Holiday Village Resort

[happyholiday]

planner
i have not been on this site that long but thankyou for all the information you have provided.
we will arrive june 5 and will have school suplies if you would like to meet up so you can give them toyou for where is needed that would be great .been collecting stuff since about september ,have loads now

 

[brijohn]

2 Good looking Guys

Yes Planner we are told we are good looking & can Dance, So who knows, Forgot to say, is there any thing we can bring you, as a way of saying Thank You for all the time you have spent on this forum, helping all of us out with the multitude of questions & request we have sent your way, & to HappyHoliday, That would be a great plan to meet up & share a drink or 2, Is this your first time to DR & by the way how old are your kids, if you dont mine me asking, Planner, can I ask what sort of dances would you be able to teach us.

 

[Gopher]

Beds

Hi Planner my mom and her two sisters are going to the HV and when they booked the only available room has a king bed, they will bring in a cot. Is the cot comfortable, is it possible to change to two double beds?

 

[Leafs Fanatic]

Passport situation,

Do I need a passport if I am flying from Canada right to DR. I was told that you only need 2 pieces of ID Birth cert and DL

J

I was told by my travel agent that I had to have a passport to travel to the DR, its just a good idea to have one regardless!

April

 

[Leafs Fanatic]

I understand the age thing quite well, hence getting married at this age. So all of you wanting to help us celebrate at the HVGB,come on over and buy us a drink LOL We can't wait to get to the HVGB and put some faces to these names.
My friend bought it at J C Penny, when we went to Vegas to get married.

Hey Snow, is Vegas not the Disney land for adults?? OMG I loved that place, did you getting married at a elvis inspired chapel??

 

[torontocouple]

April - When is your flight? Ours is 0700 Sat toronto pearson skyservice. I hope its not too cramped as my boyfriend is 6'4"

Snowolf - Margaritatas are coming soo. I remember one that had cranberry and a slice of apple. So delicious Can't wait to meet you "old farts" Hehe, jk.

Planner - Anything you need from Toronto? It would be a real pleasure to also meet you...


Any word back on that mug issue? I have a huge one from bass Pro that can fit a good 4 brewskies in it.

 

[mel mountie]

Hi Gopher

we will be at HVGB from 3rd - 17th March. Two british families with kids aged 4, 7 and 13. maybe see you there!!!

great video that you can now watch on the first choice site!!

 

[zwinky]

loved it

We were at the HV from Dec 28 through Jan 5 for a week and had a fantastic time. We have 2 children ages 11 and 13 and they also loved it and can't wait to go back. We were given a family room 31.2 which had 2 queen beds and included a fridge and we backed onto the golf course. We didn't get the family room with the seperate room with bunk beds but we thought it was great. No problems with plumbing, air cond. or bugs. TV worked fine although we only watched 2 show, we were not in our room long enough to appreciate it.
We went to 2 dinners out, one Oriental and one Italian and really enjoyed both. When we were there the resort was full and only 2 restaurants were open so we were lucky to even to get those 2 meals. Sounds like they've made some changes so you can book more meals, I believe they would only book them after every Tuesday until they were full then you had to wait until the next Tuesday so it really didn't work. We were actually fine with the buffet also, the food was pretty good and the selection was big enough that you could have differen meals on different days. Our kids loved the pancakes for breakfast and we really enjoyed the omelets. New years Eve was great, good feast and it they put in a big effort with party hats and favors and the champagne was flowing. We all really loved the entertainment, nice to have dancers in. I believe they had some type of dancers in on the night we arrived but it we missed it.
The entertainment otherwise was not great, we really didn't enjoy any of it. The kids arrobics on the stage with the volume full blast for an hour and a half was quite irritating. Would have been a little easier on everyone if the volume was down.
We were disappointed that we couldn't use the pool after 6 pm. There was not a lot for the teens and preteens to do in the evenings. We let them go on the internet and walked around but it would have been great to have at least 1 pool open.
We tried the kids club one night, it as advertised as "Chocolate" and we paid $4 and after we picked her up we found out they played games, one including stuffing marshmallows in their mouths and talking and the other games were rewarded with smarties. We basically paid $4 for a few marshmallows and 12 smarties. We tried again to take both of them on new years day evening but that night they were showing the movie "Broke back Mountain". The kids of course didn't want to go. Maybe we just hit 2 bad nights.
The Wave pool and waterslide are fantastic and we spent a lot of time at them. The kids loved them and we found it a great atmosphere. The bar/food area was great and the kids met a lot of really nice other children.
We went on the outback saffari tour booked through the hotel and it was perfect. There are apparently 2 different outback saffari tours through the same company and we were on the one that took them boogie boarding. The other one goes to a waterfall where you can climb up and slide down. We were greatful that we were on the one tha boogie boarded, thought it was probably safer for the kids.
The other tour we took was on a yaght and then snorkling at Paradise Island. It was a bit expensive but worth every penny. We all had a blast.
I would highly recommend both tours, they were both really fantastic.
We took the horse drawn carriage rides into the plaza twice to shop and got some great souvineers. Only got taken once and it was bags of cocoa. We bought 2 smaller ones which were real cocoa as we know it and we got 2 larger bags that have cocoa bark. We're not sure what to do with cocoa bark, it didn't really grind up properly so we'll probably end up tossing them. We also shopped at the beach at the orange huts and had lots of fun haggling with the vendors. Great deals also but a little bit much with kids around.
All in all we really had a great time and would definately go back again. My husband and myself had cramps and mild trots while we were there and the kids had it much worse the day we left. We took them into a Dr. and found out that you can get a vacine 2 weeks before you leave and it is good for a year and it helps out with this problem. I wished I had known, we would have all had the vacine but that is the only thing I would have done any differently.
Have fun, we did!!

