Dominican Republic - Villa Rentals

Sunrise Villa, villa review Visited: March 2012

Posted by SamanaWeddings

After searching for hours on end for a place to take my family in the Dominican Republic, we settled on Sunrise Villa in Cabrera.

Its lure was the luxurious setting and privacy away from all the tourists found in the local cookie-cut resorts/hotels. The cost per person was a fraction of what it would have cost in the resorts.

There was so much to do on the grounds and locally. Also, you can't beat the view anywhere!

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Casa Colonial Beach & Spa, hotel review Visited: March 2010

Posted by lffutm

Last year I was looking to book a romantic trip to the Dominican Republic with my partner. We did some research on Wheretostay.com.

We were looking for a beachfront resort that was beautiful and had delicious restaurants and spa treatments. Casa Colonial Beach & Spa absolutely met all of our qualifications, so we booked our flight.

We absolutely fell in love with the gorgeous Colonial architecture and the sandy beaches of Playa Dorada. From the moment we arrived, we were treated as if we were royalty. The staff was always very attentive and friendly, making sure we had everything we needed.

We had romantic brunches on our balcony, dinner for two on the beach, and just relaxed by the pool and beach for the rest of the day. While my partner was out golfing during the afternoon, I stayed behind and had the hot stone massage and salt and gem exfoliation - which were both wonderful! You can even book to have your spa treatment in the gazebo in front of the water.

We stayed in the deluxe oceanview suite, which I highly recommend. It had a spacious balcony and a Roman style bathtub. It even had 24-hour room service, which is always a big plus!

Overall, we absolutely loved our five-night stay in Casa Colonial and would highly recommend it for a romantic getaway!

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Hotel La Catalina, hotel review Visited: December 1969

Posted by EDHAMADA

While staying at Costa Norte Villa in Cabrera, we ate every night at Hotel La Catalina.

On the first day, we drove over and spoke to owner-chef. We explained dietary problems due to allergies. Every night that week, and for the next three years, we saw the chef and every meal was perfect. It was as if she was cooking just for us.

She also introduced us to a new drink that is out of this world. Highly recommended.

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Fun Tropicale, hotel review Visited: July 2009

Posted by megan

In 2009 my mum, my auntie, my cousin and I stayed at Fun Tropicale. At the time it was my third time in the country. I have now visited five times. Out of five times, Fun Tropicale has been my favorite.

The food is amazing. I disagree with the BBC television program that reported you can't brush your teeth with the water there. As a matter of fact, when we boarded the bus at the airport, they told us we would be supplied with lots of fresh water daily.

I am aware that it is now closed for renovation. However, I don't think it could get any better. I hope it opens up soon and that British tour operators service the area. I want to return to my favorite hotel!

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Coral Costa Caribe by Hilton, hotel review Visited: February 2011

Posted by SifonBoroda

We had no hot water in the room, and received no response to our calls to reception to get it resolved.

The toilets did not flush very well, leaving whatever was in it to emit a less than pleasant aroma. Also, there was just enough shampoo for one usage - or for bald people. It certainly wasn't enough for the entire holiday!

As for the food - it was very repetitive. They served chicken, eggs, and rice every single day. There were no salads or seafood.

A romantic dinner with only two lobsters and few snacks will cost you $150.00. Soft drinks like champagne are not included. For those, you pay about $60. The good thing about the romantic dinner is that you will never forget delighting and sharing nice moments alone at the beach by the table.

Chairs and towels are not available at the beach if you arrive later than 9.00 a.m.

Also, even though it was an all-inclusive such facilities like the spa and Jacuzzi cost an additional $15 for 15 minutes.

The staff was nice and friendly, and served guests with courtesy if they received tips. Otherwise, you will be neglected.

This accommodation did not come up to the expectations of a four-star hotel. I have been to many countries and have stayed in various hotels. That was definitely not a four-star hotel. The name "Costa Caribe by Hilton" was changed to "Costa Caribe Juan Dolio" in 2006. Do not confuse it with Hilton Hotels. It has nothing in common!

