Senator Puerto Plata Spa Resort

We loved the resort! Good was delicious and always the right temperature. Staff were very friendly and efficient and knew their jobs. They are a very hard-working crew. Grounds were beautiful and rooms comfy. Would return. [Details]

This hotel was really beautiful and the beach was so nice - the palm trees were spectacular and there were a lot of people working there to keep the place nice and attend to people's needs. There was good security and it felt very safe. There were some service things that could have been better like maintenance of the air conditioner - didn't work the entire time we were there even though we mentioned it twice to the resort. Also, we arrived two days late due to weather conditions in Toronto, and they wouldn't extend our stay by a day, unless we paid approximately 600 dollars u.s. to stay - which of course we didn't. The part was the most upsetting part for us as we were able to get our flights changed to one day later, but the resort would not accommodate us another day even though they had availability. [Details]

Senator resort has a variety of activities for every age group (i.e. fitness, challenges, dancing, etc). There is also a variety of food.options on a daily basis including 3 à la cartes ( Steak, Japanese & Italian), sports bar, and barbecues on the beach. The hamburgers and taters are delicious. Staff are very pleasant and funny willing to help with anything you may need.
We stayed in a room that was outdated but all the amenities worked. I don't care about what my room looks like. The rooms are restocked and well cleaned. In general, the staff are always cleaning and is very well maintained.
The only slight downfall is the water is more rocky with some seagrass. I had water shoes so it didn't bother me. [Details]

Our trip was to relax and overcome some depression that my wife and I were experiencing in these winter months, so we booked this vacation at this resort.
we asked for a double bed - accessible room (as my wife has no legs) an ocean view room - we ask for a wheelchair to be available - to be on a higher floor and the resort confirmed all this with our agent
and this is what we got.
DOUBLE BED – we got King size bed
ACCESSIBLE ROOM - we were told at check in N/A
OCEAN VIEW ROOM - We got a room (218) on the second floor overlooking the roof of a restaurant yes you could see the ocean through the trees or if you would put your head out and look to the left you would see the ocean.
WE ASK FOR A WHEELCHAIR - they told us that we would have to rent it, they directed us to the Dr. office they had two chairs available it seems that they came back from a war zone we took the better one it did not have the left brake and it very rusty. We paid $10:00 American a day over and above $100.00 deposit.
HOUSEKEEPING - the sheets were changed twice in the 10 days we were there.
no toiletries were replaced after the second day.
HOT WATER - NO HOT WATER FOR FOUR DAYS - the fifth and ninth day were the only days that we got hot water.
TELEPHONE did not work.
We mostly ate at the buffet we tasted a bit of all meats and found them tough and so we stuck to selected items to eat but on Thursday we got courageous and tried some shrimp and Talipa fish well to this day we are paying the price we both have been sick vomiting and diarrhea to this day (feb. 23).
We brought our concerns to the front desk and customer service they seem concern and apologetic, but nothing was done
My question is – who do we turn to for compensation.
We paid premium for this vacation looking forward to be pampered with service and good food
But we got aggravation and sick from food
ARE WE UPSET? [Details]

Chaotic check -in set the stage for communication over the next 10 days! Seemed like no-one at the front desk attending guests had experience or understood the English language. Too many words needed to describe this. Upgraded to a newer building for a fee after seeing the assigned room: old, dingy, view of "bush", with no lock on safe, and stairs only to upper floors.Upgraded room had a beautiful view of the gardens, pools and beach area, and the bed was very comfortable. Poorly constructed shower stall had water pooling and flooded the floor. Non-functioning coffee machine replaced on our 8th day after many channels of reporting. Room towels were scarce, promised "later" and sometimes never came. Cuisine in buffet and specialty restaurants was below expectation. Tiers of quality and service depend on what you pay for, so check carefully. Our goals of sunshine, warmth, rest and relaxation on a beach were met and the sea was warmer than anticipated, Heed the flags. Dangerous undertow if you swim out. [Details]

