TripAdvisor Traveler Rating

I booked this resort expecting the experience of a 4½-star all-inclusive property, but unfortunately it fell far short of those expectations. Starting with the accommodations, the room had a decent bed and a stocked mini-fridge, and the balcony was appreciated. However, the air conditioning struggled to cool the room adequately, the water pressure was poor, and hot water was almost nonexistent. The bathroom showed significant signs of neglect, including a rusted bathtub and stained mirrors, which are not acceptable standards for a resort claiming this rating. Even the electrical outlets appeared extremely old and outdated, with no USB charging ports available, a basic amenity commonly found in hotels of this category today. The food was one of the biggest disappointments. The buffet was highly repetitive, breakfast was often barely edible, and snack options throughout the day were extremely limited. On one occasion, I was served nachos without cheese and with cold meat, which perfectly summarizes the lack of quality and attention to detail. The pool area was clean but clearly outdated. The beach, however, was not well maintained and offered none of the complimentary water activities one would reasonably expect from a resort in this category. Instead of enjoying a relaxing beach experience, guests were constantly approached and pressured to purchase massages, photos, and other services. The level of solicitation made it difficult to truly relax. While most staff members were friendly, I experienced several inappropriate comments during my stay, which made me uncomfortable and negatively affected the overall experience. Overall, this property does not meet the standards of a 4½-star all-inclusive resort. Based on the condition of the facilities, food quality, beach experience, and overall service, I would personally rate it closer to a 3-star property. There is a significant gap between what is advertised and what is actually delivered. I would not return, nor would I recommend it to travelers expecting the level of quality typically associated with a 4½-star Caribbean resort.

I am currently at Senator and we are having the best time!! Shakira and Johnny Bravo are so much fun, they always make everyone laugh and include us in all the dancing and games!! Drinky drinky happy happy!

I actually went here with my mom and fiancé in May 2025, but I put July since I couldn't review that far back. Some of the positives of this resort were the size. It wasn't too big and had a nice little shopping area right next door where you can get souvenirs, snacks, and there is a pharmacy. There is also an ice cream shop, coffee shop, and pizza place that are included and available outside of buffet hours. The à la carte restaurants were good, but you have to book them as soon as you arrive since it's first come, first served, and you're only allowed to do two of them. They also have a sports bar where you can get snacks and watch international sports, which was cool. The buffet food was great with lots of variety, but be aware that in May there are a lot of locals coming in on the weekends. I found many of them to be rude and pushy in the food area, at the pool, and on the beach. They would even take chairs that had personal belongings on them. The negatives here are the beach, rooms, timeshare sales staff, and spa. The beach was quite rocky and had a lot of seaweed, although the staff did their best to clean it up every morning. The water was also quite dark, making it difficult to see the bottom, so I didn't swim in it much. It was often crowded with limited chairs, and the shaded areas under the trees filled up quickly since there are no beach huts. If you have fair skin, you'll want to be very careful about sun exposure. The beach was also very windy every day, which sometimes made it feel quite cold depending on the temperature. There is another beach on the other side of the resort, but you have to take a path to get there. It's technically public and is also used by cruise ship passengers who dock nearby. On this same side is another shopping area. If you visit, be prepared for aggressive sales tactics. Many vendors are eager to get you into their stores, and as a woman, I found it uncomfortable. I was with my fiancé, but if I had been alone, I would not have felt particularly safe. The basic rooms were quite old and run down. They're very basic accommodations. I didn't mind too much because the bed was comfortable, but if you're looking for a luxury experience, this is not the place for you. They have a timeshare program that you can buy into, but be aware. My fiancé and I were persuaded to attend a "VIP Breakfast," and it turned out to be a lengthy timeshare sales presentation. We were told participation was optional, but the salesperson was extremely persistent. He took us to the VIP section to show us the rooms, asked personal financial questions, and brought us to the sales office. Even after repeatedly saying no, the pressure continued. I eventually became so overwhelmed that I left in tears. My mom and fiancé continued telling them no, but they seemed unwilling to accept the answer. The entire experience ended up taking most of our morning and afternoon, which was very frustrating during a vacation. If someone approaches you with a clipboard and invites you to a so-called VIP breakfast, I would strongly recommend declining unless you're genuinely interested in a timeshare presentation. I work in sales myself, and I found their approach overly aggressive and uncomfortable. Lastly, the spa. My mom and I originally planned to get massages together, but she ended up going without me. The spa requires a shuttle to get there, and they don't make it clear that the pools and hot tubs are not included with the cost of your massage. Nearly every additional amenity comes with an extra fee. My mom said the massage itself wasn't particularly good, and she left feeling more annoyed than relaxed because staff were pressuring her to purchase the hydrotherapy package. Unless you're prepared to spend an additional $200–300 USD, I wouldn't recommend it. Another negative is the noticeable difference in treatment between VIP timeshare members and regular guests. Guests who are not part of the VIP program cannot use the shuttle service. At other resorts I've visited, staff would transport your luggage to your room. Here, you either pay someone to do it or carry it yourself. We were fortunate to be assigned a room close to reception, but many rooms are much farther away and require a long walk in the heat. This resort is not especially mobility-friendly for guests with difficulty walking. VIP members also have their own breakfast area, air-conditioned lounge, private beach section, and access to the better beach chairs with shade. To me, the resort feels very divided. Either you pay significantly more for the timeshare experience, or you receive the bare minimum. Puerto Plata itself was beautiful. We did the Paradise Island excursion and thoroughly enjoyed it. However, the resort and its beach were nothing particularly special. They also enforce dress codes quite strictly. For example, you aren't allowed into the standard buffet if your swimsuit is visible under an open shirt, and men are required to wear sleeved shirts. My fiancé was wearing a tank top on a very hot day and was denied entry to the buffet. Considering this was the standard buffet, I found the policy unnecessarily strict. They also constantly ask for your room number every time you enter the buffet. Since the resort is all-inclusive, it felt excessive and became frustrating after a while. I felt guests should be able to enjoy meals throughout the day without repeatedly being questioned. I found the staff to be a mixed bag. Some were very friendly and helpful, while others were rude and unhelpful. Overall, this is not a resort I would return to.

