Melina Hotel

The room smelled odd, and there wasn't even a toilet seat. The receptionist had to find one in another room that wasn't working and bring it to ours. There's no regular TV service or cable. I was disappointed because my cousin had a great stay here before. I also bought food, but the soup was so salty I couldn't eat it. I only stayed because I'd paid in cash and was too exhausted to look for another hotel nearby. It's a beautiful hotel, but it needs a lot of maintenance.

We arrived around 11pm after a five-hour drive, on our way to Punta Cana. Traveling with small children, I'm very careful about where we stay, but I felt I didn't have to worry here. The hotel was very clean, and the girl at the front desk was friendly. There were no windows, but that was okay since we just wanted to rest. I'd stay here again.

The traditional Dominican breakfast, with some continental touches, was a highlight for me. The food was freshly cooked, and the staff were kind and attentive. I was in Higüey, in La Altagracia province, on an urgent business trip for Jminyetty Group in Santo Domingo, and the room suited the purpose of my visit. I also appreciated having security outside and in the parking lot. I would have preferred the music and general noise to quiet down by 10 or 10:30 PM. I understand Dominican regulations set 11:00 PM as the cutoff, but keeping noise lower could make it more comfortable for families and international travelers. Still, the Melina Hotel exceeded my expectations for cost, service, and comfort. I give it a well-deserved 5-star rating. JM

On 2/19/24 Someone replied to my review below, which I appreciate, but that doesn't change what happened. The hotel is in the hood, and some staff acted unprofessionally. They were watching videos on their phones, laughing and talking while I stood waiting. It felt intentional. The language barrier wasn't my main issue, their conduct was. They should be more like geneisy, who is kind and sincere. Here's my honest account. The rooms are clean, but they have no windows. My concerns are the staff and what I consider a dangerous location. On my first day, a friend drove with me and said she wouldn't come back there with me because of the location. It was the worst location I've seen. Motorcycles and cars drove on the wrong side, and people treated one-way streets like two-way roads. The roads are so narrow that it's hard not to damage a rental, which you'll need to get around. The staff were rude and didn't speak English, and they got upset with me because they couldn't speak English. Google Maps directed me to a road closed for construction. I kept asking people nearby where the stupid hotel was, but nobody seemed to know. As a woman clearly from another country, I felt I could become a target. I drove in circles for an hour looking for the place. I called the hotel, but when they couldn't understand me, they just hung up. I begged one of them for help, saying it was 530pm, it was getting late, and I didn't want to be out there in the dark still searching. They didn't help. In the end, I paid someone who knew the hotel to lead me there. When I walked in, nobody asked who I was or whether I was staying there. After gathering my thoughts, I went to talk to one of the two women at the front desk. She asked me to wait, then she and her coworker watched a video and laughed while I stood there. I couldn't believe how unprofessional and indifferent they were. I can't see locals paying to stay there, so it seems foreigners like me are paying their salaries while they treat me nastily because I don't speak Spanish. Nasty, nasty. I promise it's not worth it, and they don't tell you the full story about the location. It's in the hood, plain and simple. Stay away and run fast. The hallways are also very narrow, with only one way in and out. In the USA, that would be considered a fire code violation. Geneisy is the nicest person there. She was willing to help with a smile and made things better, though she can't be there 24/7. She's by far the hotel's biggest asset. Please save yourself.