Marien Puerto Plata Hotel reviews

TripAdvisor Traveler Rating

4.0 Very Good

  • Cleanliness 4.0
  • Location 4.0
  • Rooms 3.5
  • Service 4.0
  • Value 4.0

8668 TripAdvisor reviews

TripAdvisor users rated this property 5 out of 5

Amazing vacation. Will definitely be back.

OnAir17120377274 on Feb 08, 2025

Amazing time. We were a group of 4 and never a dull moment. From the front desk stafff to servers at buffet everything was excellent. Our housekeeper Natalie was amazing, Joan the bartender was definitely my favourite. He makes the best drinks. The entertainment staff was awesome especially Bon Bon. He goes above and beyond. He will be the reason we return to the Marien.

TripAdvisor users rated this property 3 out of 5

under $1500 VIP package

Yvon M (Gatineau, Canada) on Feb 08, 2025

I am giving this resort a 3 star only because we paid just under $1500 for the VIP package. The good 1. private check in at the VIP lounge 2. staff were great 3. no reservation for a la carte 4. top shelf liquor at certain bars. must ask though 5. pool is nice and big 6. OK, nothing to wow about but always found something. The bad 1. Wife broke her foot and made several requests 6 weeks prior for 1 floor. Had to agrue to get it 2. No hot water for 2 days in our room 3. NO WIFI IN MOST ROOMS 4. VIP lounge is nice but in a location away from everything. 5. dated resort, needs updating 6. 2 of 4 of us got sick. 24hr bug 7. barely no shade near pool. get up a 5am if you want a umbrella hut 8. very boring resort. shows are basically the same every night and place basically shuts down at 11pm (older crowd) 9. $3US to play pool at disco 10. Room service included in VIP is basically impossible to order. got through once and we'll would have preferred they did not pick up. 10. was 1st at 8am to ask at VIP for late check out and was told hotel is fully booked and no one was getting late check out. Our friends went at 11 spoke to someone else at front desk and got a room until 7pm. It was sunny and warm for $1500, Had i paid more, the review would have been 1 or 2 out of 5. We travel 1 to 2 times a year and this was our 3rd time to Puerta plata. Blue Bay for the same price is similar but we found it better.

TripAdvisor users rated this property 4 out of 5

A lovely time!

Go110164 on Feb 07, 2025

We just left MARIEN and we had a lovely time. If you are looking for a comfortable resort with nice staff, spa on site and close to local attractions this resort will definitely work for you. We do recommend VIP for the lounge, its WIFI and quiet place to chill. A shout out to Kewry N. and Enerolisa M. In the VIP lounge for their assistance and smiling faces. Bascillica gave me a to die for hot stone massage and pedicure. She was kind, accommodating and a pleasure to spend time with. Wendal was our waiter for our romantic dinner in the gazebo. Really all the staff was lovely. If you are looking for opulent look elsewhere. We met some lovely friends too. A vacation is what you make it to be and ours was one to remember.

TripAdvisor users rated this property 4 out of 5

Beautiful resort for most people over 50 who just want to relax and soak up the sun!

Laurie R on Feb 06, 2025

We stayed i Jan 20-27 2025. We had a lovely time, pool area is so nice, and yes like many resorts spots are reserved early, but we never had an issue finding a spot. Beach was beautiful.. lots of shade. VIP area of beach with balinese bed were well shaded. Buffet, was very good, lots of options,, we are not picky. Pasta bar was a nice touch. Ala cartes: we tried mexican and brazilian.. both had great staff, but did not feel like they overly interacted.. that being said we didn't overly engage as well. The food was very good and plentiful at both. Rooms we were in building 6 third floor gardenview. yes rooms are dated, Beds were extremely hard! (only complaint). was told before we left we could ask for a mattress topper.. VIP: we did the superior room (VIP) , now our rooms were the same.. only difference was a banner on the door! I loved having access to the VIP lounge and the premium alcohol, but most of all we got to meet the best bartender ever in Oscar!! Oscar really provided a wonderful experience in the lounge and made us feel like we were indeed very special people! We gathered with others several times a day just o enjoy his wonderful service! Entertainment- We did not partake in any of the evening shows, but there was a different show each night. No big beach activities were hosted, or not much for pool side activities other than morning yoga, water aerobics and a few games. the Staff well this is where the resort shines the most! ALL staff work extremely hard, the grounds are kept so clean as well as the public areas and bathrooms. The Guest services staff at the VIP lounge were the most helpful! Mamiry, Kewry and Wilnely were all so wonderful. Will return once the rooms have been fully upgraded.. there was construction going on so those in building 6 had views of a fence, luckily on the third floor we could see across to a beautiful foliage of trees and even some wildlife.

TripAdvisor users rated this property 2 out of 5

Marien Puerto Plata Resort – Mixed Experience with VIP Package

Paul G on Feb 06, 2025

We stayed at the Marien Puerto Plata Resort from January 28th to February 4th, 2025, and had a mixed experience, especially with the VIP package. While the resort offers some great perks, several shortcomings made it difficult to justify the additional cost. On the positive side, check-in was a breeze with a personalized welcome in the VIP lounge, setting a great first impression. Our room had a bottle of sparkling wine upon arrival, and the superior minibar with soft drinks and beer was a nice touch. The VIP lounge provided light refreshments during the day, and having access to the à la carte restaurants without a reservation was a definite advantage. The private beach area with Balinese beds was a highlight, offering a comfortable and relaxing escape from the main crowds. The VIP section at the buffet also provided a quieter dining experience. Unfortunately, the negatives outweighed the benefits. Despite VIP status, late check-out was nearly impossible to coordinate. Room service was nonexistent, with no response despite multiple attempts. Promised VIP bathrobes, slippers, and turn-down service were not provided. Shaded seating at the pool was extremely limited, requiring guests to claim spots as early as 5:00 a.m. Premium drinks were only served if specifically requested by brand, which was frustrating. The biggest issues were the unreliable Wi-Fi, two days without hot water in our room, and the complete water supply loss on the last day—major inconveniences that significantly impacted our stay. Overall, the resort itself, as well as the rooms, feel outdated and in need of renovations. While some VIP perks were enjoyable, they did not compensate for the resort’s operational and maintenance issues. I would not recommend paying extra for the VIP package, and I hope the resort invests in much-needed upgrades in the near future.

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