coral hamaca

[Premier]

Never stayed there, nor would I as there are far more attractive all-inclusive resort options in the Caribbean. Unfortunately, as my hotel was just around the corner, I did happen tostop in their casino for a little blackjack one night - big mistake! To make a long story short, for the first time in 20 years of playing blackjack, I was given a card that I didn't ask for. As a result, I busted instead of the dealer (I was at 3rd base) and the girl sitting next to me lost a considerable amount of money as well. As much as we protested, the dominicans turned a deaf ear. Never again!

[bill p]

played blackjack at the casino in the hamaca many times in the last 10-15 yrs. untill 3 years ago when the dealer got 7 straight blackjacks. never again

[NALs]

Well, there everybody has a point to complain about. Most Casinos in Dominicana are foreign owned (either American or Euro) and these folks take advantage at the absolute freedom that prevails in the dominican economy as to what is allowed and not allowed to do. Capitalism is very free down there and many folks abuse such freedom to become rich via scams, like casinos. But lets stick to the hotel it self, not the casino.

[Premier]

From my perspective, the casino is not a separate entity apart from the hotel and therefore is subject to review under the "umbrella" of the resort. Moreover, I find it difficult to believe that the corruption and graft that is rife in the casino doesn't carry over to other hotel operations as well. Just think about it... how does one drink all night at their "all you can drink disco" and come out sober as a judge?

[dale7]

I have been to the Hamaca, never to stay a night but to go to the disco there and have been in the Casino. I found the Casino to be about equivalent in odds as the tribal casinos we have in Michigan. I have had dealers at blackjack in Michigan on several occasions get 4-5 blackjacks in a row. So all casinos are rigged in some type of way is my opinion and are out to fleece people. Unless you get lucky, you can never beat the house/dealer/slot machine on a regular basis because odds and possibly rigging is against you.

Back to the hotel:
I have met various people on my 4 different trips to BC in the last 2 years who have stayed there and they all liked the room conditions. I can vouch for the fact that I got a little liquored up on two occasions at the Las Ollas disco there. At least in the disco the drinks are real. Never heard any complaints about the Hamaca except that it isn't "guest friendly" which is to be expected of all AI's, until this thread.

Do I think it is overpriced and a fortress to keep guests in, with the prison wall dividing the guests from the "riffraff"? Yes. Would I stay there? NO. For a honeymoon or vacation as a couple that offers a great deal saving a few hundred dollars as an AI package? I would think about it, but probably not. Are huge rats running around trying to devour people? No. I don't like AI's but I think the negativity directed at the Hamaca is excessive. The starter of this thread wanted to do nothing but take business away from the Hamaca, either because they didn't have a good time there, even the sanki's/working girls ran away from them, or work for another hotel.

[tired_boy]

why keep a good watch on your kids? incase the 'rats' eat them while you are sleeping?

Sorry, i dont believe the rat story! I couldnt beleive how obesessed the dominican hotels seemed to be with cleaning!

[sococarolyn]

Went to the Hamaca for the first time in 2001, when we got married there and have been back every year since. I have to say I have not seen one single rat. The hotel is gorgeous, and the staff are fantastic. Can't even say I have been particularly bothered by mosquitos! I am due to go back again in five weeks and I can't wait. I am seriously by any review ranting about rats!! Maybe it was a dream? The place is !