Where to stay

[logomama]

I hope you can give me some advise. I am planning a trip for my husband, myself and kids (20+). And I am the most indecisive person LOL. I have been having a difficult time trying to decide on where to stay. My husband and son are golfers so we would want a course on the premises or very close by. I also have asthma so the ability to have a non-smoking room is very important. A nightlife is also important to my daughter. Can anyone make some suggestions please. I have looked into every hotel I think and am having the hardest time. I feel the Melia is way too big and have heard up and down reviews. Same with the Barcelo Bavaro Palace. I have heard alot of good and bad about the Ocean Blue. Does the Grand Palladium, Majestic or Iberostar Bavaro have golf courses close by?

Thank you very much in advance.

[MikeFisher]

for what you expect i would recommend the Melia Resort, if you want it a bit more exclusive take the Paradisus Palma Real, also located in the Melia Resort.
what negative you heard about that top resort???
Mike

[rubio_higuey]

Both Melia and Ocean Blue have good golf courses.
Both hotels are great, each is very unique.
I cannot imagine bad reviews about either one of the hotels, as I have stayed several times in both of them and cannot say one bad thing.

[logomama]

Thanks so much for your quick reply. The word I had on Melia was that if you don't get the Royal Service then the rooms and service are not as good. As for Ocean Blue I have heard mixed reviews.

Out of the Melia and Ocean Blue which one would you stay at?

[MikeFisher]

i like personally, for myself, the smaller hotels, where you know each bartender and waitress after 2 days, but that's my own style, so I would stay at the Carabela Beach Resort & Casino, no golf course right in front, but aside of el cortecito with a nice dominican nightlife. been there this spring for 6 weks with my better half and we enjoyed that 100%.
if you want it more exclusive the above mentioned 2 resorts are top, the Sunscape the beach is a top service spot, the Secrets can hardly be beaten as an adults only top spot.
just my opinions
have fun
Mike

[rubio_higuey]

Sunscape is far away from Bavaro, and I personally do not like Sunscape too much. it is an OK hotel but the rooms are smaller than both in Melia and Ocean Blue, not as plentyful food as Melia/OB, fewer bars than Melia/OB, no mid-day, late-afternoon snacks, no ovenright bar, etc. Pool in Sunscape is also only waist-deep so you really don't feel "immersed". IMHO it's a better hotel than many other in Bavaro, but not better than either Melia or Ocean Blue.

[rubio_higuey]

Originally Posted by logomama

Thanks so much for your quick reply. The word I had on Melia was that if you don't get the Royal Service then the rooms and service are not as good. As for Ocean Blue I have heard mixed reviews.

Out of the Melia and Ocean Blue which one would you stay at?

The service is good in Melia. Now, in RS you have a two room suite, 2 plazma TVs, super big 2 person jacuzzi, stereo, kitchen with fridge, everything is super new. Regular Melia rooms are nice, carribbean style, but do not have the mentioned amenities.

RS at Melia also has a private pool and restaurant, including full room service, and access to RS lounge with games, books, papers, and 2 Internet hooked up computers for free. I haven't see RS guests venture out to other parts of Melia resosrts, just because conveniently everything is close by. Also, the RS area is the farthest from the beach and you are advised to take a tram if you do not want to spend 15 minutes walking in a blazing sun. Regular Melia is somewhere in between, not that far from beach and main pool, bat farther form the reception and pool and restaurants.


Ocean Blue I have visited many - uncountable - times, mainly for weekends. The hotel is considerably smaller than Melia, so it does not take 2 weeks in a gym before coming to be able to walk from one end to another. Because OB is smaller, everything is close by. If you are in a building closest to reception you have 1 minute walk to a main restaurant, 2 minute walk to reception, other thematic restaurants, shops, bowling alley and theater. You have 2 minute walk to the nearest pool, and not more than 4 minute walk to the beach. This is at slow, regular pace.
I personally am Ocean Blue fan, so I will root for it. If you want more info on OB, then PM me.

[logomama]

thanks again for your replies.Any comments on the Iberostar Bavaro, Majestic or Grand Palladium? I heard there is a new golf course outside of the Majestic. Personally I agree with Rubio. I would prefer a smaller environment and I fear that the Melia or Barcelo are so so big. What more can you tell me about OB. I like their deluxe package. I know that it is a new hotel. How is the food? Do they have a Disco? A nightlife for 20+.Thanks. again.

