The Barcelo Naiboa Caribe is the sort of place you’d never visit twice – but I guess if you’re running a package holiday destination you imagine that doesn’t matter; there’ll always be fresh planeload arriving with new, wide-eyed tourists full of excitement and anticipation. Then the newly-weds and newly-retired and the tired steel-workers and their families arrive, and discover that the brochure is about as honest as a politician’s stump speech.

The hotel is wedged between highway 3 and the sea, in the middle of nowhere – you’d need a taxi to Boca Chica, $10 away, to find any life. Built less than ten years ago, the whole place already feels exhausted. The charmless, listless staff can smell the failure, from the dining room with its cursory buffet half roped off to the featureless rooms with their bad lighting, sad décor and aircon which is always about to be fixed manjana.

In the pool float a few sunburnt English matrons from Manchester. They are responding half-heartedly to the increasingly desperate appeals of a young man with a microphone and loud merengue to join in the ‘Aqua Aerobics’. Beyond this lies the beach, a tiny cove between two headlands of sharp, black volcanic rock, too sharply shelving to persuade any swimmers into the violent surf.

And on the other side of the beach is the decaying shell of the Barcelo Embassy Beach, the abandoned sister hotel of this one. It’s gradually being reclaimed by the jungle, even the plaintive ‘Se Vende’ graffettied across it peeling away in the damp heat. Its glassless windows stare bleakly across. It knows it can’t be long before it has company in hotel heaven.

Unfortunately our bad experiences with the inept hotelbed reps and lack of communication from the tour operator unfairly reflected on what is actually a decent hotel in Domincan standards. We experienced hurricane Jeanne, and were pleased to see ground staff up at the crack of dawn cleaning up the damage done. The catering staff were extremely obliging, and it would be rude to suggest that their limited English is a negative thing because most well-researched tourists should know to bring a spanish phrasebook to overcome these expected language barriers. The rooms are basic but comfortable, keep an eye on bedsheets during humid seasons. The gym could do with a revamp but the animacion team do their best at night. Nothing much to do in the resort but sunbathe (need strong suncream) so I would advise taking advantage of excursions such as the jeep safari and saona island. Very down to earth approaches to the island and people. Remember your haggling skills, but if you say no firmly you won't be hassled. Be aware of the reps; some try to make as much money as possible out of you and our Rep was most unhelpful when our flight was delayed and a bridge was down. Remember these people have barely nothing; be wise and you will get some great bargains and thoroughly enjoy your time in the Carribean.

The Naiboa is a 3 star resort. Clean, nice beach, and friendly staff. Two downsides, their running water and the food. After dining out I realized this is how the food is cooked on the Island (salty).

The place was clean , food was excellent, great variety of meals. My 9yr. old son loved the pools and the animation team was the greatest.
Hotel is close to the Airport and the city of Santo domingo.
We were very happy with the services and the place is very cozy! We will return to this hotel in the near future.