Hi,

I don't know about boat trips, but here is a link to another site that has currant reviews of the oasis canoa.

debbiesdominicantravel.com/coralcanoa.html

We are going there in November (over Thanksgiving) and I was getting excited because there had been quite a few good reviews in May, but the last week or so, they haven't been so good :(

It seems to be up & down.

We went to Punta cana last year in April and stayed at the Majestic Colonial and LOVED it!

This year we are taking our kids (ages 19,16 & 11) and this place was much cheaper, so....

Good luck with whatever you decide.

Caseybum

Caseybum, we went on April and were not disappointed. Reviews which are not so good are coming from the people with wrong expectations and mostly talking about the area (no places of night life, ect). If you're not getting easy disappointed about little things you will be ok. Especially with a good deal. I see very good deals for November and also considering our second family trip to Canoa. I like Iberostar better but with a huge price difference will be choosing Canoa.

Hi Becca and Casey,

I just got back from the Oasis Canoa and I had a pretty good time despite the negative reviews. I was also lucky enough to go on a really good boat trip to the island of Sanoa.

BECCA: The typical boat trips take you to either Sanoa or Catalina islands or sometimes even both. We booked our boat trip with the company "Club Caribe" (they work with the Expedia representative at the hotel) and we were lucky enough to do the VIP full day boat/beach tour. It was on the pricey side (something like $150 USD per person), but the experience was worth the money when you consider how much the regular boat trips on the speed boats cost(around $70). Our VIP trip included breakfast on a fake paddle boat which takes you up the river out to sea. This part was mediocre, but the rest of the trip was amazing. Once at sea you take a catamaran to the "natural swimming pool" in the middle of the ocean and then a speed boat to Saona beach 1. When finished on Saona beach 1 (bring money if you would like a massage on the beach or fresh real coconut/juice), it is back on the catamaran for a BBQ crayfish lunch (like lobster). After lunch you get zipped off to the private Club Caribe Saona beach 2 which is the most beautiful beach I have ever seen, but the bugs will eat you alive so do use that bug repellent. Then it is back on the catamaran which I forgot to mention has two jacuzzis on board.

I did not have the opportunity to go to Catalina and the Oasis Canoa water activities (SurfnRide or something)people offer a "snorkeling" boat trip for $20 USD that takes you out to some reef to look at fish. I would have done the snorkeling trip, but they make you wear a life jacket so it kind of spoils the swimming/snorkeling/diving.

Just be careful who you book your boat trip with if you do decide to go on one. The boat drivers (speed boats especially) really do not exercise much water safety. If the same trip is half the price than with the hotel tour agents, there is a reason.

CASEY: I started getting panicky right before I left as well since there were several bad reviews but by then it was too late to change anything.

I am more than happy to have gone to the Oasis Canoa despite those negative travelers. The hotel was just absolutely beautiful even with all the remodeling being done. The pool and complex is so big that the noise generated from the construction did not interfere with my relaxing in any way (the side of the pool next to those buildings was empty but there was still plenty of spots for everyone around the rest of the pool). Then of course there is the amazingly gorgeous BIG beach away from all of it for total peace and quiet.

The food was ok with plenty of choice for everyone (even the buffet). Our favorite meal was breakfast with fresh eggs/omelets cooked right in front of you as you like, fresh real fruit smoothies, and just about every type of breakfast food salty or sweet. Almost everyone who goes to a hotel in DR gets sick since it is a 3rd world country with non-potable water that can affect just about anything you eat. Remember to brush your teeth using only bottled water and if super concerned don't take any ice or eat any raw fruits/vegetables.

The only downfalls at the Coral Canoa Oasis were the room, the cleaning service, and the really really BAD mosquito/sand fly bites. The room was a bit worn and somewhat musty, but everything worked and was clean. I had to leave the cleaning guy notes about exactly what I wanted done in the room each time with a one dollar tip and never had a problem after that. Otherwise, the cleaning (more like non-cleaning) was really shoddy even when I left a tip with no instructions. PLEASE TAKE BUG SPRAY like "Off" down there for this alone could save your whole vacation enjoyment. I have never been so ravaged by mosquitoes/sand flies my whole life (even in Colombia). I was so miserable like the 5th day of my stay from all the itchy bites which became infected, but I went out and bought some really expensive Off which worked wonders for the rest of the trip.

Let me know if you have any other questions about the hotel or the area. I'll be more than happy to share.

Doris