Casa del mar - TERRIBLE

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Christopher Teal

Guest
I would like to express my great displeasure at the way my family and I were treated by
Casa del Mar. After having made a reservation over one month ago, we arrived at the
hotel on July 20, expecting to check in and enjoy the weekend. Instead we were greeted
with the notice that we had no reservation and there were no rooms available. Neither
the staff there nor the managers on duty could offer an explanation, or offer to find some
room available, or even offer an apology. Whatever the problem, I saw nothing done to
attempt to remedy the situation. In fact, we simple got the impression of ?Who
cares??Since some of my family had flow in to this country to enjoy time at the beach, I
can say it was only a very unfortunate way for them to be greeted. They are not likely
ever to return to the Dominican Republic and certainly not to Casa del Mar. As for me
and everyone I work with at the American Embassy in Santo Domingo, I have warned
them of the bad treatment and experience. Neither I nor most of my co-workers will
EVER be using the facilities of the hotel. I am not surprised to learn that others here
have had similar experiences. This treatment was simply unacceptable. If this is the
service for diplomats, imagine how they treat you.
 
E

ECH, M.D.

Guest
You know, I was beginning to empathize with you greatly reading your post. I even sympathize because it happened to me once in Sosua several years ago. BUT when I read....". If this is the
service for diplomats, imagine how they treat you." Why should Diplomats be treated with preference? Aren't you like everyone else?
 
E

edwin

Guest
When Spaniards are running the show, this is what you can expect
 
S

Sofy's B&B

Guest
Re: Casa del mar - TERRIBLE but.....at

Sofy's B&B we would never allow this to happen... we treat everybody as being DIPLOMATS!!!!! We may be small, but we care!
 
O

Onions and carrots

Guest
What do you expect. These guys make in a month of humiliating crappy work what you spend in a couple of months.They probably live in slums, have no car and wear the same clothing everyday. You're lucky they didn't rob you with all your protests about service.
 
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hillbilly

Guest
Hey Chris? I have a question...If you please

First off, I am sorry about your experience. Nobody likes to see a visitor get shat upon. It ain't good for the image.

Second, I tried to find this place in the phone book, to no avail. Do you nave the number? Just for the heck of it.

Third (yeah, I know, I said "a question"), why the phuc didn't you check out this place before hand? Like a Debbie's site or by asking for opinions here? If you did, well I guess we had better re-rate the place-I've never heard of it. And no written confirmation? Full up at this time of year? Something funny going on here.

Lastly, what did you do? Where did you end up?

Diplomatically,

HB
 
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edwin

Guest
Re: Hey Chris? I have a question...If you please

and the number is: 221-8880 ext.1816/1822, Guest Service Manager
 
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Joachim

Guest
This is unfortunate, however, when you start a job no matter what they pay is you should approach it with some professionalism and take pride in your work. Then the rewards will come later. Unfortuately, these people want high wages with low skills. At any job, you must prove yourself first, then you can look for more advancement.

These employees seem to feel that they are entitled to not doing any work and still get paid.
 
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azb

Guest
I have been to casa del mar many times and had nothing but A1 service from the staff. Its a complete and a well respected establishment.
First of all, you must do your homework before you go on a vacation in a third world country. You said, you had made a reservation a month ago; i suggest you should always reconfirm your reservation a week before departure to see if you still exist in the computer. Ever-since they had opened the new airport in La romana, all the hotels have hit a jackpot; always full. This is a hi season in DR and many offers are available to to dominicans at very attractive prices. I can't even get a room in any reasonable hotel in puerto Plata hotel (on weekends) even if i pay the full fare instead of the special offer.
they couldn't help you because you didn't exist in the computer and they were full to the max (including the rest of the hotels in the area). You would be surprised to see what type of stuff people come out with when they are desperate for a room. I am not suggesting that you are lying about having made the reservation (I feel that you have gotten screwed)but you must understand that many people do lie and make loud noises to get what they want. Ex: My friend just loves to tell everyone how he gets his way with the airlines when he wants something done; he simply augues in loud manner to distract everyone untill the airline just gives him what he wants to shut him up.
You see, there is no way of telling who is legitimate and who is not. Therefore the hotel staff have become a bit to accostumed to listening to loud mouth people who claim to have done this and that, its a daily battle for them. So now they have just become numb to the client's reaction and only follow the resort's policy by the book.
I hope you have better luck next time.
 
