TripAdvisor Traveler Rating

MORE EXPENSIVE AND LESS SERVICES We traveled to this resort for a week in mid-April 2026 We have been to this resort in 2022, so we can compare it to today. Yes it’s more expensive with much less services The not so good: Mattresses are from the prehistoric era, Fred Flintstone HARD bed Only two bars open, only one at a time except for an overlap from 4 to 6pm. If you are at the far end of the beach, you need to walk some distance and climb stairs for your drink. No beach service, the beach bar is CLOSED. The pool bar is manned by only one person, so the wait time can be increased. Wi-Fi can become spotty or nonexistent. The room fridge has only water, period. Don’t expect beer or the like in there. No room service since there are no working phone lines in the rooms, not even at reception (they use walkiei-talkies between them to communicate). Junior suites are noisy since they are close to a busy road. We downgraded to a superior room with sea view, which we recommend. Only two à la carte restaurants. We do not recommend the Las Olas but the Don Pablo is OK. Some plates (like a rib eye) charges 35 USD extra. We’ve been to many restaurants with an extra charge for certain items on a menu, but 35 USD isn’t an extra charge, it’s paying the full amount for the plate. Although the beach is small, it’s nice, but beach chairs, in some instances, are rare or not available. There is ample shade. The good : The place is beautiful and clean. The view is stunning Staff are attentive to your needs. Please tip generously. Room cleaning was great. Aside from the hard mattresses, rooms are nice with plenty of hot water. Room keys are embedded in your resort bracelet, good idea. The buffet, although small, is good, but it’s not enclosed, so flies can get in there. Seafood is almost non-existent. Once the buffet closes in the evening, no food is available until morning. Room safe worked well Other stuff: Transport to/from the El Catay airport takes about an hour. No washrooms in the bus. No kids, resort for an older crowd. Many stairs, so be forewarned. The place goes quiet after 10pm. Definitely NOT a five star hotel, given the loss of services. We will never go back, unless the hotel increases its services and gets comfortable beds. Struggling for a restful sleep isn’t our idea of a restful vacation.

Resort: Adults only resort. Average age seemed to be over 50. We found the resort to be very clean. The floors were polished and gleaming in the lobby area and beyond. There are steps to the different levels but there is also an elevator that can take you up and down to the first and second levels. The gardens are lovely with walkways of different palms and greenery. We were here in April and weather was lovely with brief showers in late afternoon. Room: Our room was on the 4th floor in the separate building from the main resort. It was just a small walk from one to the other. Our room had the best view we have ever had. The balcony overlooked the bay and from the left you could see the beach and to the right you could see the pool and area and you could see across to the far side of the bay with the misty hills in the distance. We could hear the waves from our room too. So nice. The room was very clean and a/c worked perfectly – always consistent and not noisy. No musty smells. The phone in the room does not work. So if you needed anything you had to go in person to the front desk. There were not enough receptables and nothing near the bed so to plug in your phone you had to unplug the coffeemaker on the opposite wall. I would recommend bringing a small power bar. The king bed was comfortable. The bathroom was a bit dated but nice with a jacuzzi tub and shower. They provide the soap, shampoo and conditioner and bar of soap. The small fridge is stocked only with water. There is a small coffeemaker which we used every morning to sit with a coffee on the balcony. There is an elevator to use in the building to access the floors. The backside of the building is near the road which is quite busy. Fortunately the room has two doors so it blocks out the noise from the street. The room was very quiet and dark at night. Pool: Pool was very clean and a great temperature. The pool bar staff provided delicious frozen drinks which were my favourite. There was only one person at any given time and sometimes they were not very quick or friendly. There plenty of loungers and side tables with ash trays everywhere. Beach: Small but clean with soft brown sand. There were a number of loungers and palapas. No beach bar service. There is always waves but some days were calmer than others. Food: We ate mostly at the buffet which was good. Two a la carte restaurants are available and you need to make reservations at each and I believe only once per restaurant. We were not very thrilled with these restaurants. Great service but food was just ok. Some items on the menu were an extra charge. Menu selection was limited. The house wine is unfortunately terrible. The ride on the bus from airport was good and it is about an hour or so drive. There is no room on the bus though for carryons and no leg room. Be prepared for pushy luggage handlers for tips at the airport. There were a number of excursions you can purchase but my husband and I didn’t leave the resort. I can't comment on these. We met some very nice people. Resort never seemed crowded. The lobby bar served delicious drinks also and there was nightly entertainment here in the evening with live singing and music. All in all we really enjoyed this quaint resort and would go back.

i’d give this a 4.5 star if i could . i will say this is a good resort if you just want to relax and enjoy the views as it is beautiful and the beach is very nice and secluded and you have another one nearby that’s a 4 min walk away . please note there’s a lot of stairs but you’ll burn off those drinks :) . the service was also pretty good everyone was pleasant for the most part . the rooms could be a bit cleaner , food is also inconsistent and menu doesn’t rotate much , and there is also a lack of fruits and vegetables so if you need that then that could be an issue . drinks / cocktails are standard if you’re not an alcoholic these will be fine for you . the wine also could be better though . in one way they could improve is have more variety or higher quality food at the buffet. another issue is the location in a way , as since it’s far from samana santa barbers there is not really a clear way to get there that the resort advices us on and that could lead to people getting overcharged on taxis if they do not know the rates or a proper way to get there , like atleast have a hotel supported contact for a taxi service perhaps . Regarding tours , go with Mikolol on the beach , it’s more of a local vibe and the prices are better as the ones the hotel provides or the 2 / 3 competitors provide are too expensive . All in all i would recommend this place .

Would come again, food was good, place was clean. Everything is tended to immediately, like mopped for safety after a rain storm, cleaned the fallen vegetation, dishes etc. My only complaint is the fact that the entire resort is a smoking area. The only place you cannot smoke is inside the rooms and in the foyer. But since everything is open concept, you cannot get away from the constant smoking. I wish there was more of a designated area for smokers so you didn't have to smell it, even when eating under the canopy for the buffet. But other than that the resort is nice. Beds are on the harder side, at least ours were but everything is clean

Lots of stairs. Can't compare to mexican resorts....except the beach is nicer and definitely more private.... My fiance built it up- well....the bar on the beach is gone!!!! Gotta walk a LONG ways to get to a bar or bathroom if your on the beach! DINNER- no à la cartes except 2 (served food from the buffet)....The rooms are dated....no premium booze (additional charge). I'm celiac so there was little in the way of options. Entertainment is poor (usually a 20 yo hooked up to a karaoke machine), nothing more...was upsetting bc my fiance has been in past and talked about fire breathers and aquatic shows and michael jackson shows but now it's just a solo young person hooked up to a karaoke machine until 10pm then everything shuts down on resort. bonus- nice beach, staff pleasant. It's more of a resort for elderly bc there's really no entertainment, it is romantic but plan to go to bed early bc nothing is open past 10....