We just got back from a one week stay at the Confresi Palm. The grounds and lobby are beautiful! The VIP beach is great with the " beach beds" and premier liquor, it is next to the Lifestyles property. There is a variety of entertainment and food selections, complete with a light pool show on Friday. We thought the breakfast at the Casablanca had a little more vareity than the Pearl but very similar selections. We were able to upgrade to building 43 and it was great! It was modern, spacious, and the bathroom very nice. As mentioned in a previous review, sometimes you smell the sewage after it rained but overall, it was very nice and not a distraction! I would like to especially thank the wait-staff, cooks, and head-chef at all the restaurants. The Bellboys were very nice and helpful, such as Enrique ( they have a shuttle that takes you around the property). Also, the cleaning staff were thorough and accomodating. Then the General Manager, Ceaser was great!! He took the time to know his guests and ensure we enjoyed our stay. Overall, it was nice experience!

BTW: We did not drink the water and we did not get sick.

I traveled to Puerto Plata and stayed at Cofresi Palm from January 28th-February 4th. We were two 28 year old women looking for a relaxing week away from the winter in Toronto. Prior to leaving we were anxious about our stay because of the horrible reviews that we read. We decided that we were going to go on our vacation with an open mind as well as the tips that we had picked up from reading all of the other reviews.

I would like to begin by stating that your vacation truly is what you make of it. If you decide that you are going to have an awful time than odds are this is what is going to happen.

Room: UPGRADE. We were thrilled with our decision to upgrade. Our room was in building 41 facing the pool. Although it is advertised as “ocean view”- no you cannot see the ocean, but you can certainly hear it and is the view of palm trees really something to complain about? Our room was large, clean and very modern. People that we spoke to that did not upgrade, some were completely satisfied and some were not, changing rooms because there was always something wrong. We had requested two beds and ended up with a king, meh...no big deal. In our bathroom after rain it absolutely smelled like sewage. It was gross but it was not something that threatened the enjoyment of our vacation. DON’T USE THE TAP WATER!! We had an ample supply of bottled water every single day, as well as the fact that in every building on every floor there are water coolers! I repeat just DON’T DRINK THE WATER! That is absolutely a reason as to why some people are getting ill. Our room was cleaned every day that we wanted it to be. We tipped Maria $2 a day and then at the end of the trip we tipped her an extra dollar for every day she had cleaned. Our air conditioning worked perfectly.

Food: I have never gone to an all inclusive resort for food. The food at Cofresi was not very good. We had decided (based on other reviews) that we would not eat uncooked vegetables that had most likely been washed in unpurified water- so that meant a week without salad. We also decided not to eat much fruit, for the same reason. As a result eating at the buffet became very redundant. Breakfast was the worst meal of the day, near the end of the week I started getting made to order omelettes and I have no complaints. There is also a selection of breads and a toaster. For lunch we ate a lot of pizza it was fine, I also really liked the French fries. And every day there was something else to try... one day there was vegetable tempura, it was good. The dinner buffet was similar to lunch- we had the pasta bar (made to order) a few times and again pizza. We were never left hungry, but we certainly didn’t eat very healthy. We never tried to the buffet on the tropical side. We went to two a la cartes (they were prebooked for us on arrival through nolitours). We went to the Dominican and enjoyed it. We also went to Rodizio (the Brazilian) At the Brazilian we ran into an issue because neither of us eat red meat. The manager accommodated our restrictions by supplying us with an ample selection of chicken and turkey and even had the kitchen make us a side of steamed vegetables. Neither of us got sick from the food. People we did speak to that got very sick- ate salad. Be cautious. No you are not going to this resort to eat like a king or queen.

Beach and Pools: Beautiful. We spent most of our time at the beach pool as it was right by our building. On our last day we went to the adult only pool and regretted not spending more time there. There are always chairs available at the pools. Umbrellas are harder to come by, which is annoying. The beach is NOT white sand or clear water. If you are shocked by this- you have not done your research. It is still beautiful and it is a BEACH! We never ever had an issue with getting a lounge chair at the beach. The beach beds are reserved (by people putting towels on them) early in the morning and sometimes people aren’t on them. Annoying? Absolutely, but this is the same at any resort I have been to. We had access to the VIP beach with our upgraded room. We went there once, it is pretty cool to see, all beach beds and two bars. We never went back though because the beach near us was perfect.

