Just returned from blue bay, me and my partner spent 3 weeks from 25th july - 15 August. What can I say, absolutely brilliant resort, spotlessly clean, superb food the buffet was that good that we only went to the Chinese al a carte didn't try the fish or steak restaurant.
Staff were great, tried there best at everything.
brilliant having no kids around it could be a lively place or a really relaxing place, we had the best of both started off involved in everything then by week 3 wanted to relax.

I have to support the two reviews written who had their vacation ruined and their liking for Puerta Plata diminished by having staff at the resort steal from them............ My wife and I had the same negative , intrusive thing happen to us. We used the safety deposit box and still had our money stolen. Staff at the beach bar would ask for tips and who wanted a hot tub in the " elderly , sleepy section"

Drinks were scanty and selection poor.

Reception staff ignored our theft reports and tried covering it up. The manager who wandered about shrugged it off as well.

This is our 6th time in The Dominican but never again at this resort. Punta Cana is our destination from here onward.

Who wants a vacation where the staff are thieves, bugs are waking you at night and staff begging for tips??? Not us.....

After reading the last two reviews on Debbie's Dominican with regard to Blue Bay Getaway, I had to take the time to write one myself...

I have a hard time believing the last two negative reviews I read could possibly be written about the same resort my wife and I visited (from April 14-21st)...maybe much has changed in a week or so...

Anyway, let me start with the negative and work toward the positive...

The Negative:
Some water dripped into our bathroom from the shower above... The phone in our room wouldn't let us dial 1-800 numbers That's pretty much it...

Now the Positive:
Cleanest resort we've been to in the Domnican or elsewhere in the Caribbean.

Staff were excellent...professional, adept at their jobs, and NEVER once did we have any staff ask us for a tip....nor did we see any staff member ask any other gues for a tip...NOR did we hear of any other guests being asked for tips..and we're pretty social and might have heard that if it happened....

Food was EXCELLENT....I have worked in many restaurants in my life, and the quality of the food and the preparation really stands out at Blue Bay...the manager constantly roams the buffet and restaurants...watched him checking food temperatures over and over, inspecting floors, surfaces, etc....I was very impressed by this.

The rooms....not 5-star but fine...we had a standard room....I heard the superior rooms were a little nicer, with a jetted jacuzzi tub and they are one-floor villas....we were on the 1st floor of a 3-floor unit and like I said, had some water drip into our bathroom from the bathroom above...that being said, the bathroom was lovely, recently remodeled with marble tile and a glass wall shower....maybe the shower pan is too small for the way the shower is built, and that allows some water to spill out, or perhaps the water travels under the glass wall, but it's nothing a little caulk or design change can't fix....the A/C was great, although you have to leave your key card in a slot just inside the door to keep it on (energy savings) so we asked for second key card and kept it cranking....sorry, but I like it cool! The room was nice and large...two double beds pushed together for a massive bed (would rather have had a king, but didn't request one, so I blame myself for that)...closet space was good, but only about ten hangers...we read up early and brought a dozen more from home....no dressers, but that's usual for DR...just some shelving above the safe....not a problem, though. TV was fine...didn't watch much, but they had local programming, plus BBC, ABC, CBS, ESPN, CNN and Playboy and one hard core porn station, for those of you into that stuff. Reception was good if you wanted to catch some telly.

We heard of one guest having money taken from their room....they regretted not spending $15 on a safe....DUH! You're staying in a poor country, and leaving cash out? Tsk Tsk Tsk! My wife left a pair of LL Bean water shoes outside our door overnight to dry and they were gone in the morning....being that she has a size 9 foot, I'm guessing they weren't taken by a local (most Dominican women have very small feet...) but it's our fault for leaving them out there....

In the future I would stay on the top floor....no chance of water from above and you have a balcony....YES, YOU HAVE A BALCONY....I read two reviews saying there are no balconies...virtually ALL rooms at the Blue Bay have an outside terrace (as our first floor room did) or a balcony...every room I saw had one!

Bugs? Yes, there were some tiny caterpillars that had hatched and I found one on the tile in our room, but we get them at home, and they'll crawl through a small space (as in under the door)...If I was that concerned, I could have put a towel at the base of the door....

No cockroaches...not in my room, nor any of the couples we met this week....I asked about any bug problems....

No mosquitoes...didn't get bit but a few times when I stopped to chat on the footbridge over the lagoon/swampy area....I would expect to find mosquitoes around the standing water, so I wasn't surprised...but didn't get bit the rest of the week, not at the beach, the pool, or in my room...my wife and I both thought this was the "least buggy" of resorts we have stayed in in the DR, Virgin Islands, Keys, etc....I'm a "mosquito magnet" and they didn't get me, so I don't think it's a problem there.

The bars....and the bartenders....great.....no, it's not top-shelf liquor, but if you're that into your booze, then take a five minute walk to Playa Dorada, where booze is relatively cheap, and get your peach schnapps or other libations...the Presidente beer is par for the course at DR all-inclusives, and I think it's quite good....always cold at all the bars and fresh-tasting. The rum is the standard Brugal....I'm not a big rum drinker but found the pina colada and the Banana Mama just fine...didn't try the wine or any other booze, but the other guests seem to drink it all up just fine with no complaints that I heard, save a couple about the whiskey....I think, it was late and I had a few Presidentes.....the bartenders are a joy to behold...they were (almost all) jovial, happy and seemed honestly to enjoy their work.....not one asked for a tip...although I did tip on a fairly regular basis (I believe in tipping as a "thank you" for good service, and one hand washes the other....you're thanking somebody for good service, and providing some incentive for continued good service...work in the food service industry for awhile and you'll feel the same way...)

