Hotel Checkin El Cortecito Beach

Victor, the manager and concierge, made my family and me feel safe. He was so sweet and accommodating, and took us to the "Capitan Cook" restaurant, which was pretty good. I wouldn’t recommend the fish because there were a lot of flies around it, though I didn’t order it myself. The music, food, and drinks were great. Danna at reception was also really sweet and helpful. The breakfast was a great typical Dominican breakfast. If you want a local experience, check this place out and ask for Victor. Thanks to Victor and Danna for a great stay!

The location is nice, right on a small beach, with a few restaurants and shops nearby and many more about a 20-minute walk away. My room was very clean and quiet, the bed was comfortable, and the AC and Wi-Fi worked well. Breakfast was made to order and adequate. A lot of things were broken, including the hot water indicator switch, sliding doors, curtains, and light bulbs. The water never got more than a few degrees warm, and it took a lot of experimenting. (See pics) I was also concerned about three safety items, including the old metal room keys and a room safe that weighs

We booked this specifically for the kitchen because we had a 3-month-old and needed to boil water. The room was supposed to be an upgraded ocean-view room with a kitchen, but it was a horror scene when we arrived, with water all over the floors and a disgusting level of cleanliness. There was almost nothing provided beyond an old soap dispenser in the bathroom. No starter supplies, coffee maker, or coffee. The kitchen was full of garbage and had no glassware, utensils, or cooking items for the stove. There were no blankets, despite the website saying there would be a comforter. When we raised this with the hotel, they said guests usually bring their own pots and pans and did nothing. After many complaints they eventually brought an extremely old kettle. We didn’t even have dish soap, so we used our own natural shampoo to clean bottles and made do. If it hadn’t been after dark, we would’ve left without a second thought.

For the best experience, book a Seaview apartment or ask about availability when you check in. We did, and the view was incredible. The basic room options don’t actually have a Seaview, so you could be disappointed. It was convenient having a beach bar and restaurant downstairs, and the location puts lots of cool beach bars within walking distance. A security man was at the front door for most of the day, which made me feel safe. There’s free street parking, or paid lots for 200 pesos. Be aware that there will be seaweed if you’re visiting the beach between June and January. The hotel is in a somewhat sketchy corner of Bavaro Beach, so I can understand why people with kids might feel uncomfortable staying there.