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| Casa Marina Reef |
Casa Marina Reef: Casa Marina Reef Reviews |
| Total User's Score 3.4
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By Occasion... |
By Traveller Type... |
| Based on 23 reviews |
| Excellent |
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4 |
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11 |
| Average |
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2 |
| Poor |
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2 |
| Terrible |
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5 |
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| With friend |
1 |
| With Group |
3 |
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| Casa Marina Reef Resort |
| Casa Marina Reef |
User Rating:
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Trudy >
1 contribution(s) Canada |
| Mar, 2010 | Leisure | With friend
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We arrived on Feb.17th to 24th 2010 Check in was fast and good. This was my second time here so i pretty much knew what to expect. Since it has been approx. 9 years since my last visit things have changed quite a bit. The resort itself has expanded to really make two resorts into one putting the Reef and Beach pretty much together so you are able to utilize both places for your enjoyment. One of the new points is the three cold Jacuzzi that are built into the rock right up close to the Ocean. At times the water comes right up and over them. Beautiful place to relax and the scenery is so beautiful.
The food i do have to say i was disappointed with the Buffet restaurant the food was very blah and the same everyday. When Bacon was served it was always burnt i guess it is better then raw but it was really bad.There was three Ala Cart restaurants the Italian was good pasta and pizza, the Seafood was good the Sea Bass was excellent. The Mexican was not great neither of us enjoyed it.
Next the rooms they where very basic but i thought they where ok large and the beds where ok as well. We where welcomed with a nice fruit platter and a bottle of Rum. The rooms where kept nice and nothing fancy but then again you do not spend a lot of time in the rooms anyway.
If there is any questions u like answered please feel free to P.M. me and i will answer any questions.
If you decide to go to this resort it is a good bang for your buck. Cheap and when you arrive sign up for all the Ala Cart restaurants as soon as you get there. Have a good holiday and keep safe. Trudy |
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| Comfortable resort needing friendlier people at reception. |
| Casa Marina Reef |
| User Rating:
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wayne >
1 contribution(s) Canada |
| Feb, 2010 | Business | With Group
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| Your Arrival |
| We arrived quite tired from travel, having had to get up at 2:30am to be at the airport by 3am. The people at reception in this hotel were not welcoming at all; in fact, the word beligerent comes to mind. It seemed to be our fault that we had arrived too early; we were told to come back at 2 when the rooms would be ready. We got our room at 2, but it wasn't ready. We were impressed by the thorough cleaning it got while we waited. |
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| Rooms |
| Our room was quite comfortable and clean. Everything worked, tv, ac, but the phone stopped working mid week. We had booked an ocean view room but got one overlooking the pool. Several of our group had their rooms moved, but we were content to stay where we were. |
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| Restaurants and Bars |
| All food and drink were quite satisfactory. This is not haute cuisine, but quite adequate food, lots of choice. Breakfasts amazing! The Italian, Seafood and Mexican restaurants offer good variety. The waiting staff were a bit sarcastic and abrupt, but certainly met our needs satisfactorily. |
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| Beach/Pools/Grounds |
| excellent! |
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| Stay at Casa Marina Reef |
| Casa Marina Reef |
| User Rating:
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diane >
7 contribution(s) Canada |
| Dec, 2009
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Arrival: April 27 - May 4
Luckily I had a morning flight and arrived at a decent time in Puerto Plata. Found my Sunquest Rep at the desk just outside the airport. I was the only transfer. Had a brand new a/c mini-van. Friendly driver named Remo (spelling?) A short 10 minute drive and we were at Casa Marina. Came solo this time to meet up with relatives for my neice's wedding. She had no idea and was 'shocked' when she saw me at the resort...it was such fun surprising her! I felt very comfortable and safe travelling by myself and would do it again.
Rooms:
I had a ground floor room on the Reef side. Not a pool view but an inside room overlooking a noisy generator of some kind. It didn't run all of the time but when it did...wow! A very loud droning noise. I had one difficult night of sleep (or rather lack of sleep) due to this monster machine. After that it was ok. Room was older and a bit worn but suitable. Enough drawer space, closet space and hangers. Oddly there was no chair or table in the room...so I moved a plastic table and one chair inside from my terrace and that served my purposes. The maid left them there for the week for me. Lots of hot water whenever I showered. The bed linens were only changed once during the week. That was fine with me. TV did not work the first afternoon but my lovely chambermaid Maria got it fixed for me. I think it was just 'off' the tuning channel. The room safe cost $15 US for a week. I was only provided with one small bottle of water in the room and had a refill station just 3 doors down the hallway. I bought a gallon jug of water at the resort shop for 65 pesos and just refilled it a few times through the week. The beds were firm but comfy enough and the pillows were rather flat so I used two. These are just small little things that don't make a lot of difference to me. I found the noise from the generator ( or whatever it was) was the biggest issue with the room. It is true about the lond echoing hallways...I've never heard noise 'amplified' so much! It would be a great place to practice acoutic guitar but it is terrible for sleeping guests at night. |
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Restaurants and Bars:
I ate mostly at the two buffets. The beach side buffet is the larger of the two. But since I was staying on the reef side I ate there most often. Only tried one of the restaurants, the Italian and it was very good. Had the canneloni stuffed with cheese and spinach and cold antipasto and white wine. Was too full for dessert. Here is what I did enjoy about the buffets: fresh green beans, broccoli, tomatoes & lettuce, white fish, roast pork, and of course breakfasts. Here is what I did not like about the buffets: no fresh juice bar (premixed fruit juice from dispensing machines), I love my coffee but not this stuff! No custards or ice cream for dessert, red wine was terrible. Never saw bacon once at breakfast but I'm not a bacon fan anyways. The only meat at breakfast was fried salami and a rather tough small sausage and cold ham slices. The bread and rolls were not the best..always seemed to have flies on them so I passed on them. I am not a fussy eater but I can see how some folks would not be impressed with the buffets. Expect super-long lineups at the bars on the weekends when the local folk arrive. They should have self-serving juice & pop machines, it would help alleviate the line ups. Who wants to wait in line for 20 minutes for a pop or water...not me. Only 1 bartender on duty during busiest times.
Beach/Pools/Grounds:
The resort has 2 large pools each with a kids pool. The Reef side pool is only about 4 ft. deep for the whole length. The Beach side pool is deeper. I used both pools until the weekend...more on that later.. The beach was ok. I prefer the Reef beach because it is bigger but you do have to pay $3 US for an umbrella for the day. It is a public beach. Very pretty views, very hot sand, fun waves to play in. Everyday was yellow flag day for us. Water was very clear and we even saw two dolphins come within 50 yrds. of the shore...yes, they were definately dolphins. They arched up out of the water and we got a great look at them before the boats scared them off...very cool! Very beautiful hotel grounds. Mature plants and trees, well kept. Lots of little lizards scurrying about the trees and coral cliffs. Many songbirds, doves, sparrrows, swallows, etc. Crazy sideways-walking crabs. I really do enjoy the flora and fauna of the area. I really liked the cold water jacuzzies built into the coral cliffs. There are 3 of them and that is where I parked myself until the weekend. I really enjoyed the views of the sea and coastline and watching the boats sail by while soaking in a cool jacuzzi. It was bliss!
