Tastefully landscaped/maintained

I am the type of traveler that needs to read many reviews from different sites before making my final decision. Having said that, rest assured that I read many reviews before booking Catalonia. In my case, a great beach was my #1 priority and all travelers agreed that Catalonia was located on one of the best one in Bayahibe. Indeed, the beach is Catalonia's best asset! The white sand, the turquoise colors, the waves, the sun, breeze...hands down! We are not pool people, but of course, the hotel has a huge nice pool. Besides the beach, these are my other observations about the hotel: (I traveled with my 9 years-old daughter). Landscape: the hotel is tastefully, strategically, and beautifully landscaped. The trees/plants are indeed beautiful and is properly maintained (saw many workers on top of it). Catalonia is not a small hotel, but is amazingly well distributed (amenities are strategically positioned). Another important note, the hotel was impecable - the green areas, the restaurants, beach rooms, walkways - spotless! Hotel is beautiful at night! My daughter and I enjoyed walking around and see the sky full of stars. Restaurants: restaurants are beautifully decorated. Personally, my favorite restaurant was Toscana and what made the ambiance more enjoyable was the staff (i recall Emmanuel,Javier, Santa). At Taino Restaurant oh wow the staffs - Nicole Vinny, Santa - so personable and friendly! So hope the hotel treats these employees with honor. Room: My daughter kept saying that the building looks like the "casa" house from the "Encanto" movie - she loved it! The rooms was clean and well-equipped. The only exception was the following: we had a nice queen/king bed , and the pillow was so small and quite frankly overused (aesthetically it didn't look right and felt uncomfortable). I placed a call and I was given an extra pillow). I loved the fact the balcony had a hanging area to place wet beach towels/swimsuit). I think that I covered many areas. Hope is helpful!

MARILUZ LOPEZ11-04-22

Wonderful spot for short getaway

We spent five days at Catalonia Gran Dominicus in March of this year. We chose it because of beach and clean water and it did not disappoint. The hotel has a beautiful sandy beach and the sea is clear blue! The grounds of the hotel are also beautiful. I loved the setup with small cottages situated more inland, removed from pool, bars and other entertainment areas so you never hear noise and can relax in the room surrounded with luscious greenery. Food was decent. The buffet place serving breakfast, lunch and dinner, served almost the same thing every day but they had big variety and everything served was very fresh and good quality. We had enough choices to mix it up and not to get bored over five days but I imagine if you stay longer it could get little repetitive. We tried two restaurants, Terrace Tapas and Yuca. Terrace was nice, food was tasty but portions were very small (tapas) so to get a decent dinner we had to order almost the whole menu. Yuca on the other hand was horrible, some of the worst food I’ve ever tasted, do not recommend! Stuff of the hotel was super friendly and accommodating. One note for US and other English speaking travelers, most of the stuff at the resort did not speak a word of English, so it made some of the interactions at the restaurants and shops very difficult and confusing. It’s not a negative point, just to warn you to be prepared for it and maybe look up some of the phrases you know you will need on google translate. The hotel organized activities and entertainment throughout the day and I really enjoyed water aerobics class which they offered daily. Overall it was a very relaxing, pleasant stay and I imagine we’ll be returning to this place. Highly recommend !

I GAGNIDZE10-04-22

3rd time here

This was our 3rd time here and we always come back because of the great service but this time it was a bit different. Check in was good the room was good and everything else was good except the service in some restaurants. This hotel is mainly filled with Europeans and this time around we really saw the difference in how they treated everyone else to them. Multiple occasions no one payed attention to us to cater to the Europeans. We went to eat at Toscana one night and the waitress never checked on us and only came to our table if we called her over. There was a couple next to us that got there after us but got served first got dessert first and checked on all the time. Of course Europeans! And they never left a tip so I was confused as to why everyone catered to them so much. My husband is Dominican and a few waitresses just talked to him in such an ugly manner like pretty much saying what do you want. One main one I remember is Winny at the snack bar one day she was so rude to my husband. It shouldn’t matter if my husband is Dominican or not everyone should be treated the exact same. But everyone at the buffet made up for it. We had such great service Eridania, Geidy, Rosa, Emmanuel, Edwin to name a few they were spectacular and so efficient and hard workers. Also our housekeeper kept our room so clean and tidy I don’t remember all her name but it did start with Flor she is also such a hard worker. Overall the experience was okay, my toddler had a really good time. But we are unsure if we will be back for a 4th time unfortunately.

