Sun, sea, sand oh & the sex on the beach

Advantages: Very clean, excellent service & lovely weather
Disadvantages: Attracts a lot of kids, not excellent evening entertainment

...Last September I was planning mine and my boyfriends first holiday and we wanted it to be good as it was our first holiday away together and we had a whole year to pay for it so we didn't mind what we spent. After browsing the net for a good couple of hours and a lot of good reports from friends and relatives we decided on the Dominican Republic. I had a look at all the usual websites you check to get the most competitive price and I decided on booking with Portland direct who are a direct sell agent (that are part of the big Tui group including Thomson etc) After having a look through all the hotels and prices I finally settled for the 4* Gran Ventana beach resort in Playa Dorada (if you wondered why I keep using the term I it is because my boyfriend doesn't have any part in anything like this as it is my job and he is just lazy...

gemax2 25.09.2005 (28.09.2005) · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Review of Gran Ventana Beach Resort, Puerto Plata

Help!!!! (I want to go to riu Meringue )

Advantages: everything thing you could possibly need in one place
Disadvantages: you have to come home

...The Fateful day came, three days before we were due to fly to the Dominican Republic and the Riu Meringue. I had saved for an whole year, this was to be my holiday of a life time. Due to stomach problems at the Meringue, all British guests were advised not to go. We were offered the grand Ventana Beach Resort. I was very suspicious, what if they were trying to palm me off on a cheaper more down market holiday, than the one I had bought and paid for? Thankfully, we excepted the offer, but went with dread. Upon our arrival, it was dark, Oh my gosh I thought, where on earth have they sent us? Bus loads of us seamed to arrive at the Ventana at the same time. At reception we were told to go to our room and the bell boy would bring our luggage to us. We changed one of our travellers cheques to tip the bell boy, but he never...

micheledog 02.08.2005 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Review of Gran Ventana Beach Resort, Puerto Plata

Dominican dream

Advantages: Everything
Disadvantages: Teeny weeny little stomach bug

...As with every holiday, me and my boyf spent a lot of time researching hotels and areas in the Dominican Republic before settling on the Gran Ventana Beach Resort in Playa Dorada. This seemed to be the most lively area with nice beaches, and the reviews for the hotel were all very good, so of course our expectations were high. And we weren't disappointed. After a smooth 8 hour flight and 20 minute comfortable transfer, we arrived at the Gran Ventana. We were the 1st drop-off point so we didn't have a chance to see any of the other hotels, but they are all located in 1 area called Playa Dorada, which is like a purpose-built resort with a security gated entrance. Reception greeted us with courtesy and it was a relief that they spoke englisha nd understood what we were saying! Our bags were left in the safe hands of the Bell Boys...

LittleHB 31.08.2007 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Review of Gran Ventana Beach Resort, Puerto Plata

Free Booze All Day

Advantages: Thoroughly relaxing, clean, excellent food, friendly staff
Disadvantages: Getting expensive

...entertainment (every night) was either laid on by the extremely capable and friendly staff or was brought in from outside - one of the hightlights of my holiday was seeing one of the male bar staff dressed in nothing but a red bikini (on loan from myself!). The staff were extremely helpful and were always trying to get you to do the local dance (a great deal of hip wiggling!). As the Gran Ventana offers all-inclusive, you also get free watersports on the nearby beach. This ranges from snorkelling to windsurfing. Other 'freebies' include beach volleyball and aqua-aerobics so at least you have the opportunity to burn all those excess calories consumed from the 'eat as much as you want' buffet. This leads nicely onto my next point.... The food. I dread going on holiday for fear of the food - my stomach is not very good with foreign cuisine...

moose 19.02.2001 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Review of Gran Ventana Beach Resort, Puerto Plata

Best Hotel on this Stretch of Beach

Advantages: Clean. Friendly. Excellent Food & Service. Excellent Beach with plenty of shade.
Disadvantages: Too much loud music around the pool area.