Activities on and off the Resort/Hotel:
Did not do any tours this trip. But my friends & relatives went on the Jeep Safari, Puerto Plata shopping tour and Amber museum/Rum factory tour and they all booked with their Rep at the resort and enjoyed the tours. They had no complaints. I walked to the telephone/internet store out on the main street 3 times. Never had a problem walking by myself. During the daytime of course. A couple of my guy relatives tried to venture out their first night but were 'propostioned' just outside the resort...they decided it wasn't a great idea and retreated back inside. |
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| A solid 3* Great Value |
| Casa Marina Reef |
| User Rating:
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Jennifer Fournier >
1 contribution(s) Canada |
| Dec, 2009 | Leisure | With Group
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| This is a really solid 3* resort. There are a few things that could be nicer but then it would be a 4* and not nearly as inexpensive. For us the important things were there. There were clean rooms; a shower that worked reliably; decent food and plenty of space to hang out and enjoy the fact there was no snow. |
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| Your Arrival |
| Arrival was quick - we were checked in and shown to our room in less than 20min
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| Rooms |
| The room was ocean side in the reef section with 2 great balconies. The room was a little small and tired. They could use a facelift but everything was working and clean and comfortable. The shower was consistently good pressure and temperature. |
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| Restaurants and Bars |
| The buffet on the reef side is where we ate most often and there was always something there for everyone. We actually found the food better than we expected. We found the beach side buffet too busy so we generally avoided it. The Seafood A la Cart was okay, the food and service were good but the atmosphere wasn't great because it was too open to the buffet and people kept wandering through on the way to other places. |
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| Beach/Pools/Grounds |
| The grounds were well kept and there were always people working while we were there. The pools seemed okay (Not a pool person) the jacuzzi tubs in the reef were great!! So nice to cool off in. The beach "side" beach was closed most of the time because the ocean was too rough but the other beach was open and lovely. There was plenty of space to spread out on the beach or the sun terraces and lots of chairs around both on the beach and under the trees. There were tons of mature trees and wildlife around. We really liked the option of hanging out under the trees for shade but still having a great view of the ocean. |
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| Other Comments |
| We walked into Sosua for some shopping and the check out the public beach both were really enjoyable and so easy to do.The staff here were SO friendly and helpful and generally made the trip just wonderful. Don't come here if you want the 40inch t.v. in your room and new granite and marble bathrooms from a 5* you're going to be unhappy. If you are looking for inexpensive, friendly, and don't need too many frills try this place.I would go back here and I would recommend it to anyone looking for a really good value. |
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| I do not reccommend |
| Casa Marina Reef |
| User Rating:
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Wanda >
1 contribution(s) Canada |
| Aug, 2009 | Leisure | With Group
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| Arrival |
Upon arrival we were a little worried about what we were about to get ourselves into. I have been to Peurto Plata before, in a highly secured resort. The Casa Marina lies right in the city of Sosua.
The people who checked us in were not overly nice, and we found ourselves standing around for about half an hour before we could put our luggage in our rooms. |
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| Rooms |
| The rooms we stayed in were pretty basic. We ended up asking for a new room about 2 days into our stay because there were little black bugs crawling over every surface in the room. They were on the tables, desks, and even in the bathroom. We called for a new room when we noticed the bugs crawling on our toothbrushes! The man I spoke to said he would get someone to come and "spray" the room, but I insisted on a new room. The new room was in a different building, quite far from the rest of our friends, but it was nicer and cleaner. There were no little black bugs in this room, but there were ants on the floor. The AC also broke every single time we turned it off. |
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| Restaurants and Bars |
| The main buffet was decent. The food seemed to be the same every day. There are 3 or 4 bars on the resort, they are small, but the bar tenders were all very friendly and we enjoyed socializing with them. The one thing our group did not like about the bars was that they closed at 11pm. |
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| Beach/Pools/Grounds |
| There are 2 beaches to the Casa Marina, separated by a huge coral reef. They were nice beaches. One thing I did not like about them was that there were a lot of locals on the beaches. They are allowed on the resort certain days of the week, however they are not allowed to buy alcohol, so they were constantly asking the group of us to go get them drinks. |
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| Activities on and off the Resort/Hotel |
| There are different groups you will find around the resort selling escursion packages. We decided to go with one group that was located right next to the Disco. I don't remember the name of the group but I would not go with them again. Our excursion did not seem very well organized. |
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| Other Comments |
| Me and my friends did have some fun while on our vacation, however I would never go back to this resort. I guess we got what we paid for. |
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| Old Reviews - Casa Marina Reef |
| Casa Marina Reef/Beach Resort |
Jennifer
USA
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| September 2008 |
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Arrival and Flight
Despite missing luggage, the arrival and flight were very smooth. As soon as my baggag arrived from the Puerto Plata airport (2 days later), it was transferred to the hotel, where the reception desk staff called me to let me know it had arrived. However, we did meet with our vacation rep from Club Caribe who tried to tell us that we would have to pay an additional fee or get a cab to the airport for the return flight, although I knew the ground transportation was round-trip. I had him call his company in front of me to make sure we had ground transportation, but I kind of felt like he was trying to get us to pay extra for a return-trip that we already paid for.
Rooms
When we first arrived at the resort, the ground-floor room (section "N" of the resort) we had backed up to a barbed wire fence which separated us from some derelict looking houses. Additionally, the sliding glass door had a very loose/faulty lock which provided no sense of security against anyone coming in the room during the day or night. When we returned to the front desk to inquire about a room change, we were sent to look at another room (exact location as before, just one floor up) which was in a state of complete disarray (lamps on the bed, no sheets, table overturned, no TV, etc) and the ceiling was covered with a mold-looking substance. Again we stated that this room was unacceptable. After rejecting this room, we were finally put in a nicer room that felt both safe and was made up properly. Our room was cleaned daily, and left in a nice state when we came back to the room after spending the day out at the beach.
Restaurants
We practically lived at the Mexican restaurant during our 5-day stay - El Jalapeno. We only wished we had enough restaurant coupons for every day we were there (you only get 3 per week). The buffet-style restaurants were overall rather disconcerting, but then again I am not partial to buffets. People swarm to the food, and there really is very little regard for self-serve cleanliness, as people use their hands to pick up bread instead of the tongs that are provided. I manufactured grilled cheese sandwiches for the majority of the days, instead of trying the various "International" options at the buffet restaurants. The Mexican restaurant, however, was very good food and the service was excellent every time. The Mexican restaurant also serves food and snacks during the day (burgers, pizza) that were very good.
Bars
The bartenders are friendly and very accomodating when you are getting multiple drinks for yourself and friends. However, as soon as 11pm rolls around, the bars are closed quicker than you could ever imagine. Right before 11, stock up on a lot of drinks so you don't have to pay. During the day, the lines to the bar could get very long and one more bartender would have been very helpful. If you tip the bartender early in the day, they will be very accomodating, remember your drink and even bring them to you when you are laying out by the pool or beach.
Beach and Pools
The beach was closed for the majority of our stay due to big waves, so we only saw a couple hours of it. While we were there, there was a rumor floating around that the pools were being cleaned due to an outbreak of conjunctivitis. As soon as I heard that rumor and saw people walking around with infected eyes, I stayed out of the pool. For the most part, the two main pools are large and fun, and can accomodate a lot of people playing volleball, playing on rafts, etc. I would recommend buying blowup rafts that you can lay on during the week, then throw away when you leave. People get to the pool rather early to put their towels down and claim chairs, and I would suggest that anyone do this if they want a good spot. The jacuzzis along the beach and away from the pool are really nice for a more secluded, quieter experience.
Grounds
The grounds are very beautiful and well-maintained. After a huge storm and a night of torrential downpour, the groundsmen were up very early in the morning to clean up the leaves and pieces of trees that were scattered around. The resort is spacious and nice to walk around.
Activities and Entertainment
We didn't participate in any of the day games or games at the beach, but those who did said they really enjoyed it.
Departure and Check Out
Check-out was very easy, as was our departure. We received a note under our door the day before we left detailed who would be picking us up from the airport and when. We got to the airport with sufficient time before our flight.
Conclusion
Overall, our stay was very pleasant, but it was made really nice because we met so many fun people. The all-inclusive, buffet-style aspect is one that I will probably never do again, as I was constantly grossed out by the food that was offered and how discourteous people were (e.g. using their hands, cutting you in line, etc). However, if you are looking to spend very little money and are okay "getting what you pay for" then this place is fine. If I were to go back to the DR, I would probably want to stay on the west/southwest side, and try a resort that wasn't all-inclusive.
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| Casa Marina Reef/Beach Resort |
Nina/Wilson Lopez and family
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| August 2008 |
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We just spent a 2 week vacation, July 6-20 at Casa Marina Reef Resort. Two years ago we stayed at the same resort and boy did we notice drastic changes.
First of all, we were the only Canadians being dropped off at the resort.
Our check in again, was very difficult. We are a family of 5 and again they wanted to split us up at different ends of the floor. We wanted 2nd level and "Juan Carlos" at the reception desk went on to say that the hotel does not allow kids to be on upper levels of the hotel. My children are 15, 13, 9. Don't know why this was a problem, because 2 years ago we stayed on the second floor without any issues and as we toured the grounds, families with younger children were on 2nd and 3rd floors. So, after more discussion, "Juan Carlos" came back and said ok, you can have 2 rooms side by side on the main level facing the pool. So we settled on that. We were getting tired of arguing with him. I still don't understand, reservations are made way in advance, why are they not prepared to accommodate quests that are arriving at a set time.
