Located 15 minutes from the airport on Playa Dorada beach, the Occidental Grand Puerto Plata is surrounded by the 18-hole golf course designed by Robert Trent Jones. On the beach and just 10 minutes to town, you will enjoy a variety of activities and upgraded dining at the resort's 7 restaurants. This family-friendly resort is in the popular Playa Dorado resort area along the Amber Coast; downtown Puerto Plata and the Amber Museum are 7 km (4.5 miles) away. http://www.caribbeanmag.com/search/hotels/Dominican_Republic/occidental_grandpuertoplata/hotel/1838/22/ en-us Copyright 1998 e-TravelMedia.com/CaribbeanMag.com Sat, 11 Oct 2008 22:20:31 EST What to expect: This family-friendly resort, featuring 540 rooms and 42 suites, offers supervised children's activities and grownup attractions such as a sports bar and disco, plus tranquil sunning on the beach. The Occidental Grand Puerto Plata attracts an international clientele bent on tropical sun and fun. Amenity highlights: The main, freeform pool includes a swim-up bar and offers sundeck thatched-roof palapas for shade. Another smaller pool has a children's section. From the resort's buildings, a short stroll takes guests to an expansive beach, where the Atlantic gently rolls in. Under tropically appropriate palapas, revelers dance until the wee hours of the morning on a wood floor in an open-air disco with the sea as a backdrop. All-Inclusive Features (free of charge): * Welcome Cocktail * Weekly Manager's Cocktal Reception * Wine served at meals * All food and drink * A la carte dinners in specialty restaurants (booking required) * Unlimited drinks and juices * Unlimited alcoholic beverages * Restaurant Buffet "La Giralda" * Club de Playa "Las Marismas" * Restaurant "El Lago" * Restaurant Grill "Las Reses" * Italian Restaurant "Via Veneto" * Mexican Restaurant "La Hacienda" * Pizzería La Fontana * Bar "La Bodega" * Ping-pong * Towel service and chairs at the beach and pool * Taxes and Tips * 2 Fresh water pools * Kids Club and Playground * Snorkeling * Scuba school * Windsurfing * Kayak one hour free per day * Horse-back riding * Water polo * Aerobics * Aqua aerobics * Pool volleyball * Tennis courts This All-Inclusive hotel offers 540 rooms and 42 suites in 16 buildings. Spacious guestrooms include extra-large balconies or patios facing tropical gardens or the pool. Tile accents above headboards and floral fabrics contribute color. Ceramic tile floors provide barefoot ease. Big, blue-and-white tile bathrooms contain tub/shower combinations. In-room safes protect valuables (surcharge). Deluxe Enjoying pool or garden views, Deluxe rooms feature the all-inclusive program as well as balconies, air conditioning and ceiling fans, satellite TV, telephone, and safety deposit box. Grand Concierge Deluxe This category features Deluxe room inclusions, as well as concierge service, Internet cafe acess, turn down service, a fruit basket, and a bottle of wine. A 10 percent spa discount is also included, as well as superior room amenities (like bathrobes for use during your stay). Grand Romance Deluxe This category features Deluxe room inclusions, as well as a bottle of champagne, chocolate covered strawberries, in-room one hour massage per couple, breakfast in bed (first morning), romantic dinner, 10 percent spa discounts, turn down service, and a surprise gift with special romantic amenities. Junior Suite Jr Suite rooms are larger than the Deluxe category, and feature the all-inclusive program as well as balconies, air conditioning and ceiling fans, satellite TV, telephone, and safety deposit box. The Occidental Grand offers a variety of water sports including windsurfing, kayaking, sailing, and snorkeling. Guests can also try their hand at tennis and horseback riding. The 18-hole Playa Dorada Golf Club is located just in front of the resort. All golf costs are a surcharge. Sports and Activities (free of charge): * Daily entertainment and activity program from the Occidental Fun Club such as: Exclusive shows: Explosión caribeña, On Broadway, Fun...tastic, Teatro Negro, Imagination. * Activities for kids: games and sports for kids from 4 to 12 years old from 10:30 to 12:00 and from 3:30 to 5:00. * Merengue classes * Live music: dance music in the hands of our exclusive orchestra "Occidental Fun Club Band" (3 days per week) La Giralda - The resort's main restaurant serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner buffets daily, with theme offerings nightly as well as international selections. Serves fast food for several hours after midnight. Dress code: Shirts with sleeves and shoes are required. Las Reses - Located in a second-floor arcade above shops, this dinner-only à la carte Brazilian style steakhouse offers grilled items on tables set with red-and-white-checked cloths. Reservations required. Dress code: Casual elegant—long pants for men. Via Veneto - Directly across from Las Reses, the intimate Via Veneto serves Italian fare from an à la carte menu for dinner. Reservations required. Dress code: Casual elegant—long pants for men. La Hacienda - Known as El Lago during the day, this second-floor, open-air spot by the pool serves fast food. But at night, it becomes La Hacienda, and is dressed in table linens for dinners of à la carte Mexican specialties. Reservations required. Dress code: Casual elegant—long pants for men. La Fontana - Designed as a rooftop piazza complete with white wrought-iron tables and chairs and globe streetlights, this evening destination draws crowds for pizza from a wood-fired brick oven. The bar serves sodas and beers. No reservations. Dress code: Casual. Type: All Inclusive No. of Rooms: 540 Diving: Dive Resort/Dive Operator Beach Location: Beach Front (Directly on Beach/Water Front) http://www.caribbeanmag.com/search/hotels/Dominican_Republic/occidental_grandpuertoplata/hotel/1838/22/ Sat, 11 Oct 2008 22:20:31 EST