4-Star Hotels in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic

I just finished my stay at the Gran Ventana Resort, and while there were some nice things, overall I had a very poor experience and they run a scam operation, use caution when booking this resort. Immediately upon my arrival I attempted to check in and was told that my fiancé was not allowed to stay in the resort with my booking. She is from the Dominican Republic and according to Gran Ventana my booking was for foreigners only. They proceeded to charge me 40% more than my original booking, only because I was with my fiancé who is Dominican. I was planning on meeting with a wedding coordinator and exploring my options about having a wedding at this location in the near future, however any chance of this was immediately erased when they scammed me. No where in the booking was this ever explained and I advise using extreme caution when both booking on Trip.com and booking at the Gran Ventana Resort. I would love for a representative or a manger to reach out to me.

Pros: beach front, easy access to the beach, tranquility around the lounge beach chairs. Friendly staff Cons: hotel is dated, shower was too small. There were cucarachas coming off the AC vents. Staff came to address it right away, however. There are not elevators and it is difficult to bring luggage to 2nd and 3rd floors. The place was not design for people with mobility issues. Also people are allowed with dogs unleashed. One small dog came after me. When I approach the dog’s owner to ask if he could put his dog on a leash, he became belligerent, disrespectful, and a kind of racist. The hotel staff watched and did nothing. When I ask for the manager to complaint I was told she was on vacation (?) when I ask for whoever was in charge, I was also told that person was also unavailable. It was frustrating and disappointing as that was a safety issue that remained unaddressed.

Playa Bachata resort is a 3 star experience. If you want a low cost all inclusive getaway, this place works. Don't expect high-quality food, drinks, or activities and you won't be disappointed. The staff, as in all DR resorts, are very kind and helpful. The check-in process was a little slow; which is odd because I was the only one at check-in. The room was clean, but the furnishings were very dated. I was disturbed to find about a dozen flies crawling at the cold salad bar. The beach is the highlight of this resort. I loved sitting under the palm trees and observing the beautiful sea and sky. Overall, it was a good experience at the price point I paid.

The hotel is quite new, but everything in the buffet is too salty except for desserts and salads. Can't it be lighter for guests to adjust?

I like the hotel

The beach area is spectacular.

The hotel was incredible, and the staff were very careful, the only thing is that it is quite far from the center of Puerto Plata and the airport. In terms of very good place. (PD: There is little offer of Uber ) If you go and there is an Uber called Ever, it is the betterr ＜3