Any experience with Resort Pass in Puerto Plata?

[DENIE]

We are looking at a couple of all-inclusives that we see on the website ResortPass.com.  One is Sunscape Puerto Plata Resort and Spa, and the other is Iberostar Costa Dorada (4.5 stars on TripAdvisor).  Does anyone have any experience with either of these?  Or ResortPass in general?  They both look very nice for the price (which worries me a bit).  How far are they from the port?  We are traveling in January 2024.

 

Many thanks!

 

[cruisegal40]

I hope someone answers because I was looking at on in PR?  So  hopefully someone will chime in.

 

P

[JustinPlusLauren]

I've used ResortPass in Miami and had an amazing time! Our flight was later in the evening and we disembarked from a cruise ship in the morning. It was fantastic because we could store our luggage at the hotel, make full use of the facilities all day long, and then head to the airport later that day. I imagine that a ResortPass for a day in port would be great - you could use all of the resort facilities for the day. 

[DENIE]

59 minutes ago, JustinPlusLauren said:

I've used ResortPass in Miami and had an amazing time! Our flight was later in the evening and we disembarked from a cruise ship in the morning. It was fantastic because we could store our luggage at the hotel, make full use of the facilities all day long, and then head to the airport later that day. I imagine that a ResortPass for a day in port would be great - you could use all of the resort facilities for the day. 

Thanks so much for your reply.  🙂 I was concerned about them "'overselling" since these are already hotels with paying guests, etc., or the possibility that cruise lines use them for excursions.  Sounds like that might not be the case.  

[hkilgo]

Hi! Not too good to be true - both are great options and ResortPass is in several places in the US, plus  Mexico and the Caribbean. It's the perfect way to spend the day on cruise excursions or waiting to get on/off the ship or airplane! Super easy too! 

[DENIE]

15 minutes ago, hkilgo said:

Hi! Not too good to be true - both are great options and ResortPass is in several places in the US, plus  Mexico and the Caribbean. It's the perfect way to spend the day on cruise excursions or waiting to get on/off the ship or airplane! Super easy too! 

hkilgo - welcome to Cruise Critic.  Thanks for your post.  We will definitely take a look at these, then.  We happen to live in Scottsdale, AZ, which has numerous ResortPass participants.  We might have to try a little local "staycation" to get a feel! 🙂

Edited March 10, 2023 by DENIE

[DENIE]

4 minutes ago, DENIE said:

hkilgo - welcome to Cruise Critic.  Thanks for your post.  We will definitely take a look at these, then.  We happen to live in Scottsdale, AZ, which has numerous ResortPass participants.  We might have to try a little local "staycation" to get a feel! 🙂

hkilgo - if I can trouble you for one more question??  We both have fair complexions.  As much as we love the sun and beach, we do need access to shade.  Do these places in Puerto Plata offer that?  Trees, umbrella's, etc.? Couldn't tell from the descriptions.  Many thanks!

Edited March 10, 2023 by DENIE
added content

[takevtr1]

Hi Denie,

I have done this just last year.

I used "Resort For A Day" (not sure if same company as yours)

We did go to Sunscape.

We were 3 married couples age 35 - 70.

The Good: very nice property, very friendly staff, no issues getting chairs or umbrellas on the beach or around the pool, no issues getting drinks at the swim up bar (best part of the day), check-in at front desk was fast and easy and they gave us a welcome drink (and maybe a cookie), no issues  getting lunch at the buffet (more on this later), beach was clean and huge with soft but VERY HOT sand.

The (semi-) bad: The food at the buffet was mediocre at best (no one got sick though), somewhat limited food choices, beautiful setting though for the buffet (outdoors overlooking pool, but covered), good drink service at buffet, it was a bit crowded when we went (May 2022), resort is pretty big and a nice (long) walk from lobby to the beach.

