Casa Marina Beach & Reef an Amhsa Marina Resort All Inclusiv

not impressed

the food was horrible, and don’t let u bring ur guest to ur room.

Vacation was nice, rooms of hotel need some work.

The Hotel is okay. The outside, the beaches, pools, and food is good but the rooms def. need some upgrading. Overall the service was great and I think it is a good rather inexpensive vacation.

Traveler's tip on dining

Food was good and so was the beach, pool, activities.Rooms need to be upgraded.

You get what you pay for

Cannot believe that there were no elevators (we were on 4th floor). The whole room key/air conditioning issue was a problem for me. Nothing like walking into hot room after being out in the hot sun all day and then going up 4 flights of stairs. No ice machines, vending machines and store on premises closed at 9pm. Bed was small and uncomfortable. Would definitely NOT go back.

Great, inexpensive getaway

Perfect getaway for low maintenance people who want to sit back and relax in the tropics. Casa Marina is definately a three star resort in that it is primarily self-serve and the rooms are pretty basic. However, the staff is friendly and helpful, the ala carte restaurants are excellent and the scenery is breathtaking. My boyfriend and I booked this trip as a last-minute escape, we stayed for one week at the end of July 2009 and truly enjoyed every minute! Some suggestions; book a snorkel trip, it was really worth it, check out the Waterfront Restaurant at the edge of the resort property-it’s technically off the premises but they have a pathway from Casa Marina into their place...we had a bottle of wine, full lobster and filet for under $100 USD. Also, be sure to make your ala carte reservations when you check in, no one explained the process to us and we missed one of the resteraunts. Be sure to bring reusable water bottles, like a Nalgene, to refill with safe drinking water. Lastly, use a lot of sunscreen because the sun is severe.

Traveler's tip on getting the most out of your stay

There is a recreation hut that rents snorkel masks, kayaks, bikes, it also has boat rides and scuba lessons. Most of these are free for the first thirty minutes so be sure to take advantage of it. Also, use your ala carte reservations - the food is fantastic! The evening entertainment is really well done, even if you don’t like live shows that much. Be sure to really explore the property, there are so many places to relax and unwind from reef to beach to poolside.

Good

Good

I love staying at Casa Marina!

Casa Marina is a decent place to stay. I always stay there and always have a great time. The staff is very nice, entertainment is good. I love the easy access into the town, no taxi needed. (TIP) if you do need a taxi I would recommend going out into the main street and getting a taxi there and not the ones right in front of the hotel. You will save lots. You can do as the locals do and share a taxi or you can work out a much cheaper price and have the taxi to yourself. I recommend staying here, I have been to other hotels and there is not much difference other than the price. You pay more for pretty much the same food, entertainment and service. I’m not saying this is a 5 star hotel, but for the price it really is worth the stay. I would suggest finding someone to take you out of the area, Dominican Republic is beutiful and there is much more to see besides the beutiful beaches and the pool.

Loved it! especially for the Price!!

Just got back from the resort and had to say I truly enjoyed it. I was expecting a so so quality resort for the price paid but it was a great deal. Went with my boyfriend, first time to a resort, so we didnt know what to expect. The rooms were a bit outdated and basic, but it was HUGE. We also had a huge patio, and every morning could see the ocean from our window. It was amazing. The beaches were great, crystal clear, with fun waves. The Food was great, not a typical buffet, because it was so clean. Always something different, themed for dinner, and a great staff always cleaning after you. Games were fun, Shows were great, especially Michael Jackson. Now, many complained about the locals that come on the weekend. They are a bit loud, however they kinda made the atmosphere funny and exciting, so it honestly wasn’t that bad. Wish they had water at the bars,but you can just refill the water bottles provided in your room with water from the buffet. Overall great, so much to do and relaxing fun vacation, Just Go! With a positive attitude you will have a great vacation!

Traveler's tip on saving a few bucks

There will be nights where Dominicans come with tables of gifts & souvenirs to sell. Haggle them down don’t be afraid. I was ripped off big time, while my sister got things for 1/2 what I paid. They start off real expensive, and are so nice you’ll feel bad to say no, but be Strong. Also, walk out the hotel for better prices on gifts.

it’s ok

For the what we paid it was good. If your looking to relax with no hassels this is a good hotel. The only thing is bars are far away from each other. The food was ok.

