May 20-28 2006
This is the ramblings of a very disappointed patron on vacation. There is no semblance of order to this trip report.
Flights on American Airlines from Tampa to Puerto Plata was uneventful. Zipped through customs if that is what you call it we were waved right on through no stopping at all. Airport porters were on you like a hawk. Eden bay driver was there and waiting for us and 2 other couples. Drive was smooth and we arrived in about 1 1/2 hours.
Check in went ok. We were met by Jim King GM for Caliente resorts and Susanna front desk operations. After 3 room changes, 1 occurring while at the beach bar all was said and done.
We were the only couple in the seacliff rooms at that time but things changed as time went by. We asked to be moved to the beach area, but after a couple of days chose to stay put. More breeze up there than down at the beach from what everyone was saying. There are no AIR CONDITIONERS in the rooms at this time. And if you ladies are looking forward to a nice long bubble bath, forget it. No tubs! Just a shower and a small hot water heater that is good for one good shower or two quick ones.
Breakfast and Dinner were served up at the main house and lunch was down at the beach. Needless to say you had your choice of climbing 58 steps or taking the golf cart path each time you needed to go to the main house where the spa, TV, internet and gift shop was at.
Overall the food was pretty good except for the last 3 days. Food was just too salty to eat. Paul started getting indigestion the last 3 days and this culminated with him spending his last night in the john worshiping the porcelain god.
Overall this is a great resort for someone who wants to do nothing more than relax under a palm frond cabana, read a book and sleep. Most couples kept to themselves. The staff was excellent. Always going around and asking you if you needed a drink. Kudos to Karina, Jorge & Dario in this area. Activities were sporadic at best for the last 2 days. Patrick and Lucie who were subbing for Mike and Peggy were great at keeping activities on schedule while there the first 6 days. Other than water volleyball once a day, not much else happened. Jacuzzi by main house was down while there and the one by the pool was way too hot to enjoy. Got it turned down 3 different times to make it enjoyable.
One nice thing was the volleyball pool being separate from the main pool. You dont have to worry about being hit in the back of the head by a stray ball like at Hedo III. And the swim up bar is up at the main house and only opens during or after dinner.
Probably the biggest disappointment was the lack of top shelf liquor. Margaret drinks beer and is happy with just about any beer and a book to read. Paul on the other hand likes relatively decent Bourbon. The only top shelf liquor was a BACARDI WHITE RUM. That was it. Everything else was a cheap watered down DR version of whiskey, gin, scotch, you name it they didnt have it. Paul was not the only one to mention this to the staff. When asking the GM about this, the response was give us time. How much time does it take to make the customers happy? Most sobering vacation we have been on. Drunk the first night and that was from booze we brought.
COST IS AN ISSUE IN THE ABSENCE OF VALUE, and we truly saw no value for the money at this resort. We will come back sometime in the future when the bar selection and activities have improved.