The rooms were basic - not a problem. But the real problem was the bed comforters stunk! Terrible smell - old, mildewy. So we just never used them. Air conditioning wasn't strong enough, but no sense in complaining or requesting another room, because we would just be separated and put in rooms far apart from eachother. The maid was fantastic! When they clean the rooms, they open up the sliding doors and for some reason, mosquitoes get in
- so I told her the problem after my daugher woke up looking like an alien with a swollen face due to her mosquito bites thru the night, the maid, "Maria" came and sprayed the room. Had no problems after that. She was always there to help out in getting extra supplies/towels.
Meals. The buffets have really gone down hill since our visit there 2 years ago. The same old, over and over. This time they didn't even have bacon, for not even one breakfast. It was the same chef but for some reason not as good. All the food was recycled. If you saw sausages for breakfast, they would also be there for lunch-but in another form - and then again for dinner mixed in with something else.
The Mexican Restaurants was excellent! All the staff were fabulous. We made reservations there frequently. The Italian Restaurant was so so - has not inproved since our last visit. Only went there once. For the Seafood Restaurant we didn't even bother. To have the good food you had to pay extra for it. My kids really enjoyed the casual, basic lunches that they served up at the Seafood Restaurant - nice atmosphere - no one bothering you.
Entertainment --- The entertainment staff is out of this world! The many
hours they put into a day is incredible. Show times at night are done so professionally, in my eyes anyways. We enjoyed every single one. Pool side was okay. Some of the staff really did not do much or get involved with everyone. Mosquito, Victor, Samson - what a team! The person that we missed this time was Americo. He really go the teenagers involved and also the adults. We heard he moved on to bigger and better. Nice to hear.
Time Sharing People - now there are a nuisance. Walking around the resort constantly stopping you trying to get you into going to listen to a seesion.
We did no appreciate this this time nor the last time.
Weekends at the Resort - Wow! Felt like you were at an amusement park.
Come the weekend - four day weekend, local Dominicans and Dominicans from the US arrive in herds - they take over the pool area - no chairs to be had
- forcing their screaming kids into the pool. Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against them, it's just I'm not used to seeing them at the resorts - was never like that before.
One request - they should have music piped into the other 2 pool areas.
Bars - Need more workers to serve behind the bars. Also, the slushy banana mama drinks never have enough time to turn into an icey solution. The bar tenders should control that machine to say when it is ready to serve.
I'm sorry to have to write so many negative points. But, people need to know, and they need to fill out the survey with their comments at the end of their vacation. I sure did and so did my family in the other room. We were not the only ones with issues; a couple from England paid for an upgraded room in a particular section and did not get it upon check-in. How come?
The reception desk has all that information many weeks prior to their arrival.
Overall, our vacation was still a very relaxing, fun (made our own fun), adventurous time! The weather is always nice during this time in July.
Only rained one late afternoon while at the pool and then one evening while watching the show. What else could you ask for!
Sun, Ocean, Drinks, Merengue is all you need!
Dominican Republic will always be our vacation island, but not Casa Marina Beach/Reef Resort. |
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| Casa Marina Reef/Beach Resort |
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| hi my name is melissa i stayed at casa marina reef two years ago and had a wonderful time the food was fab the service very friendly the rooms were clean and comfortable. i cant wait to go back. although perfect for me if you want a lively family holiday this may not be for you its more relaxing. there are lots of excersions to liven things up but that will cast you |
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| Casa Marina Reef/Beach Resort |
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Our family of 3 flew with SunWing and were pleasantly surprised by the full meal service and the flight attendants were very pleasant and helpful.
We were lucky and had perfect weather all week. The resort was very well situated beachfront and you have a choice of 2 beaches, one with all the activities and the farther one quieter and more secluded. There is also the town of Sosua conveniently located next to the resort. Unfortunately the mopeds spewing blue smoke in the streets killed most of our curiosity. We took a walk for a coupled of hours the first day and came back with taste of the fumes in our mouths. The third day I went out at 7 am expecting to enjoy a jog on quiet streets and only lasted 5 minutes.
We got a very bad room first night with noise from the street, humming from machinery and air conditioning fan all night, and was changed to a quieter room the next day after complaining. The staff are all very good. The rooms are as you would expect of a 2-3 star hotel room. There was one problem they couldn't fix. Smoking in nearby rooms migrated to our room via air conditioning and the smoke smell would not go away. We resorted to asking for an extra key to keeping the room cool while we were out and turning it off when we return. It seemed there were smoking everywhere. The restaurants were all open air and the nice breeze would bring smoke from the smoking section, which really bothered us, having enjoyed freedom from smoke in most public places in recent years in Toronto. Even at the evening shows we couldn't escape the smoke, despite no-smoking signs. Fortunately the shows were not riveting and we just left when the smoke bothered us.
We took a snorkelling excursion to the Punta Rusia Paradise Island and really enjoyed it. We also enjoyed the Jeep Safari excursion with a trek through streams to the waterfall (bring running shoes with good support that you don't mind getting wet). The only downside was the 2 hour open air Safari truck ride, with frequent close encounters of the heavy exhaust pollution kind. I wonder if there is a way to rent a car and meet at the tour site. We bought the excursions from Mel Tours across the street just outside the resort and paid about 10% less than the resort excursion kiosk. Based on descriptions of others who bought from the resort excursion kiosk they are the exact same tours.
The sun and the water was exactly what we needed after a severe Canadian winter, but spoiled by the smoke and the pollution. |
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| Casa Marina Reef/Beach Resort |
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My friend and I just returned home a week ago from our trip to Casa Marina Beach Resort in Sousa/Puerto Plata. We were skeptical at first after reading the reviews and it being a 3.5 star resort. However, we had an amazing time and can't wait to go back.
Our room was excellent, it was right on the ground floor overlooking the pool with a bit of the ocean in the background. Our room was very clean. We found a few small bugs in our sink the first night but we sprayed them with OFF a few times and they never returned! Also, our patio door lock wasn't latching, but we told our Sunwing Representative about it and it was fixed within 2 hours. Someone who previously stayed in our room must have played with the key lock for the power and the air conditioning because we had power and air all the time without having to insert our key. So it was nice to leave the air conditioning on low all day.
The food was great. There is plenty of food to pick and choose from at all 3 meals. They are clearly labeled and try to meet the needs of everyone. Each evening the dinner is a different theme- Italian, Oriental, American, Dominican, etc. so you get to try some new foods and also get a taste of home. We had the Italian and Mexican a la cartes which were excellent. There was a ton of choices on the menu and it was nice to have a change from the buffet. One tip is the first morning you arrive, go to the reception early and book your a la cartes for the week. We thought you had to book the morning of for the night you wanted, but we ended up missing 1 of our a la cartes because they were filled up. So book early so you get all 3.
The staff are incredible. They are continually coming to talk to you and get you involved in games, even if you don't want to. The games were a great part of the holiday and I enjoyed everyone. Beach volleyball was a highlight, great court and a ton of fun. Also, a great way to meet people staying on at the two resorts. There were shows on during the evening at the theater, one night we were in one of the shows and bought a video of it. Also, my friend got a throat infection so she had to visit the doctor. He was very friendly and helpful, provided her with medicine and by the next day she was feeling back to normal.
The pools were clean and always tons of chairs available to sit on. There are 3 pools, I which is a nice quiet pool and they other two are busy. The Reef Resort pool tended to be the spot where all the games were being run and music was being played! It was great to be able to go from the ocean to the pool with spots always available. The grounds of the resort were always kept beautiful. They are clean and there are continually staff going around with buckets to pick up glasses.
The bar service was good. Some times were busier than others so you'd have to wait in line but they were always willing to help you. Tip them a few dollars each day and they will remember you and provide you with the best service. The only complaint I had about this resort was that the inclusive ended at 11pm, so after that you had to pay for your drinks. At 10:30 we would get 4 drinks instead of 1 so that we could drink past 11. Bring your own travel mugs for your drinks! The disco was fun, we went there a couple times, they play Canadian/American music every few songs which was great to hear.
Overall, we had an amazing time. We met wonderful people, and really enjoyed a relaxing vacation. I highly suggest this resort, its a fantastic resort and the staff do anything possible to help you out! It may be a 3.5 star but we did not have any major problems or complaints with anything.
