You would not as the resort normally assigns villa numbers 1-2 days prior to travel. We always request the best villa available for all our guests and we have priority over most other members.
What is the price for the sit down restaurants?
There is no additional fee for the sit down restaurants (VIP Gourmet, etc.). These are included with your All-Inclusive.
How many times can we eat at the restaurants? Do you have any restrictions?
That answer is a bit complicated. We don't have any restrictions with our membership, however the resort will limit the number of times that you can eat at any restaurant so that all members and guests have the opportunity to make a reservation at their favorite restaurant. We have guests that try and eat at the VIP Gourmet and other restaurants more than 1 time per visit and although many can based upon availability and/or time of year we don't ever guarantee that you will be able to eat at any one restaurant more than once. It will just depend on how busy the resort is at the time.
Are there any other Fees?
There are no hidden fees with the resort, however you will pay an entrance fee at the airport upon arrival into the Dominican Republic. This is an entrance fee for visitors and runs $10.00/per person.
Can I get a Villa on the beach?
We can request a Villa on the beach for you. However we can not guarantee you a Villa on the beach as the resort will not guarantee one to us. The beach front villas are in short supply, but all the Villas are fantastic.
Do the accommodations have safes for my valuables?
Yes. Each accommodation has a safe for your valuables.
Can I have alcoholic beverages other than beer delivered to my villa?
Yes. All reservations will have a special menu to order from and alcohol will be delivered to your villa at no additional charge. The limit on the amount of alcohol delivered to your villa is one bottle per adult per stay.
Does the resort offer child care?
Yes. The resort does offer child care and this can be arranged at any time while at the resort. There are additional fees for this service.
Do I need to bring any type of Power Adapter to the resort when I travel there?
No. The resort uses the same power receptacles found in the U.S.
Do I need to exchange any U.S. Dollars for Dominican Pesos?
No. The resort as well as all vendors that we have found take American Currency.
Does the resort accept Credit Cards (Visa, MasterCard, Amex) for gift shop and extras like massages, etc.?
Yes. The resort accepts all major credit cards for all activities. However, please remember to call your credit card company first and let them know you will be out of the country otherwise they will think there is fraudulent activity on your card and disable it.
Does the resort supply Hair Dryers and Irons for all rental accommodations?
Yes. Every room type does have a Hair Dryer and Iron.
What is the cost to visit Ocean World Park (Located right next to the resort)?
All of our guests in all units will receive FREE Ocean World Tickets valued at $69.00 Each. Your ticket is good for 1 visit to Ocean World on any day you choose. Just visit VIP Customer Service when you arrive for your FREE Ticket (located at the basement level of the VIP Tower). Swimming with dolphins, sharks, and manta rays is extra. Ocean World requires a 48 Hour advance notice.
I have read when I stay in a villa I can have breakfast cooked daily at the villa, is this true?
Yes. You will automatically have breakfast cooked at the villa for you daily and at NO CHARGE for this service. The breakfast includes eggs, fruit, juices, meats, cheeses and breads.
What is the Check-In and Check-Out time for the Accommodations?
The Check-In time is 3:00pm and the Check-Out Time is 11:00am. If you arrive before 3:00pm, just sit back-relax and have a drink while the resort prepares your room for you.
What is the climate at the resort?
The annual average temperature in the Dominican Republic is 77 degrees. The temperature can range from 75-90 during the winter months and 80-95 during the summer months.
Is the water safe to drink on the resort?
No. The water is not safe to drink on the resort or anywhere on the island. You will be provided with plenty of safe bottled water at no charge. All the ice and water at the bars are from a water company and they are safe to drink.
Do you need a passport to travel to the Dominican Republic?
Yes. A passport is required to visit the Dominican Republic. All guests regardless of age require a passport. This means everyone. Children including infants require a passport for travel.
Is there a medical clinic?
Yes. There is a medical facility on the resort grounds, however they are independent from the resort. There may be extra fees for supplies or treatment, if needed.
