Stayed at the breezes from Apr. 19-26th. Booked with Redtag.ca and went down with Nolitours/Westjet.

The trip was planned for me and two buddies, and coincidentally, met up with 'ursy99' on the plane down. We hung out with them, so there was 9 of us, so check out her extensive review for more details. This is just to confirm her review and add my own perspective.

The resort is a solid 4 stars. Here's why, i've stayed at resorts with better rooms, the room we got was sufficient at best. For two guys, it'll do, not sure if it'd be good for couples and families. But we visited the rooms of the others we met and they were by far better than ours.... We also booked last minute ish, but considering we only sleep in the room, we were fine with that.

Food was sufficient. Good variety everyday. A la carte restaurants were good too, though not wow. Paris has great ambience, food's okay. It gets booked fast so book your meals 1st thing. I'm vegetarian so my choices were limited. But i got by, but from my travel buddies, they seemed to enjoy the selection.

If you're looking for just sun, you'd have to get up early to get chairs, especially by the beach. I found it annoying that people would 'reserve' spots by leaving towels/tables, etc on beach chairs. The first morning i was there, I woke up at 6:30, (couldn't sleep in, unfamiliar bed phenomenon) and went to the beach. 80% were reserved, and literally 1 or 2 people were at the beach already. Just makes you wonder how 'reserved' they really are, they just probably left their items overnight.

One bonus about the Breezes is that they have a policy for no tipping at meals/bars. If you really want to give a tip for great service, it has to be under the table sort of deal, which we did when we had great service. I believe they can get fired if they accept tips out in the open. Definitely tip the maids as they'll take care of you. We brought down a care package for our maids, cosmetics, chocolates and $$ will keep them happy. Had no problems with thefts/missing items. Rooms come with safes which are included.

Bring US dollars as you get more leway in negotiating. In practice, ask how much, then offer half. Then pay how much you're willing. Or just simply walk away, they'll often accept that final offer while you're leaving. They still make pretty good margins.

Take a shuttle to town (Cabarete) to book your tours/excursions. Just walk along the street and you'll run into F&T tours and meet a guy named Joseph. Very nice man. You'll save anywhere from $20-30/ trip with him over the tours offered on the resort. And they're the exact same tours. It's a good feeling to know that you paid so much less that a lot of people on the same tour. Just don't mention it on tour as it'll ruin the others experiences knowing they paid so much more.

The trip was great and would definitely recommend the Breezes for someone looking to relax. There was a good mix of families, and young singles, and of course couples. So a great resort for anyone. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions or want to see pics.

So...
Because I found everyone's review so helpful, I decided to write my own. This is my first time, so please be gentle. First off, I've never stayed at an all-inclusive and with everyone's somewhat negative review about Breezes, I had my reservations. My overall experience was actually pretty great!

What I loved most about Breezes is the bars! Hahah, no need to bring your Bubba Kegs unless your an absolute drunk or lazy a**. They make your drinks (I prefer brugal & coke) pretty potent already! Just order two and your good to go! Just stay away from the lobby bar after the nightly shows. Get your drinks before, cuz they tend to fill up afterwards, then your stuck waiting in line.

Also the pool is pretty awesome. I brought a floatie just like everyone recommended and had a great time chillen on the lazy river. The slides are fun! Use your floatie down the slide, if you brave. And the swim up bar is definitely a bonus! You also have to try the trapeze or the rock wall if you get a chance!

The discotecha place is pretty cool, if they play the kind of music you like. I prefer hip hop and reggaeton and if you get enough people dancing to it, they tend to play the same kind of music. So if nobody is dancing to trance, they will change it.

The only downside is the food. Jimmy's buffet was alright... it was good, it wasn't bad. I just figured the food was more for sustenance than actual enjoyment. Make sure to book your a la carte's ahead of time. Mexican and italian were quite enjoyable. Japan was a let down, they had no white sauce! And they barely seasoned the food. The warm saki is great though! I didn't get to try Paris, but it's supposed to be decent. One piece of advice is to bring snacks during the pre-dinner times. They close the buffet and the "24" snack bar to prepare for dinner. So your left without food for like an hour and a half. For me, that's a long time especially if you spent the day in town and are returning to your resort ravenous!

The rooms were also pretty ok. It's not like i spent most of my time there anyways. My cable worked. The A/C leaked a little the first day (because it worked overtime for its initial cooling period). There was hot water. No bugs. And yes me and my friend ended up getting the pushed together twin beds... and we're both guys. We had some serious male bonding by the end of the trip! Definitely tip the maid with dollars or lotions or school supplies. They do a good job and they work hard.

Definite bonus was the shuttle service to Caberete and Sosua. If you took a cab it would cost you $10-$15 USD one way. This helped a lot considering these two are the places people usually visit for shopping and partying. The buses are safe and clean.

Overall, the place was good for it's price. I'm not a cheap-[--] but I'm not a high maintenance type traverler/person either. This fits the bill right down the middle. I had an awesome trip!

