What an absolutely fantastic review guys! Was booked for last year - cancelled, and now booked for next February. I have never seen such a detailed, fun, impartial review that covered everything! You are both a credit to your profession, we are looking forward to being there even more now! All the very best from Julian and Michelle in the UK xx
Hi Julian and Michelle! First of all, thank you SO much. Your feedback and kind words make us happier than anything - we are grateful to your feedback :). Second of all- omg so jealous!! I can’t wait to hear about your trip. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you need anything or have any questions anytime.
It's so beautiful there, but the reality is totally different, the exploitation of employees and the 100 managers in there who does nothing than getting a high amount of money is outstanding. The guys who really run the services provided in there just getting garbage as payment plus working overshifts. I've talked to mony of them and they all says the same, the payment is the lowest of all the area. Working many hours and not getting paid for those extras, but they urge them to smile and look happy all the time. That's awful. the fact is that most of the hotels are the same and many people just want to have a job close to la Romana and that's one of their best option near to house.
We have booked for next February and I wanted to ask if the all inclusive also includes cocktails and other drinks? Is there also a tennis court there? Thank you!
Hi guys! Great video and review! I have this booked for next month and was wondering if you felt the beach was big enough, as it looks so be the smallest of the resorts on the island, and doesn't seem private to the locals. Did you find the beach a little crammed and not spaced out?
that’s awesome, Alberto!! I hope you have a great time!! So the beach itself is unique in that there are some very cool topographical elements like the rocky shore on one side. The beach isn’t huge but it didn’t feel cramped or crowded. It’s technically next to the local beach, but every beach in the DR is technically open and public. We didn’t see any sellers or venders at this beach compared to on Bavaro so honestly it felt a lot safer and less frustrating to be hassled all day. The family side has the largest stretch of open sand so I’d recommend that area if you are looking for the perfect spot :)
Oh my god we just watched and was like we remember this beach and lobby area we came here in 2012 when it was Dreams La Romana, what’s happened to this resort guys? Looks lush the refurb they done the old dreams was quite rustic carribean if you know what we mean? Makes us wants to go back this was our first long haul holiday together 9 years ago 😍 that’s what brought our travel bug and we can’t stop. Thanks for the awesome video guys brought back so many amazing memories of the grounds of this hotel ❤️. Take care guys P.S did they have a the Loud Peacocks that wake you up in the mornings 😂.
Thank you so much for your comment!! Wow that's crazy- I'm sure it looks SO different now. I know there is another Dreams in the area so maybe they just decided to have one int he La Romana area? I hope you guys get to visit this place. Noooo no peacocks, though, that sounds both annoying and fun lol
We are happy to be there in 2 weeks. Sorry for the silly question but has the sea clear water at the end of Juli/Aug too?. I know that there is raintime and I don‘t know if it could be an impact on the water. And what is an appropriate tip for the Hotel staff for a 10 Day Holiday for 2adults with 2 Kids? Thanks for your nice Video and impressions.
Amazing!! you'll have a great time :). There are no silly questions here! so of course it will be affected by hurricanes etc, but the water is typically VERY clear on this side of the coast because of the offshore current and offshore wind so you will have less "crap" coming in with the tides and current. In terms of tipping, we do recommend a few dollars for good service here and there. Typically, I'd say tip for beverage service or your butler if they were great. Tip whatever you are comfortable with :). If you have bad service, don't worry about tipping. I hope this helps!
Thanks for your review and the answers in the comments are super helpful! We are going in 3 weeks! It’s our first all inclusive resort trip ever so we’re super excited! We had originally booked GP Bavaro Suites bc of the good reviews about their food allergy protocol. But after reading some recent reviews on their lack of service/staff, people booked for Bavaro Suites but had to be moved to another hotel bc the Suites were not open, and the seaweed problem in the Bavaro area, I rebooked our vacation to the Hilton. My kids can’t wait to play in the water park and enjoy the beautiful beach!
Hey Kerrie! Thank you so much for your comment!! Honestly, I think you made the right decision. Summer in Bavaro is so hard with the seaweed it’s just not even possible to swim sometimes. The Palladium properties I’m sure are amazing when they are all open but it was kind of odd that so much was closed when we were there. Hilton was amazing - the beach, service and food was great. We loved that everything was open and it was a fully functioning hotel, haha. Have a great time!! Let us know how it was :)
Thank you so much for this review I’m looking forward to visit on April and was wondering what kind of activities you can do around the resort. Thank you
Hey there! Thanks for your comment! This is a great resort for excursions - you should check out the day trip to Catalina and soana. There’s also some good diving in the area or if you don’t scuba, the snorkeling is fabulous!!
