I have been returning to this hotel for the past 10 years 2/3 times per year. I find all the staff pleasant, helpful, happy and good fun as can be said for the Dominicans in general. Nothing is too much trouble, although the "manana" factor does come into play on ocassion, but then, that is their culture and we as tourists shouldn't expect to change that! The rooms in the Reef side of the hotel are better than the Beach. All are pretty basic, but clean and comfortable. Hey I go on holiday for the sun, sea, sand and to have fun, NOT to spend all my time in my room.
The food is good, plenty and varied. The specialist restaurants do get booked up but i've never not been able to get in on my chosen night.
The animation team work their socks off and i have nothing but praise for them. They endure being slung into the pool by well meaning tourists. just having a bit of fun. That's great, but when it's a different tourist on a daily basis and they still come up smiling....what more can I say. The actual evening entertainment is ok but very repetetive, lots of mimeing and dancing. The calypso disco is good if enough people bother to go down there and make it lively.
The whole complex is clean and well cared for, although there could be a little more lighting in some areas.
The weekends can get very hectic when dominicans from inland come in for a break and unfortunately they do take over and are very noisy.
The hotel does NOT allow the local whores in on a daily basis as someone else has written in a review. Lots of europeans/americans/canadians return several times a year to be with their dominican partners and book into the hotel for a week or 2.
The beach can be quite rough but a short 5 minute walk out of the front of the reef side will take you to Sosua Bay. This is one of the most beautiful beaches on the north coast and unless a storm is brewing you'll find that most of the time the sea is flat and calm and the coral reefs where fish are in abundance are within swimming distance.

ONE of my best trip every if ur young and wanna party this is the place to go...hit up the Latinos club every nite to see all the fly dominican ma ma's best girls in the world....foood was good go to one of the three resturants amazzzzzzzing cant wait to go back ....10/10 perrrrrrrfeeeeeeecttttt

My friend and I have just returned from our vacation, we stayed at the Casa Marina Beach part of the Resort. We were both skeptical due to the "bad" reviews we both had read. I beg to differ with those comments, the Staff were all extremely pleasant and friendly and helpful. There was a great selection of places to eat, and plenty of food choices. The drinks were plentiful too! The grounds are gorgeous and very relaxing. The rooms are just fine, and both the air conditioning and the TV worked perfectly well. I have to assume that the poor reviews were written by people who expected a four or five star experience from a 3 star resort - quite unfair in my opinion. Usually you get what you pay for, but I have to say that in this case we got more than we paid for!!! And I would definately return for another stay.

Hi just got back from this great place i do have lots to moan about cuz ,no one told me and my family and friends that we would put lots of weight on from the great food available at all times ,this holidays has got to be the best iv been on great people locals and staff ,if you go you must do the mega trucks trip and ocean world theses are well worth the money and a great day out we met some nice people there who are still there jammy devils i will be adding photos so if you where there between april 11 and 26 keep looking you may find yourselves on here ,missing you all pepi and the gang x o yes and dont be fooled by the bad weather haha if its dull or raining still put your sun creams on cuz you will burn