...happy to move you. Be aware that sometimes the air conditioning unit breaks down and sometimes the hot water is less than hot - they fix is as quick as they can - but that may be tomorrow. That is the caribbean culture - live with it or don't go! Food at the Gran Ventana is good. There is a wealth of choice in the day to day buffet restaurant and if you can't find something you like then you have to be a really fussy person. If you help yourself to a meal and you don't like it, you can just leave it and go and chose something else. There are three a la carte restaurants and you can eat in each one once a week. We really liked these and found the food and service excellent. There is entertainment every evening but as most of the shows are done by the entertainment team, it is fairly amateur. It is, however, performed with much...

victeranpen 13.01.2006 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Review of Gran Ventana Beach Resort, Puerto Plata

a last family holiday

Advantages: every thing
Disadvantages: nothing

......

sarahluvs 27.12.2006 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Review of Gran Ventana Beach Resort, Puerto Plata

Fun, Fun, Fun

Advantages: Great location, resort, weather and people
Disadvantages: None..apart from the occasional short sharp rain you get late afternoon

...I have been to Dominican Republic twice now and both times have stayed in the North of the Island at a place called Puerto Plata. The first time we went we travelled with First Choice and decided that as our holiday was a success the first time we would go with them again a few years later. We visited Puerto Plata in May 2009 and we stayed in a resort called Gran Ventana. The Hotel was lovely with great accommodation, good food and the staff were wonderful. Not only was the resort wonderful so were the Dominican people. This Carribean island is a third world country and it is made all the more real when you leave your resort and travel outside on a trip. The majority of the people are poor and there are many people living in shacks. We did a number of wonderful trips whilst over there and one of them included a Jeep Safari which...

KathEv 02.12.2009 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Review of General: Dominican Republic

Definately a holiday worth trying!

Advantages: Very beautiful place
Disadvantages: Long journey away - 9hrs

...I went to the Dominican Republic last August when it was lovely and hot, but if you want to go this time of year, you'll have to be careful - that month is in the middle of the hurricane season. When I arrived there, the Dominican had had a hurricane earlier that morning, and so there was still a lot of high wind, so the flight getting there was pretty bumpy. And still on the topic of hurricanes, we had to fly around one on the way back, so just be careful what time of year you decide to go. The weather was always gorgeous. Very hot (if you like that sort of thing) and clear skies. It got a bit windy at times but it was a welcome breeze in the heat. I stayed at the Gran Ventana hotel in Playa Dorada. Very nice hotel, and the staff were really friendly. The Gran Ventana has loads to offer, and the staff are always wanting to...

flutterby13 06.01.2007 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Review of Playa Dorada (Dominican Republic)

Victoria Passion!

Advantages: Service, cleanliness, quality
Disadvantages: Airline crew guests

...fault the cleanliness of this hotel. Maid service is every day, with clean towels provided. They even give you beach towels which are changed each night ready for the next day! No need to even bring your own, Beach: The beach is a very quick hop on the hotel?s buggy, or 3 mins walk. The waters on a nice day are crystal clear! If you like to snorkel, then walk around the beach to the left for a couple of minutes, and line yourself up in the sea with the kayak booth ? that?s beautiful reef and rocks with millions of fish there. The beaches are cleaned daily so there is no build up of seaweed etc. on the golden sand. Return Guests: This is a hotel which values loyalty. As a return visitor we were upgraded to a junior suite room for free and had access to the sister hotel The Gran Ventana and were able to use their bars and a la carte...

nmckay15 25.07.2007 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Review of Victoria Resort Golf & Beach, Puerto Plata

Victoria Passion!

Advantages: Weather, friendly people, relaxed atmosphere - everything!
Disadvantages: Cabin crew guests

...fault the cleanliness of this hotel. Maid service is every day, with clean towels provided. They even give you beach towels which are changed each night ready for the next day! No need to even bring your own, Beach: The beach is a very quick hop on the hotel?s buggy, or 3 mins walk. The waters on a nice day are crystal clear! If you like to snorkel, then walk around the beach to the left for a couple of minutes, and line yourself up in the sea with the kayak booth ? that?s beautiful reef and rocks with millions of fish there. The beaches are cleaned daily so there is no build up of seaweed etc. on the golden sand. Return Guests: This is a hotel which values loyalty. As a return visitor we were upgraded to a junior suite room for free and had access to the sister hotel The Gran Ventana and were able to use their bars and a la carte...

nmckay15 18.06.2007 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Review of General: Dominican Republic