Barceló Santo Domingo — Hotel in Santo Domingo

This is going to be a hard review for me to write because the staff were amazing very attentive. The view was beautiful, so blissful and peacful even with the small hustle and bustle from the street. When I say it is quiet at night, it's like everyone in the city knows to go home and go to bed, that works for me. The food was wonderful. I had a premium room, with acess to VIP floor and all inclusive food and drinks, you can't beat that. Even the guest were nice. I didn't have time to explore everything the hotel had to offer because I was so comfortable I did the same thing everyday. It was nice to sleep in. AC worked well, wifi was good. I felt safe, I never felt like anything bad was going to happen to me.

My concerns were the room, the room was sooooo old. I also thought my room was going to have a balcony but I realized what I saw online was another Barcelo hotel not this one in particular. When I arrived since the AC was off it further it made the smell worse in the room. My first impresssion honestly was to leave. I was going to leave and check into the Hilton, because I could not believe the dirty and old apperence of this room.

The mini bar was not checked or retocked daily in my room. If I ran out of something I just ran out. I did not feel catered to on the premium level. I felt dirty when I arrived because the carpt was old and nasty. I wore flip flops, socks or the slippers provided.

The sliding doors to my room that seperate the bed from the common areas was broken. The shower in my room never worked even after I reported it twice. I had to use the tub, while very nice took about an hour to fill. Some days I just stood up to take a bath because they do not clean the tub everyday, actually anyday I was there. Why would I go to the hotel and clean my own tub? They wiped the bathroom down, mopped, made my bed and thats it. They did not vaccum at all during my entire stay. It wasnt until my last day that I received my bottle water. I was suppose to get water delivered to my room each day, that never happened.

I would stay here again ONLY because of the fact there is an all inclusive option but I am not happy that the rooms are not as advertised. I would only stay here solor. I could never recommend this place because the rooms would embarrass me. PLEASE PLEASE updgrade your rooms, new carpet, the wall paper was peeling off, the paint in the restroom was rotten and painted over. I did not sit on any of the furniture except the bed. I felt like so much of it wasn't clean. Oddly the bed was the only thing I felt like was clean.

This place is wayyyyy tooooo nice to have such outdated and nasty...

The location is terrific! 5 minute walk to the metro station or Caribe Tours. 15 minute walk to Sambil mall. The beds are very comfortable and the rooms quite spacious. The dual head shower allows for the rain-type shower and a hand held massaging spray. The pool is spacious with 4 in pool loungers and artificial waterfall spigots that give great back massages! Pool side bar, music and cushioned loungers as well as ample seating also available for events. 2 kiddie pools, but no hot tub. Exercise room is accessible past the pool. The room was not well air conditioned, but did have a staff member stationed inside as well as water and a tv. Wonderful large bathroom towels but no washcloths. Fully stocked mini bar however no decaf coffee included in free coffee service. Beautiful piano bar. Meeting rooms had horrible AC both occasions I attended 3 day events there. Best thing about this hotel is the all you can eat buffets for all 3 meals! Cooked to order items available right on the spot as you watch, fresh baked bread, gourmet food selections, expresó machine and über friendly staff. Breakfast was $16 US lunch/dinner $22 US. There are 3 things that have been consistently horrible here to the point that it sways my decision on occasion to stay at the Marriott instead; primary the AWFUL wifi! I cannot stress enough how frustrating of a system it is! You need separate logins for each device, you have to log in every time after your device is idle for about an hour, their seems to be not enough bandwidth for all guests at the same time, and the speed is like the 1990's. Trying to get any work done online is impossible and even Facebook videos often don't load. Second; calling down to the front desk for simple requests is a hassle. If they are busy with check ins, you are put on hold rather than a concierge type assistance or transfered ineffectively. Thirdly; all 4 rooms I've stayed in have a dampness to them. The carpets feel damp. I believe this is due to a system that is aimed to reduce power consumption. Upon entering your room, you must insert your key card in a device on the wall that allows you to turn on the lights and AC. No key, lights go out as well as AC. Spend the day at the pool, come back to a warm room. Obviously the good has outweighed the bad for me several times, but the wifi issue has caused me to stay elsewhere about 60%...

AVOID TO ALL COST!

Stayed there for a night on their premium level, and I have to say this is the worst hotel I have ever been to, starting from the fact that me and my wife are always abroad and we are very easy to please.

The check-in was rude, disrespectful, and nothing clear, the guy at the front desk was prepotent disrespectful and rude, he made me feel that he was doing me a favor for giving me the room I HAD BOOKED AND PAID FOR!

I was FORCED TO MADE a security blockment on my credit card for 3 times the amount of my entire one night booking. First time this ever happened in my whole life, everywhere else they took your card details and that's all.

They kept ringing to my room for unsolicited checkings the whole morning when we only wanted to rest!

This is not an exaggeration, The staff is careless nothing professional and with no even the manners or the service standard for a 2 stars hotel.

By far the worst hotel I have ever been in my life, after being a fan of the barceló chain, and have stayed in several locations belonging to them, I am even cancelling my membership.

This kind of service is beyond outrageous and this hotel because of its staff should be out of business.

EDIT: You did not call me once I received at least 5 calls that morning, and the upgrade is a lie ALSO I paid for that room on my booking, and the security blockment, WICH IS NOT MY MAIN COMPLAINT, for "future possible inconveniences" is also another lie, I did check in besides another customer and he was not even asked when I was forced to, youre now beyond unethical a simple apology would have done instead of THIS POOR justification of your...