Sunday, February 7, 2010

Gran Bahia Principe, Punta Cana, Dominican Republic Review

Travel dates: end of January thru beginning of February, 2010

Official Hotel Rating: 4 Stars

The Dominican Republic is not often the first choice of locale for a traveler to the Caribbean. But a quick glance at the price comparison of Punta Cana to, say, Aruba will begin to coax the more budget-conscious toward the DR.

My husband and I set out on our so-called Babymoon to Punta Cana because I did not want to go to Mexico two years in a row, he had heard bad things about Jamaica, and we didn't want to spend the extra money for a more "exotic" Caribbean island. We had also heard good things from friends and acquaintances about Punta Cana, mostly referring to its beauty.

Insider Tip: If you are traveling from a cold climate, bring a change of clothes in your carry-on luggage. If you have connecting flights, change during a lay-over. If this isn't possible, pack a change of clothes in the outermost pocket of your checked suitcase so it is easily accessible. Bathrooms in the arrivals area of Punta Cana airport are few and far-between and are guaranteed to have lines, especially in the ladies' room. You will sweat to death in anything longer than capris or shorts. There is no air conditioning in the airport.

Insider Tip: There is an entrance fee of $10 per person to get into the DR. They only accept cash and you need to pay it as soon as you get off the plane.

Insider Tip: If you have a tendency to get even slightly carsick, choose a hotel that is as close to the airport as possible. The drivers of the transport vans drive like maniacs through crowded streets with no traffic signals or stop signs, cross over into oncoming traffic to pass other vehicles, etc. Not the best way to start or end a supposedly relaxing vacation, especially if you had a few cocktails on the plane.

Upon arriving at the Gran Bahia Principe, you will notice how large the property is. You may have encountered some confusion when booking your trip - "Am I staying at Punta Cana or Bavaro? And what the hell is Esmeralda, and why do they all take me to the same hotel website?" It turns out that there are 5 hotels on the property, with no clear differences between them. Make sure you know which one is your hotel so you can be dropped off at the correct lobby.

If first impressions are good indicators, we should have taken heed when we arrived. There is no orientation to the hotel given, they don't take a credit card from you for incidentals, and they barely speak English. They take your name, slap a bracelet on your wrist, hand you your key and a map, briefly point out where food is on the map, and send you on your way. It turned out that the woman who checked us in wrote down the wrong hours for breakfast on the ocean side of the hotel, so on day 2 we missed it when there should've been an hour left.

Insider Tip: If you stay at this hotel, be prepared for a lot of frustration in communication and a lot of misinformation unless you are absolutely fluent in Spanish, regardless of local dialect. Get your information from written sources whenever possible, such as the hours posted at the restaurants.

The rooms are fair. There is no classification based on view, so your room is just as likely to overlook a pool as an empty field of dirt (like our room). The junior suite includes a beautiful bathroom with a whirlpool tub that may or may not have a bug problem (ours had ants). The mini fridge is housed inside a dressing table where the heat it gives off builds up and prevents anything from being cold. You have to leave the door of the cabinet open at all times in order for the fridge to work.

The maid service at this hotel was a joke. It became a game for us - "What will we be missing today?" Every couple of days she would neglect to replace our washcloths after taking the ones we had hung up. Twice she took the spoons we used for our coffee in the morning and didn't replace them. Every day we hung our towels up per the "I'll use it again" policy clearly posted inside the bathroom, and every day she took them anyway and left us half the number of towels we originally had. The minibar would sometimes be refilled and sometimes not. I tried leaving her a note asking for extra towels, extra diet soda, and extra bottled water - she threw the note away and didn't leave us any of those things. Despite her daily cleaning, the ants on the bathroom counter never went away.

Insider Tip: The maid supply closets on each floor can be easily broken into with a credit card if they haven't been accidentally left ajar overnight. Most of the time you can find whatever missing item you need from one of them.

The all-inclusive buffet breakfast and lunch offer the exact same food every day. Same thing down at the snack bar by the beach. There are no other options until dinner time, but the buffet offers more variety than the snack bar. The fruit is never quite ripe enough, the juice is watered down, and everything is cooked in LOTS of oil. Don't believe me? Watch one of the guys who makes the frittatas to order.

