Flamingo Bay Hotel & Marina at Taino Beach

Before I left the hotel, Big Mama didn’t give me a voucher or presentation for a free massage. When I asked about it, she said she wasn’t in that day. I asked whether someone else could have given me the information. It was really inconvenient to have to pay for a massage that was supposed to be free.

At $65 a night plus taxes and fees, our expectations were low. For a thrifty traveler who mainly needs a place to sleep, it can work, but 3.5 stars feels about right. Don’t expect too much and you’ll be fine. The location is across the bay, with little nearby beyond the hotel restaurant, though there’s a free ferry to Lucaya square for shops and restaurants. The ocean view from the restaurant is beautiful, and there were plenty of umbrellas and chairs at the beach, though some chairs were cracked. It’s clean and good for lounging and watching the water, but not for snorkeling or shell collecting. Nine out of ten employees were lovely and kind, so hospitality was a bright spot. The rooms are outdated, especially the bathrooms. A paint job from a few years ago didn’t fix much, and the plumbing pulled away from the wall when we turned the shower on or off. There were a few stray hairs, but the sheets and towels were clean. The kitchenette was sparse, with two mugs, two tiny wine glasses, two plates, one bowl, and two knives. Ask for takeaway silverware if you plan to eat in the room. None of the ice machines worked, so we had to go across the street for ice.

The location is beautiful, and the property could be so much better with investment. Instead, the rooms are old, the furniture is dated, the beds are horrible, and the bathrooms were nasty and moldy. We tried two rooms advertised as updated, and both were bad. If you’re on the second or third floor, there’s no elevator or bell staff to help with luggage. The ice dispensers were rusty and out of order, and you have to go next door to the nicer sister resort for pool and beach amenities. There was no Wi-Fi in the room, only in the lobby and pool area. We stayed one night until our Airbnb was ready and slept in our clothes. Pay more for a nice hotel.

The beach and pool are nice, and the restaurant felt friendly and had a unique character. The rooms are basic but clean, and staff were helpful, though I felt I had to ask for extra towels or washcloths. Some updates are needed, like a new microwave, refrigerator, and hair dryer. Big Mama was very helpful and made sure everything was okay.