The food at Blue Bay is fabulous....didn't try the Asian or Seafood ala cartes, but the buffet was the most incredible one we've seen at any all-inclusive, and the El Dorado (steak) ala carte restaurant was so good we went twice...the Chateau Briand is absolutely wonderful and the grilled vegetable medley and baked potato are far above average restaurant normalcy..they really are delicious....the staff at the restaurant, just like the staff at the buffet, were conscientous and polite, constantly refilling water, drinks, etc....never asked for a tip, either, although they got one when I left.

The pools are spotless. Can't say that enough....spotless.

THERE IS A HOT TUB by the quiet pool....maybe another reviewer didn't ask or didn't walk around the resort...can't figure that one out, but it sure is there....we didn't go in it, but heard from others that the jets were powerful and the water was nice and warm.

Speaking of hot water....our shower was hot every day, every night, never lost hot water nor did we lose electricity....you read a lot about rolling blackouts and cold shower....not at Blue Bay in our seven days did that happen....

Night life.....okay, maybe there's no disco or huge drunken party at night, but there were LOTS of people down at the beach bar at night....I don't know if it's "night life" enough, but if you want, you can walk five minutes to Roadway or Hemmingways or Crazy Moon and get as crazy as you wish....we found the quiet night life at the resort just fine for us...there is no disco at the Blue Bay, but the last DR resort we were at had a disco that was plain old lame, so I didn't miss it.

The quiet of Blue Bay resort is its big draw...no kids jumping in the pool or whining or crying....hey, I love kids, but I left mine home for a romantic anniversary trip away with my wife, and that's what you get at Blue Bay...maybe it's not wild and crazy enough for some, but if a beautifully clean resort with happy workers and great food works for you, then you'll appreciate Blue Bay....

I'd also like to mention that the staff were so friendly in taking care of our "problems" when we arrived.....the small puddle in our bathroom and our lack of pool towels...not only did they fix both problems immediately, but they called a few minutes later to again apologize and ask if we needed anything, and guest services came up to us the next morning and apologized in person for the inconvenience...this was so appreciated.

If you want 5-star luxury, spend a couple thousand US dollars per person and be pampered.....if you want a 4-star resort with 5-star staff and food, and get the best value in vacations (we paid $816 US per person including round trip airfare from New Jersey for a seven-night vacation) then try Blue Bay...

I would recommend this resort to my best friends and family without a moment's hesitation...for us it represents the best vacation resort we've been to in many years...we came away rested, relaxed and with the satisfaction that we vacationed at a beautiful resort for half the cost of so many more, and were thoroughly impressed.

After reading some of the negative reviews about this resort, we felt we had to write about our fantastic vacation. We never had a thing stolen from our room and we left some money on the side board. We also never saw bug’s in our room. They were always checking for everything, so here is our review of the resort.

GREAT RAVES !!!!!!!!!!!! After going to Villas Doradas, now Blue Bay Getaway Villas Doradas, for the past 13 years (3 to 4 weeks per year), we have vacationed with 4 different companies running the resort. Blue Bay Getaway has turned this resort into the GEM of Puerto Plata. In fact, it was even better than the 5 Star Resorts we stayed at. It was the BEST vacation we have ever spent.

The resort has been completely renovated. Every room has been gutted and re-furbished. Every room includes a refrigerator. There is now a new pool and a Jacuzzi (that really works with good jets). This is in the quiet area, with a bar. Already they are expanding the lounge chair area, adding tables and umbrellas etc. as this has become very popular. As for the resort being like the Blue Bay in Cancun, Mexico, forget it. There was no vulgarity, or exhibitionist except for one female who was not able to control her drinking. As far as topless, there was actually less topless women this year than in all the previous 13 years. The place is class…..approaching Sandals.

Management/ Managers were constantly roving the property and keeping a very tight rein on the staff, nothing was cut short.

First, the cleanliness was outstanding. I get up at 6, due to my hip problem, and there was many staff cleaning the grounds, pool area, and beach etc. The rooms were immaculate, and spotless. And they continued all day maintaining the resort. The pool is the cleanest of any resort I ever have been at (it look like gin). It always was the best and they kept the same pool attendant who is meticulous at his job.

The staff, was always terrific and always greeted you with a smile. Who ever trained them should be complimented. Wine, water, coffee, etc. was always poured from the right side. The table setting was a full setting (English Style) with 2 forks, 2 knives, dessert fork, and spoon, goblets for water and wine. As soon as you finished a course, the plates were removed. Courtesy prevailed.

The Rooms were totally redone. All the furniture replaced. Every room has a refrigerator, safe (extra cost). The only thing lacking was drawer space. A small dresser for personal items, camera, etc. would solve that problem

As far as the food, it was excellent. In all our years in the DR, at every resort we ever stayed at, the one complaint was the beef, it was Argentinean (I think they grazed on the Andes). It was always tough by American standards and always over cooked. The beef here was great and for the first time we ate the beef. At the Grill Restaurant, the Chateau Brieant, the Argentinean Style Steak (my favorite), and the Strip steak were all delicious and tender. They were cooked to order, medium rare was medium rare. The Pork Tenderloin was very tender, and done perfectly. At the Buffet, the food was also great. I tried everything as in the past, many item were only so-so. The vegetables were always cooked right, never overcook (mushy) at every meal. The Oriental Restaurant was redone and the food was also great. When my wife sat down, they brought out a pillow for her feet and removed her shoes. Sushi (not the raw fish part) was served with wasabi sauce. One piece of advise, the little green pea shaped balls are actually ground wasabi, so if you don’t like hot stuff watch out. Every meal is served with fried rice, not white rice. The Sea Food Restaurant is on the beach, enclosed and was being air conditioned as we left. The food was delicious. They have calamari, fresh fish and conch. Some guests were not used to those delicacies and were not impressed. They wanted fish and chips, fried shrimp, etc. My wife had the lobster dinner and when it came she could not believe her eyes. It was a 2 pounder and she ate it all by herself. Well worth the extra cost .

