Barcelo Talanquera Beach Resort

This place is so bad I would have to write any essay on all the things that went wrong. Lets just say that I was happy to pay for a room in another hotel (30min.) away to get out of there. take my advice and do not come here

My husband and I spent our 20th Anniversary at this resort and this was definitely one of the mistakes we made in our marriage!! I should have known prior to going that things were not going to go smoothly. I tried calling the hotel several times to ensure that they had my reservation, since I booked the trip myself. They had a very difficult time understanding me and could not find my reservation. After finally calling Barcelo's corporate office I was told that as long as I had my e-mail confirmation, they would have a room for me, well that was comforting! Anyway, we arrived, took a cab from the airport (pre-arranged $30 US dollars), about 30 minutes and arrived at the resort. I don't know whether they had my reservation or not, but we were the only ones checking in and it took about an hour for us to get our room. The room was ok, spacious, but bare. The tv had no remote (we did get one after asking about mid-week). There were no washclothes, so you may want to bring your own! The room did have a musty odor, but you didn't notice if after a while. I will tell you though, that after being home now for 2 weeks, I am still trying to get the musty smell out of my clothing--everything came home smelling musty, including the suitcases. The best thing about the resort was the pool, it was warm and big and never very crowded. We never had any trouble finding a chair at the pool or the beach. Which brings me to my next disappointment. I wanted to cry when I saw the beach. I have been to the Carribean before and this was like nothing that I've seen before. The sand was hard as a rock, we have better sand at the Jersey shore than on this beach. The ocean was rocky, full of seaweed and not the crystal blue that you would expect, it was more murky green. It was warm though. The beach was very small and all of the chairs are very close together. I also didn't realize prior to going, that it is a topless beach/resort. I guess this is common in Europe (which the majority of people were from),but being the onlye also vendors constantly walking up and down the beach selling things, which I didn't really appreciate. The 4 restaruants are a joke. The Italian restaurant is the only one that you are waited on and you can only eat there 2 times during your stay. The French restaurant you have to pay extra for. The restaurant at the beach is only open for lunch which really leaves one restaurant. They have basically the same things every day, with a change of one or two things. The food is not very good, although I thought the bread was very good. They have an omlette bar for breakfast and a pasta bar for dinner. That is what I ate almost the whole week, with a salad and bread for lunch. The people are there to serve you, but not to help you..as my husband put it. If you ask them for help, they will try to help, but they won't offer. There is no orientation when you arrive, so you are on your own to figure out how things operate. I know other people who have been to all inclusive resorts and they said that there is always an orientation to explain how things operate, but not here! I debated about changing our intinery and going to Punta Cana and I am really sorry that I didn't@! The nightly shows were ok, nothing to write home about though. I was also told that there were tennis courts, so my husband and I lugged all of our tennis stuff down there only to find out that they don't have tennis courts. They had a contract with their sister resort, but it expired 2 weeks ago, so we couldn't play! That was the last straw! We made the best of our week, we relaxed alot because there was nothing else to do. If you are thinking of going to this resort, feel free to e-mail me, I will answer any questions that you may have!

Just a "buyer beware".... the advertisement on SkyAuction stated that this hotel had "2 seperate adult-only pools", a swim-up pool bar, 4 restaurants, and other "great-sounding" ammenities.Yes, there are 4 restaurants, but it is the same food EVERY DAY and BLAND...and the service is AWFUL!!! One of the restaurants (The french one) you have to pay for. All of the pools were swarmed with kids, as well as the disco...(even late in the evening!) The shows were all geared towards little kids... (how many times can you watch 10 year olds do the "chicken dance?". Fleas everywhere at the beach at night.... Only once did an activity director approach us...and that was only to talk..not to get us involved. We slept most of the time. Don't trust the safety deposit boxes... one of us was ripped off for $320.00 out of the box.I could go in to more details, but not worth it. If you want a boring, low-budget vacation...this would be it.

the resort was clean and safe and the staff was friendly. the room was small for 4 people but it overlooked the ocean. the food was not that great and there are NOT 4 restaurants! the night life was a bit boring, thay played the same 10 songs over an over. the beach was small but pretty, we never had a problem getting chairs. the pool area is really nice, but it is LOUD, with extremely loud music at all times and ativity till 11pm, not very relaxing. this is not the classest place, with the best accomodations or food, but it was economical and the weather was great...you can't loose.

I have just returned from this resort on the 13th of April 2003. The grounds are beautiful and the pool is well kept. Some of the staff are super- the entertainment guys and most of the waiters and maids are great. It is just unfortunate that the people in reception are extremely rude. Beware we had one woman suffer with sever flea bites to which the staff responded that it was her fault. The people that cook the eggs are so rude I even told one off. That was after almost two weeks of dealing with them. My friend was married on the resort and that part was nice. But the negatives far outweigh the positives. The people don' t seem to realize we work very hard to go on vacation every couple of years and public relations is everything. A 3 star in Jamaica is a 5 star in the Dominican.Just know the beaches are very rocky,food is slop, and most of the time they are just out to rip you off. The lobster Restaurant down the road is awesome and very reasonable so if you get sick of the food go there or the Spanish place down the road. P.S. beware of the shoe shine kid he thinks 35 dollars American is going rate for polishing SANDALS. Glad to be home.

