Overview
by Diana Lambdin Meyer
The Hacienda Dominicus is one of six properties in the Dominican Republic owned by the Spanish company Iberostar. It is located on the southeastern or Caribbean side of the island of Hispaniola near the small fishing village of Bayahibe. The property has 10 buildings of no more than three floors each with a total of 502 rooms, 21 of which are junior suites. Each room has either a spacious patio and/or balcony. Building 4, located closest to the ocean, was renovated in late 2010.
Each building is centered on an open courtyard with a distinctive Spanish flare. Abundant flowers and greenery provide a backdrop for Moorish architecture. The brightly colored ceramic tiles, fountains and seating areas give a distinct feel for the Andalusian region of Spain.
The courtyard or hacienda design of each building contributes to the intimacy of the property and the feel of additional private space for each guestroom. If the kids are ready to go and you need a few more minutes, allow them to play outside in the courtyard, a safe boundary but lets them start burning some energy and exploring independently.
All of the buildings are connected by a lighted breezeway so in the event of rain, it is possible to walk from any guestroom to the primary entertainment areas of the Hacienda Dominicus without getting wet.
Located within the breezeway of each building is a concierge desk, which is staffed throughout the day. This individual is on hand to make any arrangements you like for off-property excursions, dinner reservations, spa appointments and the like. Any questions or needs you may have can usually be handled right here without the need to walk to the front desk or primary concierge desk, thus allowing you more time to enjoy the amenities of the property.
The focal point of the beach area is a large black and white striped lighthouse. It would be nice to say that it is authentic to the time when fishing boats in this area relied on lighthouses, but sadly, that’s not the case. It was built as a point of interest on the beach and serves as a beach bar reaching right out above the water. However, it still makes a great backdrop for family photos.
To learn more, visit IBEROSTAR Hotels & Resorts.
Our Editor Loves
- Hacienda-style buildings
- Beachfront location
- Kids club for ages 4 to 12
Family Interests
- All Inclusive Rates
- Beach
- Bicycling
- Golf
- Hiking
- Sailing
- Water Sports
Family Amenities
- Babysitting
- Children Programs
- Connecting Rooms
- Cribs
- Family Room 5+
- Kids' Pool
- Kitchenettes
- Onsite Dining
- Pool
- Refrigerator
Room Information
Find the Best Price for Your Stay
The Hacienda Dominicus is a spacious property with 10 hacienda-style buildings and 504 guestsrooms arranged at an angle toward the ocean. At the time of your reservation, state your preference if you would like to be closer to the ocean, the pool or the dining areas. Rooms are entered via a spacious courtyard. Elevators are available for second and third floor rooms. Some adjoining rooms are available. Each building has a combination of standard guestrooms and suites, each with the option of one king-sized bed or two double beds.
Guestrooms
The guestrooms feature a private balcony with a garden view, flat screen TV, air conditioning and ceiling fan. The bathroom offers a shower/tub combo. A dedicated on-call concierge is also available to guests.
Suites
The suites are a little more spacious and include a separate living and dining area with a kitchenette. Families will love the private balcony with ocean views too. Shower/tub combos can also be found in the suites but not all rooms have bathtubs, so you must ask for that in your reservation.
Room Amenities
The quality of the shampoos and lotions offered in the baths were of good quality and the water in the guestrooms was safe to drink. However, each room is equipped with a mini-fridge stocked each day with soft drinks and water at no extra charge. Cribs are provided at no extra charge, but bed rails are not available. If you require a crib, a junior suite is highly recommended.
Reviews
by Peter H
Normally we are extremely happy with Iberostar and this hotel, we travel to the D.R. several times per year and have stayed in Iberostar hotels here and in Mexico over 25 times in the past. We loved this resort and decided to return again this year. We stayed in a newly renovated room (ocean view suite 4120). We stayed in the same room last year and had requested this specific room again. This year we were a bit disappointed with the new decor and in room service. Turn down service was spotty at best, last year it was great. Half of this trip there was no turn down. Toilet paper almost ran out several times and was not restocked. At check in the first day we requested only Presidente beer (6) in the fridge...no Budweiser since we were in the Dominican Republic!, after multiple requests they would still fill the fridge with 2 cheap watered down Budweiser and 2 Presidente light.....by the third request I even asked in Spanish, for 6 Presidente per day! ....still nothing! ....finely after 5 days and several requests to the front desk, concierge, maid and supervisor they corrected the problem... too little too late!. Not sure why this was so difficult to do, last year there was no issue, I requested once and the entire trip the fridge was full... we were happy!
