punta cana resort feedback

We are planning a trip to Punta Cana in April. We are looking for feedback good/bad on the following resorts. Beaches - Food Quality - Rooms

Hodelpa Caribe Club
H-10 Bavaro Resort
Club Carabela Bavaro

We have read mixed reviews on quite a few of the other resorts in Punta Cana but haven't seen anything on the above resorts.

Thanks
Lordens

Sorry I don't have information on the hotels you listed, but wherever you choose, I hope you enjoy your vacation. Please, before you go, read postings by Victim & Brenda on this board, see Jan.24th "Catalonia Bavaro Hotel", also look in archives for messages from Victim & Brenda. STAY AWAY FROM THE CASINO AT THIS HOTEL. The casino and it's manager, Mr. Thomas, are examples of the corruption which is allowed to flourish in this country. I'm sure you can enjoy a wonderful vacation, meet great people and return home happy from your trip to the DR., as many
will attest to on this site. Unfortunately, we were not so lucky, having been tricked into loosing a great deal at Progressive Roulette at the Catalonia Casino. Please be careful.

Hodelpa and H10 are the same hotel.
hodelpa ia a 3 star resort and carabela 2 if you compare with others resorts in punta cana. if you can pay a little more go for Iberostar, Barcelo bavaro beach, Melia or any other in the area.
have good luck.

The truth is that H10 and Hodelpa are not the same resort.
H10 was before owned by Hodelpa. Now it's owned byh10 company which is a spanish chain.
Hodelpa resort is new (I think it was opened last December) and it's situated very near Paradisus Punta Cana. The buildings are really nice (from the beach) because they all are froom different colors...
I suppose that being the newest, it should be the best.
I've heard that their disco is better than Pacha at the Riu Complex, ... wow... difficult to believe...
Not many information about Carabella,...

Why would anyone want to go to the middle of nowhere. If not Sosua, at least go to Puerto Plata. There is nothing in Punta Cana other than your hotel. Give me a break, if you come to the DR to see the country and meet the Dominican people that is not the place to be. If it's too late on this trip, make the next up north and live the real life.

To EDDY

I hate to say this, but I do agree with YOU 150% !!!!!!!

Re: To EDDY

I agree with you both!! An all inclusive resort is the same anywhere you go - they are all artificial environments. If you get into smaller, less isolated hotels you have individual attention, get advice on how to get around and where to go as well as learn a lot more about the country you are in. I have previously posted about taking publicos and guaguas for local transportation and eating in local establishments. We were given advice on going to Santiago for a ball game and seeing Luis Vargas and Zacarias Ferreira in local discos. My kids are now bachata fans and I now have to search for my Dominican CD's in their rooms. These are the types of things that endeared my family to the DR and assures they want to return there, not just go on another resort holiday.

Obviously a matter of opinion:
Not everyone is into going out at nite and getting so drunk they have to crawl back to their room.
Did enugh of that when I was in my 20's & 30's, spent many years on the north coast and hate to say it has become nothing more than a tourist trap, if thats your thing "enjoy".
Punta Cana has beaches,fishing,diving,and you certainly are not restricted to the hotel,(what a surprise!). Yes they do have taxis,guagas,and other modes of transportation if you wish to venture out to the country side to meet the Dominican people.
Gee! the last time I was there in October the first thing I encountered stepping off the plane were Dominicans.
And nothing like a little free plug for Sofys B&B on the North Coast.
Just my opinion........

Different strokes I know, but I'm sure you'll see a lot of people crawl back to their rooms in the all inclusive. After all they just have to sit in the bar and order the drinks (They're included) In town they will at least walk around and they will take into account what they spend. I spent 2 days in an all-inclusive because there was no other plans available. Bored stiff unless you like being treated like a bunch of ...... that can't do anything by themselves. Bottom line is, go where you want to go, but at least be aware the there are other ways to travel.

