Dreams Dominicus La Romana

We have just returned from our stay and the resort and rooms are excellent, as are the staff who are super friendly and kind and an asset to the hotel. But there is room for improvement in a couple of areas to make this hotel very good. Room - We stayed in a preferred ground floor room overlooking the preferred pool, and it was spacious and super quiet - we never heard a peep from any guests while in our room. Upon arrival we had a banner on the door and Prosecco and fruit, which was a lovely touch. The mini bar was fully stocked and the bed linen was clean and the bed very comfortable. However, housekeeping did go downhill as the week went on. There were occasions when we were given frayed towels but we used them anyway, and some days we would get face cloths and some days not. The biggest gripe was the restocking of the mini bar - or not! There was no day that we had our mini bar fully stocked. There would be soft drinks missing, no whitener for the coffees and more importantly no bottled water, which is vital for brushing teeth! This started to become annoying as I was constantly returning to reception to get the missing bits. Beach - the beach was probably our biggest disappointment. There is no doubt it is beautiful- for what you can see of it. The photos posted do not show that a large majority of it is covered in sun loungers. While I of course understand this is a large resort and many loungers are needed, I would not have booked here had I seen what the actual beach space was. Being someone who usually spends all their time at the beach and especially walking along it every morning, this is not possible. Sea - the sea is stunning. Calm, warm and a beautiful blue/green. Non smoking - we were not informed the resort is non smoking and again would not have booked had we known. There is one smoking point near the preferred pool, where we spent our time, but it is in full sun and strangely right outside block 1, so you actually felt conscious of blowing smoke in the faces of people entering or leaving their rooms. However, on the Dreams family side they had a smoking area with benches under the trees, away from other guests, and this would have been a better idea for the Secrets side too. Preferred pool - this pool is great and the bar staff amazing, as was the adjacent hot tub. There were some guests who would still reserve loungers early in the morning but there really was no need as there are plenty. The towels were ready on the lounger and the pool staff were always attentive. Restaurants - there is no need to make reservations at the restaurants, three are in the Secrets side and the rest in Dreams. The food was a bit hit and miss. Some evenings it was excellent and others was not eaten as it did not seem to be cooked right through. The breakfast buffet was excellent, as was the buffet lunch, but you do of course need to be dry and covered up to eat. Lobby Bar - this had a great atmosphere and the bar staff were quick, witty and attentive. Preferred lounge - a nice escape from the heat with the air conditioning and snacks always available. No service in there, it made me chuckle there were table settings and coffee mugs etc but not once did we get offered service or a hot drink and you had to just leave your used plate on the side, which felt odd and rude. Entertainment- the entertainment team are amazing. They always had a smile on their faces and were full of energy and it was clearly important to them that everyone had a good time. There is Zumba in the sea on the Dreams family side daily at 12 midday and volleyball etc. The evening shows were good fun and the staff never tired, despite working all day. Waterpark - good fun and a nice bonus to the resort. So all in all a good holiday but the beach was the let down for us. Had the beach been bigger and more scenic, we could have lived with the other niggles like the housekeeping and non smoking. But as the beach is such a big part of our holiday, unless at least half of the loungers were removed we would not return.

The actual resort is stunning, and the staff were friendly and helpful. Our room was clean and spacious with a view of the preferred pool. Toiletries provided are very good. However as the adult buffet is closed for dinner we had to use the other restaurants or family buffet in the conference centre. Everything there was cold, even dishes which should be kept hot. This is concerning for health and safety. So we tried the a la carte restaurants. Didn’t like the food in Chinola or Noor, and Sakura was awful - the chicken was not cooked properly. Mare was nice, but we couldn’t keep going back there. Then we found Moustache which was so good compared to the others, did amazing steak, and Coastal Grill was nice, and at a beautiful location. Unfortunately the second week was ruined by contracting the most horrendous stomach cramps and diarrhoea, we were so Ill we had to stay in our room the first day then stay very close to a loo. The worst part of this was our treatment by the hotel staff, the first night my husband became Ill he hadn’t realised and slightly soiled the bed. We were summoned to concierge and given a written warning about damage to hotel property! If this happened again we would be fined 800$ FOR A SHEET AND FOR SOMETHING WE CONTRACTED AT THE RESORT We were advised that this was an isolated case and to attend the medical centre where another guest had already told me she was charged 415$ for a consultation and electrolytes. The journey home was awful as I was still Ill and had to take Imodium to board the plane, since then I have seen a doctor and am being tested for E. coli I have a list of over 40 other guests who also had the same illness, some have tested positive for E. coli and most of whom were told it was an isolated case. Clearly not, the hotel staff were well aware of this. I only drank bottled water, not much alcohol, and tend to stay in the shade as I have vitiligo. So I can only think we got this from the food…….. Such a shame as this is a beautiful resort, and the staff are lovely. We went two years ago when it was Hilton and it was so much better, we loved everything about it. We are pensioners and save hard for our holidays. Unfortunately this one will just be a bad memory.

This was the best experience- the resort is beautiful- there are a ton of pools, the beach is beautiful, and lots of amenities. We loved the hibachi and Italian restaurants and had great snacks and coffee as well. Our Butlers- Victor Val and Febles made our trip so great. We are already planning to come back with our whole families and more friends- thanks in large part to them. They not only followed us around with ice chests full of beer/ drinks, they brought us lunch on the beach, pineapple drinks and made all of our dinner reservations. These two men made the experience so perfect. The preferred club is a must have- all of the employees in there are amazing and Olga at the preferred club pool bar is a favorite too. The snacks in the lounge are so plentiful and great.

