we have just got back from the Ocean Sand/Blue literally our flight landed at Manchester airport at 2-30pm this afternoon, all I can say is what a great place this is. Ok so some little problems like not having towels in our room for a couple of days so we had to call maid service to get them, but in my opinion if thats all i had to complain about thats a good time. The staff were on the main very friendly, especially the guys in the Las palmeras Pool bar ( Juhlio and friends) they were such a good laugh and entertained us everytime we visited, and even sheltered us behind the bar when we decided to sit out a sharp rain poor. They were a great bunch of guys and treated us to some really good cocktails ( dirty monkeys, mud slides etc)
The rooms were large, well equipped and cleaned daily, the domestic staff were pleasant and helpfull. We were in villa 8 overlooking the pool and were very pleased with the allocation as it was exactly what we had asked for.
We ate in the Buffett every morning and evening and had lunch in the beach buffett and wasnt disappointed with the quaility or the choice any time. Although i was disappointed to see greedy people filling thier plates so much that they couldnt possibly eat all, they shoudl think of some of the poor locals who have very little money and find it hard to feed themselves!!! You must have a frapacino in Mikes its just gorgeous!!
We did Bavaro Splash ( speed boats) not for the faint hearted but fun although on the day we did it they took too many of us out and we spent a lot of time swapping and changing boats, Caribbean Festival was awesome although i got in with the sharks i chckened out and got out just as fast!!! it was good fun and well organised and very safe. A must do excursion is a visit to Saona Island, wow what a beautifull place if you do nothing else do this one, my partner and I wanted to be left stranded there! He also did the Jurrasic buggies with our new found friend they loved it but us girls were left behind to suffer lounging by the pool having plenty GASOLINE ha ha, we were i little dissapointed when the lads came back a bit too clean.
We made some great new friends ( hi Lisa and Alan) which was great cos there wasnt too many brits there at the time, thats probably the only fault I can find with the resort, we were surrounded by Americans and Canadians most of which were lovely people out to have a good time with thier families, however some of the Americans let their country down by drinking like it was going out of fashion and being loud and obnoctious, much to the dusgust of some of thier fellow countrymen and the annoyance of us brits! Apart from that and the odd mosquito bite a great time was had by us all.

We stayed here for 2 weeks from the 16th April and having read through the previous reviews I have to agree with many of the complaints. The biggest pain being the beach situation, the shaded sun beds were very hard to get no matter what time you got to the beach and we are early risers. We even saw people returning to their towels/sun bed after a half day trip so they had been unused all morning. Also the shades were meant for 4 beds but very often there were only two people under so as to have their own space (understandable).

The beach was massive either side but only a small area for swimming the whole of this coast has what looks like a fantastic reef well within swimming distance for snorkelling however you can only swim out some 20-50yards and there is only sand and very few fish. Water taxis speed boats, and banana floats etc, go up and down all day. So for someone who loves snorkelling it was very frustrating to be so near yet so far. You could get a boat out to it but you had to pay and they went the other side of the reef which you could see from shore looked very choppy.

The dogs on the beach were cute and we witnessed many people going gaga over them letting their kids pick up the puppies and lick their faces (do these people not read up on risks and tips of the places they go to, especially with children) and also feeding them. There were no notices that we saw when we were there about not feeding the dogs and being aware that they bite etc (see previous posting about kids being bitten). We did see a security guy try to shoo a dog away from the sun beds but he was chastised by a silly woman who told him to leave it alone.

Before we arrived we emailed and asked for a quiet location however when we arrived we had been allocated probably the noisiest block on the resort right next to the pool directly over the loudspeaker for the poolside entertainment, and we arrived after a nine hour flight at the time of the afternoon session. When we asked for another room the desk clerk asked us to sit and wait then he disappeared not to be seen again and it was only when we went back to the counter to ask what was happening did they suddenly remembered we were there and eventually got a room overlooking the fantastic central gardens.

The food was fantastic in the main buffet there was plenty of choice breakfast, Lunch, and dinner breakfast for instance had all the normal cereal, juices, smoothies, pancakes, eggs, bacon, sausage, smoked salmon, caviar, cheese, cold meats, local stuff like fried yucca, sweet potatoes toast and much more. The other restaurants were all extremely good.

The main bar had some very good entertainment the evening show was very good for a one off but after the third night it was quite boring, they were all very good dancers and obviously hard working but all the music was mimed using recorded songs from other singers. Same dances different songs and costumes. It would have been much better if they had got in different kinds of entertainment each evening a local dance troop would have been nice.

The shop is not badly priced a lot cheaper than the airport duty free.

The casino is also good fun you can just play the slot machines 25c a go or the tables min $5 we only played the slot machine and black jack for a few $ s and we always came out winning.
We were just a couple in out early 50’s and this resort was very full of children who all stayed up very late at night and as the beach shades are so close together and both pools have no adult only areas you have to like kids or don’t go.

The noise around the pool bar became louder as the afternoon went on, and I wonder sometimes with such great beaches and sea, why anybody wants to spend the day drinking at the pool bar.

