Having been to the Caribbean around 8 times this is the worst place we have ever stayed and would never recommend it to anyone - how they have the cheek to call it 5 * I don't know ! No proper shower just over the bath shower head which didn't even work - toilets that blocked on a daily basis even tho no tissue was allowed to be put in them ! Fridge supposed to be filled every other day - basic water should be refilled every day as no drinking water in room and we had to ask for water as they did not fill our fridge for 3 days ! Food very boring same every day and no chance booking steak house as all gone before 7am - could not book day before but I know they accepted tips so that some people could book in advance ! In any case we heard from many people that the food was still just as bad ! Drinks were terrible so we could not even enjoy those and if you thought you could have a lie in at this place and still get a bed by the pool FORGET IT you needed to be up by 5 am to get a bed and it was like sardines with no room to move ! Entertainment virtually non existent even if you could get a seat - a lovely plastic garden chair no comfy chairs anywhere ! Beach was the worst ever been to and the trips were over priced but we thought at least we would enjoy those ! NO taking us on a city tour which basically took us into a traffic congested area on route to their equivalent of Tesco !! Which is really where I wanted to go ! You could not pay with any other currency only Peso so we could not even get water and the trip supplied none on the coach - the only good part was the cable car ride ! I can go on and on but think I have given my opinion of this place - I would like to go back to the Caribbean again but I am very dubious about the ratings given to some places !

The hotel itself is very nice. The rooms are nice with plenty of hotwater and good water pressure. The beds however are tired and worn out. We were in the 600 building overlooking the lagoon and close to the beach. Good bar included with your room. The food was above average and tasty. I have been to a lot of resorts throughout the caribbean and this place rated number 1 for the food. Check-in was super efficient and fast. The pools were clean and well set up. The grounds were beautiful and immaculate. Now for the bad points. If you are going for the beach and to swim in crystal clear water with a sandy bottom, forget it. The beach is a miniscule strip of rocky sand that is almost completely in shade. The ocean bottom is very rocky and weedy even 500 feet out into the ocean! The water is so murky that even in 2 feet of water you cannot see your feet. The ala-carte restaurants are great if you can get a reservation. The entertainment is mediocre and about the same as any other resort in the caribean. The good point is some nights they had local bands playing which were quite good.
We would never return for the simple reason that there was no beach and the water was murky and unswimmable. We travel all that distance especially for the beach.
If you want a good massage, go to the locals at either end of the beach in the shacks and pay 30.00 for an hour of good massaging. Maria on one end of the beach and 2 other girls about a 1/2 mile away on the opposite side of the beach for the same rates. The rate of 79.00 at Renova Spa at the resort is a complete ripoff.
Also, this place was full of families with children so if peace and quiet and relaxation is what you're looking for, this is not the place. Since the beach is not nice, everyone gathers at the pools and everybody is stacked up like cordwood if you can find a place.

Flight with first choice was smooth no issues at all really nice plane, service was good and was on time both ways.

Puerto plata airport was good as well, well organised and very quick, we were on the bus about 30 minutes after we had landed. Transfer was about 40 minutes you get to see a bit of the city which is a real eye opener.

Check in was again really quick you get an envelope with all info in and some stickers to stick on your cases which get bought to your room 10 minutes after you.

Rooms were all pretty much the same only two beds in each room they will put another in the room if needed, free safe, free minibar, free optics, free umbrella. The room was a nice room nothing really special but comfortable, television was not up to much we could not find any English channels but we did not go on holiday to watch tv.

Hotel was really good clean, antibacterial spray everywhere, the hotel is in a complex of 3 Rui and you can use all facilities in all 3, all on the beach which is beautiful, the hotel is massive and you have a nice walk along all 3. So many bars and snack bars we only tried a few though but we found them all to be of a very high standard. Pools were all good cleaned everyday, had to get up early for a sunbed but that's half the fun.

Food and drink all good, buy a insulated mug when you are there as the little plastic cups are not up to much we bought on the last day and we were annoyed we did not buy them on day 1, they kept the drinks nice and chilled and the wife had a very hot cup on tea in the morning, she says you should take some tetely with you as the tea bags ain't up to much.
Breakfast pancakes, sausage, bacon, eggs,all the usual stuff.
Dinners burgers they are pink inside but it soya so does not go brown. Pizza, chips, sandwiches, hotdogs, loads of other different stuff.
Tea all of the above plus things like chilli, fajitas, mash potatoes, loads of meat dishes, soups, all meals were very good.
Al la cartes we only had the steakhouse and it was really good, t bone steak, half a chicken, fillet steak all cooked and bought to your table.

Staff all really nice could not do enough for you, Fredich helped us when we were there to organise a special meal for our girls 8th birthday and he was very professional and very friendly and the minibar man was good at his job he is supposed to fill up every other day but if you see him have a chat and he will sort you what you need again a very nice man who knows what customer service is all about.

Dominican its a beautiful place, the people are great and the surroundings are just unbelievable. Palm trees, coconuts, bananas, lizards running around, golden sands, blue oceans, and the sunshine 30 degrees, we arrived back into Manchester and it was 1 degree.
We went on three trips, jungle safari which was brilliant, Paridise Island which was good, and the dolphin encounter at Oceanworld which the kids and us enjoyed very much.
It was safe to go out the complex have a walk, would not advise to drive or get on a scooter as the roads were crazy I felt safe on a big bus.

Overall it was heaven and we are planning to get back as soon as possible.

We have just returned from this hotel this morning. The hotel is probably one of the cleanest hotels I have stayed in 5 star and has the most friendliest staff who cannot do enough for you. The entertainment team work very hard 5 star.That unfortunately is where the 5 star in my opinion ends.The food is very hit and miss.Breakfast good some evenings Mexican and Dominican nights excellent others ok.Dont bother queing in the mornings for the A La Carte.We went to what is supposed to be a steakhouse and my partner ordered steak rare which was cremated and was so thin you could see through it. Never bothered with the italian as everyone we spoke to said it was rubbish.Wine undrinkable especially the red.
Forget having a lie in as unless you get up to reserve a sun bed(and note it was not only the germans but also the Americans and Britsand you are there after 7.15 a.m. all the beds have towels on them.
Although the entertainment team work very hard the evening entertainment is a load of rubbish and consists mostly of dancing in different costumes,getting the audience up to play silly games .Imagine Butlins with sun.I would sum up this resort as Tenerife for the americans.
Having said that we had a good time and met some nice people and made our own entertainment in the evenings.As I say the hotel surroundings,the staff definately 5 star but ujnfortunately thats where it ends.