We stayed here for 14 nights and had a great time overall. The Good: Room Upgrade: We got a surprise free upgrade from a garden view to an ocean view, such a nice touch! The receptionist hinted at a “nice surprise,” which made it even better. Rooms: Beds were super comfy and the layout was great. Beach & Pool: The beach and infinity pool were beautiful, definitely one of the highlights. There was quite a bit of seaweed after the hurricane, but it was cleared quickly and we had a beautiful beach again. Staff: Really friendly and helpful throughout. A big shout-out to the breakfast team,  When they realised some items were not in stock, they made a point of ensuring that it was available the next day Water Park: Fun slides and a lazy river, great way to mix things up during the day. What Could Be Better: AC: The air con was tricky to manage, either always on (but adjusts speed) or based on movement. Would be great if it worked on a simple set temperature and switched off once reached as at times even on the lowest setting the rooms felt really cold. Might just be us, but in other places this is how we habe used the AC and works especially during the night, when you dont have to get up to turn off the AC and back on again. Food: As vegetarians, we found the options a bit limited and repetitive. However the few dishes that were available were good. Would’ve been nice to have more variety or the adults buffet open for dinner. Evening Shows: The theater setup could use a bit more atmosphere, the set up felt like an afterthought.  The Michael Jackson and Circus shows were great, but others were just okay.

We recently stayed at Secrets La Romana as a couple and overall had a fantastic time. The rooms were spotless, modern, and very comfortable, and the facilities throughout the resort — especially the Preferred sections — were excellent. From the warm greeting at check-in to the attentive service across the resort, we felt very well looked after. Dining & Service Highlights: • Freddy at the French restaurant deserves special recognition. Although we only dined there once, his professionalism, friendliness, and genuine effort to make our evening special went far beyond expectations. He turned that single visit into one of the most memorable dining experiences of the trip and truly represented the very best of hospitality. • At the Preferred pool bar, Evelyn was absolutely fantastic. She made some of the best cocktails we’ve ever had, always with a smile, and her customer service was second to none. Evelyn’s warm personality, attention to detail, and ability to make every guest feel welcome really stood out — she was a highlight of our days by the pool. Alongside Evelyn, Francisco and another lady (whose name we sadly didn’t catch) also worked tirelessly in the heat, constantly keeping everyone refreshed and happy. Together, this team went above and beyond and deserve the highest praise. • The Grill restaurant quickly became one of our favourites — we visited several times, and every member of staff there was fantastic. Attentive, friendly, and consistent in their service, they really helped make our evenings enjoyable. • The Mare restaurant at lunchtime was another highlight. The ladies working there were absolutely fantastic — warm, professional, and couldn’t do enough for guests. We’ll really miss our daily lunches here. The tomato soup and blue cheese burgers were excellent and became real favourites during our stay. • A special mention also to the pool staff who noticed our routine and would have loungers ready with fresh towels each morning as we walked down. It was a small gesture, but one that made us feel genuinely valued and showed the kind of attention to detail that sets a resort apart. Noor Restaurant The Noor restaurant felt disorganized during our visit. The staff seemed unsure of their roles and the service lacked coordination, which made the experience less enjoyable. That said, we did speak to another guest who said they had a great evening there, so perhaps it depends on the night or the team working. Watson – The One Major Downside Unfortunately, the one major downside — and the only thing that truly spoiled an otherwise flawless holiday — was a staff member named Watson. His behaviour was completely out of step with the outstanding service shown by every other member of staff. He was relentlessly pushy with upselling extras and, when we declined, he turned rude and dismissive. On several occasions he hovered around our table, returned repeatedly despite being told no, or simply stood glaring while we tried to eat. It was uncomfortable, unnecessary, and frankly one of the rudest experiences we’ve ever had in a hotel. We later discovered other guests had been treated the same way, so it wasn’t an isolated incident. Given how exceptional the rest of the team were, Watson’s conduct stood out even more starkly — and it’s probably the single biggest reason we would think twice about returning to a resort that otherwise delivered one of the best holidays we’ve ever had. It’s a real shame if management encourage or overlook this behaviour. Lobby Bar Entertainment Another slight negative was the lobby bar area in the evenings. A DJ played music so loud it felt completely out of place, making it impossible to sit, relax, and enjoy a conversation. The only person who seemed to enjoy it was the DJ himself. We ended up avoiding the lobby altogether and spending our evenings in the room. By contrast, when visiting Dreams, the “On the Rocks” bar had live singers or background entertainment that created a much more fitting and enjoyable atmosphere — something similar would be a much better match for Secrets. Overall Impression Every staff member we interacted with except one was fantastic, and they truly made our holiday special. Secrets La Romana is a beautiful resort with outstanding facilities and some exceptional team members. We would absolutely recommend it for couples looking for a luxury getaway — but Watson’s conduct, along with the poorly thought-out evening lobby entertainment, are probably the things that would make us think twice about returning. That said, this was still probably the best holiday we have ever had, and the positives far outweighed the negatives. Special thanks again to Freddy, Evelyn, Francisco, and the Mare and Grill teams for making our stay unforgettable.