One day we tried to go on a small shopping trip to the local town, it was horrendous, we were hassled all the time. All the shops sold exactly the same stuff (some fantastic paintings) but we were under lots of pressure to buy and as soon as you walked out of one shop the one next door grabbed hold of you and almost demanded that you have a look around their shop and if you said no thanks they got really shirty.

The roads and sidewalks around Bavaro are a complete mess and we wouldn’t recommend walking around. We did go on an organised trip to the mountains with the Outback Jungle safari and had a very interesting and informative tour with Luis (a very clever chap) I felt motion sick nearly all the time, as we said the roads are terrible, but I wouldn’t have missed it even though it took two days to get over (I was the only one who felt ill so don’t let it put you off) we thoroughly recommend.

Would we go back? Not really, lots of small reasons more than one big thing, having been to Jamaica, Granada and Cuba, this was good but not as good as we had hoped

Stayed at this hotel during end of january and beginning of february and i have to say overall it is okay but as we had not originally booked this hotel and were told upon arrival at the airport that we had been double booked at Edenh so HAD to go there it didnt best please us...

Upon arrival the reception staff especially Roberto, were very unhelpful and didnt even know we were expected!!!!! even though we were assured by the resort manager at the airport they did!

When i had to insist that we were told we were staying there he eventually decided in his own sweet time to go and check in the back office. Taking into consideration the long flight and transfer time i would of hoped that at least they could of offered us a cold drink whilst they were sorting out the problem but none such offer came! When they did find us a room i asked directions etc and was there transport because in other hotels 4* that we have stayed they have always taken us to our room i was told to walk! which was rude and bearing in mind it was very late and had know idea how to find our room.

After speaking to the Bell Boys they offered to take us for which we were grateful but when we arrived in our room quite shocked!!! Room was filthy with empty cans and bottles, wet towels left on the floor and obviously not been cleaned. After refusing to stay there even though he tried his best to leave us there the bell boy then showed us another room which again was not cleaned and had ashtrays full of cigarates etc plus sand in the bath!!! again refused to stay and even though we asked to go back to reception he took us to another room. Which again to our amazement was dirty with dirty glasses, empty bottles etc left from previous occupants. After insisting we were taken to reception then, finally we were told they had no other rooms!!!!!!!! By this time my patience had evaporated and i had to really get stroppy before they would listen. Eventually our rep turned up (Stephanie) who did find us another room in block 6.

Unfortunately the saga didnt end then, when we woke next day in the daylight we noticed mold growing up the walls and across the ceiling so once again we had to go and complain and change rooms. Through out the staff including the rep werent that helpful or understanding.

On a lighter note once our room was sorted we did have a nice stay. Although i have to say the sun bed situation got on our nerves as people were leaving their towels on the beds and wouldnt be seen all day and the same with parasol. My husband is very fair so needs shade so unless we got an parasol we couldnt stay around the pool or beach.

Food good in Buffet with loads of choice, didnt rate the a la cartes much and felt the tipping culture too much, the bar staff in the main lobby ignore you if they dont think you will not tip them and i noticed they only gave the branded goods to their favorite guests.

Rooms clean but the maid was cheeky asking us to fill in a nomination card giving us her i.d to ensure!!!!!

All in all we would not return to this hotel especially since it is not cheap and other hotels we have stayed in the caribbean have been much better. Plus we were disapointed in the sea which although was clean had little to no fish!!!!! and we both love snorkelling.

The staff here also dont speak that good english which you would think they would especially since a lot of the custom is from USA and Canada.

We did go on a really good tour of the sugar cane and inland which was well worth it (monster tour).

Me and my fiance stayed at Ocean Sand from Apr. 14 to Apr. 21 of 2008. Check in- When they say check in time is 3pm beleive it. They don't get you in till 3pm and not a minute sooner. Rooms are very nice and spacious. We were placed in a backside veiw in villa 9 at first which the veiw was not the greatest at all but requested a move to poolveiw asap and got moved the next day. Much better veiw. Pools are very nice and HUGE!! If you like shade by the pool you usually had to get to pool by 8:30 am to place your towel on a chair. If you don't want shade then there are tons of chairs available. Food is okay. But watch for cleanliness in the main buffet. We saw them on more than 2 occassions grab dirty glasses that had been used by others dump the old drink out and rinse them under water very quickly then pour our drinks in them and serve us. So we ended up asking for plastic cups for the rest of the stay. Staff are very helpful and friendly! Grounds on the resort are BEAUTIFUL!!!

Entertainment is your average resort entertainment which is ok. The saxaphone player they have in the lobby on certain nights is wonderful!! Oh and the photographers on the resort take absolutley BEAUTIFUL pics!!! One other thing is keep in mind that this is a very big resort and depending on where your room is there is alot of walking but there is also a trolley that goes around pretty much all day that you can catch a ride on. There are no specific times it travels. So when we were on our way to the lobby and it happened to be right there we took it and if not we walked. But the walk was always nice too because as I said the grounds are beautiful. The spa is very nice and fair prices. We enjoyed our stay very much and would recommend staying there to others. Don't forget to ask for plastic cups!!!