Ocean Blue & Sand reviews

TripAdvisor Traveler Rating

4.5 Excellent

  • Cleanliness 4.5
  • Location 4.5
  • Rooms 4.0
  • Service 4.0
  • Value 4.0

20395 TripAdvisor reviews

TripAdvisor users rated this property 1 out of 5

Not the greatest experience :(

Jacqui B on Jan 31, 2025

Our room hadn’t been cleaned properly , there was hair on the bathroom floor and the floor in the bedroom area felt gritty under our feet! Majority of the staff were grumpy and the food was average. The Buffett area reminded me of a canteen and not very welcoming. Full of guests coming straight in from the beach or pool, still in the beach wear for dinner. I felt over dressed! There is not a lot of shady area on the beach, so if you are someone like me that’s burns really easy, then I would avoid the beach. There aren’t enough beds anyway for the number of guests - you have to get up really early to save !! Impossible to get a reservation at one of their restaurants unless you queue early to make a booking . There should be an app for this in this modern age . Was very disappointing. Entertainment was poor. We checked out after two days and booked in to the Grand Bavaro Princess, which was a much better resort !!

TripAdvisor users rated this property 5 out of 5

12 Days in Paradise

Norahs621 (Freeport, New York) on Jan 28, 2025

This trip was booked via Delta Vacations as “Privilege” with a private airport transfer to and from PUJ. Having the “Privilege” upgrade allows for top shelf liquors, access to a private lounge with a large, self serve beverage area (among other amenities), private areas at the pool and at the beach, which include Bali beds and a private bar, and butler service, which we found essential. After we landed in Punta Cana, we found the Delta counter and was taken to our private transportation. We were given a ticket with a contact person who will schedule our departure once we have been checked in to our room and settled. This person contacted us the first morning and our ride home was set before we ever had to worry about it getting done. The ride to the resort was quick and easy and before we knew it, we had welcome drinks in our hands, the luggage was tagged, and we were in the Privilege check in lounge getting our bracelets/room key! They actually had the welcome envelope with our names on it ready to go! From there, we were immediately put on a resort trolley with our luggage and taken to Building #6, where we were escorted to our room on the second floor and they carried our luggage up the stairs for us. There are no elevators in this resort, if mobility is an issue we strongly recommend booking a ground level room. The trolleys run back and forth non stop all day to transport you anywhere on the resort. It’s very flat and walkable but can be slippery when wet if your shoes do not have good traction. The evening we arrived, which was Dec 31, 2024, we assume because of the New Year’s Celebration, Ocean Blue & Sand had the most amazing and beautiful buffet we have ever seen! The attention to the display detail blew us away! The amount of fresh seafood, meats, fruits and cheeses, pizza, pasta, international and local cuisines, new things to try and familiar comforts, as well as a huge variety of desserts leaves something for everyone. Not just on this grand holiday display, but every single day that buffet will impress you. El Carey & La Tortuga are the two dining sides of the main buffet, but Villa Marina is not to be forgotten. The Marina buffet is open to all for breakfast, lunch and snacks, and exclusive to the “Privilege” guests for a sit down dinner. The location, dining on the beach and Caribbean Sea, is one of the most stunning places we have ever enjoyed a meal. The buffet itself is smaller than the main one and offers many similar items, but it also serves up some food you might not find in the main buffet. Our butler, Jhary Guerrero, booked all of our dining reservations exactly as we requested them. At one point in our trip we decided to cancel a meal last minute at El Bodegón, the steakhouse, and he was able to get us squeezed in on a different evening. We believe he went above and beyond to make things like that happen for us, and it helped make our trip even more amazing! The steakhouse was also our favorite meal, large portions and incredible wine service and everything was cooked perfectly. Villa Marina for our “privilege” dinner was also fantastic, followed by Blue Moon, Route 66, Sensai, Mascherati and Margarita. Margarita gets the lowest rating for service, not the food. I would have liked to give it another try but time did not allow. With the exception of the Marina, all of these restaurants are located at the front of the resort. Mike’s Coffee house was also excellent and they are open until 11pm. I do wish they had bigger and better “to-go” cups. Room Service was also great, which is how we enjoyed breakfast the most. If you’re feeling a little rough in the morning, get yourself a “Green Juice” and you’ll be brought back to life! Since