Albatros

It’s centrally located, but a room facing the road is noisy throughout the day. The service, though, was disgraceful. There was a dirty foot mat in the shower with men's shoe prints, and a used water bottle with mosquitoes floating inside. We asked for them to be removed, and the cleaner made a scene, shouting and swearing at us. The following day, our room wasn't cleaned at all. We waited three hours while it was supposed to be cleaned, and after we told the manager, the cleaner came in shouting, cursing, and wishing us bad things. She threw our belongings around and ignored us when we asked her to leave them alone. The manager couldn't do anything about it. It felt like the cleaner was running the hotel.

The grounds feel like a rainforest or botanical garden, and the rooms are clean. The staff are super friendly and helpful, and the pool area is great. Cabarete Beach is directly across the street, with lovely restaurants along the water just a short walk away. After dinner, many turn into lounges or dance clubs. We had so much fun, and it’s right in the middle of the action.

I spent four months here, three in an apartment and one in a room. It's a safe place with a lovely botanical garden, nice pool, and great staff. My room was nothing special, but it did the job. The apartment was spacious and had two terraces. The main downside was the internet, which kept cutting in and out, especially in the rain when the network was often unavailable. If you need to work, I suggest getting a Claro internet SIM, or it probably won't work.

What stands out here is the quiet, which is rare for a hotel in DR, and the beautiful gardens around the pool. It’s close to the main drag, too. The AC worked, and I think the hot water did as well. Some places claim to have hot water, but don’t. You may pay less if you skip making a reservation. A lot of places in the DR charge gringos more when they book online.