Casa Benita or Coral Sol?

[Grizelda]

Please can anyone tell us about either of these hotels? At Coral Sol what's the beach like and is hotel as primitive as I have heard? We are not looking for fancy hotel but would like some comfort, decent food, cold beer and maybe some wine - if only local. Casa Benita sounds a bit grander. Can you walk to other bars etc from either? We really don't want large resoert hotel with shops, entertainment and casinos but wouldl like a bit of fun and company in the evenings. Sorry to sound so ignorant - you have to start somewhere!

[Matilda]

Casa Bonita is gorgeous. But a bit up a hill so once you are there you stay there. But it is really special. Only thinkg no TVs in rooms so you just have to talk or be romantic. Food is great.

Other option which is cheaper may be Playa Azul which is closer to Barahona but again you would need a car to go out at night. It is more basic but not that basic and food is Ok and has tv and aircon in rooms and is on the actual coast. At Casa Bonita you can see the ocean but you are up on a hillside

[Grizelda]

Great, thanks. Can you swim from the beach at Playa Azul and what's the beach like? Still like to know more about Coral Sol. Anyone been there?

[Matilda]

stony beach not sure if you can swim but great pool above beach. small beach but private.

[BPL888]

Before a recent trip to Barahona I checked the rates at Casa Bonita and they wanted $170 US PER NIGHT. I thought that was a little steep. See the web site Casa Bonita Tropical Lodge : Bahoruco Barahona, Dominican Republic - Welcome | Bienvenidos. I ended up staying at the Hotel Pontevedra Aparta Hotel Pontevedra. It was right on the ocean with a beautiful pool and open air bar overlooking the sea. It was $1100 pesos for one person (about $32US) and that included breakfast AND DINNER. The food was good with a choice of fish or 3 kinds of meat cooked to order each night with tostones or potatoes. Nothing fancy, but done well and served pool/oceanside. The service was very good though in October the hotel was not very busy. There was the bar at the hotel and two local small colmado type places a short walk away to get a beer up till about 11 PM. It was about 8 miles outside Barahona if you wanted more action and a cab to town was $300-350 pesos one way. The beach below the hotel was very nice and very accessable, though a little rocky. We did not swim in the ocean as Hurricane Omar was causing an angry sea while we were there. The rooms were very spacious and comfortable but had no view or patio. All in all a very nice and peaceful place and I hope to be staying there again in January.

[PGerace]

Saludos.
I have stayed at Hotel Casa Bonita 3 times and have enjoyed it each time. The small pool is gorgeous and the hotel is a great place to relax. It is up on a hill which gives a great view of the ocean below and the lush vegetation surrounding a river to the side. The beach of Playa Bahoruco is just below, maybe a 5-10 minute walk. The town is withing walking distance, about 15-20 minutes and you can find inexpensive restaurants and places to have a cold beer. People are very friendly and I felt very safe walking around.
There is a disco in town. You are surrounded by several other beaches and balnearios (natural swimming pools formed where the rivers meet the ocean).
You can see photos that I took of the hotel and surrounding area here on DR1 CasaBonitaView2 - DR1 Media Gallery or at my website at Welcome.

[ala747]

Hi there

let me know if still interested --

i was in Barahona area for a week -- just returned home to usa last week.

Am pretty familiar with accommodations in the area

al here

[Grizelda]

Still trying to make up our minds - Casa Bonita, Playa Zul or Coral Sol. Any advice very welcome.

[Marilyn]

Hello, I am very familiar with the area and its hotels, I have a little cabin on the Bahoruco beachside where Casa bonita is located, so I recommend Pontevedra since is less expensive and you get your money's worth. I have always stayed there when I need a hotel or when i have guests visiting, and never had any complaints, Casa Bonita is gorgeous and I would recommend it also if you have the money to spare, it is within the category of boutique hotels and is very expensive, even though is in a very primitive setting, but with breathtaking views of the ocean and the mountains.

[Grizelda]

Thanks again for all advice - think we have finally chosen - 3 nights at Natura Cabana near Cabarete, then bus to SD and on to Barohona for 8 nights at Casa Bonita - yes I know it's pricey but this is going to be a one off special holiday - back north for 3 more nights at Natura Cabana. We plan to do a couple of tours from Casa Bonita - so any recomendations again welcome please - and I plan to go horse riding from both locations. My husband will be quite happy enjoying the view while I go riding -it's what he does at home! If anyone wants to know how our trip went email me after mid March!