Dinner has an international theme every night. More often than not the food is bland, over- or undercooked, and appears sickly. Desserts become comical if you stay at the hotel long enough - you will see the exact same dessert item on 5 different occasions, labeled as 5 different things. What is "chocolate torte" on Gala night is also "tiramisu" on Italian night. They'll put a layer of chocolate ganache on top of it and then call it something else for Mexican night. The "Creme Brulee" was nothing but vanilla pudding with a cottage cheese texture. The ice cream bar was good as long as you stick with basic vanilla or chocolate variations and the more exotic fruit flavors. The passion fruit, for example, was excellent but the "strawberry" tasted like bubble gum.

The A La Carte restaurants are trickier to review. Capriccio's food was amazing, with some very high-end appetizers (including caviar), extremely fresh pesto, and wonderfully cooked fish. This was our favorite restaurant. The Garden Grill was better than the buffet, but left much to be desired. Requested medium, my beef tenderloin was presented to me cold-rare. Requested medium-well, my husband's tenderloin was presented to him perfectly medium. After trading plates, we sent back the rare steak which they sliced in half and placed open-faced on the grill to cook it further. The meat here was excellent, but all other items were mediocre.

The Santa Fe Tex-Mex restaurant was where the problems were. A huge fan of Mexican fare, I was excited for this particular night out. The food, which appeared to be excellent, was never eaten after a worm appeared under one of our dinner plates followed by a dead spider on the table. The head waiter informed us that the bugs were falling from the ceiling above our table, and would we like to switch to a different seat. With a beautiful, otherwise mouth-watering plate of untouched Mexican food in front of me, I chose to get up and walk out rather than risk vomiting into the fountain. Our A La Carte night was not "refunded" to us, nor were we compensated in any way for our experience.

Overall the food was not enjoyable. To put it in perspective for you, my husband found himself in ecstasy eating a crispy chicken sandwich from Wendy's at the airport, sighing dreamily and saying "It is so sad that this tastes so amazing right now."

Insider Tip: We learned after leaving the resort that guests can easily bribe their way into the a la cartes with $5 American and no reservation. If we had known that, we would have eaten at Capriccio nearly every night. So bring some extra cash and use it if you find a restaurant you particularly enjoy.

If you are a big fan of being in or on the water, this is where the resort shines. The pools are near-perfect temperature and the smaller ones are almost never crowded. The ocean itself is also near-perfect temperature and clear. Early in the day the water is very clean and enjoyable, but by afternoon the seaweed and rocks begin to come in with the tide and suddenly you're reminded that this is the Atlantic you're swimming in. The strange oil-rig looking thing offshore is actually a shipwreck. I recommend borrowing one of the kayaks to go out and get a closer look. It is one of the coolest things I have seen. Snorkeling, windsurfing, catamarans, kayaks, inner tubes, and a banana boat ride were all available as part of the all-inclusive. Parasailing, scuba and snorkeling trips, and other activities were available at an additional cost.

As nice as the water is, be prepared for a crowded beach. While there are usually plenty of chairs available, the sheer number of them makes it difficult to find a good spot to park your stuff. Get out there and place your towels early in the morning if you want to be under a hut.

Insider Tip: The DR allows women to be topless on the beach. And, as always, the women who choose to go topless are the ones who no one wants to see topless. This is more of a heads-up than a tip.

There are not many excursions available for off-resort. Swimming with dolphins, sharks, manta rays, and sea lions were the only consistent activities we noticed. Shopping is available on the resort itself, but unless you are a fan of kitschy rather than authentic items, you will have a hard time spending money here. Vendors are pushy and obnoxious. They will quote someone else a lower price on the same item when they think you aren't listening or don't understand the language.

Overall I give the Gran Bahia Principe and Punta Cana 2 out of 5 Margaritas (my personal rating system.) I would not go back to either. There is nothing about Punta Cana that makes it unique or more attractive than other locations, regardless of your vacation goals. If you want to spend the week drunk on all-inclusive cocktails, Mexico is a more cost-effective alternative. If you are looking for culture and activities, Mexico and Hawaii have a lot more to offer. If you're looking to relax and unwind, Mexico and Hawaii tend to be less crowded and the hotel employees less intrusive and bossy.

I would not recommend Punta Cana or the Gran Bahia to anyone over other locations. If you have specific questions, please feel free to leave them in the comments.

21 comments:

Comrade PhysioProf said...

Great review, JLK! Keep 'em coming!

Romantic bed and breakfasts said...

Thanks for a good review about Punta Cana.It is not worth recommended with cheap facilities and poor performance and food. I will follow your recommendations and will not move to Dominican Republic for vacations.

Unknown said...

Great review buddy! It's nice to read some reviews before visiting the actual place. Thumbs up!

Ritchie
Punta Cana vacation

Anonymous said...