New renovations: the smaller rooms in our block that were renovated were beautiful, had great decorating and had Caribbean character!, this room cost a good deal more and had almost no good decorating done to it, very plain, not at all like the renovated rooms look like in the pictures. Quite disappointed, the old room last year had more character, now it felt like a hospital room, not an upgraded suite....Perhaps they were not finished with it yet? We also had only hot water for 3 days in the shower, no cold water (brand new shower)...it made showering quite a challenge, not sure why this was not inspected and addressed prior to Iberostar opening the room to guests after renovation. After several complaints it was fixed on the forth day. I was also not a fan of the new drinking water policy, all plastic bottles are now removed from the room, you have to fetch your own drinking water from the common area machine next to the ice maker.....seriously Iberostar?, this is a premium suite!, if you want to replace the bottles you should install a machine in the room so guests don't have to get up in the middle of the night and leave the room to fill the glass jar for their wives! This is a huge inconvenience as we found ourselves having to fill the bottles several times per day, if you pay extra for a suite, this should included in your room or enough should be supplied so that you don't run out when you are brushing your teeth! The hotel itself is undergoing major renovations, it will be beautiful when complete, the noise is minimal and did not bother us. We can't wait to see the finished product next year! I usually don't complain like this about Iberostar but there were some serious issues that management needs to address.
The staff: All staff were courteous and hard working, the staff really makes this place special. it was great to see so many familiar faces still there too! Mamma Juana (the big muscle guy on the entertainment staff at the beach) was great, he remembered us from last year! , Jan the bartender was friendly, always greeting us with a smile...I talked with him every day, I felt as if I have known him for years! Andreuis cooked the best damn chicken in the buffet I have ever tasted! and my good friend Wilkin Antonio Diaz is the best Omelette maker in the Dominican Republic, 2 years running! He worked there last year and I was hoping that he would still be working there this year as I missed his Omelettes....I waited 1 year to have them again! ....He needs to be promoted to supervisor and teach his secrets to all the cooks! I attached his picture, If you go there please tip him well, he works hard and really deserves it!
As disappointing as some aspects of the trip were this year the staff made the trip a special experience for us again. We still hold a special place in our heart for the Hacienda Dominicus and our amigos who work there, it was difficult to leave this place. Even though there were some issues this year with the room, this is still the best property in Dominicus...we will return again next year.... same place, same time, same room... and hopefully the same Omelette! ;)
by Dmitrii I
This is our 9th trip to the Dominican Republic, before that we always chose hotels in Bavaro on the Atlantic coast and most often it was Iberostar Bavaro, but this year there is a renovation, so the choice fell on the Caribbean coast and the hotel Iberostar Hacienda Dominicus. The hotel has a well-kept area with ponds and various animals, flamingos, ducks,swans, turtles and peacocks.The hotel consists of several buildings, the buildings on one side are connected to each other, which allows you to get to the restaurant or reception dry in case of rain.The rooms are clean, everything works, we had a room overlooking the pool, housekeeping is good, there is a 24-hour room service. Restaurants.Mainly used the buffet, the beach restaurant during our visit was under renovation.For Breakfast the restaurant starts working at 7 a.m. if you come to the beginning,then get ready they will not ready the smoothie or you will have no choice during our stay never to open the restaurant was not fully ready,just started making smoothies and a full selection available around 7:30 in the morning,scrambled eggs you won't be able to cook as no stove is ready.Breakfast is served only soft drinks, compared with Iberostar Bavaro, there is also available champagne or Mimosa,this hotel doesn't have that. The food is quality but small selection of seafood, salted salmon every other day and only for dinner, shrimp were 3 times in 10 days stay.There was one dinner with a large selection of seafood, and this day just conducted a survey about the food.I love champagne and faced with the fact that one evening it was not at all, the other got only one glass.And so the choice of food is good,but compared to the Iberostar Bavaro a little easier.Well, I'm all about the food and about the food,the beach is quite large,a lot of places,the depth of the entrance to the sea is small,everything is clean.The beach also has its own bar in seeing the lighthouse, but the cocktails are there make very sweet, the best cocktails in the lobby bar.There is also a snack bar where you can have a snack.The pool is clean, plenty of space, lots of umbrellas.The territory is well thought out, absolutely everything is available to people with disabilities in wheelchairs.The staff is friendly, trying to help in everything.The overall impression of the holidays turned out good, I advise families with children, especially in winter, as the Caribbean sea is warmer and calmer than the ocean
Family Activities
Beach and Pools
Its location on the Caribbean side of the island of Hispaniola provides the Hacienda Dominicus with calmer ocean waters and a soft, powdery sand-filled beach. Therefore, the beach and water activities become a primary focus of all activities here. Some of the options include snorkeling, sailing on catamaran, kayaking and beach volleyball. Your building concierge can also make arrangements for windsurfing and sailing on a catamaran.
There are three swimming pools and a separate zero-depth entry children's pool. Each day, the onsite scuba diving vendor offers free introductory diving courses in the pool for those 12 and older.
Land Activities
In addition, to the beach and pool activities, there are archery ranges, tennis courts, Ping-Pong tables, mini-golf, horseshoes and several other similar activities.