 

[Leafs Fanatic]

April - When is your flight? Ours is 0700 Sat toronto pearson skyservice. I hope its not too cramped as my boyfriend is 6'4"

Snowolf - Margaritatas are coming soo. I remember one that had cranberry and a slice of apple. So delicious Can't wait to meet you "old farts" Hehe, jk.

Planner - Anything you need from Toronto? It would be a real pleasure to also meet you...


Any word back on that mug issue? I have a huge one from bass Pro that can fit a good 4 brewskies in it.

Hey Torontocouple!

I hear they are not exactly roomy flights, but it is a short one so he should be ok!

No word on the Mug's or not, I have packed mine anyways! I was in Bass Pro today ( i live in Vaughn) they had bug spray with 30% deet, which is the best I can find so far.

Planner is a big fan of chocolate!!, books, newspaper from the day you take off and of course school supplies.

Planner - You Rock!

Ron-- Sens won last night 3-0 and toronto...well lets not mention them right now - it was bad, really bad

 

[go leafs go]

Hey Ron, hope all is well out there, your not on writing reviews, so must mean your celebrating the sens win!! No quiet the same for me LOL

Is anyone with family going Feb 1?

 

[snowolf]

Hey Snow, is Vegas not the Disney land for adults?? OMG I loved that place, did you getting married at a elvis inspired chapel??

na no Elvis at the wedding, but sure saw him in a few places. We had almost as good of time as we plan to have at HVGB, with all our new friends

tocouple, we will have to try all the different margaritas & I remember a drink called a Chocolate Monkey, that was pretty good at the resort we stayed at in the DR last Feb.

We went to 711 and got our giant cups so we can make less trips to the bar, with lids to keep bugs and sand out LOL Off season they were even on sale

 

[torontocouple]

Passport situation,

Do I need a passport if I am flying from Canada right to DR. I was told that you only need 2 pieces of ID Birth cert and DL

J

My mother works at the passport office in Toronto and the above information is CORRECT. While it is easier and more convenient to travel with a passport, you CAN use two forms of ID (including your birth certificate) to travel by AIR to the DR.
However, it will take longer for the airport to get you on your flight, and also they will stamp your birth certificate (like they stamp your passport) so if you want to go faster and not have your birth cert. stamped, isuggest a passport.

Keep in mind that if worse comes to worse, you can alwyas just bring your drivers lisence and birth certificate.

 

[Leaving March 8th]

To the welsh lot -
it is sorta confusing how they booked us, since my 13 year old is considered an "adult"?!?#% we had to get another room. So since we are going with another family that has a 13 year old, we were going to try to put them together and have adjoining rooms (and keep the doors open of course). Bit of a glitch as this resort does not have any adjoining rooms. Sooo yes they will both be in our standard King room with us - I am told the cots are comfortable. I guess we'll see. I am still waiting for the travel agent to make arrangements for us - as they told us before we booked that we could have the rooms adjoining, then found out after it isn't possible.
LLooking forward to getting away ^_^ See you in 48 Days!!!

 

[torontocouple]

So does anyone know where that aqua lounge is? I want to see the leafs play down there and I bet I would have a line up of people joining me Hopefully its the leafs vs the sens that week! Also, how is that magda disco or whatever they call it...is it for resort patrons only or can the locals go to?

 

[Leaving March 8th]

Thw Welsh lot, Gopher and Mel mountie - looking forward to meeting you over the March Break! Sounds like we all have little ones in and around the same ages. We have about a foot of snow here now (live an hour north or Toronto) really looking forward to the hot sun!!!

 

[ithink_ihope_iknow]

not as advertised---overated



we have just returned from the Holiday Village Golden Beach
My opinion is this is still the run down tired resort.

The GOOD point -- children visiting the resort are kept entertained and the staff work very hard to keep them entertained.

