This was our 5th stay at this property in 10 years. We travelled with our children 10 & 12. We especially like this resort because of the location on a calm beach with snorkelling and great diving nearby. The front desk has always been a problem but this time it was the worst. We booked 2 rooms & had requested adjoining rooms. This should not have been a problem since every room adjoins, but we were told that they were full & this couldn't be done. Since we were there for 2 weeks I kept checking back. They finally offered us one in building 1 which we didn't take as all of the buildings are old & dated(ie plumbing problems etc.) so we stayed where we were in the new building #4. I would only recommend #3 & 4 all the rest are trashed. From what I could see, not that many guests use adjoining rooms, so why they could not switch some new arrival with us to accomplish this I don't know. Upon check-out our tour representative had told us we could use a courtesy room to shower before our flight. We went to get a key at 4pm(we had a 5PM departure) and were told that they were sorry they would not have a room available for us for an hour!!!! With enough screaming, we did get a shower before we left. They really don't try to help.
All the other employees were great, the grounds are great, pools & beach great. With kids we ate at the buffet but found the food too repetetive, no matter if it was Dominican night or french night the food was the same. I ate fruit & salad & didn't gain weight!
We used Scuba Fun Dive Shop in Bayahibe to dive (picked us up in a taxi, although walk to town is easy. Melki is the divemaster to ask for. He is native and found all kinds of marine life we otherwise never would have seen.

My family and I went from March 18th till the 25th. On the second night there, I was in the shower, and a man came in and tried to rape me. My husband came soon after, and I told him, then the head of security came, the manager, then a medical team to sedate me after the attack.
Beware!!! They have no security cameras, and I was told if I made a report that I would not be able to leave the country till the case was closed, and since I did not have specifics on his identity,(only that he was black and clean shaven) that it would take a long time.
I was made to sign a paper saying I did not hold Sunsape Casa del Mar was not responsible, within 24 hours of the attack.
Liberty Travel is the travel agent that I used in Long Island, NY, and the Corp for Liberty Travel said because I had signed that paper that there was nothing they could do.
Just be careful, the older blocks, we were in block 2 where the attack took place, the sliding glass doors don't lock.
They are renovating to become a Beaches, and they have workers coming in and out, and nobody wears bracelets, so you don't know who is a guest or worker.

Just returned from a fortnight at the Casa Del Mar. What an excellent holiday we had. The first time I've done long haul and it was paradise. Stayed in block 5, which is in need of refurb but the maid kept it spotless.

Not all restaurants were open every night but most nights you had the choice of 4. Portions were smaller in the a la carte restaurants, we used the World Cafe for the majority of the holiday. Lobster at De Marios was excellent, word of warning, if dining at Oceana do not have the Dorado if seated in poor lighted area as there are tons of bones which you can't see and it's pretty dangerous.

The hotel is set in beautiful surroundings and kept extremely clean and tidy. The beach was beautiful and the sea the warmest I've ever swam in. We used both pools but enjoyed the infinity pool the most as it has the swim up bar. Bar staff were superb especially Wilkin and Felix they kept the drinks coming all day, we didn't even have to ask. We found all staff to be very good, couldn't do enough for you.

Would recommend doing the excursions, we booked with Thomsons and did Monster Truck, Marinarium, Ocean World and Saona. Wow what experiences, swam with sharks and stringrays on the Marinarium trip, saw a witch doctor on the Monster Truck trip, just a tip if you go on this, if you've got any of the freebie toilettries and spare bottles of sprite and cola, take them along for the children you meet on the way, also take pens and pencils as they are really poor and on receiving a pen they think they've got the world, quite sad really. Did the dolphin encounter at Ocean World, it's a plane ride away up to Puerta Plata but I thought it was worth it and saona is a great day out, drive to a village where you board a paddle boat that takes you down the river, get on to a speed boat which then takes you down the coast, get out half way for a swim in the sea and a glass or two of rum, a buffet lunch on the beautiful island of saona where they filmed the bounty advert and then a 2 hour catamaran ride back to bayahibe, the guides for every trip were excellent and we all had a good laugh.

The transfer is a bit rough after you've done the 9 hour flight the last thing you want is a 2 hour transfer but I would do it all again.

Entertainment was excellent, there was something going off through the day such as aqua aearobics in the sea, water polo in the pool, beach volleyball, cocktail making competitions, salsa lessons, all the activities team work really hard both day and night as they do a daily show every evening. The nightclub was a bit cheesey but they are supposed to be building a new one this next year.

Watch out for the jewellery sellars around the pool, they are really expensive just tell them you've already got some. Apart from that no complaints from me, I can't wait to go back.

I just returned from a one week stay at this resort. I was staying there while doing volunteer work at one of the bateys. I stayed in a nice room and for the price was OK. Some of my colleagues did complain that their rooms were not as nice. The staff is extremely helpful but their intentions seem more geared towards a nice tip rather than just being helpful. The grounds were very well maintained and the pools were beautiful especially their infinity pool with the swim up bar. My biggest complaint was the food. I am from the states and the food just tasted soooo different. One day the food would be edible and the next day you would order the same thing and get a completely different meal. The food all around needs major improvement. If you like lobster get ready to pay $60 with a 24 hour advance notice. Let me tell you what happened to me while at the buffet. One staff member was frying a tortilla for me when I noticed a weird spot on it. He quickly turned it over before I got a good look. I decided to take a look at the plate stacked with the tortillas from where mine came from and I could not believe my eyes. There was a quarter sized mold growing on the top one. I quickly called him over and told him about and he very calmly told me no problem, we will just through them away and tossed them out in front of me. He seemed way to calm about it like it happens all of the time. Drinks were spotty as well. You would order the same drink and different bars and get something completely different. The only place in the hotel with premium alcohol is the main bar in the lobby with limited selection. The pizza on the pool deck is great if you need a quick snack on the go. Be warned about the calling card scam. They have calling cards for sale at the ATMs but when you go to use them they do not work. The hotel has disconnected that service (at least that is what the message was telling me).