Viva Heavens by Wyndham, A Trademark All Inclusive

Esther from the entertainment team was the bright spot for us. She made an effort to get to know us, took no for an answer when we didn’t want to join activities, and seemed to be having a good time herself. The evening productions and choreography were well done, though a lot of the staff performing looked as if they didn’t want to be there. The daytime entertainment was much worse: the same three dances were repeated all week, and staff kept pushing us to join pool activities after we’d said no. It felt repetitive and uncomfortable. We also had a serious concern during our spring break stay with roommates: two of us got food poisoning, and the resort didn’t check in, show concern, or try to investigate. That was extremely disappointing. The property itself is beautiful, with well-kept grounds and a postcard-worthy beach. Booking the à la carte restaurants was easy, and Leonardo at the bar was consistently friendly and attentive. He introduced us to a passionfruit mojito that we ordered all week. Some staff and the setting were great, but the response to the illness and the pushy daytime activities left us disappointed. I wouldn’t return.

The service was the nicest surprise. Everyone we dealt with, from the front desk and cooks to the waiters, cleaners, and gardeners, was polite and did a great job. We were very satisfied for the price. Our higher-end room was spacious and very clean, though dated, and comfortable. The food was excellent, with four restaurants, a buffet featuring a different theme each night, and plenty of choices. Puebla was my favorite. Getting to the beach meant a six-minute walk from the pool and complex along a path through jungle-like woods, past a large pond with turtles, fish, and many kinds of birds. The Dominican restaurant is on that route. There were plenty of loungers at the beach, plus a bar and restaurant for dinner; that same restaurant serves Italian food at night. The weather wasn’t good during our stay, and many on-site activities and games weren’t popular. The animation team still did a good job getting things going. There’s also a show in the theater every night.

I was glad to find healthy, balanced food options, with care given to different dietary needs. As a dietitian, I appreciated that attention, and the meals were delicious and thoughtfully prepared. Viva Heavens was spotless, and the quiet, peaceful atmosphere made it feel like a real break from the usual hustle and bustle. It was an amazing stay. If you want a calm getaway with good food and attention to detail, I’d recommend it. I hope to return soon.

Viva Heavens by Wyndham in Puerta Plata is a strong value for someone with high expectations and a medium budget. It does very well for the price, even though more luxurious all-inclusives exist. It’s in the gated, guarded Playa Dorado resort area, which is very large. You get the usual full-service all-inclusive basics on a smaller, lower-budget scale, with lots of food and drinks, a private beach, chairs, shade, and some beach activities. Cleanliness was impressive. The rooms, grounds, restaurants, paths, and pools were cleaned around the clock. We’ve stayed at bigger, pricier resorts that weren’t this clean. English is widely spoken, as are French and Spanish. The rooms and resort aren’t oceanfront. The beach is a 100-yard walk away on a private paved path that’s clean, shaded, and easy to use with a wheelchair or scooter. The beach is reserved for Viva guests, with clean bathrooms, a bar, buffet, limited water sports, and a kids’ play area. It’s wide, sandy, clean, not too crowded, and has plenty of chairs and shade. Local vendors offer jewelry, massages, cigars, and other goods. They’re licensed and polite, and accept a gentle “no thank you” well. The kids’ program seemed limited, though we didn’t have young children. Entertainment wasn’t at cruise-ship scale, so don’t expect big nightly performances. There are poolside aerobics and dance lessons, a nice pool atmosphere, good waiter service if wanted, and plenty of seating and shade.