Best of the Best!

Lynn Nov 17, 2009

Would recommend to a friend!

I Went there with my boyfriend not knowing what to expect after reading all the reviews. I was greeted with friendly smiles ... and great customer service eager to please us. Everything there was first class. My room was not the greatest it didn't have a balcony, the colors were dull it. But, they were kept very clean and they went in twice a day. Once in the morning to clean and in the evening to check on the linen and to get the room ready for bed. My overall experience was great. We didn't even make reservations for any of the 3 a la carte restaurants since the food and the service at the buffet were superb. They had great activities the whole day to keep you going if you chose to participate. The nights were just as entertainning.

very good

vladi Nov 2, 2009

Would recommend to a friend!

is a very good ...

NOT WHAT I EXPECTED!

Angelina Oct 23, 2009

I was in DR in May 2009 and stayed at the Oasis Gran Marien. I should have stayed there again. Blue Bay Villas ... beverages/Food were not at all close to what you got at the Oasis Gran Marien. They didn't even play Dominican Music at this resort. Gran Oasis Marien is definetely better. The only good thing about Blue Bay Villas was the location. When we checked in we were told the keys were sensitive, they didn't lie about that, i was constantly going to guest services to get a replacement key because anything magnetic deactivated the card. Then i went to my room and the phone didn't work. Noone ever fixed it. Terrible! I will never stay here again.

great place at a great price

latin gringo Oct 11, 2009

Would recommend to a friend!

read most a lot of reviews for this place. Food was good, special restaurants easy to book. Beach was great, staff was ... friendly service very good . Especially for the price. I will go back next year. Not really a 4 star room, but with the staff, and food and experience and overall experience I rated it so.

all in all a great experience fun people

t Sep 14, 2009

Would recommend to a friend!

great experience and fun crowd to be around. Go single or as couple and plenty to do around resort. Venture out at own risk ... or take guide but can be fun as well. Take a tour for sure. in plaza. Girl in back gives best tour deals. would definitely go back. Liquor is not top shelf.

Missed connecting flight so I lost a day

Smiles Sep 9, 2009

Would recommend to a friend!

The hotel was great and the staff was really friendly. I would revist the hotel. The sales person was a bit rude. He was ... trying to sell me a time share wth the hotel and when I refused he was very rude. Apart from that the hotel was great.

For the price....it's an ok place

Brian Mac Sep 9, 2009

The flight and the taxi in were smooth. At first glance I thought the place was small. It is set up with 14 or so little ... villas with maybe 8 rooms per villa. Not as big as resorts in Punta Cana. Must have been developed earlier. Tried to make restaurant reservations but were all booked up. Ask for manager and there was none...? Not very intelligent people working there behind the desk. When first entered room we were greated by a cockroach which the bell hop crushed and didnt bother cleaning up after. GROSS! The room was really shotty. stained blankets, cracked tiles, beat up bathroom with no hot shower water.(but the sink had, go figure!) The phone and outlets didn't work. The a/c was cold. Too many people bothering you to buy timeshares. The food was suprisingly good. Better than Punta Cana. Had to eat at buffett b/c no availability at restaurants. Beach was really nice. Pool was ok, really hot, more like a jacuzzi and only 3ft deep. Staff was very friendly. I guess all and all it was ok. You get what you pay for...I mean it's cheap. Thank god I was only there for 3 nights. 1 week would have been to long at that place. Seems like all the hotels/resorts around there were the same though. 4 stars, haha. Maybe I would give 2 1/2 stars! Tons of people from the U.K. We were probably the only Americans there. Boy those people can drink!

blue bay puerto plata

pellz Aug 31, 2009

All the staff were very polite; however too pushy about scheduling appointment about time-share. Buffet was okay, but a la ... carte restaurats were awful. They should focus on serving their authentic dominican foods rather than atempt to cater oriental or american style. Fruits were delicious and juice and smoothie station was a nice surprize in the morning. The pool closed early, we wished we could swin later than 7pm.

Good for rest and relaxation

Johnny5 Aug 30, 2009

Would recommend to a friend!