I needed a main floor room and was happily accommodated.
I accidentally left 1 item of clothing in first room and staff found it and delivered to new location. I found option for transportation / golf cart throughout resort only available for select clients. Mobility was challenging at times. Not always enough chairs on deck or beach. Often chairs taken by 8am. Walked to adjacent resort as others were also discouraged and looking for a chair. Entertainment dancers incredible. Too loud DJ while waiting for show. Accessible wheelchair only available for rent, then store closed. Was I able to rent. Phone not working in many rooms, my friend got ill banged on wall for help. Safe access took days and friends carried valuables with them. [Details]

Food terrible. Staff awful, rude 90% do not speak English. No WiFi no television 90% of the time. Never get towels. La a Cartes awful cold, staff rude. No activities. Beach not for little ones drops off quick. Rooms falling apart. Not get safe key for 2 days. Never get pool towels. Same food everyday in buffet. [Details]

This was my first resort experience. Overall it was a good experience. The things I enjoyed, the availability of food and drink, as well as the quality of food. The staff are super friendly and work very hard. It was nice to to choose where to hangout, whether at the beach or the poolside. One thing I wasn't a fan of was the constant music that was being played at the pool and you can hear it from the beach. I found that there was a lack of quieter places. There are some regulations as well and I found they were not upkept, such as, many people were able to claim spots prior to the pool opening and this is unfair to the rest of us. I went with my friend but it seemed that mainly couples go to this resort, both young and old. [Details]

Great place for the price and location [Details]

First room we were given had the toilet seat hanging on by one bolt and garbage stuffed in the kleenex box holder. Next room had a toilet that leaked across the floor and a shower head that kept falling off. We reported it but nothing was ever fixed. I'm sure its still like that for next guest. All the rooms with ocean view overlooked the bay where a dredging machine worked all night. In the morning the cruise ships docked. Not a problem other than they had a television screen on deck the size of a basketball court. You could hear every word said it was so loud. But you don't spend much time in the room. Overall though the resort was very clean and safe. Food was very good, service was excellent, beach amazing. [Details]

The hotel is recently renovated from what we were told. Almost every aspect was beautiful. [Details]

Beautiful resort, lovely rooms, VERY clean .... pools are kept exceptionally well. Gardens are lovely. Staff is friendly. [Details]

more hot water machines for tea in the am. line up too long, Very nice
hotel other than my few complaints. Very friendly, want to please. The place
is just not a 5 star to me more of a 4 star. Room basic but clean and bed
terrific. Something is missing to make it awesome. Not polished enough.
More snacks in the store to pay for like chips, nuts, chocolate bars..
Very cute walk way to pizza and ice cream and other stores. Would recommend and would go back and reserve the rooms with the pools!!
So beautiful. Very casual place which I like. Italian restaurant did not have a Cesar salad so disappointing. [Details]

I would definitely return to this resort. It was filled to capacity though I never felt crowded. I loved the variety of restaurants especially the pizza, ice cream and specialty coffee alley.
Rooms were clean and staff were very friendly. [Details]

The hotel was renovated about 7 months ago. Very open and bright. The weather was great the week we were there. Your not bothered by vendors or for timeshares at this resort. Of the 3 A la Cartes the Japanese is the best and the other 2 were ok. If you like pizza goto the middle resort restaurant buffet as it is stone cooked. Overall we were very satisfied with our stay. Would return to this resort in a heartbeat. [Details]

Vacation was good at this quaint resort as it was relaxing and love the fact that pool and beach are so close and easy to walk to. If you are booking, book in the luxury section (nicer rooms & buildings). Espresso machines in rooms are useless. They don't work properly and give you tiny amount of coffee. They should install regular Keurig machines so you can enjoy a reasonable cup before heading out. Food at the buffet is not great...same stuff every day. They need to have more variety and more Canadianized food. Corn on pizza is not appealing to me :) A la carte restaurants fill up quick and are just okay (better than buffet but I have been to better). If they improved the food then this would be a great place to return to but I won't be returning for that reason. Food is too important. Beach is great. Another problem is the towel hut NEVER HAS TOWELS. They say they are coming in 10 minutes...never replenished. I kept the same towel most of the week. Not ideal when you spend a ton of money on a vacation for you and your family. Also people save chairs early and they should NOT be allowed to do that. Staff should be removing the towels. You should be able to find chairs but it is difficult because people save them and show up hours later...NOT RIGHT. If hotel implemented and stood by the policy it would make a huge difference. You shouldn't be stressed on vacation and that was a stress I felt along with the food. Also, there are beautiful swim up pool suites but they are not available unless you are a vacation member. They say to inquire about a small surcharge to upgrade to this suite but then ask you to sit through a 90 minute orientation on their vacation club membership...BEWARE and then you don't get to have the pool suite! They sit empty which is absolutely ridiculous when I was willing to pay extra money for the swim up suite! Cappucino Café was great with their croissants and specialty coffee. Pizza parlour guy was not friendly or welcoming. Cruise ships visit port beside resort which was neat to see. My pros and cons. I think I will stick with Jamaica... :) [Details]

