Cabarete Bay Hotel opened or not

[lindon]

Received email from Marie Estrella of Starz Resorts that construction is still going on but that Hotel was opening today (Dec17) with partial services and facilities.

[Peter & Alex]

It is partially open and a portion of the beach side fence has been taken down! There's still constrction work ongoing but there are waiting staff about the place and I've spotted a couple of tourists in there!!!
The main new areas are still fenced off and work is still ongoing?
Peter

[Taf]

We were booked for 2 weeks over Christmas at ViVa Tangerine.
Today, we have been told that due to massive overbooking we can only stay at Estrella del Mar. It`s such short notice to change anything so I guess we`ll have to take it. But is Estrella del Mar functioning? - what does "partically open" mean ? it sound like it`s a massive construction site and we`ll be getting a bad deal -
I appreciate anyy info, thanks by the way for all the progress reports from Peter & Alex etc about the Viva. I was soooo looking forward to our trip there.
Tracey

[Peter & Alex]

(Estrella del Mar) Still no evidence of it being open or even being ready to open?? No signs up yet - no identification of the new name "Club Azurro Cabarete" either. Beach fence is still erected! Still construction work and more garish painting going on!!!
The portion which is open from the beach view is very small but there are staff setting up tables under the shaded areas at 7.00am every morning. Beach loungers are stacked nearby. But at that time of the morning we do not see many tourists so I cannot comment on how busy they are??
The left hand side portion, looking from the street, is still being roofed!!! Can't see that being open in the very near future as there looks like there is still a lot of work to do to make it habitable??
Viva Tangerine has a new sign at the front called Wyndham Tangerine?? There are torists there at the moment but it does not look full when I walk by on the beach early in the morning?? Hlywud will be pleased to learn that they seem to have dug up the rear lawn and solved the small problem with the bubbling stuff???!!! Now they've just dug up and done the same adjacent to the boat/canoe area??!!
Will try and find out more and post results but I'm a bit busy at the moment and don't have too much time to go ferreting about in resorts - Sorry folks.
Peter

[Peter & Alex]

OK - it seems to have opened yesterday afternoon as there were people in the place in the early evening and cars in the car park???
Obviously still some construction going on and the beach fence is still erected!! Be prepared for limited services!! Bt it looks like they're geting there??
Sorry, but no more info as I'm going to be a bit busy over the Xmas period!
Best wishes to all and hope to see a few of you on Xmas morning??
Peter & Alex

[palmtree]

I hope the Azzurro Club Cabaret is not just for 19 to 49 year olds. We are there for a week from January 26 to February 2 and have a 6 and 10 year old in our party.

I am hoping that all is well at this resort. I am sure that if there was a problem, Sunquest would contact us. I work in a travel agency and haven't heard anything about it not being ready. In the event of the resort not being finished, it is common to be upgraded to a nearby resort. I am keeping my fingers crossed that everything is okay. Any of you who are in the know, please update us when you receive new information. Thanks.

[mjkalau]

Originally posted by traveller
We have been in touch with our travel agent and they contacted Sunquest and Starz Resort and they informed the agent that the Cabarete Bay Hotel is and has been up and running since Dec. 1. They have raised their prices but that doesn't effect anyone who has already purched their trip. Sooooo who do you believe??????

Cabarete Bay Hotel or Not

I stumbled on this web site by accident and nearly got a heart attache when reading all the confusion surrounding the Cabaret Bay Hotel.

I have just a few minutes ago spoke to a senior customer service rep. from Sunquest which is the Canadian tour company promoting this property.

They assure me that the hotel is "fully" operational.
I was further told that it is the "Estelle Del Mar" that was being renovated and made bigger and opened as the Cabarete Bay Hotel. Why the name change? Who knows. But they did say that the description is wrong when it says it is a "New" hotel. So this, along with the name change may be causing some of the problem re information, even for the people who live there.
Sunquest knows that I will make the biggest stink ever if this is not correct. Because as of today, if this information I was given is not correct, they are commiting fraud. We have a very good friend in the Fraud Squad up her in Kitchener Ontario and he assure me that the tour companies cannot continue to promote and sell packages if these packages are not what he customer will get.
This does not mean everything has to be perfect and that there can't be some minor construction, repair etc. going on.

I was further told that Sunquest has received no complaints?

I hope this helps those of you who like us were really worried and clears up some of the misunderstanding.

My only concern now is if we can still go snorkeling from the hotel beach. It promotes it and it's coral reef and in fact one description gave me the impression that there were two sections and one was windier and calmer.

Any info. on this?
MJ

[Ken]

IT IS OPEN. But the name is now Estrella del Mar.

I was there yesterday with my brother and his family who are guests of the Starz hotel in Sosua but who spent the day at the Cabarete Hotel. Guests of one can use the facilities of the other.

Rooms are occupied and the dining facilities are, too.

But there is a lot of construction going on in various areas of the grounds with metal fences, etc., guarding the work. Nevertheless, the hotel is open and guests are staying there.

[mjkalau]

Hi Ken, thanks for the info. although it did not say too much.

Can you give me anymore info. What did the grounds look like?
Did any of you use the beach? Was that ok.

How were the dinning facilities and the food?

Anything else you can tell me would be appreciated.

I am still surprised that you said it was now called the Estrella Del Mar, when that is what is used to be called anyway and our travel agent said it definately was going to be called the Cabarete Bay Hotel.

The old section we were told is the now the Cabarete and the new section may have a different name. although even the old section is supposed to be getting a face lift.
Sunquest was not told this, they thought it was a completely new property. At least that is what their brochures say and what you are told by their travel agents.

We are going Jan. 27, which is almost a month, so hopefully some more of the kinks will be ironed out.
MJ from Ontario

[palmtree]

I am keeping my fingers crossed that everything is okay for my January 26th arrival. One thing I know for sure is that the weather there will be better than in Oakville.

The travel agents in my office said the older part of the hotel was called the Estrella Del mar and a newer section was added and the new secrtion was called the Caberet Bay Hotel. Now, supposedly it will be promoted under one name. I guess we won't know exactly what the name is til we arrive.

As long as there is sun and a beach, I will be happy!