Review & Comments - Hvgb
We just got home, after 7 days at HVGB. Here is my review.
Check In - Check Out: We arrived from Edmonton, AB on Wed., Feb. 21, in the evening. There were about 30 of us on the Signature bus from the airport. Check in was handled quickly. They gave us our room cards and towel cards, along with the "First Choice/Signature Guide Book (which, by the way, is a must read. Lots of good information there). No problem. We were the last ones to check in and I noticed that if the guests didn't ask for the safe key, they didn't offer it at all. Overall, I think the front desk staff could have been more helpful. All during our stay they often didn't "understand" our requests. Check out went smoothly, and I have no complaints there. There is a secure baggage room and courtesy rooms, so guests can shower and change into their travelling clothes, if need be.
Our Room: We booked a standard room. And it was that - VERY standard. The TV only received 6 channels, all Spanish. We sure weren?t there to watch TV anyway, so, no big deal. (I would have liked an English news channel, though). We didn't plan on being in our room much either, so we didn?t need ay frills. Everything was very clean. One complaint is that after the first day we never got any wash cloths or hand towels, for 3 days. We tipped very well, from day one, so I don't think that was the problem. We always had lots of bottled water, but they never restocked the beer or soft drinks that we consumed. Not a problem, just an observation. A lot of people have written that their fridge wasn't very cold. Maybe most don't realize that for refrigerators to be efficient they require some air flow. If you leave the cabinet doors open, all the time, everything will become (and stay) very cold. Our room was about as far from the main buildings and beach as you could get. It was by the casino and water park. It was pretty noisy all the time. My husband has arthritis in his hips and knees. When I booked, I requested a room close to all the amenities. I was told they would do their "BEST". When we shared our concern with the hotel staff that he would have trouble walking so far each day, we were told "No problem...call the desk and we will send the porter to pick you up and bring you to the lobby". Every time we tried, IF they answered the phone, we were told no one would be able to pick us up. We were told we could not change our room either. This is the one thing that I am angry about. There were other guests with mobility problems, too, and I think a shuttle service would REALLY have improved our stay. Others we spoke with about this agreed. (I am now trying to book a vacation (elsewhere) so he can rest from his "vacation" at HVGB. (Not really, just kidding).
Restaurants and Bars: We found the food very satisfactory. The tomatoes were the best I have ever tasted. (Even better than the ones I have grown myself). We certainly never went hungry. I think if you can?t find anything to eat, especially at the buffet, you are probably too picky and should stay at a 5 Star Hotel instead. We never had any trouble booking our dinner reservations, for any of the restaurants. They take reservations for dinner, for the next day, from 9 a.m. - 11 a.m. and again from 3 p.m. - 5 p.m. daily, 2 seating times are available..6:30 p.m. or 8:30 p.m. The only complaint I have regarding food is, that the "snacks" located in the internet area, were often bombarded by the birds, if people didn't cover the trays up again, after selecting their cookies or sandwiches, or whatever was being served.
The bartenders were generous with the libations, and all the drinks we tried were great. The beer was excellent. I found the adult bar to be a little bit loud, but it was certainly ok for a quick drink. Only one complaint about all the bars...no Canadian Rye Whiskey!! Almost everyone using this thread have complained or been worried about becoming sick, from the food and water. We all tend to get "travellers diarrhea" when we go on a holiday such as this. It usually happens around the 4th day. People are too quick to blame just the food and water. Remember, your body has had a big adjustment to make, with climate changes and time changes, alone. Water is a problem, if you are careless. When you are out of the resort even "bottled" water is questionable. I suggest to either get the "travellers diarrhea" Vaccine..DUKORAL? ..or bring lots of Imodium?. (It does the job).
The Beach and Pools: We didn't try the wave pool, but we enjoyed the main pool area. If you have "little ones" who will be using the wading pool, be careful around the "rocks". They are fabricated rocks and my husband found a rebar wire sticking out quite far. If anyone (little or big) were to scrape against it they could be cut quite badly. We did report it to the Signature rep, so hopefully this is no longer a concern. The beach was lovely, with very soft, golden sand. They raked the seaweed and debris off the beach quite often, with minimum disruption to the sunbathers. There were usually lots of sun beds available and getting clean, dry beach towels was never a problem. The drinks are good at the beach bar. The lunch menu is good, too. The Steak sandwich..Mmmmm. Overall, a great time at the beach.
Security: One thing that really concerned me was the fact that "locals" who do not work at the resort, and guests from other hotels are permitted access to the casino and night club, and maybe more facilities that I am not aware of. There was at least one theft while we were at HVGB. This I know to be a fact. (Friends we were travelling with knew the victims personally). (That theft was not a "rumour"). Their room was ransacked, the thieves were looking for the safe key or valuables of any sort. Their laptop did not fit into the safe, so of course it was left out and available. Signature/First Choice should have dealt with the matter right then, by issuing a warning to the other guests. I think we had a right to be warned. By keeping it quiet, the rumour mill starts. Pretty soon there were 10 robberies, instead of the one that actually happened. Who will ever know how many really took place? Signature said they would "look into it" but they had no real hope of ever finding the thief. (The cleaning staff was implicated). I think it is pretty hard to accuse the staff only, when they are allowing all types of strangers onto their resort. Ultimately, you are the one in charge of your security and protecting your valuables. Do yourself a favour...leave your expensive electronics at home. The safe is a free service...USE IT. It's not large, but it's big enough to hold your passports, jewellery, money and small electronics, etc.
The only trouble I had with being ripped off, while at HVGB, was when I had to print my e-document off the Signature website, for the return flight. (A total of 5 pages). It costs $0.50 US per page to print. I was prepared to pay $3.00 US, since they don't believe in giving change in the Dominican Republic. Imagine my surprise when the attendant tried to charge me $10.00 US. I called him on it, and he apologized when he realized that if I reported him, he could loose his job. Hardly worth the seven bucks he hoped to pocket.
Just always be aware of what you are buying and what you are paying for it. Pretty simple really.
There were all ages there when we were there, and I think there is something for everyone to enjoy, you just have to look for it. They have lots of activities for the kids.
By the way?the Yuk Yuk?s Comedy Club was well worth the price of admission. We really enjoyed it.
IN CLOSING, WE THOUGHT THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC WAS BEAUTIFUL. THE HOTEL OVERALL, WAS ADEQUATE, FOR THE PRICE.