I had stayed here in the past, so I knew what to expect. And I enjoyed my stay very much. Check in was smooth enough, my room was clean, my bed was comfortable, same with the pillows. Plenty of water pressure, but little hot water. Room was good, but the AC didn’t work. Thankfully the fan helped, but it was genuinely uncomfortable several nights. The grounds are clean and very well kept. Someone is always picking things up, sweeping, the public washrooms some of the cleanest I’ve seen. I’m glad to see that management took advice from past guests and added more beds and umbrellas, so it was never difficult to find some shade. Food, in my opinion, was great. Again, set your expectations, but there was always chicken, pork, beef, fish, vegetables. Cold cuts and cheeses. Pasta station at lunch and dinner, eggs in the morning. And so. Much. Fresh. Fruit. À la cartes were great as well. I would definitely go back again. The best part of the week were all the wonderful people, the hotel employees. The service was truly impeccable, and you never waited long to be served. However, it is always the other guest who can ruin it for everyone. The smoking - despite the no smoking signs everywhere, everyone was smoking. Not only that but they were ashing their cigarettes right on the pool deck and leaving cigarette butts either right there or in the bushes. I do wish that the management did more to enforce the no smoking for the enjoyment of all the hotel guests. And at the buffet, which I liked for the variety, it seemed as thought some people had never been to a resort because lining up or waiting their turn was a foreign concept. But you get that everywhere, so just pack your patience. Only slightly annoying thing was geckos that somehow managed to find their way into my room - not afraid of them but the their screaming will jolt you in the middle of the night. And tiny little bugs that were in my room.

My husband and I travelled here for a week in March 2026. This place is beautiful. It’s situated very close the mountains so the scenery is amazing. The food is fantastic and service is wonderful. One thing we noticed was this resort is very well arranged and accessible to people with physical impairment of any kind. It was very nice to see this. Right down to stone walk ways extending out into the beach for wheelchairs or walkers to get a little closer. Very thoughtful.