Hey Greg! Thanks so much! That means a lot to us. I hope you have an amazing trip! Tours and other activities take credit cards so not an issue there- I would just bring a little cash for tipping at the hotel if you feel inclined. You don’t even need pesos- a few bucks here and there goes a LONG way down here :) hope that helps !! Let us know if you have any questions
I am a Hilton Diamond member, is that the same as “premium club member?” Is the family (i.e., wife and kids) allowed on these premium restaurants or just the Hilton Member?
Hey Jason! Thanks for your comment. As Hilton diamond, you do get access to the “club level”, which at the la Romana property is the premium section. This means you will have access to the private check in/out, lounge and premium restaurants. If you are booked into one room together you should all have access, however, if it’s two separate rooms your kids may not have access. However, I would call the hotel directly and inquire with them as it’s possible both rooms would have access if you book them as the diamond member. They do have a few suites as well and that would guarantee access for everyone.
Jason - did you travel yet? I have the same question. We leave in a few days. Both my husband and I are diamond but have the 1 room with the kids. Premium access would be nice.
Hi Gabriella, diamonds typically get upgraded to premium club level but it is depending on availability so I think they could technically say no. According to reviews, it appears to happen more often than not! Safe travels :)
Thank you so much for your comment! We’re delighted to hear that we could bring you some pre-trip joy!! Don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions - have a great time!
@@Superpaul205 AMAZING!! The grounds are beautiful, staff are great, they still had limited restaurants open but food was overall pretty good, fun waterpark and watersports/activities. Highly recommend! Only Downfall is it is a little further from the popular areas and airports but I actually preferred that and the town nearby is walking distance and cute!
@@tinal7181 excellent! I’m glad you enjoyed it there!! I’m taking my girlfriend there for a few nights in October. So hopefully by then it won’t be so limited. We want to get souvenirs for our family back homes. We’re you able to come across any decent market place shops for some unique and authentic items?
Hey there! Thanks for your comment! Yea you can go to the adults only restaurants but only if you leave you your child with a babysitter on the family side sadly. We did see a number of parents having date night without the kiddos :). Hope this helps!
Hey there! That’s awesome!!! I hope you get to travel there soon- don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions!! Hope you have a great rest of your day and safe travels when you can go out into the world again :)
Hi, what time of year did you go? We’re thinking of booking up for April next year, just wondering about temperature and seaweed situation (I’ve read this area doesn’t have a problem but just wanted to make sure)
Hey John! Thanks for your comment! We were there in April 2021 - there was no seaweed or issues around that- thankfully this coast is offshore wind, offshore current so its in a very lucky area of the DR. Weather is typically very nice that time of year, 80s in the day, high 70s, low 80s at night. let us know any other questions you have!
You guys are awesome and your reviews are the best! This and the Punta Cana reviews have helped me greatly in the organization of my upcoming trip to the DR. Thanks so much!
I have a dumb question. We have a trip planned in September to celebrate our 1 year anniversary. What did y’all do about phone service? Any advice with that? I don’t want any crazy roaming charges!!! How was it navigating the airport and finding the car to take you to the hotel? Is it hard to find? Also anything super special y’all recommend for a couple! I wish I could afford that swim up room. But an extra 250 a night is not what’s up lol
Hey! Thanks for your comment! Not a dumb question at all - so our phones are Verizon and T-Mobile and Verizon has a $10 usd per day plan for international data and T-Mobile I have an international plan. It’s very possible to survive in airplane mode and just use wifi. Max never uses the $10 a day plan, he just connects to wifi everywhere including the airport. Regarding a car, taxis are super easy. If you prefer something more organized, let the hotel know and they can book a car service (it’ll be more expensive though). Regarding for couples, I love the romance!! Totally hear you on upgrade costs. The swim up is not really our favorite anyway so you’ll be fine - my recommendation is always to email the hotel directly and ask them for upgrade offers or even just let them know you are celebrating a special occasion and they often add a little something to your room. The hotel does offer some private dining options and there’s always the spa which looks exceptional. Upon arrival, I would ask the front desk for any offers they have for romantic activities, upgrades or offers. Hotels are always looking to do something special or sell a romantic activity at a discount when you show up so worth checking :). Let me know any other questions you have!!
