I dont know why so many ppl slam this place besides you are vacation you should make the best of it. The service was great really the best part of the trip. The hotel its self more the rooms are in need of updating and repair. Its an older hotel but its all about LOCATION LOCATION LOCATION! And what a location! We were seconds from the beach which was beautifull. Busy and hot. Lots of beach chairs. Be prepared to be bombarded by the beach sellers but if you are polite and nice and say no they will leave you alone. Or if you are there to buy stuff here is a rule of thumb. Take their first price divide by three and add a dollar. Theres your price Wear lots of sunscreen and dont miss anywhere on your body you will pay for it. We did the alacarte restaurants........meh they were not that impressive and the daily menu in the cafeteria lacks in a big way! Burgers and pizza were good at the snack bar. Really enjoyed the staff in blue and yellow who get out and interact with the guests what a great bunch! Night entertainment was always good too. If you are planning on spending money take it with you. There are no ATMS! I would definatley stay there again it was overall a great stay and I had a blast. PS> If you are there to have a few drinks bring a big travel mug it will save you alot of trips and line ups when they are busy as they give you little cups! Have a great time I know i did
C.Gibson Nanaimo BC Canada

Okay here we go....I wrote a review last year after returning from the Allegro Playa Dorada just up the beach from this place. We had a terrific time at that hotel, and I basically jumped on the people who wrote bad reviews. This time not the case.

This was the worst. From the air conditioning, to the food, to the service.....oh boy what a story.
This is supposed to be according to a Transat Holidays brochure "Occidental's Finest North Coast Resort", if so, I wouldnt want to see the worst! We, myself (30), my husband (35) and our son (5) booked with Transat Holidays, (not like we have a choice, cause they are the only tour company that operate out of St. John's NL) so we had the "premium club", which pretty well boiled down to a room in one of the newer buldings( I honestly wouldnt want to see the old ones) bath robe and slippers to use while your there, whoopee! and one bag of chips and a one chocolate bar between three people daily! Good thing we only have one kid, just imagine the fight that would be!

We have been to the Carribean 4 times and this was our third time to Puerto Plata and needless to say the worst.
The buffet restaurant was probably the most unorganized thing I have ever witnessed. All they have to do is put in one of those machines where you pour your own water and soda, and voila! problem solved, instead you have to wait for a server who is already trying his/her best to tend on 300 more people, its just one big catastrophe which could be avoided with a little common sense.
We paid $400.00 less last year for the Allegro which was by far 10 steps above this hotel. Our air conditioning never worked properly ,their idea of fixing it is filling it up with freeon until it all leaks out and you have to call them again. The shows at night were absolutely pathetic......and so frickin' loud and made no sense whatsoever! Anyway if you do decide to visit Puerto Plata which I do recommend......maybe you should try the Marien Coral or Iberostar they get great reviews all the time.

I recently returned from vacation where I, and 3 friends, spent 4 days/3 nights at the Occidental Grand Flamenco Puerto Plata. Our experience was not a good one. We were greatly disappointed with the accommodations of the hotel. Our disappointment was with the restaurants, reservations to the restaurants, the food, the drinks, the rooms, and the service.

With regards to the reservations, we were informed upon our arrival at the hotel, that there were no availabilities to ANY of the restaurants, nor would there be any availability throughout the week. We had an all-inclusive package, and we were told to go into the city to get a meal. This was absolutely insane!

With regards to the food, the food had absolutely no flavor.
Although we looked forward to the swim-up bar, when we realized that the only choice we had was beer or soda (which did not taste good), we decided not to utilize that bar.
The rooms were even more disappointing. The beddings smelled like they had not been changed in some time; they smelled of sweat.

I (we) would NEVER AGAIN visit this resort.

I would like to let you know what a terrible experience I had at the hotel trying to arrange transfers back to the airport. I stayed in Occidental Playa Dorado Puerto Plata from 12/30/07 to 1/7/2007 with my mother who is 78 years old and booked my vacation with Continental Vacations.

Hotel front desk said that they have no idea what transfer company work with Continental Airline Vacations, that they do not have any phone numbers, and do not know anything.

They send me to the tour guide operations desk, who also said that they do not know what company arrangers the transfers back.

I used my cell phone which charged additional roaming charges to call Continental Vacations office in the US. I was given the phone number of Torino Company, and was assured that they should receive a fax and fax was also sent to the hotel.

When I asked hotel about the fax, and again asked them about the transfer arrangement, I was told that they do not need to read any faxes and asked me to call Torino bus service myself. It was Saturday, and the next day it was Sunday. Nobody was answering at that Torino bus pick up service. They do not have any operator or live person answering the phone, and my flight was on Sunday at 1:55 p.m. To Newark, NJ.
The hotel clerk had the nerve to request money for the call to the bus company, after I was doing her job.

I was getting nowhere with the help from the front desk. They were openly rude and tried to encourage me to forget the pre-paid transfers and just take the taxi. They quoted the price of $30 to the airport, but with all the attitude of the local staff, I was not sure if the taxi will get me to the airport for that price and won’t request a $100 or more, or give a very hard time trying to extract additional money just like this hotel staff did, if we indeed had no choice to make the flight.

Finally one of the tour operator from the guide desk, feeling sorry for me and my elderly mother ( we were very disappointed and completely taken aback with such horrible treatment) called some other hotel, where they new somebody from that Torino Bus Company, and just thanks to that lady personal connections the transfers back to the airport were arranged.

We had to be held in suspense and be nervous for two days of our vacations not sure if we are going to make it back to the airport safe and on time – something that usually should be no issue and part of the regular service of any hotel.



Additional Negative: Non Existing entertainment, very loud yelling and disco music at the huge speakers (nowhere to hide) - all you get for the most nights.

2 times there were dance shows - that was O.K.

The New Year much anticipated entertainment did not happened at all, people were dressed up, expecting something special. You did get New Year Hat and whistle and can scream all you want for fun.

You are constantly bothered by sales people on the beach from jewelry to the massage and pedicure services, you can get as many as 10 people an hour bothering you and looking into your eyes, and you are tired of saying “no” and just do not feel well or guilty by saying that all the time, just like baggers in NYC subway. They should limit the people trying to bother you on the beach.

Italian Restaurant is worse than any Diner in NJ. Very bad. Undercooked pasta, can tomato soup for “home made”.

Jacuzzi was not working the whole time, and I was looking forward to outside Jacuzzi at night after beach, but that did not happened.

I had requested a change of room, because the first room we got in the building #6 on the first floor had the smell similar to urine, and it was overlooking the pool so you can’t open the drapes for light not to be seen.

We had to call plumber for the toilet in our new room once, but it was fixed.

A lot of bugs similar to mosquito. We were bitten a lot.


Positive:
Very good buffet food and a lot of choices. Good Salad, vegetables, a lot of potato dishes now: French fries, home fries, boiled. Nice fried chicken, a lot of fish and wonderful deserts.

We switched to a nice Ocean View room in the building #4 with balcony. We could open the window and hear the Ocean at night. Cool fresh air.

Also, really nice sand beach and warm water ocean for swimming.

Ann, NJ

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