Great lay out of the hotel. Easy walking distance. Food was pretty good. Only thing I wish they played music the whole day at the pool bar as you could see people wanted to party but the entertainment team was on at odd times. All they would have to do is put spotify on and let it play. Also it needs a beach bar and a disco on senator side as it's currently at the resort next door and it doesnt have the premium liquor that you get on senator. [Details]

Love love love the Senator.
This hotel has a fantastic atmosphere and is beautifully updated. We stayed here when it was the Bachata and also loved it. That is why we returned.
Our room was great building 4 close to everything.
Food was very good. We really enjoyed the Japanese ala carte! Juan Pablo is hands down the most energetic upbeat Attentive server we met on our whole trip.
We were a little disappointed with the service at the sports bar. They were happy to take drink orders but food orders not so much. Would love to see more seating there as well.
Biggest disappointment was lack of shade by the pool!! NEEDS MORE UMBRELLAS!!!
I went to read at the pool at around 7am everyday and most of the loungers were taken and all of the umbrellas. NEED MORE UMBRELLAS!!! I can not stress this enough!
Will return again! [Details]

My Husband and I wanted a resort that we could go and relax at. This resort definitely allowed us to do that. It felt very tropical with palm trees everywhere. The property was spotless. Lots of lounge chairs on the beach with plenty of shade if needed. The staff were very friendly and made us feel welcome. We upgraded our room to the swim up, which we really enjoyed and would do that again. The food was plentiful and we certainly did not go hungry. We would return to this resort. Loved it! [Details]

Nice but...a few issues...hardly anyone spoke English. Most hotel staff were not understanding of English language. Beach was course sand and never had a chance to swim in it .. every day was red flagged. Food was so so except the steak house was excellent. Entertainment was poor ...but the price was good and if u are a drinker (which I'm not) it would be great . [Details]

Overall a good experience,
Buffet Food could have a little more flavour to it, restaurants that we tried are very good. [Details]

Over all our stay at the Senator was very pleasant. The hotel was very clean and well cared for with very friendly people. We would definitely look at returning again for a future vacation. [Details]

This was our family's first time going down south and was overwhelmed with the fantastic-ness of this resort. The daytime entertainment did a great job incorporating everybody in their activities. The buffet food was good but nothing special, except for Christmas Eve which was beyond expectations. The à la cartes were nice however we only got to experience the steak and Italian. My only complaint is the booking for the à la cartes is a little difficult. It would be much easier booking when checking in for the amount that is granted. The facilities were very clean and I never saw a maid not cleaning. The staff were also very friendly and helped however they could. Trying to get a sun bed was difficult unless you wanted to get up at 7:30am everyday to reserve it. Also there were times when there was tables available but no chairs or vice-versa. [Details]

We were in an older building but it was still nice. We had no issues with our room. If you bring a HDMI cable you can hook up your ipad to the tv to use Netflix, etc. The wifi in the resort is quite good. The room was clean as was the whole resort. The food was good. We especially liked the Grill/Bar by the pool. It was something different every day. The beach was a little steep and hard to walk on but well kept. We tended to stay by the pool. Everyone saved their pool chairs early in the morning. But there were always lots of chairs and umbrellas. I didn't hear any complaints about that. You can get decent coffee in the Sports Bar any time at all. Especially good if you're an early riser. The air conditioning in the room wasn't always consistent through the night. But I think there was an issue after an overnight storm. It was only one night. The staff were helpful but I think they were understaffed as there didn't seem to be enough staff at peak times in the buffet. All restaurants were good. If you want a reservation at the Tapinake bar you need to line up around 11:30am. They take reservations starting at noon for the next night. It was a great experience and meal. [Details]