The hotel experience was overall good. Room location is key to better enjoy your experience. We had to pay a $200 ($40/night) ... upgrade for a pool side Villa, but it was worth it. We originally had paid for an upgrade ($40-$50 or $8 - $10/night) in the room's size, but location is more important; as we were first sent to a distant, back of the hotel room. On the other hand Pool side Villa's are very nice. The hotel ambiance is very relaxing, however the night shows which are pool side, strech into the late hours of night, so they might keep you up if you decided to turn in early. Turn down service is a plus, although it might be a little intrusive some times. Sit down restaurants are very good so enjoy them, you're visits to them might be limited depending on the package you choose. On final note, the property sells a vacation plan and the marketing reps are all over the property nagging for you to visit the sales center, after the first day this may become a little annoying.

I would pass on this one......

Easy Rider Aug 26, 2009

I was on a business trip and decided to take a few days off to chill out and enjoy the great weather we were having in the ... DR. The Blue Bay Villa in Puerto Plata was recommended to me by a client. The minute I checked into my room, I was disapointed with the size and location of the room, the thin walls, minature bathroom and what appeared to be a main water pipe drain located in the wall next to my bed was not what I had expected. Having a main water drain pipe in a wall is not an issue with me, but every 10 minutes or so you could hear the water draining down from the floor above. This was the ice breaker for me. I asked for an upgrade and was told to check with the front desk the following day. I called the following day and was told they would look into it and get back with me. No one called and after two more attemps to recitfy the issue, I gave up on day 2 and left the resort on day 3. I have stayed at a number of resorts in the past and this was by far the most unplesant stay I have had. The food and entertainment was fine, but the room accomodations and front desk service left a lot to be desired. I sincerly hope this was just a fluke and the rest of the rooms were better than the one I was placed in. I don't plan on revisitng BlueBay Villas Doradas in the future unless their management can convince me the rooms and service are better than what I experienced during my brief stay.

Great service but so so room

New Yorker Aug 6, 2009

Would recommend to a friend!

First class service, staff was exceptional friendly and responsive. However, the room was so so, there was no furniture to ... store your clothings, although it was a closet to hang your clothes. The most friendly staff I met in Caribbean destinations that I had visited including: Cancun, St. Martin, Puerto Rico and Nassau.

THE WORST VACATION YET!

KEVIN Jul 23, 2009

THIS WAS ONE OF THE WORST ALL INCLUSIVE HOTELS I HAVE EVER STAYED IN. THE ALCOHOL WAS BAD AS WELL AS THE FOOD. THE POOLS WERE ... SMALL MY ROOM HAD ONLY ONE ELECTRICAL OUTLET THAT WORK THERE WERE ANTS IN MY ROOM AND PLUS THERE WAS A LEAK IN THE BATHROOM AND THIS WAS AFTER CHANGING MY ROOM FROM ONE THAT WAS WORST THEN THIS ONE. I WILL NEVER STAY HERE AGAIN OR RECOMMEND ANYONE TO STAY HERE.

Great Resort

Kev Jul 15, 2009

Would recommend to a friend!

Staff was wonderful. Entertainment and bar staff made our stay incredible, impeccable service. The property was very well ... kept and manicured. Would Definitely return.

Relaxing getaway

Loves Relaxing Vacations Jul 6, 2009

We went to relax and get away. The weather was fantastic and for the most part, the staff was friendly. I don't like going ... to resorts where they try to sell you some sort of timeshare and this place did, however, they didn't pester too much when I told them that I get points through a certain airline and by booking online. The food was average. The water pressure was bad when you take a shower and someone else was taking a shower in another hotel room. We've taken other trips that were better.

Beautiful beach, great looking hotel

chabella Jul 1, 2009

Would recommend to a friend!

Great looking hotel in Puerto Plata. We got the standard room and it does not include in room refrigerator refills, you must ... pay $10.00 per day. In room safe is also $15.00 for your entire stay. On the upside,the reception was quick and efficient, the beach is well appointed and gorgeous. The buffet was always varied, and the three restaurants were good. The hotel is not a five star hotel, but the staff is friendly and if you are in Puerto Plata, you should go to enjoy the beach. I would definetly go back.

nice for the first time

big ant Jun 28, 2009

Would recommend to a friend!

For my first time out to DR i liked my experience at this resort just wished the food was more cultural instead of the same ... stuff I can eat in the states but on the whole I was happy .............

Romantic Getaway!

Satisfied traveler Jun 17, 2009

Would recommend to a friend!