[rubio_higuey]

OK, this is the summary of OB:

ROOM:
Fully stocked minibar with soft drinks and beer.
Coffee maker.
1 King or 2 double beds.
One sofa-bed.
TV with cable, 50+ channels, many English language ones.
2 phones
Room lighting is dim, so if you want ot read bring in a powerful bulb to install bedside.
A/C is powerful and needs to be turned off so as not to freeze or get sick.
Ceiling fan is also powerful and the breeze it gives is refreshing even without AC.
Large umbrella for times when teh weather doesn't behave.

BATHROOM:
Full amenities (shampoo, lotion, soap, sewing kit)
Large bathtub with jacuzzi
Quite a hot water

FOOD:
Several restaurants, 2 buffets-in-one,
Thematic restaurants: American Road 66, Mexican, Italian El Masceratti, Dominican Casa de Abuela, Seaside Grill, Seafood restaurant and Gourmet Bodegon restaurant.
There is a beach snack bar that serves food mid-day and late afternoon, quite a wide selection (not just usual hamburgers). You also get hot food, such as chicken, rice, potatioes, pork, vegetables, etc. besides the usual pizza, pasta, and burgers and hot dogs. Also selection of deserts. This is a beach restaurant.

The main buffet has a lot of food to choose from, seating is plentiful. There are 4 stands with live food preparation", e.g. pasta, fish, meat, etc. You also get selection of fish every day (salmon, dorado, mero, etc.). There is also a pizza station and the pizza is quite good. Several cold entrees, salad bar, and plenty of drinks and natural juices and smoothies as well.

A la carte restaurants do not require reservations but need to get early to avoid waiting. American restaurant serves tipisal US restaurant disshes, includinga good rib-eye steak. It also has a very good banana split. Italian restaurants serves delightful italian courses and has a good Tiramisu. In Dominican restaurant, try chivo (goat meat) in their fine sauce.

There is Mike's coffee house, they serve good coffe and coffee beverages, including frozen smoothies such as Frapuccino. they also have selection of teas, the same ones you find in Starbucks. They offer a selection of pastries and cakes, including a very good cheescake (ask for it, it's not on display). Nice atmospehere with background music, newspapers, it feels like starbucsks. You can also purchase roasted coffee beans from them.

BARS:
There is a lobby bar that opens at noon and stays open till 12 midnight.
Every night abot 8 pm there is a live performance music in lobby bar (jazz, etc.)
There are 2 pool bars, one in each pool. they close at 5-6 pm.
There is a sports bar open 24 hours (this one also serves midnight food after 11pm, chicken, pizza, fries, burgers, hot dogs, salads, ham and cheese cuts)
There is a theatre bar open during the evening show.
There is a disco bar open during the disco opening time.
The beach bar is open throughout the day and closes at 5pm.

You can enjoy many premium drinks, inlcuding Bailey's. With deluxe package you get additional premium drinks, such as Johnie Walker Black Label and Chivas Regal.


DISCO:
There is on-site disco whose attendance depends on the number of guests in the hotel. When hotel is full, so is the disco. On weekends you will see significantly more of the Dominican crowd, but that's a common sight in most hotels these days. As mentioned, there is a full bar.

POOLS: There are two pools, poolside chairs are plentyful. So are the shade umbrellas. there are "sunning beds" in the pool, where you can lay down in a shallow water and sunbath. Pools are among the biggest pools in Punta Cana hotels. The pool have swim up bar. Second pool operates when there is a lot of guests in the hotel.

BEACH:
There is a climbing wall. Sand is white as in all Bavaro. Watersports activities stand is located on the beach, and you can rent out snorkelling equipment (US$100 deposit required), as well as kayak, water bicycle, etc.

There is alo a train that runs around the resort, but walking is faster than waiting for a train to make its turn. it's no more than 5 minutes leisurly walk from the beach to the reception.

DELUXE PACKAGE:
You get upgraded suite with room service 24 hours, premium drinks, access to club lounge with Internet access and tea time hour. You will also get free horseback riding (off site).

[logomama]

Thank you so much for your extensive review. It is extremely helpful. One more question for you or anyone else. My husband seems to like the price of the Melia. I can't understand why it has such high ratings yet the cost is so low? I keep thinking something has to be wrong? Any comments would be great.

Thanks.