The staff and others in the country barely spoke English at all.

On a positive note: the weather was great - there was a lot of sunshine. Also, the views were wonderful. The sea was perfect for swimming, diving, etc.

The beach was nice and clean. There were a lot of friendly people there. I enjoyed the entertainment and music, too.

There were three restaurants available. To find something more than eggs, rice and chicken, you should go to the Italian restaurant. It was nice and clean. I recommend the trio pasta.

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Villas Del Sol, villa review Visited: January 2011

Posted by shakayah

This was my second time using the Villa del Sol as my choice of vacation rentals while in the Dominican Republic. We were very satisfied with the facility. I would recommend this property to anyone seeking to explore the country without the restrictions of resorts and hotels.

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Melia Caribe Tropical, hotel review Visited: January 2010

Posted by WoodDragon

If anyone had a problem with this resort it would have been very specific and related to their room or an event like check-in or a bad employee. I have traveled all over the world and stayed in many classes of hotels and resorts, but this one tops them all.

There are very few things wrong with this resort, and these people should look past these issues and describe the resort for what it is. Any problems can be resolved quickly as customer service very responsive. I did not hear any complaints from the people we spoke with (and that was a lot) from all classes of rooms - regular to RS (Royal Service).

If you run across criticism, take things into perspective. You can get private villas on the ocean with extreme luxury for $20,000/week or more. For what you pay here, even in Royal Service (RS), this resort is amazing. I went next door to the Paridisus (which is owned by the same company). In my opinion, the resort was not as lush as Melia Caribe, and there was a row of villas on your left when going to the beach from RS beach area that were the exact same construction as the Villas in RS.

Flying into the airport was a treat. The terminals have thatched roofs and look like a resort not an airport. Customs is quick and friendly, and they take your picture which you can get on the way back if you wish. The ride to the resort is short, about 20 minutes.

When you arrive at the resort, you are overwhelmed by the landscaping and greenery. There are peacocks wandering everywhere, flamingos in some areas, and tropical vegetation of all varieties. The front lobby was beautiful, with not too much concrete (as in some posh resorts). It blended well with the vegetation.

We had booked RS and upon arrival we were brought to a separate area for RS check-in. We arrived at about 12:30 in the afternoon, about 2.5 hours prior to check-in time.

I had emailed ahead and explained that we would be there early and would appreciate a room to be ready at that time. I also included a list of requests - from pillows to bar contents. To my surprise, it was all was taken care of.

The RS lounge was relaxing and elegant. We were served a beer right away (we're not into the sweet drinks), and the kids got a drink of their choice. Even the bracelets they put on for RS where more like jewelry than resort bracelets. They were so nice, we wanted to keep them at the end of our trip. However, we were told that it was against hotel policy.

We were located in Villa #49 on the second floor directly across from the Gabi pool and restaurant. I recommend any of the villas across from the pool highly. We could see the Gabi bar at night light up in blue, and when the kids fell asleep we could even go for a drink at the bar. If there was a problem, all my ten-year-old would need to do is call us from the balcony.

The room was beautiful. It was a one-bedroom suite with two entrances to the balcony. There were two separate living areas. One was the kitchen and living room. The second was the bedroom with a king size bed, large flat screen, a two-person Jacuzzi and a double sink. There was also a separate washroom with a shower and double sink.

We have two kids, and they slept on the pullout couch in the living room. The whole place was marble. We had a full size fridge that was stocked with pop, water and beer. Plus, there was a bottle of rum on the counter.

Room service was included from 8 am to 11 pm. If you like to get pampered get this room!

I cannot understand some of the negative reviews regarding the restaurants and food. These people must be chronic complainers or are use to some kind of unrealistic standards.

The food was awesome. I am not going to break down the restaurants because we ate mostly at the Gabi breakfast and dinner. We went to the Japanese and Capri (seafood) and they were fine. The Gabi had it all. They had great beef, chicken and seafood on the buffet. Or, you could order off the menu.

