Ocean Sand Golf & Beach Resort

6 readers found this review helpful

Me and my boyfriend (17+20 years old) stayed here for 11 night from 31st July-12th August. We flew with Thomson but booked with First Choice! Great flight, transfer etc! When we arrived at the hotel there were bell boys waiting to carry your bags to your room (they have to do this as part of the job).
Check In : Quick and easy, no problems what-so-ever!
Room: Spacious and extremely clean! Fridge was stocked with water, pepsi and 7UP and some cans of lager. We had ours changed to all water as we dont drink pepsi etc just ask the maids. There is a TV, hairdryer, 2 sinks, jacuzzi bath/shower, coffee machine, safe, 2 queen size beds, a couch/sofa bed and a balcony with 2 chairs and small table!
Maids: extremely friendly and helpful! If you give them a couple of dollars they will definitely remember your face :) and do anything they can to make your stay pleasant..
Restaurants: Many to choose from! Breakfast and lunch at the buffet restaurant every day. Dinner at Mexican, Italian, Dominican, Buffet Restaurant or American Diner. There is a seafood restaurant which we didnt go to as we heard it was 40 dollars a head but we aren't sure as we heard it was only lobster you had to pay for also. There is also La Bodegon which is a steak house and wine cellar i think. Again we didnt go here as we thought you had to pay but turns out only had to pay for a few things on the menu (we found out on last night but you have to make a reservation).
Evening entertainment: We only went to a few of them but we heard there was a Michael Jackson impersonater that was really good! There was also a cirque du soleil type show one night and a boys v girls show (they decided to take my boyfriends pants so beware ladies!!).
Mikes Coffee shop: Best place on this resort! We went everyday 2/3 times a day! Framocaccino's are delicious!!! And Argentina the girl who works there is so friendly.
There are obviously a few flaws but nothing major i would say that ruined it for us.
If you're a young couple like me and my boyfriend there isnt a major amount to do at night. I think theres a little club on the resort but we didnt go to it. Also, our room was rather cold at night we ended up taking the sheet off the other bed to stay warm! Another thing which was the worst bit about the holiday but again wasn't a major deal, a couple of nights a week the markets came into the hotel and i have blonde hair so they took it upon themselves to shout that they wanted to speak to the 'blondie' which is quite rude. And they are very pushy as they want you to buy things off their stall! Oh, and they try to rip you off 1 guy wanted 8000 pesos for 2 necklaces. I knocked him down to 4000 by saying i have no more money and they cheeky get said he'll look through my purse! Dont think so buddy! But you can pretty much haggle the price everywhere. Even the onsite shop!!
Me and my partner had some pictures taken by the on site photographers who brought animals around (monkey, chamelian, parrots, snakes etc) you can just have photos without animals though!!
Beach is an absolute dream just beware of the men trying to make you go on the boats etc, just trying to make money unless ofcourse you want to go on a catamaran or on a speedboat with a crazy driver ha ha! Wasn't my cup of tea to be fair but the people that did some of the boat excursions had an amazing time!
I would definitely recommend this hotel to anyone. Just beware as the first choice rep is a load of rubbish, excuse the language but she chats a lot of POO to make sure you book everything through first choice! dont take her on to be honest we didnt :).
Sorry about writin a book on this but i like to get in what i can with my review lol!
11 Nights was definitely enough for us. Almost forgot about the weather then: Sunny EVERY day! Rained on 2 occasions literally for about 2 minutes each time, nothing to worry about. And it was hurricane season so cant complain ;).
Have a fab time and dont let any negative reviews put you off. Theyre just the snobs who like to be extremely picky (got talking to a couple who nearly cried over their view :S) i honestly didnt care what i was looking at, i'm not going to be spending half my day on the balcony which i doubt anyone is so take no notice of them but have a fab time! I know i did :) xx AND THERES FREE WI-FI :O!! a lot of people took laptops, ipads etc. i went on my ipod touch daily keeping up with family on facebook/emails etc to try and keep phone bill down (still ended up over £100 but who cares) and for us lazy people out there lol theres a little cart that drives round the resort constantly to get you from the lobby to the beach or your villa etc. fantastic when you're feeling a little lazy ;)