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| Casa Marina Reef/Beach Resort |
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| me and my boyfriend both age 19 and 24 have just come back from casa marina beach, and after having a disastrous holiday two years ago in Tunisia, we didn't know what to expect, but we didn't need to worry,the hotel is lovely, not as big as the reef, but clean and tidy,and staff very helpful and friendly everyone is lovely and we made loads of new friends.here is a great selection of food available from meats and salads to burgers sausage chips to suite everyone's taste.the reps over there are lovely and always willing to help, at night there is lots of family entertainment at the theatre and ay 11 the cal ipso disco opens which plays good English dance music, there didn't seem much for the children to do though,market stalls come to the hotel on a Wednesday night and you can get some good buys if you haggle!only pay about a 3rd of what they ask of you, they bump the price up because that's what the expect you to do! we went on two trips to sosua an's wale watching it was good but make sure you eat before you go as near enough everyone was seasick, not a good idea with a hangover, you get picked up a half 5 so you mite need a early mite before! loads to do though, would come again despite what some pl say bout the hotel sect, there ok clean and tidy with new towels every day ect,it is only a 3 star but if you're picky like some reviews are you should go to a five star!! we think it should be at least a 4 friendly ppl, great weather and hotel value for money and al round great holiday! |
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| Casa Marina Reef/Beach Resort |
Family from England
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| February 2008 |
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We got back from the best holiday ever earlier this week and my sister and I are already planning to go back!
Myself, my mum and my sister all flew out to Puerto Plata on 22nd January 2008 for two weeks. We went with low expectations, just a cheap get away to the sunshine! When we arrived it was the evening so we grabbed something to eat and went to bed. At this point we weren't impressed with the food as we only eat chicken and fish so were stuck with pasta and red sauce! I advise staying away from the toxic white wine too... but there are plenty of cocktails to keep you going!
The next morning we went to breakfast and were all very impressed. Breakfast was amazing, there was a man making fresh eggs and omelettes, a huge selection of breads, cereal, fresh fruit and of course bacon, sausages etc. After breakfast we found a spot to sunbathe by the Reef pool. We were told that this pool was the fun pool but could get quite loud but we didn't want to walk round all day searching for the perfect spot! After a while ''Wakey wakey'' on the loud speaker and it was water aerobics time! It took us a few days to get into the sports but they turned out to be the highlight of the holiday. The animation team that organise the water polo, water aerobics, the donkey-barrel game, darts, ping pong competitions etc are brilliant. All of them are hilarious, lovely and hard working people! They made our holiday!
The evening entertainment was absolutely amazing, I loved it! I was shocked at how beautifully they all dance and all the effort that goes into the evening shows. The costumes were amazing too. After the evening show if we were still awake we would get a bunch of free drinks before 11pm and wander down to the Marlin Bar where some nights there is live music and you can just sit and relax. We even ventured into the hilarious Calypso Disco some nights! I have never been so cold in a disco! Some of the animation team would come along and we would all have a good old dance! Even my mum enjoyed it!
The food got a lot better after our first impressions on the first night. There is such a selection that you can never go hungry! At lunch time it was nice to be able to get some salad, pasta salad, roast chicken etc, but there was also the option of the snack bar down in the Mexican restaurant that just served sausages, pizza and chips etc.
The beaches were lovely, we didn't get to swim in the sea that much though as there was a red flag up a lot of the time. In the first week five people broke bones in the sea. It was very rough and so I didn't want to risk it!
It was a lovely time of year to go as it is not full of families with young kids running around everywhere!
I would love to go back. I know that we are definitely going to go back next January (My mum, my sister and I and maybe my cousin and auntie too!) But my sister and I are looking into returning at the end of this month!!
We fell in love with the place! |
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| Casa Marina Reef/Beach Resort |
Steve
Ottawa-Canada
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| February 2008 |
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Flew with Sunwing for the first time, I was impressed with them and would use them again.
Rooms -
My room looked to have been recently upgraded, kingsize bed and bathroom fixtures and tile looked new. Lots of hot water. The only downside i found was the air conditioner blows right on the bed, and seemed to have only 2 settings, off and full blast.
Restaurants -
The buffet was good, always found something to eat. Tried the Italian restaurant and enjoyed it as well. The only problem I had at the buffet was in keeping my table if I got up to get more. Learned to leave a hat on the table to hold my spot.
Bars -
Staff at the bars was great, always in good spirits and quick with the service, only drawback is that they shutdown pretty early in the night.
Beach and Pools -
The pools were cleaned often and looked spotless. The nicer ones seemed to be on the Reef side.
Grounds -
The grounds are kept clean and swept every morning as they seem to be at most of teh resorts.
Activities -
Staff works hard all day to get people involved in varios activities. There is a nice volleyball court on the beach.The nightime shows were well done and the venue for watching them was great. Across the road from the Reef resort is a baseball diamond and I spent a few evenings watching them play ball.
Tours -
Only tour I took this time was the Purto Plata one and I went on this with a couple of people I met on the resort. They hired a taxi and guide for the day and the cost split between us was probably cheaper then going on the official tour.
Conclusion -
I will be back again, hopefully for 2 weeks next time.
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| Casa Marina Reef/Beach Resort |
Bill & Tracey
the UK
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| February 2008 |
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Before we left we read a number of reviews for the hotel, both here and on another major review site for the Casa Marina Reef hotel and too be honest there were a lot of conflicting comments. The most important thing to remember is that what may be acceptable to one person may not be to another so you must make your own minds up and look at a number of review sites to get a fair view of the hotel.
I do not want to cover everything but I do feel that a few points do need to be made as they may be helpful to someone.
It is a long flight from the UK and very cramped on the plane, if you can afford to upgrade then I would do it as it will be money well spent and something I would have to consider IF I came here again.
I saw a lot of comments saying that this 3 star hotel should be a 4 but you do not have to have done much traveling to realise that it is a 3 star at best and in some areas only a 2!! The rooms are very basic indeed, we were lucky as we choose to upgrade our room (No 2558) and had a fantastic view of the sea and the grounds of the hotel between the accommodation and the Atlantic Ocean. However the room badly needed painting and the furniture was not that good at all and the bathroom door would not fully open but the worse part was the bathroom which to be honest you would not expect to see even in a 1 star hotel!! It’s basic, which is all I can really say and although not completely clean it was not too bad but the condition of the fittings etc was something else in my opinion. I have read a number of reviews that say that you don’t travel here for the rooms etc which in a way is true but coming this far and after paying decent money it should be a lot better than it is. This is not a back packing hostel and the hotel is run by a very large company, Amsha Marina (I think), who also run 4 other big resort hotels on the island and therefore the room standards should be a lot better. You pay western money to stay there and they pay poor country wages to employees, so that profit margin is lining someone’s pockets instead of being put back into the business to raise the room standards.
Just across the bay from the hotel is Puerto Plata airport and if you don’t like the noise of planes going over your head on a Caribbean holiday then stay in another hotel!!! Okay it’s not Heathrow/Gatwick but it can be very noisy and flights come in and out at all times and about 8 out of 10 flights that take off do come over the hotel with one flight going over at 4.30 am on one day!!! It might not bother you but I live near a regional airport in the UK and did not pay out to travel 9 hours on a plane for a relaxing holiday to have bigger planes making more noise going over my head!
The other draw back for me at this hotel is that it is in a local community and for some reason the hotel owners allow local businesses in to pester the guests. I do not mean the local stalls that come in twice a week in the evenings although you would be wise not to buy anything from them as they are very pricey indeed (unless you are not planning to leave the hotel of course) but I mean the time share idiots! They are a pain in the arse and even after a firm NO THANKYOU they will still try it on with you during your stay and for me this should not be allowed. There are other people too that walk around with clip boards selling tours etc and a few handing out flyers for certain services but I can get that walking down a high street let alone on a far away beach holiday.
The Dominicans also expect to be tipped all the time even when they do not carry out their basic jobs, which is a great shame and I know it is a relatively poor country but there is no excuse for being lazy. I did tip the maid every day but I lost count of the amount of times that the room was cleaned but they forgot to leave towels and on one occasion we had been out all day and they had forgotten to leave any toilet rolls!! The one thing that I was not happy about was that when they cleaned the balcony they then never secured the doors afterwards and given that so many people have things go missing you would have thought it was in the hotels interest to train them to lock the doors before they leave the room after cleaning them. We did pay the $15 a week for the room safe and you need to budget for this as it will give you peace of mind but make sure that you do indeed lock all your valuables in it even if you are only out of the room for a few minutes!
On the plus side the grounds are first class and they spend a lot of time on them with a small army of ground keepers (if only they spent a bit more on the rooms) on the job and the area between the hotel and the sea is just top class for me. Lots of little areas to catch the sun and for it to be very peaceful plus you have 3 Jacuzzi pools in the rocks which can be a bit noisy at times and then you have the main beach which you have to go down some steep steps to plus the smaller beach at the sister hotel next door to use.
