Frist Trip to Dr

dena_turner · #1 03-03-2004, 09:24 AM

I am going to DR for the first time on March 21. A friend and i are staying at the Barcelo Capella Beach Resort. I have read many mixed reviews about this place and i am getting a bit concerned. Does anyone have first hand knowlege about this place? Also, i hear that Five Star Tours puts out a great Jeep Safari tour, has anyone done it? Thanks for your input.

ricktoronto · #2 03-03-2004, 01:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dena_turner

I am going to DR for the first time on March 21. A friend and i are staying at the Barcelo Capella Beach Resort. I have read many mixed reviews about this place and i am getting a bit concerned. Does anyone have first hand knowlege about this place? Also, i hear that Five Star Tours puts out a great Jeep Safari tour, has anyone done it? Thanks for your input.

They are all pretty much the same, and I am sure you'll be just fine. There is a site called Debbie's Dominican Travel or similar that reviews oodles of AI's and most reports are recent. Frankly, since you already bought the ticket etc., and since the time to have asked was before doing that, go, have fun, it's all going to be just great, wherever it is. No turning back and as we've seen with a few posters here they prepare and review and agonize so much the trip's a bust before even getting there.

tired_boy · #3 03-03-2004, 02:43 PM

Ricks reply is absolutely true (and is one of his nicest yet)

Don't worry! You will have a good time. Some people will post bad reviews on certain hotels but then someone else will go a week later and love it, so don't read too much into things. Enjoy yourself!

ricktoronto · #4 03-03-2004, 03:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tired_boy

Ricks reply is absolutely true (and is one of his nicest yet)

Don't worry! You will have a good time. Some people will post bad reviews on certain hotels but then someone else will go a week later and love it, so don't read too much into things. Enjoy yourself!

If you don't go expecting the Savoy or the Hyatt and you can live with food that is somewhat cafetria-like (and free), and accompany that with basic locally made booze (good, and FREE) , how bad can it be?

That said I wouldn't go to an AI if it was free.

tired_boy · #5 03-03-2004, 03:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ricktoronto

They are all pretty much the same, and I am sure you'll be just fine. There is a site called Debbie's Dominican Travel or similar that reviews oodles of AI's and most reports are recent. Frankly, since you already bought the ticket etc., and since the time to have asked was before doing that, go, have fun, it's all going to be just great, wherever it is. No turning back and as we've seen with a few posters here they prepare and review and agonize so much the trip's a bust before even getting there.

This post was brilliant........it was reassuring, not sarchastic and very helpful to someone who is worried and posting for the first time.

The next post unfortunately might undo all your good work as its not right to call the food in the hotels 'cafeteria-like'. Do they all serve exactly the same food, cooked in the same way and by the same chef? No.
Then you go and tell them your opinions on AI hotels.

As you have already said - they have already bought the ticket - so why put doubts in their mind about AI hotels when its too late......... they are going!

Dena, like rick said (in the first post) "go, have fun, its all going to be great".

dulce · #6 03-03-2004, 06:59 PM

I have been to the Capella probrably more than anyone on earth. The reason for the mixed reviews is because the resort is hot and cold. I have had great times there and also miserable times. It is a beautiful resort with very well kept grounds. Most of the staff speaks English (at times to the rude clients they pretend they don't). The service for the most part is very good. The food is presentable and edible. I suggest Los Olas resturant for better service and food. At the buffet the breakfast is the best meal. The drinks will be too strong unless you ask for less "gasolina". The Capella band is excellent but the nightly dance shows can be weak on most evenings. They tend to have one full costume show per week and that would be the only show to not miss. The town of Jaun Dolio is very tourist friendly and it is safe to go out and explore the possibilities. Make it a point to go to Guilla's Cafe down the street on Monday night to see a live band. Try Buckeye Chuck's Sports bar (if it is still there) right on the corner next to Capella and venture out to Plaza Real resturant for some good Italian food. If you like to live on the wild side, take a trip to the Chocolate Bar down the street from Capella. All the people working at Capella can help you find these places should you wish to go. I am sure you will have a great time! Why not write a report when you get back?

Hillbilly · #7 03-04-2004, 11:39 AM

A very helpful post!

Well done, dulce...

HB

ricktoronto · #8 03-04-2004, 02:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tired_boy

As you have already said - they have already bought the ticket - so why put doubts in their mind about AI hotels when its too late......... they are going!

Dena, like rick said (in the first post) "go, have fun, its all going to be great".

I'd recommend research before buying things, not after, to induce doubts and worry which is all you can accomplish.

tired_boy · #9 03-04-2004, 03:23 PM

I agree rick.

The problem is some people.........take my parents for example........book their annual vacation almost a year in advance. They can do research on the hotel and surrounding area before they book it, but then four months down the line they might read a bad review. Naturally they might be concerned and therefore post a question. Maybe it is too late to alter the booking, but perhaps they are just looking for re-assurance that they made the right choice.

ricktoronto · #10 03-04-2004, 06:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tired_boy

I agree rick.

The problem is some people.........take my parents for example........book their annual vacation almost a year in advance. They can do research on the hotel and surrounding area before they book it, but then four months down the line they might read a bad review. Naturally they might be concerned and therefore post a question. Maybe it is too late to alter the booking, but perhaps they are just looking for re-assurance that they made the right choice.

...you just set yourself up for people saying, you know I stayed there and was full of rats and sankies and even rats that were moonlighting as littel sankies and having sex with American tourist rats, and there was only schnapps available from Albania made with prunes, and the buffet was rice with rice and rice pudding for dessert. And a pay toilet in my room.

So you gain nothing but heart palpitations, and eyeballs the size and shape of saucers while reading it and you find out it was all BS someone got hassled and posted a lousy review.

So at best you get jaded opinions and at worst you scare yourself silly . Be that as it may, e.g. the reliability may be weak at best, it still it makes little sense to do research and including flights and airlines and taxis and local customs after you've made a non-refundable payment.

My personal feeling is this place is on a par with the one next door, the one across the street and the one down the street. They will be OK, and happy and have full bellies and get a little drunk for free. And Debbie's site may have some balanced POV. Maybe.

I still think the advantages of non-AI travel outweigh the so called advantages ( price really) since at least if you find a hotel that's a dump, you can leave, a restaurant has a crappy menu, eat somewhere else etc. And that is over and above the main reason which is you don't hang out all day with people you can see at home.

But I understand the "vacationer" not the tourist likes to feel like they haven't left home at all, except it's hotter. It just seems so pointless to me.