4 readers found this review helpful

This hotel was great :) I loved it.
very clean and very friendly helpful staff

1 reader found this review helpful

GOOD POINTS.
Great Hotel , Friendly staff no problem with communication.
Premium drinks Great choice at Buffet.
Big pools no problem getting a bed.
Beautiful Beach.
BAD POINTS
Rooms are a little tired.
Not exactly 24 hrs .The sports bar stays open until 04.00 with a few snacks.
Not all Theme restaurants open every evening at least 2 closed every night.
Food not hot in the Buffet
Cold food being put out (I advised the Chef that the fresh new dish of chips were cold,very helpful, he took away my plate came back in 5 minutes with hot hard burnt chips ?}
One pool swim up bar closed for the 2 weeks we were there.
Constant drilling as the Theater was being dug up ,hence shows were in the lobby bar, meaning there were few seats, very busy bar and this meant no where to sit and talk.
Sun bed covers very grubby, beautiful sand ruined by guests to lazy to use an ash tray, and I smoke.
FOOD POISONING on the 2nd day of holiday meant a miserable few days in the room cramp vomiting and diharea could not eat the food or enjoy the Alcohol for the rest of our holiday and spending nearly all my time on the toilet.despite just drinking fluids , and a 24 hour stay in the HOSPITAL. on drips anti biotics etc.Great experience.!
Perhaps I was unlucky but other people suffered bad stomachs,I am a experienced traveler and have never been so ill before.
The Hotel has a lot to offer but I had a miserable time, apart from the great people you meet whilst on holiday.

6 readers found this review helpful

We stayed from 31st July - 14th August with my children aged 13 and 10.
Flight
We flew with First Choice in standard seating and upgraded the IFE for £5 each - well worth it. You can watch films at your convenience. Service on both journeys was good.
Transfer
Very good - one drop-off at Barcelo and on departure, we went straight to the airport. On arrival at the hotel, Reception directed us to a conference room where First Choice guests were given their room allocation and towel cards.
Room
The room was massive and certainly adequate for a family of 4.
It had 2 double beds and even the sofa bed was like a proper single bed, unlike our recent experience in Fuerteventura where the sofa bed had seen better days. Exactly what I had asked for in my email and overlooked the blue pool.
Maid service was good - they worked very hard. We sometimes had loads of towels and at other times barely any, but we just asked for more as they were usually somewhere in the vicinity.
Although I understand standard rooms do not get beer replaced, we did ask via a little note in Spanish, and these were left in our fridge.
We felt the bathroom needed updating. Several fittings were loose or hanging off and the towel rail above the bath was quite dangerously loose. We made 3 requests to get this fixed, and finally asked the First Choice Rep to intervene, which seemed to do the trick.
Food & Drink
This was the best thing about Ocean Sands. We had deliberately picked a hotel that had plenty of bars and restaurants, as we hate to do the same thing every day, and Ocean Sands certainly delivers. Buffet food was great - loads of choices - the kids preferred this, but we also ate in the Italian, Mexican and American Diner. Our favourite was the Italian. Food was top quality. Service in all 3 was excellent. Service in the buffet restaurants was a bit hit and miss, but it didn't really worry us.
Our favourite bars were Overtime (best service), the Lobby Bar (had good atmosphere) and best of all, a relaxing tea-time drink before getting ready at the Beach Bar overlooking the ocean.
Entertainment
The kids didn't participate in the organised activities. They were more than happy with the Climbing Wall and Strike and during our second week the Teen Club opened which was a real hit (its upstairs in Strike, but we didn't see any signs indicating this, so would be easy to miss if you didn't know). It's called a Teen Club but it actually caters for kids from ages 7. The club rules state you need to show a membership card, but this wasn't introduced during our stay. It has several TVs with WII consoles, pool tables, table hockey and a big plasma screen. It gets very busy at night, but is quiet during the day if the kids want to get out of the hot sun.
Pools/Beach
We used both pools, but found the blue pool to be quieter, although very hot with little sea breeze. We also used the beach which was gorgeous. We're not usually beach people but this beach was so incredible, we just couldn't resist. Kids swam in the sea for the first time and loved it.
Airport
We found Punta Cana airport chaotic on departure, and the First Choice rep was nowhere to be seen. We were directed to a queue for another flight leaving after ours and it was only when we queried it that someone came over and directed us to the correct queue.
I knew from previous experience that we had to fill out a departure form and found some on a desk. We saw everyone doing this in a mad rush before going through security - a very long queue!
We did notice there is a lot of building work going on, so hopefully there will be an improvement in the near future.
Summary
This was the best holiday we've had - exactly what we've been looking for - we didn't want to leave. The weather was perfect every day with thunderstorms in the early evening. Good quality, family time together. Our only criticism would be general housekeeping - if the management addressed this, I would call this hotel perfect. We will definitely return.
If you have any questions, feel free to contact me.