The shop at reception is fine if you are not willing to leave the hotel during your stay but a 15 minute walk to the Supermacardo on the main Puerto Plata road is well worth the walk as it is up to 40% cheaper than the shop and they have a wide range of goods and some gifts for you to choose from. These shops only take Dominican pesos and it is worth taking some local currency with you as you will need it but all your big trips etc can be paid with US$ via your reps.
I have not really said much about the staff as they are no different to any other country, some will do anything for you and are very happy, some just do there jobs and will occasionally speak to you and then you have the miserable gits who don’t really want to be there, enough said!!
I know the above does not sound very good but they are points that I would have liked to have seen when reading reviews as they matter to me.
There is a lot more that could I could write about but basically if you are on a tight budget and have not been here before then it is worth staying at this hotel but if you have a bit more cash plus it’s your first holiday for a long time then look for a 4 star hotel where you should get the better all round standards to make it a really enjoyable holiday.
There were parts of the holiday that we really liked but if we were to come back to the DR we would not stay here again and we would save the extra cash for a better hotel as it is a long way to come.
Hope this helps |
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| Casa Marina Reef/Beach Resort |
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We were in Sosua for a New Years wedding, however, the hotel we were staying at for the wedding had no activities and did not have a beach, so we decided to move down to Casa Marina Reef for our remaining four days in the Dominican Republic.
We were shown an adequate room. The pool and beach area looked fine except for the very worn out/broken chaise lounges. There were a number of restaurants which, again, were okay (some better than others) but certainly nothing to write home about. To sum up: it was "okay". If there had been anything at all that was better, we would have gone there, but this is not an area where you will be able to find really nice accommodations.
The room we were actually given when we moved in was really awful...it was dark to begin with, but though we called and called, we were not able to obtain light bulbs for two days, so it was really dark in there!
The toilet overflowed twice...once, it was so bad that we had to use all the towels and the two bedspreads to stop the overflow from coming into the bedroom.
The sheets did not fit the bed, and we woke up each morning sleeping on the bare mattress...ug!
Our brand new hairdryer was stolen from the room, and we were told by housekeeping that they thought it was theirs, and they had been lending it out all day to other guests. They never did find it, but the hotel manager did reimburse us for it.
There is a lot more to tell, but the bottom line is that NO ONE THERE CARES whether you are having a comfortable stay. They did nothing but lie to us over and over and over again about everything! The truth is, if they had just been up front with us, we never would have been as utterly frustrated with all of this as we were.
The problem is likely that this is a very, very poor area. There is a great deal of theft and men walking around with rifles for protection. It is hard for someone working in the hotel to hear a guest complain that they don't have lightbulbs or that the toilet is overflowing when they have to go home to a house with only three walls and a dirt floor...its sad really.
We were to the southern coast of the Dominican a number of years ago and had a much better experience there (until our money was stolen from our room on our last night there) as far as accommodations, etc. went. I would never again go to the Puerto Plata/Sosua area...and maybe never back to the Dominican Republic. There are just too many nice places to go to for a vacation without all the hassle.
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| Casa Marina Beach Resort |
April
Canada
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| December 2007 |
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I would only give this hotel a 2 star rating.
We just arrived home from our holiday last night (December 26th), and I have never been so happy to be home. Let me start off by saying the grounds of this hotel were beautiful, and the beach very nice and well kept.
However, most of the loungers were in need of repair.
I do not understand how anyone could think the hotel rooms were at all in anyway clean. Ours was not and we could see right through the ceiling to pipes overhead, the bathtub leaked when you showered as someone had tried to repair it with some surround thing inside. We were left without hand towels on some days and the towels that were for showering barely dried oneself off as they were so cheap and had been bleached one too many times. There were also very tiny ants in the room on the bedside tables which I do understand and have experienced before but usually someone does try to take care of the problem. Our toilet did back up and overflow and when we did tell the receptionist it was taken care of very quickly.
I am sure the staff is very nice and we were always greeted with a smile. A very sincere smile however, was not the feeling I was given. Many times at the buffet we did not have drinking glasses and had to go and find our own and sometimes utensils as well. Rarely would someone come to the table except to grab our plates even before we were finished eating. I do not think they had enough staff to keep up with the amount of tourists.
We did go on two tours. The Paradise Island and the Monster truck tours. The Paradise Island tour was not as good as we were lead to believe. The first bathroom stop was without toilet paper and I had asked when we booked the trip if we would need any and was told no. It was a long trip on a crappy bus for far too many hours for what time you are allowed to be on the island. We were to be picked up 6:40 and to be given breakfast which did not happen until we got to the island at about 11 and then we were given a bun with a piece of ham or cheese on it. If I would have not been told we would not be eating until then we could have planned better. The island itself and the snorkeling was beautiful – although short-lived as the actual island experience lasted about 1 and ½ hours. As we were driving back to the hotel the tour guide did his over done “I am poor” thing and “we need your tips” etc. which was starting to wear thin, as we were constantly bombarded with this piece of information. I realize that many people are very poor in the Dominican but the way it was always thrown in ones face was not pleasant.
The Monster Truck Safari was much more professional and they did warn us about not giving money to the locals and throwing items to the kids, which of course most tourists chose to ignore. We were asked to please not give them candy as their teeth were beginning to rot but of course many people ignored that as well. Our guide was very informative and not once did he try to ask for tips.
We did take some items and waited until we got to the school to give to the director. I am sure they have quite a few pencils and perhaps could use other things. The children are very crafty in their begging and it was very sad to see these beautiful children begging at every opportunity.
The local people that were allowed in the hotel to sell their items were so aggressive I almost cried and when I ventured out of the hotel it was just crazy. It was ridiculous and I do think the hotel should try to control the intimidation that the vendors displayed
Now to the most frustrating part of the trip which had nothing to do with the hotel but tourists. Many of my meals were ruined by people smoking. The hotel did have some signs around but not many people thought they had to obey them. I have been to many other destinations and this was by far the most smokers I have ever encountered. It was absolutely revolting and it was not fair to non-smokers to have to endure the constant smell.
I had read many other reviews before we went on this trip and while I understand they felt the need to be positive it was very unsettling that this hotel was rated a 3 and I would have appreciated more honesty so I could have planned better.
I sympathize with the people that work for very little but this was a vacation, and I think I deserve to have a vacation and leave money or items if I want to - not because I was intimidated into doing so.
Also, please do not rent a vehicle we saw at least 4 accidents and they were not nice. The driving was out of control. The tour busses and airport shuttle drivers were somewhat okay.
I really was hoping to prove the nay sayers wrong but sadly I have very few positive things to say about my vacation and was so glad I was only there for a week.
If I was told it was a 2 star or lower I could understand and have been better prepared but I was very overwhelmed with the negative and what I felt as very misleading comments.
Also through our own stupidity we had to pay an extra hundred dollars at the airport because we had read the weight allowed incorrectly and since our bags were not weighed here in Canada we were unaware it was total 20 kilos per person which includes your carry on purse, jackets, boots anything they could be weighed.
Also remember you will need $20 American for the departure fee, and Canadians please take American funds with you as we not given a fair exchange at the bank or the hotel.
It is a third world country and if you go there knowing it will be constantly in your face and not to expect more you will truly enjoy the beautiful grounds.
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| Casa Marina Beach Resort |
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We recently returned from 2 weeks at Casa Marina. We had a fabulous time. The food, weather and entertainment were great. We flew down on Sunwing and we were very impressed with there service, not only was the food edible we had free champagne, wine pretzels,hot towels and even free headphones for the movie. We actually got there 45 minutes ahead of schedule. Customs was a breeze, picked up our luggage and were off to the resort. Checking in was also a breeze, the front desk were friendly, I had mentioned to them that we had been there 3 years previous and I still recognized some of the faces.
They then gave us what they call repeater bracelets, they were white instead of purple, Im not sure what that got us but we were upgraded to the Reef instead of the beach side.
Family had come down to surprise us while we were there and they were staying on the beach side, and I really couldnt say if one was better than the other They were quite happy with there rooms also.
The food was great, there was a wide selection, Im sure there was something for everyone. I was a little concerned spending 2 weeks thinking the food would get tiresome but not so it was always fresh and bountyfull. We went to all 3 a la carte restuarants and were never dissapointed. You can never go wrong with the chicken, they just know how to cook it in so may ways. The seafood a la carte had a delicious sea bass and seafood skewer that I would strongly recommend.