The one thing that really impressed us was the buffet, where even for breakfast, the water, juice, tea, coffee, beer and the wine was poured at the table. The wine was bottled wine and not box/bag wine. At all the resorts, including 5 star that we have been at, you always had to go up for your, wine or beer at the buffet, not here. Last year the wine (box) was poor, especially the white. The wine this year was quite nice, not vintage but very satisfactory.

One thing that did not appear on the web or in any of the brochure’s is that the resort is wired for wireless internet. In fact the resort had 4 laptop computer’s for guests to use so you can check your e-mail’s, reservation’s, flight etc.

As for the beach, there is plenty of shade for those that don’t want to get burnt. While we were there, they added 12 more thatched huts, plus they opened up the area next to the beach bar so that there is good shade from the palms and Banyan trees. Missing was a ledge on the hut pole or a small plastic table for you glasses of wine, beer, soda, etc. Putting them in the sand or on you flip/flop was a problem. Some tipped over, or got sand in them as people walked by or blown by the wind. I’m sure they will correct this in the near future. While we were there, there was a storm that settled over the island and the rain came down so hard, you could not see 15-20 ft. in front of you. It caused horrific flooding in the mountain decimating 3 villages and the debris would up on the beach.., it took 3-4 days to clear the beach and a lot of people got the wrong impression of the beach and the DR. They even said they were going to file complaints with their tour company. They should try Mother Nature.

All in all, the resort, in my opinion should be rated as follows:

Cleanliness and Housekeeping 5+ Stars
Hospitality and Service 5+ Stars
Food/ Restaurant 4 ½ Stars
Entertainment can’t judge as we didn’t see many of the shows. Seen way too many over the last 13 years.
Rooms 4 ½ star (a dresser would help)
Beach 4 Stars
Facilities 4 ½ Stars
Management 5+ Star
Staff / Help 5++ Star

Would definitley not go back......... This resort has little to no entertainment. The animation team tried but that's the extent of it. They need to invest in some serious lessons for them ........

The bar drinks selection is almost non-existent... no irish cream, peach schnapps, champayne, no wine selection but house wine, no port, no khalua, no tia maria, no shooters, oh my God.... just the local Brugal rum, whiskey and vodka.

The food was great but service was poor. Staff asked for tips...

Be careful of your money and possessions as folks had their room broken into and their money stolen. It was believed to be stolen by staff who repaired their telephone. This takes away your relaxation mode and puts a sour taste on your vacation.

Stay away from this resort as it is very limited in services, accomodations, staff and friendliness.

There is not a hot tub, rooms without balconies, poor drink selection, no water or coffee stands, tip seeking and suspicious staff, bugs in your rooms, no drawers for clothing, no nightly entertainment after 10:00 p.m. and most important to remember is that there are staff who you need to keep your possessions close to the chest to keep them from stealing them.

I would never go back and would not recommend it. Go other places on the beach for the same and get more for your money and relax as staff will not be seeking tips and your possessions and cash.

Horrible experience. Had a break-in to our room and all of our vacation money stolen. We suspect that it was by the staff as they were very uncoorporative in taking our theft seriously and would joke about it amongst themselves and avoided doing an investigation until we called our Sunquest Rep. and went to the police. They still rationalized it and tried to downplay it. It gave us a very unsafe feeling and ruined our trip. We have travelled to the D.R. 8 times and this is the first time that this has ever happened.

The animation team leaves a lot to be desired and night life is non existent after the show that ends at 10:00 p.m. The beach bar and grill is open 24 hrs but there was never anyone only our 2 selves.

The bartenders , maids and grounds staff are nice but as for the others they are somewhat rude and inexperienced.

The steakhouse was great but avoid the seafood. They advertise the lobster for $10 u.s. but upon check-out we discovered that it was $27 u.s.

Staff ask for tips which we were appauled at.

The beach is nice but with a week's rain we were hard-pressed to spend any time there.

The rooms do not have balconies, have bugs and we even had a cock-roach visit our sink area!!!!!!!

The buffet food was great and some of the best we have had in the D.R.

We would not return or recommend it........

We( 2 couples in our 40's) had a nice stay at Blue Bay Getaway, week of Mar 17th - Mar 24, we booked with Go Travel Direct and were very pleased with this company. Our flight was with Zoom, Airport check in was quick and so was room check in.

We did get alot of rain that week we were there, this is our 8th trip to DR, and this was the first time we had sooo much rain. We were grateful that we had nice sunny mornings to walk the beach, I must say the new beach in front of Paradise and up to the Orange Huts looks amazing what a change.

The resort itself is nice, new furniture and updated bathrooms, we found the rooms comfortable, but noisy, since we had so much rain our neighbors partied alot in their rooms and the echo carried through the build. But they were having alot of fun. The maid service did a great job, but were inconsistant, so we had our room cleaned 5 out of the 7 days, and twice at 5pm, what's that! Most places I've stayed, our room is usually cleaned around the same time each day, not here. Rooms are poorly lite and no drawers, I would have found this to be a pain if we had been there for 2 weeks. Bring a flash light. Good air conditioning and fan. The resort grounds are keep very clean and well layed out.

