You'll Feel Like Royalty at This Adults-only All-inclusive in the Dominican Republic — With Private Butlers and 6 Pools

[El Hijo de Manolo]

Slot machines, all you can eat and juggling acts are used to entice AI customers

Add in a Celine Dion show and you have the middle American phenomenon known as Las Vegas

 

[El Hijo de Manolo]

The law doesn't allow you to. 80% of your staff have to be Dominicans in hospitality. Dominicans who have never themselves been to another country so have never seen it done differently, and have probably never even slept in a hotel. Or been to anything like a fine dining restaurant.

I cannot imagine going to a Michelin starred restaurant anywhere on the planet and sitting down and the waitress calling me "babe" from the get-go. But in DR, even at top end places like Meson de la Cava I'm immediately called "mi amor" and they talk to me using the "Tu" form, which again would be completely unacceptable anywhere else. Imagine any waitress in France in any restaurant going up to a mature lady and saying "Bonjour mon amour, comment te vas?".

All this time I was calling you mi amor 😢

 

[cavok]

After I read that website and I checked the google maps and seems that property is not that big but looks nice though. I checked the rates and I think I would need 50 jobs to stay there for a weekend.

They must of added one too many zeros(?). 30,000 acres is huge! That would be about 47 square miles or a parcel 6 miles by 8 miles.

 

[playacaribe2]

Same restaurant as the location near IKEA?

The Bamboo I refer to is inside the Punta Cana Resort. I do not believe they are affiliated other than sharing the same name.

Respectfully,
Playacaribe2

 

[johne]

It is not about getting me to understand as we are talking about opinions. I too have traveled more than I care to remember. I just do not find the need to constantly criticize the service, the workers, etc... You are also comparing Europe to the DR which is not a realistic comparison. I have a hard time understanding why anyone who feels most everything about the DR is "atrocious" would live or run a business in the DR. But this is just my opinion. Every thread in this forum when about resorts, etc..is met with nothing but criticism. It does get a bit old but again it is opinions. Now moving on...

Maybe I am among the few that"understand" (But I don't know the solution) Maria's "point". She is clearly not criticising service, workers etc (Dominicans), in fact, she points out the AI level, they are doing a good job. The thread goes on to talk of levels beyond that kind of service to $800/night (OP). AS support for her comments she described class AAA service at real 5 star restaurants, hotels, airlines etc and stated this is NOT available in the DR. (The dozens of reasons that is true, I'm not going to get into here since that would be study in a couple of hundred years of cultural history. )

In summary I find it very easy to "understand" her response and her supporting examples.

 

[keepcoming]

Maybe I am among the few that"understand" (But I don't know the solution) Maria's "point". She is clearly not criticising service, workers etc (Dominicans), in fact, she points out the AI level, they are doing a good job. The thread goes on to talk of levels beyond that kind of service to $800/night (OP). AS support for her comments she described class AAA service at real 5 star restaurants, hotels, airlines etc and stated this is NOT available in the DR. (The dozens of reasons that is true, I'm not going to get into here since that would be study in a couple of hundred years of cultural history. )

In summary I find it very easy to "understand" her response and her supporting examples.

Point is this, you cannot compare Europe or the USA to the DR. Different models. It is great you that you understand Maria's point. Mine is, everything is based on opinions, yours, mine, etc... I just do not see or have experienced the atrocious service, etc... that is constantly talked about. It never fails, as soon as a thread about Punta Cana, resorts, etc, pops up, the same ones are here criticizing over and over with the same responses. And that does get old. I get it, Punta Cana is not everyone's thing. But must we have the same negative posts each and every time. Thanks for your point of view.

 

[El Hijo de Manolo]

Point is this, you cannot compare Europe or the USA to the DR. Different models. It is great you that you understand Maria's point. Mine is, everything is based on opinions, yours, mine, etc... I just do not see or have experienced the atrocious service, etc... that is constantly talked about. It never fails, as soon as a thread about Punta Cana, resorts, etc, pops up, the same ones are here criticizing over and over with the same responses. And that does get old. I get it, Punta Cana is not everyone's thing. But must we have the same negative posts each and every time. Thanks for your point of view.