We spent alot of time on the beach,and actually had a shaded area. I must admit I was a little annoyed about the 3.00 charge for the umbrellas, it seemed so petty, but you do need to remember you are staying at a 3 star not a 5 star. I also had a problem with some ants in the bathroom but feel it was my own fault as had left a couple of drinks on the counter, but once I established that fact and the maid had dilegently cleaned up they were gone.
We did venture out on some day trips, went down to Cabarete for the evening, it was a fun time lotsof people and action. The guys had hired a taxi to take them to Playa Grande for golf, It was breathtaking scenery. The taxi driver dropped the guys off at the golf course and took us girls (3) to a beach just down the road. It was a fabulous day. We were greeted by several vendors when we got out of the cab offering us lounge chairs,beer food etc. We actually had our own manservant for the day. The quickly set us up with umbrella,chairs and beer for the afternoon the beach was clean.We had a few vendors stroll by selling jewelery etc.but very polite. the only downside was no bathrooms on the beach au-natural as they would say. At the end of the day the taxi driver took us back to the golf course to pick up the guys have a few Presidente and head back to the hotel. They could not say enough about the golf course they were very impressed.
All in all it was a great vacation. Casa Marina is clean, good food and good service. Keep in mind you are at a 3 or 31/2 star and paying 3 star prices. You could not go wrong for your money I was a little concerned because I had recommended it to several friends and family who surprised us down there but they were all happy also.
We will definetly return again |
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| Casa Marina Beach Resort |
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| I really don’t know which disappointment to start with. My wife and I decided we would go to Casa Marina Beach for a week, and that’s when it started. We requested a ground floor room due to the fact I have had back surgery, we were promptly given a room on the 4th floor (all stairs). Two days later they finally got us a room on the ground floor if you could call it a room and we moved downstairs. There where a lot of broken tiles in the bathroom and there seemed to be a lot of little ants (so take some Raid). When we checked in the room had 2 bottles of water to drink and that’s what you get for the week you just need to keep filling up at the bars. Approximately 30 minutes after getting in the room I came out of the bathroom and not noticing that the floor had flooded in the last 5 minutes I slipped and wrenched my shoulder (so much for any tours). Maintenance came to the room to repair what ever was wrong and 3 hours later we were finally moved in. While they were repairing whatever was wrong they had to remove ceiling tiles that’s was when we noticed all the mould in the area above the ceiling in the bathroom and closet. The weather was relatively poor this week, which I can’t blame on the resort, but other resorts we have been to usually have had activities inside to entertain the customers if it was inclement weather, not so at Casa Marina. Maybe that’s because there is no inside areas, although covered all areas are outdoor even the buffets and a la carte restaurants. As for the bars there are 3 bars open during the day, all of these close to the beach, so if you want a drink near the pool you must go to the beach area to retrieve it. Two other bars are open in the buffets during meals, 3 others in the a la carte restaurants. There are 2 others that open at 11pm and are cash bars and one of the beach bars turn into a cash bar after 11pm all others close down. Although the foods at the food at the a la carte restaurants are included, its just basics if you wish a bigger better dinner it will cost you. The variety of food at the buffets did not change that much except for the meats that were being prepared. Over all the quality of the food was 2 out of 5. Now between the 2 resorts Reef and Beach the cold whirlpool tubs are located along the waters edge built into the old coral, there is a lot of broken glass and garbage in these areas. We never got down to the beach of the reef resort due to the long stairway down; it is nice idea that it is secluded. The beach at the beach resort where we stayed was a little dirty with cigarette butts, the lounge chairs need to be replaced and if you want shade on the beach be prepared to rent the umbrellas $3.00 US a day. Overall I’d rate it a 2 out of 10 and won’t be going back. |
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| Casa Marina Beach Resort |
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Arrived at the hotel with a warm welcome and a well awaited ice cold drink which really impressed us as it was a very Hot day.
Was taken to our room by a porter again we thought was a really nice touch.
Room was adequate and comfortable for what we needed, needs a little updating but pleasant enough.
The complex it's self was clean and tidy and well maintained (Very Happy) only main concern we really had was the occasional Fly floating in the Swimming Pool, but not alot you can really do about that.
Entertainment throughout the day and Evening...Superb!!! couldn't fault it at all
Highly recommended to Family and friends
FANTASTIC HOLIDAY!!!!! |
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| Casa Marina Beach Resort |
Dave and Judy and family
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| August 2007 |
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| We just got back to Canada last night from Casa Marina Beach resort. We had the time of our lives. Everything was fantastic. The Staff were helpful & friendly . The food was out of this world, and the drinks were great too. We found the resort to be spotless . There was always somthing going on from games for the kids , shows, beach parties with bon fires, soccer games, volleyball games etc.. Absoultly never a dull moment. We would go back tomorrow if we could .
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| Casa Marina Reef |
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My boyfriend and I JUST got back from Casa Marina; we stayed from July 9th-16th... First of all you should keep into consideration that the Dominican republic is a third world country, so each resort has its ups and downs. You also should consider that the Dominican and many other Spanish orientated countries have different customs than what you may be use to. With that in mind, I will try to tell you as much as possible to my wonderful experience at Casa Marina Reef… Keep in mind this may be long!
Departure/Getting There: We flew out of Boston around 6am; we had a layover in San Juan, Puerto Rico. We then flew from PR straight to POP. We didn’t get to the resort until 3pm. As we found out, if you are only going for a week, you already lose two of your days to travel. The flight seems pretty long if you’re seated in economy. We flew American Airlines, we were not very impressed. No snacks were given during the flight to Puerto Rico, which was a little over three hours, Beverages were offered once. Meals were not offered, which was also strange since we were flying between breakfast hours. After arriving in Puerto Rico, we stopped and had about an hour and a half layover. We grabbed something small to hold us over, and then headed to the duty free shops (where alcohol is very inexpensive!). The flight to POP was a little better; we were given chips and offered drinks twice. Upon arrival you are directed to get your bags. Mine was there just as expected, no mishaps thank goodness! After you gather your bags, you go through I guess what we would call immigration. This is where you pay the $10p/p tourist card fee, then you are directed to go through and have your passports checked and stamped. From here you go straight through to the exit. Like I’m sure you’ve read, hold on to your bags. There will be people who will offer to bring your bags to the cab, but for a price of course! This is where things began to get funny! *Keep in mind, while we were there we were warned about how the taxi drivers go on strike, it did not affect us they were there and ready, but Casa does NOT have shuttle service* There is a board with set prices to each destination, To go to Sosua its $20. There is a man standing by the board who will direct you to a taxi. We were directed to a car, probably an older Oldsmobile Cutlass or Buick. The car had gashes down both sides, the windshield was cracked, the inside was beat up, and the AC didn’t work. As we sat in the back of the car we expected to be taken to some far off place where no one would hear us scream! As we drove we passed cars at high speeds, nearly got into about 6 head on collisions. *The driving in the DR is CRAZY, the roads are nothing like we were use to, but that’s how they are. I strongly don’t recommend renting a car* Then all of a sudden, the driver locked up the breaks and all you heard were the screech of the tires. There was a dog in the road, which we came I’d say about a foot from hitting. The driver cursed and screamed at the dog, then went right back to driving, Telling us “Damn animals”. Well we made it finally to the Reef, safely but stirred! We tipped him $5.
Check-In: Wonderful! Quick efficient! Friendly! I don’t understand how people thought these people were rude at all. Yes, you may have to wait as some may not understand English as well as others. And others may not know how to do the tasks you need, but they will get someone who can! Patience is a virtue remembers! But they were able to help us out every time we approached them, without hesitation. Check in took about 10 minutes. This is when you pay the all inclusive fees, 40 p/p/d. After then there is a man who will show you to your room and carry your luggage! He was very nice! We gave him a $3 tip.
