Your rating of this hotel:
9.0
from 10
Hotel ratings by criteria:
Rooms:
9.0
Service:
10.0
Cleanliness:
9.0
Food:
9.0
Amenities:
9.0
I don’t know about anyone, but we liked the rest. It all started with the fact that we bought tickets to VIK Arena Blanca 4 *, but due to the overload of the latter with tourists, we were faced with the fact of replacing the hotel. The guide girl Valeria (I will write a few words about her later) told us that this hotel is much better. Since we didn’t have the opportunity to choose or change something, we had to take our word for it. Being not so far from the original choice, we went to see "what we lost", and it turned out that the guide was not mistaken. At least, judging by the beach, Barcelo is in a more advantageous position (the beach itself is wider, the sun loungers are newer, the entrance to the ocean is gentle and uniform, visually less algae).
FLIGHT
Perhaps the only drawback of such a holiday (after the cost) is a long and tiring road. We flew from Kyiv via Paris. The road to Punta Cana, not counting the road to Kyiv itself, took 15 hours.
Back even longer, including a stop in Santa Domingo and waiting for a flight in Paris for 9 hours. However, in such a long journey there is a definite plus - Air France. For the first time, we flew with an advanced European company, where they are well fed and well served. Flights Paris - Punta Cana and Punta Cana - Paris fly on a Boeing 777, a huge airliner with normal seats and a medical center. They give out a pillow, a blanket and headphones - you can kill time watching a movie, since there are a lot of them quite fresh and even in Russian. On the way, they feed a couple of times and arrange a semblance of a buffet in the tail of the plane. When we flew back, in Putna Cana, along with the tickets, they gave out a couple of $10 vouchers that can be used at local restaurants in the waiting area. This is just enough for the menu at Wendy's (hamburger, fries and cola).
HOTEL
They settled quickly, because in addition to us, another couple unloaded from the bus.
We planned the trip as a honeymoon trip, which the hotel, as it turned out, was warned about. Therefore, we were given a room in the 6th building overlooking the ocean. Many people complain about the problems in the room: bad old furniture, the shower, the hot stove (it’s really not hot, although this temperature is enough in a hot climate), but when you get into the room and look out onto the balcony for the first time, you can forgive everything. The sound of the ocean and the opportunity to meet the dawn (at 6.30). The room is snow-white with white furniture, although it is rather tired and has not been renovated for a long time, and this is quite noticeable. The room has a large bed, jacuzzi! (remained unclaimed), a normal 32'' TV with usb, which without hesitation grabbed a 32G flash drive, an air conditioner and a ceiling fan. On the table is a drip coffee maker and a morning coffee-tea set.
There is a minibar, which is updated daily and contains a couple of cans of beer, a couple of half-liter bottles of cola, a couple of sprites and a large bottle of ordinary water (technical tap water, only good for showering). Also, the shower has everything you need for everyday life: dispensers with shampoo, conditioner, shower gel, soap bars, toothbrushes, etc. There are no problems with toilet paper either)) All this must be updated when used, so use it without savings. There are several shower towels in the room, it is difficult to say with what regularity they change, but sometimes it seemed that they were fresh every day. Cleaning, by the way, daily. We left a $ 1 tip every other day, I hope the cleaning lady was not offended.
The quality of the Internet was a surprise. Wifi costs $30 a week for a single device, but the speed and coverage are impressive. When we checked in, we were given one card as a gift, we bought the second one so as not to be dependent on changing devices.
If the Internet is needed occasionally and for free, there are a couple of Russian shops in the vicinity (one in the city, the second on the beach), where they distribute it without any problems.
There are beach towels, but we took ours from home to wrap glass bottles with all kinds of local drinks on the way back.
BEACH
Big and clean. Of course, algae pile up in the morning, but the hotel staff carefully cleans the coastline twice a day, so you can only find grass directly in the water. The sand is not snow-white, but very clean, the beach is constantly cleaned, there is no garbage. The ocean is very warm, the water temperature drops only in bad weather and prolonged rain. Rains and even thunderstorms are a frequent phenomenon here, but they usually end quickly, refresh the rest and prevent the skin from completely burning. The beach itself is quite empty, there are a lot of sun loungers and about half are constantly empty. The same is true for swimming pools.
In general, the hotel seems empty, the number of tourists increases only on weekends, and then thanks to the locals. Moreover, unlike the locals in hotels in Turkey or Egypt, the Dominicans do not hesitate and behave very decently. The increase in settlers can be judged by the sharp increase in Spanish speech and the revival in the main restaurant.
NUTRITION
Many write that the food is monotonous. I would probably agree with this statement. However, there is monotonous food for every taste. Constantly in the presence of several types of meat, side dishes, pasta, vegetables. Someone complains about the lack of seafood, but in the Dominican Republic, seafood is a sign of poverty, which is why the main emphasis is on meat. Yes, tomatoes and cucumbers are greenish.
