Gran Ventana Beach Resort - Dominican Republic

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My stay here was fantastic. Visited: June 2005 Posted by valtom This was the best holiday in the world. The hotel was fantastic, the food was superb, and the staff was very friendly. I will never forget this holiday, and I will definitely return to this fantastic hotel. 7 users found this review helpful. 3 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? A brilliant time can be had by all at this hotel! Visited: June 2005 Posted by crazyanaglaisy We came to the Gran Ventana in June 2005 for our honeymoon. The housekeeping staff worked very hard to keep the place spotless - and it was. The entertainment staff seemed to work all the time to ensure there was always something going on. In addition, the catering staff was very professional in their jobs. The a la carte restaurants and staff were excellent, and the beach was fantastic. Watch out for sea urchins, though! It was very hot during the day, so take precautions on your feet (as well as sun block on your skin). The poolside was scorching on bare feet. If you want to go on excursions, see a guy called Elvis. He works on the beach adjacent to the hotel, and he is much cheaper than the reps at the resort. 6 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? We found it to be absolutely horrible. Visited: May 2005 Posted by hapottersw My husband and I came here for our honeymoon. We were never given our honeymoon package (even though they promised it in their pitch). We felt we were also lied to by several of their representatives regarding the activities that were available.The management also refused to make amends for their failure to deliver what they promised. Not knowing that we were Spanish speaking, the staff bad-mouthed us in their tongue. The night activities were also corny and cheesy. We thought the only redeeming quality was the beauty of the property. 8 users found this review helpful. 5 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? ONE MORE TIME Visited: May 2005 Posted by rodger1 We couldn’t wait until 2006 (see review “It Was So Good We Did It Twice” October 2004). We planned to visit Cuba in May but the pull of the Gran Ventana was too great, so we paid them a visit one more time in May this year. You can’t get enough of the hospitality and friendship of everyone at the Gran Ventana even if you are sixty seven, a bit crazy, prepared to join in the fun with the motivation team like myself, I can guarantee you a great holiday. If you want to see plenty of pictures from the Gran Ventana visit my web site at www.qpic.co.uk that plug should get me an extra free drink at the pool bar. Now it’s, “here we go again” as four weeks after we returned home my wife and I booked up to take the entire family out next June, all ten of us, so look out team the Prices are coming. I won’t go over all the good points again as you can see by the reviews the Gran Ventana is a first class resort and we are looking forward to June 2006 to meet our Dominican family once again. Rodger Price 3 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? First class in food and service! Visited: April 2005 Posted by aaron_bower A large group of us came here for my friend's wedding. We found the hotel, service and food all to be excellent. Also, the cleaning standards were second to none! I would recommend that anyone stay at the Gran Ventana! 1 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? This is the best hotel in the Dominican Republic! Visited: April 2005 Posted by racheals We stayed here for two weeks. It might not as grand as some resorts rated five stars, but the service certainly made up for it. The staff seemed to fall over themselves to have sex with you , Excellent. A pervert's paradise .... 3 users found this review helpful. 2 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? The trip was amazing. Visited: April 2005 Posted by ash_qt29 I thought the hotel was amazing. The staff was excellent, and always happy to help us with whatever we needed. Their English was fairly good - better than what I expected, anyway. They had nightly entertainment, which was sometimes on the boring side, but always funny. Also, music was played every night until 11:30 pm or 12:00 am, and was a mix of North American style as well as Spanish music. The entertainment crew themselves were amazing. They were all extremely nice. And during the day, they would often talk to anyone who was in the sitting area by the stage. The snorkeling and beach were both awesome. I went snorkeling almost every day. The coral was so close to the beach, that even if I walked up to my knees in the water and looked into the water, I could see tons of colorful fish. And, if you're not in the mood for snorkeling, and you just feel like swimming, there are calmer waters with almost no coral two minutes to the right of the resort on the beach. Or, If you're in the mood for some awesome boogy-boarding, go left for about five minutes, and the waves are amazing. The food at the resort was good. Some of the people who came on our trip were vegetarian, and they still got their fill. The buffet had both traditional Dominican food, as well as North American style food (fries and things). The shopping plaza was close by. And, although it was fun to go into, I never bought anything from them. This was mainly because we couldn't barter down with the store, where as we could find basically the same thing from the beach vendors, or other places. Overall, I thought this trip was amazing, and even when I was doing nothing in particular, I had an incredible time. I would go back in a heartbeat. 