JENNIFER DIVICHE28-03-22

Great time at Catalonia

It was our first time at Catalonia and i know is not going to be our last. I had done a lot of research and i was happy to have found this little gem. The beach beautiful, the resort beautiful and so so clean. The room would be cleaned three times a day which i have not seen anywhere before. The food was very good but I would have liked a little bit more of mediterranean food to be added would be great. If you like fish and chicken then you are fine. I would have loved to have some steak at the buffet for dinner. We were only for three days and i loved the Circus entertainment night the most. The aqua zumba at the beach was great the italian instructors were so good. I cannot to go back. The cherie on too was the beautiful beach. I would have suggested the chairs to have the floating sea cushion. I saw the exclusive chairs have it. When you fly so far away and you spend all that time every traveler wants to feel special. Staying all day on the chairs without cushion was hard. I have been in Aruba and Jamaica and the chairs had the cushions which you would take at the beach as well. I wish to see these when i go back. Thank you

KOZMA STRAKOSHA22-03-22

Best Beach in the Caribbean

The resort is nice overall the staff is good!

EDWIN GUERRERO28-02-22

Best Beach in the Caribbean

The resort is nice overall the staff is good!

EDWIN GUERRERO28-02-22

animation's team

ANIMATIONS TEAM IS TOO LOUD. MUSIC IS TOO LOUD. BETTER TO PLAY DOMINICAN CARABEAN MUSIC.

PAWEL SZALKIEWICZ27-02-22

Friendliest staff ever!

The hotel is a little outdated in places, but my room was one of the newest and it was awesome. I had better deck chairs than most of the rooms and the flooring and bathroom were recently done and looked great. Love the duel shower heads. The fridge was not restocked with any regularity and it was hard to get what I wanted. The buffet was good with lots of options. But only 1 type of generic juice which wasn't great to the kids thinking. The pool is awesome and the beach has lots of chairs and shady options. The restaurants weren't great with the kids but the adults loved them. Especially the steak house (Rodeo). The size of resort wasn't overwhelming, which was great. The best part were the staff who were very kind, friendly, and went out of their way to be helpful. If you don't need gourmet dining and don't mind older accommodations, and want to be on the calmer side of the island without the bustle and crows of Punta Cana, this location in La Romana is a good find.

ANGELA KNAPTON24-01-22

Staff is amazing!

Rooms could use litlle update

TATJANA SIMANIC12-01-22

Food

I felt that to be a Resort in Dominican Republic the food was not up to standards.. Food was not typical, drinks were flat, not enough ice. As a tourist we look to get a true taste of their food but I felt as the resort was more into pleasing the European culture as if everyone else's money was not the same. I would suggest let it be known that is mainly European resort.

GRACIELA PAYERO14-12-21

Tremendous experience pass in Catalonia

Excellent service and also excellent food well good

JAVIER RAMOS14-12-21

Short stay

Check in /welcome experience could have been better. No acknowledgement of rewards member and incentives or credits.

LILIBETTE COLLAZO15-11-21

Destination Sweet 16 with friends and family

My family and I stayed in the family privilege room. Everything in the room was updated, clean, spacious, and very comfortable. My children enjoyed the room service and mini bar (they loved that every day more soda was put in there). The double head shower was great. The grounds of the hotel are beautifully maintained but if you are looking for a room with a beach view/pool view then this is not the hotel for you. The beach is one of the most beautiful I have ever been to! Plenty of beach chairs, soft white sand, no seaweed, calm warm clear blue water. The pool area and swim up bar are great. The entertainment staff are so much fun and have activities all day long. I don't think they ever sleep. The drinks and bartenders are also fantastic. But with all the positives, I have to mention my only negative/complaint. The food was not very good. You won't go hungry but so many things lacked flavor and there were minimal options on the al la carte restaurant menus. Rodeo steak house was the best restaurant out of them. The pizza restaurant never had pizza readily available. They need to create a system where they are always making more while pizzas are in the oven. The buffet needs covers for the food because birds were always in there landing on the food (which is the reason I only ate there 1 time). The breakfast and lunch at the privilege restaurant was good but with a very limited menu. The crapes at the beach bar were probably my favorite. I would definitely go back but hope that the food improves.

JUSTINE CEDENO08-11-21

Destination Sweet 16 with friends and family

My family and I stayed in the family privilege room. Everything in the room was updated, clean, spacious, and very comfortable. My children enjoyed the room service and mini bar (they loved that every day more soda was put in there). The double head shower was great. The grounds of the hotel are beautifully maintained but if you are looking for a room with a beach view/pool view then this is not the hotel for you. The beach is one of the most beautiful I have ever been to! Plenty of beach chairs, soft white sand, no seaweed, calm warm clear blue water. The pool area and swim up bar are great. The entertainment staff are so much fun and have activities all day long. I don't think they ever sleep. The drinks and bartenders are also fantastic. But with all the positives, I have to mention my only negative/complaint. The food was not very good. You won't go hungry but so many things lacked flavor and there were minimal options on the al la carte restaurant menus. Rodeo steak house was the best restaurant out of them. The pizza restaurant never had pizza readily available. They need to create a system where they are always making more while pizzas are in the oven. The buffet needs covers for the food because birds were always in there landing on the food (which is the reason I only ate there 1 time). The breakfast and lunch at the privilege restaurant was good but with a very limited menu. The crapes at the beach bar were probably my favorite. I would definitely go back but hope that the food improves.

