Ocean El Faro reviews
7071 TripAdvisor reviews
Beautiful resort
happytobemarried (grand rapids, michigan) on Mar 23, 2024
WE STAYED AT OCEAN EL FARO FOR 11 DAYS IN MARCH. PROS THE ROOMS ARE LARGE WITH COMFY BEDS AND PILLOWS. THE CLEANING STAFF WAS VERY GOOD. THE EVENING ENTERTAINMENT WAS ENJOYABLE. PIANO BAR HAS EXCEPTIONAL DRINKS AND A VERY GOOD PIANO PLAYER. BRING LOTS OF SUNSCREEN AND ALOE. SUN IS HOT AND THERE IS ALWAYS A BEAUTIFUL BREEZE. THE SHOP ON THE RESORT IS VERY EXPENSIVE. SNACKS ARE VERY EXPENSIVE CONS THEY OVER BOOK THEIR ROOMS AND TRY TO PUT YOU IN A DOWN GRADED ROOM. BEWARE OF BUILDING 8. IT TOOK US COMPLAINING TO THE PRIVILEGE DESK AND THANKFULLY OUR AMSTAR REP FINALLY GOT US THE ROOM WE BOOKED AND PAID FOR THE NEXT DAY. AFTER TALKING TO OTHER GUESTS, THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. YOUR BUTLERS ARE LIMITED TO WHAT THEY CAN DO TO HELP YOU. THE STAFF AND STAFF SUPERVISORS ROUTINELY DISREGARD THE REQUESTS FROM THE BUTLERS AND/OR GUESTS. WE FELT THE PRIVILEGE WAS REALLY NOT WORTH IT. OTHER THAN A BUTLER THAT MAKES YOUR DINNER RESERVATIONS, YOU GET A RESTAURANT LOUNGE AND A PRIVATE PRIVILEGE SECTION IN THE BUFFET. THERE IS A PRIVILEGE SEATING AREA ON THE BEACH WHICH YOU SHARE WITH EVERYONE ON THE RESORT. BRING SALT AND PEPPER. THEY DO NOT HAVE IT ON THE TABLES. THERE IS NO MENUS IN ANY RESTAURANT. YOU HAVE TO SCAN A CODE ON YOUR SMART PHONE. IF YOU DON’T HAVE A SMART PHONE OR DON’T TAKE IT WITH YOU FOR DINNER, YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO SEE THE MENU. THEY MIGHT HAVE ONE FOR THE WHOLE RESTAURANT. THE STAFF OUTSIDE YOUR BUILDING TEND TO BE NOT SO FRIENDLY. I HAD TO ALWAYS BE THE FIRST TO SAY GOOD MORNING OR ALOHA. IT SHOULD BE THEM GREETING US FIRST. WE FOUND THE RESTAURANT AND POOL BAR STAFF WERE THE BEST. THE BEACH IS VERY ROCKY AND HARD TO WALK ON. THERE IS A LAGOON WHICH IS VERY NICE. RIGHT NEXT TO THE RESORT. SPECIAL SHOUT OUT TO STAFF MEMBERS: DARHENY – OUR BUTLER POOL BAR STAFF BY BUILDING #4 – JUSTINA AND JHON BLUE MOON FRENCH RESTURANT – ELIDA PRIVILEGE SERVICE STAFF AT BUFFET – DAHIANA AND ROBERLIN
We stayed from 3/16-3/23/24 and had an amazing stay . The staff was great at every stop on the resort .
bobby c (Durham, North Carolina) on Mar 23, 2024
Great stay ! Luis was great as a Butler. He made sure we had everything we needed and set up all dinners for us. Kids says this was there best vacation yet and we travel quite a bit . The place has lots of things to do and also allows some relax time to
Won’t stay here again
DeborahVCanada (Ajax, Canada) on Mar 23, 2024
I wish I read reviews for this place. But again you can’t believe everything you read. But for this one believe it. I will say the resort has a great lay out. It’s very clean and well maintained. Rooms were large, modern and clean. Pools were great too. The beach is awful. Big rocks can’t get in to swim. You need to go off to the side of the main beach to swim. Which is not on the resort property. The food was awful. The worse part was employees are very rude. They were shocked when we spoke Spanish and called them out for talking about us or other guests. It’s service then tip not tip then service. We found this through out the whole resort. We tip all the time. If this was my first trip to Punta Cana I would not go back. Won’t be back to this one.