Re: To EDDY

Bachata fans try www.radiobachata.com/emisora.htm

Your're all missing the point. People who go to Punta Cana are looking for a few things.....relaxation on THE BEST BEACH, water sports, safety, fun. We do NOT WANT to spend our HOT HOLIDAYS trapsing thru towns, looking at museums, etc. It's just not something we enjoy. I can't think of anything more boring. We want just a sprinkling of true dominican life, which we can get by taking day trips. It is fascinating to drive thru the cities/towns and see that but one or two days is all we want. Our everyday lives are BUSY and we are just looking to escape and escape does not mean and educational trip. Just a smattering of that will do. Some people can't imagine that our holiday ideas are exciting and we can't imagine that their ideas are exciting. I'm glad we have different tastes and we can choose different destinations to fulfill them but PLEASE STOP CUTTING DOWN PUNTA CANA. IN MY OPINION IT IS THE BEST PLACE TO GO IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC BY FAR....THE OTHERS DON'T EVEN COME CLOSE. I have many friends who totally agree and would not go back to the north coast, etc., for any money. Let everyone pick the holiday that suits them and STOP CUTTING DOWN PUNTA CANA......THE BEST PLACE FOR A BEACH HOLIDAY IN THE DR.

My trip down couple of years ago, I found a "good" mix, 5 days exploring and the last 2 relaxing in an AI to "unwind"

Back to the main question - I am not familiar with Hodelpa Caribe but I have stayed at both H10 and Carabela, and I recommend H10 100%. It is smaller than some of the fancier resorts but it has a really good atmosphere. Some features, particularly the animation staff and the dance shows, are particularly good. I didn't find anything too great about Carabela. My sister is working in Bavaro Barcelo, which is much more lavish, but on returning to stay a few days at H10 she agreed that the feeling is better at H10. My mother went with me in April and has returned 3 times - it is the leading hotel for return guest is Punta Cana (so I have been told). I have seen a number of other guests return more than once since April. So - it all depends what you're looking for but we have certainly enjoyed it.

Please elaborate on how the resort "feeling" is better at the H10 compared to the Bavaro Barcelo. You say that the Bavaro Barcelo is much more lavish. That to means sounds like the better "feeling". Yet you still liked the H10 better. Why?

You mentioned the amimation staff and the shows are better. Even if the shows didn't exist at all at one of the resorts, I can't see see how such a minor point would affect one's resort preference. Please explain.

Nobody's running down Punta Cana but people have to know that it's in the middle of nowhere. And for sure NOT the BEST in the DR. A group of fancy hotels with nothing else. Please gimme a break.

Re: punta cana - Gem of the DR?

Some would say Punta Cana is the best in the DR. It all depends on what you like. In fact, that's where I send most of my friends for their first visit. It is the closest thing to what they expect when they go on a Caribbean beach vacation. It is the very decription of Punta Cana that convinces them to visit the Dominican Republic in the first place.

I don't think it is the best in the DR. I think Boca Chica is the best. But I've heard a lot of people say bad things about that town too. It's not everybody's cup of tea.

My girlfriend believes Punta Cana is the gem of the Dominican Republic, as does my travel agent based on client comments and her own personal experiences. Granted, my girlfriend has only been to Cabarete, Sosua, Playa Dorada, Puerto Plata, La Romana, San Pedro, Juan Dolio, Boca Chica, Santo Domingo, and Punta Cana.

Amongst those limited experiences, she prefers Punta Cana hands down, enough to have gone back 3 times. She doesn't care for the pictures and/or descriptions of the other parts of the country I'd like her to visit, so I doubt she will ever see them.

For many, the resort is the main draw.

I have to [half] agree with you. Today, Punta Cana as a destination is where it is precisely because it does have its beach to offer. That stretch of beach is undeniably one of the best, not only in the DR, but in the entire Caribbean. I have been to many beaches in the Caribbean and Punta Cana's is one that is hard to beat. Now, you are right to mention that Punta Cana is practically in the middle of nowhere.

Unfortunately, what I am afraid is going to happen to Punta Cana and DR's tourism in general, is that it will become so generic as a destination that sooner rather than later the mass tourism formula is going to dry out. I mean, how many AI resorts can the Spanish chains build on a 20 mile stretch of beach? Not enough, apperently. The problem is not the concept of the AI per se, but how this formula is being done in the DR and specifically in Punta Cana.

One new resort, same old AI plan :-/

As far the best destination in the DR, well that is certainly a matter of opinion. For me, it is Samana. I have not visited Habana, but among all the Caribbean capitals that I have visited, (more than 11) Santo Domingo is certainly the most exciting (I am not just referring to nightlife here). My father is from Puerto Plata and I can tell you that P. Plata/Sosua was a gem 25 years ago. So was Boca Chica.