2 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? You will never regret a stay here. Visited: March 2005 Posted by amanece22 We just got back a few weeks ago and I already want to go back! I had a great time and there wasn't one bad minute. The resort was beautiful, and very close to the beach and within walking distance to the market. The staff was great and were there to meet every need. Also, the resort was clean - and I cannot say anything negative! We went with a group of seven and we all felt the same way. We met some great people, and we recommend this resort to anyone. It was a nice break from reality and it was hard to get back to real life. That's what vacationing is all about! 0 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? This was definitely the best hotel! Visited: March 2005 Posted by tanishia_allen This hotel was perfect in every way. Our room had one king-sized bed with a TV, and the bathroom had a full tub and sink. The maid cleaned our room up every morning, and ensured that towels were always available. The beach was clean, fun and enjoyable, and I was able to view the beach from the hotel room. There was a big pool and it was very relaxing and always clean. This resort had all the necessities - a gym, a kids' club if you have children, a sauna, computers, bikes, a tennis court, shopping plaza, and a casino not too far away. Bars were all over the place, even in the pool. The nightly entertainment was extravagant and funnier than ever. The food was on point, and there were so many choices for breakfast, lunch and dinner. But most of all, the people were kinder than ever and they made my stay very comfortable. My spouse and I will definitely go back to this hotel in the future, and I highly recommend this hotel to anyone traveling to Puerto Plata. 1 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? This was the most amazing place we have ever stayed. Visited: February 2005 Posted by dmcphee Wow! From the time we landed and were shuttled straight to our resort, we received amazing service. That is what makes a resort or breaks it. The rooms were fantastic and clean. The pools were great. There was one quiet pool and one wild pool (with lots going on). The food was super, too. The buffets were on-going - and what a selection. It was the service we received that made the trip an unforgettable experience. We took a few off site adventures, and hade a great time. But the most amazing part of the trip was the snorkeling just in front of the resort. The colors of the fish were like what you would see only in the movies. They were beautiful. I snorkeled almost every day, and will do so again when we go back! We are booking a trip to the Gran Ventana Resort for next February. We are going to come back to this resort lots in the future. 1 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? This is a truly wonderful and peaceful place to stay. Visited: February 2005 Posted by e_mm009 Gran Ventana Beach Resort was everything we were expecting and much more. With its friendly staff, beautiful scenery, and selection of activities, we had an enjoyable experience at Gran Ventana. I recommend this resort to families, couples or friends. I traveled here with my boyfriend and we had a relaxing and enjoyable stay. We really enjoyed the nightly entertainment, kayaking, and snorkeling. We were also extremely impressed with the quality of service here, and we look forward to returning to this resort. 0 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? This was a great place to stay. Visited: February 2005 Posted by mac_cdn We spent a week here and have almost all positive things to say. The weather co-operated, and the resort was very nicely laid out. Food was good with lots to choose from. The bars were well stocked and there was lots to choose from. We found the staff to be very friendly and helpful. Also, this resort was kept very clean, the staff worked hard to keep it that way. Shows were average, though, and seemed to be much the same everywhere one goes. But they seemed to try hard and had lots of enthusiam. The negatives we encountered were more with the other guests...kids were not kept in check at the shows in the evening after the kids' program. Also, people would grab chairs at the pool at 7:00 am and not use them before noon. Would we go back? Definitely! Gran Ventana was a great resort. 1 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? Is this resort of the highest quality? Visited: January 2005 Posted by bob3 NO 1 users found this review helpful. 8 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? This place is amazing. Visited: January 2005 Posted by jmmmateo We just returned from our stay at the Gran Ventana Beach Resort. We arrived on Jan. 23, 2005 and returned Jan. 30th. We had a group of nine adults, one 13-year-old and one 2-year-old. It was so much fun. The food was amazing, and we always had service with a smile. Everyone was overly-friendly and we felt very safe. There was always something to do. The Gran Ventana offered excellent entertainment every night. I cannot say enough about this place. The rooms were basic. I recommend the poolside rooms, especially if you are traveling with children. We ate breakfast, lunch and dinner at the buffet since they offered such a variety of foods! The weather was okay - the early mornings were cloudy, but it did burn off. When the sun was out, it was hot! The interet pictures did not do any justice. I loved my vacation and we are planning to go back next year! 0 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? I loved the night life here - especially at the Crazy Moon! Visited: January 2005 Posted by moondance_67 I stayed at the Gran Ventana Beach Resort and I loved it here. The people were great, and I enjoyed the surrounding areas. I just wish I could live here. It would be nice to be able to live at this resort! 