Puerto Plata, Casa Marina Reef Hotel Review

Overall Rating

Sorry to say, there were none, unless you were a Domincan visiting for the weekend! We are normally very good at giving tips, but nobody in that complex deserved a thank you never mind a tip. The only person we did tip was our very lovely "maid", we left her a handsome tip and bascially every body wash/shampoo etc (as we had heard these were quite expensive out there) for her to take.

Sorry again to say, where do I begin.

As we knew, we were bombarded with Dominicans at the weekends, this was the only time they cleaned the pool, added extra bars/staff. Our second week they closed the "Jalapeno" Restaurant as a bunch of Jewish people wanted to hire the place so they called it "King Davids" and nobody else could use the place, I was thoroughly disgusted to say the least. The two restaurants which were available were basically full no matter what time you tried to eat. The day time entertainment was "water aerobics" twice a day if you could be bothered. Evening entertainment was an ampitheatre which consisted of rows of chairs, entertainment starting at 9:45 with children on the stage until after midnight, so us "paying adults" had to sit and watch.

The seven of us from Essex will never be visiting that complex again. We visited my brother at the time who was staying at the Rui complex (5 star), this is where I will be going next year (6 of us at least). When it says 5 Star, it means 5 Star.

Thoroughly Disappointed.

Members' Comments onDawn Sutton's Review

• Mr A G Smith on 23rd Aug 2003

  We agree we will never return to this hotel I waited to be served at the bar only to be ignored for 10 minutes whilst hoards of locals and very Americans were served before me.
  We managed to get 1 meal in the Italian resteraunt (and that was only because we got married out there) as The King David was for the sole use of the Jews as we found out from one of the other guests. The holiday cost our party £9,000.00 and we feel that it was a rip off to say the least!!!

• twaycee on 28th Aug 2003

  I totally agree with the previous comments about how awful this hotel is. One of the restaurants was closed the whole two weeks that we were there. We were also bombarded with locals at the weekend and couldn't move around the pool. The restaurants were constantly packed and the serving staff were ignorant. We also had a room opposite a large electricity generator which cut in around 8pm each night and rattled through to 6am. The electricity would cut out and fluctuate during this time, we asked to move but were told the hotel was full (big lie!). I have strong concerns about the introduction PADI diving courses they run at the pool side. As a qualified diver I noticed they were keen to make a quick buck and customers safety was put at serious risk. I would advise anyone staying at this hotel to take a short walk into town to Northern Coast Aquasports if they want to experience diving in a safe environment. The evening entertainment at the hotel wasn't even worth the short walk for we didn't even manage to stick around for one show. The a la carte restaurants were nice and you could guarantee a seat unlike the all inclusive restaurant. It's just a shame that you are limited to the amount of times you can use them. The girls serving in the shop were miserable and if they could avoid serving you and making you wait longer then they would. The rooms were tatty and our bathroom had most of it's ceiling missing, we only went in August 2002 and apparently it had just been revamped. I don't know why but the toilet wouldn't flush at night time and only flushed during the day.
  There are much nicer resorts in the Dominican Republic, the Bahia Principe is fantastic we stayed there earlier in the year. All resorts are open to the Dominicans at the weekends so you can't avoid that but at the Bahia it wasn't as busy.

• westlife on 31st Aug 2003

  I find it utterly unbelievable that people can completely rubbish everything about the place. All of the staff that we encountered were friendly, hard-working and pleasant. The evening entertainment was superb and I would recommend anyone to go there. Yes, there were problems with water and electricity at times, but that's par for the course when you visit a developing country. All in all, we had a brilliant time - at the end of the day ther holiday's as much fun as you are!

• notarangelo on 14th Jan 2004

  I just got back friday night jan 9 2004 and this is fantastic i dont know if they changed it now but everything was amazing.

• trudy15 on 23rd Jan 2004

  Hi we are going to Casa Marina Reef Hotel in Feb 2004
  looking at these reviews, i am worried should we cancel, is it that bad

• notarangelo on 25th Jan 2004

  This hotel is amazing i just got back on jan 9 2004 it is a wonderful place trust me........

• Dawn Sutton on 26th Jan 2004

  Dear Trudy,
  
  Dawn Sutton here. I really hope things will be different for you. Maybe we were just unfortunate at that busy time of year. We just had such a bad experience, but you should note other comments as other groups enjoyed themsevles. If you have kids, I'm sure you will be fine for entertainment etc, we were 2 couples and 3 single men, so not much for us. Enjoy.

