The Tropical

We were there for four days, and several things in the room either didn't work or were very hard to use. Maintenance came two or three times, but nothing got fixed. The sliding glass door became almost impossible to open after day two. No one came to sort it out, so I borrowed soap and greased the lower rail myself, which made it much easier to slide. Housekeeping was very good, though communication with the staff was somewhat difficult since English wasn't typically spoken. The front desk and guest services were uncooperative when we asked to break a large bill into smaller ones for tips. They nearly refused to give us U.S. cash, despite taking American money for charges and services. The resort was about 30 minutes from the airport. It was advertised as an all-inclusive luxury resort, but that wasn't our experience. Instead, there was a high-pressure sales pitch for a 45-year contract promising fixed room prices. I don't see how prices could stay unchanged that long, and at 75, I didn't need a contract lasting 45 years. They kept pushing us to join the resort system, and I declined.

This resort didn't feel all-inclusive to us, and our next trip will be somewhere else. The choices depended on your wristband color, and guards stopped anyone without a gold VIP band from using amenities like pools and beaches. To become a member, you have to buy a timeshare, and they harassed us every day trying to sell one. As paid guests, we had to call the customer service desk each morning between 9 and 11 to book dinner. They asked for our room number before telling us which restaurants were available, which seemed to determine membership. Somehow, all the restaurants were full for nonmembers except two: pilón and Chinese. One was terrible. Those were the only options we were offered during our seven-night stay, even though the booking description said there were seven restaurants. We ended up eating about 90% of our meals at the two buffets, plus two nights at the Chinese restaurant. Nonmembers get terrible service here.

On my sixth visit, I could see things had changed. The buffets no longer had those lovely fruit decorations, VIP members no longer got a welcome bottle of their preferred liquor and mixer, and there was no more champagne at the top of the VIP stairs from the beach. The food was okay and drinks were plentiful, but it felt like a cheaper stay, while resort fees had more than doubled compared with my previous visits. I'll return, but I noticed the changes.

We visited The Tropical in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic in April 2024 and had a very enjoyable stay. Staff were welcoming and helped us find our way, sometimes offering to take us where we needed to go. The place is easier to enjoy if you arrive knowing how things work. Access to some pools and restaurants depends on wristband color. We tried the pools at Harmony, Lifestyle, and VIP Pool. Our favorite restaurants were The Blue Lagoon, Gourmet, Jazz, and Radizio. Some buildings are less updated than others, but building 5 was comfortable for us. We also had a lovely day at Yen Yang Spa. Jean helped us choose a couples massage and facials, and our therapists, Claritza and Yanelys, were outstanding. We'd recommend them to anyone looking for a relaxing experience. Looking forward to visiting again.