we arrived on NYE, the evening entertainment was over the top! Everyone in the resort gathered around the main lobby and “Boulevard” area to watch the performances, drink, dance and countdown to 2025! They had DJ’s & Emcee’s, dancers, costumes, party favor giveaways for everyone, they pulled out all of their tricks! And then ended with large fireworks show! What a perfect way to kick off a vacation and a New Year! The resort offers a ton of entertainment, poolside games and parties -even a BBQ was set up at one point. The foam party was hilarious and really entertaining, the shows in the theatre were great, the lobby/boulevard entertainment was so much fun to watch! “Oceans Got Talent” was a highlight for us. We also really loved spending time in the piano lounge. Dark and private, away from the action yet having one of the best bars on the entire resort. Easily the best martini on site! (Overtime gets a close second and Lobby wins for the best espresso martini) The nightclub was cool, as well as the bowling alley, but not spaces we saw ourselves spending much time in. The entire resort is colorful, stunning, and immaculate. All of the public areas like restrooms, buffet, lounge chair areas etc are clean and sanitary. Trash cans, dish disposal, ashtrays, towel bins are always empty and tended to. The grounds are very well kept, the wildlife, including the resident flamingo “Pinky”, appeared healthy and happy with clean habitats. There are a lot of cats around, mostly by the restaurants. This made me very happy to see! If you are not a cat person don’t worry, they wont be an issue, they’re not interested in you, either. Our room(s) were also very clean, and housekeeping did an incredible job. The beach is also immaculate. There was plenty of good shoreline, with clean, soft sand. Seaweed was minimal, and whatever washed ashore was cleaned daily. Not a single picture online does it justice, it’s a great beach!! There are about 5 different vendors that lurk around, but they are not pushy at all and a simple “No gracias” works if you are not interested in their wares. Same for the 2 vendors that show up near the boulevard on weekend nights. We also were never at any point, approached to do any kind of “presentation” whatsoever. We spent the majority of our trip between the beach and “party” pool, which is the one closest to the beach. We recommend bringing a pool floatie! We also brought insulated mugs (Yes, the bartenders will fill them for you) but we found ourselves making our own cocktails in the Privilege lounge from the self serve area a lot. The bartenders are all fantastic, but it’s easier to pour your own if you’re picky like us. Jhary, our butler would swing by and check on us daily. His communication was excellent, he kept us informed about the daily activities the resort had to offer, and most importantly he went above and beyond to make our vacation special and perfect. We simply cannot recommend Ocean Blue & Sand enough and we look forward to returning as soon as possible! The service we received from every single staff member was incredible! If we asked for something, it was promptly taken care of. If we requested something, it came instantly. These folks not only work hard to make you happy, but they seem happy to do it and with a smile! CONS: (because what’s a review worth if it’s not honest?) The room we booked was supposed to have a specific jacuzzi feature that was not there when we got to our room, despite inquiring about that several times. We immediately called down to check in and was told that we would get the proper room in Building #5 starting the following day at 3. This did disappoint on day 1 and slightly killed our NYE plan for ourselves. It took also took away from Day 2 not being able to unpack and having to move rooms mid day. At 3pm on the dot, Jhary took us to our correct room. Unfortunately, this room had no hot water and the jacuzzi needed some TLC. We reached out to Jhary, who sent housekeeping and maintenance ASAP, and maintenance the next day, and the next day after that. I cannot fault the resort for failing to handle the situation as the communication was excellent and the results showed. Maintenance was diligent and prompt but ultimately could not resolve the issue. To keep us happy, Jhary had our room upgraded to Building #10 to easily the most luxurious and beautiful room we have ever stayed in! I am convinced that it was the best room OBS had to offer. Did we loose another day to packing and moving at 3 pm and unpacking again? You bet. Are we mad about it? Not at all. Our advice: Check the shower water temperature before you accept the room. It’s also worth noting the early bird gets the worm, pool and beach chairs get taken up early. TIP EVERYONE! They work hard to make you happy, make them happy back and show them your appreciation. A little bit to you goes a long way to them! Overall, We give Ocean Blue & Sand 10/10. Service gets an 11/10! Jhary, our butler was outstanding! We look forward to coming back! Also Note:

