VH Gran Ventana Beach Resort - All Inclusive

Customer Ratings & Reviews

TripAdvisor Traveler Rating

8308 reviews

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  Best Beach, Warm Service, and a Surprisingly “Canadian” Feel — Our Best DR Stay Yet

  This was our fifth trip to the Dominican Republic, and VH Gran Ventana was by far the best resort we’ve stayed at. On a sunny day, the beach here is truly unmatched compared to nearby resorts—long, wide, and incredibly clean. We actually walked the entire coastline, from Marien on the left to the wild beach on the right (something we definitely can’t do in Canada at this time of year!). Beyond the weather, there was something comfortingly familiar about the atmosphere—it almost felt like being in Canada. Both staff and guests were exceptionally friendly, striking up small conversations throughout the day. The service level exceeded our expectations: the moment we sat down, someone would rush over to offer water or coffee. As “zillennials,” we don’t usually expect much hands-on attention since we’re happy to grab things ourselves, but this level of care really stood out. One major highlight is the coral reef right off the beach. Bring coral shoes, a mask, or swimming goggles—there are schools of fish living in the caves, and we were even lucky enough to spot an octopus! Breakfast was a daily treat, with a lovely gentleman playing live music in the dining hall. The space itself is large and airy, with plenty of seating—we never once struggled to find a table. Food quality was consistently good: freshly made smoothies at breakfast, solid grill stations, steamed veggies with creamy sauces, daily seafood mixes, and even mangoes with blue cheese on some days. While you won’t find lobster included (you can order it separately for $52), the variety and quality were more than satisfying. We also loved the coffee stations just outside the dining hall, available all day until dinner ends. You can book three à la carte restaurants during your stay. Our favorite was Octopus, followed by the Italian restaurant. Ocean Grill came last—we wouldn’t really recommend it unless you’re heavily armed with mosquito spray or don’t mind being eaten alive while trying to enjoy a sunset beach view. The music deserves a special mention—the playlist was AMAZING. Disco nights and poolside music took us straight back to the ’80s and early 2000s. It felt perfectly curated for an English-speaking audience, and we knew almost every song. Our room in the Catalina building was excellent: a huge, comfortable bed and even a smart TV, which we really enjoyed. One minor downside was smoking on balconies. Despite clear “no smoking” signs on every door, some guests ignored the rules, and the smoke drifted into neighboring rooms. Service was impressively efficient. One night we asked reception for an extra bottle of water, and by the time we walked back to our room, it was already waiting in our fridge. We also went on the Monkey Land excursion. While the animals were cute, the interaction time felt very limited. We enjoyed Ocean World much more and would recommend that instead if you’re interested in animal parks. It rained almost every day during our stay, so bring an umbrella—or borrow one for free from the lobby. Overall, we had an excellent experience at VH Gran Ventana and didn’t encounter any real red flags—aside from two unavoidable nuisances: mosquitoes and some inconsiderate smokers. We would absolutely return.

  Jan 17, 2026
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  Long review for an average place

  This resort is very average…nothing really stands out as exceptional. Food is decent…hit or miss but definitely will not go hungry. Service is hit or miss also…some staff are attentive and some not. One thing we noticed in the restaurants is that the drink service is limited…ex: breakfast, you will receive coffee and water, but don’t ask for anything else, you won’t get it…a la cartes, wine and water…if you want a beer or soft drink, you will wait a long time or not receive it at all….strange but true for us. Was pleased to see the layout of the buffet…I worry about cross contamination, but this is not an issue here..everything is well spaced and clean. Found the service at the Italian restaurant sub-par…lots of room for improvement there. Housekeeping is good…cleaning is good and supplies are replenished in a timely matter. However, when I requested extra bath towels, I was told ‘no’….’two people, two towels’…when I persisted, I received one extra. Found it very strange that Kleenex is not provided in the rooms..that is just bizarre to me. Service at the premium section of the beach is lovely and the Bali beds are comfy. Olvi at the vintage lounge is a gem! He is very friendly and personable. When deciding on a resort for our vacation, I found the reviews for the Gran Ventana really good with a lot of repeat guests, but I can’t say that I’d be one of those. The resort is in need of updating and the rooms need a serious facelift.

  Jan 13, 2026
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  Not. 4*

  Writing this review on our last day. I would give it 3.5 stars. The people that work here are lovely and go beyond in order to make your stay a good one. Some people I’ve met come here every year. Food is average. It is not gourmet but you can always find something to eat. Didn’t visit the pool but it appears okay. The beach is great. Lots of chairs (the resort was not at full capacity while we’ve been here). We did upgrade to premium service which is kind of a sham. All it gives you is an air conditioned room to go have a drink that isn’t accessible to the entire resort. Not worth the upgrade in my opinion. You aren’t eligible for upgraded liquors unless you upgrade to royal (which we didn’t know was an option). It appears to be a non smoking resort with an area here and there for smokers however people smoke everywhere and staff do not seem bothered. The rooms are basic (only one electrical Outlet so being an extension chord). We had to Move rooms due to excessive noise (pools facing the pool are noisy until late at night). Our second room has a poor HVAC system. Our clothes are constantly damp as is the entire room. There are leaks coming from around the tub in the bathroom. Both rooms had balcony doors that wouldn’t lock. I’ve only given 3.5 stars to this resort because it’s tired and although clean it needs serious repairs. The walkways from the beach are eroding and the actual buildings need repairs. There is no where in the resort that has air conditioning except your room (or an upgrade to premium to go to a bar). Sadly this resort need to put some money into it before I believe it’s worthy of 4 stars.

  Jan 12, 2026
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  From Dec 29 to Jan 7 (New Years).

  Spent 9 days at this resort. Staff were friendly (majority) and attentive. Food was very reasonable and was tasty. Room was OK and well maintained. Drinks fine (usual). Beach is clean however it’s not too big. Beach bar, sadly a nightmare at a times not because of the worker, he was always doing his best but because he fact he works alone the whole time and sometimes you had to wait half hour to get your drink because of the lineup, honestly walk a bit and go to the pool bar much faster! Entertainment, not the best, I can’t understand how come in a Spanish speaking country we only heard English music (I’m not Spanish however I love the Spanish music and in my opinion is more appropriate). Afternoon and night shows/entertainment was poor but for me that I don’t care about it was not an issue. Overall I liked and recommend.

  Jan 08, 2026
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  Great animation!!

  If you go to this resort make sure to do the bingo with Isaac! He gave us an amazing time with the animation and the crazy games by the pool were so fun! The beach is amazing with all the fishes!

  Jan 08, 2026