The staff, the lobby staff, very friendly and very helpful, so was the guest services, our rep from Go Travel, Lise was there often and very helpful. Bartender at the Beach Bar was very friendly and pleasant to talk with.

The food at the buffet was really good, probably the best I've had as far as freshness and quality, typical DR buffet but above tasty and presentation, but I found the service to be very poor, we really had a hard time to get coffee after a meal, which I found very disappointing since I love DR coffee, but by the 4th day, we discovered we could order cafe latte's at the beach grill. They should consider having one coffee station so that we could have helped ourselves, I would not have minded that. Most resorts have a coffee spot set up some were, beach grill or buffet.

We also tried all 3 a la carte restaurants, I really enjoyed the Grill and the Oriental, I wouldn't go back to the Seafood, again we asked for coffee at all 3 and got coffee at one. Oh well!

We had a great stay at the Blue Bay the resort is very clean and they are always cleaning Check in was easy got there at 1 PM and they had a room ready. The staff is very friendly and helpful, always a smile and a hello from all of them.

The food was great we have been to the DR 4 times and we only have 1 complaint about the food. Went to the buffet and all 3 restaurants, skip the seafood one it was the only one that the food was not up to par.

The liquor there is all local brands and they are low grade, that is my only complaint about the place they can use bettor liquor.

Nice beach and clean pools

The animation team was fun they put a lot of effort into everything they did

My Husband and I went to blue bay getaway villas Doradas, Feb 17 to the 24th, 2007... Leaving from Montreal.

The Resort is beautiful, the lobby is so fun and colorful... the pools were always clean along with the resort itself... the workers were constantly cleaning and sweeping the walk ways, also any left over glasses were always being picked up... The food was amazing, the buffet was actually better then the a la carte restaurants... There were so many options, food was always fresh and lots of variety. The service in the restaurants was amazing... I simply can't say enough about the food... Along with the bars, the better you tip, the better service you'll receive. All in all the service was amazing... I can't say the same for the front desk!! it was horrible... They were unfriendly and rude, if you asked a question, they would make you wait and talk and joke amongst themselves, it kinda' made you wounder if they were talking about you! The rooms were very clean!! maids would clean it every day, if you wanted them too. The beach wasn't the nicest! But if you walked down to the left of the resort, the water and sand was much nicer. The only thing I would change is have a disco on the resort. Since after the nightly entertainment ended (10:30-11:00) there was nothing to do. Except the beach bar which was open really late...The animation team was great, always had games going for everyone... although some of the games are a little X-rated, since it is an adult only resort.

My husband and I, with another couple, stayed at the Blue Bay Getaway Villas for the week of February 16-25. Overall, our experience was great (2 rainy days - but still had fun). Here are some observations that you might find helpful...

Pros:
- The food is fabulous. Basically, it was the best I've had at a resort. The buffet was amazing - better than the 2 a la cartes that my husband and I tried. The 2 a la cartes we tried were the seafood restaurant and the Chinese food restaurant (didn't have time for the grill restaurant). I am not a fan of seafood and basically went to the restaurant because my husband loves seafood and wanted the lobster. When we booked the restaurant, we were not told that the lobster had to be ordered in advance. He was pretty disappointed - and the meal he ended up with was not good (the seafood platter - mussels were like rubber and could not be dislodged from the shell and the calamari was cold and rubbery). My meal was the cod fillet and I enjoyed it (so did my husband as I ended up giving him the greater portion, since his meal was not good). The Chinese food restaurant was a bit of a let down after all of the raving on this site - we enjoyed the buffet more.

- The staff is wonderful. They are enthusiastic and very much want you to have a good time. Especially Angel at the quiet pool bar - we went there for a 'before dinner drink' each night and enjoyed his company :) The Animacion group is a lot of fun but some found that the 'sexy competitions' were a bit too much for them - it also got quite noisy at night with the cheering. I found the afternoon entertainment to be very repetitive and loud so I spent that time on the beach or at the quiet pool.

- The beach was awesome (yes, there are a lot of vendors, but they only ask you once if you say "No, Gracias"). I never had a problem finding a beach chair or space for the chair.

- The pools are great - even the 'quiet' pool. There are lots of chairs and some sun umbrellas too.

- I felt safe going off the resort (did not feel safe at all in Punta Cana)

- The resort is small and everything is within walking distance. This is a big plus for me as I have arthritis and sometimes walking distances is painful.

Cons:
- The rooms are not that great - ours had a leak in the bathroom ceiling that dripped for the first few nights directly into the toilet. There was no place to store our clothes - the closet was very small. We didn't spend a lot of time in our room so it wasn't a big deal in the end. If you can get a Villa, do so, as they are nicer than the regular rooms and have lots of closet space as well as more counter space in the bathroom.

- You have to rent your safe - we knew this when we left but I found it strange since this was included at the other resorts I have stayed at

- You must pay to have your mini-fridge restocked - not an issue at other resorts. I suggest going to the mall and purchasing pop/beer and stocking your fridge on your own.

Excursions:
Note: We did not book either excursion through our tour operator. I was a bit leery but in the end, we saved money and had absolutely no problems.

- Ocean World Adventure Park (booked with the operator beside the Banana Boat stall in the mall). Had a great time and paid to swim with the dolphins. Well worth it! Lunch is not included but we paid the $12 USD to go to the buffet and the food was good.

