Cabarete

Overall it was a nice hotel, I would stay again. We had an all together room which worked perfectly for our family. I was nervous it would be a terrible hotel based on some videos I watched but I was pleasantly surprised. The resort was very clean but did have a strong sewer smell when walking towards the pool. The pool was a perfect temperature. Some hotels are very cold but this one was perfect. Buffet - not much of a selection as mentioned in other posts but I didn't starve. Zero service in the buffet. It wasn't until the last day when we had a waiter ask us if we wanted something to drink. Hard to find a table most times because it's not big enough for how many people are there. Bar - only one but didn't have to wait long for a drink. Staff are not the most friendly. Not rude by any means but not fun and interactive like other hotels. Drinks were inconsistent. I would order a pina colada and it would be great, go back up and it was not at all the same, not slushy but made with ice instead. Beach - nice beach but didn't spend too much time on it because of the people constantly bugging us to buy something. They did not take no for an answer unless you said it rudely which I don't like. Didn't swim in the ocean at all red flag every day which I knew prior to booking we probably wouldn't be so I wasn't disappointed. Pool - good temperature but too many people in one area. My kids had fun but loungers were always full. We sat at a table every time which was ok because the loungers are far away to watch your children. Frequent power outages but only for a short amount of time. Wifi only worked at the bar or at the lobby, not in our room. Other guests were my only real complaint. Kids dipping their fingers in things at the buffet, licking it and putting fingers back in the dishes, while parents watch and say nothing. Kids peeing on the floor in the dining room, playing ding dong ditch constantly. I had kids on vacation too but I didn't let them run wild disrupting other guests and have basic hygiene knowledge. When they were younger I still didn't let them behave the way some of these guests did. Overall it was a good resort and if the price was right I would stay again. Entertainment- only made it to a couple of shows as I found them to be very late. I don't like that it's in a room upstairs rather than the outdoor theaters. The entertainment around the pool all day was fun especially the foam party. It was also entertaining to watch the crazy games. Al a carte - went to melt which was not my favourite food. We went to the buffet after and there is no kids menu. Mexican was good but again no kids menu.

The hotel is located in the city Cabarete and consists of two parts separated by a very busy and noisy (motorbikes, trucks) street, the main road east. During my stay I could not open the window or stay on the balcony. At nights I was regularly awaken by the noise. I asked several times to change the room, they said they will try but nothing happen. The road is so busy that there are security guards helping people to cross it. The beach is very small and usually under the water (during winds and high tides). It is very difficult to go there as one has to step on the sharp rocks. People are allowed to drink from glass containers in the pools and on the beach which is dangerous. There is no common place to stay during rain (WW bar is very small and open to the sea). The food in the Italian restaurant was burned and dry. The hotel charges $3/day for safe and $25/day for Wi-Fi (in all other places in Dominican Rep. they were free). I will never go there again although some people with rooms at the sea-side liked it (they were further from the street).