My kids are five and ten. They loved the desserts, pasta and seafood at the Gabi. My last night I ordered five lobster tails, three grilled and two fried. The restaurant was all open air under a thatched palm roof with incense going in the back ground and a glow of candles and soft lighting everywhere.

On my way to the beach one day I got a ride by the Food Services Manager and he gave me a bit of a run down on the food coming into the resort. All of the food comes in frozen (for safety reasons). They do not spare anything for quality and order Black Angus beef from Argentina. This beef is hormone free as there is a ban on using hormones in Argentina. Unlike poison US and Canadian beef that is so full of who knows how many hormones and has lost its true natural taste, this beef melts in your mouth … even the regular cuts.

Someone posted earlier that there is nowhere to get food after 11 pm. Actually, the Dominican Restaurant (off the front Caribe side lobby) was open from 11 pm to 6 am. They will grill you up a small, cheap looking steak (at 2 am if you wish) that will melt in your mouth! I'm sure there are a lot of other items on the buffet.

We also had lunch at the beach side buffets (there were two). We enjoyed dinner at the Market Place buffet on the Tropical side. All was very good.

There was a disco in the Tropical lobby. All welcome from 9-11 and 11-2 for adults only. The music was great. They also had a disco on the beach Wednesday nights (that was fun). Ask the front desk for the schedule.

Also, you don't want to miss the great party and show on Friday nights at the side lobby bar. They had fire breathing, a guy roller skating all lit up with LED lights and entertainers dancing to get everyone in the mood.

There is also a kids' disco in the Caribe main lobby from 8:30 pm to 9:30 pm.

Start at 10:00 in the main lobby of the Caribe. Be careful or you will probably end up on stage as one of the performers. There are all kinds of stuff ranging from comedy to acrobatics. It's not bad. The kids liked it and we had a good laugh most of the time. I even made it up on stage for the Mr. Caribe contest. Luckily, did not make it to the finals.

There are nice mattresses in the lobby are that you can hang-out on and watch people. We had fun doing that one night for an hour or so.

There were three pools. Two were by the beach and were identical. One was on the Caribe side, and one is on the Tropical side.

The Tropical side pool was the kids' pool adjacent to Flintstone Village. The pool was massive and had a swim-up bar and a kiddie pool. It was close to the beach and beach side restaurant.

The Caribe side pool was identical without the kid theme.

The Gabi pool was in the RS service area. This was the one we spent the most time at. It was close to the front of the resort and was right in front of our Villa. There was sand on the sides making you feel like you were at the beach.

The design of the pool and attached restaurant was amazing. They even had a little snack bar that is opened all day and served great chicken, burgers, ice crèam, pizza, french fries, and other stuff. This was a big hit with the kids, and some days we didn't even really need to go for lunch.

At the Gabi pool bar and restaurant you can get all brands of liquor - even Canadian Whiskey, Baileys, Stolichnaya, etc. That made my day.

This was definitely a family resort and there were things for the kids to do day and night.

As I mentioned above, there was a kids' pool on the Tropical side by the beach. Beside that pool was a kids' area called Flintstone Village with - you guessed it - a Flintstone theme. Here you will find activities for kids from toddlers to 13 years of age. They have different programs every day to suit the age group. My ten-year-old spent one day at the camp. He went rock climbing and horseback riding, and enjoyed other activities. We were there at a time when a lot of the older kids were at school, and my five-year-old wanted to hang-out with us, so we never really took full advantage of the village.

To make one thing clear, kids are allowed in all areas of the resort - including RS pools and facilities.

There were also babysitting services offered at $15 an hour if you wish. You need to reserve one day in advance if will require babysitting. We did not take advantage of this service.

The resort is on “Playas de Bávaro” which is one of the best beaches in the Dominican. The sand is almost pure white. The only downer - if you want to look at it that way, was that you could not find shells. They were all caught up by the reef that was only one km out and the reason for this pristine beach.