- Party Catamaran (Booked with a vendor on the beach - his name is Cookie and he wears a Red Sox baseball cap). Booze cruise extraordinaire! A lot of fun and a highlight of our trip. We went on a beautiful, sunny day and had a great time. They actually ran out of beer and rum (lots of Maritimers on board :)) and had to pirate some from other catamarans. Note: People we met at the resort went on a windy, cloudy day and there were some seasick passengers - the ocean can be quite rough.

- Horse and Buggy ride (not really an excursion, but I thought I'd add it too) - we took a horse and buggy tour of the nearby resorts. The driver was very informative. Although the buggy looked a bit worse for wear, we enjoyed our ride (even though it was pouring rain :)).

There is a 2 story mall very close to the resort that sells booze, food, and souvenirs. It also has a Pizza Hut and some bars. It was very handy to have this so close by (especially on the rainy days :)). Also, apparently if you walk down the beach there is a flea market (it was too far for me to walk).

My friend and I stayed at the resort from FEb. 2-6 of this year. We are glad we did and will probably visit again. The property is lovely and I was glad to see constant refurbishing. We especially were enchanted with the lobby area--it is airy and comfortable. The staff went out of their way to help us when there was a problem.

Our chief complaint was that there was no place to put our clothes--only a two shelves in closet. Of course, there were not enough hangers, but they were sent when we asked.

My girlfriend and I felt that there should have been pamphlets and brochures to explain more of what was happening and how to work things. I saw no listing of tv programs and stations.

I agree with another reviewer that the animation staff did all they could to make us have fun. They were cute and spoke fairly good English. We felt they started the activities too early in the day and the music was too loud! We realize they wanted to get people involved, but many of us just enjoyed lying around the pool, reading a book, and sipping on a tropical delight!

The beach was magnificent. I felt safe and comfortable.

We ate at each restaurant and the buffet and were impressed with the service and selection. My hope is that they will dispense with the place mats that are used in the buffet area. They are not changed with each guest and therefore, have the remains of someone else's meal on them. The tables are beautiful and do not need the mats. If they want mats, why not use paper that can be thrown away?

Stayed at the Blue Bay Getaway the first week of January.

Property
Overall the resort is gorgeous. The lobby and main dining room design is very well thought through but we felt it was stark – others have described it as airy and welcoming – beauty is in the eye of the beholder! The hotel spa and gym appeared basic (décor incomplete) but arrangements can be made at other resorts if need be. The spa at the Playa Naco (walking distance) is lovely. All 3 pools are great. Friendly place, secure on/off the beach.

Rooms
All rooms have the basic amenities of a 4 star hotel and are very comfortable (clean, spacious, new bed & pillows). Approx. 30% of the rooms are separated only by a door, creating a lack of privacy. Bathrooms are beautiful. The plumbing has occasional collapses (we heard the same from a few others) but the staff is very quick to come by with a plunger etc. Our particular closet was quite oddly shaped but there was enough room to put our things away – and yes, still no dresser.

Nearby amenities
There is a mall close by (3 minute walk) which has a bank and where day trips can be arranged. This is where we found the best snorkeling deal (US $25.00) - ground floor near main entrance, Austrian owner (Bernard). Also, if you like vanilla this is a great place to buy it, as this extract is not alcohol based. I brought back two 16oz bottles that cost me 100 pesos (CAN $4.00) and it has made a lot of people very happy!

The small towns near by (Puerto Plata and Sosua) are great and safe to visit. We took a local bus on the main highway for 10 pesos and had a great ride. Taxis can take you as well for 4,500 pesos.

Staff
As the hotel is still in transition (renovating to become a 4 star) the staff were very polite – a little on the formal side and not relaxed at first. Many quickly became more open and pleasant after a day or two.

Food
The large assortment of food available and its quality was amazing - vast choice, fantastic soups, excellent sauces, fresh items to grill, great bread and desserts etc.

Specialty Restaurants
Three restaurants are available and each has delicious offerings. The Jade Garden (Asian mix) next to the Lobby is worth a taste. It was easy to make reservations to the beach restaurants but we liked the buffet food better.

Animation/Entertainment
If your room is close to the entertainment area, you will be ‘entertained’ whether you like or not! For part of the day an animation team worked hard to involve guests with games and activities – The cheering-on was ultra loud and annoying. One night a local band was brought in and we had a great time dancing.

My husband and I along with our grown children just returned from a 1 week stay. Travel arrangements through GO TRAVEL DIRECT. For those who were sceptical as we were, don't worry, their service is just great! They are still some renovations ongoing at the resort but we were not bothered by it, noisewise that is! During our stay, January 13 to 20th, the resort was pretty quiet, perhaps 100 guest approximatively. The bar waiters would walk around taking drink orders.

RESORT: Very well kept grounds, clean.

FOOD:
Buffet: Limited selection, HOWEVER, very good. Breakfeast, 7 to 10 am; lunch, noon to 3 and dinner 7 to 10!
Beach snacks: Open 24 hours (burgers, fries, pizza, pasta, sandwishes) also very good
Restaurants (3): Very good, beautiful presentation

STAFF: Very friendly, eager to please

ANIMATION TEAM: This is an adult only resort, normal games but also spicy (shooters) or of sexual nature. The team members are extremely nice, we had a lot of fun!

