Hacienda Tropical

[love to travel]

My husband and I have booked our first trip to the DR. With the bargain prices, who could resist! We're staying at the Hacienda Tropical in Puerto Plata. Has anyone stayed at this resort? It looks great on the web site, but I'd like some first hand information (e.g., good/clean resort, good food, good night life etc...) also, I have requested an ocean view room, there seems to be different buildings with-in the resort. Does anyone have info on the better of the buildings?

Thanks, in advance, for the help!

 

[Prof. Tiberius Mineola]

Re: Hacienda complex - Cofresi

How are you travelling from Boston to Puerto Plata? Charter? AA? The Hacienda complex, a collection of 4 - 5 hotels & 5 - 6 restaurants is right on a 3/4 mile beach, well managed & very clean. You'll enjoy it. It's @ 15" from the city [population 100,000] by bus [cheap & interesting] or taxi - if you want a taste of urban Dominican life. I live in the area; you're in for a superior vacation. Much different than Ropes & Gray! Enjoy.

 

[hillbilly]

I've stayed there a couple of times

The restaurants are one of the most interesting things about the place. I think that there are more than 5 or six, but who is counting.
The cigar shop sell a lot of counterfeit Cubans but the Dominican cigars are better anyway.

Do go into Puerto Plata for an evening at Cafe Cito, just down behind the Cathedral. enjoy the Ambar Museum, get some ice cream there in front of the park. Check out when the band concerts are Wednesday evenings???

I'm betting you have a delightful time.

HB

 

[Susanne]

The Hacienda complex is huge. Cofresi is quite small but very nice, a mixture of tourist and residential area. I really like the beach. It is narrow but great for swimming with some big waves. It reminded me a bit of places in the South of France. If you walk along the beach (to the right) for approximately 20 minutes you walk right in to the neighbourhood of Costambar which is nice as well with a good choice of restaurants. It is a residential area mainly for well to do Dominicans and quite a few expats of all sorts of nationalities. 9 hole golf course, Los Mangos. If you take the coastal road you have to cross a river but we didn't mind getting a bit wet. The walk is nice.

A large part of Cofresi is up in the mountains just behind it - there used to be an excellent steak restaurant called Papillon, it is probably still there. Cafe Cito in Puerto Plata I would recommend as well, and in Cofresi by the beach there is Chris and Madys which is a great little place with good atmosphere.

If you want to read more about the Hacienda Complex (I have never stayed in it, only walked through) try www.debbiesdominicantravel.com (link below). There is a large amount of reviews of the Hacienda Tropical as well.

Regards,
Susanne

 

[love to travel]

Thank you so much for the info. I'll check out the link that you suggested. I'm sure I'll think of more questions to ask as the time draws nearer!

Thanks again!

 

[love to travel]

Re: Hacienda complex - Cofresi

We're traveling AA...leaving on a Thursday, with a layover in New York.

As far as the resort, are you able to use the facilities at all of the hotels? E.G. Restaurants, bars, pools, nightly entertainment?? From the pictures I see on line, it doesn't look like the water is as turquoise as other carribean islands! Is this true??

Thanks again for the info...I'm sure I'll be posting more, as the time draws nearer.

 

[Susanne]

Re: Hacienda complex - Cofresi

The water is usually not turquoise. Cofresi faces the Atlantic, not the Caribbean. This is one of the reasons. Another one is that the sea is often fairly lively, and the sand is quite dark, not white. So the reflections of the sun in the sea is a darker shade than turquoise, although no less beautiful.

If you want really turquoise waters in the DR, you have to chose Samana or the Punta Cana area. Especially Punta Cana (and perhaps the Southern coast which I don't know much about) is your basic Caribbean dream of palm studded beaches with turquoise waters. Punta Cana also faces the Caribbean Ocean rather than the Atlantic.

Regards,
Susanne