What kind of information are you looking for? I was there in February (and return in January!). If you think I will have the info you need, let me know specifics. I have an opinion on everything!

I would like to know how is the beach, pool, food, rooms, what kind of activities they have, what to be aware of.. etc.. I am planning to go there this weekend. thanks

I said the following in another thread about the best hotel in the DR:

I seem like a broken record on this topic. My personal all-time favourite (with very little to compare it to!!) is Casa Del Mar. I love that it is a bit removed from the other resorts/resort areas, that it is on the Caribbean instead of Atlantic, that its staff are the most hardworking and friendly of any hotel anywhere, that they take such personal care of you to ensure the best vacation ever, that there is calm and gratifying snorkeling right at the beach, that they offer fruit and nut tours of the resort (eating amongst the trees!), that vendor pests are not an issue, that buggy insect pests are not an issue, that it is close to the airport and Santo Domingo, with the launches to Saona Island just down the beach. It wants for nothing.

I add the following:

There is a tree in the pool area with the board through it from Hurricane Georges. The tennis courts have a pro and teenage ball boys working there. They have bikes and horses to ride and there are impromptu beach volleyball games at about 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. I hear that you can see flamingos (but I didn't see any) as well as the turtles at the nature part of the spa. They light it with torches at night. Of course there are the full range of pampering massages but, though I need one in the real world, I didn't need one there! In the TV Lounge in the evenings they make special coffees, some of which they set afire. If you arrive just as the buffet is opening for lunch, the staff all sing and play instruments as they open up the doors. There is a nearby disco in Bayahibe on Friday nights where lots of locals and visitors drink and dance. The entertainment staff can do a tour showing the edible nuts, fruit etc that grow on the property. There are cooking lessons in the afternoon (by the pool), water aerobics--in the ocean!! (which is fabulous), dance lessons on the beach, Spanish lessons, I have requested a guided reef snorkel tour for my return. They convert the Asia Restaurant into a disco after 11 p.m., which is funny in itself (reminds me of the Seinfeld episode when the meat packing plant converts to a hot bar to meet models).

You can rent (for free) snorkel gear from a little hut, for an hour at a time. I bring my own. They also have kayaks and pedal boats. The kayaks were a particularly good time for me!

The day trip to Saona is a must-do. The catamaran ride and speedboat are both great. You stop at a natural pool of the lightest green water and sandy bottom dotted with large red starfish. If you weren't there yourself you would think it was fake. Saona Island is a tropical wonderland, though overrun with tourists like ourselves. It departs from the Bayahibe beach 10 minutes from Casa Del Mar. On our return, we were speedboated right to the beach 4 minutes from my hotel room door! Only problem here: last I heard, all the boats were taken down by Jeanne. I don't know if this excursion will be up and running yet.

To answer your specific questions (beach, pool, food, rooms):

The beach is just what I like. It is not overly long, but it is really clean (they have a crew of staff out in the morning raking and cleaning) and uncrowded. As I said, I was there in February and it never felt full--ever. Lots of areas to sit, sunny and shady, and lots of lounge chairs. Good or bad, there are no locals on the beach and no intruding vendors. They set up permanently down at the end of the beach and a few times a week the hotel brings them in to set up under a controlled setting for you to buy larimar, paintings, coffee and various handicrafts.

The pool is beautiful in shape and very clean. They close it every evening, for the night, for sanitizing. It is still pretty though, nicely lit. They have water polo and scuba lessons in the pool in the day too. They have a whirlpool type thing, but I don't think it's heated.

The food was very good. If you have preferences, you may be more satisfied or less satisfied. The ribs were unbelievable, if you are into that kind of thing. They didn't serve them every night so fill up when you see them. A lot of the food on the buffet is relatively bland, but be sure to check out the condiments table with capers and balsamic vinegar and hot sauce and olives and all the relish/ketchup staples. What I went for on the buffet was the stuff in the "Dominican" corner and the other things that I can't get at home. I had a lot of seafood, particularly conch!! In the buffet and by the beach they will grill you the steak of your choice to the style of your choice. I don't really know where there would be room for complaints when it comes to food.

The room was good too. Very spacious and oh-so-clean (as is the entire resort, no leaves or dust anywhere). The balconies/terraces are a nice touch and they provide you with shampoo etc. The little fridge is very handy and well stocked. Leave a note for your maid if you have extra requests and they always oblige. Some say the walls are thin. I won't argue that, I just didn't experience it. I brought earplugs and never used them.

The staff are the best. Really fabulous. Friendly and happy to have a good job and it shows.

I don't really have cautions. Note that the room doesn't have a bolt or extra lock so even when you are in the room, somebody may come in if you don't respond to a knock. Also beware that a few people have keys to the room (bellmen, cleaners) so using your safe may be a good idea. That said, I paid the money to get the lock for the safe and never got around to filling it with my valuables and I had no incident. Was I lucky or is it safe? They also have security guards posted in each building, which I like.

I travelled with a group of 16 when I went the last time (wedding). Nobody had any complaints. The sunscreen is $20 a bottle in the gift shop. One person was bitten by some bug once. Nobody got stomach illness (that wasn't brought on him/herself!). Brush teeth with bottled water.

Let me know if any questions arise, and I will post again if I think of anything further. Please send me pictures when you return. I will be most interested to see what you did on your trip.

thanks for your reply. We have booked the Apple 5-Square deal for la romana, so most probably we will be in casa del mar, there is a small change that we may be given Ibrostar. any idea abou ibrostar?

Nah, I don't have anything on the Iberostar. I hear that it's nice with lots of amenities but the grounds are more spread out, longer beach but shared with another hotel, Italian run.

thanks for you info.