1 reader found this review helpful

This was my second time of going to the Carribean and I wasn't disappointed. the room was spotless, fantastic air conditioning which was needed !! excellent choice of food. swimming pool area could have had a few more sun shades but very clean. beach was cleaned every morning. had to get up very early to get a sunshade though, lots of towels but no bums on seats. All staff I came into contact with were very helpful. I felt all staff worked very hard. Used the Mexican, American and Italian restaurants once, but liked the Buffet best for choice. Casino was something different to do. not on the Las Vegas scale but fun. Shows in the evening were very colourful. My one gripe was people putting towels on the beach sun loungers and also the pool loungers I don't know how they can correct that. I would certainly think about going back and I would most certainly use H10 hotels

I would just like to let you know that the Ocean Blue Sand & Golf Resort is the same hotel as the Ocean Beach Sand & Golf Resort why it has 2 names I don't know but it is I can assure you the same as I have headed notepaper and envelopes, from this hotel. I have already completed my review with the holiday from hell at this resort, it has now been put into the reviews. If you are thinking of going to this hotel and booking with First Choice please read it and think again.

2 readers found this review helpful

Ihave just returned fom this hotel after staying 2 weeks with my husband daughter and 2 grandchildren. We had what we thought booked a junior suite with connecting this was on our invoice from First Choice. Not so 5 people in 1 room. The room could have been cleaner, the pillows were smelling foul, we had to put them outside on the balcony everyday. The towelrail was haning off the wall it was reported and repaired on our last day. The toilet door would not close this was reported 5 times. I had to telephone everyday for clean towels one day we did not get any and had to use our beach towels. I had to telephone for toilet rolls. The view from my balcony was a building site with continous noise and bright lights shining until well into the early hours. Outside my balcony was a pile of rubble (I did take photos). I did not expect this service form an H10 Hotel or First Choice. I will not be booking again with either the hotel or First Choice.

I have just returned from this hotel haveing stayed there for 2 weeks, the complex is wonderful, I wish I could say the same about the service. Having booked a junior suite with connecting as my husband daughter and 2 children came we thought we would have 2 rooms. Not so 5 people in one room. The room could have been cleaner, the pillows we had to put outside every day as they were smelling nasty, the towel rail was falling off the wall this was reported and finally fixed on our last day. The bathroom door would not close this was reported 5 times and then repaired. I had to telephone for towels everyday one particular day we had none what so ever and had to use our beach towels, I also had to telephone for toilet rolls. Our room was opposite a building site with noise and strong lighting until late at night, my view from the balcony was rubble I have taken photographs. I did not expect this from an H10 Hotel, we will not be booking again under any circumstances.

1 reader found this review helpful

Let me start by saying that this resort should have got 10/10, but for the following reasons they have been deducted four points.
I went with my wife on honeymoon and booked the honeymoon suite
The room appeared to be beautiful until you turned on the jacuzzi and raw sewage flew out the holes covering the walls and cockroaches scuttling along the floor one morning.
The water sometimes went to a dribble in the shower and worse of all the Maid stole my wifes camera , of that there is no doubt but nothing was done we complained and we were fobbed off, on return the First choice people gave us no compensation, hence we call them Last Choice.
It was a shame as the food is the best on the planet , truly amazing
The pool is beautiful as was the beach, most of staff were friendly
Mikes Coffee shop was awesome I could have stayed in there all day, best coffee and smoothies in the world.
After all the bad points and they were very bad, being treated like that on our honeymoon. I have to say the Hotel is beautiful and if you like food youll love it.
I would funnily enough still go back.

We have just come back from our holiday in the Ocean Sands Resort, the food was fantastic, our maid was excellent but we left a 3$ tip every day and sometimes we must have had a different one as they weren't as good. If you tip you get looked after. The shows were really good. The rooms were very good although I think could do with a lick of paint. My husband had a rash on his back and no matter what we used to try and get rid of it it just got worse, the doctor at home said his hair follicles were infected probably from a sunbed or out of the pool, they are now almost gone. We stopped using the pool the 2nd week as they were cleaning the algae off the bottom whilst people were in there, when we looked there was algae floating on the top. This I don't think was very good, they should have closed one pool down whilst they cleaned it. We both suffered from diahorrea but do not know where we picked it up from. We went to Ocean World on a trip to swim with dolphins, that was fantastic. Overall we had a good time, just a few things could have been better.