SHOWS: Mostly games including guests. 2 shows we left as we found them untasteful but the others were OK

ROOMS: Rooms are not side to side, but rather back to back. We had 1st floor rooms. Main door to enter, no other exits (no patio doors, therefore no terrace) At the back of the room, there is a wooden door, locked by a 2 sided deadbolt lock which separates the 2 rooms. They are very echo. After a rain, our room was flooded, they were quick to clean and everytime it rains, someone was sweeping outside to ensure no rain would creep in the room. Showers only! The shower drain slow. I have to be honest and admit 1 morning, there was a cockroach on the shower floor in one of the 3 rooms we had, the next day, the water was turned off between 10:30 and noon for health reason and saw no other ones. IT MUST HAVE BEEN A FLUKE AS WE SAW NO OTHER ONES! No dressers but 2 shelves in closet as well as an overhead shelf, and a full rack so we found that there was enough room to put our things away. Fridge in room stocked with 2 pepsi, 2 sprite and 2 beers but not refilled! If you want a refill, it's 10$ US.

EXCURSIONS:

Outback Jungle Safari : Well worth it's price 75$ US

Tour de ville: OK, but in the afternoon, you are left at SOSUA BEACH where you can sit unless you pay for a beach chair, at 40$ US, shops driven to are family members of the guide!

Scuba Diving: Well worth the price 75$ US includes a 2nd lesson and 1/2 in 15 meters water. You can then buy a picture of yourself feeding fish for 10$ US

SAFE: 15$ US to rent for the week. (very nice size)

BEACH: Clean, beach chairs are plentiful, we were delivered chairs each day wherever we wanted to! Sellers on the beach are pests however, almost every 30 seconds someone tries to sell you something!

My husband and I just returned from two weeks the Blue Bay. Never before had we experienced rain for 12/15 days. Most days the rain turned on and off frequently so we did see the sun and could enjoy the beach and pool area and get out and about but an umbrella had to be kept handy.

We were among the first guests at Blue Bay. Only 2 buildings were occupied the first week we were there and during the second week a third building opened. The renovations are progressing quickly but if you are going in the next few weeks don’t expect to find all the facilities up and running. By the time we left only The Grill Restaurant and Snack Bar were available at the beach. The spa and gym were not available but arrangements could be made for these services at another resort.

Property
The resort is gorgeous. All buildings have been painted white. The lobby is airy and welcoming. New gardens are being established around the property.

Staff
All the staff members we encountered were pleasant, polite and could not do enough for us.

Rooms
Rooms are large and comfortable with either twin queen sized beds or kings. Some rooms have occasional chairs and table. All have a mini bar, television with access to many English channels including one featuring “adult” films, telephone, radio/alarm clock, coffee machine, safe, iron and ironing board and air conditioning. Bathrooms are beautifully tiled and have a sink, toilet and shower. Most rooms have either a patio or balcony. Bring a bottle opener as they are not supplied. Like at many newly renovated resorts the rooms lack a dresser and so what could not be hung up had to be left in our luggage.

Pools
There are 3 pools, one with a pool bar. The pool nearest the spa and gym is very tiny. The main pool is 3 feet deep and has a swim-up bar. The second largest pool is 4 feet deep.

Food
The quality and variety of food available was amazing considering the small number of people staying at the resort. Breakfast always included a vast choice of savoury and sweet breads and rolls, a variety of egg dishes, veggies and meats. A chef is available to make omelets and fry bacon to order. And, of course there are fresh juices and fruits. The dairy bar included smoothies, cereals and chopped fruit.

For lunch there are always 4 composed salads and an interesting salad bar. With the bread and buns you can find fresh salsa and an oil/garlic mixture. Among the hot dishes there was a choice of pasta, a different paella every day, pizza squares and various vegetables meats and fish. A chef is available to grill a choice of items to order. For those with a sweet tooth you can choose from a huge assortment of cakes and other goodies. Fresh fruit and ice cream with sundae makings will keep others happy.

At dinner the host or hostess greets you with a cocktail and canapés. You can select different composed salads or salad bar choices. Again a chef prepares pastas to order and there are a variety of meats and veggies. Roast meats are added at night as well as items which are grilled to order. The desserts included a different assortment of cakes, goodies, fruit and sundae fixings.

At lunch and dinner you could order wine, beer, cocktails soft drinks, tea, coffee etc.

Specialty Restaurants
Three restaurants are available and each has delicious offerings. The Jade Garden (Chinese) is next to the Lobby. At the beach are The Grill and El Pescador which share the same building as the Snack Bar.

Bars
Two bars are open at the pool and another at the beach. One bar was open round the clock. Presidente is available. There are the usual assortment of mixed drinks and wine.

Animation/Entertainment
During the day the animation team was challenged to involve guests with the games and activities because there were so few of us. However, they did their best. At night there are the usual shows some involving audience participation. A few nights a week a local band would be brought in and one could dance.

Beach
The beach is a one minute walk from the pool area. The warm ocean is easily accessible for young and old alike; the ocean floor is smooth and sandy. New shower and washroom facilities are beside the snack bar/restaurant.

I have just finished reading the 16 comments on Villas Doradas My wife and I have been visiting various resorts in the D.R since 2003,(Punta Cana and Puerto Plata) and visited Villas Doradas in Fall 2005 and again in spring 2006.

Rooms have always been very clean. The employees terrific, the property very attractive, the miles of accessible beach equal to Punta Cana and Varadero, the food, by Caribbean standards embarrassingly plentiful, with a tremendous variety, and rather good, on a par with other resorts that we have visited in both Cuba and the D.R.

I have to wonder if some of the reviews are a reflection of the place or the reviewer! Comments seem to be either very positive or caustically bitter. We have never experienced any problems that seriously dampened our holiday. Read on. Sure we had a minor flood from next door when a guest left a tub to overflow. Not a problem. Wnen we were given a front and centre unit adjacent to the pool and the music I merely asked at the deskto be moved. No problem. If I tried something in the food that I didn't recognize, I took only a sample before returning for a second helping. No problem. If I really didn't like it (rarely) I left it and got a fresh plate. The table server removed that plate before I returnend (If you can only eat your home area staple foods - maybe you should not travel.)