Hey carina! Thanks for your comment :) no- this area is pretty much spared thanks to the offshore wind and offshore currents. It’s kind of crazy actually considering Bavaro beach is just devastated by seaweed right now. If you’re going to the DR in the summer I always recommend the Hilton la Romana or cap cana
Hey Patrick! Thanks so much for your comment! We are definitely going to start adding more detail around entertainment - that’s super good feedback and we are happy to start incorporating it more :) thank you so much for watching!!
Hi Adrian! We were there in April, but December is a great season to visit! It is high season so prices will be in the higher side but DR is beautiful then
@@VoyagerGuru Just wanted to mention that we have returned from our vacation and it was HEAVEN. We had a swimout room on the adult side which gave us premium benefits for first time Hilton customers. Perfect weather, clear blue water, and impeccable customer service. Thanks again for your review!
Hey Porter! Thanks for your comment! There is SO much to do in the DR, tours are seemingly endless. From Hilton, the best activity is taking a boat to isla Catalina and isla Saona - all the tours from punta cana leave from the pier right next to the Hilton so you are in a great spot to take a tour that usually costs way more and is way longer coming from PC. There is also tours for zip lining and horse back riding that are excellent. You can book tours directly through the hotel and if you have a chase reserve or preferred, you can even book through the chase travel portal on points for a lot of these activities :). In terms of renting a car, I’d say it depends. If you plan to go to Santo Domingo or punta cana more than a couple of times, it could be worth it as they are a bit farther. However, most tours include transfers from the hotel so I would consider planning out your desired activities and then deciding if you want a car as you might realize it’s not necessary. Also, you can rent cars for day use as well for around 30 USD
Would you go for adults or family? We are adults and normally we would choose adults but the pool and the beach area actually looks better on the family side according to the videos.
Hi Peter! thanks for reaching out! So I agree with you that the pool and beach are nicer on the family side. However, since it's super easy to just walk over there, I would say book the adults side for the more quiet ambience and also no screaming kids on either side of you and then spend your day on the family side of the beach :). Just my personal opinion!
Hi We are hoping come to DR in a December this year. 😊 We can’t get the room availability at the adult side but there are some rooms in the family side of the hotel. We are adults only in our group. If we book in the family side, do you know if we can use the adult side facilities and eat at the restaurants there? Also what’s the transfer cost to/from Punta Cana Airport? Is December a good time to avoid the seaweed? Thank you!
Hello there! Thanks for reaching out - 100% you can use all the facilities at the adults side. One thing you can do is to book and then call and request a move if anything opens up - the family side is gorgeous and since you can use any of the facilities it doesn’t matter too much to be honest. If you tell them you’re a group of adults they can probably put you towards the middle of the properties so you have easy access to the adults facilities. Regarding transfer costs, for a taxi, it should cost no more than 30 USD. If they tell you otherwise, tell them no and go to the next cab. And yes December is a spectacular time to visit - stunning water, beautiful weather and NO seaweed whatsoever :) let us know any other questions you have!
Hello ! Do you think that difference between family and adult side is big? We booked adult side but the family side is 400€ less. Can we go to adult side pool and restaurants ?
Hi Catarina! Thanks for your comment. There’s not actually a difference in terms of the room size or configuration. The style is slightly different but both are very beautiful. The family side you may end up with kids next door, but that may be worth it for the 400 euros lol. You can access any adults only amenities across the properties totally freely :). Hope this helps!
Hi Max & Maren to get the premium club option do I have to book the premium swim out room to get this premium services is this correct ? I am planning to stay this Dec at Hilton La Romana Resort
Hey Michael! Thanks for your comment! Yea, the premium club is technically a room type that includes the extra amenities (so any room labeled premium). However, if you can't find any available rooms, i would call the hotel and they can add the premium benefits onto your room as its not actually any different than a standard room, it's just the extras that you get in terms of amenities/facilities :). Hope this helps! -maren
Hi Bethany! Thanks for your comment. The easiest is to book through the hotel as most tour companies will pick you up directly or leave from the Hilton’s dock. You can book those when you arrive if you want to play things by ear or book through the concierge by calling ahead of time. I would personally wait until you’re there to pick the best days and times that work with the weather and your schedule. The only exception to that is if you want to book using the chase sapphire portal and use points- for that you should book in advance because it requires a day or two to confirm. Let us know any other questions you have!
Hey there! That sounds awesome! Happy to provide any specific tips if you let us know what you’re into on vacation - one thing I’d recommend that we didn’t get to try was Hemingway bar and the spa! If you let us know what your priorities are on vacay I’ll let you know our thoughts :)
Hey there! Correct, you will be part of the club level, giving you access to two ala carte restaurants for breakfast and lunch (best perk IMO), as well as a club lounge. The romantic corner yes- you get a lunch menu and you can pick whatever you want :) they’ll bring you drinks and food all day!