I see plenty of positive posts. In fact, the positive posts on this site seem to far outweigh the negative. What's a negative post anyway? Something that doesn't fit someone else's agenda? No one likes their baby called ugly, unfortunately. I like that you say it's about opinion -- that is the key. I would never shut down someone because of their opinion. Happiness is an inside job! God (whomever he is) bless our members and DR1!

 

[MariaRubia]

All this time I was calling you mi amor 😢

You're allowed to. The exception that provea the rule

 

[MariaRubia]

i just do not see or have experienced the atrocious service, etc... that is constantly talked about. It never fails, as soon as a thread about Punta Cana, resorts, etc, pops up, the same ones are here criticizing over and over with the same responses. And that does get old. I get it, Punta Cana is not everyone's thing. But must we have the same negative posts each and every time. Thanks for your point of view.

So you have never been to a bank in DR? Or to a shop? Example. This very afternoon I went to Almacenes Unidos in Bella Vista. We started asking one young man to help us. We went to show him a photo of what we needed in that split second someone else grabbed him and he walked off without a word of apology. And that is absolutely 100% standard of Dominican service. I have been waiting 5 months for Banco Popular to give me a letter which I ask them for every week. I have been waiting 4 months for Scotiabank to give me a new credit card. I was cut off three times while trying to call Claro earlier. I was grunted at in Punta Cana airport by the guy in immigration when I said buenas tardes. And I could go on and on and on. This type of service is completely normal here and Dominicans think it's OK. They don't suddenly have an epiphany when they work in a resort and they take that concept of acceptable service standards with them.

And just to repeat my point once more I think that level of service is fine at a lower price point. But move up to the 700 a night bracket and it isn't. That is the only point I have been making.

 

[keepcoming]

So you have never been to a bank in DR? Or to a shop? Example. This very afternoon I went to Almacenes Unidos in Bella Vista. We started asking one young man to help us. We went to show him a photo of what we needed in that split second someone else grabbed him and he walked off without a word of apology. And that is absolutely 100% standard of Dominican service. I have been waiting 5 months for Banco Popular to give me a letter which I ask them for every week. I have been waiting 4 months for Scotiabank to give me a new credit card. I was cut off three times while trying to call Claro earlier. I was grunted at in Punta Cana airport by the guy in immigration when I said buenas tardes. And I could go on and on and on. This type of service is completely normal here and Dominicans think it's OK. They don't suddenly have an epiphany when they work in a resort and they take that concept of acceptable service standards with them.

And just to repeat my point once more I think that level of service is fine at a lower price point. But move up to the 700 a night bracket and it isn't. That is the only point I have been making.

I am sorry you have these experiences, a lot it seems. Of course I have been to a bank, shop, etc... I just honestly do not have the experiences you do. Sure, I have encountered not so great service, but I do not use that as a generalization for all service in the DR. Your point has been made

 

[AlterEgo]

So you have never been to a bank in DR? Or to a shop? Example. This very afternoon I went to Almacenes Unidos in Bella Vista. We started asking one young man to help us. We went to show him a photo of what we needed in that split second someone else grabbed him and he walked off without a word of apology. And that is absolutely 100% standard of Dominican service. I have been waiting 5 months for Banco Popular to give me a letter which I ask them for every week. I have been waiting 4 months for Scotiabank to give me a new credit card. I was cut off three times while trying to call Claro earlier. I was grunted at in Punta Cana airport by the guy in immigration when I said buenas tardes. And I could go on and on and on. This type of service is completely normal here and Dominicans think it's OK. They don't suddenly have an epiphany when they work in a resort and they take that concept of acceptable service standards with them.

And just to repeat my point once more I think that level of service is fine at a lower price point. But move up to the 700 a night bracket and it isn't. That is the only point I have been making.

