TripAdvisor Traveler Rating

Went with a few family but I had a room to myself. I asked before going for a room on the ground floor and got room 1141 in building 1 at end of the hall so very quiet. Food was very good. Ate at the buffet and at the a la cartes. At 1st we could not get early reservations at 6:30 but Solange at guest services helped and got us a couple as we had small children. Beware security will remove your towels if you reserve early morning and you do not stay there. Not all the time but usually early morning at pool and beach. Room very clean, maids very nice. I would definitely go back. A shopping mall for souvenirs walking distance and medical clinic just past it. Enjoy

This resort needs many updates and more staff training and organization. It was very difficult to communicate in English with staff. Spanish speakers will get along better. Special dietary needs of gluten free were not easily met and difficult to communicate. Dining room service was hap-hazard, you may or may not be offered water or coffee. Towels were worn with rips and stains. Room servicing was irregular; staff would pick up towels but not replace for many hours. Bottled water was replaced every other day but as a separate visit. If anyone was napping it was very disruptive. One of our group lost his wrist band in a rocky water slide excursion and was forced to pay $100USD for a replacement. Pools are closed by 7pm. There are not enough pool chairs and many beach chairs are in poor condition. Evening entertainment was poor quality; children’s presentations or karaoke. Bar drink orders were not filled consistently; each time you ordered a drink you may be given a different version. An in-room binder/booklet of resort information may have been helpful. A beautiful clean beach with a lifeguard.

We try to visit Playa Dorada every winter. We used to think that we should try out a variety of resorts to find the best. But each time we did, we always ended up disappointed that the one we tried was not as good as Gran Ventana. We just got back from Gran Ventana and it was even better than before. We are so finished with trying other places. From now on, it is Gran Ventana for us. The food is exactly what we like. The rooms are comfortable. The a La Carte restaurants have good menus that offer things you don;t get in the buffet (at other resorts we found that the food is similar to buffet food, and that only the service is more special.) The beach is lovely and clean. And as a bonus, the reef right out in front of Gran Ventana seems to have revived and it is only a quick walk down to the beach to snorkel. The animation team is lively and friendly and fun. We can't comment on the evening shows. We did not attend. We are more into early morning bird watching. For bird lovers, sorry to say that there are almost no shore birds. But there are lots of other bird species, many endemic to DR, to enjoy. We could observe 20 to 30 species each day

I will write an honest review as I saw it. I have read a few others and there are several of the same things I would say. The Pros: The beach was beautiful and well maintained, found a fun group to play volleyball with each day. My husband and I and another couple were there Feb 23 to March 5. Uncontrollable but we are beach people and the wind was really unbearable by early afternoon. Benito the bartender at a little bar on beach was amazing. I did not find the water rough and really enjoyed it. It is not your cyrstal blue like Cuba or other places. It is a small cozy resort which I liked because you had a chance to get to know people as you would see them over and over. The buffet ( only ate at buffet) never did any el a cartes so I cant comment. The buffet was not great the first 2 days then I dont know what happened but it was good - not Keg good but good and no complaints. The rooms: beds at least mine was terrible so hard, never had a problem with a bed and we travel each year this one was diffficult for 10 nights. The cleaning staff nicely brought me 2 blankets to put under sheet and that made the week more bearable. The shows at night, I dont have high expectations were ok, nothing spectatular but I dont care. the white beach party on Wednesday was alot of fun ( no it is not on the beach) but there was another night one was on beach. THere is only one pool and quite busy, a little dirty - but again I am an ocean person so take that for what it is. There is a quiet pool - small we tried one day no luck all taken. The staff was getting funny and removing peoples towels from saved spots at pool but it was consistent all week. I have no problem with early risers ( my husband) placing towels so I dont support them being removed - as long as that is where you sit. The weather again not controllable was alot of rain. A few small cupboards in your room to place clothes. Like others have said bar is lightly stocked every 2 days. Overall not a bad place- would I return I dont think so, But for the price you would be satisfied.

The Good - well maintained, clean rooms - great stuff and management knows what they are doing - the beach is very nice - Emergency doctor is 5 minute walk, better care than in Canada, have insurance, $500 per hour otherwise (we paid $1000 CAD for 2 hour stay), still cheaper than Canada - the stuff are great, talk to them, they are there to help you! Made a world of a difference - Cousy small resort, but it was at 100% capacity due to Cuba closed, but they managed, so give them a break at buffet - quiet pool at third building is the best, sorry wrong, Benito bartender at beach bar east is the best, go there, they have canned beer The Bad - bars open after 10 am - friend / friends / all of us felt something in our digestive system entire time, one guy from our crew had severe food poisoning, was in bed for 5 days - Fridge is stocked every second day, and won't accept tips for more - Sunwing rep lie to profit from you, you don't have to go to meeting to get the departure transfer confirmed - Sunwing reps lie, as they sell you same excurcions more expensive than you can buy on the beach, buy on the beach, but negotiate, if you don't you will overpay - overpriced (due to Cuba shutdown), we paid $2,500 for a week, not worth it twice the price of Cuba, but food is better - it can rain more than Punta Cana, bring umbrella, rained 5 out of 7 days The Ugly - prices are a Russian roulette at the nearby mall, no price tags, one place Gatorade $1, another is $4 dollars, you get the point - the beach is nice, but water dangerous, sea urchins everywhere, and lots of corals, stay away from water - do not touch turtles in the forest swamp, they carry salmonela! Google it - all the tourists who stick their towels on the benches around the pool for entire day and never use it - beer sucked in all bars, was sour first three days, could be bad batch, but still, almost ruined vacation if it wasn't for Benito and canned beer at beach bar