On the 2005 visit I came down with a serious case of food poisoning/Montezuma's revenge--whatever??? My wife was prefectly fine. Even in my misery at its worst I rated the stay as at least a 7 of 10 I have read recently that the number one cause of intestinal disorders at home (aka "food poisoning") is the result of poor sanitation practices - of the person falling ill. Point was made- Wash your hands after using the toilet, before every meal, whenever necessary. Remind your children --AND monitor their washing habits.

This was my best holiday ever. It felt like i was there for a lot more than 2 weeks as i did so much and made so many friends. The hotel is well worthy of its 3 stars.

Accomodation - rooms were immaculate and cleaned everyday. Quite a good size, large wardrobe space, good shower.

Entertainment - the entertainment was excellent. Every night there was a different show and every one was excellent. I always got up and took part. Karaoke and boys vs girls was the best. Even if i did get punched for accidently pulling someone over lol. The vibes tribe which consists of 3 main characters (scooby, elvis and mosquito) make sure there is plenty of activities in the day however after two weeks they did get a bit repetitive.

Bars - its all inclusive so u can drink as much as you like. I got drunk nearly everynight which gets tiring after a while :] There are 3 bars. The main bar by the pool is open from 10am to 12am. Theres a bar in the pool open from 10am to 6pm. The beach bar is open from 10am to 6pm and then reopen at 12am - 7am. A lot of fun to be had at the beach bar at night as i gets very busy. I reccommend that you take some cds for them to play though because they have no decent music at all. Also service at the beach bar is pretty bad so we just helped ourselves most of the time. The alcohol is of a good quality and good selection.

Restaurants - the main restaurant is ok and is buffet style. Food is a bit repetitive and some of the stuff is certainly different. However you will manage to find something you like. The best place for food is the beach bar which offers stuff like burgers, chips, the best pizza in the world and sandwiches. There are other restaurants that you can visit once per stay but apparently the chinese is crap and i never went to the seafood or grill.

Nightclubs - roadway is the best place to go as the music is the best your gonna get. Trance/rap/dance/pop. Mangu is an excellent club but the music is crap. Hemmingways is crap and is always dead.

Trips - do not book through the rep. They want like 70 us dollars for one trip. If you go to the plaza and go upstairs to a place to jurrasy you can get 3 trips for 108 us if u haggle. Me and my mates got quad biking, catamaran and jeep safari for 108us. I reccomend jeep safari, fun buggys, and jet skis.

SUN PROTECTION - I DON'T KNOW WHY BUT THE SUN IS VERY DIFFERENT IN THE CARIBBEAN. I NEVER USUALLY PEEL BUT I DID LOADS ON THIS HOLIDAY. ON THE SECOND DAY I FELL ASLEEP IN THE SUN AND MY FACE BURNT REALLY BAD AND BLISTERED. IT TOOK ONE WEEK OF SCABBING ETC. TO CLEAR UP. USE A HIGH FACTOR!

Bites - don't lye on the beach at night time. I did and got bit about 20 times. If you use repellent mosquitos are not a problem.

I recently returned from the Dominican Republic having spent a week at Hotel Villas Doradas, Playa Dorada. I have just read a review written by another customer's who apparently stayed at the hotel the same time as I did. That review has prompted mine!

I am extensively travelled and have stayed in hotels ranging from very basic beach huts in Thailand with wildlife crawing up the walls through to 5 star hotels in Mauritius and the Maldives. I am a stickler for cleanliness!

I went to the Dominican Republic on an 'allocated on arrival' basis, so my expectations were proabably realistic. However I would expect cleanliness no matter what star accommodation I stayed in.

My friend and I were allocated Hotel Villas Doradas, staying in an upper level room in 2 block.

Cleanliness: I cannot fault the cleanliness of the hotel. The room was spotless. The sheets were immaculate and the room/bathroom was cleaned daily to a standard I would expect. The furniture was 'tired' but I was told that the whole complex is being closed in May for a complete refurbishment, which is needed. The public areas are continually being cleaned, paths swept, tables wiped etc. The pools are closed each morning for cleaning and this is done well. A previous review mentioned cockroaches - well, I certainly did not see any!!!

Food: Basic but plenty of it and a good variety. For example, breakfast consisted of about 8 different types of bread/pastries, a selection cheese and meats, a cooked buffet with about 6 different hot items, omlettes cooked to order with whatever you wanted on them, pancakes, about 6 different cereals, fresh fruit, a smoothie bar, yogurts... and probably a few things I've forgotten to mention!!!! There was a similar selection at lunch and dinner. There are also 3 a la carte restuarants that are free to guests (once each per holiday) - Beach Grill, Chinese and Fish. I had no problem with the food at all - other than I ate far too much!!!!

Staff: Again I have to disagree with the previous reviewer. I found them really friendly and helpful. The Vibe Tribe (animation team) did their absolute best to put things on for the guests, especially on the day is rained.

Noise: The only complaint we had about noise cannot be attributed to the hotel but was down to some inconsiderate 'lads' who were staying in the room next door. You could not hear the ceiling fan at all (yes, it was working!) and it kept the room at a perfect temperature throughout our stay.

just returned from dorado villas on 15th feb 2006, these are by far the worst i have ever stayed in . The accommodation is only 3* but you still expect basic cleanliness. The rooms are anything but clean and yes you can report it and you might get something done about it

but there is a bigger chance that you wont get anything done. The staff are the worst i have come across not interested in you at all. Our room was full of cockroaches and when we reported this we were told that they would have the room fumigated, this was at 10am, although the manageress told us if it had not by done by 3pm to let her know and she would find out why not (not really the reassurance we were looking for) The air conditioning unit which is outside your room along with another 2 for the rooms above you as so noisy and all click on at different times so the chances of getting a peaceful nights sleep is very slim. I took photographs when i was there of electrical wires hanging out of light fittings, also of the bath which was really only fit for the rubbish dump.

