TripAdvisor Traveler Rating

**Ocean El Faro – Great for Families, But Some Frustrating Gaps (3.75/5)** We stayed at Ocean El Faro in April 2026 with a group of 12 (7 adults, 5 kids ages 5–12). Overall, we had a really good trip and I would go back, but there are a few issues that the resort really needs to fix. **The Good:** This resort is excellent for families. The layout is one of the best I’ve seen—everything is centered around the main “street,” so it’s easy to get around. We were in a Junior Suite facing the Daisy Pool (Building 1), which was a super convenient location close to the buffet and main areas. The kids absolutely loved: * The lazy river (huge hit) * Bowling and the family lounge * The water park right beside the Daisy Pool * The ice cream parlour and self-serve soft serve station at Ocean Burger Food was hit and miss, but some highlights: * Steakhouse was excellent (filet comparable to The Keg) * Sakura (hibachi) was fun and one of the better meals * Pizza was consistently good * Mike’s Coffee had great cheesecake and was perfect for snacks The lagoon beach (not part of the resort) was also a big win—calmer water and great for kids, especially since the main beach had a red flag all week. Shoutout to Joel and Juana at the lobby bar—they were fantastic. Also appreciated that they serve Caesars (a nice surprise for Canadians). **The Not-So-Good:** The biggest issue was the room. It smelled musty/mouldy the entire week, and nothing would dry due to the humidity. There was visible mould under the bathroom vanity and no fan in the bathroom. We tried calling reception for a dehumidifier (no answer) and went to the front desk but were ignored. Eventually we just gave up and dealt with it. This needs to be addressed—either better ventilation or dehumidifiers. Our friends in building 2 and 6 had no issues with humidity in their rooms. Also: * Only 1 king bed + a terrible pull-out couch for families. The pull-out was basically unusable. * Towel situation is a mess. Towels run out by afternoon, and people hoard them (I saw one person lying on 6). * Chair reserving is out of control—people claim loungers at 6am and disappear for hours. * Lazy river tubes get hoarded the same way (we brought our own, which I recommend). Restaurants were inconsistent: * Route 66 dinner was a disaster (wrong orders, inedible brisket, very slow service, and a staff member pressured me to write a Google review on the spot) * Mexican restaurant took over an hour to get food and wasn’t worth it. Chips, Salsa and Guac on the table to start was a big hit though. * Buffet was generally good, but basic things (bowls, salt/pepper) were sometimes missing Also worth noting: * Kids club/entertainment staff didn’t really engage with kids * The 2 shows we watched were underwhelming * Some safety concerns (unsupervised kids jumping in the lazy river, slide collisions at the water park) **Other Notes:** * Ocean Burger is great for quick lunches, but lines can get long * Drinks were good overall, and tipping $1–$2 per drink went a long way * We used Dominican pesos and spent about $250 CAD total in tips for the week * The resort shop is very expensive (bring snacks from home) * Lots of cats around the property (kids loved it, but something to be aware of) **Bottom Line:** This is a fun, lively resort that’s great for families, especially with younger kids. The amenities, layout, and overall vibe are strong. But the resort really needs to fix the room humidity/mould issue, improve towel management, and enforce rules around chair and tube hoarding. I would definitely return—but I’d request a different room or a dehumidifier, and I’d plan meals carefully. **Rating: 3.75/5** **Would I go back? Yes** **Best for: Families with kids**

We had an amazing time at Ocean el Faro/ El Beso,upgraded to Privilege at check and were allocated Jose Miguel Jimenez who was amazing went above and beyond our expectations,booked all our meal reservations and was on hand daily no negative comments for this hotel

I recently stayed at the ocean El Faro this is my fifth trip here. It is always a pleasant experience. Upon arrival, I was granted a free upgrade to the oceanfront rooftop room, which was beautiful. The staff is very friendly, the entertainment team, including. Emmanuel, Enrique, Ana, Sexy Chocolate, Joel, Banana, Carlos, Henrick, Roberto all made the stay very fun! The bartenders at the El Beso bar are fantastic including Juan Carlo, Edison and Domingo and the lady servers to the pool! There are many food options this time I did find it a bit easier to get reservations than the last time. And no reservation restaurants had no wait time.. the pool chairs you did have to put out towels early to get a seat in the shade. One suggestion would be light snacks in the afternoon either at the El Beso lobby or in the rooms. Chips, nuts etc. The coffee shop is a long walk from building 17. I also want to compliment the housekeeping I do not know her name, but she was fantastic servicing our building. She was very accommodating to clean whenever we were not in the room. We also received beautiful decorations.

absolutely amazing experience. all the staff was extremely friendly, helpful, and welcoming, especially Emmanuel and Naomi!!! best resort i’ve been to by far!!

Was an amazing experience Emmanuel is a great person and along with all the amazing pool bar staff, super friendly and made it a great time, anarcary and davi were amazong