Drinks/ Bars: We stuck mostly to Presidente. It was cold and refreshing. We had read bad reviews about the hard liquor and wine and decided not to have it. We had a few slushy drinks when they were made “especially for us” by the bartenders. They were fine but definitely sweet. Another warning: we were told that they are made using coconut milk which is a laxative. Another potential reason many people encounter stomach issues and assume it is the food. Don’t drink too many sweet slushy drinks!
Service: The service that we received was 5 star. No question about it. We tipped. We tipped one or two dollars at every meal. We also tipped the bar tenders at the bar. In total we probably spent $100 in tips throughout the week between housekeeping, restaurants and bar staff. We didn’t do this because we felt this was the only way that we would get great service, because I believe that the staff that we encountered would have given it to us in any case. We tipped because the hard working, ever smiling, friendly staff absolutely 100% deserve it! We did not have to deal with the front desk staff so I cannot speak to that experience. The group of men who make up the animation staff are hard working and seem to be “on” all day. They are not pushy but are definitely present for those who wish to participate in activities. At all hours of the day you will see people cleaning, gardening and tending to the pools.

VIP or not VIP: Much of this resort is made up of timeshare owners. They have access to parts of the resort that all inclusive package users do not. This should not be a big deal. We were not VIP (other than the use of the VIP beach) and this did not affect us at all! I think that people get caught up in the “unfairness” of this. You are not paying to be a member... you have paid for an all inclusive vacation- get over it. There is still so much to do and space to use at the resort. We were never once approached by the men with clipboards who hover outside the buffet at breakfast. They are there to give you tours and ultimately try to sell a timeshare package. We figured we were not approached because we were two youngish looking women. We were relieved. The people that we did talk to that went on the tour said they eventually gave in to get the guys off their back but made it clear from the start that they were not interested!

The hills and stairs: This resort is built into a hill. Yes it is filled with stairs to get to the various levels of the resort. There are no elevators in the buildings (we were on the 3rd floor). For people with mobility issues, people with strollers or people who just don’t enjoy walking stairs; this resort is not for you. The stairs did not bother us at all. There are shuttles that are constantly driving around that can drive you anywhere on the resort. Beware of the shuttles they use the same paths as people walking and can seem intimidating at the start of your trip before you get accustomed to being aware that they are around.

In the end. We were so happy with our choice to NOT switch resorts. We loved it. We met some wonderful people, travelers and staff. The resort grounds are beautiful. Our room was perfect. The service that we received was superior. I have tried my best to be honest and include the negative aspects of the resort that we found. Take suggestions from my review as well as others. If you choose to enjoy your vacation you absolutely will. Have fun!

My husband and I spent 3 weeks at the Lifestyle Holiday Resort in January 2012 - that being our 5th stay with friends who are club members. Although we did not stay at the Cofresi Palm Resort we did access some of the facilities. Walks thru the area reveal beautiful pools including one for kids as well as one for adults only. Two friends stayed in the hotel there last year when it was still a Be Live and having seen the rooms I would describe them as very up-to-date, spacious and clean. The beach area is quite large and clean with lots of chairs. The lobby is very spectacular and the theatre which we attended one evening boasts very comfy seating. The first week of our stay was shared with 30 other friends and we were there to attend a wedding which, despite threatening weather, was a huge success because of the expertise and professionalism of the wedding planner. The sun shone on the happy couple as they exchanged vows in the yard of one of the villas but the sky opened up a while later. Needless to say us Canadians partied despite the puddles of water which formed even under the tents. Week 2 left us with 12 friends and during week 3 we were by ourselves. During this time we were accommodated in three different locations (our choice) - the Presidential Suites, a villa and the Residence Suites. At each place we did not encounter any problems and all requests were fulfilled within a reasonable amount of time. Tipping the maid and leaving a tip in the refrigerator for the guy who does the restocking tends to help. We ate mostly at the Casablanca buffet which is located at the Tropical. We did however venture out and had breakfast at the Blues, Bellini and El Pilon restaurants. We also did lunch at the Bellini. One day we ventured to the Tapas Lounge located at the Cofresi Palm and enjoyed their Spanish inspired appetizers as well as food from the Pearl buffet. All in all we enjoyed the food from each of these facilities and other than the odd less than hot dish (expected at buffets) have no complaints. My husband is a large fan of the soups provided at each of the buffets - he found them to be hot and very tasty. We obtained reservations for dinner at the Jazz (for members only), Moomtaz (Indian cuisine), Bellini (Italian) (twice), Blue Lagoon (Steak and Seafood) and El Pilon (Dominican). The latter four are open to all guests of Lifestyle. Food at each of these a la carte venues was excellent. We also attended two Sunday evening 'extravaganzas' along with some 2000 other guests and line ups for certain foods, particularly those being freshly prepared on site, were long. There is plenty of food and a very large variety including the dessert table. We also did the Thursday evening trip to the casino and if you are a first timer at this locale you should seize upon this opportunity. Shuttles are provided to and from the casino. A nice buffet is provided, drinks are free as is admission to the Bravissimo show (drinks cost you here) which is a small Vegas style show. Take the opportunity go to the casino during the day and take in the beautiful exterior - however be warned that a beer will cost you $9. Ocean World is also a great experience particularly if you have children with you.

