TripAdvisor Traveler Rating

We really enjoyed our three-week stay at the Marien. We'd been going to Cuba the last several years, where the beaches are nicer and it's generally safer. But the shortages there and the way the Cuban government is treating its people recently has to stop. So we returned to the DR. I was nervous about crime, but we didn't go out at night and had absolutely no problems. Even the beach vendors seemed less aggressive than the last time we'd been to the DR about 15 years ago. We took the VIP package and it was good. I have listed the benefits below. Food was good. Hot foods were kept hot, and cold was cold. We never got sick. I enjoyed the smoothie bar and pasta bars at the buffet. You can ask your waiter for stonger coffee at breakfast if that's your preference. We had lovely weather and enjoyed the VIP Balinese beds sometimes. There was a cigar bar, and pizza restaurant just outside the front door but we did not try them. The casino outside the front door is okay if you're a gambler. We used the gym a lot. It's okay, but needs some renovating for sure. Here are the staff we appreciated: - Jon at the front desk - Yamily at the VIP desk - Carlos the VIP bartender - Marie-Christina, the best maid ever - Sebio the bellboy We were in room 8216 on the 2nd floor with a king bed. Next time, we may bring a foam cover because we found the mattress a bit hard for our older bones. ;-) Read on for more tips and a couple of cons. The benefits of the VIP service (at an extra charge) include: - Personalized check in/check out in the VIP Lounge. - VIP wrist band. - Late check out (subject to availability) until 4:00 PM. - Bathrobe and slippers in the room. - Pillow menu. - Superior mini bar (4 soft drinks and 4 beers). - Bottle of sparkling wine in the room on the day of arrival. - Turndown service - Safe included in the room. - Private beach area with Balinese beds. - Bar in VIP lounge with Premium drinks and lounge seating area. - VIP lounge with light refreshments (during the day) - Password protected wifi in the VIP lounge - Access to the à la carte restaurants without reservation. - VIP area at the buffet - Room service. - Children's club with electric game, TV, rest area. (NOT EXCLUSIVE, applies to family room categories) - Pool area for children, (NOT EXCLUSIVE, applies to family room categories) TIPS: We walked down the main road to the big Jumbo supermarket (pronounced Yumbo supermercado) and that was fun. It's like a Walmart and they have everything you might find you need, including drinks and affordable sunscreen and a Scotiabank ATM, among others. If you're up for a longer walk, the big Sirena supermarket is very similar. - You can walk for miles down the beach if that's your thing, but only in one direction towards Blue Bay (see cons below). - Watch out for crazy drivers when you cross the road. They will often run red lights and ignore pedestrian crossings. - Bring lots of sunscreen and bugspray. There weren't any flies but there were mosquitos. CONS (not many): -Smelly cats hanging around the buffet. Ugh. - Garbage on the beach. They pick it up, but it just comes right back. Plastics and broken glass so watch your step. Disgraceful! Tons of seeweed too, but at least that's "natural". They do their best to keep on top of it. - Included beer and wine wasn't good and bottled wines at extra charge were too expensive, so we got bottled beer and wine at the Jumbo. - Don't walk towards town down the beach. There are hooligans that hang out there and prey on tourists. - No NHL hockey in the sports bar. We plan to return. Happy to answer your questions.

Amazing place to stay with family. Plenty of activities. GREAT food. I've been to other all inclusives where the food is cold and there is not enough variety. Service was overall good however there were some employees with a notable sour expression and those few stick out. Were able to check in early and check out late (probably a VIP perk). Nice nightclub. If it weren't for the few employees that were a bit rude I would have left 5 stars.

We had been there before many years ago .it was better. The room no complaint.the food is good for 14 days you can find something to eat.thw snack bar is great food.the Mexican is under par bot bad food but not enought varieties. The rodisio .is great.the Mediterranean is good as well again for 14 days could use more varieties. The staff is 5*. The beach is great but not enough tiki umbrella. This is my major issue.not enough shade the pool is great but again no shade .no umbrella and major lack of chairs for number of guest. Just add chairs and umbrellas. And of course the same ppl reserving the chairs all the time. Very selfish ppl. And finally the disrespectful quebec ppl smoking every where not respecting elder.children.signs .and Dominican staff are too nice don't like to confront these ignorant ppl that can't follow rules in a different country when in quebec there smoking laws are strict and they follow.make me nautious. With a few simple add ons I would rate better.

Smoking is permitted EVERYWHERE on the resort. If you are a non smoker, don't go there!! Beach was not very clean. Resort is old and needs upgrading. You need to pay extra for VIP if you want better service and a key to a safe. Food is similar to other places.

I am currently sitting in my room at Marien Puerto Plata, taking time out of my vacation to write this review, compelled by the horrid experience I've had here. When I checked in, I was informed that my reserved room didn't have air conditioning. Instead, I was given a room with air conditioning that was of lower grade than what I paid for. When I called to ask when my room would be ready, I was blatantly lied to and told that I had already received the room I paid for. Suffering from extreme sciatica and back pain due to the deplorable bed conditions, I went to the front desk to request the room I originally paid for. To my shock, I was told it would cost an additional $180. Desperate for relief, I agreed to pay. After finally getting the room I paid for, I attempted to dine at the Brazilian restaurant, only to find out it was closed despite having tipped generously. Next, I tried to dine at Myilos, the Mediterranean restaurant, only to be turned away for wearing shorts. This was particularly frustrating as I had given my only pair of jeans to the housekeeping staff for alterations. My complaints about the deceit and poor service were met with indifference, and I was made to feel like my only value here was how much money I could be extracted for. I have visited this resort over four or five times in the past and always had good experiences, but in the last four years, it has been nothing but problems. This time, the fact that I couldn't even get a table as a single male at the Mediterranean restaurant despite tipping over $1,000—equivalent to a year's salary in the Dominican Republic—is absolutely disgusting. I have never felt so embarrassed, abused, and used in my life. I cannot stress enough: do not come to this resort. You're better off going to Lifestyles Resort or any other resort, for that matter. Marien Puerto Plata has plummeted to the bottom of the barrel. The place was empty on June 8, 2024, yet they still couldn't accommodate a high-paying customer. This is beyond unacceptable. The issue here isn't about money; it's about the abysmal customer service, which is entirely focused on extracting as much money as possible. The staff seems only interested in getting as many pesos out of you as they can, without any regard for providing a satisfactory experience. As of today, I will never return to Marien Puerto Plata. I would rather go to Colombia, where they respect the American dollar and value their guests. I assure you, this review is not exaggerated. After visiting this resort over seven times and once considering it my favorite, I am deeply disappointed and disheartened by what it has become. Save your money and sanity and stay far away from this place.