Traveler's tip

Bring your own mug for the beer.

Bad Experience

It took almost 2 days to get chaged from a room with no AC. Be ready to make a line to get the water down drinks. On the weekend with all the locals 2 hour wait for a table to eat. Reservation for the so called specialty restaurants were never available gave up after 3rd day. If you can this hotel should be revised to a 1 star not three.

Very badly ran and really in bad shape

Worth Every Penny!!!

This was my first time to Casa Marina, and i loved it. From the moment that I arrived to the time I left, the staff was more then friendly and helpfull. The food was great, and there was plenty of it too. The alcoholic drinks are not named brand and are alittle watered down, BUT its an open bar from morning to night. So even though the drinks were abit watered, it was ok because i would just order 2 more. This was a great place and i cant wait to go again next year.

A great place to stay!

We really enjoyed our stay at Casa Marina Reef. Would definitely go there again. At the 3 times a day buffet, there was plenty and a good variety of food. Personnel were very attentive and nice. Lots to do on the resort’s property. Great for families. Also good because even though it is right in the small city of Sosua so you could venture out, it was also secure and private within the Casa Marina itself. Go! Just wish we could access their website directly!

Traveler's tip

Knowing Spanish would have been a big plus. Also, use the bus system for traveling. Inexpensive, very comfortable, and air conditioned. Know that the "Reef" is one section of the resort, the "Beach" another. We stayed in the "Reef" overlooking the Atlantic. Go for one of those rooms if you can.

You get what you pay for

This was my 2nd trip to the DR, but first to Puerto Plata. In all fairness, my last trip was to Punta Cana at a 4 star resort, so my expectations for Casa Marina were a little high. My girlfriend and I were disappointed in every aspect in comparison to our previous trip. The remote control didn’t work. 2/3 of the resort was shared with DR locals that will glare at you because you’re different. There were lots of bugs and flies in the pool and restaurants, since none of the restaurants were indoors. Food is horrible at the buffet but edible with only like 5 choices. The restaurants that require "reservations" however are splendid. Also, bottled water is not provided. None of the people we tipped seem very happy like in Punta Cana. The beach was like cape-cod, not clear-blue with white sand but greenish, but I imagine other resorts at Puerto Plata to be similar. Lastly, they have extremely limited supplies of water sports gear like kayaks and snorkeling goggles. It kind of seemed like the place was just too overcrowded for the amount of guests: tables at the buffet, seats in the theater, seats at the beach, etc. The only compliment I can give is for the night shows. They’re equivalent to a dance show by middle school kids. And if you love TV, they got good cable. Overall, if you’re looking for a budget vacation and don’t mind lots of things I mentioned and are planning to exit the resort to have a good time, then this is the place for you.

Traveler's tip on recreational activities

One of the few things that redeemed our vacation was going to "Paradise Island." It had one of the most beautiful beaches and a great snorkeling experience. The only downside was a ~3 hour trip to get there and back. I would recommend also shopping around for a good price for this excursion once you’re there since many travel companies provide this activity.

Great, inexpensive vacation

The resort is beautiful, clean and the people are friendly. The beaches were nice, spending most of our time snorkeling around the cliffs and reef not far from shore. They have lots of water activities to choose from. The rooms could use some updating. This would be my only complaint. We didn’t have issues with the room key and the lights/air conditioning. When you come in the door, put the room key in the air/electrical slot (located right by the door). When you leave, take it with you. It’s easy and the device saves electricity for the resort. The whole purpose of it is so people can’t leave lights and the air running when they are not in the room. The food was good and the buffet style was nice and easy/fast. We purchased 3 tours from the Tour group at the resort. We had a blast and the Tour guide was very knowledgable and pleasant to be with.

Traveler's tip on shopping

The little shops on the resort have the same things the shops out side of the resort have. I highly recommend not walking down the street to these other shops. Even though they say they won’t pressure you, they eventually will corner you. The prices at the resort shops are reasonable. If you go on the tours, those shops won’t pressure you to buy as well.

Great Week! A very relaxing vacation.