Regards,
Natasha

>>> "My father is from Puerto Plata and I can tell you that P. Plata/Sosua was a gem 25 years ago. So was Boca Chica." <<<

Hi Natasha,

Just last nite Mrs. CES and I were talking about her recent holiday in Santo Domingo and she was lamenting the ruination of Boca Chica by over development (in spite of what Jim sez' about the virtuosity of Mega AI resorts . She didn't have the hart to spend any time on the public beach this visit, the over crowding, etc.

>>> "Unfortunately, what I am afraid is going to happen to Punta Cana and DR's tourism in general. . . " <<<

This is defiantly an application of the theory of "MORE is LESS" in this case, the continued development of specific areas for tourism will have the same end result as the sugar cane plantation exploitation has had on the DR, nearly irreparable damage to the country.

The following is my view of what the Spaniards and other foreign nationals are doing to the DR:

DR1 2000 Archive

Re: Why all inclusive?

Posted By: CES <ambersa@jps.net>

Date: Sunday, 18 June 2000

In Response To: Why all inclusive? (Anette)

For the past week I've followed this developing message thread. The many correspondents have presented arguments for and against the "All Inclusive" resort experience and how it relates to the DR and the tourists that choose to use the services of a tour operator/ packager. One contributor even went as far as to describing some of the "guests" that one might find at an "AI" resort.

This is my 'take' on the mega AI (owned by off shore interests) situation in the DR. I have neither the time nor the inclination to research the facts to support what I'm about so say, but I have confidence in my 'gut' feeling and personal experiences.

For the benefit of those readers that aren't familiar with my personal information: I first visited the DR for one month in Dec. 1966, the occasion was our honeymoon as I had just married "una Cibae?a" one of the Cibaos' 'best'. I should also say that some day we will return to the DR for something more than a vacation. In the last 34 years we've (wife & two daughters) vacationed and lived (once) on the island.

I know that some of the regulars here are full time residents and/ or business owners in the DR and have first hand knowledge of any thing that I might say and will respond if I speak in ignorance.

The Dominican Republic that I first visited was still, sort of, the land of Trujillo, "el jefe". The DR was still a smallish island nation that depended on "az?car" (in part) to pay the governments' bills (mainly military), hell there were only six or seven Dominican ball players in all the USA. Every thing was small and inter island travel was tenuous at best, but I had "family" and was having the experience of a life time, so not
to worry. I guess I'm saying that I found the 'hart' of my new Dominican family transcended any thing that I might be lacking from the physical world.

Now the stage is 'set', the sleepy nation will tumble into the 20th century to take its' place some what reluctantly. Natures' beauty will be discovered, again (Columbus remarked that the new found island was the most beautiful place on the earth) and exploited for the sake of the all mighty $ $ $ $. Fortunes are to be made and work will be accomplished, and this beautiful and will never be the same. The way I see it the establishment of a mega AI (multinational) resort is, in a simplistic way, the strip mining of one of the islands' most valuable resources. The operation of a strip mine can follow two different, and opposing
paths. The path of total destruction will leave the landscape a broken, jumbled mess that is unusable for anything else. The more responsible path will reclaim the pit, the rebirth of the land so to speak. Try as they may, the final result will NEVER be the same as the original. If you apply this analogy to the creation of a mega AI resort you should see that the same holds true in each case. Responsible operators will try to put everything right but it will never be quite the same. The land has been changed for ever, period.

Things do not forebode well for the Saman? peninsula, in Andy's' post he mentions that 'big time' operators (off shore interests) are eyeing the area to establish one or more complexes. This will
destroy the unique experience being offer to the world traveler, for some the chance of a lifetime to be one with nature. If the large operators prevail, the north shore of Saman? will be destroyed, its' spirit will be lost for ever. The northern coast of the peninsula can not and will not allow the small resort to exist side by side with the large mega AI.

Susanne's' post has a blue print for the ideal Dominican vacation experience:

http://dominican-republic-news.com/board/index.cgi?read=30869

In closing let me say this, the large mega AI operations WILL take their excess profits off island for other uses, the small mom and pops WILL spend their money locally and more Dominicans WILL have a chance at realizing their dream.

Por Dios, all one has to do is look at how the sugar barons have impacted life in the DR for ever.

Regards,

. . . CES

By a better "feeling", I refer to an overall atmosphere of enthusiasm and people enjoying themselves, as well as a camaraderie between the guests and the staff. To me, as well as to a number of other guests who return several times a year to H10, these features are more important than a larger or more elaborately decorated hotel. To you, perhaps, they are not. Up to you what you want, as I said.

"camaraderie between the guests and the staff".

I think I understand.