There was always room in the RS area of the beach and I did not see any problems with room anywhere else along the beach. On the RS beach area you have a private bar and a waiter who serves drinks. The beach front of this property stretches for about one km and is all beautiful, with palm trees naturally blending with the beach front.

The grounds contained every kind of tropical vegetation you could imagine, all meticulously groomed. Peacocks, flamingos, wild turkeys, and fish in the lagoons. This was more like being in a well kept jungle. That is why this huge resort did not feel so huge.

All the standard activities are included like kayaks, catamarans, etc. These are located in the center area of the beach.

There are local shops to the right of the resort (when looking at the ocean). Again, there are some complainers on this site that have posted negative things about locals trying to rip them off or “beware of these areas, they are dangerous”. All I can say is "buyer beware". Use your head, ask questions and barter, and you'll have fun!

If you don't like to deal with people or are not able to barter, you should stay in your room and hide. But if you like people (and they are just people like you and me), enjoy interaction and the adventure of finding new things, these places are great.

I bought a great large painting for around $25 US (they originally wanted $80 US). We also went on a fishing trip with my son for $50 US (1.5 hours along the reef in a smaller fishing boat we caught some nice fish including 1 barracuda).

You can go on more expensive deep sea fishing for $300-$500 US, but I just wanted to hang out on the reef with my son and avoid getting sea sick out on the ocean. We both loved that little adventure. You can find guys with store fronts for the fishing, but the guy we used came up to us. We didn't pay him until we finished the trip. Make it clear that what you catch is yours, or apparently they want to charge you for taking the fish sometimes. If you don't want the fish, every local will take them off you gladly, as all the fish are edible.

There are also shops about a 20-30 minute walk to the left. I ran every day along the beach about 10 k so I visited all these places easily. These shops are more like the front of a shopping village and when you go deeper into them, you will find stores that the locals shop at.

I bought some different beer here (they only serve President beer at the hotel). They were called Bohemians; price $3/1 liter bottle, and the beer wasn't too bad.

There was a lot to explore. The locals are trying to make a living, like you and me. If you don't want something, just ignore them or say no thanks, and that usually works. However, don't get annoyed every time some says “come look at my stuff”. They say that a lot, but are not out to harm you.

You will also find the time sharing people at the Caribe beach side restaurant entrance. They are not annoying as everyone seems to mention. If you say no, they leave you alone. And they seem to be in this location only, and maybe in the lobby. They are not as noticeable as people who've posted on this site lead you to believe.

I really did love this resort and was curious about the time sharing, so one day I turned the tables on them, hounded the salesmen down to give me a quick overview of their marketing scheme. In short, the first guy I talked to was from New Jersey and was working there as a salesman. I don't think he was expecting someone like me. I told him straight out, before all the fluff, I need to see a contract and if there is a possibility that I like their program, my lawyer needs to review all the contracts. He stopped the presentation and told me that he cannot give me contracts for the lawyer to review…and I said goodbye. He was very rude.

On my way out of their marketing office (nice set-up, looks like a North American marketing center), a manager approached me and apologized for the salesperson. He finally did give me a breakdown and when all was said and done, they wanted a minimum of $32,000 for 50 years and a maintenance fee of $700-$900 /year. When he worked it out we would have saved $700 on our trip. No thanks, I can think of better ways to invest my money and I can save $700 by booking this hotel more creatively next time. No offense to the people who bought into the program…the Melia is a great chain with amazing resorts all over the world.

There was transportation everywhere. A train went around like a bus every five to ten minutes. The roads were stamped concrete and circled around the resort with intersecting roads through the middle. We had our bearings on the resort after one day and I wouldn't see a problem getting around unless you have not sense of direction. Even my ten-year-old made it to the arcade on the other side of the resort first shot with no problem.

Also, in the royal service area there were guys with golf carts buzzing by constantly and they usually give you a lift.