My husband and I went to this hotel in August 2001 (quite a time now), but i have been reading reviwes about this resort and i am completely disagree wiht many of the reports. This hotel and resort is fantastic, and it is not that we are easily satisfy. The people is extrimely friendly and helpful. the day we arrived was raining and our room was on the ground floor the big windows had been left opend and the room was flooded, but we called reception and INMIDIATELY they send someone to dry it, few days later we had some ants, again we called reception and again inmediately they sent someone to fumigate.The rooms are really up to standard, they were cleaned and towels change on a daily basis. The pool was very nice and the food and bars were excellent. Food, there was plenty of it and very nice (we are not brits, so we like to taste the traditional food of the places we go to, not like brits they only look for burguers and fish and chips). Drinks all day at all times. Entertainment, excellent, as a said b4 people is so friendly, there is entertainment every evening and a dance show every other evening, there are also activities during the day on the beach or by the pools. The beach is good enough is not probably miles of white sandy beach, but at least is the hotels private section of it, so you know that people in there is only the people from the hotel. Any way to us this was a great hotel and an excellent resort, we for sure will go back, after we travel some other places...SO if you are planing on going don't pay attencion to the bad report, that people is very narrow minded, you have to be open minded and go there to enjoy, you will have a great time, take my word for it.....

i went to the dominican repuplic on the 4/2/03 untill the 19/2/03.i went with 11 people .Every single person enjoyed there self .I've been to the Dominican 5 times every single time was great ,but Barcelo Talanquera was great .I'm only 11 years old and there was still lots for me to do over in the Dominican Republic .i went to the kid's club with my 14 mounth old sister .The weather was fabulous .my mum came back black .I had a great tan and so did everybody else who came with us .the food was fantastic,the entertainment was great to .I wish i was still over there i've got plenty of fab memories from my stay .

I stayed at the Barcelo Talanquera beach resort from the 4th-19th February 2003, it is now the end of march and i am still thinking about this place! i have been to a number of places around the world and have memories from each one. But im sure this one will stand out by far from the rest! i cant say there was any thing bad about the barcelo talanquera beach resort and i will devently be revisiting this place again! i went in a crowd of 11 people ages ranging from 3months 12 yrs-18 25 35 47. I am 18, and believe me- there is something to do for every one@ all ages, i say thumbs up for every thing this hotel has to offer! I CANT STRESS ENOUGH HOW FUN THIS HOTEL WAS! and i cant believe there was a few bad write ups on it! well all i can say is these people need to get out more! This hotel has every thing to offer! also the people of Dominican Republic are extemely friendly especially the staff, if your going to this hotel im sure you will have a GRREAT time! look out for Henry one of the entertainers he has a smashing personality and works really hard from 8am-right through to2-am, he is ace to watch and will get you involved in all the activities! all i can say is i had a great time here along with the variety of alcoholic beverages. I am getting withdrawal symptons from Dominican Republic and will have to revisit this place very soon again!!! A* for this resort!

Very Very Disappointed. The only thing that kept me there was the friendly entertainment staff & guest services staff. Check in (reception desk) - very rude people. I booked a room that was to have a balcony or terrace - ended up with a room I could get on a local highway. No remote for the TV, russian roulette whether or not there would be hot water for the shower never-the-less if there would be any water. The toilet pipes leaked onto the bathroom floor and no one came to fix it. The beach was horrible. Lots of rocks, coral & seaweed. Didn't even step into the water. Hired a taxi to go out of town to another area of the island which was magnificent. Horse-Back riding - horrible. The resort lost total power about six times in one night. Complete black out. Entertainment staff pretty good but the routines each day are repetative. Even if you don't know how to dance, stay there for a week and you'll know the routine by heart. The food was pretty good. The swimming pools I must say are very well kept. If you want a lounge chair - you better get up super early. I would go back - only if it's free.

Me & My daughter stayed at the Talanquera resort from the 12/2-26/2. At first when we arrived our room was down the road from the main complex, so I asked to be moved by the hotel. They said that they would be able to move me on the Friday 14th. I was moved onto the complex and this was perfect, all the staff at the hotel couldn't have been more helpful they were 1st class. The sunbeds is a problem,you have to be up very early to ensure you get one - about 07.30. The food wasn't my taste, but I only eat chicken off the bone, but to me everyone I spoke to from England was very happy. The entertainment team are EXCELLENT. All in all this holiday was perfect how can anyone complain when you have two weeks of no cooking, cleaning, ironing or stress. With temperatures everyday over 80 degrees - some people will never be happy.