I have recently returned from Dominican Republic, Casa Marina Reef, where I spent two beautiful weeks with my husband to be. The place is amazing! There is so much to do all day, there is even evening entertainment every day. We had all inclusive deal, which means u can eat and drink as much as u like. I was nicely surprised by variety of the food...every day different meal on offer, lots of fresh fruit and veg, etc. All organic:-))) Bananas were the best! There are also three other restaurants - Mexican, Italian and Sea food where u have to make booking if u want to eat there. Just go to the reception and they will book u in. The hotel was very clean and very well looked after. TV in the room with 90 channels to chose from - there are even sports channels! Local people are very friendly, staff as well - they can't do enough to help. We booked the trip to Paradise Island - beautiful!.....and we also went to the Ocean World - swimming with dolphins. We paid $150 each. It really is a once in a lifetime experience, however, i think it is too pricey.

I really can't think of one bad thing to say about this holiday. It's a lovely place with everything u need:-))

Vicky and Andre (London)

I have been returning to this hotel for the past 10 years 2/3 times per year. I find all the staff pleasant, helpful, happy and good fun as can be said for the Dominicans in general. Nothing is too much trouble, although the "manana" factor does come into play on ocassion, but then, that is their culture and we as tourists shouldn't expect to change that! The rooms in the Reef side of the hotel are better than the Beach. All are pretty basic, but clean and comfortable. Hey I go on holiday for the sun, sea, sand and to have fun, NOT to spend all my time in my room.
The food is good, plenty and varied. The specialist restaurants do get booked up but i've never not been able to get in on my chosen night.
The animation team work their socks off and i have nothing but praise for them. They endure being slung into the pool by well meaning tourists. just having a bit of fun. That's great, but when it's a different tourist on a daily basis and they still come up smiling....what more can I say. The actual evening entertainment is ok but very repetetive, lots of mimeing and dancing. The calypso disco is good if enough people bother to go down there and make it lively.
The whole complex is clean and well cared for, although there could be a little more lighting in some areas.
The weekends can get very hectic when dominicans from inland come in for a break and unfortunately they do take over and are very noisy.
The hotel does NOT allow the local whores in on a daily basis as someone else has written in a review. Lots of europeans/americans/canadians return several times a year to be with their dominican partners and book into the hotel for a week or 2.
The beach can be quite rough but a short 5 minute walk out of the front of the reef side will take you to Sosua Bay. This is one of the most beautiful beaches on the north coast and unless a storm is brewing you'll find that most of the time the sea is flat and calm and the coral reefs where fish are in abundance are within swimming distance.

ONE of my best trip every if ur young and wanna party this is the place to go...hit up the Latinos club every nite to see all the fly dominican ma ma's best girls in the world....foood was good go to one of the three resturants amazzzzzzzing cant wait to go back ....10/10 perrrrrrrfeeeeeeecttttt

My friend and I have just returned from our vacation, we stayed at the Casa Marina Beach part of the Resort. We were both skeptical due to the "bad" reviews we both had read. I beg to differ with those comments, the Staff were all extremely pleasant and friendly and helpful. There was a great selection of places to eat, and plenty of food choices. The drinks were plentiful too! The grounds are gorgeous and very relaxing. The rooms are just fine, and both the air conditioning and the TV worked perfectly well. I have to assume that the poor reviews were written by people who expected a four or five star experience from a 3 star resort - quite unfair in my opinion. Usually you get what you pay for, but I have to say that in this case we got more than we paid for!!! And I would definately return for another stay.