FAQ - Puerto Plata

 

Is the all-inclusive mandatory?  The all-inclusive is mandatory, because it includes your breakfast being prepared in your Villa daily and served on your veranda, your fridge stocked daily with water, soda, and beer, complimentary liquor for your Villa/Suite, nightly resort entertainment or parties and of course ALL you can eat and drink at 12 restaurants and 30 bars throughout the resort.  The rental fee is paid to us and the all-inclusive is paid to the resort upon arrival.  Children age up to 3 are free, children ages 3 through 11 are 50% of the adult rate, children age 12 and above are charged at the adult rate.

What is the booking process?  Booking is done directly through us.  Once you are ready to book, we will need you to confirm the first & last name of the lead passenger for the reservation as it appears on their passport, number of adults & children under age 12, which property you would like to stay at, accommodation type/size, and desired check-in/out dates.  We will then send your reservation in to the resort.  Within a week we will email you the resort confirmation along with the rental agreement.  At that point, 50% of the total rent is paid to us and the remaining balance is due 30 days prior to arrival.  When reserving within 45 days of arrival (or within 90 days of a holiday booking), payment via credit card is required prior to submitting the reservation.

Are there any other costs?  On Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve the resort holds a Gala Event with a mandatory fee of $90 per person, per event (children 3 to 11 are ½ price).  The fee is paid to the resort upon arrival.

What forms of payment do you accept?  The rent is paid to PW Vacations by check, money order or bank draft in US dollars. We also accept credit cards.  There is a 4% handling fee added when paying via credit card.

What payment method does the resort accept for the all-inclusive package?   Visa, M/C, Discover, American Express, and cash (US Dollars and Pesos).  The resort does not add the VAT Tax when paying the all inclusive with a credit card, but your credit card company might charge you a foreign exchange fee.  You should contact your credit card company before arrival to check.

What is the best currency?   American currency is the most convenient.  The DR uses Pesos.  The Excursion Center has to add an 18% VAT Tax to credit card charges, so it's cheaper to pay for excursions with cash.  There is a currency exchange center and an ATM on property.  To avoid credit card fraud, we suggest using cash when making purchases off property.

What about tipping?   There are no set tipping guidelines at the resort, however the staff works so hard that most guests choose to tip their favorite people.  In the Dominican Republic, the current average wage of hotel staff is equivalent to $9.00 US dollars per day after taxes.  So, a little bit goes a long way.  Bring lot's of $1's.  Since your maid works the hardest for you, we usually suggest a few dollars/per bedroom/day.  You can tip her daily, or at the end of your stay.  The beach butlers might keep checking on you if you tip them a couple of dollars with your first order.  After dinner, if you had good service feel free to leave a couple of dollars per person on the table.  We just generally tip a dollar or two whenever we are given good service.  Again, this is not expected by the staff.  They are grateful for anything.

Is the resort safe?   The resort is a gated community with check points to make sure only registered guests and employees are on the resort grounds.  Security personnel can be seen 24 hours a day on the streets keeping an eye on everything.

Do you own a specific villa?   No.  There are around 100 Crown Villas ranging in size from 3-7 bedrooms with the majority being 3 and 4 bedrooms.  As Platinum Supreme Shareholder members with Chairman's Circle Club affiliation we have access to all of the Crown Villas and other accommodations year round.  We can also provide you with multiple Villas or a combination of different accommodations.  Accommodations are allocated upon arrival based on what's available once accommodations have been allocated to members at the resort.  It is important to note that since there are fewer of the larger Villas, upon arrival if a large Villa is not available, the resort will give you 2 Villas equaling the number of bedrooms reserved at no additional charge.

Have you ever seen the movie Step Brothers?   Yes!  And this is a frequently asked question...

Are there set check in or check out days?   You may check in or out on any day of the week and stay as many nights (with a minimum of 4) as you wish.  Please note that the Villas have a minimum stay of 7 nights during the months of February, March, April and July.

How do airport transfers work?  We arrange for your pick-up at the airport.  The resort requires airport transfers to be scheduled more than 5 days prior to arrival.  Because of this any missed or cancelled flights will require guests to provide their own transportation to the resort.  Airport transfers back to the airport are scheduled once at the resort with your VIP Services Representative.

What airports can we fly into?  The nearest airport is Puerto Plata (POP).  It's about 30 minutes away.  The next closest airport is Santiago (STI) and it's about 1 1/2 hours away.  We can provide free transfers to and from either of these airports. We highly recommend waiting to purchase airfare until after your reservation has been accepted for processing by the resort.

Can we get transportation from the airport in the resort’s limo or helicopter?  No, this is reserved for Members only.

How do we get the golf cart for our Villa?  On the day of your arrival between 3:00PM and 6:00PM the lead passenger (listed on your Confirmation) may pick up your golf cart with a valid Driver's License at the Golf Cart Center (located next to/behind the Tower).  There is a $100USD refundable cash deposit required upon receipt of a golf cart.

Can we rent an additional golf cart for our Villa?  No, the resort does not rent golf carts.