The BAD points--
room:
we spent 3 days with no hot water,after we had reported it continually they decided to move us to a different room,the family room we was moved to was still in the process of renovation,lose electrical wires,no mirror,no iron,hairdryer,no telephone but it was ok because we finally had hot water and was able to shower in our own room.
The next day we had a Dominican room storm and the water pouring through our room and onto our bed,we was told we had no other room to move to because the ones they had was not ready so they came and put buckets in our room to catch the rain.
The next day my husband flushed the toilet and it leaked over the floor so we reported the leaking the toilet and they said sumone would come to fix it.
During the night i woke up and could smell something foul so put the lights on and there was c*** and water running out of the bathroom into the bedrooms.The hotel staff said this was due to a broken pipe which had caused the toilets in our block to flood out.
I went with an open mind because i knew the hotel had only just reopened and kinks would need ironing out but the inferstructure of this hotel is just not acceptable.
Some of the staff were very rude including the reps.
My daughter was thinking of getting married here later this year.I would not take a free holiday here again nevermind get married here.
the a la carte buffet is okish-- the problem was finding a table with clean cutlery and glasses.
Occidental is a big hotel chain and i have stayed in many Occidental hotels and can say this hotel is not worth your money.
I was told whilst staying there that there is someone who works for First choice that visits this site and tells people that the hotel is improving etc well if this is so then i have got ONE MESSAGE for you--the hotel is falsely advertised and telling people that it is improving and advising people not to take it out on the Reps etc is below the belt.The hotel doesn't come close to a 3 star nevermind a 4 star!
If you are single or going to this resort with a partner then this resort will not be for you.
The only reason we didn't leave this resort and get an early flight home is because our children loved the entertainment so much.
An official letter of complaint will be sent to first choice this week.

 

[jolyn]

We arrived home yesterday and we had a great time. Yes, the rooms are still tired looking, but you only sleep there. Check-in was fast and we found that the reps tried their best. Kids club was great, the staff are great with the children. I thought the E-3 Entertainers were good, they worked hard to keep you entertained, the Caberet night was great. Buffet was good, something different every night. Antonio and Franklin were great at the wave pool bar, they really took good care of us. We will definitely be going back.

 

[el_loco]

who knows joe from old jack tar?

how many people here know joe from old jack tar

 

[Oilersdiehard]

My mother works at the passport office in Toronto and the above information is CORRECT. While it is easier and more convenient to travel with a passport, you CAN use two forms of ID (including your birth certificate) to travel by AIR to the DR.
However, it will take longer for the airport to get you on your flight, and also they will stamp your birth certificate (like they stamp your passport) so if you want to go faster and not have your birth cert. stamped, isuggest a passport.

Keep in mind that if worse comes to worse, you can alwyas just bring your drivers lisence and birth certificate.

Thank you for the info, we will be there from April4th to the 11th about 20 of us from 24 and up

Chow

 

[Oilersdiehard]

we have just returned from the Holiday Village Golden Beach
My opinion is this is still the run down tired resort.

The GOOD point -- children visiting the resort are kept entertained and the staff work very hard to keep them entertained.

The BAD points--
room:
we spent 3 days with no hot water,after we had reported it continually they decided to move us to a different room,the family room we was moved to was still in the process of renovation,lose electrical wires,no mirror,no iron,hairdryer,no telephone but it was ok because we finally had hot water and was able to shower in our own room.
The next day we had a Dominican room storm and the water pouring through our room and onto our bed,we was told we had no other room to move to because the ones they had was not ready so they came and put buckets in our room to catch the rain.
The next day my husband flushed the toilet and it leaked over the floor so we reported the leaking the toilet and they said sumone would come to fix it.
During the night i woke up and could smell something foul so put the lights on and there was c*** and water running out of the bathroom into the bedrooms.The hotel staff said this was due to a broken pipe which had caused the toilets in our block to flood out.
I went with an open mind because i knew the hotel had only just reopened and kinks would need ironing out but the inferstructure of this hotel is just not acceptable.
Some of the staff were very rude including the reps.
My daughter was thinking of getting married here later this year.I would not take a free holiday here again nevermind get married here.
the a la carte buffet is okish-- the problem was finding a table with clean cutlery and glasses.
Occidental is a big hotel chain and i have stayed in many Occidental hotels and can say this hotel is not worth your money.
I was told whilst staying there that there is someone who works for First choice that visits this site and tells people that the hotel is improving etc well if this is so then i have got ONE MESSAGE for you--the hotel is falsely advertised and telling people that it is improving and advising people not to take it out on the Reps etc is below the belt.The hotel doesn't come close to a 3 star nevermind a 4 star!
If you are single or going to this resort with a partner then this resort will not be for you.
The only reason we didn't leave this resort and get an early flight home is because our children loved the entertainment so much.
An official letter of complaint will be sent to first choice this week.

Sucks to be you!!!!

Did you actually leave the room???