I was at the Barcelo the week of the break-ins. When we arrived, we were part of the furniture for close to 3 hours waiting for our room, I didnt really mind this as I was in the dominican, no worries right?
Well, like most others we too had payed for the safe key, placed all of our valuables in there and went out to enjoy the tropics.

Our room had no water the first night, after calling down to the front desk several times someone finally came.

Our fridge was rarely restocked with water (and also didn't work the
whole week)

Then the news of the break ins spread through the resort, this created panic among many of us, who had lost faith in the safe idea and started carting all of our valuables around with us, this made our stay a bit awkward, now only one of us could go in the pool while the other hung on to all our stuff, only one could do many things. There was no more sense of safety.

I found the food to be good, nothing spectacular but decent. We were under the wrong impression with our "grey bracelets" we were premium right? NO. We found out later we had to upgrade to get the premium privelages.

Staff was wonderful, annimation crew was very entertaining, towel service was a little off, somedays you got a new towel, other days you got the card (although there were many towels that were clean and folded behind the towel lady... I dont get it)

I personally doubt I will be returning, why go to the same place twice anyways? Honestly the Barcelo is a get what you pay for resort.

One more thing...Franky in the pool bar! Befriend this guy, he is great!

Hello. We stayed in the Barcelo Premium Puerto Plata in the weekend between Jun. 5 to Jun. 8/2008. We made the reservations directly thru the hotel; the price for a group of six adults and one minor was less than USD$1,000.00 for the whole weekend, which is very cheap for the season.

First, the check-in was quick, and prompty. They assigned us originally two rooms (nos. 11102 & 11104), but those ones have a garden view. We request another rooms at least with a nice view. They made the switch to a second floor in another building and with a swimming pool view. The food was excellent; we didn't taste the speclalty restaurants and everybody in our group enjoyed the buffet restaurant. Drinks were great and refreshing. The surroundings were well-manicured and clean, the buildings were nice painted and looked bright and brand-new. The rooms were nicely (thanks Sylvia, our maid; she did a terrific job); the air conditioner in our room (no. 10207) didn't work at the beginning but a technician went there and fixed, just only with a call. The other room (no. 10209) worked everything neat and clean. The swimming pools (including the jacuzzi) were nice and we didn't see no garbage traces or something like that. The beach was only a five-minute stroll and the water looked clear and nice. The shows (they present a different one each night) were great; the perfomers looked professional and wonderful.

The only coomplaint we have was the bed configuration. They only offer two twin beds in each room and, in some cases, a king-sized bed. We request another room, but the hotel was booked completely for that weekend and they told us that it would take some time to fulfill our requests. Finally, they put our twin beds together, whick was a little unconfortable (at least for my wife and me) and for a nephew, whick he found his bed comfy (he's only 12 years old). In the other room stayed four relatives and they placed another twin bed in each room, but we slept a little uncomfortable.

Overall, this hotel, with the excemption about the beds, is very good to stay for ederly travelers, families with children and teenagers, couples and a get-together trip; I don't think this hotel has to stay in the 20th. position; there were other hotels in the same Playa Dorada/Puerto Plata area which didn't deserve to stay in the first 20th. places; We'll definitely back to the Barcelo Premium Puerto Plata and get the Premium upgrade for much better service and fun. Is definitely worth the upgrade. Try it; you won't be dissapointed..

I was there from 15 to 22 juin, room Premium Club AirTransat. We was 2 persons, me and my wife. The flight was OK, leave Montreal in the morning, 7 AM, arrived in Puerto Plata at 11. Our room was in the building 10, near to the pool and the show stage. The room was OK, big, clean, no problem with the hot water or with the air condition. The maid passed 2 times a day to clean up the room and fill up the fridge (2 beer Brahma, 2 Coke, 2 Sprite, and 3 bottles of water). The only thing I have to complain about the room was that it was supposed to have on our arrive a bottle of rum and a fruit platter. Never seen them :) I speak with the reception guy, he told me until the end of the sejour we will have it, but, probably they forgot. Anyway, a bottle of rum was 4 USD, so I thing is not such a big deal.
The service on the buffet, restaurant was OK, no problem at all, give some tips 1-2 USD, but I don't know if make a difference. Eating on the morning at the buffet, food was OK, not great, but OK. The only problem was with the fresh juice fruit, not so good, and not so many choices. At the lunch we always eat at the bar on the beach, the food was GREAT, much better than to the buffet. For the evening we have 5 reservation at the restaurant, so we try all. Our preferences was:
1. Mexican 9 / 10
2. Seafood 8 / 10
3. Brazilian 7 / 10
4. Oriental 5 / 10
5. Italian 3 / 10
So, in my opinion, if you only have right to 3 restaurant, you can forgot the Oriental and the Italian. We also try the pizza, for this one no reservation is required, we liked, the pizza is made on the wood, tried the Calzone, was super.
The entertainment was so,so, we didn't see too much of the activities during the day because we preferred to stay on the beach, but I don't thing it was a big deal. The reason for preferring to stay on the beach was that the pool is "closed" by the building, so the air circulation is poor, and at 30 C and humidity you feel like 45 C. At least on the beach you have some wind. We was last year on the Grand Oasis Marien hotel in Puerto Plata, and the entertainment was better. At Barcelo, in 6 days, we didn't see any entertainment on the beach, nothing.
In the evening, the kids show was always the same. The main show was different each night, but the music was really too loud. Anyway, not so but, let's say a 7 / 10.
So, overall, the trip was OK, weather was good, food good to great, service more than OK.
The only BIG complaint I have to make about this hotel was "Open door for locals". In each week-end they sell packages for 2-3 days to the local to fill up the resort. So, is like hell: no chance to grab some food, 10 minutes waiting time to the bar, no chairs to the pool, etc. Nobody told us before booking the trip about this. Our chance was that we arrived on Sunday, and left on the Sunday morning, so we didn't stay with the locals too much (Saturday we take a Tour Safari trip from 8 to 5, so we missed al the "fun").
If we will return? Probably yes, but NOT if they keep the "Open door for locals" program. In this case we prefer more the Grand Oasis Marien .
Any question, please shoot, I will respond you with pleasure.

my husband and I visited DR for the first time last year and we stayed at Barcelo (which was known as Occidental Gran Flamenco) in Puerto Plata. We loved everything about the resort, from the food to the staff. It felt very safe all the time and the maids were esp trustworthy. If we left them tips they would not touch them until we told them to take it! The beach was beautiful and clean, and the buffets were great and we a large variety of food choices to choose from each day. my favorite place to eat was La Fontana which served the most delicious pizza ever and ice cream. When we went to La Fontana at night we were on a balcony and could watch the shows while we ate.
I would definitly reccomend the excursions. we saw that a lot of vendors were selling the same excursions for a fraction of the cost we were getting them from our Air Canada rep....but we felt it was a bit risky and unsecure so we went with the Air Canada rep instead. we went to Paradise Island which was the most amazing trip ever! It was an all-day trip to a gorgeous white-sand island with coral reef, we snorkeled with beautiful tropical fish it was really something and worth every penny! we also went horseback riding in the mountains and it was a great opportunity to get to know the culture and the country, not just what we saw in the resort. the tour guide was really nice and gave us so much information. we also went on the city tour which was also really nice and a lot of fun.
the room was pretty good, the maids did a great job of keeping it really clean, the bathroom was big and clean. overall, the service, the food, the room, and the excursions were all great and it was undoubtedly the best trip ive taken! i would reccomend this resort to everyone.