The hotel grounds were spacious and very well maintained. The main beach was good but small. We discovered the other beach to the northeast, and it was cleaner and more private. The views are amazing and the wait staff very courteous and helpful. The food is good, but you get kind of tired of the buffet style after couple of days. There are also 3 specialty restaurants, which are much better. We enjoyed the Mexican one the best. The Italian one was our 2nd favorite. The seafood restaurant was good, but the portions were too big. The water was very ocean-like, with small waves which my son enjoyed. The water temp is much cooler than the Caribbean side, but is nice since the weather is warm. The room was very basic: no fridge, no clock, small TV, one chair, no table, but we did not stay in the room very much of the day. They have nightly dancing shows which are very entertaining and a good way to end the day.

Traveler's tip on getting the most out of your stay

Make sure to ask for a 2nd key, since you have to leave 1 key in the room’s a/c unit, in order for the a/c to remain on when you are not in the room. This was a pain at first.

The Best Birthday VAcation Ever!!

There were many ups and downs, but for the price why complain? The staff is very nice, courteous and always willing to help when needed. During your stay please take advantage of the shows, they have a different show every night and for the 8 nights I was there they all were GREAT!!! There may be a little bit of a culture shock for some at first, because some of the ladies walk around topless. But after the 2nd day you just get over it and look straight ahead. Now as far as the down sides of my trip, the cable stops working for hours at a time and none of the remotes work the TV so you will be forced to get up. The food was not the greatest so I lived off pineapple and Pringles, most of the time until I was able to go off the resort. I would suggest using the specialty restaurants or just bring a bottle of seasoning salt and hot sauce with you if you dont want to starve. I would recommend going off the resort if youre looking for clubs or other nightlife, because Calypso Disco is a little lame. Im 23 so I know a good club when I see one and that basement with a boom box wasnt cutting it for me. If youre trying to save money and have a good time with your friends this is a wonderful place to go.

Traveler's tip on recreational activities

If you have time within your vacation I would suggest going to Ocean World. My friend and I swam with the dolphins, and it was AWESOME!!!!!

Wonderful Vacation!

One Pool had no water in it, but it didn’t matter because we weren’t there for the pool(s) but for the beach. And the beach was very nice! A nice panorama with the rocks. Great for amazing pictures and everything! The staff was mostly friendly and funny but not so the Guys who are trying to sell you souviniers on some days in the hotel area. You have to be strict and say "no!" otherwise you will spend your whole night talking to a salesman...and you don’t want that! Oh and the "Coktails" are not very good. Cheap Orange Juice to mix with, to much rum or vodka or whatever etc. And the food starts to get a little bit boring after 3 days...but hey, its all inclusive and the beer is good. ;) I am 23 years old and I was there with my girlfriend at the end of May. Is was not busy at all and we would definitly go there again! I think that the people here who are writing those very bad reviews are normaly going to 5 Star Hotels at the Bahamas or so. Otherwise I can’t explain some of those very bad reviews.

Traveler's tip

I highly recommend the "key paradise" trip! It was sooo amazing! Just like paradise!!!!

Food was the same every day of my stay

My stay was a moment to remaimber,but they don’t phone your room to awere you of any early appointment.

Pleasant Stay

80% of the stay was great and pleasant. I enjoyed lodging at Casa Marina. It’s clean, it’s fun, they play good music and host good shows, the food was B+, and the people are happy which rubs off on the customers. Two cons - They could step up their security a bit, and they could teach receptionist how to respect ALL people.

You get what you pay for

Casa Marina is a pretty cheap all inclusive resort. It’s definitely a solid 3 stars so don’t have any expectations beyond that. The resort is clean and has an expansive layout. I enjoyed not feeling confined and being able to walk around the resort. The rooms are very basic and there are no amenities featured, not even a clock. If you only care about having a place to sleep, then it should be ok for you. The food is served buffet style, except at the 3 on-site resterants. It doesn’t have much taste, but it’s not horrible. The best resterant was the Mexican. The Italian is absolutely the WORST and the seafood was just ok. The shows at the ampitheatre are fun for good free entertainment and there’s also a snmall disco on the resort open until 3am. The weekdays are the best because there are many locals that come during the weekend and the place becomes a bit of a zoo. In closing, if you just want to get away for a while for cheap and relax without any frills, this is the place for you.

