Santana Beach

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Bret

Guest
Looking for information on Santana Beach.

How far from Santo Domingo airport? What is the beach like? Overall rating of the resort (food, quality of rooms, etc.) Quiet/Busy? Families? Opinions on the resort??

I've been to Barcelo Beach and Palace in the the past. Just looking to change it up.

I hear it is fairly new (2-3 years old)

Any help greatly appreciated
 
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Beatriz

Guest
I haven't visited the hotel, but I send you here a link to their web page
 
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louise

Guest
Bret

The Santana is rated a 5 star. It is very secluded. There are no other hotels near by. It is just outside of the city of San Pedro, about 40 minutes from the Santo Domingo airport. It is good for families/couples. It only opened last fall and I have heard very good feedback from friends that have been.

Louise
 
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jay

Guest
Does anyone have any prices on this place? I've never heard of it, but it looks and sounds great. I'll be in DR in October and would love to check it out. Please pass on any info.

Jay
 
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rabble rouser

Guest
bret, approx. 1 hour east of Santo Domingo, 10-15 min. east of San Pedro de Macoris this resort opened late november, 1999. 400 rooms, 400 more plus a casino in the plans to be built. i think you would be hard pressed to find any difference between this and any other of the hotels you have stayed at, or any other of the 4*/5* rated A-I hotels in the country. one exception to that statement-nightly entertainment will be limited.

as for the beach what the lovely pictures you have seen don't show is that it is entirely man-made. not shown off to the left and right sides of the photos the beach is still in a mostly natural form with beautiful soft gray-brown sand; perfect to walk on and perfect for kids to build their sandcastles on; hundreds of sea shells for those who like to collect them.

however someone in their ultimate wisdom decided that tourists don't appreciate sand unless it is white, and so, instead hundreds of truckloads of gritty white crushed stone (similar to the fine stone used when laying interlocking brick) have been dumped over top of the existing beach. then, i assume in an attempt to prevent this new "sand" from washing away,a massive L-shaped rock breakwall has been built out into the ocean. recent discussions mention a"strip-mining" theory to the building of resorts in DR-this resort exemplifies it.

hope you got the answers you were looking for.
 
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Bret

Guest
Rabble Rouser,

Your comments about "gritty white crushed stone" bothers me. This indicates the beach "sand" is course or rough to walk on, the stuff would stick to you and it would be extremely hot to walk on. Can you please help me to better understand this?

Is the water itself calm? does it suddenly drop after walking 20 yards in? is there seaweed along the bottom that you can't go into the water?

Basically, my family (including 2 young children) loves the beach and we would be extremely disappointed if the "sand" on the beach is not "sand" (if you know what I mean)

Basically, I'm looking for a comfort feel of the beach.

What I've read and seen tells me the complex is up to par when it comes to food, pools, cleanliness, rooms etc.

If you have been to Punta Cana (Barcelo resort), how would you compare it to Santana?
 
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Jim Hinsch

Guest
You should consider the Hotel Hamaca at Boca Chica Beach. There, the sand is soft, white, and the water is dead calm and shallow with a very gradual decline. See pictures and info at <A HREF="http://www.BocaChicaBeach.net">www.BocaChicaBeach.net</A>. There, you will find very detailed descriptions of the beach and water.
 
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rabble rouser

Guest
bret, water was quite calm because of the breakwall i mentioned, with a fairly gradual drop off. certainly lots of shallow water for kids to play. yes sand was quite coarse, equivalent to what you will find in acapulco, not terribly hot but not really comfortable on the feet either, and certainly not conducive(sp?) to building sand castles. as i said the natural beach sand was much pleasanter and was what most people would expect on a beach.

yes resort is "on par" with others, but if your kids are non- swimmers, pools are not much good. large pool is 4'deep all around, even at the bottom of the stairs going in. kid pool is 2' deep all around so the littlest ones can't even sit down in it.

i'm sure you would have a pleasant time there, but i'm also sure you could find a resort that is more kid friendly.
 
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