Southern Domincan Resorts

mechy

Hi all, we (my wife & I) are thinking of booking a Dom Rep holiday for the middle of September. I have been looking at the Marien Coral spa and Hilton in the north, but I have been told the south (carribean side) has better beaches. Can anyone advise of a good hotel with excellent beach at least 4 star please

Woby_Tide

Barcelo Bavaro Beach Resort has a very nice beach on the South of the island. think it's 4* in most of the hotels in complex(there are 5 different hotels making up resort), 1 of them is 5* though. If you stay at one you can use facilities/restaurants in all others bar the 5* unless you stay there

mechy

Hey Wobey, that looks a great hotel/complex, am just looking around for a good price for September 12 ish. Can you remember the names of the other hotels in the complex group, just in case I cant get that particular hotel (group of 5) then I will try a little hardball with the travel companies. All part of the game.
Thanks again
Rod

pattycake

I have been to the Dom Rep ten times in the last 8 years.

I have stayed at the Coral Marien by Hilton in Puerto Plata and would return in a heartbeat. It was very good.

Just back from my second trip to the Iberostar Hacienda Dominicus in Bayahibbe which is on the Carribbean side. Absolutely excellent.

A good web site to check out reviews of hotels is www.debbiesdominicantravel.com

You can also check out Trip Advisor.

warthog2

Although it was 6 years ago, we went to the Gran Ventana hotel and it was absolutely wonderful. Excellent food including magnificent ice sculptures at the evening mealtime, perfect cleanliness, friendly staff and situated right on a glorious beach - the sea was like getting into a bath! Couldn't fault it. Have fun!

sukey13

We went this year June 13th - 27th.

We had a great time and are even dreaming about emigrating there now!

http://www.blogger.com/posts.g?blogID=13508133

We rented an apartment in Sosua just around the corner from the beach and many restaurants.

I have created a blog of our trip which you might like to look at.

The beach was great at Sosua. We also visited the famous kitesurfing beach at Cabarete.


Here's some great photos of the recent Kitesurfing championships held there...


http://www.pbase.com/dmody/dominican_republic_2005&page=all

The water was warm and the locals loved our children.

Wouldn't hesitate to go back again. Sorry I don't have experience of the Southern side of the island yet.

The great plus side of staying on the North side is the constant breeze and the fact there are less mozzies...

Have fun.

Claire

Niki

Hi,

I went to the North side of Dom Rep 2 years ago, stayed in the Peurto Plata area. The beaches are amazing although a little hard under your feet in the water (coral).

We stayed in a Rui hotel chain and they are fantastic, you get treated like royalty. 3 hotels and you could use anyone. Nothing is too much trouble for the hotel staff. We loved it that much we are going again this year to sample the caribbean side Punta Cana. We are staying again in a Riu hotel - palace macao 5*. This time there is 5 hotels to choose from.

We booked this through Portland Direct as they do the cheapest deals to this hotel chain.

Have a look at the link below and you can see all the hotels in the Riu chain and it also has a video of them.

http://www.riu.com/index.php

Also check out Rusty's site for other peoples reviews and pictures.

http://www.riubambu.com/RIU_WEB_PAGES/main.htm

Hope this helps! :beer:

pattycake

I have stayed at the Rui Merengue on the North Coast on two occassions and it was very good.

However, as a chain, the Iberostar Group is far superior in quality of service, food, accommodation. IMHO.

Jon_S_4

Pattycake, could you plese tell me who you booked your holiday at Iberostar Hacienda Dominicus with ?

Thinking of going there on the 14th september, is it the rainy season then ?

thanks

Jon_S_4

Ive just been offered a good deal in september at the coral marien spa by hilton, im a bit concered about it being the rainy season...should i worry ?

thanks

Jon_S_4

anyone been to the dominican republic in september ?