Traveler's tip on nightlife

Don’t leave the resort at night if you don’t have to. There are many local bars but they also feature local prostitutes that will harrass you...especially if they know that you are a tourist. There are also drug dealers that sit on motorcyles right outside of the resort entrances waiting to offer you drugs and harrass you too.

Cheap Vaca

This was definitely an experience of you get what you pay for. We had to change our vacation plans last minute and decided to go here. The beach was beautiful, the hotel was not. There were ants everywhere in our room when we arrived, and we had to harass management to get us a new room. The beds were very hard. The food was not good. They served rice, beans and chicken everyday. These things dont seem hard to make but they did not taste good. The all-inclusive meals were only served at certain times during the day and the bars closed at 11pm. It was not safe to go out off the resort at night.

Traveler's tip on local attractions

If you do decide to go here go to Paradise Island. This was the best thing we did all week. Beautiful snorkling and the food was decent.

Will go back

Hotel is nice ,the food is ok,no bagon to bad. The pull is verry nice,beach is to small,but i liked,most of my time i spend on the beach. First two days i have a problem with hot water,was no hot water in all,after two days of fite they fix it.

Traveler's tip on getting the most out of your stay

Verry good price,good weather

Perfect Vacation

My boyfriend and I are college students and took spring break week to go to Casa Marina, it was gorgeous, the service was excellent it was the perfect romantic getaway. The drinks were good, the food was good...buffet style offered different things every night and we ate at the italian restaraunt and that was nice too. We both went not knowing what to expect and being worried and we left completely content. THe people who worked there were great they spoke english well and were very helpful. No one really bothered you asking to buy things and the reef was beautiful. Definitely a nice place to stay.

Quiet hideaway

I have been to this hotel several times in the last eight years--there is no luxury; its no frills but the location and staff keep me coming back.

Traveler's tip

None

Loved Every Minute of It!

This hotel was a great bargain. For the price we paid I was expecting much less, but we were treated to the best service. The hotel genuinely cares about the safety of its guests (the water was a bit rough one day due to a storm off the coast, so they closed the beach and had employees watch over to make sure nobody entered the water). The guys at the aqua center are attentive and knowledgeable. I recommend going on an excursion with them at least once during your trip (we went almost every day). This hotel does let locals on the beach, but I was never approached by them or asked to buy anything. They were respectful of guests and enjoyed the beach only in one small area to the side. The pools were cleaned every morning and usually skimmed again a few times in the afternoon to get any new leaves out that might have blown in. Our actual room was fully mopped and made up daily. I was very impressed at how clean everything was kept. I absolutely recommend this resort. Be warned though, it is located in a 3rd world country. The electricity went out almost everyday for about a minute each time. This even happened at the airport while I was going through security. After a few days you kind of get used to the short periods of pitch blackness.

Traveler's tip on recreational activities

Go to the aquacenter! The guys there are awesome!

Not the Worse, but Not the Best

Getting in/out of Country seamless(FYI a $10 fee to enter the country, Dropped off @ hotel, to check in and instructed to go to other checkin counter @ other side of hotel (Reef vs Beach hotels-2 share all bars/resturants), checkin not very helpful in introducing their hotel, got a map and sent on our way. One key per room,works the lights and Air. Instructed to not drink bathroom water, provided 2 bottles of water but not replaced once gone. Many choices of food, Buffet not greatest NO BACON. Italian 1st choice, Mexican 2nd. Must make Reservation to these, but you do get served. Don’t like there are no bar stools at the bars, no way to gather around to get to know people, they just had chairs and tables scattered nearby-but noone sat with others, would walk to another available table. Also, would prefer if there were Waiters/Waitresses rather than busboys to just clean up. Buffet should serve drinks at least, and I think if you have people going around collecting cups have them offer to get new drinks -- would promote more interaction with the customers and staff. Nightly entertainment was very impressive - worth going, is very simular each night but no cost so just leave is you don’t like it. Not alot of opportunities when raining, no bars to sit at, only one shelter other than resturant spaces or your own balcony. Will I go back Probably not, like the Idea of going on a vacation and being pampered a little at least and did not get that here.

Traveler's tip on dining

Just OFF Resort "JOSEPH’S Resturant" has BEST NY Strip Steak & they also have Bacon for a low cost.