Just returned from 3 weeks at this hotel and I really cannot understand some of the negative reviews!? I think the biggest problem is some people do not do their homework before booking a hotel or are rival hotels making other hotels look bad?

So here is my honest review through my eyes.

ROOM
Our room was a standard room in the main hotel, it consisted of a large king size bed, 2 bedside cabinets, a table with 2 wicker chairs, large unit for the fridge and TV to rest on and 2 sets of drawers, A large double wardrobe which included the safe, clock radio, hairdryer, coffee maker. The bathroom included a Jacuzzi bath with shower.

The balcony had table and 2 chairs and a rack for drying clothes. There was a bowl of fruit on arrival. The fridge was re-stocked every day with 2 x beer, water, lemonade, coke and orangeade. The maid cleaned our room daily, sometimes leaving flower arrangements on the bed.

We had a problem with our room (545) which faced over the town as there was so much noise from the music in town most of the night, after 3 nights we could not stand it and asked to change rooms this was done instantly with no fuss. We were then located at the back of the hotel room 421 with a sea view so quiet and wonderful.

HOTEL
This resort is absolutely spotless with people cleaning all the time, all the staff are so friendly and most speak some English.

The resort consists of 2 beach's, 3 pools,3 x a al cart restaurants, snack bar and a buffet restaurant, 6 x bars with very good drinks for a all inclusive, disco and gym.

The hotel is located on a cliff top so there are a lot of steps to tackle but most areas are reached via the hotel shuttle so you don't have to walk. There is also a free shuttle into town (10 min) walk. The main beach has an elevator to it where there is a beach bar and water sport centre. The smaller beach has the 2 quiet pools, jetty and snack bar.

A LA CART
There are three a la cart restaurants.
Mediterranean: We found the food was not good, staff were slow and not very happy and the place smelled fishy.
Gourmet: We liked this place the food was good especially the steak which was as good as anywhere in the UK, the staff were always happy and service was good.
Italian: never tried this as we both don't like Italian food.

SNACK BAR....
The food was good great choice and a coffee machine or you can have a cold drink at the bar. The service was good as the staff always look after you.

BUFFET RETAURANT
This is by far the best all inclusive buffet I have been to, unbelievable amount of choice something for everyone, staff always looking after you your glass never goes empty and your plates removed sometimes before you finish if you leave table for a minute. There was nice background music to eat too. Only problem here I would say is the food is never really hot only warm (although there is a microwave if needed).

DISCO
This is a really small place which was quite smelly and always quite empty; a load of people would sit outside drinking as it stays open until 02.00. The barman always put too much spirits and not enough mixers.

TOWN
The hotel provides a free hourly shuttle to town although it is only 10 min walk down but you need the shuttle for return as the hill is long.
Some people complained of the hassle but I never encountered any. Just be firm and say NO if you're not interested they will not do anything bad to you for refusing.
I had a few nice walks around the town and seafront meeting some nice Dominican people and never spent a penny I did not want to.

STAFF
All the staff spoke some English and they do appreciate you trying to learn a little Spanish, they are very overworked so a little patience don't go amiss.
There were far too many outstanding people but to mention a few daddy's, alba and Brenda in the buffet.
Manuel+victor in the lobby bar
victor in the snack bar
Thanks guys.

The weather was hot but it did rain quite a bit during our three weeks mostly around PM for about 20 min's. Worst day was Xmas eve when it rained mostly all day.

The only excursion we did was a fishing trip with Raymond+Gregory on the beach which was good value for money.
We spent most of our time fishing from the jetty or the bridge to nowhere which is well worth a walk over and NO you won't get pestered here we hardly even saw any locals except the ones fishing too. We also enjoyed playing pool most evenings.

To sum up this was a excellent value for money hotel and one of the best all inclusive's we have been to.

tip to the hotel more clocks around the resort as we don't all bring watch's on holiday.

Only downside is the long trip from porta platta on the bus after a 8 hr flight so come on Thompson sort it out!!!!

If you want a clean hotel, this is it. Rooms are well presented. Food is good in main restaurant if a little repetitive. Al a carte hit and miss. Not much to do apart from hotel games and average trips. Although Bacardi island is gorgeous and worth a trip. Watch out for some of the shops in the town they pray on tourists and rip you off. Hotel shops on site reasonable. Staff are efficient and friendly although better experience if you can speak a little Spanish.