We stayed for a week and had a very good experience. The staff is super friendly, very helpful and most speak excellent English. I've seen reviews were people say the staff is very unfriendly or rude, so maybe its the way the those reviewers asked for assistance that's really the issue. We treated everyone with respect and that's what we received in return. The Senator has a very good and very hard working staff in all areas.

When we checked in we were greeted by Angelo who, in my opinion, is one of the best customer service representatives that we have ever met. Angelo helped us with our room #1518, booking tips and with any minor issues we had. Hopefully the Senator will make Angelo the manager for the front desk. His brand of service is what you would receive at a 7 star resort.

The resort is super clean and maintenance is top notch. We had an issue with the toilet one night and it was fixed within an hour, and the maintenance man even returned in the morning just to check that everything was working fine. The lady who cleaned our room was outstanding, and we have very high standards for cleanliness and we were very impressed with housekeeping.

The only down side for us was the food. But to be fair, we hate buffets and avoid them whenever possible. So if you like buffets, please ignore my comments. The buffet had a decent variety, but I found most things cool, overcooked and dry. The fruit selection was excellent and the omelet station was good, so that's about all I had from the buffet. There was a large section of cakes and pastries that looked nice, but we never tried any so I can't comment on the quality. The best food for lunch is the outdoor BBQ that they set up everyday with different offerings. The BBQ fish was the best, but the ribs, chops and chicken were also very good.

That Asian restaurant opened while we were there, so we went. It was a thumbs down from me, but most people seemed to really like it, so I'll leave that to individual taste. The Italian was a big miss for us, as it was just like the buffet food with waiters. The only home run is the Steak House. Great food and a really great staff. If all the restaurants were like the Steak House the Senator could be a Foodie destination. The Pizza, Ice Cream and Coffee House were also big hits. Friendly staff, good service and not very busy. I agree with other reviewers that the resort needs signage. You need to go into the stores to see what it is, but I assume the signage will appear at some point in the future.

We stayed in a renovated room, and in reality it's just the old room with a coat of paint on everything. The bed was very comfortable, but the shower is small, cupboard space is good and they could use better lighting in the room. A/C worked well and we always had hot water and good water pressure.

Overall we rate the Senator very highly and I assume it will be even better in the future as they finish the renovations. I disagree with all the negative reviews that I've read, because we only had positive experiences to report. [Details]

After reading many reviews from different sites we went there Worrying we shouldn't had booked this resort..we had a swim out room and it was amazing. We got the room we had booked .for those with all the negativity shame on you. [Details]

Feb.17-Feb.24/2019

On arrival, we were blown away by how beautiful the lobby looked. However, we were not welcomed (no drinks or towels) when getting off the bus. The front desk staff were helpful in confirming our room, but getting to our room was another challenge. Navigating the resort at night time is difficult, because there are not a lot of signs telling you where to go.

Our room was not in theme with the modern, breathtaking appeal of the lobby. Dated furniture, flooring, and bathroom left us not very impressed. For the first few nights, our toilet would consistently stop working. Front desk staff were not very helpful in correcting this issue, as they only sent the handy man once out of the three times we called. Although cleaning staff do an excellent job of cleaning the room, the times at which they come to clean are very inconsistent. Sometimes it'll be as late as 3/4 PM or as early as 11 AM. Restocking toilet paper, Kleenex, shampoo, conditioner, only happens occasionally. We also did not get a welcome package or maps to tell us more about the resort or what's offered.

Overall layout of the resort is visually appealing, but practically poor. The way the paths are layed out on the resort make no sense, cutting across the grass can save lots of time, but it is not permitted. However, the ocean views from almost everywhere on the resort (lobby, tropical avenue, pools, restaurants, gym) make for a pleasant (long) walk. In addition, the resort is lacking signs. There are no signs above any restaurants, only small printed papers taped on the doors. There is no board to show what activities are planned for the day. There are no signs to show where tropical avenue is (the alley where the pizza shop, coffee shop, ice cream shop, and gift shops are located). There is no decor to inform guests about what's inside each shop. Overall, this creates an unwelcoming and unappealing/boring atmosphere.

