Holiday Village Resort

[TC28]

We were there 13Mar07 for 2 weeks. I must have asked 20 people if they knew Planner including those working the beach and no-one knew. In the end we gave our school supplies to the head mistress at the school we visited with Outback Safari (an excellent trip). It rained every day for 2 weeks, sometimes flooding the outside areas to a depth of 4 inches. Very disappointing.

[planner]

Many of them will know me by my real name not by what I write on DR1 as. On DR1 we all have handles! If you had emailed or contacted me before we could have met.

[holidaytime]

Hi all,

We've just arrived home this morning and had a great time at HVGB.

Weather has been up and down but there really is enough sun for people to get a tan, so don't worry!!

There really are no drastic problems at this resort, you just need to be careful, as you do anywhere. That come's from someone who has just spent the whole night on the plane with a seven year old child being ill on the plane home (apologies for those on the plane with us). I would not say the food is great and we ate at all restaurants as well as the buffet, however you can always find something you will eat, whatever your tastes.

Reps and staff at the resort are great, loads to do and kids loved it. However, anything like high wires all cost more and football clubs etc are expensive compared to what we pay in the UK.

Trips are fantastic although again a little pricey, but worth every penny. If anyone wants any info let me know.

The hotel and resort shops are expensive too, there really is no need to rip off people, £6 for a tub of peanuts is ridiculous!!!

We stayed in a family room, which is smaller than most other rooms but adequate given you are on holiday. Kids den with playstation is really not worth it, we had to wait 3 days for one to become available, our sons own games didn't work in it and local ones cost $5 for two days to hire (and not much selection of games).

The hotel staff do a fantastic job, every leaf is cleared daily and mini bar etc was always looked after. Oscar (the morning egg man) is great and does a brilliant job.

Planner, apologies for not getting the school supplies to you. We came to reception at 9pm and could not find you. When i tried to leave supplies with Louise they said she has left and does not work there anymore. In the end we just gave them to the first choice staff and asked them to make sure they got to someone in need. In retrospect i wished we had given them to one of the staff with children.

Evening entertainment - I dont even think i will start on that one!! The staff do a great job, but they need some funds to get in local people. The shows that were on in a two week period were even repeated!

Our room was just beside the wedding area. I have no experience on what these are like elsewhere so cannot really comment on wether it is good or not. It is a pergola/bandstand and when there is a wedding they decorate it with flowers etc.

While we were there (given the up and down weather) the beach outside the hotel was not great. However, a ten minute walk to the right and it is much calmer and more suitable for snorkeling etc. I would highly recommend the catamaran trip for snorkeling although not great if you are prone to sea sickness.

Some of the questions i have seen over and over again (including from me):
- Pool towels are provided daily
- Room safes are provided and are free
- There are mini bars in rooms and daily stocked with coke, 7 up, beer and water
- There are two new pool tables ($2 per game) and it gets busy between 7 and 10pm

One last comment i have is regarding the ages of the kids clubs. Our son is seven and the younger club caters from age 3-8. Generally the activities were not of interest to him e.g. face painting, puppets etc. However there is always the In2Action activities that you can do whatever your age. My son would have loved to be able to be part of the activities in the older kids club which he is highly capable of, it seems they have the ages a little bit wrong.

Apologies for the length of this post, but hopefuly it is of some use to someone out there!!!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS

[brijohn]

Originally Posted by holidaytime

Hi all,

We've just arrived home this morning and had a great time at HVGB.

Weather has been up and down but there really is enough sun for people to get a tan, so don't worry!!

There really are no drastic problems at this resort, you just need to be careful, as you do anywhere. That come's from someone who has just spent the whole night on the plane with a seven year old child being ill on the plane home (apologies for those on the plane with us). I would not say the food is great and we ate at all restaurants as well as the buffet, however you can always find something you will eat, whatever your tastes.

Reps and staff at the resort are great, loads to do and kids loved it. However, anything like high wires all cost more and football clubs etc are expensive compared to what we pay in the UK.

Trips are fantastic although again a little pricey, but worth every penny. If anyone wants any info let me know.

The hotel and resort shops are expensive too, there really is no need to rip off people, £6 for a tub of peanuts is ridiculous!!!

We stayed in a family room, which is smaller than most other rooms but adequate given you are on holiday. Kids den with playstation is really not worth it, we had to wait 3 days for one to become available, our sons own games didn't work in it and local ones cost $5 for two days to hire (and not much selection of games).

The hotel staff do a fantastic job, every leaf is cleared daily and mini bar etc was always looked after. Oscar (the morning egg man) is great and does a brilliant job.

Planner, apologies for not getting the school supplies to you. We came to reception at 9pm and could not find you. When i tried to leave supplies with Louise they said she has left and does not work there anymore. In the end we just gave them to the first choice staff and asked them to make sure they got to someone in need. In retrospect i wished we had given them to one of the staff with children.

Evening entertainment - I dont even think i will start on that one!! The staff do a great job, but they need some funds to get in local people. The shows that were on in a two week period were even repeated!

Our room was just beside the wedding area. I have no experience on what these are like elsewhere so cannot really comment on wether it is good or not. It is a pergola/bandstand and when there is a wedding they decorate it with flowers etc.

While we were there (given the up and down weather) the beach outside the hotel was not great. However, a ten minute walk to the right and it is much calmer and more suitable for snorkeling etc. I would highly recommend the catamaran trip for snorkeling although not great if you are prone to sea sickness.

Some of the questions i have seen over and over again (including from me):
- Pool towels are provided daily
- Room safes are provided and are free
- There are mini bars in rooms and daily stocked with coke, 7 up, beer and water
- There are two new pool tables ($2 per game) and it gets busy between 7 and 10pm

One last comment i have is regarding the ages of the kids clubs. Our son is seven and the younger club caters from age 3-8. Generally the activities were not of interest to him e.g. face painting, puppets etc. However there is always the In2Action activities that you can do whatever your age. My son would have loved to be able to be part of the activities in the older kids club which he is highly capable of, it seems they have the ages a little bit wrong.