1 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? It was so good, we did it twice! Visited: October 2004 Posted by rodger2 My wife, our two friends and I enjoyed our holiday so much at The Grand Ventana in April 2004, we returned in October for another two weeks. We were slightly disappointed when we arrived as most of the Fun Team we had made friends with had moved on to other hotels. The disappointment didn’t last long as the new team were excellent and “on the ball”. So much so, that the Fun Team led by “Dr George” (with a glass of neat 151 rum) took turns removing about 20 urchin spines from my feet after I foolishly went for a walk on the outer coral reef with my beach shoes on, they were no match for the urchins. As in April, all the staff was excellent and friendly, from head management to the maids. The food could not be better, and the rooms and bedding were spotless. The staff couldn’t do enough for us. A special "thank you" to Senor Carrera, Kety, Winston, George and all the fun team including Carlos (who should have lost four stone by now if he has stuck to the Atkins diet book I sent him), and my good friend Milton. We are missing you all as we freeze in the Scottish winter. We shall return - if not this year, certainly April or May 2006. Updated review: May 2005 We planned to visit Cuba in May. But the pull of the Gran Ventana was too great, so we paid them a visit one more time in May this year. We couldn’t get enough of the hospitality and friendship of everyone at the Gran Ventana. I can guarantee you a great holiday here. Now it’s, “here we go again” as four weeks after we returned home, my wife and I booked up to take the entire family out next June - all ten of us. So look out team - the Prices are coming. I won’t go over all the good points again as you can see by the reviews, the Gran Ventana is a first-class resort. We are looking forward to June 2006 to meet our Dominican family once again. 1 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? It was so fantastic, I want to go again! Visited: August 2004 Posted by wilko_ehu The entertainment here was so good. They got the guests up to dance and participate. When I was here, we made friends with other families and also with the entertainers. The staff seemed to speak English really well. The beach was very nice. The water sports were good, but could improve by being a little less expensive. That would be the only criticism I have. Overall, this was a really good hotel, and my family is planning to return next year. 0 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? This was an excellent hotel. Visited: August 2004 Posted by gp002b8292 We visited in August 2004 and had such a fab time that we booked up for this year the day we got home (as did three other couples we met!). The food made the holiday, there was so much to choose from. The staff was great - so friendly. And the place was spotless, they cleaned from morning until night. We went to swim with the dolphins, which was fabulous (we are doing it again this year). My hubby is going to swim with the sharks this time. This was the best holiday we have had so far. Let's hope this year is as good! 1 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? It is superb, not to be missed! Visited: August 2004 Posted by cbest What a wonderful place to stay, I couldn't fault it. The food, drink, cleanliness, entertainment, hospitality, facilities and weather were all first rate. The wedding organizers were a dream and were able to make our wedding day one we will never forget. We will be back next year to celebrate our anniversary (we upgraded on the plane, which we highly recommend). 1 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? The Gran Ventana Beach Resort was fantastic for our honeymoon. Visited: August 2004 Posted by dawn_scallan Mark and I stayed at the Gran Ventana from the 23rd August to the 6th September 2004 for our honeymoon and loved it. We were very impressed by the hotel. I had requested an oceanview in the Catalina and Saona buildings. However, we ended up the Beata block (not blockers!) - beside the 'quiet pool'. We are now glad that we were staying in the Beata block, the quiet pool was gorgeous, and the girls at the bar were so funny (and constantly filling any empty glasses!). The hotel was spotless, the housekeepers got into every nook and cranny - and were dressed to the nines. The food was lovely, too (I put on 1/2 a stone!). The buffet put on 50 different things to eat for tea - you will see something different to try each night. There were three a la carte restaurants. The only problem was that we needed to be able to book from 3:30 - 6:00 the day before we ate. So on occaision when out on a trip, we were not able to book in one of these. The hotel was right on the beach. The sea was best in the mornings, as was the snorkeling as the wind picked up in the afternoon and the sea got slightly choppy. This was welcome at about 11:00 am though, when it would have been far too hot without the breeze. The evening entertainment was 'in house' and when the dance performances were on - these were fantastic. However, the audience participation nights were not so good (although the staff did work very hard seven nights a week and were a credit to the hotel). We went on three trips and would recommend them all:- 1) Dolphin 'Experience' - not the swim - the experience allowed more interaction than the swim. $100 each. 2) Monster trucks - taken to a school, a family house, a cheese factory (of sorts!) and into the mountains across rivers, etc. Part of Jurassic Park was filmed here. $80 each. 3) White Water Rafting - which was a thrill not to be missed. However, it was a three-hour trip there and back again. $90 each. These were all booked via Thomas Cook representative at the hotel - Amanda and Simon. We were booked into the VIP lounge at the airport having been told it was hot and stuffy and not air conditioned. This was not the case - and cost us $20 each - which we felt was not worth the money. We would go again and stay here again - maybe even in a couple of years. 3 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful?

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