We have just returned from 2 weeks at this hotel and would recommend it without a doubt. The views are probably the most stunning on the whole of the Dom Rep.The hotel is built into a hillside and overlooks on oneside the bay of Samana and the other the hills. One small downside would be the size of the swimming pool but because the hotel is bullt into a hill the large Caribbean swimming pools we have been used to are not an option. It gets very warm around the swimming pool and there are not a lot of parasols, but we chose to spend each day by the beach and had no trouble obtaining a sunbed and parasol whatever time of the day we chose to go down.
Our room were superb although we did upgrade to a junior suite, which gaves us an enormous bathroom with the luxury of 2 showers one with an enormous window looking into the bedroom allowing you to watch TV whilst you showered.The bedrooms are cleaned thoroughly on a daily basis and mini fridges stocked up with soft drinks and beer.
You have to give the entertainment team 10/10 for their effort especially Crazy Romeo who has to be loudest, nuttiest person I have ever met.Everyday they organise activities by the pool and down on the beach and do not get offended if you do not wish to join in.The evening entertainment is not the best but what hotel entertainment is.
The food we thought was out of this world and there was always plenty of choice. There are regular theme nights in the main buffet restaurant (i.e Chinese, Dominican and even an English night)but there was always other choices if you preferred. There are 3 a la carte restaurants to choose from Italian, Seafood and Gourmet and all 3 we would recommend. Be warned though these get booked up very quickly so book them on the first night you are there.
We have no complaints about the hotel staff either as they would always go out of their way to help out.
This hotel is classed as 5 Star and although it wouldn't make our 5 Star rating I would certainly rate it just above 4 Star plus.

We loved our holiday here it was worth every penny.
You did have to get up quite early to get a spot by the pool and an umbrella. The staff definatley made the holiday for us, the pool bar lady was brilliant and she made the best bananamamas!the entertainment guys were good and a great laugh,
The buffet restaurant was good and had such a wide variety we tried lots of new things on this holiday including lobster, sushi and deep fried ice-cream.
The 3 extra restaurants got booked up quickly so you have to get in there quick.
It says 5 star and that men need to wear long trousers for meals but smart 3/4 lengths were allowed also.
We did visit bacardi island which was amazing and we also swam with dolphins which i recommend to people although we have heard of it being alot cheaper in other countries, and we had to travel for 4 hours each way to the destination on un made roads which did make me feel very sicky at points.
everyday the maids cleaned our rooms and left fresh flowers on the bed.
WE did take the hotel shuttle down into the town a few times, we got some goodies to bring back and i even went and got my nails done, you need to haggle in the town and if you take the beer from your mini fridge you can exchange with the shop keepers for souveniers.
All in all it was a 10/10 holiday !

The hotel was clean and the staff friendly,the hotel snack bar is down a lot of steps so if you have walking difficulties dont go down,the rest of the hotel was ok they had a lift down to the beach, we spent a lot of time there and you dont need shoes for the water, there was plenty of sunbeds even if you didn't go down till the afternoon.
Like all carribean hotels the entertainment could be better but they did work hard.
We went on about 4 trips the only one we had a complaint about was the catamerang.
Bacardi Island was lovely.
outside was a bit hairy so only went out with the trips
the only reason I wont go back to this hotel is the rep.

the hotel reception very clean and large with shops and bars check in staff very helpfull.our room was on the third floor, there are two lifts located in differant areas one takes you to the reception area and the other to buffet restuarant, pool and beach areas.worth knowing as the hotel is very large and can save you getting lost! our room was very large and impressive large marble bathroom with wirlpool bath abd screened off loo area.off this was the dressing area lots of room, this was closed off with a door to the bedroom so you didnt hear noise from the hall ways, large comthy bed room had a stocked fridge which was filled each day with soft drinks, water and beer. plenty of towels provided and the room was spotless. had a lovely view of the beach the balconys are made of safety glass.the hotel is situates on a steep cliff so you take a glass fronted lift to the beach. the food was lovely differant themme nights you could always have pizza and pastas if there was nothing you liked on that paticular theme night. the hotel staff were very helpful and polite. the entertainment team always trying to involve you in games.