Great stay, good value, and super clean
thekashman (Vaughan, Canada) on Mar 23, 2024
We had a great time staying at Ocean el Faro. Myself, my wife and our two kids aged one and two. Overall, hotel was family friendly, super clean, and offered lots of amenities including five pools with swim up bar at each one. Lazy river spent a great time there. Bowling alley (if you go there at the right time no waiting). Tennis court, we didn’t visit. Kids club it was great , they offered in door and out door activities. Also, you can borrow a little cart for toddler during you stay for free. Water park ( the biggest highlight for us because our kids really enjoyed it). Pool table at the sports bar. Beach bar. Duty free shop, prices were little on the high side. Two type of Trolley service for regular and privileged customers because the hotel ground was huge and it depends where you are staying there could be a lot of walking to be done. We stayed at building #7 and we were facing the activity pool. This was awesome because we were right at the centre and we could do a short walk to get to everything. Our room layout was great and it offered a king bed, seating area with sofa, decent size closet, double sink bathroom, jacuzzi. Rain shower. Safe, steam iron. Fridge filled with beverages , water, and alcoholic beverages, get filled daily and you can ask for more. Also, they left the following kits( shoe shine, sewing kit, shaving kit, dental kit, q-tip). Large balcony with a swing chair. Also, we asked for a crib and they provided us with one for the little guy. There were the following restaurants (Italian, Japanese, Steak house) these you need to book in advance but no limit how many times. However, you have to use the QR code to book or download the hotel App which is easier. Hint Hint, booking opens at 8am daily until 4pm. The best time to book is just before 8am because after 9am no spots available. Italian was great, Japanese was good experience but the food was average rice not cooked well and the sushi was basic and you inhale a lot of smoke, but good experience. Steak house is hit and miss. The first visit we waited for our food for literally 1.5HRS, then, when the food arrived it wasn’t even cooked properly, so we end up leaving and ate at the buffet. Second visit was a bit better but still not as good as everyone else said. (buffet, blue moon - adult only restaurant , grill restaurant, American, Mexican ) overall, buffet was good but not too many selection. Grill section, pasta section, salad, Dominican style, pizza station, soup, dessert section. It was open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The adult only was mainly seafood offering. Mexican restaurant was great selection and very tasty. Road 66 beware, I believe I got the diarrhea after I ate there. The grill restaurant near the pool was ok, but make sure not to ask for special instructions because they will get you the wrong food items all together ;), otherwise, is not bad. Also, there were two more restaurants that were for privilege guests. One was buffet and one was adult only. Both were at the beach in the adult section of the hotel. Also, there was a bar at the beach. Beach was nice white sand, enough chairs. Also, they offered canopy bed to privilege guests. However, the entry to the water was not good and inconvenient because there was some hidden large racks and stones under. Made it a little harder to enjoy. Wave was a little strong and high but that was just the weather at the time we stayed. The hotel had a coffee shop similar to Starbucks, which was great place to get your morning/ afternoon coffee and specialty drinks. Also, they offered pastries. Special shout out to Louise, who works there. He was very attentive and helpful. He would do what it takes to make sure the guests are happy. I forgot to mention all of the hotel, restaurant, coffee shop were designed thoughtfully and had an artistic style in each one of them, which gave a different feel. There was a little ice cream pallor that was a nice addition. Day time and evening activities were the average you get at any resort. They were good, but the staff were amazing. They were always friendly and polite and worked hard to ensure everyone enjoyed their time. Special shout out to John , Laura, Whinne for remembering my kids name and always try to interact with them and make them happy. One note for management as an opportunity to make it easier to get to the theatre for parents with stroller and for disabled people because currently there is no ramp to get into the theatre which make it very difficult for anyone with walking limitations or stroller to get in. Also, I know how hard the staff work day in and day out, but pretty much all of the one at the restaurant can’t understand any special basic request such as meat well done or remove a lettuce from sandwich. We had few incidents that we had to deal with but it would be nice if at least there is one person who can accommodate and understand the guest ask. Also, check in time took forever especially after being tired from the flight and we were only two families but I am not sure why?!!. Furthermore, there are two bars at the lobby one regular and one is called the piano bar, which they play the piano instrument inside it. The hotel ground had few designated picture spots which was very cool. Disco club wasn’t that good because there were a lot of families staying there and there weren’t enough goers to the club. There was a casino at the hotel too , but small one about 6 slot machines and few tables. Didn’t really get to try it. As I mentioned above the hotel had a family section and adult section. Same for the buffet restaurant which was great. Finally, there was a lighthouse tower that you could use to get to the top and get a bird eye view of the hotel ground and the beach. Special shout out to Rene from guest service for his help and support getting me the medicine and being helpful with any questions I had. Also, special shout out to Berenice from the cleaning crew. She had a contagious smile and down to earth attitude!
Good place expect food
Juanita M on Mar 22, 2024
Great place but food could be a lot better Maria and Alejandro were our main bartenders at the main lobby where you first check in, they were very lovely and friendly and went above and beyond when it came to me and my girl. It was my birthday and they made sure to make me feel special. Definitely would come back , the only downside was the food.