• ojpaper on 26th Jan 2004

  Hi, we have just got back yesterday and i have to say how fantastic the hotel was. The staff, service and hotel were faultless.
  The food in the ala carte and the buffet restaurants were excellent. There was plently of choice each day for breakfast, lunch and dinner. It was hot, fresh and the service from all the waiters was very attentive and professional.
  yes the electricity went off for a few seconds every now and again but please tell me which carribean country this doesn't happen in ( it still happens in greece!!)
  I would recommend this hotel to any persons - excellent

• Percula on 27th Jan 2004

  Please please please don't listen to the ludricously "over the top" bad reviews. You'd think these killjoys had just come back from wartorn Iraq. Yes, it sometimes took 5 or 10 minutes to get served at the bar (to be expected when the area is constantly busy. And don't forget, if you show your annoyance at not being served, you're even less likely to get served and that goes for anywhere!!!), yes, the electricity supplies could be erratic (what do you expect from a developing country?). I found the staff friendly, the food perfectly alright (not fantastic, not inedible - but then again, it's a 3 star hotel, not a 5 star hotel), the beach area was very clean, the grounds lovely to stroll around, the hot tubs by the bar great, the rooms perfectly habitable ... the amount of time spent in the rooms is negligible anyway. A real selling point for me though is the hotel's proximity to the town of Sosua - please go and visit the beautiful km long beach. And, don't forget the outstanding value for money you get at the Casa Marina Reef. Would I go there again? Most certainly. Would I recommend it to anyone and everyone? Most certainly.

• Dawn Sutton on 28th Jan 2004

  Being "frank", we had the worst holiday ever had, maybe our English "faces" didn't fit" We did go to Mexico the prior 2 years, and boy did we have an exceptional time, both hotels, staff, resort etc where fantastic. We are going back next year too. For some reason we DID expect Dominican Republic to be the same, how wrong we were!
  
  I agree, every one to their own, but we are English, didn't enjoy getting pushed out of "every" restaurant and bar we tried to eat or drink in (especially as this was already paid for). The only staff we thought were polite was the "bell boy" - obviously knew he would be tipped! and our maid, she was brilliant, rooms were basic, but very clean. Staff at the bars were polite until they realised it was our last few days - never again would I return. We are booked at the Rui Merengue for 3 weeks, and paying approximately £1,450,say no more!

• jasel on 24th Feb 2004

  I think young or young at heart this is defenitly the place for you.

• trudy15 on 5th Mar 2004

  hi trudy here
  well we went to casa marina reef on feb 14th returned 29th feb our thoughts on the resort, where shall i start, no problems with rooms, no problems with food, no problems with being served, clean towels everyday, staff could not have been more helpful, hotel cleaned everyday, including pool, air conditioning just right, only minor prob for some rooms near the shows may be noisy, would have no hesitation recommending this to anyone and would definitly go back again.

• Pinkie on 20th Apr 2004

  My Family and I are off to the Casa Marina on the 22nd june 2004 and can't wait!!
  My Mother and Friends have visited the same hotel twice a year for the past 4 years with NO complaints infact had the times of their lives so i aint takin any notice of the above complaint I just think you went on a bad week afraid to say!

• jaddhall on 8th May 2004

  We are returning May 22nd to the Casa Marina Reef, two adults & 2 teenagers, went last may and couldn't find a single fault! We re-booked the holiday within a week of returning home last year,need I say more! it is excellent.....

• Zara7 on 13th Jul 2004

  I have been to the Casa Marian Reef 5 times and I am going back for a 6th time in October and I just can't wait. I don't know how people can say that this hotel is rubbish, the rooms are cleaned every day, and the hotel itself is very clean. the staff are very friendly. If you are ok with them then they will be ok with you, whereas if you are stuck up with them they will be the same back to you. They work from 9:30 in a morning until very late at night I think I would look miserable and be moody if I had to work them many hours in the scorching sun, but whenever I have gone to a bar for a drink I have always got a big friendly smile whether it be morning or night. I have always found every one at this hotel friendly and they can't do enough for you. the shows at night are excellent done by professional dancers. The day time entertainment is also good; there are more games to do than just water aerobics.

• Jane B on 15th Oct 2004

  Are these people mad or just plain sad - I have been to the marina reef and am returning in two weeks. The holiday before that was two weeks on the island of Ohahu (Hawaii), we stayed at the ohana village and in comparison with the Dom Rep/Casa Marina - this wins hands down. For those who are reading these bad reviews and have never been - TRUST ME - it is a great, relaxing, value for money holiday. I would RECOMMEND this place to anyone!! Have a great time and ignore these wingers!!!!!!