We have just come back after surviving Hurricane Irene, it was ok as all the staff where so well trained and organised and it wasnt as if any had to be told what to do as they just got on with it to make sure everyone was safe along with all their furniture and fittings. We got moved for one night (if we wanted to) to a safer room. As we have young kids we thought it was wise as they were offering us and plus it could of affected our insurance IF anything did happen. The hurricane past with no problems except strong winds and alot of rain. The rep Helen (the best I have ever met on a holiday) was also on site all night long. Gran Ventana is great. Rooms are spacious (We had a interconnecting room), pool was a good size for cooling off and the sea was lovely for swimming in. Staff were so friendly nothing was a problem. We didnt see our son all holiday as he was on the pool tables all holiday with all the new friends he met, as the tables were free along with a table tennis that was also free to play. It was only at 2130 that we saw him when the activity staff closed the tables. Dont ever tell the bar staff you want a large drink as its filled to three quarters of alcohol with a drop of juice. I nearly died. All normal measures are good size but I must of had too much to drink before hand before I asked a stupid request. ha ha. DO NOT BOOK ANY FISHING TIPS FROM THE HOTEL. My partner did along with others. It cost £70 but no one caught anything as the boat were only looking for marlin with only a compass on board. No one apparently has caught anything for a long time. Trips I would recommend (which we went on), a must is the MEGATRUCKS. It was a brilliant day out. We left 8am and returned 6pm. You go along the coast then up into the mountains. You stop off to see views and also to see the poorer kids (about 7 stops) the kids were so excited to see us but we felt bad as we didnt have any sweets to give them and they long/look forward to getting their weekly lollipop (no one had advised us on this and it was such a shame to see them so happy to see us yet we didnt have something to give them. Ive even said if I go back I would even go to the pound shop just to get some skipping ropes and bouncy balls to give them. They dont ask but their smiles are so infectious its a shame we cant give them something to remember the nice english people. You go to a school as well where you can give pens, pencils, books to help with their education. We even went into a remote village that had nothing other than 11 families living side by side who ask for nothing, yet they were so friendly and welcomed us. the men sit and make sculptures (and boy they were good) and you also get a chance to buy the ones they have made, and if only one of them sells one for the day they would share the money they made with all 11 of their families. They welcomed us into their homes to see how each family lives within a small space. A tiny shack yet so immaculate with a bedroom and rocking chairs as a sitting room. No TV, telephone, lighting but so very happy living off the land when we complain when we have a power cut or cant get our normal loaf of bread. You stop to go horse riding once you stop further up the mountain. This you do for at least 30 minutes and its a very good trek, the horses were the tamest I have ever seen. My kids done this as I have put on so much weight and didnt want to kill the horse, I stayed on the megatrucks which followed the route and it was all inclusive in drinks, rum punch, beer, soft drinks, lunch was even better in taste than the hotel which was served in a sit down mega trucks cafe as a self service buffet. You stop off at a beach with hammocks for a hour as well to swim in the sea and also see how cigars are made onsite, this was the only thing i didnt like as the sea had loads of seaweed and there was alot of broken glass along the sand but they set up a all inclusive bar on the beach. The guides for the day are brilliant out of all the trips we did. MAKE SURE YOU BOOK. We also went on the Catamaran, whether you want a leisurely cruise along the sea waters or want to do snorkelling at 2 stops its a good day out. The waters are calm for swimming and there is enough different fish to see. My kids done so much swimming they even slept on the nets of the catarman on the way back which is a first. The lunch was only salad which the kids didnt really enjoy but once we got back to the hotel which is literally out of the sea into the hotel, they were quite happy to munch pizza and chips at the beach bar. OCEAN WORLD. OMG. Make sure you either do the encounter with the dolphins or swim with them. My kids who are 8 and 10 were too nervous to swim with them but we did do the encounter. I dont know who enjoyed it more, me and my partner or the kids. You get to go into a big square pool which they allow 1 of the dolphins into, each one of you will get to kiss the dolphin, hug the dolphin, touch the dolphins back and front and also dance with the dolphin. You have a photographer there who takes photos we got a CD with 25 photos which wasnt expensive and the photos are really good and clear, which I have since downloaded onto my computer at home and printed off. If you go to Dominican use their peso currency. At the airport to get into Dominican you have to pay 10 dollars each or 400 peso each but on the way home you have to pay 20 dollars or 800 peso (dollars are US). We will definetly go back to Dominican at some stage. I had gone many moons ago with a crowd of mates and stayed on a complex very near to Gran Ventana but Gran Ventana was a definete good experience. Every night was a different show by the entertainement team and they really worked hard to make everyone happy. Helen the rep (Thomas Cook) was great, so much knowledge, great spanish speaking when she needed to assist you, and she loves the take a break magazines, so like me I took enough out with me to read each day which I saved up over many weeks and left them for her to catch up on after to then pass onto others. If you have any clothes or toileties you dont want at the end of the holiday she also passes onto the people who really need them in the hills. The kids wont go hungry on this complex as they do pizzas (about 4 different toppings), chips, hotdogs, chicken wings, totilla chips with chilli concarne and a hell of alot more. Even at 10.30pm when some nights my kids couldnt keep their eyes open any longer there was a hot dog stand to take back for a feast along with a cheese or ham roll if you didnt want a hot dog. My scales are saying GET OFF ME but boy it was well worth the 2 weeks of fun and having a great time, I love being catered for that is what my holiday is about. Ive always wanted a personal chef but even if it takes 2 weeks a year only to get the enjoyment I will make the most of it. Well done Direct Holidays for giving me the holiday I REALLY NEEDED at 42 years old I am a heart patient who came back more relaxed than what Ive been all year. I needed a good break but believe me I had the best relaxed and happiest holiday ever.
tracy, middx
Date Travelled: 14/08/2011
Review Added: 30/08/2011