Apologies for the length of this post, but hopefuly it is of some use to someone out there!!!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS

Thanks Holidaytime for a good honest review, Hope your little 1 will soon feel better, Did they by chance have Scuba Diving Lessons in the pool, Thanks again for nice review, going 10 june, Ta

[Bodders]

Hi All...... 2nd full day here & it's so much better than i imagined. I dare say some foods will seem repetitive at the end of 2 weeks, but at the moment I can't see it! Staff here are brilliant & the actual resort is gorgeous. Weather is a bit 'mix 'n' match' at the moment with some good pyrotechnics from the lightening over the mountain, but its warm & the drink flows freely!

Cannot believe Planner has had her access revoked, as to be quite honest, she is probably the biggest reason for a lot of people NOT cancelling their holidays here by giving fair, balanced reports & feedback. I for one will be passing that viewpoint back to the management here, though i suspect no one will be listening. I shall certainly be boycotting the First Choice tours here now as my own mini protest.

Will try to post again....Breakfast waiting now!

[lizzy31]

Having looked over recent posts it came as no surprise that Planner is no longer allowed on the resort!
No offence to you Planner what so ever because what you do for your community... i do admire.......
However, let's be real about it.
You don't work for the resort.
I totally agree with management not giving you open access.
It was a while back when people had things stolen from their rooms and as I thought from my own holiday back in December.......they was very lax regarding security!
There is no reason why you couln't meet outside the resort if it is for people to hand you over things.
It is not the hotels responsability to save things behind the front desk either!

[holidaytime]

Little one feeling better already thanks...and yes they do scuba diving in the pool and they organise sea dives from the hotel as well.

[CC@Langham]

Originally Posted by Bodders

Hi All...... 2nd full day here & it's so much better than i imagined. I dare say some foods will seem repetitive at the end of 2 weeks, but at the moment I can't see it! Staff here are brilliant & the actual resort is gorgeous. Weather is a bit 'mix 'n' match' at the moment with some good pyrotechnics from the lightening over the mountain, but its warm & the drink flows freely!

Cannot believe Planner has had her access revoked, as to be quite honest, she is probably the biggest reason for a lot of people NOT cancelling their holidays here by giving fair, balanced reports & feedback. I for one will be passing that viewpoint back to the management here, though i suspect no one will be listening. I shall certainly be boycotting the First Choice tours here now as my own mini protest.

Will try to post again....Breakfast waiting now!

If the person will not admit as to who they are they should not be allowed on the premises. The resort is responsible for the guests. If something were to happen to one of the guests, then the resort needs to know who has been visiting in the complex.

[CC@Langham]

Originally Posted by wrighty

Dear All
I did not watch the report on the TV. But can assure people that the Golden Beach has no more problems with stomach bugs, than any where we have travelled.
We were here in Feb/Mar it was great we had the usually bouts of the runs as we have suffered around the world. It is unfortunate that some became ill it happens for all sorts of reasons.
We took our daughters friend with us and it was his first time in the Dominican and he was well impressed.
Give it a try and just be careful and remember to drink plenty of water.
Anyone going the Dominican is a fantastic place and the Holiday Beach is great too. Enjoy!
Unless you come from somewhere with similar climate even when its raning it is not the same as raining in this country. Bye for now wrighty

I agree. No matter where you go, even Canada and the US, especially if you have medical conditions you have to watch what you eat and drink. If you happen to eat or drink the wrong thing then there is noone to blame but yourself and you just have to be more careful.

Enjoy your vacations and becareful.

[kz650b2]

Originally Posted by planner

Please everyone - take it down a notch. None of this needs to be personal!

COO - I am really sorry to hear of your experience! I hope all of you recover quickly! Unfortunately being in a 3rd world or developing country does effect everything. For the most part we are dealing with employees with very little formal education. Regardless of what they are taught they tend to fall back into the regular habits.

And - there is every possibility that you getting sick had nothing to do with them but possibly another traveller or travellers who had bad habits!

You are correct - when it comes to diabetes an illness like this can be very serious.

You had a bad experience. No one has the right to argue with what is real for you or to diminish your experience. It just isn't the same for everyone.

I do stand by my statements - there is no ongoing problem or epidemic!
.

Planner

My family and I returned from Holiday Village on March 29 following a 2-week stay. The vast majority of persons that I talked to at the resort had stomach illness that usually lasted for 1-3 days. Each of the members of my family were no execption. In fact I can only recall talking to one couple who did not actually get sick while they were there!

I consider myself a pretty rational person and I have also travelled to several other locations around the world. In my option, given my experience and the experience of others while I was at the resort, there was a problem while we were there.

I agree that changes in living conditions, atmospheric conditions, weather, eating and drinking habits, etc, play a significant role in an individual's physical health. But given the fact that it was mostly cloudy and wet during our stay and most of the visitors were family-types and were not overindulging in beer and alcohol, it seems more than coincidental so many individuals were sick with very similar symptoms.

Other than our bouts of illness, our family had a great time at this resort. Even with all the rain, we still had a great time!!

As I stated in an earlier post, from the kids point of view, it's a 5-star. And we would consider returning to HV if the reports of illness diminish again.

Coo, I hope you and your family are feeling better! I was thinking about you guys. Better luck next time.

Planner - Thanks for all your postings on this resort. I have followed this thread since last fall and I agree with all of your points except for those regarding the tummy troubles of guests at HV. You're doing a great service for the people of DR.

Blair (KZ650b2)