We did not find a problem with mosquitoes. There were a few around, but nothing that was out of the ordinary. Take some mosquito repellent just in case you may be extremely sensitive.

The weather was great. There were hot days and warm nights, just what we expected. Even on a partly cloudy day it was hot and the clouds were a refreshing break from the blazing sun.

They had forecast rain for a couple of days when we were there. However, with Punta Cana weather, it changes by the hour. We had one rain storm later at night and it was kind of nice. Even though it was the middle of the night, in an hour or so, everything was dry.

The staff all seemed to be quite friendly and helpful. You can always find one or two people who are not perfect, but with this many staff it is bound to happen. We left a tip for the morning cleaning lady and the evening cleaning lady. Everything was usually perfect, and the fridge was full of beer to boot.

Take a hundred or so $1 bills for tipping. You should always leave a tip after meals and sporadically when getting drinks. They do appreciate it, but the service does not decrease if you don't tip.

The resort is one of the best I have seen for a long time. I definitely plan to return with another family or two, to share this wonderful experience. There is something for everyone at this resort. If you can, book Royal Service, it's worth it for the Gabi restaurant and pool alone.

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Villas Del Sol, villa review Visited: August 2010

Posted by eugblk12134

My friends and I had the best time ever here.

The villa was very nice and included all of the luxuries of home (flat screen TVs, dining table, full kitchen, nice couches and beds, etc.). We had an awesome time, and our villa was one of the best I have ever stayed in.

Also, the people managing the property were extremely friendly.

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Gran Ventana Beach Resort, hotel review Visited: November 2010

Posted by llej04

This hotel is great. I have stayed here a lot of times. I hope they send me specials.

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Paradisus Punta Cana, hotel review Visited: July 2010

Posted by tmartin865

I agree with the person who stated that the people who were disappointed with the Paradisus were being extremely over critical, or they are used to being waited on hand and foot.

I have nothing to say but great things about the Paradisus Punta Cana. It is a Caribbean resort, which is why we went to the Dominican Republic. Had we wanted something different we would have gone somewhere else.

The food was great, the rooms were great, and the people went out of their way to make sure we had a good time.

Some pointers:

1. If you don't want to listen to the sales pitch, don't meet with them. You are on vacation, do whatever the heck you want. They say "meet me tomorrow morning at breakfast". You say "Nope, I'm going to the beach, I'm on vacation". What are they going to do, take your birthday away?

The same goes for your travel provider to and from the airport. They will want to meet with you to review travel plans. If you don't want to hear their pitch for parasailing or whatever, don't go. The day before you are leaving, go ask the representative when the bus will be there to pick you up. Done.

2. If you don't like the food, go to another restaurant. There are ten to choose from. Or, just get a burger from the chick at the pool.

3. If your room has issues, call the front desk. Give them time to get there. Then, if they don't come, tell anyone you run into that your air conditioner/bed/refrigerator/windows need fixed. They will do it.

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Villas Del Sol, villa review Visited: May 2010

Posted by roxbjy2k

We would recommend Villas Del Sol for anyone traveling to the Dominican Republic, but not wanting to stay in the big city. Because it's out of the main city center, it is quiet and more relaxing.

It is close to several beaches and other little towns only a short distance by car or motor bike, if you're adventurous.

You'll have everything you need in these villas. If you run out of food or other minor essentials, you can restock just around the corner.

The restaurants are good, too - and they have Karaoke. Enjoy the shops and the beach a few blocks away. If you're out just cruising around, hit the back streets and see nice little homes, shops and other little surprises. Chat it up with other visitors or locals (if you know the language).

You'll be glad you picked this location.

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Paradisus Punta Cana, hotel review Visited: June 2010

Posted by stsatell56

First, when you check in, they have you sign a form stating that if you leave early (first time I ever seen one of these), you will be charged for your whole entire hotel stay. Needless to say, once your there you're there. Anyway, let me name our areas of displeasure (to say it lightly) in rapid fire random order:

1. On the first day, our concierge set us up for an appointment to see all the other "amenities" in the resort. The next thing I know I am getting pitched a time share.

