We just got back from our stay at this hotel and the experience was really good. It was very relaxing, the hotel grounds are lovely, the staff is extremely friendly, the rooms were clean and air conditioned. The hotel tries to do their best with the food and most nights were pretty good, people have to understand that when you book an all-inlcusive especially in the DR you can't be picky with food so don't expect gourmet, but you will get hot meals served 3X a day that are overall not bad. Purifed water is left in your room every day for you. To see crystal clear water on this coast of the DR, I highly recommend the excursion to Paradise Island or taking a cab to nearby Sosua. Also people do need to understand that you are travelling to a country where english is not a first language so use common sense and exercise politeness and patience and you will receive great service in return. We will definelty go back in a heartbeat.

Our first time to the dominican republic; it was a tough choice to make, and finaly we both decided on victoria...... Since we were going to be there for 2 weeks, we were looking for something we both enjoy, which is golfing.... and the beach.... We arrive at about 9 o'clock on march 19 / 08 we were quickly grreeted by the bellboy(stanley) who turn out to be a very sweet guy.... we were offer something to eat, but we wasn't hungry; was taken to our room... at first i didn't know what to think of the place, everthing was on hold for my though, once you all settle in and start going around ,the place absolute beautiful.....golf course right there, the beach only a fews minutes away, plaza around the corner. During our 2 weeks stay, we went on 3 different excursion; it was really different to see how they live..spend lots& lots of time at the beach one of our main reason that we went for;my hubby and i wanted to see you will get the darker tan ( i won) been home now for 3 weeks and people are still making comment about how tan i am!!! ( discover this super dooper tanning lotion, my secret..)anyway; the worker at victoria we super friendly, and maybe sometime hard to understand but always end up understanding each other.. our room was just a regular room, which was clean everyday....all the maids were very friendly, and willing to give you anything that you needed.....being a very fussy eater i could alway find something to eat,which was also good, always lots to eat...went to a la carde 3 times, had our easter dinner at a la carde restaurant , the waiter was super super cute & friendly. my hubby even had wine with me (which he normal doesn't drink wine ) we had their pizza and it was the most best chicken pizza that i ever had super delicious recommend it to everyone who will be visiting victoria, the beach restaurent was very handy for us since we spend alot of our time there....... we had 12 out 14 days of sunshine which was so so great....went to the driving ranch to practice , cause we were going to do some golfing one day,,,,,, i only golf maybe 4or5 times last year, just a beginner.don't know much about the game (plan on doing more this summer and get my own clubs) anyway ;we had a caddy come along with us...which was really really good for me.....at one point during the game i was up by 4, my hubby was getting worry (since he golf all the time ) then he made a turn around and end up with 2 more than me ( 60&62) close game......wanted to take caddy back with me (alberto was his name)the weather was so so nice that we were a hair away from staying another week;;met so many peoples from different place,always some one to talk too,met alot of people that return to victoria year after year........ bottom line i really really think that my hubby and i will become a regular at VICTORIA ........already made plan to go next year (for 3 weeks) it was so so relaxing ,so many friendly peoples......THANK-YOU SO SO MUCH TO ALL THE STAFF AT VICTORIA GOLF & BEACH RESORT SEE YOU ALL NEXT YEAR!!!!!! WERNER GLAGOW & SHIRLEY-ANN BREAU
FROM; ORANGEVILLE, ONTARIO, CANADA!!!!!!!

I traveled to Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic on April 3-7, 2008. The purpose of the trip was a relaxing trip with two friends. The trip was booked through JetBlue Getaways and, prior to selecting Victoria Golf & Beach Resort for our stay, we researched the hotel options in depth. Victoria had the best customer ratings and options, so we chose to stay there.

The majority of our trip was relaxing. We went to the beach, ate at the hotel restaurants and were in our room by 10:00 each night. Both of us are professionals, and really just needed a break from life and some time for rest and relaxation. We did not party during our time there, and generally kept to ourselves. We were friendly with the hotel staff, speaking to them when we passed them, but not engaging in very in depth conversations and certainly never telling anyone our last names or our room information.

