GRAN VENTANA, Puerto Plata - TELL ALL

[Jacqui]

We're two couples who are booked to stay at GRAN VENTANA HOTEL in Playa Dorada Complex, Puerto Plata, D.R..

If YOU HAVE STAYED THERE, PLEASE SHARE any thoughts/insights/tips about:

- Rooms (which & where are best rooms, why)
- Food (Buffet & a la carte restaurants)
- Reservations (a la carte restaurants, any tips)
- Pools (quiet vs. main pool)
- Discos (Andromeda, Crazy Moon, Charlies, Tropimal - price, music style??)
- Beach & Ocean (rocky, need water shoes, deep?? etc.)
- Currency (need to convert before/after arrival to pesos?)
- Excursions (which ones? best prices? where to buy? any to avoid?)
- Any other tips you'd like to share with us.

Thanks to everyone who reads and responds...

Much appreciated.

 

[Natasha]

You can see traveller's reviews of Gran Ventana at Debbies Dominican Republic travel pages. Just follow the link.

Regards,
Natasha

 

[Bob Morris]

We are booked for our 4th visit to Gran Ventana for the month of Feb. 2001.

WE are an older couple so cannot suggest too much about discos and such requiring what we consider youthful agility and interest.

As you are probably aware you eat 18 meals each week in the excellent cafeteria. You are allowed 1 meal each week in one of the three specialty restauraunts. Of these our favourite was the one over the cafeteria (the name escapes me for the moment). The Mediterean also serves elegant food with a more continental flavour. The Beach Club is fine but we found that evening insects seemed to want their meal from my wife.

AS of of 2000 they set a procedure whereby you can book all of your visits to the specialty restaurants at one sitting. Previous years it was a matter of lining up at 8:00 am on the day to get in for that day. I would recommend that you try each one at least once. Actually we enjoyed the cafeteria so much we did not use all our tickets to the others. TIP make sure you do have all the tickets to which you are entitled when you are handed your package when checking in. You don't have to stand and count them right away but do check at your first opportunity.

Rooms - we have always stayed in the oldest of the three builings (SAONA) and AWAY from the pool. Because of our age we insist on ground floor as there are no elevators. If you go to the "quiet pool" area, which is the newest building, you may want to insist on being on the pool side. WE heard many complaints from people who were on the outside of the building that neighbouring resorts were often very noisy and very late.

Have to run now and I may have missed some of your questions but feel free to ask moe from <rlmorris@telus.net>.

ENJOY

 

[Tom]

internet Cafes

mail to: thlm@gmx.de

Somebody knows Internet Cafes
in Sto. Domingo or Puerto Plata?

Thanks

Thomas

Alguin sabe direcciones de
Internet Cafes en Sto Domingo
o Puerto Plata?

Gracias

Thomas

 

[Jacqui]

Thanks Bob... much appreciated.

How old is the Saona building?

Is it as nice as the other two building or does it show it's age?

You mentioned Saona is'away from' pool... does that mean farthest from the pool? How far?

What's the name of the other building near the "activity" pool?

What's the name of the building located around the "quiet" pool?

Did you have any problem with water: drinking, pressure, etc.?

A la Carte Restaurants - everything included or some items pay supplement? How much?

CAN ANY ONE ELSE OFFER ANY TIPS/SUGGESTIONS... ANY THING??

Big Thanks to all who do. Jacqui

 

[Bob Morris]

Further to my previous report. Soana (if I've spelled it correctly) does have rooms facing the pool. It is is a modified H-hut style of structure (3 stories) and we always choose rooms on the inner side of the building away from the pool. I believe it is about 5 years old (could be six). I don't know the names of the other buidings - sorry. All I do know is that the numbering for each indicate their age (or seniority might be a better expression) with S??? all rooms start with 1 and we like 1133, the next building starting with 2's faces the first across the pool. The third building, around the quiet pool was built ing 1999, we watched it going up.

All specialty restaurants offer special items in addition to the a la carte menu. If I recall the prices start around 350 peso (about $35.00 CAD) per serving. Of these items lobster is the only one that comes to mind, probably because the waters down there are too warm for a lobster fishery.

Also they have their own web site at <A HREF="http://www.victoriahoteles.com.do">www.victoriahoteles.com.do</A>. This features some views of the rooms, pools, and other facilities.

My memory is short so if I've missed any of your questions don't hesitate to ask. You may detect a slight(?) bias to my responses primarily because we like to lay back and do anything we can't possibly avoid and we have found Gran Ventana the ideal spot for that.

Regards Bob

 

[Bob Morris]

Hi again:

Just reviewed your questions and I see I missed the water. ALL drinking water for visitors is bottled! You will find 2 bottles in your room when you check in and there are places to refill same always available.

Showering can be something of an adventure as the temperature and pressure can change dramatically while you are in progress. I'm a tub person myself and found we had to move once (in 1999) because the tub would not hold water for the long relaxing soak I like to indulge in. Aside from that no real problems. My wife is much more of an in and out person and managed showers without too many problems although she did get surprised once.

Again, regards Bob