My boyfriend and I stayed at the Breezes from April 18 - 25. We had a great time.
Check-In:
We were the last people to check-in and had to wait quite a while. A waitress brought us drinks in line while we waited, even though we did not have our bracelets yet, which was nice. As we arrived at approx. 11am, our rooms were not yet ready. We checked back around 3pm and the room was available. We were told that our bags would be delivered to our room. We called approx. 4x for them, as they did not arrive. Eventually, at about 8pm, we went up to the entrance and another traveller that came on our flight advised us that our bags were still at the front and we should just get them ourselves. We retreived the bags from the entranceway and walked them all the way to our rooms. We were not impressed with this.
Room:
We payed extra for a superior suite with a King sized bed and were surprised that we actually got a villa close to the beach. It was very roomy and also came with a cot. We tipped a few dollars every day and our room was kept fairly clean. Do not be fooled, there is no mini bar, only water and pop, and they do not always replace what you drink! The beds were rather hard, but we got over it. The sun wore us out anyways.
Pool:
The pool was great and always kept clean. We were always able to find chairs, no matter what time we got to the pool. The lazy river was the best part and very relaxing. The swim-up bar is easily accessable and you do not have to wait long for a drink...but remember to tip, they really appreciate it and will make sure to serve you as soon as you come up.
Food:
We ate at all the a la cartes. Make sure you book these as soon as you get there. The French Restaurant fills up fast! If you miss one, you can ask to go back to one of the others. The french and japanese restaurants were the best. The regular buffet was good and had quite a variety of things. Try the french toast at breakfast...its delicious! The 24 hr snack bar was good and we went there quite often as it was right by the beach and had a great view. It is always stocked with hamburgers, hot dogs, soup, chicken and ribs and a few salads. Technically, it is not 24 hrs as it is closed between 6:30 and 10 for the Mexican restaurant.
Beach:
The sand was very hot, as was the direct sun when lying on the beach. Chairs were a little harder to find, but you usually can pull some together. We had a couple of red flag days and yellow flag days. The water was very nice and people were swimming regardless of the flags.
Entertainment/Bars:
There was a show every night, and some were quite funny. Not all are kid-friendly!!! They did have a Circus show which the kids really seemed to like. The entertainment staff did mini-club activities daily (they would often bring the kids around the pool for games). They also do games and dance lessons around the pool during the day. There is a trapese and rock climbing daily, but neither my boyfriend or I did these. We heard from others that they were really fun and everyone doing them seemed to be having a good time. The staff seems to be very attentive to the kids and makes sure that they have a safe and fun time.
All of the bars were good, and served mostly the same drinks. The disco opened every night after the show was over. It is quite small, but plays American/Popular music. It was mostly 18-30 year olds at the disco.
Casino:
The slots are very old and rarely pay out. There are some table games, but the dealers do not talk to you or make eye contact. We both felt it was a very eerie atmosphere in the casino; not the excitement and adrenaline rush of Las Vegas...so don't expect that!
Excursions:
We did the catamaran, and weren't all that impressed. You have to get up so early, spend the morning on a boat with no way to cool down, snorkel, and then turn around and sweat all the way back. The snorkelling was great, but spending all that time on a boat while we could have been at the pool or beach was somewhat disappointing.
We heard from others that the dune buggys/ATVs were the best. It is only a half day excursion that leaves from the hotel. You get extremely messy, but it is a blast.
Others also had fun at Ocean World, but it is quite expensive.
We did not go into town, but heard that Sosua was too hot to spend the whole day in. There are also women there who grab your hair and try to braid it. Also, the shops all have the same things and you can get at the hotel when the vendors come.

Things to remember:
Bring lots of $1s and tip often (but not too much). They appreciate anything you can give them. We had the best service from waiters and bar tenders when we tipped them once a day at least. When you put it in perspective, you would be tipping way more at home, so in the end it seems worth it.
If you arent satisfied with your room, say something. We met a couple that had a horrible room experience and were moved right away to a much nicer suite.
If you are able, bring some school supplies to leave for the maids. They can always use little things and in return you will have extra towels, pillows, whatever you ask for. If you can, write a note in Spanish saying that it is a gift for them to take.
Practice your bartering skills! Always offer 50-60% of the price that you are given!
Bring your own cup as the drinks are small and the ice melts fast!
Watch out for the hotel reps trying to sell you Club Gold! They will stop you and want to talk and give you an info session. They are nice guys, but are really only out to sell you another vacation. Who wants to think about booking another vacation when you are just trying to enjoy the one you are on right now??!!
Have fun and relax!

Overall, we had a great time. We spend most of our days by the pool lounging or floating down the lazy river. We loved the flexibility of being able to eat when we wanted and not on a set schedule. My boyfriend said he would definately go back there, and I likely would as well.

I enjoyed this vacation with a group of 9 people, aged 20-25 from April 19th- April 26th.

I flew with Westjet provided by Nolitours, and my boyfriend and I enjoyed a very comfortable flight as opposed to my uncomfortable flight with Air Transat back in August 2007.

The air conditioned shuttle waiting for us at POP was on time, efficient and comfortable. Make sure you watch your luggage be put away as it is your responsibility it stays with you.