TripAdvisor users rated this property 4 out of 5

Another great stay at Oceans H10

Red456838 (Ottawa, Canada) on Jan 27, 2025

My husband and I booked a last-minute (relatively cheap) 1 week trip to this resort in a privilege junior suite. This resort is very similar to the Oceans in Jamaica, in terms of layout and amenities. Layout: 10/10 The resort consists of 10 buildings, #1-6 on one side of the pools / stone path and #7-10 on the other, each being either two or three floors high. There are no elevators; however the resort is accessibility-friendly. It has a golf trolley that runs frequently too. The walk from the beach to the lobby is approximately 10 minutes based on your pace. The lobby has a bar and serves as a hub for guests, travel reps, reception and privilege concierge / check-in. This is also where you will find the piano bar and evening bingo (7:45pm) and is next to outdoor live show (in addition to nightly entertainment in the amphitheatre @930pm). Privilege king room, building 6 (9/10) Our fairly large room had a king size bed, single shower with toiletries, Jacuzzi tub in the bathroom, a seating area as well as a mini fridge, coffee maker, in-closet safe, clothes steamer, and hair dryer. We did have an issue (repair related) and after some persistent with our butler, we were moved (unexpectedly upgraded to an ocean view). Our first room had modern furniture and bathroom appeared older whereas new room seemed recently renovated throughout. Building 3 was undergoing Renos while we were there. Pools: 9/10 The resort has two main pools each with a whirlpool section and pool bar. There is also a hot tub and lifeguard on duty. Some minor upkeep on the pools to replace tiles is needed, but otherwise it was clean and refreshing (good temp). It’s roughly 4 feet deep with ladders and gradual entry points. Pool side activities include aqua fitness (noon daily) and water sports / fun (3pm) as well as a foam party (Saturday). Beach 9/10 Bavero beach is a walkers dream. Enjoy the soft white sand (for many miles / kms) or cool off in the beautiful blue ocean (waves were mild to moderate when we were there). No need for water shoes or snorkelling gear (unless you plan to take an excursion to see fish). Resort kept any washed up seaweed at bay. There are plenty of loungers on the beach, some underneath palm umbrellas, but those closest to the water (in the public area) did not have any shade. There are two bars at the beach, one reserved for privilege members immediately beside the 20 or so Bali beds that tended to be reserved ahead of time and were never available. The privelege area is cramped. While discouraged (signage), guests smoked at the beach and by pool. Beach activities include volleyball, and merengue lessons. Some beachgoers complained of “sand fleas” bites and about constant music playing (not us). Overall, we felt the resort had a good fun party vibe without overdoing it. The entertainment team works long hours and hard to keep guests engaged. Food: 8/10 Leading from the lobby there is a short Boulevard where most à la carte restaurants are located. Our favourite was the Mexican for both ambiance and food, followed by the Japanese and Steakhouse. You must try the milkshakes at Route 66 and visit the Ice Cream shoppe. The Sports bar offers drinks and food overnight. Here you will also find the Strike entertainment area (opens at 5pm) for 10 pin with bowling (bring socks); billiards, a bar as well as a family room with board games and gaming consoles. Throughout the day or evening, visit the very popular Mike’s coffee place for a cup of Java, iced tea, or sweet pastry or cookie. you may even get a glance at the resort’s Peacock. The resort is also home to “pinky “, their temperamental flamingo (he will nip), many cats, a few turtles, and a handful of large Koi fish. Service overall was excellent and they remember repeat guests; it is unbelievable how welcoming and friendly all the staff are. They work long hours treat you like family and are always smiling. Tips are appreciated. We typically allocate U$20/day for tipping and bring inexpensive goodies. The main buffet offers a variety of choice. Options are typical for a resort with an omelet bar at breakfast, ready made pasta during lunch, grill stations, fresh fruit, charcuterie and so much more. Food is fresh, to temp, plentiful and tasty. Be sure to enjoy a mimosa or champagne! Privilege package - $$ This is really a personal choice based on what your expectations are for your holidays. If you anticipate needing the services of a butler, are partial to top shelf alcohol (no longer available at pool bars), and want rooms closest to the beach, then you may want to consider upgrading. We felt the biggest advantage of Privilege was being able to pre-book the restaurants in advance for the entire week to ensure we got the time and day that we wanted while we were there. Non-privileged guess are also required to make reservations the day of for the Steak Cookhouse and Japanese by going to the gastronomic desk in the buffet lobby while the other restaurants were walk up, first come first serve, based on availability. Room service (1/10) is included 24 hours a day for privileged guests, whereas there are time restrictions and a $10-20 fee without this upgrade. The menu is extremely limited, and it took over one hour for us to get a late night snack that was delivered in cardboard takeout containers (rather than dishes). Food comes from Route 66, which is very understaffed and it was cold, bland and we didn’t even get what we ordered. Bottom line, for us, Privilege was not worth the added cost and did not make a big difference in our stay. Priority check in closes at 11pm, there was rarely anyone at the butler desk in our building, and Bally beds in the priority area we always reserved. That said, we liked having top shelf alcohol (vs local brand) except it was not available at pool bar. The self-serve bar in the privilege lounge (alcohol, canned beer / pop and light snacks) was a bonus. We would not hesitate to return or recommend this resort. We spoke to many loyal guests and members who said the same.

TripAdvisor users rated this property 3 out of 5

Hopefully a fair review

Karen B on Jan 26, 2025

Nice resort. Our room was spacious and in a great poolside location. Very slow breakfast service at the Priviledge restaurant Villa Marina. Never did get our order taken and left. Buffet lunch there was quite nice. All specialty restaurants were nicely decorated. The French restaurant was really good, and all others were fine, with the exception of the Mexican restaurant. Really bad, poor quality food. We had a major problem with the tram service. We waited over TWO HOURS after dining at the Steakhouse. One wheelchair person needing to take meds, and 1 person with a heart condition preventing him from walking. The staff at the restaurant did try to help, and finally a tram was sent for us. Our room was not cleaned the first day, after that all ok. I didn't feel that Privilege gave you a big advantage. Staff were all nice and helpful for the most part.

TripAdvisor users rated this property 5 out of 5

We loved it so much we went twice!!

Sandi P on Jan 26, 2025

This was our second time coming to this resort. We upgraded to privilege and feel it’s 100% worth it! Our butler Harry was amazing! Apparently you can choose your butler so if you go choose Harry!!! He’s attentive and very good at making you feel special. The rooms are great. The entire resort is spotless and well maintained. The pool was one of the best we’ve had at any resort. The staff is friendly. The layout of the resort is wonderful and easy to navigate. The food is good, not Michelin star good, but decent

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