Are you generally successful in training your staff to upgrade their level of service? I’ll bet they’re better than most having an upper class Brit with higher expectations

Mr AE does most of the DR banking and shopping that doesn’t involve food or furnishings. He does come out grumbling more often than not, and he’s not bashful telling them why (not that it does any good).

 

[El Hijo de Manolo]

Are you generally successful in training your staff to upgrade their level of service? I’ll bet they’re better than most having an upper class Brit with higher expectations

Mr AE does most of the DR banking and shopping that doesn’t involve food or furnishings. He does come out grumbling more often than not, and he’s not bashful telling them why (not that it does any good).

I would say, looking back, the banks were one of my most dreaded experiences. Of course, customer service-wise. Getting things done in the courts was my #2

 

[MariaRubia]

I would say, looking back, the banks were one of my most dreaded experiences. Of course, customer service-wise. Getting things done in the courts was my #2

My personal #1 in terms of awkwardness is the Ayuntamiento, those guys take night-school classes in making things difficult. #2 is prob definitely Banco Popular, those guys are next-level awkward. #3 maybe Edeeste, those guys love to find a way to say No, specialise in complicated procedures and making you wait in line at the office.

 

[El Hijo de Manolo]

So you have never been to a bank in DR? Or to a shop? Example. This very afternoon I went to Almacenes Unidos in Bella Vista. We started asking one young man to help us. We went to show him a photo of what we needed in that split second someone else grabbed him and he walked off without a word of apology. And that is absolutely 100% standard of Dominican service. I have been waiting 5 months for Banco Popular to give me a letter which I ask them for every week. I have been waiting 4 months for Scotiabank to give me a new credit card. I was cut off three times while trying to call Claro earlier. I was grunted at in Punta Cana airport by the guy in immigration when I said buenas tardes. And I could go on and on and on. This type of service is completely normal here and Dominicans think it's OK. They don't suddenly have an epiphany when they work in a resort and they take that concept of acceptable service standards with them.

And just to repeat my point once more I think that level of service is fine at a lower price point. But move up to the 700 a night bracket and it isn't. That is the only point I have been making.

Empathy is not a technique taught in customer service training in DR

 

[MariaRubia]

I am sorry you have these experiences, a lot it seems. Of course I have been to a bank, shop, etc... I just honestly do not have the experiences you do. Sure, I have encountered not so great service, but I do not use that as a generalization for all service in the DR. Your point has been made

I think it's probably because I have run businesses here, so you come into contact with far more organisations than if you just live here or visit here. And I've done things like buying and leasing buildings and vehicles, I've had reasonably complex banking arrangements with several banks, I've rented out my own property, I've built things. So I've seen a lot of Dominican life. Please don't get me wrong, I don't actually hate it here, I'm used to it now and we just giggle our way through the more difficult challenges these days.

 

[El Hijo de Manolo]

My personal #1 in terms of awkwardness is the Ayuntamiento, those guys take night-school classes in making things difficult. #2 is prob definitely Banco Popular, those guys are next-level awkward. #3 maybe Edeeste, those guys love to find a way to say No, specialise in complicated procedures and making you wait in line at the office.

Where is this, SDQ? Enjoy...

 

[MariaRubia]

Where is this, SDQ? Enjoy...

In the UK this is a comedy series, but it's scarily similar to going into a clinic anywhere in DR.

 

[El Hijo de Manolo]

I think it's probably because I have run businesses here, so you come into contact with far more organisations than if you just live here or visit here. And I've done things like buying and leasing buildings and vehicles, I've had reasonably complex banking arrangements with several banks, I've rented out my own property, I've built things. So I've seen a lot of Dominican life. Please don't get me wrong, I don't actually hate it here, I'm used to it now and we just giggle our way through the more difficult challenges these days.

In a dream of mine, we are laughing, flying around the world and drinking champagne... telling the folks we meet about our DR adventures

 

[Fulano2]

Customer care according to David Brent, a.k.a Brentmeister in the office, the original version. Hilarious!

 

[MoJoInDR]

...with higher expectations...

I think that's a valid consideration... The expectations of people.