Hi Silvio! The premium rooms are a room type so as long as they have availability you should be able to upgrade. I would recommend calling in advance or emailing to make sure you can upgrade before arrival :)
Hi Jaca! Thanks for your comment. The premium room also gives you some amazing benefits. Basically you get a private lounge check in (seated with a cocktail), lounge access all day with a better bar and place to hang out, a la carte breakfast and lunch (standard rooms only have a buffet), free room service and a private beach area with better chairs. It’s a really good upgrade - highly recommend :)
The Hilton, of many of the hotels we have stayed at in the area, didn’t have a lot of pressure on tipping. We tipped our butler at the end of our stay to show our appreciation for him, but in general it was much more relaxed and you receive good service either way. I’d say if you want to leave tips for people who do go above and beyond, 50-100 Dominican pesos goes a long way.
Hey there! The Dominican peso is about 57 pesos to 1 USD so 100 pesos is less than 2 dollars. 100 pesos is a very standard and accepted tip for lightweight help from staff
Hi Max! Thanks for your comment! The water park is basically behind the family side property. You can walk to it, I believe they also have a little shuttle. It's behind the spa a little bit of a ways. It looked like fun! Premium is just a room type you can book. Basically, when you are looking at the available rooms on your dates, you'll see "king" and then scroll down and you'll see something like "premium king". That "premium" indicates it's part of the club level :). Let us know if you need any help!
Hiya, Thanks for the amazing review! If we are adults staying on the family side do we have access to the all the facilities and vica versa? We are also vegetarian, do you know if they cater well for vegetarians? Would you also suggest premium?
Hi Karishma! Thanks for your comment! Yes, you absolutely have access to all the facilities across both properties - they’re essentially the same property but the right side is reserved for adults.you can move freely between then :). We like the lounge on the adults side, whereas we liked the club breakfast in the family side! We definitely suggest premium. Having access to the a la carte breakfast and lunch options was amazing as well as the lounge for a nightcap. They do have very extensive menus and different types of food so vegetarian should not be a problem. The Mediterranean place was good and had some good options as well as Italian and the breakfast spread. Let us know if you have any other questions!
There is nightly entertainment - some fun shows on the family side and then musicians in the lobby bar of the adults side - it was fun and different each night. You should definitely check out Isla Soana and Catalina - both are accessible from the hotel which is super convenient!
Hi Beth, thanks for your questions! At the time of our review, Club level guests could purchase this service for $200 USD for 7 days (+$15 each day after that). The butler provides a range of services, such as planning restaurant reservations, romantic dinners and they can bring you anything you want at the pool and beach. Despite not serving food at the pool or beach, a butler can bring you lunch or drinks, wherever you are. I am not sure if the price has gone up in the post-covid world of inflation, but I would recommend contacting them to verify! This service can be purchased pre or during check in. I hope this helps!
We were told locals are drawn to this property on the weekends for a staycation. With covid cases on the rise in the DR are tests required for them before they arrive?
hi there! Thanks for comment. While there is a spike in cases, it’s relatively low comparatively speaking to the US and other countries. The hotels in the DR like the Hilton have taken excellent precautions to protect their staff and travelers throughout the property. There are a number of hotels that are lowered their prices quite a lot more that I’d be more concerned with when it comes to guests social distancing and taking the right precautions, but the Hilton is definitely not one of them. We found all guests to be respectful of the rules and respectful of other guests and staff. We felt 100% safe here and can’t say the same for other properties around the world - let us know if you have any other questions!
@@VoyagerGuru thank you. Thanks to this video we’re going to this hotel next month, everything looks amazing especially the beach. You guys are great with what you do.!
That sounds amazing, Johan!! We hope you have the best time. And thank you so much for the compliment - nothing makes us happier than knowing we helped someone pick the right hotel for their needs :). Don’t hesitate to reach out any time!!
Hey Randy! Thanks for reaching out! The best place I’ve found to book is actually on viator.com, so they have some great options at every budget. You can also reach out to the hotel- I believe they do work with a company that they can recommend, though it will likely be more expensive. Pro tip, the chase ultimate rewards portal is connected to viator so if you have chase points, you can book with your points too. Let us know if you have any questions!
