The Ocean Club, a Luxury Collection Resort, Costa Norte

Just landed after a long weekend visit but the experience was far from “luxury”. I’m very surprised at the 5 star rating this place has. It was a nice looking resort from afar but the cons overshadowed any positives about this resort. Pros: -Received a free room upgrade (resort seemed fairly slow/empty but it was still very appreciated) -Live DJ at Veuvet Clicqout Sun Club -Close to Airport -Resort was empty so no fighting for pool/beach chairs Cons: - Service was slow and just terrible throughout the resort with the exception of one waiter our entire stay even though the resort seemed empty. Expect to ask 3 or 4 times if you need anything. -Limited dining options (plan to find dining options elsewhere if you stay more than a weekend) - No walkable beach- Beach was extremely small and located to the side of a concrete dock and giant rock wall -Extremely overpriced menu for what they serve. The menus are a hit or miss mix of average to downright bad dishes. - Many items on the menu are unavailable (one day they didn’t even have a basic burger) - out of group of 7, 4 of us got some type of stomach issue after dinner -the rooms are poorly constructed and certain areas were worn (in our room there was errant paint marks on the blinds, sliding glass doors didn’t lock, leaky faucet, clogged drains and the floating staircase in our unit had loose stairs) Given all the other Caribbean Islands (or even other parts of DR like La Romana) you could visit that provide better amenities, beaches, and food options, it would be hard to justify recommending this resort.

From the moment we arrived until the end of our stay, the staff treated us exceptionally well. The hotel restaurant offers a fantastic dining experience with beautifully presented and delicious food—our waiter, Juan, was outstanding! The beach and pool staff were incredibly friendly and attentive. Our room was spacious with a stunning view of the pool and beach. The sandy beach was a highlight, with fish swimming playfully around our feet, and both the pool and beach areas were delightfully uncrowded. There’s even a helicopter landing zone, presumably for flights to STI airport. For variety, there are several restaurants within 2-3 blocks if you feel like exploring beyond the hotel’s offerings. The hotel also features valet service, a spa, cozy fireplaces to enjoy at night, hot tubs, and a responsive WhatsApp service for immediate assistance or updates. The attention to detail and quality of service made our stay unforgettable!

I have stayed in many different resorts in the past, and so far this is the most beautiful of all, it’s so amazing from the pools, to the views extraordinary. I was amazed!! The staff is very friendly and are always making you feel welcomed. They go above and beyond to take care of your needs.