I have been to punta cana many times you cant judge for one bad experience there are many great Hotels and good service I had stay at the Esmeralda and its beautiful private and great service

gaby said...

I have been to Punta Cana several times and it have been wonderfull you cant judge a place for one bad experience there are many Hotels with great service and great food, I have been to Mexico I to my personal opinion Punta Cana is much better in service and food.

Anonymous said...

Wow. I would be very inclined to think that everywhere you go there is a problem. I have lots of friends like this. Nothing is good enough for them. Complaining about the beach being too crowded????? i laughed out loud when i saw that. Its a vacationing hotspot. Maybe you should think about renting your own private island? Anyway, stop being so critical of everything and you will lead a much happier life.

sandra said...

just came back from the domenican republic 2 days ago.we stayed at the bahia punta cana golden section.rooms are good and clean.no problems with the maid service.always asked for extra water and beer and she always provided it.Food:some was good some not so good but there was always something really yummie,in the deserts i have to agree that there wasn t a lot to choose from.we all gained wait so...beach is beautiful,right in front of the hotel is a litle more crowded yes but if you walk to the left towards the Majestic there s a lot more space.we were always close to the beach bar and personaly i think there was space more than enough.i´ve been in other beaches a loooottttt worse.swimming pools are amazing.Drinks at the swim up bar were really good.the hotel grounds are amazing and really weel kept.hotel is huge but we already knew ....well i can t wait to go back to the Domenican Republic and i would have no problem staying at the bahia principe,i would recommend it to my friends for sure...

Anonymous said...

I just returned from the Gran Bahia Principe ESMERALDA last friday and absolutely loved it.
The rooms were beautiful, the maid was awesome (even spoiled my son rotten when he was sick with a very high fever). The food was good and Im a very very picky eater.
As someone who has travelled to Hawaii and am accustomed to having the best of the best, I would never be caught even dead in hawaii again considering that I find the people there very stuck up as in SNOBS....I get the same beauty in Punta Cana as I do in hawaii, however in the Dominican people are so friendly and bend over backwards to make your holidays a very special one.
I think snobs belong in their own deserted island and maybe tending to their own needs.
I can't wait to go back to this resort and meet up with the special friends we made there.

PS. Breaking in to the maids room? No wonder they did not like you. Did you ever consider that you could get these people FIRED? Considering that they earn so very little and desperately need to hold their jobs? SHAME ON YOU!!

Paul said...

Good tips. Tx

Anonymous said...

Service : Client support ended up being great. Gentleman on the telephone possessed a enjoyable voice and furthermore My spouse and i was sent moolah quick.
Value :My partner and i were given a great value considering that loan interest rates happened to be very competitively priced.
AAA Vancouver Payday Loans 310-4088 Cambie Street, Vancouver, BC V5Z 2X8 (778) 785-2087 payday loans vancouver
AAA Calgary Payday Loans 1014 Macleod Trail Southeast, Calgary, AB T2G 2M7 (403) 614-4637 payday loans calgary
AAA Ottawa Payday Loans 503 Avenue Gladstone, Ottawa, ON K1R 5N9 (343) 883-1422 payday loans ottawa
AAA Edmonton Payday Loans 10223 97 Street Northwest, Edmonton, AB T5J 0L5 (780) 669-1284 payday loans edmonton

Jessie said...

In accommodations that allows dogs, dog walking services are often available.

Cartagena in Colombia

Unknown said...

Thanks for sharing this......:-)
Welcome to ibkservicios…..we provide the Punta airport transfer. We offer tour and travel services in Punta Cana, La Romana etc.

Punta Cana Airport Transfers said...

Nice information and nice blog for tour packages

Unknown said...

Thanks for the tips. Usually, I do not post on blogs, but I wish to say that this post really forced me to do so! Thanks, incredibly nice article. Thank you lots, I am obliged to announce that your blog is excellent!

Punta Cana Tour

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the tips.Punta Cana Airport PUJ Shuttle Service Provides airport transfer services from Punta Cana International Airport to and from all Punta Cana resorts.
PUJ Airport transfers

Anonymous said...

wow, this blogger seems really bitter for some reasons, and only see most negative vs positive, must have a marriage issue?

Anonymous said...

Very interesting review. I use the term 'interesting' loosely. I sincerely hope you don't let one bad experience stop you from going back to Punta Cana. Or even Dominican Republic in general.

The island is beautiful and there are a lot of things to do and see.