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Richard

Guest
Re: Casa del mar - TERRIBLE but.....at

It is indeed unfortunate that anyone no matter who they are ever have problems when they travel however the possible attitude shown by the "diplomat" involved gives me some pause as to how they dealt with the problems when they occurred. "If they acted in the "do you know who we are manner?" it would not show much in the way of professionalism. Just wondering of course.
 
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Jim Hinsch

Guest
From my earlier post, "Before I visit the Dominican Republic, and even before I buy my plane tickets, I like to have a confirmation in writing, as I?ve had problems before at various hotels, where they had no record of my reservation upon my arrival."

It pays to have a written confirmation. What happened to you has happened to me many times at various hotels, so I would never leave home without a written confirmation that is very specific as to anything that was promised (room type/location, price, # of days, etc.)

See http://dr1.com/board/index.cgi?read=61710.

I've also been told "the people that are in your room have decided to extend their stay, hence, we have no rooms."

This happened to me in Puerto Vallarta at Fiesta American just last year, and their only alternative was to send us to another hotel 5 miles away, away from the rest of our group. And, the rest of our group hadn't checked in yet, but because they had booked through Apple Tours, they were not bumped but we were. Fiesta Americana let us double up with one of our friends, did not charge for the first night (for our friends that shared their room), got us a room the next night and upgraded all of us to suites for the remainder of the stay, and gave us 4 free breakfasts.

At the Don Juan, I always reserved a specific room and the it happened there once as well.

At Casa Marina, from the referenced link: "they had not given us the room type that I had confirmed, a first floor room. It was a good thing I had it in writing. They did not want to change me until I insisted that I had been specifically confirmed a 1st floor room and had the paper to prove it." Actually, they REFUSED to change it until I produced the paper AND made a scene about it (if that's what it takes ...).
 
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Prof. Tiberius Mineola

Guest
Re: Casa del mar: Where is it?

A general comment: when People write @ resorts or hotels, whether the comments are positive or negative, it would be most useful if the writer indicated what city or town the resort is located in. Thank you.
 
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William Leslie

Guest
Re: Casa del mar: Where is it?

Exactly...WHERE IS IT. I know there is one in Cabarete which I saw today. I do not think it is the one mentioned in the posting earlier. But before I think bad of that place it would help knowing where is the Casa del Mar mentioned in the posts?
 
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azb

Guest
Re: Casa del mar: Where is it?

casa del mar is in bayahibe, about 20 mins east of la romana.
The hotel in cabarette is estrella del mar. please don't confuse one with the other eventhough they are both owned by Amhsa.
 
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William Leslie

Guest
Re: Casa del mar: Not confusing it..

Sorry..I am not confusing it with the Estrella del Mar...I am talking about Casa del Mar which is a large private villa located right on beachfront in Cabarete. It is leased out and managed I beleive by a management group that handles other villas on Cabarete Bay. They are a Swiss management group.
 
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Anny Mosity

Guest
Spaniards? The resort is owned by Americans! Well, Cuban Americans residing in West Palm Beach, Florida. It is managed by Casa Marina/AMHSA resorts, a Dominican company.

The owners also own most of La Romana including Casa de Campo, Altos de Chavon, and the largest sugar mill in the world. They are also the largest contributors in the state of Florida to both the Democrat and Republican parties. They are the largest sugar producers in Florida. They are billionaires. Look up Alfie Fanjul on your favorite search engine.

Do you think they are impressed that you are a diplomat? You are right, they couldn't care less. No reason to blame the whole country because your self importance wasn't recognized.
 
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Anny Mosity

Guest
Depending on who you make your reservation through, there is some money up front. The resort then issues a confirmation number. If you booked through a travel agent/tour operator, then they are responsible to make sure that your reservation is confirmed. If you booked with Casa del Mar directly, they will have requested a 1/3 of total cost deposit by credit card. They then issue you a confirmation number directly to you.

Please explain exactly how you made your reservation, how much deposit was paid and to whom, and what happened to that deposit when you were informed that there was no space. Also please give me your confirmation number. I will then investigate for you.
 
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John

Guest
Re: Casa del mar: Where is it?

casa del mar is a first class resort run by amsha in bayahibe
 
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