Travelled with a friend for a quick getaway. She was pregnant so we asked for a room close to everything if possible. Arrived at the resort and our room was horrible. Old beds and furniture and it was about a 10minute walk from anything. Balcony faced a back wall and parking lot. Tried to get staff at reception to move us to a room closer to the restaurants/beach but were told they were upgraded rooms and we didn't pay for one so they weren't going to move us.

Talked to our Signature representative in the morning and because it was a weekend, she couldn't move us to another resort. Asked us to come back the next day and she finally was able to move us to the Marien Coral (an amazing place).

The staff at the Occidental Gran were very rude and not helpful at all, was happy to leave. Even if I hadn't been travelling with a pregnant lady, I wouldn't have been happy with this place.

There was ALOT wrong with this hotel so I will list them:

*NO swimup bar, NO minifridges in room, NO water activities, NO bicycles available (all listed in brochure)

*travel brochure listed jacuzzi, but it was inaccesible because it is located in VIP members only area

*Ice machines were broken.

*Bottled water had to be purchased! (We were told it was free, as our trip was "all-inclusive"

*Maid came into our room and our ajoining room with her key even when we had the "do not disturb sign" up. she would do this EVERY SINGLE DAY! took our clean towels, left dirty ones. cranked the a/c, moved our stuff around. (Again, we did NOT want any cleaning service during these times). she also left patio door unlocked.

*called down to front desk to request towels. they never came. my roommate called twice more, and nothing. 3 hours later i had to go to the front desk, and we FINALLY got them.

*beds have bugs in them.

*sheets smelt horrible.

*pool closes at 6pm

*no water pressure.

*never any hot water.

*food selection was disgusting. (most options at buffet had meat and my best friend is a vegetarian. im vegan and could barely eat)

*too many peddlers on the beach

All in all I would NEVER go back to this resort....The staff are amazing! Nice people! But unfortunately thats not enough. I cannot even remember the amount of people we talked to that had the same experience as us. Most were not satisfied.

This was the worst place ever to stay at. I think that the people that write the good reviews are the ones that live there and go there on weekends. They pay $10 a night and drink and eat everything up. The pool was crowed with locals. They kick you out of the pool at 6 pm. Nothing to do at night unless you want to watch the same show every night. The resort is very risky. Locks don't work on the sliding glass doors. The A/C leaks all over your room. The food is lousy. The beach is nasty. The water is not clear at all. The pools are dirty. Charge for everything including towels at the pool so keep an eye on them. People will steel them to turn in for money. They offer horseback riding what a joke. You have to travel to get there and then it is ponies that go in a circle. You have to pay for real horseback riding. The hound you to join there time share. Worst vacation ever.

My daughter wasdiagnosed with cancer in May of 2006. After only three months in July of 2007 she relapsed. They started another round of chemo and radiation and this December 2008 before she was even finished we were told that her cancer had spread throughout her central nervous system and there was nothing more they could do for her. My oldest daughter wanted me to have a break and since her and her husband were going to the Dominican I thought about it but I couldn't justify leaving Jenny. Jenny decided in the meantime with my parents going for their yearly visit to Florida to go and spend her last time with my mom and dad in Florida. My daughter and son-in-law were booked into the Barcelo but we couldn't afford the price since I haven't worked in three years since Jenny was diagnosed so we booked our trip with the Playa Dorada. Upon arrival I was totally disgusted. The room stunk so bad of mildew and the mattress was black with mildew. It was truely disgusting. The only people that worked there that were friendly were the bartenders. The drink selection was so limited though, they didn't seem to know how to make much of anything, eg. daquiri. The food was terrible, tasteless and same old same old. The a-la-carte was completely disappointing. In the grill everything everyone seem to ask for, steak, prime rib, we were told the were out. The mexican was disgusting and after talking to another couple we by passed the Itallian. The entertainment was the same everyday. The worst thing though was that while we were in line in the buffet room for breakfast right behind the guy making the eggs ran A MOUSE!!!!!!!! I was sooooooooooooo disgusted. I don't know if it was because of the food but I ended up very ill and had to be taken by wheelchair to the airport, through the airport and also have a wheel chair waiting for me at the Airport in Toronto, Ontario which took me to the limo for the hotel. I was in bed for a week and had to go to the doctors for anti-biotics. She thought maybe it was travellers diahrea but after tests were done she said no. It was probably a severe case of food poisoning. I needed this trip so bad and needed the get away so very bad and instead it turned into a horrible nightmare. Even one of the V.I.P people that give you that tour for time share said the resort should only be rated 1! I think that is pushing it. It was the worst trip I have ever taken. My daughter was at the Barcelo and it was amazing and my last trip to the Dominican was to Punta Cana to the Bavaro Beach Resort was the best trip ever. I wish I would of known. It was money I couldn't afford but a rest I needed but if I had of known I would of stayed home. I have never been so disgusted in my whole life!
Ann
North Bay, Ontario Canada