Lovely hotel with a great atmosphere (Blue Bay)

Member Name: laulau0510

Product:	Blue Bay
Date:	04/08/09 (11 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Helpful, friendly and relaxing

Disadvantages: Quite isolated

Blue Bay Villas - Dominican Republic

We went to this hotel from 23rd June to 7th July and had an amazing time. Before we went I checked the weather and all the sites said that it would be cloudy and raining everyday! This wasn't the case - out of the 14 days we had 1 thunderstorm and 1 cloudy day. Still better than the Scottish weather so I didn't mind!!

On arrival we were greeted with a cold drink and information on the hotel, inc meeting time for the rep meeting. We were allocated our room and a our bags followed - be warned take small notes as tipping is expected a fair amount here.

TIP - Before going email the hotel and ask for a quiet room as they will accomodate this. We didn't know this and ended up right outside the entertainment area! (Even if this happens to you its not to bad as the entertainment finishes at 11pm (ish).

Rooms were clean but basic. TV, hairdryer, coat hangers inc. Fresh bathroom and pool towels provided everyday. Safe is avaliable at a cost. ($40 i think).

We went on quite a few of the trips, which we did through the reps.

Paradise Island - Speed boat to island, snockelling, lunch. Our tour started early 7.15am but this mean't we got to the island before it got really busy, recommend that you go with a tour that starts earlier as it spoils how beautiful the place is when its crawling with tourists.

Zip Lining - Amazing! Half day trip. Tour picks you up and takes you to the trees. 8 zip lines, some upto 300m long and upto 30 miles an hour. The guys are great and show you how to brake etc. They also give you a practice run before the real thing.

Ocean World - By boyfriend and I both did the dolphin encounter and it was fantastic. Photos are expensive though. my boyfriend also did the shark encounter which he was really disappointed with. We wished we had had the sea lion encounter instead as it looked great!

Pueta Plata City Tour - Some elements of this day were great but it was quite rushed. Rum factory - Fantastic and cheap rum avalibale to buy. Town Centre - Not that much there really. Amber Museum - Interesting but small. Cable cars - Up the mountain for great views. Flea market - I hated this bit as it ended up your just hassled everywhere you go, went to the pub instead!

Mega Trucks - This is a hot and dusty day so take plenty of sun screen and a hat. This was the trip i enjoyed the least just because you spent so long driving around on very bumpy roads but you get to see lots of the island anyway!

The food - Breakfast - Inc cooked food, egg station where the guy will cook you scrambled, fried omelletes etc. Cereals and toast also avaliable. The breakfast doesn't change so it does get a little boring after 2 weeks!

Lunch is different most days, inc pizza. chips, fish, meat etc

The dinner buffet offers a different style of food every night - inc mexican, domincan, seafood etc. Also a pasta station where you choose your veg, pasta and sauce and its made for you!

Restaurants - Fish - Lovely and a great view of the beach
Mexican - Atosphere was a bit lacking but the food was ok
Grill - Well cooked meat but a little basic - nice view of the beach also.

Pools - 3 pools - Spa pool - small but quiet
Pool bar - the biggest pool but can be noisey with the bar and the entertainment.
Medium pool - this was our fave as it was close enough that you could get drinks but wasn't to hectic.

Entertainment - The entertainment was quite basic really but the guys who did it tried so hard! They just need more money behind them really as they put on some really fun shows. In particular the Michael Jackson and Pirate show were fun but it there wasn't any variation of who you saw each night which I would have prefered but fun all the same.

The beach - The beach is lovely and tend to be quieter than the pools. Beds and umbrellas are avaliable (aslo beach bar which is great).

TIPS
*Take dominican pessos as well as dollars as you get more for your money
*Don't buy jelewery as they will tell you it is real siver when it is not.
*Don't forget to have $10 ea for tax at the airport.
*Things like crisps and drinks are expensive to buy from the shops in the plaza so go the the supermarket if you like to have snacks in your room.
*Mozzies were a nightmare for me so take plenty of tropical strength spray with you.
*If someone in the hotel tries to get you to go with them on the offer of a free hat and tshirt - don't bother they are trying to sign you up to a time share that is crazy expenzive!

I hope this is helpful to you!

Summary: Great! 4 stars