According to the AI system, we were the owners of black bracelets (considered the highest category of guests), so you can drink and eat in any quantity and any production.
Bars are scattered around the hotel in normal quantities, so you won’t have to look for a long time to wet your throat. In a couple of bars from 11 am until the evening you can eat pizza, french fries, make yourself a hot dog or a hamburger. There are no queues anywhere, there are enough dishes for everyone. The staff is incredibly friendly and helpful.
There are 5 a la carte restaurants on site, for 12 days of stay we managed to go to all. Only Brazilian (with a large assortment of meat on skewers) and Japanese (thanks to the show program. Yeah, baby! ) turned out to be interesting and nutritious. In addition, as newlyweds, we were given a certificate for a lobster dinner. Used the day before departure and can recommend.
GUIDE AND TOURS
For the first time in all the trips, we came across an adequate guide and with an understanding of what they want from him. Her name is Valeria and she has been living in the Dominican Republic for several years and works for the host agency Ninfa.
She is always in touch on viber, speaks Spanish and is ready (really ready) to help solve any problem in the hotel. Of the recommended excursions, we went only to Saona ($ 110 per person), a worthwhile and interesting trip. We collected 35 people from hotels, drove to the city of artists, sailed to the Caribbean Sea and snorkeled, then sailed to see starfish and ended the trip on Saona, from where we sailed on a catamaran for a long time)) In general, it’s quite interesting and suitable for a minimum package of excursions , in my opinion. The guide on Saona was Leona, special thanks to her for an interesting story about the Dominican Republic, history and local features.
ANIMATION
Given the significant difference in time zones, we never once waited for the animation that starts at 21:00. But the hotel has the opportunity to play table tennis, beach volleyball, billiards during the day.
For outdoor enthusiasts, there is scuba diving (though deeper and further into the pool for an additional fee) and archery (we never got around to it). The animation is rather unobtrusive, because I have never heard anyone called somewhere or someone was collected along the beach or the hotel.
PURCHASES
Near the hotel there is a shop with Russian sellers, where you can look at something and buy for dollars. A little further down the street there is a supermarket with prices slightly lower, but in local currency. In duty-free on the way back, the prices for the same alcohol and cigars will be twice as expensive (the exception is Barcelo rum in Santa Domingo duty free (a couple of 0.75 for $ 15) - don't miss it! ).
In general, traditionally I wanted to write a couple of words, but it turned out a little more. For those who doubt whether to go or not, I would advise you to go. The Dominican Republic is one of those countries worth visiting. Well, the hotel itself is recommended, based on personal experience.
Although I don’t know what I wrote, don’t put me in a room with an ocean view))
FLIGHT
Perhaps the only drawback of such a holiday (after the cost) is a long and tiring road. We flew from Kyiv via Paris. The road to Punta Cana, not counting the road to Kyiv itself, took 15 hours.
Back even longer, including a stop in Santa Domingo and waiting for a flight in Paris for 9 hours. However, in such a long journey there is a definite plus - Air France. For the first time, we flew with an advanced European company, where they are well fed and well served. Flights Paris - Punta Cana and Punta Cana - Paris fly on a Boeing 777, a huge airliner with normal seats and a medical center. They give out a pillow, a blanket and headphones - you can kill time watching a movie, since there are a lot of them quite fresh and even in Russian. On the way, they feed a couple of times and arrange a semblance of a buffet in the tail of the plane. When we flew back, in Putna Cana, along with the tickets, they gave out a couple of $10 vouchers that can be used at local restaurants in the waiting area. This is just enough for the menu at Wendy's (hamburger, fries and cola).
HOTEL
They settled quickly, because in addition to us, another couple unloaded from the bus.
We planned the trip as a honeymoon trip, which the hotel, as it turned out, was warned about. Therefore, we were given a room in the 6th building overlooking the ocean. Many people complain about the problems in the room: bad old furniture, the shower, the hot stove (it’s really not hot, although this temperature is enough in a hot climate), but when you get into the room and look out onto the balcony for the first time, you can forgive everything. The sound of the ocean and the opportunity to meet the dawn (at 6.30). The room is snow-white with white furniture, although it is rather tired and has not been renovated for a long time, and this is quite noticeable. The room has a large bed, jacuzzi! (remained unclaimed), a normal 32'' TV with usb, which without hesitation grabbed a 32G flash drive, an air conditioner and a ceiling fan. On the table is a drip coffee maker and a morning coffee-tea set.
