Blue JackTar

Customer Ratings & Reviews

TripAdvisor Traveler Rating

365 reviews

• 

  We didn’t stay at the hotel, but the beach is so beautiful and relaxing! One of the better beaches in DR!

  While we didn’t stay at this hotel, we did enjoy several hours on the beach directly in front of it. This beach is absolutely gorgeous. We settled right in front of Jack's Kite & Grill restaurant. The chairs were free as well as the daybeds! A large group of us came after touring Puerto Plata. The food at Jack's Kite & Grill was absolutely delicious and authentic. I opted for the grilled lobster and it was a sight to be seen! The menu was very diverse. They also offer sushi, burgers and wings. The beach was nice. While there were some vendors, there weren't too many. Beware of the ladies offering massages on the beach...incoming bait and switch. They quote you one price and by the end it's a complete different, higher price. Buyer beware. And make sure the person who quoted you the price is the same who gives the massage because they'll play dumb and act like they didn't know about the original price. They probably bet on the fact that no one will argue with them. An elderly member of our family almost got scammed. As another reviewer stated, the waves here are a bit aggressive but overall it was a fabulous experience.

  Sep 28, 2026
• 

  Good Value on Playa Dorada

  Blue JackTar was a pleasant surprise and very good value, especially at under $130/night. The property is definitely a little dated, with some minor wear - things like a missing sink stopper, cracked tub grout and other small maintenance details - but none of it materially affected the stay. For the price, you get access to a secure, gated property, a very wide swimmable beach with full service, including a beach bar and restaurant, and a huge, clean room with a balcony and very powerful air conditioning. Breakfast was included and excellent, and the main restaurant served very good local food at reasonable prices. The staff were consistently friendly and helpful. There’s also a golf course adjacent to (and sometimes running through) the property, although I didn’t use it and don’t believe it’s formally part of the hotel. The overall crowd (ex the golfers) seemed to be mostly Dominican families and perhaps Dominicans returning from abroad rather than international resort tourists, which gave the place a more local feel. Overall, it’s not a luxury resort and could use some updating, but it’s comfortable, secure, well run and very fairly priced - particularly if you want to be reasonably close to Puerto Plata airport.

  Sep 20, 2026
• 

  Time share if approched by blue Jack staff at playa dorada

  Our Experience at Blue Jack. Be Aware of the Timeshare Presentation We were staying at Playa Dorada with our family at Emotions, all inclusive. While we were at the beach, a staff member from Blue Jack approached us and told us that the hotel next to Emotions was newly opened and had celebrated its grand opening about a week earlier. He explained that they were inviting guests from other hotels to visit, try their food, and experience the property so international travelers could consider staying there on their next visit to Puerto Plata. We were being nice and decided to give it a try. When we arrived, the staff were very friendly and welcoming. They took us to their main office to register, and that was when we realized this wasn't simply an invitation to experience a new hotel it was actually a timeshare presentation. We decided to go along with it. We were taken to the à la carte restaurant, where the menu looked great and the food was delicious. However, my eight year old son was craving ice cream. The salesperson told us that ice cream was not included with the complimentary lunch, so I decided to purchase one for him. It cost $6 USD. While we were eating, the salesperson explained more about the hotel, the membership, and the different options. He tried to convince us to sign up for a 10 year membership. We never said yes or no because we wanted to hear more information first. He then took us to see the bungalows, which were actually very nice. They appeared to have been recently renovated and looked beautiful inside. He continued explaining all the benefits of the property and the membership. After that, he wanted to take us to see the new condominium construction and mentioned that the real estate units were around $65,000 Unfortunately, he forgot the key, so we were left waiting for a while. My eight year old was getting bored, uncomfortable, and very hot from the heat, so we decided to leave. The salesperson eventually found us and told us that it was okay if we didn't see the condominiums, as long as we had seen the bungalows. We returned to the main office, where he wanted us to meet his manager so they could essentially close the deal. At this point, he had told us a lot about Blue Jack, his experience, and his certification as a salesperson, but we still hadn't been told the actual cost of the membership. By then, my son really wanted to leave. We finally told the salesperson that we were not interested in meeting the manager and that, regardless, we were not going to purchase a membership. The salesperson apologized and gave me his phone number in case I changed my mind and wanted to meet with him again to discuss the membership price. Overall, I think the hotel itself is beautiful, the food was delicious, and I liked the fact that they offer an a la carte meal to people who are interested in learning more about the property. However, I believe the sales approach could be improved. If the goal is to sell a 10 year membership, I think the full cost and nature of the offer should be disclosed much earlier and more clearly. Also, I found it a little disappointing that my son couldn't have the ice cream as part of the complimentary meal, especially considering we were there as potential guests and were spending quite a bit of time listening to the presentation. If the hotel wants visitors to have a positive experience, small gestures like that can make a difference. My advice: If you are approached by Blue Jack staff while you're enjoying the beach at another hotel, be aware that the "free lunch" comes with a timeshare/membership presentation. The food is good, the property is beautiful, and the staff were generally very nice, but be prepared to spend time listening to a sales presentation before you leave. Our experience wasn't terrible at all, but I would recommend knowing what you're agreeing to before you go.

  Aug 28, 2026
• 

  Definitely would stay here again, but prospective guests should know....

  I would certainly stay here again...but prospective guests in 2026 need full disclosure: there is a significant construction project happening on site (see attached photos). In fairness, the noise level was not bad at all. It was a visual shock on the first day, then we didn't care; The rest of the grounds were so immaculate and green. For those with short attention spans: PROS: - a lot of green space, palm trees, tropical fauna. Very inviting - three excellent, open air (covered) places to enjoy the tropical air while you dine, sip coffee, or play a card game. - the swimming pool is first rate; inviting and not crowded at all - the resort has a LOT of grounds-keepers and maintenance people who keep everything in great condition; they are constantly polishing and cleaning. - the beach is kept fairly clean (5/7 days it was like a TV commercial, then a heavy rainstorm washed up a lot of plastic bottles and rubbish) - very walk-able. The entire Playa Dorada complex consists of several beach-side hotels/properties that are guarded/secure. You can walk sidewalks/paths/beach to reach them all. - we found Blue JackTar to be the most inviting of all the hotels in Playa Dorada. Yes, some are more modern, but they are concrete jungles. Gran Ventana is like a cruise ship on a beach. - The free breakfast at Blue Jacktar was very generous and had enough variety to keep you full for half the day. CONS: - The construction of a multi-story new complex at the site is a bit jarring. Noise was noticeable at times, but manageable and not loud enough to disturb most activities. -Some people might find some of the rooms a bit dated. We had a dated room, but it was very clean.

  Feb 27, 2026
• 

  Don’t trust the photos

  This is an old, outdated and pretty dirty place. As some of the reviews pointed out (and I wish I would read them more carefully) the pictures are misleading. Definitely not worth the price, and no way this is a 4 star place. Max 2. Glad it’s only a short stay here.

  Aug 14, 2024