Our Room: We had a room which overlooked the reef pool. Yes the furniture was outdated but it had a theme just like any other hotel. The beds to me were uncomfortable, my boyfriend didn’t think so. When we arrived we had no problems with bugs. My boyfriend checked for bed bugs upon arriving to the room. But we found as soon as we put out our shampoos and soaps and what not, little gnats or fruit flies began to appear in the bathroom, but other then that nothing. The grouting was a little uneven in the bathroom, and there were a few cosmetic things that could have been improved, but come on, it won’t really affect you! Let me explain this little tidbit of information! When we got there we tested the water to make sure it worked, but we couldn’t get the shower head to work, we tried everything and couldn’t figure it out. So we went back down to reception and said our shower was broken. We checked back an hour later to see if they had fixed it and they said it wasn’t broken. So we asked, why can’t we turn it on then. Well, the way to turn the shower on is: To pull down on the bath part! We felt so stupid! Oh! If you like to sleep in late, I wouldn’t recommend a room by the pool, they do 8am water aerobics and it’s pretty loud. Also, you can hear everything! The doors and walls seem to be paper thin. If there are people in the halls, you can hear them. If the room next to you is running the water, you can hear it. The maid cleaned daily, we found that putting the bathmat next to the bed helped a lot from not having sand in the bed! The beds are full size. We’re use to a queen so we were always on top of each other and hogging blankets. So we took the blankets from the extra bed. (there are two full size beds in all rooms). If you keep your slider door closed, the gnats won’t find your room as quickly! There was a pretty decent channel lineup in English! Our AC had no problems, no odd smells, cooled the room off quickly. The room is a room; you shouldn’t be spending a lot of time in there anyway!
Weather: While we were there the weather report said showers daily. But it only rained during one day, there were about three showers but they only lasted about 5 minutes each! It’s pretty hot, I expected it to be a lot worse then it actually was. So I guess the trick is to tell your self that it is going to be ridiculously hot, and then when you get there you’ve built up your mind to think that you will melt like an ice cream cone, and it doesn’t seem as bad. We used SPF 15 the first two days and SPF 30 the rest of our stay and we didn’t burn at all. But we also tried to tan a lot before we went!
Grounds: The grounds are beautiful, and you always see the staff doing more to improve it. You will see lots of little lizards running around, my boyfriend tried to catch them all week but never succeeded. Lot of great places for photo opts. Chairs everywhere, if you can find an open one! Hammocks for leisure time. Really beautiful property! Some people were rude and tried to ruin this by throwing cups in places where the staff couldn’t really reach them. Or leaving their disposable cups places where the wind could blow them around. There are trash cans everywhere! Also there are portable cigarette trays, use them!
Pools/Beaches/Jacuzzi’s: The pools seemed to be more crowded than the beaches. A lot of people will hold their places with towels, but not use them for like three hours. It’s quite rude and annoying. If you’re going to hold a place at least use it in a timely fashion. I felt bad holding a place, and being gone for 10 minutes! *Note to parents- there are a lot of women who tan topless around the pool/beaches, it’s a European culture norm. But be advised. I saw many conversations where little girls/boys would ask “Mommy why is that lady’s boobies out”, I found it a little strange, but hey it’s their way of life!* The pool temperature is a little warm, but still feels good when its that hot! The beaches are very clean, minus the part where people just leave their messes for the staff to clean up. The staff should be responsible for picking up the cups from the bars, not your cigarette butts and trash. The beaches were open to us the whole week, the flag never changed from green! The reef side beach is quite as opposed to the beach side which is the center for the activities, and the beach side pool is quiet as where the reef side pool is the center for the pool activities.
The Bars: There are three bars where you can get drinks from 10am-11pm. Your drinks will depend on the bartender, order how you like it! If you don’t like a lot of alcohol in your drinks make them aware! My favorites were the Banana Mama’s and the Casa Marinas. We had one incident where my boyfriend was by himself and got served a drink, I found him passed out on a chair not to far from the bar. He was delirious and pretty much having an experience similar to “E” or a “Roofie”, but this could have been a number of different things such as the sun, or a reaction to some food or who knows. It may have had nothing to do with the drink he was served. But better to make you all aware. Don’t let it put you off, it could have been nothing, and I haven’t heard of anything else happening like that! There are cash bars also around the property which are open different hours.
The Buffets: Be aware the restaurants and buffets are all open air! Yes, there are flies. There are flies all over the country! You probably won’t escape them until you go in your nice enclosed room, IF you haven’t left the slider open! The food was ok; I am very picky and always managed to find something to eat. There’s always chicken, rice, bread, veggies, salad, fish, and desserts. Then there are specialty items like pasta, beef, soups, and whatever is on the grill that night. I didn’t go hungry! We didn’t have many problems with digestion but we had all the pills just in case! Breakfast was a little different; we weren’t very impressed with the breakfast selection. The eggs in the buffet are soggy and undercooked, so I suggest you go over to the grill where you can get omelets and just ask for huevos or eggs! They have things like French toast, pancakes, sausages, and oatmeal. There is a cereal bar, which I found that the milk wasn’t cold, so I didn’t go back. During all meals they have fruit available, pineapple was delicious! They also had mangos. Papaya and some others. Bottom line, there should be something to satisfy everyone!
A la Carte: There are three a la carte restaurants that you can eat at. You will get coupons when you get there which you can go any morning from 9-11 (I think) and make a reservation. Not a big deal takes like 3 minutes! Personally I think the best time to go is 7 o’clock. We went to two of them at 7 and had much better service. There aren’t as many people there around that time so it’s very personal, you get everything in a timely fashion, and everything is brought to you while it’s still hot! My favorite was the seafood, (and I don’t even life seafood), I got the half a chicken, which was fabulous. The second one we went to was the Italian, we didn’t go there until 8:30 by that time it was mobbed, and it took forever just to track down the people. We were seated right by the kitchen and were graced by the presence of a cockroach while waiting for our meal! The food I had was obviously reheated, and was not very good. But it could have just been since it was so busy or just an off night. The third was the Mexican. Again 7 o’clock did the trick. Very personal and quite! The food was pretty good, I’m not usually one for Mexican, but it was pretty good. My boyfriend said he’s at a toss up between that and the seafood! Keep in mind, if you’re still hungry, order something else! It’s all inclusive! Other: The staff works very hard, if you get the chance to chat with one offer them a drink! Yes, they do allow Dominican families to visit on the weekends. It adds to the volume a little, but hey they allow you on their island, you can allow them in your resort! If you want them to quite down, ask them! They are very nice! We didn’t use any of the water sport equipment so I can’t really comment on that. But they do have a lot of activities do to: aerobics, volleyball, bingo, snorkeling, pool games, shows, tons of things! I did get a massage while I was there an hour is $23 for a normal massage. It was a bit awkward for me but that was the first time I’ve ever had one. Give it a try it’s not too expensive. There is internet there; we paid $2 for 15 minutes. The power outages aren’t a big deal it doesn’t happen for very long! Thermal mugs are nice, we didn’t bring them but it makes a nice addition. They give you 8oz cups with ice, if they gave you any bigger you’d complain your drink got to warm to fast. Don’t worry about the ice or water you are served its purified, but don’t drink the water from the sinks. They have water bubblers with purified water to brush your teeth. The store was a little pricey but not too bad. Overall if you realize that this isn’t a 5 star you’ll have a great time. It’s a vacation enjoy it, don’t let things bother you.
Check Out: Takes about 5 minutes, if that really isn’t a big deal. They check to make sure you gave everything back that you should have, and then they make sure you don’t owe them any more money! Then you take your taxi (which are waiting in a line near the hotel) to the airport!
The town: Takes some getting use to, I was able to walk through and say no gracias but my boyfriend the softy kept talking to the store owners. A lot of people complain that they are pushy, yes they can be, but you can be pushy at work too cant you! They are just doing their job and trying to get money. How else would you go to their shop? You probably wouldn’t. *Don’t say maybe later. They WILL remember you and say that you said later!* we walked around everyday and nothing bad happened to us. In fact there are a lot of great people out there! If you’re looking to buy rum, check the super Mercado it’s very cheap there! Like $6 for 700ml. Make sure you bring pesos there, that’s all they accept. (there’s a bank @ the reception). If your at a shop, you can get really good deals but you have to be willing to bargin. We got some nice oil paintings for $20 when they told us $90 at first! There are prostitutes, one girl actually tried to cope a feel of my boyfriend while I wasn’t paying attention. Of course he told me after he couldn’t see her anymore! Don’t go out past 11, even the locals will tell you that they won’t leave their houses past this time because it’s dangerous!