I will add that it took me four trips to the Caribbean (both the Dominican and Cuba) to figure out that I have an adverse reaction to their fish which causes me to have a serious bout of vomiting and diahrea which lasts until my body has been purged. After a good sleep I am fine and able to continue on with my vacation. I am unable to determine exactly what causes this reaction as I am able to eat all fish and seafood at home. For those who report being ill it may be the result of a reaction to a specific food such as what I encounter. Keep track of what you have eaten and you may see a pattern developing. As much as I love fish and seafood I avoid it completely when I am visiting the Caribbean.

Over the years we have met many staff and some have become 'friends'. They remember us and each year greet us with open arms. The bar staff tend to greet you daily with a smile and a handshake and sometimes even a hug and a kiss on the cheek. I have seen how they deal with demanding and rude patrons - the smiles never disappear. Remember that these people are providing you with a service and, as at home, a tip, a smile and the words thank you (gracias) can go a long ways.

The most important thing to remember is that this resort is part of the Lifestyle Holiday Vacation Club and they want you to become a member. This means there will be men in white shirts wanting you to allow them to take you to the Tower to see a salesperson who will then attempt to sell you a membership. Be warned.

Just got back from the Cofressi Palm Beach Resort and Spa. I will admit we were very nervous about going after reading all the bad reviews but let me tell you this was one of the best resorts we have been at. We had with us two teens, a nine year old, four adults and 2 seniors with walking disabilities. From the time we checked in we had A+ service. We booked a basic room and when checking in I mentioned to the attendant that we were on our Honeymoon and he tried very hard and managed to get us in a beautiful room in the Ying Yang Spa, which I might add was in the 200 buildings. We were completely amazed with this area. Our Terrace was huge with beautiful deck chairs overlooking the spa area and with small ocean view. Service was nothing less than a 4 star. We did have to wait for drinks at certain bars but did not seem to mind as really we weren't in a big hurry and enjoyed the scenery surrounding us. Pools were amazing and very clean however not heated. Weather was poor for the week, rained 4 days out of 7 but was still busy doing other stuff, in afternoon and evening staff always had something going on at the beach or near the lobby. Timeshare staff did attempt on a daily basis to get you to go on a tour but were not too overly aggressive. If you said no they would just try again the next day. HINT-always tell them you just arrived the day before and they will leave you alone. I will admit this IS NOT a place for anyone with any walking disabilities as there is no way around climbing steep steps on a constant basis. We however loved it as it burned off all the amazing food we ate and added to the beauty of the resort. I can't say enough about the staff, they made our vacation unforgettable. For us Ocean World was a fun day and worth the money and we also enjoyed the Puerta Plata runners tour. HINT- make sure to bring small items to give children at the school ie: school supplies, toys etc. The kids there are waiting but they don't tell you this before you go. Beach area isn't the Carribean but is descent, if your going for the Beach don't go here. Food at the Pearl, we found was better then the Casablanca. Did not attempt to book A LA Carte's as Nolitours gave us 2 bookings on arrival that we used. We found the food just as good as the Buffets. We had no problems with Nolitours and they were very helpful when I had any questions regarding our trip. They wrote us and assured us a good vacation which we had. Thank-you for a great Honeymoon.