On Sunday, April 7th, my roommate and I made reservations at one of the hotel’s restaurants. Hotel guidelines stated we were to make reservations at the front desk, which we did after breakfast. Reservations were made under our room number, and we never gave the man at the front desk our names. He kept asking if it was just a reservation for 2, which we repeatedly said yes. He then inquired as to whether any gentlemen would be accompanying us, to which we responded no. We then left for our room.

From 5:00 pm until 9:15 pm that day, we received three calls from an identified “hotel employee.” The person made several references to our dinner reservation and wanting to be our gentleman escort for the evening, which immediately made us know it was the front desk attendant. No one else was at the front desk when we made the reservation. The last call came 5 minutes after we returned to our rooms from dinner, and our blinds had not yet been closed. At that point, the caller asked for me by my last name, which was not on the reservation and had never been given to anyone during our stay. We were alarmed and concerned for our safety, and immediately went to the front desk and asked for a new room assignment. We were escorted to the new room by security.

On Monday, the day we were to leave the hotel, we spoke with the hotel manager, the guest services manager and the hotel general manager. All were very apologetic and explicitly stated the person would be fired. In addition, the general manager indicated he would speak with the controller and see what type of compensation they could provide to us. We left our cell phone numbers and were told we could expect a call in the next couple days with the resolution.

Four days passed and we’d received no call. I followed up on Friday and Saturday, and after several calls, was told by the hotel manager that the person was not fired and that they were offering us 10% off our next visit. I can’t imagine anyone who would return to a hotel where they were stalked and harassed, especially when the person still works there, and told the manager that the offer was unacceptable because I would never return to their hotel. I shared with him that he should talk to whomever he needed to and I would call back on Tuesday (April 15th), at which time I expected to speak with the general manager and to receive a dollar amount they planned to provide both my roommate and myself.

Tuesday, I called (as I said I would) and was given the run around twice. The third time, I was not given the hotel general manager, but the hotel manager. He said “the General Manager said to tell that lady that we’ll give them 15% off their next visit.” Again, an unacceptable resolution.

Had this incident not occurred, I would have rated the hotel a 2. I love to travel and experience new things, but didn’t find the food to be very good. In fact, I lost about 3 pounds over the 4 days I was there, because of the quality of the food. In addition, the service was sub-par. I don’t drink, and waitresses questioned my requests for pina colada without rum or when I asked for a straw for a beverage. There were several times when we sat down to eat in the pizza restaurant on site that others, who arrived after us, were served before us. We weren’t even given menus and they would have beverages before us. Perhaps this is great if you’re a couple. But for a singles vacation or a girlfriends’ getaway, I recommend another hotel at a minimum, and another island altogether.

I just recently returned from the Victoria Beach & Resort on a girl's getaway. We were there from April 3-8, 2008. While I enjoyed the cultural experience of the island, rest assured, I don't believe I'll be returning. Both my friend and I have been to almost every island in the Caribbean (in fact, I lived in the Caribbean for 3 years.) I find that is important to note, because I want to make it clear that neither of us are sheltered Americans that have never been out of the country or experienced other cultures. Unfortunately, this is the least accommodating island & resort that either of us have visited to date.

The food at the Victoria was, in a word...BAD. Even the "upscale" (and I say that with great caution) Jadin Restaurant where reservations had to be made had mediocre food. We weren't even really clear on what was so special about the Jadin Restaurant because they basically served the same food that was offered at the all-inclusive buffet. The waitstaff was also uninviting. From rude under the breath comments to behaving as though they were doing us a favor to bring a cup of ice or a take our menu orders. The beach was okay...(don't go looking for crystal clear blue water though unless you do like we did and take a day trip to Paradise Island. The water is a pretty blue, but when you get in, it is ANYTHING but crystal clear). There are several hotels on the beach and the section of the beach roped off for the Victoria Golf & Beach guests was itty bitty.

We did enjoy that the resort was quiet and we were able to keep to ourselves. If you're going to DR to party, party, party (which we were not)...this is NOT the hotel for you.

Also, the front desk staff did speak/understand English (though not fluently), but it certainly helped that we spoke and understood Spanish.