Excursions: We did the Paradise Island VIP tour, which was nice, but the bus picked us up at casa marina @ 7 and we didn’t get to the island until 11:30, because of all the stops and the total for the bus ride and boat ride. Other then the hold up it was great! It’s supposedly the best snorkeling in the Dominican. They have snacks for you. You snorkel for an hour and a half then you take the boat back through the mangroves. You then go to a place and eat lunch (chicken, bread, salad, pasta, fish, potatoes, and some other things) then you get back on the bus for what seems like forever and you stop at a tourist trap to try the national drink mamajuana (I’m not sure on the spelling) it’s a natural Viagra! It took forever to get back to the hotel. We also went on the Jeep Safari. On the one we went to, they take you to a village where the make statues out of soapstone/wood/ lavastone. You will get a chance to buy them; again your bargaining skills will come in handy! You will also see a cock fight, with little boxing gloves! From there you will go to another village where you will get to try Dominican coffee, you can hold a boa constrictor, check out another shop, and try mamajuana again! Then you take the bus to Jarabacoa, which is where you will climb waterfalls. Which is awesome, you climb five waterfalls with the help of guides. They videotape all of your excursions so if you want you can bring it home with you. You have to wear sneakers to climb the waterfalls though, which stinks because they get pretty dirty in the end. And you can only bring waterproof cameras with you because regular ones would get ruined. But it was SO much fun! I would recommend it to anyone! We booked with Linda from Mel’s tours. She was a sweetheart! She walked to Casa Marina to meet with us, and then took us on a tour back to her office which you will walk through the town and get a good feel of the area. We gave her a tip and she was VERY appreciative! She is an excellent person to do business with, less expensive then the resort for the prices. She has a website, which is: http://www.meltour.sosuadomrep.com/english/index.htm .
Overall we had an awesome experience and would defiantly go back! If you have any other questions about anything feel free to contact me! And sorry if reading this took up way to much of your time, I just wanted to help you all out!!!
00215980@student.necc.mass.edu |
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| Casa Marina Reef |
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Hey, i have been to Casa marina 10 times since 2002, and go again on the 24th July 07 for 2 weeks. The reason i have been so many times and keep going back is because it is a fab place to stay! It is worth the money you pay.
The staff are so friendly and always smiling. The day entertainment is great, they work so hard but its enjoyable and fun. There is never a dull moment! The evening entertainment is a must see, the dancers are so great and the shows are made up from the professional dancers dancing their hearts out to the day entertainment doing the commical parts of the shows, which i myself laugh at every time i go and don't stop laughing!
The food can be abit the same every night, but you always get a good choice, meat, veg, pasta, salad, and the chef always cooks a speciallity in the resturant!
The rooms are basic but at the end of the day it isn't like your living in them for the whole time your there. Your only in there to shower get ready and sleep. I've never known any of the rooms ive stayed in to be dirty they have always been extremely clean and always smell fresh! They are a bit dark and could do with a few more ceiling lights but thats nothing!
The all inclusive bars do close at 11pm and do not open again until 10am, but that's not a problem as the cash bars are cheap alot cheaper than a alcoholic bevie in England!
The locals do go to the hotel at the weekends but why shouldn't they??? it is there country it is only like people in Britain going to a Caravan park or hotel on the coast of Britain for a holiday. They have every right to stay there they pay there money like everyone else there! The locals can be really loud but their just enjoying themselves, i can be loud when a few drinks have gone down! (anyone there on 22nd Feb 07, SORRY for all the 'very nice' during the show, it was my 21st birthday)
I would recommend this hotel to anyone if they want to have FUN!
I've always got a smile on my face when i'm there!
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| Casa Marina Beach |
Gary & Tracey
UK
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| May 2007 |
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I met my now fiancée last year at the casa marina reef and we decided to go back as a couple.
Now don’t get me wrong, last year was a great holiday as it was the first time at the resort plus with us meeting you could say we were blind to the fact, as the old saying goes " familiarity breeds contempt"
The reception staff are a joy to behold, check in was as efficient as last year (we even had some fruit and a bottle of rum sent to the room, nice touch). we stayed in room 2520 but if you want a quiet room and don’t want the amphitheatre near you then stay in another block, the noise of an evening there is interesting.
Last year we didn’t go to any shows, not my thing but this year we went to a few and they were ok.
The jukebox show was really funny especially when the props go wrong, they take it all as a laugh.
Last year I didn’t enjoy the food, I have always been a fussy eater so what's rough for me others will find palatable. For a 3 star hotel I supposes its ok but to me going back it hadn't changed and even my fiancée found it boring. I actually work in a food factory and I think over the years it makes you sceptical of how other food is prepared and presented, lets just say we should of bought some shares in andrex.
Many people enjoyed the food so don’t let me put you off, stomachs work in many ways.
All inclusive? the bars close at 23.00 for us that’s ok but if you enjoy drinking into the wee hours you will have to pay for it at the cash bar, to us that is scandalous for an all inclusive holiday.
The beaches are great, the pools fab, grounds are well kept and the general ambience is really merited.
We went with Thomson's and booked a VIP Columbus trip which included a Yacht crossing and speedboats to a remote island. Last year me and my mate went deep sea fishing and it resulted in me for the first time being seasick and spending that trip in the boats loo. So I was none too happy in seeing our "yacht", yep, you guessed it, the fishing boat, VIP? what a laugh. 10 mins into the trip some people started to throw up, I shouldn’t laugh but this one German lady started with a tissue then onto a carrier bag then a black bin bag, she looked like the world record holder for glue sniffing. 30 mins gone, my stomach started to go, I could smell the VIP breakfast. Cheese and egg on sticks, Gordon Ramsay is safe. I knew that I had survived the seasickness that had affected ten people, why? I hear you ask, I'll tell you, our VIP yacht broke down and we had to be rescued by 3 speedboats, James bond or what?. Only it didn’t please the sickies but after that the trip was fantastic and feeding the fish with bananas was unforgettable. VIP? definitely not.
Overall it wasn’t a "bad" holiday but what a friend said in an earlier review of the beach side you do get what you pay for and if you want more from a holiday then you don’t need me to emphasise a 4 or 5 star stay.
The Casa Marina Reef and beach to look at are wonderfully situated hotels for breathtaking views and I would recommend it for anyone wanting 3 star quality and and by the way they let the locals in Saturday and Sunday and it’s a pain in the rear. |
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| Casa Marina Beach |
Michael
New Brunswick
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| May 2007 |
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My wife and I just got back from Casa Marina Reef – Sosua and we wish that we were back!!! It is completely underrated…deserves 4.5
Check-in:
It was quick and efficient. Yulissa at the front desk was a great help throughout our stay. Porters are available to take your bags, ours was helpful and, so quick he left before we could tip him!
Staffs never seem to be looking for tips, although we still did, and they were appreciative.
Room 2557:
The room was great! It had two balconies, one overlooking a tropical path and the other overlooking the ocean. The bathroom was big, clean and plenty of hot water for our entire stay.
Pools:
There three pools, two at the beach side and one on the reef side. They were all very clean and well maintained.
Food:
Two buffet restaurants and three à la carte. We tried all 5 places and loved them all!! Try the Cantalloni at the Italian A la Carte!!!! It was Fabulous, and the Chicken at the Seafood A la Carte, also Fab!!
Grounds:
The resort grounds are very lush tropical and extremely well kept.
Bars, 9 I believe:
The two beach bars are where we spent most of our time especially at the reef side, say Hi to Manuel at the reef beach bar.
Beaches:
There are two beaches, very clean. The Beach side of the resort is more of a party beach and the Reef Beach is quieter, something for everyone. There were days that there were great waves and days that were calmer. We preferred to have fun in the waves.
Jacuzzi’s:
There are three cool water Jacuzzi’s that were wonderful….we spent all our time relaxing by these. Excellent when the sun is beating down on you!
Shows:
The nightly shows were excellent, among the best we have seen in the DR.
In closing we would recommend this resort to any and all that want to travel to the DR, we are planning to go again next year with our pre-teens this time. We found there to be enough activities like pool tables, ping pong, volleyball and three great pools, the huge amphitheatre that played movies on a large screen during the evening before the shows…ect. Oh I also work for a hotel and resort company in Canada. |
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| Casa Marina Beach |
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| i have been to dominican republic 6 times now and every time we have stayed in CASA MARINA. the hotel is great, the staff are even better and the weather may not always be hot and sunny but dont worry be happy and think about walking back to the room after the 22 cuba libres you drink. the country is beautiful, i would recommend the catamaran excursion to anyone to have a great day out. i have been back from there 7 weeks now and missin git terribly. this is the hotel i met my fiance at and im glad it is soooo great that i went back for my birthday and met him. the kikos entertainment team are great fun and know how to have a laugh. WELL HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!!!!!!!! |
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Dominican Republic Hotels with CARIBBEAN TRAVEL NETWORK
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