Lucy's Club
Children between the ages of 4 and 12 may enjoy time in Lucy's Club, the children's program that operates each day from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. offering games, activities, arts and crafts and entertainment for the children in a camp-like setting. The name Lucy is not a person, but a take-off of the Spanish word "lucir" that means "to shine." Iberostar's logo is a bright yellow starfish, therefore, Lucy's Club is the place where children shine at any of Iberostar's resorts.
Mini-Discotheque
Teens will love this mini dance club, which is located in the theater.
Off-Property Activities
One of the advantages of visiting the La Romana region of the Dominican Republic is its proximity to islands of Saona and Catalina that are a part of the National Park. These are great spots for snorkeling and exploring. Your concierge can make arrangements for you. Ask the concierge about visits to nearby fruit and sugar plantations that offer tours via ATVs.
Family Dining
Four onsite restaurants, plus a buffet and plenty of snack bars will keep bellies full while staying at Hacienda Dominicus.
La Geisha
Japanese is the specialty at this restaurant and sushi is the highlight. Reservations are required and dress is casual to formal.
La Hacienda
Mexican flavors are featured at this family-friendly restaurant where dress is casual to formal. Reservations are required.
La Goleta Steakhouse
Located next to the pool, this American-style steakhouse is resort casual and requires a reservations.
El Colonial
Children over the age of 10 are welcome at El Colonial, where dishes from around the world can be discovered. Dress is resort casual and reservations are required.
Buffet Dining
Guests at the Hacienda Dominicus enjoy a majority of their meals at the huge international buffet that is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. White linen tablecloths for each meal create an air of elegance, especially in the evening when many guests and their children choose to dress a little nicer. The buffet staff is also quick to respond with drink orders, but you and the kids are on your own to explore the many offerings on the buffet. You'll always find the basics of American cuisine to keep kids happy, but with so many European visitors visiting the Dominican Republic, the buffet also accommodates their cultural tastes. Therefore, if you're lucky, the kids might try something new and actually like it.
The buffet area gets crowded in peak periods. You'll want to accompany your children to the buffet and help them out choosing their foods. The tables are out of the reach of most children and many of the dishes are quite hot.
Snack Bar
There's also a snack bar at the beach that serves a continental breakfast and snacks throughout the day, such as hot dogs, burgers, nachos, and the like. You can also get some great ice cream here.
In-Room Dining
Room service is available to guests 24/7.
None of the restaurants have a designated children's menu. In the off-season, the speciality restaurants occasionally close for a night or two, so check the schedule to confirm that you'll have time to enjoy. High chairs are available and the staff quickly responds when they see a family enter with children of that age. However, booster chairs could not be found at the resort.
Planning & Tips
All about the Extras
Concierge
Your building concierge can make arrangements for anything special you need in your room or throughout the day to accommodate a special birthday or event.
Babysitting
The concierge can also arrange for in-room babysitting, but you need to make that request as early in the day as possible.
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi is available in the rooms, lobby, other public spaces and the Internet cafe for an additional fee. Different rate plans (per hour or per day) are available.
All Inclusive
At check-in, all guests receive a plastic wrist bracelet similar to hospital admission bracelets. These wristbands allow access to all amenities without further identification requirements.
Fitness Center
The first floor gym overlooks one of the pools and is outfitted with a sufficient number of cardio and weight machines. The gym is reserved for those 16 and older, but children as young as 8 may enjoy the adjacent hot tubs. Instructor led aerobics and yoga classes are scheduled throughout the day, usually around the pool area. Early morning exercise classes on the beach are worth setting the alarm for.
The Art of Smart Timing
When the weather starts getting colder in North America, basically December through March, is when the rooms begin to fill in the Dominican Republic. Thus, the rates will be higher, but your toes will also be warmer basking in the soft, powdery sand, rather than crunching through cold, icy snow. During these months, the average daytime high is 82-degrees F. At night, temps drop to about 70-degrees F. For the best prices, come in the off-season, which is September through November. Unfortunately, that's also hurricane season in the Caribbean. Trip cancellation insurance is a good investment any time, but certainly if your trip coincides with events entirely out of your control. And for the record, temperatures don't vary much this time of year either. Daytime highs near 86; nighttime lows near 73.
Getting There
The closest airport is La Romana (LRM), about 15 minutes away. The resort does not offer a shuttle service, so a taxi will be a necessary expense. You may also consider flying through the Santo Domingo airport (SDQ) if the airfare is better. It's about an hour away and will cost about more in taxi fare.
Getting Around
There's no need to leave the resort. But the concierge can set up transportation if your family decides to venture offsite for some exploring.
For Mom and Dad
For adults only, the spa is great place to relax. Couple can even enjoy a beachfront couple's massage. Parents may also simply enjoy an evening at the casino located on site.
Note: Topless sunbathing is common among the many European visitors to the Dominican Republic. The Hacienda Dominicus allows female guests to be topless at the beach, but not at the pool. Depending on the ages of your children, you may wish to discuss this with them in advance or choose accordingly between time at the pool and at the beach.