Albeit the resort is extremely large and I have stayed there so I know first hand how confusing it is, especially after a few cocktails. I was there in the Ambar section a few years ago and will be going back to the Esmeralda in June for a wedding.

Firstly, the airport is hot. But we all travel down south for hot don't we? I love getting off that airplane and then having to walk over to the actual terminal. If you don't like heat, you need to be aware of the time of year you are traveling down south or just don't go so you can't complain about the heat. Miami, Florida is just as hot during the summer months.

If you are susceptible to motion sickness, you should always bring meds with you. No matter where you go. Yes they drive like maniacs, but have you ever been sat in a taxi in NYC? LOL

I also want to point out an obvious fact that you're traveling to another country where their first language is not English. Many of them will know conversational English, just the basics and yes it can be frustrating (I would know this because I had to deal with the front desk when I lost my bracelet!), but we are traveling to their country. Learning Spanish is part of the attraction and when you travel to a foreign country, you should really learn some basics. Spanish is not part of any Canadian curriculum, but I have picked up a few phrases to use here and there. A lot of things you mentioned such as vendors being pushy, I think those things are part of their culture. Just say no and keep walking. This has happened to me in not only all the Caribbean countries I've visited but a lot of times in Europe and in Asia.

I went on a lot of other excursions that you didn't list such as ATVing through the lush greens and on the beach, horse back riding on the beach and driving doon buggies. I had an amazing time on my excusions. My bf has rented motorcycles off the resort and has driven around the city.

I feel a lot of the things you mentioned weren't exactly fair. I understand your frustrations because I'm sure everyone who has gone down south has gone through it, but remember you're on vacation! If it doesn't kill you, let it roll right off those pretty shoulders.

Before going anywhere, you need to arm yourself with knowledge. Review the hotel, research about the country you're visiting and what it offers and things to look out for such as sankies. You would know what that is if you researched about it. Tripadvisor is my best friend when I travel. People are great and fair with their reviews and offer great tips.

P.S. I hope you will give Jamaica a shot one day. Out of all the places I have visited, that little island is one of my absolute favourites. Plus they speak English ;)

Unknown said...


Do you need an urgent loan we offer worldwide loan to who in need of loan the business opportunity you having being looking for is here again. email osmanloanserves@gmail.com



LOAN APPLICATION FORM
1) Full Name:
2) Gender:
3) Loan Amount Needed:.
4) Loan Duration:
5) Country:
6) Home Address:
7) Mobile Number:
8)Monthly Income:
9)Occupation:
)Which did you here about us.
Email osmanloanserves@gmail.com

Chateau Del Mar said...

know about best part of Bavaro Hotels

Bavaro is considered as one of the most beautiful pristine beaches of the world. The Bavaro Beach is known for its soft white-pink beaches lined up by swaying palm-coconut trees. Numerous all-inclusive Bavaro Hotels are nestled along the beach and most of the suites overlook the Caribbean Sea. Most of the hotel chains offer secluded villas, resorts, and vacation rental apartments for the guests. For relaxation they are perfect choice, as they are equipped with modern amenities and facilities. The trained staffs of the hotels try to make the staying experience of the guest memorable one.

Dr Purva Pius said...

Hello Everybody,
My name is Mrs Sharon Sim. I live in Singapore and i am a happy woman today? and i told my self that any lender that rescue my family from our poor situation, i will refer any person that is looking for loan to him, he gave me happiness to me and my family, i was in need of a loan of S$250,000.00 to start my life all over as i am a single mother with 3 kids I met this honest and GOD fearing man loan lender that help me with a loan of S$250,000.00 SG. Dollar, he is a GOD fearing man, if you are in need of loan and you will pay back the loan please contact him tell him that is Mrs Sharon, that refer you to him. contact Dr Purva Pius,via email:(urgentloan22@gmail.com) Thank you.

BORROWERS APPLICATION DETAILS


1. Name Of Applicant in Full:……..
2. Telephone Numbers:……….
3. Address and Location:…….
4. Amount in request………..
5. Repayment Period:………..
6. Purpose Of Loan………….
7. country…………………
8. phone…………………..
9. occupation………………
10.age/sex…………………
11.Monthly Income…………..
12.Email……………..

Regards.
Managements
Email Kindly Contact: urgentloan22@gmail.com

Anonymous said...


Are you in need of a loan? Do you want to pay off your bills? Do you want to be financially stable? All you have to do is to contact us for more information on how to get started and get the loan you desire. This offer is open to all that will be able to repay back in due time. Note-that repayment time frame is negotiable and at interest rate of 3% just email us creditloan11@gmail.com

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...