Hacienda Garden Resort

When you book to go the Dominican, I think you expect much more than you would booking a holiday in Europe. Don't. We had amazing weather, warm thunderstorms in the evening, all in all a lovely 2 weeks off.
As with all AI board, you get banded with a particular colour. Lifestyle had 2 other hotels either side of our apartments; obviously those guests had paid more to be in a hotel. The other side was the VIP club that was being hyped-up as much as possible; staff trying to sell you time-shares with them etc. On our first night, we walked into the main hotel as all of the action was centred around there - we noticed how the bands varied from mundane green to sparkly gold ones. You instantly felt this sense of hierarchy. You knew your place (I later over heard a number of like-minded holiday makers complaining to their rep about the same thing). As no bar handled cash, this WAS the same hotel group as our apartments and we were "allowed" in, we were shockingly refused a drink in their bar. We had to drink with our "own" apparently. The only place on their grounds we could drink was outside at a tiny beach bar and this closed after dinner.
This went the same for any of their restaurants. Us Green banders had to pay an extra $15 each to eat in any of them. You may wonder why we wanted to eat anywhere else as our food was included. Well, the food was lovely. Cooked well, and a big selection for breakfast, lunch and dinner. But the selection didn't change from one night to the next. They advertised 7 different themed nights: Dominican night/Spanish night/Tropical night, but the only difference might have been the sauce one of the fish dishes was cooked in. My partner felt sick just looking at the pork or local salty fish after 6 days. So we went elsewhere. We had the choice to eat at 2 restaurants on our grounds, but that grew tiresome, especially when you had to book 24 hours in advance. And for a change at lunchtime, we could only eat for free at certain places between certain hours. We ate off the complex once and our 2 meals came in at just under 40 BRITISH POUNDS! Don't be fooled into thinking that everything is cheap.
We didn't have a great deal to do either (unless you want to spend 100's of pounds on tours etc), and the taxi's cost £20 ONE-WAY to get anywhere of interest. Our 2 days out left us pretty limited to what we could afford to do later on in the holiday and with the usual bartering at every shop - 131 in one long line at Sosua, we counted - I felt physically exhausted to go again.
The staff were very friendly though and the maids were in daily. If you do stay in the Vitalis Gardens Beach Club apartments, do expect ants - we had a 3 lane trail along our 6ft indoor wall which I had to use all our bug repellent spray to get rid of. It is rated as 4* but there is no-way this is 3*.
I had a relaxing holiday and I’m glad I went. But I truly believe that when you book an AI, they have your money so they don't need to make an effort to keep you coming back for any dining.