JUSTINE CEDENO08-11-21

Awesome Experience

The staff was great and very welcoming. They went out of their way on birthday and decorated room and hung banner on the door as well as provided fresh chocolate truffles (they were still warm!). The expeditions were fun and entertaining (atv expect to get dirty, Saona Island Tour via Catamaran is highly recommended).

MELISSA ANN BUFFALO27-10-21

Great Vacation

Resort is well kept. Staff is very good. Beach is great enjoy the snorkeling.

TODD JAMES SMITH25-10-21

We had a really good stay. We are also planning on returning back in the near future (approx 12 months)

The garden and landscaping are excellent. One of the best in the Caribbean. The beach is very good. The service is excellent Overall the rooms are very good. Only two areas which needed improvements: 1) The air conditioning in our room did not work properly. Ultimately we could have moved to another room, but we did not want to do that in the middle of only a 7 day trip. 2) Compared to our past 2 visits - the food in the Taino was not as good as it used to be. It is not bad, its just that before it was excellent.

ALNOOR HAIDERALI EBRAHIM JADAVJI01-10-21

Overall Great Stay

Great breach, very nice well kept grounds, friendly staff, good food in the buffet restaurants, management in the specialty restaurants was much weaker except the italian, just going through the motions and the evening shows were very so so but we had a great time and would return--

RONALD ROSCOE CLARK22-09-21

Excelente service

Everyone was wonderful!!! Specifically, a lady that works at the guest service. Claribel, Celestin, and Francis. I would recommend this hotel to friends and family. The hotel is clean and therapeutic!!!

SANDRA MARISA RODRIGUES GOURGEL27-08-21

My self

Hotel staff is great, price and what you get inside hotel is Worth it reason I gave 4-Star because in side the room was not good including a lot of Mesquites but other things is haven food is 100% if you want go this hotel go with your family

SAID ALI ABDULLE16-08-21

Perfect!

Perfect stay! No complaints from our 4 night stay. This is by far the best beach I’ve been to in the Dominican Teplublic!

ANGELABERTO ALMANZAN27-07-21

Global

Excelente

SIXTO CASTRO CABRERA15-07-21

Catalonia

Excellent place and welcoming people

KLEVIS VULAJ15-07-21

May/June 2021

The over all experience was great. The resort was at limited capacity so it was not crowded at all but yet was well staffed and always friendly. The only down side is that being a diabetic Pepsi light was not available at all the bars and restaurants.

TROY ROBERT RANK07-06-21

Good, Bad and Ugly

Second stay over a period of 2 months in April 2021 and May 2021 (Last stay in 2020 was several days before COVID shut down the island). As this was our first trip anywhere post-COVID, I appreciated the precautions the hotel is taking. Check-in has ALWAYS been a problem with this hotel. Upgraded preferred rooms are delightful particularly when I look back over past trips. Our maid service in April was ok, although we had to call for robes. Service in May was abysmal (not just the lack or robes but several days no clean towels and twice no cups for morning coffee!) And just try getting cups at 6:30 am. Finally Taino staff took pity on me and lent me some plastic drink glasses. Truly memorable were the Animation staff (Carlos and Elliott in particular, the gentleman who makes the pizza at Sorrento and several of the bartenders (particularly the lady at the white beach house who was shifted to Merengue when beach house shut down for floor refinishing), the other gurl at Merengue and Nestor. Covid testing was quick and a wonderful amenity. Guest service staff Reyna lives up to her name (queen) and is a remarkable employee. Grounds are beautiful and well-maintained. The only true negatives have to do with Taino—not the staff or the food—but rather some disturbing practices that have been instituted. The lower sitting areas near the exterior were repeatedly closed on our recent trip. And as the oscillating fans and ceiling fans were not on, it was hot and uncomfortable. Also, no nutella in sight anywhere despite being always previously offered. No nutella at crepe station either. White beach restaurant food is (and has always been) hit or miss. No avocados for the salmon/avocado bagels! Love the property especially the beach and pool so it is easy to overlook the shortcomings (and hopefully these will be rectified by more customer service training and more staff as more facilities are reopened).

JANICE ROBERTSON28-05-21