The hotel is breathtakingly beautiful. Upon arrival, you will be greeted with friendly porters who will give you the royal ... treatment. You don't even need to go to the front desk to check in, they do it for you! You get a glimpse of the pool as you sit in the lobby anticipating for the fun to come! I must say that the service at BlueBay was impeccable. Everyone was very courteous and kind. Except for the people who were trying to sell us vacationing packages. They were so quick to whisk us into their sales pitching hut but once they found out that we were not interested nor were we going to sign and pay for any future plans, they were quick to kick us to the curb. I suggest tryin to avoid them to save yourself some time unless you're really interested in setting up a vacation plan with BlueBay's other locations. As for activities, I highly recommend ziplining with Yasika and ATV/Dunebuggies (booked with VIP) in the country side of Dominican Republic. I didn't book any of the packages with the hotel/beach people but I'm sure they can help to book the same. The food wasn't spectacular by any means. It was just normal average food. My favorite was their ice cream (chocolate). I couldn't get enough of it. They also had other ala carte restaurants... I really enjoyed the Seafood restaurant - Francis (the host) was great. And I totally recommend paying $32 USD for the lobster there... we got a hugeee and meaty lobster. Thinking about it makes me drool! Last note, the braiding ladies on the beach are hustlers! They charged me $3 /per braid! Thank goodness I only did 10! And make sure you bargain with the beach sales people. Their prices are ridiculous but you can talk them down to more or less half their offering prices.

blue bay

brian j Jun 6, 2009

Would recommend to a friend!

absolute top notch service through and though. our only complaint of the resort is the timeshare salesmen and women who hound ... you every day. we had a small complaint in our room concerning the shower and the floor getting wet but dont let that stop you from booking there. perfect beach superfriendly staff great food. just awesome. also just like 20 minutes from the airport in puerto plata

Blue Bay Villas Doradas

banataka May 26, 2009

We were at this hotel at May. The food was good. The staff is very nice. I did not like a room. It is very small and ... uncomfortable. It does not have a full bath (only shower). There is not the balconie in the room.

Wonderful Trip!

The Honeymooners May 24, 2009

Would recommend to a friend!

We had THE greatest time at BlueBay! It was our wedding/honeymoon and they thought of absolutely everything. Well, almost ... everything. The only thing was that our wedding wasn't legal. We didn't know we had to get our birth certificates translated into spanish so it wasn't "official". We faked it for for the sake of our photographer being there but saved judge fees and just got the marriage license at home. BUT.. other than that, the weather was great, the service was #1 and even the food was super. The buffet was always a safe bet, but there were three restaraunts that you can make resevations to, and we ate at all of them. VERY good food at all 3. I don't eat seafood but i had the grouper and it was sooo good. The tours are great. A little confusing because there was a guy in the lobby selling them at first and he made it seem like he was the only go to guy. But we ended up buying fom the guy in the towel hut before you get to the beach. BARGAIN with them, is all i have to say. They are flexible. Also, if the people at the resort won't budge, go to the plaza down the road and i heard they have good deals as well. We did Ocean World first, totally worth it and i would so go back every chance i had. We did the jungle safari, which was our least favorite b/c we didn't know to bring tennis shoes or a bathing suit (for the waterfalls). ASK about detailed descriptions and what exactly to bring. If you do this tour, expect a long hike. We also did the Paradise Island tour. It took about 2 1/2 hours to get there, by bus then by speedboat, but it was so beautiful once we got there. Nothing but sand and a couple shacks. They supplied fruit and of course rum (equivalence to water there) and we snorkeled along the reef and held sea urchins and just relaxed!! Just plan for an all day trip. We took a tour of downtown puerto plata and it was actually very interesting. Be leary of people in jewelery stores saying that it is pink coral when it is really conk shell. Shopping on this tour is where you can really bargain. We didn't stop to eat anywhere, but on the other tours we had authentic Dominican meals and they were fabulous. Other than that, the only complaint I have is that the bed was hard. I did ask for something to help with that and they put a mattress protector on there (didn't help). And also the thin walls.. we could hear everything in the next villa. But they did think of everything to make our weddingmoon special. Breakfast in bed the next morning (with a table and chairs in our room), a private dinner on the beach, candles and music and fun swan towels set up when we got to our room after the wedding. Also, tip housekeeping! I tipped about $2 a day and they were all about cleaning! Fresh towels, turndown service, fun towel designs. And tip the bartender. They will remember what you like and be quick to turn to you if there are alot of people at the bar. All in all, a terrific vacation with great memories and i am already planning my next trip back!!