The biggest issue was the beach vendors. They hound you all the time to the point we had to leave the beach and go to the pool. My wife actually bought 2 beach towels from them thinking they would leave us alone, but it just made it worse with many more approaching us. They were in the shaded spot on the beach, but if you stay in the full sun it probably would not be too bad - I like/need shade. 

At the end of the day, for the $59pp we paid, I would probably go back in the future, just avoid staying on the beach - again no issues around the pool. I drank more than the $59 fee we paid to get in.

Don't remember how far from the port (but it was fairly close) since we took a private city tour first, then the driver took us to Sunscape and came back later to pick us up. I would have probably cut down the tour by about an hour and spend the extra hour at the resort (but that was a little poor planning on my part).

Any questions just let me know.

Mitch

[Sudoku]

I have booked the Wyndham Tangerine in Puerta Plata using Resort Pass. Any info on this resort?   I read the beach was often too windy to get in the water.  Any issues with the wind at Sunscape?   I did see Sunscape and could cancel and switch if need be.  Thanks for any advice,  

[takevtr1]

Hi Sudoku,

Sorry but I have no info on the Wyndham.

Honestly, I don't remember if the beach was too windy or not. It really does not bring up any bad memories, so I would say the wind was not an issue.

While my group liked the Sunscape, it is considered a mid-of the road property. Granted we olny stayed there for a few hours, so it worked out good for my group - other than the issues I noted above.

We did like the very big pool with a great swim up bar. My wife loves the beach/ocean and was disappointed when we had to move from beach to the pool due to the vendors. If you can work around that issue, the Sunscape is a great place for a few hours.

[Sudoku]

Takevtr1,

Thanks for the additional info. Much appreciated!

[DENIE]

On 3/22/2023 at 11:31 AM, takevtr1 said:

Hi Denie,

I have done this just last year.

I used "Resort For A Day" (not sure if same company as yours)

We did go to Sunscape.

We were 3 married couples age 35 - 70.

The Good: very nice property, very friendly staff, no issues getting chairs or umbrellas on the beach or around the pool, no issues getting drinks at the swim up bar (best part of the day), check-in at front desk was fast and easy and they gave us a welcome drink (and maybe a cookie), no issues  getting lunch at the buffet (more on this later), beach was clean and huge with soft but VERY HOT sand.

The (semi-) bad: The food at the buffet was mediocre at best (no one got sick though), somewhat limited food choices, beautiful setting though for the buffet (outdoors overlooking pool, but covered), good drink service at buffet, it was a bit crowded when we went (May 2022), resort is pretty big and a nice (long) walk from lobby to the beach.

The biggest issue was the beach vendors. They hound you all the time to the point we had to leave the beach and go to the pool. My wife actually bought 2 beach towels from them thinking they would leave us alone, but it just made it worse with many more approaching us. They were in the shaded spot on the beach, but if you stay in the full sun it probably would not be too bad - I like/need shade. 

At the end of the day, for the $59pp we paid, I would probably go back in the future, just avoid staying on the beach - again no issues around the pool. I drank more than the $59 fee we paid to get in.

Don't remember how far from the port (but it was fairly close) since we took a private city tour first, then the driver took us to Sunscape and came back later to pick us up. I would have probably cut down the tour by about an hour and spend the extra hour at the resort (but that was a little poor planning on my part).

Any questions just let me know.

Mitch

Mitch - thanks!  I appreciate your detailed response.  All great information!  🙂

[amypintx]

@takevtr1 Was there drink service from the resort on the beach or did you have to walk up to the pool area to get drinks?

[takevtr1]

8 hours ago, amypintx said:

@takevtr1 Was there drink service from the resort on the beach or did you have to walk up to the pool area to get drinks?

I don't remember 100%, but there was a bar right behind the beach, maybe a 2 min walk if that much.

This hotel was on a huge beach. 

Don't think there was wait service on the beach itself though.

Unfortunately we did not get to spend a lot of time on the beach due to the local vendors being very aggressive and the sand being just way too hot for us.

The pool was excellent though and did have a swim up bar.