of the hotel. The Beata backs onto the road and I believe can be a bit noisy because of the bar nearby. The Catalina and Saona are the same as each other and it was the Saona that was being refurbed when we were there last August. Hope this helps.....

Me and my husband are going to the Dominican Republic for the first time in June 2008. We are hoping to stay at the Gran Ventana.

Does anyone know how good the watersports are? Are they as advertised in the brochures / websites?

Also how bad are the mosquitos in June? I suffer badly when I get bitten!