The food at this hotel is very basic, i did not eat there as the rest of the place was so dirty i couldn't imagine the kitchen cleanliness to be any better. I could write for ever about this place but the only way to sum it up is don't waste your hard earned cash and go here unless you dot pride yourself in cleanliness, you will be disappointed, i was glad to come home.

We went to the above resort September 2005 for a fortnight and found it to be basic but very clean as we had maid service every day. The people are very friendly and the entertainment staff tried their best although the latter part of the fortnight we found it a bit tiring. Mosquito was hilarious! The shows reminded me of the Graham Norton show (the way they fumbled and laughed their way through the sketches). They were quite good though.

The food was again a lot of the same stuff every day but was plentiful. The food there is cooked with coconut oil which can have a bit of a laxative effect too. Tasty though.

Do try and reserve a sunbed early (between 6.30am and 7am) otherwise you have not much chance of a bed - they are taken very early even though the sign at the pool states not to reserve beds. We complained to the rep and she told us that it has been reported. This I think was a fob-off as I have since noticed that this has been stated by other people who have been as far back as last year.

The grill on the beach and the jade garden chinese restaurants are fabulous, book them if you can. The fish restaurant was nice but I'm not a saefood fan so I only had 2 choices of chicken or pork.

My husband wasn't well for the next 24 hours after that so I think the fish was a bit dodgy, or it could have been the coconut oil again!

Try and avoid going to the bars outside the complex as they are really expensive for the imported beers! We went to Hemingways in the Plaza 2 minutes away and ordered 2 bottles of Corona to get away from the local beer - the 2 bottles cost us 400 pesos (around £8)!!!

I went to Villas Doradas Beach Resort 29th Nov 2004 - 14 Dec 2004.

I thought I'd write my review after reading comments from one reviewer saying "don't pay credence to the bad reviews about this resort they are unjustified" and her review went on to question "What do people expect when staying in a 3rd world country??" I took my family to this hotel - my sons are aged 15 and 18. It was the worst holiday I have ever given my sons I can say honestly!!!

Firstly our room was really dirty, broken toilet, dirty tiles on floor and walls, bath was really tarnished, water didn't run properly in shower. The bed itself was filthy, fleas in mattress, damp, smelly full of stains such as blood, urine and other bodily fluids and there was no mattress protector to protect you from the wetness and smell of this awful bed. The ceiling leaked when it rained - the water ran down the walls and the plaster on the walls was rotten mouldy!!! But hey!!! they'd done a slap dash paint job over it a few times!! the layers of paint clearly showed the mouldy rotten plaster!!! "Lovely cosmetic job??"
And all this before I mention the dank smell that came in through the air conditioning unit from the stagnant swamp at the rear of the room!!!
The furniture was in much need of replacement - but some form of repair might prolong the life of the drawers that wouldn't open and close without a fight!!! Oh!!! the wardrobe doors merely held onto their brackets by sheer hope!!! Add to this the stage right outside the room door and the noise of this all night everynight!! It sounds lovely??

Now the food - I have never been so ill and neither have my family!!! Stomach upsets from foods and chest infections from the sheer dampness of the rooms was awful for us!!
Now we like to try different foods, see different sights as any family will - but the quality of the food served in this hotel needs much improvement. Although the standards from one nation to the next will differ according to each countries laws etc.. simple things need to be done to improve the way in which foods are offered in these hotels. Simply labelling ingredients of dishes will help holiday makers establish whether they can eat a dish or not - my point here is I realised after trying lots of funny oily looking dishes that tasted funny to me - it was "coconut oils" used in the cooking!!! Not labelling ingredients to dishes will not help anyone with say a "nut allergy" - in fact could be really bearing consequences for them healthwise?? Simple changes in presentation that indicate such ingredients will help the holiday maker no end!!! Surely that can be good?? Little things will make a huge difference?.

Now going back to the point "what do we expect in a 3rd world country??"

Personally - I paid a lot of money for this "family holiday" it was to celebrate my sons 18th birthday and my partners birthday!!! I thought I had bought a nice present that would be memorable!! But now I find my sons remember it for all the wrong reasons.

I expected a clean room, a dry clean bed, food that wasn't going to make my family ill, I expected a safe room to sleep in at night!! Simple things!!! I wasn't asking much at all - just a basic clean environment to stay within!! These needs were not met at all!!!!

We stayed at a "Hotetur Hotel" - This is a huge hotel chain that is worth billions of $!!!! So I expected that this company who profit from tourism to reflect their respects for the tourists that stay within their establishments by proving these simple needs as a minimum!!! A basic mattress protector will cost a few $ and will prolong the life of any mattress no end!!! and protect the guests who pay to sleep upon these beds!!! I took photographs of this bed to show my travel agent!!! as I couldn't believe the shocking state of these beds and there being no protection for guests from such filth!!! A simple thing could of made all the difference!!!

I could write forever about the "wrongs" at this hotel - but will point out that at the most basic level this hotel offers no comforts!!! Out dated furnishings can be forgiven - but filth is not nice for anyone to have to live with!! It is the basic stuff that causes the problems!! Guests cannot be expected to live in such