Check in was a breeze, no issues and we stayed in a Villa (2002) even though we had booked a standard room.
Our room location was amazing! This is a large resort, and our villa was central to all the restaurants, was opposite the pool, close to the lobby and 5 minute walk to the beach and snack bar/Mexican restaurant.

Our room was not renovated, and did have some aesthetic issues (ie. peeling wood/paint). But our room was very large and comfortable, we had a patio with chairs, and everyone knows location is everything so the rooms looks is definitely minor.

The pool is great. We swam the lazy river, did the water slides, and enjoyed the swim up bar.

The opinion of the beach lies in the eye of the beholder.
I love waves. And my friends were surfers, but if you do have children, exercise caution. We did not count how many yellow/red flags there where, but to be honest we all swam in either colours. There is an undertow, you wil lose sunglasses/bikini bottoms, but hey, good photo opps for facebook.

The shuttles to Sosua and Cabarete are amazing! I think this bonus is so worth while, because one way to each city is $10 US, and Breezes offers each shuttle for free 3 times a day.

You will get hasseled by locals to braid your hair, "lookie, lookie" in their shops, and whatever else you want to get yourself into.

Just say no, gracias, smile and walk away!

Ladies and men, if you dont want to get any part of you braided dont let them touch you, and don't bring a purse, they will try to bead that part for you too.

Excursions. If you feel more comfortable booking with the resort, please do so, even more so if you have children.
If you are a worldly travelor, or trust your gut, you must check out Mel's Tours in Sosua, right beside Checkpoint bar.

We booked with Linda for $56, the Jeep Safari, and visited a soapstone/petrified wood carving factory. Great prices, still haggle, but Canadians be careful, the only wood we can take home is mahogany.

From there we visited a local school, gave some pencils/pens, and then visited a coffee/cocoa factory. We bought fresh organic coffee, and a whole cocoa bean for $3 US, and had tons of fun grinding the coffee and learning about the agriculture.

After that we had the opportunity to have a great lunch (so much better than the resort food) since it was fresh, local, dominican style meal! Beans and rice, pork cooked in squash, bbq chicken, fresh delicious pineapple, papaya, and banana, and tons of Brugal and coke for everyone.

Finally in the same excursion we had was my favourite part of the trip. We visited the 27 waterfalls, and if you want to do this, do bring watershoes from home, and a waterproof camera, you will use the hell out of them.

The experience was amazing and definetely an adrenaline rush.

We hiked for 20 mins, and started to climb through 7 waterfalls.
You wear lifejackets, watershoes, and helmets, all mandatory. We had 5 guides, very strong, spoke english/spanish/french, and I felt so safe with them knowing they were literally throwing you up the waterfalls, so that once you reached the 7th waterfall, you could either slide or jump off the waterfalls as you decend.
Most of us jumped the waterfalls, and the people who did slide said their butt hurt after, but it is all dependant on your comfort level.

The other excursion we did was with the Tip Top Catamaran. To begin this catamaran is the same offered by Breezes, at $89 US. We did not book this excursion through the resort, instead we went to Josef at Fun Tours in Cabarete, located right across the street from Scotiabank (Yes, there is a scotiabank!).

Josef gave us an amazing deal of $57 US for the exact same Tip Top Catamaran! His regular price is $60, but b/c we were a large group we got a hook-up.

This is ligit! I read tripadvisor all the time, we did not want to book outside the resort either, but our group did not get ripped off, and we sat right beside everyone else who paid $30 more than we did.

But, the catamaran is definitely for the relaxing types. Very beautiful scenery, hanging out on the nets while water splashes you are great photo opps, and snorkeling was included, but fish not super super awesome. We docked at an island, swam/speedboat it to the shore, and had another great dominican style meal, drinks included.
Do eat a hearty breakfast, and bring snacks if you have kids or are starving students not willing to pay $1 US for halloween size chips. (My friends killed the wall-mart for pringles before leaving!)

The staff are amazing. They are a resort who are not supposed to take tips, ie. if a manager sees them receiving, they may get in trouble. But they are appreciated, the service is great with/without tips, so practice your money handshake/bill slipped under your glass trick before you go.

Ok, this is for the shoppers.
Santo Domingo Coffee, Leon Jimenas cigars, and Brugal can all be found at surprise surprise the supermercado!

Don't buy at the beach! You will get ripped off, even after you haggle and use the "I'm a poor student" line over and over (I know I did).

We went to Janet's Supermercado in Cabarete. The Breezes shuttle will drop you off at the Souci Hotel, if your facing the hotel, walk East (right). Walk 5 minutes ish, and we paid 130 pesos ($2 US) for Santo Domingo coffee (easily 5 bucks on the beach).
Brugal cost $5 US for the big bottle, and Leon Jimenas flavoured cigarillos cost $8 US, or 5 cigars for $5, or Principes for $2 US.

Leon Jimenas cigars will cost you $5 US for ONE cigar at the Breezes tobacconist!

Overall it was an amazing trip. If you want an adventure trip, do the jeep safari and walk/party in the cities. Try Cabarete's Bambu Bar!

If you want relaxation and peace of mind, stay poolside, do the catamaran, and be wary of the dairy.

Cheers to all!