Hi,

Can't answer all your questions at the moment - we're due to stay at the IHD from Thurs 27 July for 2 weeks, so will be able to tell you more on our return.

However, I have corresponded with Britta Feldmeier, Guest Relations via the following e-mail address and found her to be very helpful.

rrpp.bayahibe@iberostar.com.do

Hope this helps

hi Chaseview.......will wait to hear from when you get back if thats ok.

Hope you have a lovley time, will you be leaveing a hotel review when you get back?

The web address that you gave me is that direct to the hotel? or is it to someone else.

Have a lovely time only 2days to go

Lovethesun

Hi Lovethesun

Well, what can I say, we had a fabulous time. Having experienced the hotel first hand, I will try to answer as many of your questions as I'm able.

We found the air conditioning to be good. It had three settings and our rooms had circulatory fans aswell. Although I usually need air conditioning on throughout the night, I found the ceiling fan sufficient without the air con but I suppose it's a matter of personal choice.

Although the majority of the restaurants are not air conditioned there are ceiling fans so we didn't find the heat too overbearing. I think I'm right in saying that the Colonnial restaurant was air conditioned, if not, it was certainly very cool in there.

The towel exchange is situated between the pool and beach and there never appeared to be a shortage of fresh towels throughout our stay.

Regarding food, a buffet breakfast was served in the El Ingenio restaurant between 7 am & 10 am. For those who prefer to get up a little later, breakfast was also available in the La Goleta restaurant from 10am to 12 noon. Although this was advertised as continental only, my sons informed me there was bacon, eggs, etc. also. Lunch could be taken in either of the above-mentioned restaurants. El Ingenio again served a buffet lunch between 1 to 3pm and La Goleta served a light buffet of salads, pizza, burgers, hot dogs and a couple of hot dishes between 12 noon and 4 pm. There were ice-cream, nacho and pop-corn dispensers available here also. Afternoon cakes, coffee, etc., were also available from the lobby bar and La Goleta. Dinner was served in the El Ingenio restaurant buffet style between 6.30 pm to 9.30 pm or, alternatively, dinner could be taken in any of the a la carte restaurants with prior reservation with guest services. Sandwiches are served in the lobby bar from 10 pm to 12 am. From midnight to 7 am snacks are served in the Mexican restaurant although I don't know what was available since I never used this facility.

We were allocated two inter-connecting rooms in block 2. One of the rooms had 2 double beds plus a single sofa type bed and the other had one large bed (don't know the correct term for it but it was larger than our own which is King size). The room with the double beds had a large walk-in shower but not bath, whereas the second room had a bath with shower over. If you have a preference I would request this in advance as I did with the inter-connecting rooms.

I think this answers the majority of your questions but please don't hesitate to ask if there's anything I've missed or something new you would like to ask.

I have considered this resort for a future trip so would you return? What are the major pluses and major negatives if any?

We were at Casa del Mar a few years ago, before it was taken over by Sunscape and loved it but we ususally don't return to the same resort because we're afraid that if the second visit isn't as good as the first we'd be really disappointed.

HI Snowyowl

Sorry it's been so long in getting back to you.

We were only discussing the possibility of returning to the IHD last night over dinner. We feel pretty much the same as IHD as you do about Casa del Mar. We really enjoyed our holiday but can't decide whether or not to return as there are lots of other places to visit and things might have changed. Having said that we were talking to a family whilst in the Dominican who liked the hotel so much in 2005 that they booked again for 2006. They were not disappointed but they said the hotel was much busier in 2006 than it had been the previous year.

Pluses - the hotel is very clean, the rooms are large, cool and comfortable. It was never difficult to obtain loungers on the beach and the sea was clear. Food was edible and drinks plentiful.

Minuses - all I can really comment on is that the water used for watering the gardens had a rather pungent smell and the pool/beach restaurant was busy at lunch time. These are only minor gripes and would most certainly not deter us from returning to the hotel in the future.

If you have any specific questions please let me know and I will try and help.

Hi,

We have just returned from IBHD and I see that most of your questions have been answered. As for the email address, i emailed using this address and they replied within 2 days.

rrpp.bayahibe@iberostar.com.do

We were requesting 2 rooms together and in a quiet location and as I had heard block 4 was nearest to the beach (away from the theatre) and one of the quietest, this was the one I asked for and to my delight it was the one we got.

One thing I know is that all the rooms have showers but not all have baths. We had one twin room with walk in shower and one king with bath and shower.

Hope this is helpful

gemmie1