Hi Vanessa! Thanks for your comment - great question. There is an outlet that accommodates a hairdryer and shaver in the bathroom :). They do offer hair dryers as well in the rooms
Hi Romina! Thanks for reaching out! When dining with your daughter, yes, you will be limited to the family side. However, I actually preferred the breakfast and lunch club restaurant on the family side because of the views and we also had a spectacular dinner at the waterfront restaurant as well. There are many options so I don’t think you’ll get bored :)
Hi Pedro! Hilton la romana is going to be a higher quality property all around. They have great a la carte options, a stunning beach, good alcohol and good service. Riu is going to be much larger, less dining options and according to reviews has pretty mediocre food. The rooms at Hilton are quite small, but they are well appointed so definitely recommend it over riu. Hope this helps!
Hey there! Good question! They do have most of the entertainment on the family side because they have a big stage set up near the beach with lots of shows and dancing. On the adult side, there is usually a guitarist or singer in the main lobby so there is always something to enjoy in the evening
Hey Teresha! Thanks for your comment! The deluxe rooms are really just the standard rooms. Premium rooms come with club privileges which is actually worth it in most cases. The club level comes with a private checkin/checkout lounge as well as access to two a la carte restaurants for breakfast and for lunch instead of just the buffet for breakfast and buffet and snack bar for lunch. That alone was worth it, in my opinion. They say there's premium drinks too but we didn't see a difference in wine so maybe just a couple extra liquors. I'm not a big buffet fan so the premium level was awesome for us. Let us know if you have any other questions!
@@tereshapettiford2528 yes! Correct. At any buffet, the food is behind a big (nice) plexiglass and the staff serves it to you. We didn’t eat at the buffet but it was very open, lots of options and seems to move quickly.
Amazing!! I hope you love it- it’s a gorgeous property and the beach is so calm and incredible. Make sure to tell them it’s your anniversary - they’ll probably give you a cake or something ;)
Hi there! thanks for your comment! There were no jetskis available when we were at the property and we never saw any out in the water. They do have kayaks and things like that. It's possible by the tours or the public beach offer jetskis so I would check down the beach :)
Hi there! It’s a very popular family destination so not so much a party vibe but it’s a fun, family friendly environment. The adults side is a bit more quiet. When we were there we primarily met Americans and Europeans but seems to be people from all over! Hope this helps!
Hey there! We were not, but we were there in 2021 so it’s sad to hear it is getting some negative feedback :(. Hopefully someone who sees this comment who’s been can chime in
Hi Nina! Thanks for your comment! So if you're referring to the Hilton status levels, like Hilton Gold etc, you can do that by spending nights in the hotel or credit card status boosts, like the AmEx Platinum. If you're referring to the club level at the hotel, you can purchase club level when booking. You'll find club level rooms are listed on the booking page if you scroll down past the standard rooms :). If you book a club level room, you will have access to the private beach area and other amenities. I hope this helps! Let us know any questions you have!
Hi Roberto! The premium club is just a room type that comes with extra perks so there’s no membership :). When you book a room, you’ll see a a list of your options like “standard garden view” and if you scroll down you’ll see “premium garden view”. That indicates the club level. When you book that you’ll have access to all the amenities
It's so beautiful there, but the reality is totally different, the exploitation of employees and the 100 managers in there who does nothing than getting a high amount of money is outstanding. The guys who really run the services provided in there just getting garbage as payment plus working overshifts. I've talked to mony of them and they all says the same, the payment is the lowest of all the area. Working many hours and not getting paid for those extras, but they urge them to smile and look happy all the time. That's awful. the fact is that most of the hotels are the same and many people just want to have a job close to la Romana and that's one of their best option near to house
Hi there, and thanks for your comment. Yes, hospitality often has many low paying jobs and long hours, and unfortunately many hotels in the DR, and really every where in the world have similar practices. However, large hotels like this also come with significant opportunity for those workers, which alternative employments often don't have, including the ability to be promoted and to move up in responsibility and ultimately earn more. I do think it's important when making this argument, to also think about the alternative options for employment, and what those workers would be earning, or where they would be working if the hotel didn't exist or hired less employees? 🤷♂️ Have a great day, and travel safe!
Hi Jorge, thanks for your comment! You are correct, Bayahibe is technically in Altagracia, but the Hotel does call themselves the Hilton La Romana, probably because of the short, less than 4 mile distance from Casa de Campo. But then again, “technically” the famous marina at Casa de Campo isn’t actually in La Romana either 🤷♂️
Hey John! Thanks for your comment! It’s a fair question - at any all-inclusive, there are typically add ons that you can purchase like romantic dinners or tours, etc. I don’t think those things detract from your experience at Hilton. The sales people were not aggressive, unlike some places we went to which is nice.