2. The rooms smell like mildew and are very plain. It is definitely not an impressive set up. All the walls are white. It is about as low end Howard Johnson as you can get. Our bed broke and I called the front desk. They said they would send someone and nobody showed up. So, we left it broken for the next guest to complain about.

3. Forget about Internet. You have to pay $15 per day, and it is extremely slow

4. The service was slow to non-existent at times.

5. The food is horrible. I consistently had to use the bathroom for quite some time after each meal.

6. The carts they use to shuttle guests around are these ghetto looking trucks I would only use to haul trash around. It is definitely not what you would expect from a resort that is being marketed as "high end".

If you decide to come here, bring plenty of bug spray because most of the eating areas are outdoor, and they are by water.

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Occidental Grand Punta Cana , hotel review Visited: May 2010

Posted by ananda41728

I had the displeasure of staying at this hotel from May 1-6.

The food was horrible! I became sick the first day I arrived, and my friend became sick several days later.

The first room we were in began to leak in the bedroom and bathroom. On May 2nd, we experienced a blackout and was without water to shower for 45 minutes.

In addition, the people on the resort spoke little or no English. They spent more time trying to sell timeshares than they did making the hotel better. Last weekend was their Labor Day, and the hotel was overrun with rowdy locals.

This was my first trip to DR and just may be my last. That's how bad my experience here was. I actually lost weight while staying here because the food was so bad! Who goes on vacation and loses weight? If you want to lose weight while on vacation, this is the place for you.

I wish there was a "0" star rating. One star is much more than they deserve.

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Melia Santo Domingo, hotel review Visited: March 2010

Posted by totobenj

I stayed in this hotel for five days in March 2010. The location is great and the rooms are very clean.

However, everything in the hotel is very expensive. They charged me $7.25 for a small bottle of water. There were two restaurants within walking distance behind the hotel. Their prices were very reasonable.

At the club, you will pay for drinks three times the amount of what you would pay in the US. If you need a cab, call Jesus at 809 884-5088. Most of the other cab drivers will rip you off.

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Hotel Dominican Bay, hotel review Visited: January 2010

Posted by el_bacha2

We stayed one week, all inclusive from January 30 - February 06, 2010. We had a fabulous time.

The staff was very courteous, most spoke a variety of languages.

Entertainment was well done. Also, the beach was lovely, the sea was so warm. Food was excellent, with a good variety - and theme nights were great

I liked that the souvenirs were brought onto hotel grounds. I appreciated the one-stop shopping.

Our room was spacious with a lovely ground floor balcony. We were just ten steps to the pool and 35 to the bar. We also had hot water 90% of the time. It was hotter in the evening.

I also found a little place down on the beach for local coffee for just ten pesos. There I enjoyed local music and hospitality.

In addition, it was just a half hour drive to Santo Domingo.

I would stay here again.

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Hotetur Dominican Bay All-Inclusive, hotel review Visited: November 2009

Posted by gatherst98

The reception desk took two hours to get us a room. When we finally got one the room, it smelled. The bathroom was dirty and the beds were hard as a rock.

After three room changes, we finally had one that was clean and had comfortable beds. However, there was no phone, and the AC was either full blast or off.

The beach was across the street and down a path. The food was okay - I've had much better. The entertainment was terrible. The DJ looked like Frankenstein, and the music kept cutting off during the show. However, I give the dancers credit for putting on an entertaining show without music.

I would never stay at this resort again.

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Bavaro Princess Resort and Hotel, hotel review

Posted by ro_commo65

I visited the resort after being switched from a place nearby due to overbooking.

I found the accommodations to be very spacious. The scenery and greenery were beautiful. I enjoyed the fact that it was not overcrowded, and there was ample space for romantic strolls.

The food was good, although they are not clear in telling you that you must make reservations for the more popular restaurants.