Are there beach towels available or do we need to bring them?
The resort supplies beach towels, leave yours at home. The maid will give you as many as you need . There is also beach towels located at VIP Beach for you to use.
How do I make dinner reservations?
Dinner reservations are made through the Reception in the area in which you are staying except for Gourmet that needs to be made through VIP services, When you are staying in the villas you will make all of your dinner reservations through your VIP rep that gets assigned to you at check in time. We strongly recommend that you book your dinner reservations as soon as possible upon arrival, you can make your reservations for the entire length of your stay at one time. We are unable to arrange and make reservations for you prior to your arrival, and we are unable to guarantee that you will get into each restaurant you want it is based on availability at the time of your stay, but there are so many to good ones to choose from when you book through us.
Should I bring my medicines and toiletries?
My advice is if you know that you will need it then bring it with you. There is a medical clinic and a shop on the resort grounds, however, costs of such things are not the same as they are where you live. Some things may be cheaper but other's may be more costly. It is always best that your bring what you know you may need.
Is there a dress code for the restaurants and is this enforced?
Yes. There is a dress code and it is being enforced for the following restaurants : Jazz, Gourmet, Moomtaz, Rodizio, El Pilon and Intimates. Gentlemen are required to wear long pants. As a simple rule-of-thumb - All air-conditioned restaurants are semi-formal All open-air restaurants are casual.
Whether you bring anything to give-away at all is totally up to you. We consider this one of the best parts of the trip. We pack two suit cases for each person every time we go. The airline usually charges extra for the second suit case but it's worth it. Last time we went, Kathy, the kids, and I collected quite a bit of things to give away. Kathy found some really nice shirts at Walmart for $1 each so she bought a bunch. She went through all of our clothing and gathered quite a collection of "hand-me-downs." She found quite a bit of things at local thrift shops and we collected donations from neighbors, family, and friends. These are some of the types of things we have collected:
clothing (anything; pants, shorts, and shirts including dress shirts & ties, shoes, etc.)
school kits
dolls for girls
necklaces
toy cars
baseballs
tennis balls
basketballs
soccer balls
baby balls
suit cases
hanging closet organizers
kitchen knives
Will my cell phone work there?
Yes, but you should call your service provider and let them know that you are leaving the country. FYI...there are free apps you can install (like MagicJack and Skype) which will let you make phone calls over the internet. If you need to use your phone while in the D.R. you can use these apps combined with the WIFI of the resort to make free calls.
Should I bring cash?
Yes. Once you pay the all-inclusive fee, you can practically put your wallet away and not use it again at all after that. However, if you leave the resort and go to 27 Falls, the cable car ride, etc., you will want to pay with cash rather than credit card. Also, you may want to tip your personal chef and others at the resort. I don't think the resort has a policy regarding tipping. They don't seem to encourage or discourage it. However, the last time we went, Jack & Louise suggested that we leave a $1 bill on each bed each morning for the gals that clean the rooms. And, they leave $1 per person as a tip for every meal. The people who work at the resort only make $6 per day which is very little. So, Jack & Louise see this as an opportunity to help them. Since we were staying with them, we followed their lead...but we didn't bring enough $1 bills. So, if you want to do this, you should consider bringing lots of $1 bills. They have ATM's there but the rates are kind of high.
Is there anything else that I should consider bringing?
Yes. Here are some ideas:
Camera: The island is BEAUTIFUL!
Snorkel gear: The beaches are amazing and the water is the perfect temperature. Last time, we snorkled for hours and hours. It was SO fun! But, we had to buy snorkle gear there. It wasn't too expensive but we're going to bring our own this next time. If you're not grossed out by it...you are welcome to borrow ours when we're not using it!
Clothing: The resort will launder your clothes for free if you need it. I suggest packing light and bringing lots of stuff to give away. The fancy restaurants have a dress code. They require pants and a collared shirt for men. Kathy usually wears a sun dress or a skirt but some dress more formal.
