It is a fairly new typical AI....
catering to mass market tourism.
As such, their model of operation, in order to turn a profit, must include a large variety of inexpensive foods appealing to the broadest variety of guests. That is why, every day and night, you see so many of these resorts serving pasta y papas in so many different forms. Is it often times bland? Yes. Is it plentiful? Yes. But, in general, with due respect to the opinion of the poster above, I certainly cannot characterize it as awful.
The "gourmet" restaurants are way overrated. To me it was the same food as the buffet with a slight twist/alteration/addition, but in a more refined atmosphere. Again, that is not an indictment, but rather an observation.
NH has very nice pools and is on a very nice stretch of beach. If that is your main criteria, you will not be disappointed.
Service was typical of most AI's...hit and miss...but not something to let get under your skin. (My personal observation in various resorts has been that some people can get upset over what I find to be minor inconveniences. They then work themselves into a frenzy because things did not happen as quickly as they would have liked....then throw their hands up and declare "my vacation is ruined.")
Overall, NH represented excellent value for the money. They seem to have an ongoing aggressive marketing and pricing campaign, with prices beginning in the $59 per person per night range (I believe I paid $62 in April 2009). Not sure when you are going in January, but even though it's high season, prices the last two weeks of the month are usually much lower than the first two weeks of January, mostly due to the New Year hoilday time period.
Enjoy your vacation.
Respectfully,
Playacaribe2