The week stay was great, and we had a blast. Be cautious of the meat products, though. I got a stomach parasite which lasted a few months.

I would visit again. It was a very pleasant experience for my wife and me.

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Gran Bahia Principe Ambar, hotel review Visited: January 2010

Posted by raknapp8

Don't stay here unless you like being surrounded by thieves. We stayed here January 10 - 15 in rooms 64201, 64203 and 64116. Two out of three of our couples were robbed of $550 and $200, from the room safes!

The thieves gained entry to the safes, locate the money and took some of it (leaving the rest so it appeared all the money is still there). In both cases this occurred on the last day of the stay. Also, in both cases the robbery was not discovered until we arrived home. Nice finish to the vacation.

I believe this was an inside job with more than one person involved. In one case upon returning from dinner, my brother-in-law was unable to open the room safe. Phone calls to the desk resulted in a visit from maintenance who also could not open the safe. The manager then responded. After some time trying different things (and actually blaming my brother-in-law for not using the safe properly), he then changed the safe battery, opened it, and then hastily left.

In the other case the manager (George) told my parents to "just set the code at 1,2,3,4,". My parents are elderly and did just as they were told. I didn't find this out until too late and changed the code, but the theft had apparently already occurred. These were not the only problems we had, but by far the most serious.

We called ahead to have a wheelchair for my dad. "No problem", we were told each time. Upon arrival they wanted my dad to visit a doctor first. After sitting outside the "doctor's" office for 40 minutes, we gave up and decided to call the desk later and try again. We did this for the entire trip and never did get a chair for him. They tell you what you want to hear, then when you are out of sight they do not care anymore.

Our room key failed no less than eight different times. The first time (on the very first day) after repeated calls to the front desk and assurances that one was on the way, I went down to the desk to get replacements. I was told "we never send room keys to the rooms". Sounds reasonable, but why wasn't I told that before we waited two hours?

The next time the keys failed we were told we were doing something wrong, and somehow we were damaging the keys. On the second to last day they finally changed the door battery and guess what - no more problems (no apologies either).

Do not believe that we are picky travelers who expect everything perfect. This is not the case. We tipped generously throughout the entire trip, gave the maid and room persons $5/day, tried to speak Spanish when we could, and we were always polite. We expected some things to go wrong, and that was not a problem. However, what did happen was a problem that I wish someone had warned us about.

The rest of the problems were basically minor. If the thefts had not occurred, the other issues would have been easily overlooked. It was not all bad, the rooms were great, the grounds perfect, the ocean wonderful, the weather nice, and the food good. However, there are too many other great places to stay that are warm and have all the same amenities to ever stay here again.

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Michelangelo Restaurant in Santo Domingo, dining review

Posted by topmodel

This cafe and restaurant is located on Roberto Pastoriza and Winston Churchill in the exclusive neighborhood of Ensanche Piantini in Santo Domingo. It is truly the best Restaurant on the island.

If you are a lover of great gourmet dishes, look no further. They only sell the best, but the prices are the lowest on the island. Their menu includes lobster, shrimp, sea bass, salmon, calamari, and conch. You can also get pastas, lasagna, BBQ spare ribs, pork loins on mushroom sauce, angus outskirt steaks, and filet mignon.

Also, Michelangelo only sells one local dish, and is the specialty of the house. It is Chivo in a red wine sauce, and is one of the most exotic Caribbean dishes I have ever tasted.

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Villas Del Sol, villa review Visited: November 2009

Posted by joycasti70

We highly recommend Villas Del Sol if you are looking for a spacious, self contained and modern "home"in Juan Dolio.

It is about a ten-minute walk (maybe it's shorter without kids) to the much improved, beautiful Juan Dolio beach. Since the decline of Boca Chica and its beach, Juan Dolio is the closest "tropical paradise" to Santo Domingo and the airport.

Nadia's professionalism and follow-up were wonderful, and it was truly a pleasure dealing with her.

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