For Grand Oasis Marien expert only !

Hi there, holacanada!

I'm not an expert but I just returned from one week at the Grand Oasis Marien where I purchased a vacation club package. I have some photos of the construction and the facilities. I can't see the two buildings completed by March. I spoke with the chief engineer, very nice man from Spain working for Globalia and he mentioned the difficulties working with labourers who do everything manually.

As you can see from the photos of the construction, you don't see huge teams working, but they ARE working day AND night on this project. They work on quiet construction during the night so as not disturb the guests. I was in building #7 adjacent to one construction site, near the fitness centre, tennis courts, opposite from the disco and I had no problems with noise.

The theatre appears to be close to complete and they are it using for shows. There was some work around the Tex-mex restaurant; I don't know if that's where the seafood restaurant will be? The Creperie restaurant and Italian restaurants are really nice and the service is very good.

Here are my photos, perhaps you can get an idea from my pics.

Thanks for the pictures. They are what I wanted to see too. My family and I will be going back mid April and I was wondering how far along the construction will be at that time. Its been 4 years since we were there last. We too joined the vacation club at that time.

6-10 inches of snow due today.:angry: I wish I was there now!!!

Brad from Mass. USA

Seafood restaurant? They mention it on the Web site, but it wasn't open. Sorry I can't answer when it will be completed.

Hotel Grand Oasis Marien: Hotel Puerto Plata República Dominicana

They have a crepe restaurant at the Vacation Club building with really nice service. They went out of their way to accomodate my vegetarian diet ordering soup from the Santa Fe grill, combining the two vegetarian options. The service was so good that one couple kept asking the waiter "Is this your restaurant?" Oh course, the fact that they were constantly being plied with red wine, mamajuana, and "Carribean coffee" helped!!

I can't compare the theatre with the previous one, this was my first time. The stage is raised enough that you have a good view of the dancers. There's a little bar on the side.

Regarding the fitness centre, this was the BEST fitness centre I've ever encountered in the DR. Brand new treadmills, climbers/cross-trainers, bikes. Clean!

Weight machines include: lat pull down, reclining seated squat machine, Smith machine, bench for chest press, and one other. Bench for doing ab exercises. And there are free weights and various bars. Water, towels. Not a lot of machines but the trainer Pedro (a body buider) is very knowable about how to adapt them for work various muscle groups. I'm sure he would develop a program for you if you ask or tip him upfront.

The only thing that's was really missing is hand sanitizer and disinfectant for people to wipe the equipment after using. It's open air, not air-conditioned but with many ceiling fans. Good air quality and dust free. I didn't notice if there is a sauna available but there's a spa at the resort.

margaret said:

...Here are my photos...my pics.

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Hi margaret . Thanks for the pics. As a member at Grand Oasis Marien you might want to have an idea what is going on in the other Oasis property : http://www.dr1.com/forums/south-coast/71962-oasis-hamaca-update.html

STEVE G. said:

Hi margaret . Thanks for the pics. As a member at Grand Oasis Marien you might want to have an idea what is going on in the other Oasis property : http://www.dr1.com/forums/south-coast/71962-oasis-hamaca-update.html

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Thanks, Steve. I can't wait to visit that resort, as well. Looks like a nice renovation job. As a woman who often travels solo, I'm also delighted not to pay a single supplement. I can bring my daughter and her boyfriend along or have my friends join me at the resort. I can trade up for a larger suite, if I want more privacy. The AI meal plan is optional so as I get to know my surroundings I can just eat out or stay in or tour around dividing my time between the other Oasis resorts.

There's better quality food in the resort compared to the Wyndham for example, nicer facilities and what appears to be a better class of clientele, and more mature.

I talked to the chief engineer at the Marien for the construction project and he says Globalia (Mr. Hidalgo) has big plans for another resort in the DR ... the location and name escapes me. Do you know it?

They need to develop the fountains at the Marien, IMO. Fed them lapela or something. Sad, sad, very sad... needs some European flair.

Or instead of a fountain, they could redesign it altogether and make a water garden or cascading falls, something similar to what you might find in the natural environment.

I noticed that you could always see and hear many birds around. That was really nice. Although they get in the buffet restaurant and crap on the back of the chairs and land on the your plate when you're up and about.