Majority of staff were terrible. Unfriendly, unwelcoming, and down right rude. Especially the ice cream and pizza shop staff. They did not greet us as we walked in, and looked annoyed and not happy to be there, it made us feel like we were bothering them. Cleaning staff and bar/restaurant staff are not too bad, they were helpful and at least smiled at us. Overall, the experience with the staff made our trip worse. We would not come back because of the poor guest treatment.

Food was decent, but not as good as Mexican resorts. We only ate at the buffet, because we did not know what the a la carte restaurants served (lack of signs). Buffet had a pretty good selection of different foods (vegetarian options, no vegan options). My boyfriend got food poisoning when he ate the seafood rice, so stay clear of that. They had baked goods, salad bar, cheese, meat, desserts, pizza, and two stations that changed every day (main courses). Drink service was pretty good, however not enough service staff to attend to everybody. Some people went without water. Overall, food was not an issue, decent selection and tasted good.

The ocean is not very clear and has lots of rocks, seaweed, and sharp shells. Not the best beach. We stayed by the pools most of our stay. Also, pools are beside each other it is more like one big pool. Not enough lounge chairs, umbrellas, and tables. We are early risers and got up at 7 AM, so getting chairs was not an issue. But any later than 8 AM and you won't get chairs by the pool (old people get up early and take the best spots). We suggest getting new towels instead of tickets at the end of day and bringing them with you to your room, so you can claim chairs faster in the morning. The towels are not always available right in the morning. The two pools are medium size (more on the smaller side), can get crowded in the afternoon.

In terms of entertainment, daily activities are boring. Entertainment staff try to make the day more fun, but it is targeted for older guests. Also, it is very repetitive (mostly same activities every day). There are no water sports or sporting activities (except for one small beach volleyball court shared by both resorts). We did not stay up for night entertainment, because it wasn't advertised to be very exciting. In addition, we were offered various excursions by staff these were fairly pricy but it included zip lining, jet skiing, dolphin swimming, and hiking through the Dominican forest. Not very appealing.

The spa was not ready, but they had massage parlours on the beach (not very private). The gym is newly renovated, it contained three treadmills, a few ellipticals, some bikes, free weights, and stationary weight machines. There was also an enthusiastic fitness instructor to greet us at the door and was there to help with our workout. There were also towels and water if needed. Overall, very clean and well maintained facility. Best hotel gym we've seen!

A quick warning, there is a path that leads off the resort to another small beach and plaza. It is not part of the resort and not safe. We suggest only to go during the day or just to avoid that area. Located by the white fences overlooking the bay where the cruise ships come in. [Details]

Had a great time here.. All new nd clean and great food. Rooms have nre beds etc. Great service. Thery try their best but slow at times.. New hotel. Highly recommend it. Been to 30 different resorts in Cuba and DR and one of my favs. [Details]

I visited this hotel in a group of 15. Our first few days were okay, but as the number of guests increased, the service decreased.The buffet was not being restocked, and if you weren't there early, choices were limited. It was impossible to get water, or coffee, and forget even trying to get a drink.
All the restaurants are overly-lite, and very loud. There is no spa feel about having a meal here.
It was impossible to get into an a-la-carte restaurant unless you committed to standing in line, sometimes for over an hour.
The lobby area, and outside the sports bar are very nice. Beautiful sofas and seating and lots of it.
We had an Ocean View Luxury Junior Suite, and it was very nice. Great beds, towels, robes and slippers and a great view!
Unfortunately, our shower leaked into the bedroom and toilet room, and didn't drain away, so that when you went to take the next shower, there was still a lot of water in the bottom of the shower. [Details]

For the most part my stay at this resort was quite enjoyable. Rooms were comfortable and very clean. The surroundings are very pristine - in other words "stark". A lot of white and brightness! I preferred the environment at Play Buchata with a more natural setting. [Details]