There is a minibar, which is updated daily and contains a couple of cans of beer, a couple of half-liter bottles of cola, a couple of sprites and a large bottle of ordinary water (technical tap water, only good for showering). Also, the shower has everything you need for everyday life: dispensers with shampoo, conditioner, shower gel, soap bars, toothbrushes, etc. There are no problems with toilet paper either)) All this must be updated when used, so use it without savings. There are several shower towels in the room, it is difficult to say with what regularity they change, but sometimes it seemed that they were fresh every day. Cleaning, by the way, daily. We left a $ 1 tip every other day, I hope the cleaning lady was not offended.
The quality of the Internet was a surprise. Wifi costs $30 a week for a single device, but the speed and coverage are impressive. When we checked in, we were given one card as a gift, we bought the second one so as not to be dependent on changing devices.
If the Internet is needed occasionally and for free, there are a couple of Russian shops in the vicinity (one in the city, the second on the beach), where they distribute it without any problems.
There are beach towels, but we took ours from home to wrap glass bottles with all kinds of local drinks on the way back.
BEACH
Big and clean. Of course, algae pile up in the morning, but the hotel staff carefully cleans the coastline twice a day, so you can only find grass directly in the water. The sand is not snow-white, but very clean, the beach is constantly cleaned, there is no garbage. The ocean is very warm, the water temperature drops only in bad weather and prolonged rain. Rains and even thunderstorms are a frequent phenomenon here, but they usually end quickly, refresh the rest and prevent the skin from completely burning. The beach itself is quite empty, there are a lot of sun loungers and about half are constantly empty. The same is true for swimming pools.
In general, the hotel seems empty, the number of tourists increases only on weekends, and then thanks to the locals. Moreover, unlike the locals in hotels in Turkey or Egypt, the Dominicans do not hesitate and behave very decently. The increase in settlers can be judged by the sharp increase in Spanish speech and the revival in the main restaurant.
NUTRITION
Many write that the food is monotonous. I would probably agree with this statement. However, there is monotonous food for every taste. Constantly in the presence of several types of meat, side dishes, pasta, vegetables. Someone complains about the lack of seafood, but in the Dominican Republic, seafood is a sign of poverty, which is why the main emphasis is on meat. Yes, tomatoes and cucumbers are greenish.
According to the AI system, we were the owners of black bracelets (considered the highest category of guests), so you can drink and eat in any quantity and any production.
Bars are scattered around the hotel in normal quantities, so you won’t have to look for a long time to wet your throat. In a couple of bars from 11 am until the evening you can eat pizza, french fries, make yourself a hot dog or a hamburger. There are no queues anywhere, there are enough dishes for everyone. The staff is incredibly friendly and helpful.
There are 5 a la carte restaurants on site, for 12 days of stay we managed to go to all. Only Brazilian (with a large assortment of meat on skewers) and Japanese (thanks to the show program. Yeah, baby! ) turned out to be interesting and nutritious. In addition, as newlyweds, we were given a certificate for a lobster dinner. Used the day before departure and can recommend.
GUIDE AND TOURS
For the first time in all the trips, we came across an adequate guide and with an understanding of what they want from him. Her name is Valeria and she has been living in the Dominican Republic for several years and works for the host agency Ninfa.
She is always in touch on viber, speaks Spanish and is ready (really ready) to help solve any problem in the hotel. Of the recommended excursions, we went only to Saona ($ 110 per person), a worthwhile and interesting trip. We collected 35 people from hotels, drove to the city of artists, sailed to the Caribbean Sea and snorkeled, then sailed to see starfish and ended the trip on Saona, from where we sailed on a catamaran for a long time)) In general, it’s quite interesting and suitable for a minimum package of excursions , in my opinion. The guide on Saona was Leona, special thanks to her for an interesting story about the Dominican Republic, history and local features.
ANIMATION
Given the significant difference in time zones, we never once waited for the animation that starts at 21:00. But the hotel has the opportunity to play table tennis, beach volleyball, billiards during the day.
For outdoor enthusiasts, there is scuba diving (though deeper and further into the pool for an additional fee) and archery (we never got around to it). The animation is rather unobtrusive, because I have never heard anyone called somewhere or someone was collected along the beach or the hotel.
PURCHASES
Near the hotel there is a shop with Russian sellers, where you can look at something and buy for dollars. A little further down the street there is a supermarket with prices slightly lower, but in local currency. In duty-free on the way back, the prices for the same alcohol and cigars will be twice as expensive (the exception is Barcelo rum in Santa Domingo duty free (a couple of 0.75 for $ 15) - don't miss it! ).
In general, traditionally I wanted to write a couple of words, but it turned out a little more. For those who doubt whether to go or not, I would advise you to go. The Dominican Republic is one of those countries worth visiting. Well, the hotel itself is recommended, based on personal experience.
Although I don’t know what I wrote, don’t put me in a room with an ocean view))
Translated automatically from Russian. View original
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OTHER REVIEWS ABOUT THE HOTEL
- The most disgusting hotel ever!
- Not what you expect
- Not a unique hotel
- We had great rest!
- Good hotel!
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