Are the golf carts guaranteed?   Golf carts are requested for the Villas, but are not guaranteed due to availability or in case of mechanical issues.  Over the past year membership at the resort has exploded.  Since members take priority, the resort hasn't had enough golf carts to go around when there are a lot of members on property, but they've instituted a pretty decent shuttle service to compensate.

Are there ways to get around the resort besides a golf cart?   The resort has a complimentary shuttle service which stops throughout the resort.

Is this resort suitable for people with mobility issues?   Even with the convenience of a golf cart or resort shuttle there is a considerable number of stairs and walking required to get to many of the restaurants and beach areas.  If you or anyone in your party has difficulty with stairs or walking comfortably we would recommend considering booking a Presidential Suite at our boutique property in Punta Cana.

Are cribs provided?  Yes, just let us know if you need a crib and we will forward the request to the resort.

Are there excursions we can book through the resort?  Yes, there are excursion centers scattered throughout the resort where you can book excursions after you arrive.  Also, here is a link to our Excursions page where you can see what there is to do and book before you arrive if you wish.  It's not advisable to purchase excursions from beach vendors, because they may lack proper insurance.

Are there any areas we are not allowed to go?  You will receive Gold bracelets giving you access to many of the areas that other guests won't have because they will have blue guest bracelets.  There are still a few areas that are reserved for actual members though.  Azul Restaurant is for Shareholder members only, and there is a Shareholder only beach, called Deja View.  Anja's Lounge, Tapas Lounge and Vienna Coffee House are reserved for members only.  Jazz restaurant is for members and guests of the Presidential Suites only.  SeaLaVie Beach is for Chairman Circle Club Affiliates only.

Where can I get internet access?   There are many WiFi hotspots throughout the resort.  WiFi is available at the Villa check-in, in the Sports Bar, at the Half Shell Oyster Bar and on all of the VIP beaches.  WiFi is free in all Presidential Suite units.  If you need WiFi in other accommodations you may pay for it at $60 per week per device.

How far is the beach?   The resort is built right on Cofresi beach.  The beach is at most a 10 or 15 minute walk from the farthest point on the resort.  You're never more than 5 minutes away from any beach area with the golf cart or shuttle.

Do I have to listen to a sales pitch?   No, this is in no way a requirement.  It is your decision whether or not to see a presentation of what the resort offers.  Many past guests have decided to purchase a vacation membership after seeing what a value Lifestyle Holidays is.  If you feel strongly about not learning more about resort membership, here are some tips to avoid accidentally ending up in the sales office:  If a resort employee offers you a ride, a tour, a free t-shirt or a welcome package just reply with a firm "No, thank you" and walk away.

Is there a washer/dryer in the accommodation?  There are not any in the Villas or Suites but there is a laundry service available for a fee.

How do we make restaurant reservations?   Restaurant reservations are made after arriving at the resort.  You will be assigned a VIP Service Representative when you arrive that will help you make your restaurant requests.  The day of your arrival you will fill out a sheet with your dinner requests.  The following day you will receive confirmation of your dinner reservations which may alter slightly due to restaurant availability and seating time availability.  Since you won't have a restaurant reservation for the day of your arrival most guests eat at the buffet the first night, or Bellini's serves lunch until 6:00 pm.

Is there a dress code?   Dinner is a time to dress a little nicer.  The VIP restaurants require at least Dockers and a button up shirt for the guys and a dress or pant suit for the ladies.  While the other restaurants don't have a dress code, it's common to wear at least a nice pair of jeans.  Lunch is casual, but no swimsuits or wet clothes are allowed.

Do the accommodations have safes?  Yes.  Each Villa has one safe.  Safes are free in the Villas.  For other accommodations the resort charges $20 a week or $3 per night for use of the safe.

Does the resort provide towels?   Yes, towels for the Villa pool and all of the resort beaches are provided.  When staying in accommodations other than a Villa, you will be provided with a pool towel card, which can be used to check out towels at the pools.  No need to bring your own.

Do I need to bring a hair dryer?   You do not need to bring a hair dryer.  Each full bathroom will have a hair dryer.

Do I need to bring power converters?   The outlets at the resort are US compatible.

Is there a medical facility nearby?   There is a medical facility on-site for immediate care.

How do I get my free Day Pass?   When you arrive at the resort ask your concierge about the free Day Pass to either Ocean World, or Café del Mar or the Xtreme Zone.  The resort will offer any choices that are available and then you can choose.  Sometimes there will be 1 option only, sometimes 2 options and sometimes 3 options.  Your whole group will need to choose the same option.

What about hurricane season?   All of the Caribbean countries can be in the path of hurricanes, however the North Coast of the Dominican Republic has not been hit for around 60 years.  The most likely reason for this is that the mountains rise right from the coast and create a kind of pressure barrier.

Is the water safe to drink?   Whenever you are in a country other than your own it is advisable to avoid drinking tap water.  There is plenty of bottled water in your Villa or Suite as well as a 5 gallon water cooler in each Villa.  We also recommend using bottled water to brush your teeth.  The maid will use bottled water to make your coffee, and the ice used throughout the resort is bagged from purified water.